题目内容
“Opinion” is a word that is used carelessly today. It is used to refer to matters of taste, belief, and judgment. This casual use would probably cause little confusion if people didn’t attach too much importance to opinion. Unfortunately, most believe it is of great importance. “I have as much right to my opinion as you to yours,” and “Everyone’s entitled to his opinion,” are common expressions. In fact, anyone who would challenge another’s opinion is likely to be considered intolerant(不可容忍的).
Is that label accurate? Is it intolerant to challenge another’s opinion? It depends on what definition of opinion you have in mind. For example, you may ask a friend “What do you think of the new Ford cars?” And he may reply, “In my opinion, they’re ugly.” In this case, it would not only be intolerant to challenge his statement, but foolish. It’s obvious that by opinion he means his personal preference, a matter of taste. And as the old saying goes, “It’s pointless to argue about matters of taste.”
But consider this very different use of the term, a newspaper reports that the Supreme Court has delivered its opinion in a controversial(有争议的) case. Obviously the justices did not share their personal preferences, their likes and dislikes; they stated their considered judgment, painstakingly arrived at after thorough inquiry and careful consideration.
Most of what is referred to as opinion falls somewhere between these two extremes. It is not an expression of taste. Nor is it careful judgment. Yet it may contain elements of both. It is a view or belief more or less casually arrived at, with or without examining the evidence. Is everyone entitled to his opinion? Of course, this is not only permitted, but guaranteed. We are free to act on our opinions only so long as, in doing so, we do not harm others.
1.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Everyone has a right to hold his own opinion.
B. Free expression of opinions often leads to confusion.
C. Most people tend to be careless in forming their opinions.
D. Casual use of the word “opinion” often brings about quarrels.
2.The new Ford cars are mentioned as an example to show that ________.
A. it is foolish to criticize a famous brand
B. one should not always agree to others’ opinions
C. personal tastes are not something to be challenged
D. it is unwise to express one’s likes and dislikes in public
3.Considered judgment is different from personal preference in that ________.
A. it is stated by judges in the court
B. it reflects public likes and dislikes
C. it is a result of a lot of argument
D. it is based on careful thought
4.As indicated in the passage, being free to act on one’s opinion ________.
A. means that one can ignore other people’s criticism
B. means that one can force others to accept his preferences
C. doesn’t mean that one has the right to do things at will
D. doesn’t mean that one has the right to charge others without evidence
1.A
2.C
3.D
4.C
For a while, my neighborhood was taken over by an army of joggers.(慢跑者). They were there all the time—early morning, noon, and evening. There were little old ladies in gray sweats, young couples in Adidas shoes, middle-aged men with red faces. “Come on!” My friend Alex encouraged me to join him as he jogged by my house every evening. “You'll feel great.”
Well, I had nothing against feeling great and if Alex could jog every day, anyone could. So I took up jogging seriously and gave it a good two months of my life, and not a day more. Based on my experience, jogging is the most overvalued form of exercise around, and judging from the number of the people who left our neighborhood jogging army. I'm not alone in my opinion.
First of all, jogging is very hard on the body. Your legs and feet a real pounding (沉重的脚步) running down a road for two or three miles. I developed foot, leg, and back problems. Then I read about a nationally famous jogger who died of a heart attack while jogging, and I had something else to worry about. Jogging doesn't kill hundreds of people, but if you have any physical weaknesses, jogging will surely bring them out, as they did with me.
Secondly, I got no enjoyment out of jogging. Putting one foot in front of the other for forty-five minutes isn't my idea of fun. Jogging is also a lonely pastime. Some joggers say, “I love being out there with just my thoughts.” Well, my thoughts began to bore me, and most of them were on how much my legs hurt.
And how could I enjoy something that brought me pain? And that wasn't just the first week: it was practically every day for two months. I never got past the pain level, and pain isn't fun. What a cruel way to do it! So many other exercises, including walking, lead to almost the same results painlessly, so why jog?
I don't jog any more, and I don't think I ever will. I'm walking two miles three times a week at a fast pace, and that feels good. I bicycle to work when the weather is good. I'm getting exercise, and I'm enjoying it at the same time. I could never say the same for jogging, and I've found a lot of better ways to stay in shape.
【小题1】From the first paragraph, we learn that in the writer's neighborhood ________.
A.jogging became very popular |
B.many people were encouraged to jog |
C.Alex organized an army of joggers |
D.jogging provided a chance to get together |
A.heart attacks | B.Back problems |
C.hundreds of people | D.physical weaknesses |
A.jogging can help people keep fit |
B.many physical problems result from jogging |
C.not everyone enjoys jogging |
D.jogging makes people feel great |