单选题
This time last year three out of four 16 to
24-year-olds were wearing the white band of Make Poverty History. Whatever the
campaign may or may not have achieved in Africa, it briefly inspired millions in
Britain. A joy, but also a revelation, for this was the moment when I saw how
ready people were to take a little bit of action for a big cause. It may also
explain how the small movement I helped to found has become a rather large
phenomenon. Don't think changing the world can start by something as simple as
shutting down your computer at night? Those marching were
different crowds from 20 years ago. Make Poverty History made few formal
demands. No slogans, no forms, not even meetings if you didn't fancy them. It
was activism lite-more a brand than an organization. Show solidarity wherever
you go-fashionably of course-do more, if and when you can. The future of active
citizenship may depend on understanding why it ignited a generation.
If social engagement is a funnel (a tube or pipe that is wide at the top
and narrow at the bottom) turned on its side, about a quarter of a million
people in the UK are at the narrow end, serial activists, responsible for 80 per
cent of our community action. Most charities are here, focusing their efforts on
these committed citizens. Our organization, We Are What We Do, is at the mouth
of the funnel targeted at people who don't recycle or think about fair trade. It
is styled as a brand, inspiring people to make the small changes that will make
a big difference if enough of us do the same. Our first
book-Change the World for a Fiver-featured 50 simple actions, from not spitting
out your gum to declining plastic bags. All began by doing something small. Some
of the 800 who are buying the book every day remain usefully but lightly
engaged. For our new book, Change the World 9 to 5, we decided to focus on the
workplace, where most of us spend most of our waking hours. Actions range from
the entertaining (smile!); the symbolic (turn off your phone charger when not in
use) and the serious (learn to save a life). In working with We
Are What We Do I have moved from the view that the sum of individual actions can
help to make a difference to the belief that ultimately it is the only thing
that ever does. The smallest act has a value of its own.
单选题
The author views people's wearing the white band of Make Poverty
History as "a revelation" because
A. it has achieved a smashing success in Africa.
B. it has inspired millions of British people.
C. it shows that the British are ready to take actions.
单选题
The text suggests that the campaigns twenty years ago
A. were much more informal.
B. had neither funds nor meetings.
C. were much better organized.
D. were less active than nowadays.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】推理判断题。根据campaigns twenty years ago定位在第二段。该段首句提到他们和20年前的队伍不一样，随后讲述现在游行的很多特点，如没有固定形式、没有正式会议等。可以推断出相比之下以前的队伍更加正式，更加有组织，故C项正确。A项“更加不正式”、B项的“没有资金也没有集会”与文意相悖，且文章没有提及funds；D项“不如现在活跃”未提及。
单选题
The statement "at the mouth of the funnel" (Line 4, Para. 3) implies
that
A. our organization is the leader of the social engagement.
B. our organization is the initiator of the social engagement.
C. our organization encourages people to do small but basic things.
D. our organization's actions greatly influence the social
engagement.