against enslaved African-Americans continued under racial segregation for nearly another century.
The fundamental problem of American democracy in the 21st century is the problem of “structural
racism” the deep patterns of socio-economic inequality and accumulated disadvantage that are
coded by race, and constantly justified in public speeches by both racist stereotypes and white
indifference. Do Americans have the capacity and vision to remove these structural barriers that
deny democratic rights and opportunities to millions of their fellow
citizens?
This country has previously witnessed two great struggles to achieve a truly multicultural
democracy.
The First Reconstruction (1865-1877) ended slavery and briefly gave black men voting rights,
but gave no meaningful compensation for two centuries of unpaid labor. The promise of “40 acres
and a mule (骡子)”was for most blacks a dream deferred (尚未实现的).
The Second Reconstruction (1954-1968), or the modern civil rights movement, ended legal
segregation in public accommodations and gave blacks voting rights . But these successes
paradoxically obscure the tremendous human costs of historically accumulated disadvantage that
remain central to black Americans’ lives.
The disproportionate wealth that most whites enjoy today was first constructed from
centuries of unpaid black labor. Many white institutions, including some leading universities,
insurance companies and banks, profited from slavery. This pattern of white privilege and black
inequality continues today.
Demanding reparations (赔偿) is not just about compensation for slavery and segregation. It
is, more important, an educational campaign to highlight the contemporary reality of “racial
deficits” of all kinds, the unequal conditions that impact blacks regardless of class. Structural
racism’s barriers include “equity inequity.” the absence of black capital formation that is a direct
consequence of America’s history. One third of all black households actually have negative net
wealth. In 1998 the typical black family’s net wealth was ＄16,400, less than one fifth that of
white families.
Black families are denied home loans at twice the rate of whites.
Blacks remain the last hired and first fired during recessions.
During the 1990-91 recession. African-Americans suffered disproportionately. At Coca-Cola,
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42 percent of employees who lost their jobs were blacks. At Sears, 54 percent were black, Blacks
have significantly shorter life spans, in part due to racism in the health establishment. Blacks are
statistically less likely than whites to be referred for kidney transplants or early-stage cancer
surgery.
36. To the author, the auction of his great-grandfather is a typical example of____.
A) crime against humanity
B) unfair business transaction
C) racial conflicts in Georgia
D) racial segregation in America
37. The barrier to democracy in 21st century America is____.
A) widespread use of racist stereotypes
B) prejudice against minority groups
C) deep-rooted socio-economic inequality
D) denial of legal rights to ordinary blacks
38. What problem remains unsolved in the two Reconstructions?
A) Differences between races are deliberately obscured.
B) The blacks are not compensated for their unpaid labor.
C) There is no guarantee for blacks to exercise their rights.
D) The interests of blacks are not protected by law.
39. It is clear that the wealth enjoyed by most whites____.
A) has resulted from business successes over the years
B) has been accompanied by black capital formation
C) has derived from sizable investments in education
D) has been accumulated from generations of slavery
40. What does the author think of the current situation regarding racial discrimination?
A) Racism is not a major obstacle to blacks’ employment.
B) Inequality of many kinds remains virtually untouched
C) A major step has been taken towards reparations.
D) Little has been done to ensure blacks’ civil rights.
Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)
Direction: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there
are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best
completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with
a single line through the centre.
41. Because of the of its ideas, the book was in wide circulation both at home and
abroad.
A)originality B) subjectivity
C) generality D) ambiguity
42. With its own parliament and currency and a common ___ for peace, the European
Union declared itself—in 11 official languages—open for business.
A) inspiration B) assimilation
C) intuition D) aspiration
43. America has now adopted more _________ European-style inspection systems, and the
incidence of food poisoning is falling.
A) discrete B) solemn
C) rigorous D) autonomous
44. Mainstream pro-market economists all agree that competition is an ___ spur to
efficiency and innovation.
A) extravagant B) exquisite
C) intermittent D) indispensable
45. In the late 19th century, Jules Verne, the master of science fiction, foresaw many of the
technological wonders that are ___ today.
A) transient B) commonplace
C) implicit D) elementary
46. I was so ___ when I used the automatic checkout lane in the supermarket for the first
time.
A) immersed B) assaulted
C) thrilled D) dedicated
47. His arm was ___ from the shark’s mouth and reattached, but the boy, who already
died, remained in a delicate condition.
A)retrieved B) retained
C) repelled D) restored
48. Bill Gates and Walt Disney are two people America has ___ to be the Greatest
American.
A) appointed B) appeased
C) nicknamed D) dominated
49. The ___ majority of citizens tend to believe that the death penalty will help decrease
the crime rate.
A) overflowing B) overwhelming
C) prevalent D) premium
50. We will also see a ___ increase in the number of televisions per household, as small