英美报刊选读 考到的课本问题及答案

Lesson Eleven

Is America’s new declinism for real

1. What is the difference between the latest global trends report and the one issued four years ago?

The latest report foresees world in which the US plays a prominent role in global events，but

the US is seen as one among many global actors\ \

2. What does \

It means that Americans，especially the

intellectuals，think that America is in decline. They have lost the aggressive confidence of the Bush years and the \It is new because there were times in US history when people had similar thoughts.

3. What are the reasons of the new declinism?

There are three reasons：First，the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have made it clear that US military supremacy does not automatically translate into political victory. Second，the rise of China and India suggests that America’s days as the world’s largest economy are numbered. Third, the financial crisis has fed the notion that the US is living beyond its means and that something is badly wrong with the American model.

4. What does William Wohlforth of Dartmouth College think of the new declinism?

He pointed out that America may recover from the new declinism just like before and there may be a resurgence of American confidence.

5. Why does the writer think that the new declinism may be more soundly based than the previous ones?

Because he thinks that China may pose more challenge to the US than the Soviet Union and Japan since it has a large size and a record of sustained and dynamic economic growth..

6. What do you think of America’s decline? And China’s rise? Open

Lesson Fifteen

Libby Defense Portrays Client as a Scapegoat

1. For what was I. Lewis Libby charged?

Mr. Libby was charged for perjury and obstruction of justice because he was considered to have lied to investigators. He was charged with five felony accounts of lying to the grand jury and to officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who were investigating the leak of Ms. Wilson's name to Mr. Novak.

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2. How did Libby defend himself on the charges of perjury and obstruction of justice?

Mr. Libby said that he believed he first learned about Ms. Wilson in a conversation with Tim Russert of NBC. He also told the grand jury that he had been taken aback by Mr. Russert’s information. He had testified that he did not discuss Ms. Wilson’s identity with Judith Miller，a former reporter for The Times,or with Matthew Cooper of Time magazine.

3. How did Mr. Wells defend Mr. Libby?

Trying to present the case as hopelessly complicated as possible, Mr. Wells spoke for nearly two and a half hours to leave the jurors in doubt about the validity of the charges. And he asserted that Mr. Libby had become enmeshed in legal difficulty because of White House efforts to protect Mr. Rove.

4. Why did the White House intend to protect Mr. Rove?

Because Mr. Rove was Mr. Bush’s right-hand man and \most responsible for seeing the Republican Party stayed in office.”And he had a major role in guiding Mr. Bush's re-election campaign.

5. Do you think the Bush administration had distorted intelligence about Iraqi efforts to obtain uranium? Why or why not?

Yes，I think so. Because the weapons of mass destruction have not been found up to now.

6. How do you understand Mr. Cheney’s words that \the guy who was asked to stick his neck in the meat grinder because of the incompetence of others?\

Mr. Cheney means that he is not going to sacrifice Libby just for the purpose of protecting Mr. Rove.

Mr. Cheney means that he is not going to sacrifice Libby just for the purpose of protecting Mr. Rove.

Lesson Eighteen A Race We Can All Win

1. What are the different views between the author and some other American politicians on China? Why does he think so?

Many American politicians have played tovoters’ economic insecurities by scapegoating China，while the author believes that China is not a threat to America，but an incredible opportunity. Since the author has worked 35 years in the private sector, and has run the nation's largest city for 6 years.

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2. What does the author see behind the growing Chinese economy?

Although China emerges as an economic dynamo，the author has also seen the frailties underpinning its system. The increasingly congested roads and polluted air choke its economy and its people. The growth of cities is also exposing other fundamental long-term economic challenges，for instance，the education system is simply not producing enough skilled workers--- engineers，doctors，scientists and mangers. At the same time，health-care costs are skyrocketing.

3. What common problems do both China and America meet? Give an example to illustrate how China is solving these problems.

Both China and America have congestion，pollution，education, and rising health-care costs.

4. Compared with China，what are the advantages for America to solve these problems? Do you agree with the author?

The author advocates that America has a system of government that is far less corrupt and far more stable，owing to American democratic politics，free press and open, transparent markets.

5. In the author's opinion, how can America meet the challenge?

The Americans should prevent themselves from slowing down, which means overcoming the political inertia that has stopped them from investing in the 21st-century infrastructure that they need.

6. Do you agree with the author’s opinions about China and the US? Please illustrate your own views with some examples. Open.

Lesson Nineteen

Why the Monarchy Must Stay

1. What was Mr. Churchill’s view on Britain’s system of government? Do you agree with

him?

a. he thought it was the best that man had yet devised though it was imperfect.

b. Open.

2. What role does Queen Elizabeth II play? Can she play a better role than an American president in a sense? Explain.

a. she, as head of state, carries out ceremonial duties, and takes the political accountability while remaining above politics and taking no sides in any political debate.

b. In the author’s view, she can. An American president is also the leader of a political party, so he can’t remain above politics.

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3. What power does Queen Elizabeth II have/ does Her Majesty have the real power to choose a prime minister? Why or why not?

a. she can choose a prime minister, dissolve Parliament and declare war.b. No. she is a figurehead bound by the tradition, constitution and laws of the nation. She does it on the advice of Parliament.

4. If the monarchy were abolished, what would things in Britain be like?

The government, Parliament, nation, and Commonwealth would be turned upside down. Every nut and bolt of every one of Britain’s major institutions would have to be altered to make way for change.

5. Do you know any scandals about some members of the royal family? Be specific.

There are a couple of scandals involving the Queen’s sister and children. Apart from Camillagate卡米拉门and Squidgygate鱿鱼门事件, it was reported that Princess Michael ofKent had an affair with oil tycoon John Ward Hunt, a relative of the fabulously wealthy Bunker Hunt of Houston, U. S. A.

6. Why must the monarchy stay? Can it keep a politician from holding all the powers? Do you think the monarchy must go? State the reasons.

a. In the author’s view , it has served both the British Empire and the Commonwealth with great distinction. Besides, it is legitimate and accords with traditions.

b. Yes, it can, but it is not the monarchy but the parliamentary democracy that can keep a politician from holding all the powers and becoming a dictator.

c. It depends. It is the British people that can decide its future.

Lesson Twenty

The Coming Conflict in the Arctic

1. What issues would the two heads of states discuss at the Lobster Summit at

Kennebunkport?

Putin and Bush spent most of their time at the “lobster summit” discussing how to prevent the growing tensions between their two countries caused by missile defense in Europe and the final status of Kosovo.

2. What’s the real purpose of Russia’s claim to the vast area of the ice covered Arctic seabed?

The claim is not really about territory, but rather about the huge hydrocarbon reserves that are hidden on the seabed under the Arctic ice cap. Since these newly discovered energy reserves will play a crucial role in the global energy balance as the existing reserves of oil and gas will be depleted over the next 20 years. And the Russian government wants to secure Russia’s long-term dominance over global energy markets.

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3. Why are the Arctic reserves so attractive to Arctic-rim countries?

Because the whole world is in danger of depleting natural resources, and scientists estimate that the Arctic territory contains more than 10 billion tons of gas and oil deposits. That’s why the Arctic reserves will be of such crucial importance to the world’s energy future, though they are still largely unexplored.

4. Why doesn’t international Law recognize Russia’s right to the entire Arctic seabed north of the Russian coastline?

The U.S. government has been jealous of Russia’s attempts to project its dominance in the energy sector and has sought to limit opportunities for Russia to control export routes and energy deposits outside Russia’s territory. As a result, it refused to recognize Russia’s claim to the entire Arctic seabed and blocked the anticipated Russian bid.

5. What is the viable scientific evidence supporting Russia's claim? What has boosted Russia's claim over the oil- and gas-rich triangle?

After a group of Russian geologists taking a six-week voyage to the Lomonosov Ridge, they claimed the ridge was linked to Russian Federation territory. Their research boosted Russia’s claim over the oil-and gas-rich triangle. The latest findings are likely to prompt Russia to lodge another bid at the UN to secure its rights over the Arctic sea shelf.

6. What is the US government’s attitude to the Russian claim? Why did President Bush urge the Senate to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention?

The US government refused to recognize Russia’s claim and blocks the bid. President Bush urge the Senate to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention because , if the Senate ratified the Law of the Sea Convention, U. S. would have the same right to claim a 12 mile zone for territorial waters and a larger 200 mile economic zone in the Arctic territory.

7. Why did the author say that it promises to be a tough fight?

If the Russian government wants to get its Arctic claim approved, it should have a tough diplomatic fight with other countries, especially the U. S. government.

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