2. 外语
  3. Martha Stewart was charged, tried and convicted of a crime in 2004. As she neared the end of her prison sentence, a well-known c

Martha Stewart was charged, tried and convicted of a crime in 2004. As she neared the end of her prison sentence, a well-known c

admin2021-01-06  5
问题     Martha Stewart was charged, tried and convicted of a crime in 2004. As she neared the end of her prison sentence, a well-known columnist wrote that she was " paying her dues," and that " there is simply no reason for anyone to attempt to deny her right to start anew. "
    Surely, the American ideal of second chances should not be reserved only for the rich and powerful. Unfortunately, many federal and state laws impose post-conviction restrictions on a shockingly large number of Americans, who are prevented from ever fully paying their debt to society.
    At least 65 million people in the United States have a criminal record. This can result in severe penalties that continue long after punishment is completed.
    Many of these penalties are imposed regardless of the seriousness of the offense or the person’s individual circumstances. Laws can restrict or ban voting, access to public housing, and professional and business licensing. They can affect a person’s ability to get a job and qualification for benefits.
    In all, more than 45,000 laws and rules serve to exclude vast numbers of people from fully participating in American life.
    Some laws make sense. No one advocates letting someone convicted of pedophilia(恋童癖)work in a school. But too often collateral(附随的)consequences bear no relation to public safety. Should a woman who possessed a small amount of drugs years ago be permanently unable to be licensed as a nurse?
    These laws are also counterproductive, since they make it harder for people with criminal records to find housing or land a job, two key factors that reduce backsliding.
    A recent report makes several recommendations, including the abolition of most post-conviction penalties, except for those specifically needed to protect public safety. Where the penalties are not a must, they should be imposed only if the facts of a case support it.
    The point is not to excuse or forget the crime. Rather, it is to recognize that in America’s vast criminal justice system, second chances are crucial. It is in no one’s interest to keep a large segment of the population on the margins of society.
What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?
选项 A、To create opportunities for criminals to reform themselves.
B、To appeal for changes in America’s criminal justice system.
C、To ensure that people with a criminal record live a decent life.
D、To call people’s attention to prisoners’ conditions in America.
答案B
解析 主旨大意题。最后一段提到，这个提议并不是为犯罪找借口或忽略它。相反，是让人们认识到，在美国庞大的刑法体系中，人们拥有改过自新的机会是至关重要的。让那么一大部分群体游走在社会的边缘对任何人都没有好处。由此可知，作者是希望通过对这一问题的探讨，从而对刑法体系中一些不合理的地方进行变革，故答案为B)。
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