14.The word tolerance is widely used in liberal democracies.It indicates a positive meaning.Politicians urge us to be tolerant towards minorities.Educators teach us to be tolerant towards the other.The press is full of references to the need to display tolerance when faced with individuals or groups espousing a different view or holding a different religious belief.A tolerant society is an objective sought after by anyone who believes in the values of democracy.A tolerant individual is attributed with virtuous qualities.
The question we must ask is whether we have been using the word tolerance fully aware of its meaning and whether we have applied it correctly to reflect what we really wish to convey?
The word tolerance means to bear,or to bear with.If I tolerate something or someone,I basically say that I am ready to bear it or him.I can tolerate a bad smell or a noisy neighbour.The act of toleration forces me to desist from conveying my objection to the existence of a phenomenon,which I find difficult to bear.A bad smell or a noisy neighbour is considered by me to be an objectionable phenomenon.By tolerating either of them,I am not transforming the bad smell or the noisy neighbour into positive phenomena.Let's be honest:I don't have a different taste when it comes to bad smells.I simply dislike it and wish that it disappears.I don't respect the noisy neighbour.I would rather have him stop at once the noise he is making so I can live in peace.
To try to remove the bad smell or take reasonable action in order for the noisy neighbour to stop bothering me would most probably not be considered an intolerant act by most people.
Now,let's try to apply the word tolerance in reference to a person who is law-abiding and holds a legally acceptable different view from my own.I may have a strong view,which is opposed to his.Quite frankly,I may decide to tolerate his view.By so doing,I would be attributing to it a negative characteristic.I would apply the same attitude to his view as to the bad smell or noisy neighbour.Thus,to try to take action in order to make his view disappear would be considered an intolerant act.To tolerate his view the way I would a bad smell or a noisy neighbour,could hardly be considered virtuous.
The subject tolerating is by nature not equal to the object being tolerated.If I tolerate you,I essentially say that I am above you and am prepared,although unwillingly,to bear with your presence or with your practices or opinions.That may be true in the case of an individual who is ready to tolerate the other.However,this attitude by such an individual,though empirically true,is hardly a virtue.Certainly,the fact that an individual,in reality,may merely tolerate the other or his opinion does not justify a government or any official authority promoting tolerance as a virtue.One cannot tolerate an equal being.True equality involves respect,not toleration.To respect the other as a distinctive person is hardly to tolerate him.This is the true meaning of equality:diversity existing in a mutually-respectful socio-legal setting.
The danger with tolerance is that it can lead to the acceptance of individuals or groups bent on destroying the foundations of democratic systems.We have seen such cases with regard to political parties or destructive religious groups that have been treated in a liberal manner under the guise of tolerance.
A tolerant attitude involves the grant of a favour,not a right.The question we should ask ourselves is whether we would ever wish a parliament to make laws according to us,as individuals and as part of a collective entity or a permission to pursue certain actions interpreted as a favour rather than a right?Indeed,would we ever wish anyone to listen to our views and accept us the way we are simply because he is kind enough to tolerate us?
65.The first two paragraphs are mainly intended to show thatC.
A.tolerance is a symbol of liberal democracies
B.democratic society always advocates tolerance
C.people's understanding of tolerance is one-sided
D.tolerance can be applied to many situations
66.The underlined part"desist from"in Paragraph 3can be replaced by"C'.
A.deny
B.dislike
C.stop
D.keep
67.The example of a bad smell and a noisy neighbour is raised to indicate thatD.
A.the writer are fed up with them
B.most people find them hard to tolerate
C.the writer isn't prejudiced against them
D.tolerating them isn't a virtuous act
68.The main idea of Paragraph 6is thatC.
A.tolerance has nothing to do with respect
B.most people promote tolerance as a virtue
C.people should show respect for each other
D.tolerance shows an unequal relationship
69.Which of the following will the writer probably agree with?A
A.Too much tolerance will endanger the foundations of democratic systems.
B.By tolerating people can transform something negative into the opposite.
C.People tolerating others are likely to consider them as their equals.
D.Being tolerant should be regarded as a right instead of a favour
70.The best title for this passage should be"C".
A.Tolerance and respect
B.What is to be tolerated?
C.Is Tolerance a Virtue?
D.Should people be tolerant?
分析 本文谈的是人们对宽容的理解.宽容并不是一种美德,关键是我们是否一直使用"宽容"这个词,并完全意识到它的含义,我们是否已正确反映我们愿意传递什么.
解答 65.C.推理题.根据文章内容,The word tolerance is widely used in liberal democracies.It indicates a positive meaning.宽容这个词常用在解放文献之中.它似乎暗示着一个积极的含义;Politicians urge us to be tolerant towards minorities.政治家呼吁我们对少数民族宽容.Educators teach us to be tolerant towards the other.教育者教导我们要宽容对方;…The question we must ask is whether we have been using the word tolerance fully aware of its meaning and whether we have applied it correctly to reflect what we really wish to convey?然而是否我们意识到了这个词的真正的含义,用它来表达了我们真正想要表达的东西.正如任何事物都具有两面性一样,1、2段想要告诉我们,理解他人知识宽容的一方面而已.结合选项,故选C.
66.C.词义猜测题.根据第三段:The act of toleration forces me to desist from conveying my objection to the existence of a phenomenon,which I find difficult to bear宽容迫使我停止输送我反对一个现象的存在的行为,我难以忍受;可知意为停止;故选C.
67.D.推理题.根据第三段第五句By tolerating either of them,I am not transforming the bad smell or the noisy neighbour into positive phenomena.通过忍耐它们两者之一,我并没有能改变难闻气味或者将喧闹的邻居变为成为安静的人,即便是忍耐,这种让人不悦的事情还是一直存在着,一直让我不悦着.忍耐并不能改变事实,结合选项,故选D.
68.C.段落大意题.根据第六段:This is the true meaning of equality:diversity existing in a mutually-respectful socio-legal setting可知主要讲人应该彼此尊重;故选C.
69.A.推理题.根据倒数第二段第一句The danger with tolerance is that it can lead to the acceptanceof individuals or groups bent on destroying the foundations of democratic systems.忍耐的危险在于----它可能会导致一心要摧毁民主体制基础的个人或群体最后转而对它进行接受.故选A.
70.C.主旨大意题.根据文章内容,本文谈的是人们对宽容的理解.宽容并不是一种美德,关键是我们是否一直使用"宽容"这个词,并完全意识到它的含义,我们是否已正确反映我们愿意传递什么.结合选项,故选C.
点评 本文是一个社会文化类阅读,题目涉及多道细节理解题,做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析,结合选项选出正确答案.推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案,切忌胡乱猜测,一定要做到有理有据.