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  18
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 does the author think of the post-conviction laws and rules?
选项 A、They help to maintain social stability.
B、Some of them have long been outdated.
C、They are hardly understood by the public.
D、A lot of them have negative effects on society.
答案D
解析 观点态度题。文章第六段提到，一些法律是合理的。第七段则指出，这些法律同样会产生相反的效果，因为它们加大了有犯罪前科的人租房、就业的难度，而这两个因素正是可以让他们避免重蹈覆辙的关键因素。由此可知，作者对于一些法律、法规并不赞同，认为是对有犯罪前科的人的不公平对待，使得他们无法改过自新而危及社会，故答案为D).
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