单选题 Society can be broken up into three classes: the Elite, the Meek and the Masses. The Elite are (51) of the top 10% of society, those that don't need anyone's help (52) it comes to getting what they want. They have the status, the money, the power, and the respect to (53) whatever they need. In spite of the fact that they enjoy the upper hand, people outside of this class will still go to great (54) to help them even further.
The Meek are comprised of the bottom 10% of society, those who need our help, and badly at that. But (55) so many of us are eager to get in well with the Elite, few actually care enough to provide any (56) to the Meek. The Masses are the largest class, (57) up the middle 80% between the Meek and the Elite. Most of the Masses could use some help getting by, and (58) it would usually improve their lives considerably, but they (59) get it. Why do most people would rather help the Meek or the Elite? Because they are (60) with instant gratification or the anticipation of future benefits. We rarely help the Masses because there is nothing really in it for us, and this shows humanity's true colors.

单选题 A. made B. constituted C. consisted D. composed
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 根据上下文可以看出这句话的意思是:精英阶层是由处在社会顶层的占整个社会的10%的群体所组成。空格处的词表示“构成”之意。表示“组成,构成”之意时,make构成的短语是“make up of”;constitute表示由什么成分组成了某个实体,常以构成实体的成分作句子主语,另外,它不跟of连用;consist只作不及物动词,无被动语态;compose在句中一般用be composed of的结构。四个选项中,选项D符合句子的结构,是正确答案。
单选题 A. when B. whenever C. if D. even if
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] when it comes to doing_是一个固定的短语。它的意思是“当谈到/涉及……时”。这句话的大意是:“当涉及获得个人所需的问题时,他们不需要任何人的帮助。”
单选题 A. require B. receive C. obtain D. achieve
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 根据上下文,空格处表示“获得,得到”之意。四个选项中,A项require意为“需要;要求”,不符合句意;B项receive表示“收到;接受”之意,也不符合句意;D项achieve表示经过努力而“获得”了预期的结果,其宾语通常为抽象名词;C项obtain表示经过努力最终“获得”长久渴望之物,符合原文意思,是正确答案。
单选题 A. length B. distance C. degree D. lengths
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] go to great lengths是固定短语,意思是“(为达到目的)不遗余力”。其他选项都不能用于这个短语。原文整句话的意思是:“尽管精英阶层已经享有有利地位,然而,处于这个阶层以外的人仍然会不遗余力地为他们提供更进一步的帮助。”enjoy/gain/get the upper hand意思是“处于有利地位,占上风”。
单选题 A. whereas B. however C. nevertheless D. since
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] A项whereas“然而;尽管”,表示对比;B项however意为“然而,可是”;C项nevertheless“然而;不过”;D项since“既然”。从上下文看,作者在此处对两种态度进行对比,因此,空格处的词应该是whereas。
单选题 A. supplies B. assistance C. support D. accommodations
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 所给选择的意思分别是:A项supplies“供应品,供给之物”;B项assistance“帮助,援助”;C项support“支撑;支持”;D项accommodations“住宿;膳宿供应”。作者在前文中指出尽管精英阶层因其优越的社会地位不需任何人的帮助即可获得自己所需,然而,人们仍然会不遗余力地为他们提供帮助。在这里作者将人们对温顺的阶层的态度进行对比,即,很少有人会对他们提供帮助。
单选题 A. making B. made C. to make D. make
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 此处是现在分词短语对前面所谈的情况进行补充说明,因此,正确的选项是A项making。B项made是过去分词,表示被动,不符合句子的结构;C项to make是动词不定式表示目的,不符合句意;D项make是动词原形,不符合句子结构,因为句中已有谓语动词,在没有连接词的情况下不能再出现一个谓语动词。
单选题 A. acquiring B. acquire C. to acquire D. acquired
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 空格处是短语作第二个并列句的主语,因此,应选用动名词acquiring。此句的意思是:“得到帮助通常能在相当程度上改善他们的生活状况。”
单选题 A. exceedingly B. rarely C. evenly D. fairly
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 四个选项的意思分别是:A项exceedingly“极端地;非常”;B项rarely“很少;难得”;C项evenly“均匀地”;D项fairly意为“公平地;正当地”。前一句指出对大众阶层来说,得到帮助通常能在相当程度上改善他们的生活状况。此句前有一个转折句but表示相反的情况,所以空格处的词应该是rarely。
单选题 A. compensated B. honoured C. awarded D. rewarded
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] A项compensated意为“补偿;赔偿”;B项honoured的意思是“尊敬;给以荣誉”;C项awarded意为“授予;奖给”;D项rewarded意为“酬谢,报答,回报”。根据上下文,此处应用rewarded,即,人们之所以愿意帮助温顺阶层和精英阶层是因为他们能够得到回报。