Excerpt 1 Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but the doubters insisted that we didn't know for sure. That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain? That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way? Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves.Excerpt 2 If you smoke and you still don't believe that there's a definite between smoking and bronchial troubles, heart disease and lung cancer, then you are certainly deceiving yourself. No one will accuse you of hypocrisy. Let us just say that you are suffering from a bad case of wishful thinking. This needn't make you too uncomfortable because you are in good company. Whenever the subject of smoking and health is raised, the governments of most countries hear no evil, see no evil and smell no evil. Admittedly, a few governments have taken timid measures. In Britain, for example, cigarette advertising has been banned on television. The conscience of the nation is appeased, while the population continues to puff its way to smoky, cancerous death. You don't have to look very far to find out why the official reactions to medical findings have been so lukewarm. The answer is simply money. Tobacco is a wonderful commodity to tax. It's almost like a tax on our daily bread. In tax revenue alone, the government of Britain collects enough from smokers to pay for its entire educational facilities. So while the authorities point out ever so discreetly that smoking may, conceivably, be harmful, it doesn't do to shout too loudly about it.Excerpt 3 The 74-page study says that pop music, as a global industry, is by far the most influential trend-setter for young people of most cultures. "Some lyrics advocate the smoking of marijuana (大麻) or taking other drugs, and certain pop stars make statements and set examples as if the use of drugs for non-medicinal purposes were a normal and acceptable part of a person's lifestyle," the study says.Excerpt 4 I recall how annoying it was years ago when smoking everywhere was legal in California. Many complained about the restrictions when they arrived, but I didn't, because I seriously hated watching shoppers smoking through the tomatoes and lettuce in the vegetable section of the store.People forget how sickening that used to be, especially with the butts all over the grocery store floor. Tossing a burning smoke on the ground, stomping it with your foot, and leaving it to be swept up by somebody else later was somehow OK.Excerpt 5 Mark Twain once observed that giving up smoking is easy. He knew, because he'd done it hundreds of times himself. Giving up for ever is a trifle more difficult, apparently, and it is well known that it is much more difficult for some people than for others. Why is this so? Few doctors believe any longer that it is simply a question of will power. And for those people that continue to view addicts as merely "weak", recent genetic research may force a rethink.
单选题 An argument made by supporters of smoking was that________.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:根据Excerpt 1可知,支持吸烟者认为,人们有权过他们自己选择的生活方式。C项中说“人们有选择他们自己的生活方式的自由”,这与文章的意思相符。
单选题 Why do a few governments take timid measures toward smoking?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:题干中的“take timid measures”出自Excerpt 2。第一段提到,有些政府对于吸烟采取一些怯懦的措施,第二段分析了原因——答案很简单,就是为了钱,接着指出,单是烟草税收一项,政府就从吸烟者身上征收到足以支付整个教育开支的费用。这说明,原因是反对吸烟就会减少税收。C与此意符合,为正确答案。A和D属于无中生有;B与政府采取怯懦的措施没有关系。
单选题 The pop music________.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:根据Excerpt 3中的“The 74一page study says that pop music,as a global industry,is by far the most influential trend—setter for young people of most cultures.”可知,A项正确。
单选题 In the first paragraph of Excerpt 4, the pronoun "they" in "when they arrive" refers to ______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:这从Excerpt 4中第一段的第二句“Many complained about the restrictions when they arrived,but I didn’t,because I seriously hated watching shoppers smoking through the tomatoes and lettuce in the vegetable section of the store.”可以推出,即以前没有法律禁止在公共场所吸烟,当各种限制出现后,有些人对此颇有微词,因此they此处所指为restrictions。
单选题 Mark Twain is mentioned in Excerpt 5 in order to show that________.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:根据Excerpt 5中第一段内容可知,马克.吐温曾指出戒烟很容易,他之所以这样认为,是因为他自己戒过几百次了,而永远戒烟更困难。因此提到马克.吐温是为了说明暂时戒烟比较容易。B与此意符合,为正确答案。