Question

Almost everyone accepts the fact that crime can never be wiped out entirely. Thus control of crime becomes the focus of police and government around the world. The question lawmakers must answer is, “Which system of criminal punishment works best for society?” Each country has developed its own ideas for solution to this question, and these solutions then determine how criminals are punished under different systems. However, none of the current system in use has proved 100 percent effective.

There are many ideas about punishment of criminals. Some systems look only to get retribution（嚴懲）against criminals. These systems work to frighten criminals away from repeating a crime in the future. These systems also try to deter（威懾）others in society by using the criminal as an example of what can happen to a person if he or she is caught committing crimes. Rehabilitation（改造）is another philosophy by which many systems of punishment operate. The goal of these systems is to return a former criminal to society after a required period of treatment and training, usually in prisons. The idea is to help change the person’s behavior so that he or she becomes a law-abiding citizen.

Capital punishment is another form of punishment which systems use in extreme criminal cases, sometimes involving such crimes as a murder, rape, and violent theft. In these cases, the person is put to death. Today, capital punishment is used in relatively few countries. Many countries have done away with it. In other words, capital punishment remains only in officially law books but is rarely used. However, capital punishment remains in use in some countries including the United States.

When looking at the number of crimes committed, the effectiveness of any of these forms of punishment comes into question. In the United States, for example, 80 percent of the people arrested each year are male, and the majority of these are young men or boys. One-third of all auto thefts, robberies, and burglaries are committed by young men under the age of 18. Generally, young people have less responsibility in society, so they risk losing little if they are caught in a criminal activity. However, it can also be argued that today’s youthful criminals do not fear the punishment they receive if caught by police. Current methods of criminal punishment do not serve the purpose of deterring young criminals in the United States.

A major problem with the current system of rehabilitation in the United Stated is that most criminals return to crime after they have supposedly been rehabilitated. Two-thirds of those caught by police each year are repeat criminals. As a result of this fact, many people feel that rehabilitation of criminals is a lost cause. Since the late 1970s, many see retribution as a preferred punishment in criminal cases in the United States.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Capital punishment B. Prison system

C. Young criminals D. Control of crime

2.What is the main purpose behind retribution?

A. To satisfy the victim B. To create repeat offenders

C. To frighten future criminals D. To take criminals out of society

3.Many crimes in the United States are committed by _________.

A. leaders B. teenagers

C. factory workers D. street wanders

4.According to the passage, which is true of the legal system in the United States?

A. Capital punishment is not allowed

B. Few young people commit crimes

C. The majority of criminals will not repeat crimes

D. Many people see retribution as the preferred punishment

5.What is a big problem with the system of rehabilitation ?

A. Prisons are full B. Criminals repeat crimes

C. The crime rate is going up D. Young men are going to prison

 

Answer 1

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.D

5.B

【解析】

試題分析：文章大意：幾乎每個人都接受的事實——犯罪永遠不能消滅盡然。因此，控制犯罪成為全世界警察和政府的焦點。

1.文章大意題。根據文章大意：幾乎每個人都接受的事實——犯罪永遠不能消滅盡然。因此，控制犯罪成為全世界警察和政府的焦點。選D

2.細節理解題。根據文章第二段These systems work to frighten criminals away from repeating a crime in the future. These systems also try to deter（威懾）others in society by using the criminal as an example of what can happen to a person if he or she is caught committing crimes.可知嚴懲的目的是對罪犯進行威懾。選C

3.細節理解題。根據文章第四段In the United States, for example, 80 percent of the people arrested each year are male, and the majority of these are young men or boys. One-third of all auto thefts, robberies, and burglaries are committed by young men under the age of 18. G可知在美國，許多犯罪的是青少年。選B

4.細節理解題。根據文章最后一段最后一句Since the late 1970s, many see retribution as a preferred punishment in criminal cases in the United States.可知許多人把嚴懲看作為完美的懲罰。選D

5.細節理解題。根據文章最后一段A major problem with the current system of rehabilitation in the United Stated is that most criminals return to crime after they have supposedly been rehabilitated. Two-thirds of those caught by police each year are repeat criminals.可知改造體系最大的問題是罪犯重復犯罪。選B

考點：考查議論文閱讀