阅读理解
As a society, we appear to have lost the instinct for kindness and the willingness to extend the hand of friendship. Our responses to children, to older people, to strangers, are all conditioned by a concern not to offend and a fear of getting involved. Our recent public consultation into the social evils of today highlights a real concern for the way in which society increasingly values people for their economic contribution, at the expense of kindness and compassion.
Some blame the nature of regulation—while providing protection for some, it seems to have intimidated the majority. Others feel there has been a general decline in values: individual advancement is seen as more significant than the ability to care for others. Whatever the reasons, we are uncomfortable with the society we have created. The idea of the common good has been lost and Britain today is experiencing a severe social recession the effects of which are far more devastating and long-lasting than any economic recession.
There is, however, light at the end of this very dark tunnel. Our study has shown that the people are fed up with the status quo and are hungry for change. So, how can we go about making the changes we need?
We need to rediscover humanity in our communities. Solidarity is a term little used today. Yet across the country, people are taking on the challenge of climate change by working together to reduce their carbon footprints through recycling and growing and selling local produce. The same is true of those who help people in need, or who volunteer in hospitals and schools to make sure people in our communities are cared for and nurtured. Solidarity is a product of a more serious, more engaged political discourse that is willing and able to respond to the challenges of the 21st century.
Closely associated with this is the notion of hospitality, and the desire to create a world that is genuinely hospitable. A hospitable world is one that is a good steward of the earth, able to ration in the interests of generosity, not raid in the pursuit of greed. It is a world in which the stranger is welcomed, the weak are supported and the dispossessed are empowered. And finally there is civility—the generosity of spirit which allows for kindness, and politeness, that embraces difference without fear, and that genuinely sees an equality between people. Civility is at the core of an active, vibrant and welcoming society.
Without fear of being nostalgic, it is time to reclaim these values—the future of our society depends on them.
Some blame the nature of regulation—while providing protection for some, it seems to have intimidated the majority. Others feel there has been a general decline in values: individual advancement is seen as more significant than the ability to care for others. Whatever the reasons, we are uncomfortable with the society we have created. The idea of the common good has been lost and Britain today is experiencing a severe social recession the effects of which are far more devastating and long-lasting than any economic recession.
There is, however, light at the end of this very dark tunnel. Our study has shown that the people are fed up with the status quo and are hungry for change. So, how can we go about making the changes we need?
We need to rediscover humanity in our communities. Solidarity is a term little used today. Yet across the country, people are taking on the challenge of climate change by working together to reduce their carbon footprints through recycling and growing and selling local produce. The same is true of those who help people in need, or who volunteer in hospitals and schools to make sure people in our communities are cared for and nurtured. Solidarity is a product of a more serious, more engaged political discourse that is willing and able to respond to the challenges of the 21st century.
Closely associated with this is the notion of hospitality, and the desire to create a world that is genuinely hospitable. A hospitable world is one that is a good steward of the earth, able to ration in the interests of generosity, not raid in the pursuit of greed. It is a world in which the stranger is welcomed, the weak are supported and the dispossessed are empowered. And finally there is civility—the generosity of spirit which allows for kindness, and politeness, that embraces difference without fear, and that genuinely sees an equality between people. Civility is at the core of an active, vibrant and welcoming society.
Without fear of being nostalgic, it is time to reclaim these values—the future of our society depends on them.
单选题
16.Which of the following is the reason why people are unwilling to help others?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】细节题。第一段末句指出，当前社会把经济贡献作为衡量个人价值的标准，而这种做法以“善”和“同情”为代价。由此推知，目前社会衡量个人价值的标准导致人们丧失了帮助他人的意愿，故C项正确。
单选题
17.The phrase "this very dark tunnel" (Para.. 3) refers to_____.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】含义题。第二段末句指出，英国已经失去了公益观念，在经历严重的社会衰退。第三段首句采用比喻的手法转而指出，但“这一黑暗隧道”的尽头还有一线光亮。显然“这一黑暗隧道”指的是前面提到的社会衰退。B项是原文的同义转述，故为正确答案。
单选题
18.What does the author adopt to develop the paragraphs 4 and 5?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】细节题。第三段末句提出问题：如何做出改变(以扭转英国的社会衰退)。第四段首先给出答案：重新发现社会中的人道。接着，从第四段第二句开始到第五段作者依次论述了人道精神的三个方面：团结、友好、文明，并探讨了它们对于社会的重要性。由此可知，这些段落的论点之间为并列关系，故D项正确。
单选题
19.The author seems to hold that_____.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】推断题。第四段第二句首先指出，我们现在很少使用“团结”这个词，随后转折指出，举国上下都在团结一致减少碳足迹、应对气候变化的挑战。段末再次表明，团结是愿意并能够迎接21世纪挑战的政治话语的产物。综上可知，A项正确。
单选题
20.The main idea of this passage is that_____.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】主旨题。文章一开始就指出善良品德的丧失和英国社会的倒退。在第三、四、五段末尾指明人们如何改变坏的社会现象，文章末段提出是时候重拾这些价值(团结、热情)了，故此篇文章的目的在于呼吁人们做出改变。B项为正确答案。