Question

     The murder took place around ten o' clock p. m. on June 10th. Thirty-two people watched Kitty being killed right beneath their windows. She was their neighbor. Yet, none of the 32 helped her. Not even one called the police. Was this inhumane cruelty? Was it lack of feeling for one's fellow man?

     "Not so," say scientists Dr. Darley and Dr. Fatane. They've found the reasons why people don't act. According to them, a person has to go through two steps before he can help. First he has to notice there is an emergency.

     Suppose you see a middle-aged man fall onto the ground. Is he having a heart attack, or some other physical trouble? Or is he simply about to sleep off a drunk? So it's not always easy to tell if you are faced with a real emergency.

     Second and more important, the person faced with an emergency must feel himself responsible. He must feel that he must help.

     The researchers found that a lot depends on how many people are around. They asked college students to come in to be "tested". Some came alone, some with one or two others, and some in large groups. When they came in either alone, in pairs, or in groups, a lady went into the next room. Soon the students heard a scream, the noise of something falling and a cry for help. All of these had been pre-recorder.

     Eight out of ten of the students taking the test alone acted to help. Of the students in pairs, only two out of ten helped. Of the students in groups, none helped.

     In other words, in a group, Americans often fail to act. They feel that others will act. They, themselves, needn't. They do not feel any direct responsibility.

 

45. Why didn't the thirty-two people act to help Kitty according to the passage?

    A. Because they were afraid to be killed.

    B. Because they were cruel in their hearts.

    C. Because they thought others would help.                         ,

    D. Because they didn't notice the emergency.

46. Which of the following is an emergency.'?

    A. Someone is falling onto the ground.

    B. Someone is needing help.

    C. Someone is sleeping off a drunk.

    D. Someone is having a heart attack.

47. The result of the tests shows that_______.

    A. none of the tested students acted to help

    B. the more people there are together, the more people will act to help

    C. the more people there are together, the fewer people will act to help

    D. college students would be more likely to help than ordinary Americans

48. It can be concluded from the passage that Americans don't ______ in a group.

    A. notice an emergency

    B. feel direct responsibility

    C. depend on each other

    D. go through two steps before they act    

Answer 1

C     D     C     B