单选题
Terrorism proves to be a more serious problem than anticipated, and it challenges both policymakers burdened with the design of countermeasures and social scientists who are called upon to explain it. Terrorism's unique nature is revealed by two phenomena. First, public perception of threat and danger seems to be disproportionate to terrorists' actual capabilities. Second, terrorism, more than any other form of warfare, has an impact on a target group immensely larger than that of the immediate victims and often on populations beyond that terrorism bears primarily on individuals' perceptions, on the "public mind"; in other words, it is a form of psychological warfare. The psychological impacts of political terrorism are potentially manifest in individuals' emotional and attitudinal responses. In the realm of emotions, the fear and concern for personal safety, which terror tactics might give rise to, is a revealing indicator of their effectiveness. One could argue, of course, that terrorists' ability to sow widespread fear hardly needs proof as it is obvious that violence and particularly the terrorists' hallmark, randomly targeted violence, are anxiety inducing. It should be noted, however, that terrorism has claimed relatively few casualties to date, and that in most countries the actual probability of incurring harm from terroristic activity is only a fraction of, say, the risk of death or injury in vehicle accidents or common crimes. Hence, the power of terrorism to intimidate should not be taken for granted. Intimidation and the induction of fear are not the ends of terrorists' activity but rather means to effect political change. Their violence is predicated on two assumptions: (a) Violent action can force the causes pursued by terrorists into the forefront of an indifferent public's awareness; (b) faced with the choice between continuing violence and acceptance of the terrorists' demands, the public might opt for the latter. Thus, the attitudes that the targets of political terrorism develop toward its perpetrators, their objectives, and the actions that ought to be undertaken vis-à-vis them constitute telling measures of the effectiveness of terrorism. The present investigation sought to assess the psychological reactions of a public which has been exposed for a considerable length of time to the threats and actions of terrorist. Regarding emotional impacts, the data suggest that terrorism's ability to intimidate, to induce worry and concern, disproportionally exceeds the actual damage it causes. According to the data gathered, the actual probability of being victimized by terrorist activity was extremely low; estimated at less than 1/20 of the likelihood of being hurt in a road accident. Yet a large majority of the respondents expressed worry about the risk of personally incurring the consequences of terrorism. It might be uncontrollability dramatically enhance its impact. Thus, while the risk of vehicle driving might be far greater than the danger of terrorism, the car driver is usually reassured by a subjective feeling of control which the potential victim of terrorism lacks. The survey results indicate that terrorism has failed to produce the change in attitudes sought by its perpetrators. Most respondents favored, instead, the reliance on extreme counterterrorist measures. The hardening of Israelis attitudes toward terrorists and their objectives was also revealed by the respondents' unanimity of opinion. Taken together, the data concerning the emotional impact of terrorism and its effects on attitudes did not bear out the rationale which governs terroristic action. Despite the widespread concern and worry revealed by these data, there was no evidence of any willingness to politically concede to terrorists. On the contrary, and as already noted, the majority advocated the adoption of harsh measures against terrorists. Thus, at least insofar as Palestinian terrorism and the Israeli public are concerned, proves to be counterproductive. Comprehension Questions..
单选题
According to the author, which of the following is true about terrorism? A. Public fear is inversely affected by terrorists' capacity for destruction. B. Resolving the problem of terrorism requires cooperation between governments and terrorists. C. Terrorism incites fear in populations besides that targeted and on a greater scale. D. Terrorism is an inevitability and must be eradicated.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 根据文章第一段中Second，terrorism，more than any other form of warfare．has an impact on a target group immensely larger than that of the immediate victims and often on populations beyond that terrorism bears primarily on individuals' perceptions．On the "public mind"…可知，恐怖主义对目标群体的影响远远大于对直接受害者的影响，它是对“民心”施加影响。C选项符合原文意思。A选项与原文正好相反。B和D选项文中并未提及，属无中生有。因此，C项为正确选项。
单选题
The author states that injury or death is more likely to be sustained from automobile accidents than by terrorism, and from this we can conclude that ______. A. terrorism is irrelevant and more time and effort should be allotted to other social demands B. the efficacy of terrorism can be witnessed by the emotional response of the public C. anxiety resulting from terrorism should be clinically treated D. the psychological effects of terrorism are inferior to that of vehicle accidents
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第二段第一句话The psychological impacts of political terrorism are potentially manifest in individuals' emotional and attitudinal responses可知，恐怖主义的心理作用体现在每个人的情绪和态度方面的反应上。B选项为“恐怖主义的效力通过公众的情感反应体现出来”，符合原文意思。A选项说恐怖主义无关紧要，与原文意思相反。文中并没有说恐怖主义引发的忧虑需要临床诊治，因此，C选项属无中生有。D选项说恐怖主义带来的心理影响没有交通事故的心理影响大，与原文意思正好相反。因此，B选项正确。
单选题
According to the author, fear of terrorism is intensified by ______. A. the seemingly haphazard and unsystematic attacks B. the increased risks of personal injury by terrorism C. ever-collapsing social order due to endless global terror attacks D. the inability of government to control terrorism
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第三段中的Yet a large majority of the respondents expressed worry about the risk of personally incurring the consequences of terrorism．It might be uncontrollability dramatically enhance its impact可知，大部分人表示很担心恐怖主义带来的人身伤害风险，这就加剧了恐怖主义对人们的心理影响。而根据第二段中的…and particularly the terrorists' hallmark，randomly targeted violence，are anxiety inducing可知，恐怖分子标志性的随机式袭击引发人们的忧虑，但并非加深了人们对恐怖主义的害怕，A选项不符合题目要求。C和D选项文中并未提及。因此，B选项正确。
单选题
The author compares public perception of the threat of terrorism to the risk of vehicle injury or death in order to ______. A. further evaluate the differences and similarities between the two B. show that one is more likely to die from daily routines than by terrorism C. reveal the inability of a person to influence the outcome of a terror attack D. exemplify chaos theory and reveal the consequences of each act
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第四段最后一句Thus，while the risk of vehicle driving might be far greater than the danger of terrorism，the Car driver is usually reassured by a subjective feeling of control which the potential victim of terrorism lacks可知，尽管交通事故比恐怖主义的危险大得多，但司机觉得自己能控制车辆，而恐怖主义的潜在受害者却无法控制恐怖袭击事件的发生。C选项说个人对恐怖袭击无能为力，符合这一层意思。A选项说评估两者相似性与差异，不准确。原文重点不是说相对恐怖主义，人们更有可能死于日常事故，而且也不是要比较两者有什么样的后果，故排除B和D选项。因此，C选项为正确答案。
单选题
Which of the following best summarizes the author's conclusions? A. The objectives of terrorists are met with public disdain and as a result the Israeli government and Israelis have adopted stringent action to counter terrorism. B. The Israeli public unanimously believed that the government should concede to terrorists' demands, and the government should adopt policies in favor of terrorists in order to reduce violence. C. Terrorists should be punished strictly and swiftly with little regard for the terrorists' autonomy when concerning imprisonment and torture. D. Israeli public perception of terrorism has not changed, and harsh measures for counterterrorism must be adopted; however, governments should try to work with terrorist groups where applicable to reduce casualties.