Question

【题目】Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s)of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

The Conflict of the Orders

The types of people who served as officials in the Roman government changed over time. These changes stemmed from the attempts of common people to more rights. The struggles became known as the Conflict of the Orders.

In the early republic, Romans were divided into two classes of people: patricians and plebeians. Patricians were powerful landowners who controlled the government. As nobles, they inherited their power. Plebeians, who made up most of the population, were mainly farmers and workers. For many years, plebeians had few rights. They could vote, but they were barred from holding most public offices. Plebeians could not even know Roman laws because laws were not written down. In court, a judge stated and applied the law, but only patricians served as judges.

Over time, plebeians increased their power through demand and strikes. They gained the right to join the army, hold government office, form their own assembly, and elect leaders. In one of their greatest victories, they forced the government to write down the laws of the Roman Republic. In about 450, B.C. the Romans engraved their laws on tablets called the Twelve Tables. The laws were placed in the Forum, the chief public square, for all to view.

The first plebeians were appointed to the government in the late 400s B.C. After 342 B. C, a plebeian always held one of the consul positions. By about 300 B. C. many plebeians had become so powerful and wealthy themselves that they joined with patricians to form the Roman nobility. From that time on, the distinction between patricians and plebeians was not as important. Membership in the nobility was still very important, however, since government officials were not paid a salary only wealthy nobles could afford to hold office. Thus, the nobles still controlled the republic.

Answer 1

【答案】Romans consisted of two classes: patricians and plebeians. Patricians, the nobles, inherited power and controlled the government. Plebeians, the common people having few rights, gradually gained rights through struggles. Later,many plebeians gained power and wealth and became nobles. Only the rich could afford to hold the unpaid office, so the nobles still controlled Rome

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了罗马有两类人：贵族和平明。贵族继承权力控制政府，而平民只能通过斗争逐渐获得权力。随着时间的推移，平民获得了权力，财富成为贵族。但罗马也被贵族控制，因为只有有钱人才能从事政府职务——因为那些职务是没有工资的。