1997年考研英语真题

observers are waiting for the dominoes to start fallingUnder the new Northern Territory law,an adult patient can request death-probably by a deadly injection orpillto put an end to suffering The patient must be diagnosed as terminally ill by two doctors.After a "cooling off"period of seven days,the patient can sign a certificate of request.After 48 hours the wish for death can be met.ForLloyd Nickson,a 54-year-old Darwin resident suffering from lung cancer,the NT Rights of Terminally Ill law meanshe can get on with living without the haunting fear of his suffering:a terrifying death from his breathing condition."I'm not afraid of dying from a spiritual point of view,but what I was afraid of was how I'd go,because I've watchedpeople die in the hospital fighting for oxy gen and clawing at their masks,"he says.11.From the second paragraph we learn that[A]the objection to euthanasia is slow to come in other countries[B]physicians and citizens share the same view on euthanasia[C]changing technology is chiefly responsible for the hasty passage of the law[D]it takes time to realize the significance of the law's passage12.When the author says that observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling,he means[A]observers are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards the future of euthanasia[B]similar bills are likely to be passed in the US,Canada and other countries[C]observers are waiting to see the result of the game of dominoes[D]the effect-taking process of the passed bill may finally come to a stop13.When Lloyd Nickson dies,he will[A]face his death with calm characteristic ofeuthanasia[B]experience the suffering of a lung cancer patient[C]have an intense fear of terrible suffering[D]undergo a cooling off period of seven days14.The author's attitude towards euthanasia seems to be that of[A]opposition[B]suspicion[C]approval[D]indifferencePassage 2A report consistently brought back by visitors to the US is how friendly,courteous,and helpful most Americanswere to them.To be fair,this observation is also frequently made of Canada and Canadians,and should best beconsidered North American.There are,of course,exceptions.Small-minded officials,rude waiters,and ill-manneredtaxi drivers are hardly unknown in the US.Yet it is an obser vation made so frequently that it deserves comment.For a long period oftime and in many parts of the country,a traveler was a welcome break in an otherwise dullexistence.Dullness and loneliness were common problems of the families who generally lived distant from oneanother.Strangers and travelers were welcome sources of diversion,and brought news of the outside world.The harsh realities of the frontier also shaped this tradition of hospitality.Someone traveling alone,if hungry,injured,or ill,often had nowhere to tum except to the nearest cabin or settlement.It was not a matter of choice for thetraveler or merely a charitable impulse on the part of the settlers.It reflected the harshness of daily life:if you didn'ttake in the stran