Question

America used to have a strong college education system for prison inmates (prisoners). It was seen as a way to rehabilitate men and women in prison by helping them go straight when they got out.

Those taxpayer-supported college classes were put to an end in the 1990s. But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo would like to bring them back in the state, setting off a fierce new debate.

A number of lawmakers in New York have promised to kill Cuomo’s proposal (提议).

Cuomo says reintroducing taxpayer-funded college classes in New York’s prisons is a common-sense plan that will reduce the number of inmates who commit new crimes.

“You pay $ 60,000 for a prison cell for a year,” Cuomo responded. “You put a guy away for 10 years, and that’s $600,000. Right now, chances are almost half. Once he’s set free, he’s going to come right back.”

Cuomo says helping inmates get a college education would cost about $ 5,000 a year per person. He argues, “It’s a small amount of money if it keeps that inmate from bouncing back into prison.”

But even some members of the governor’s own party hate this idea. State Assemblywoman Addie Russell, whose upstate district includes three state prisons, says taxpayers just won’t stand for inmates getting a free college education, while middle-class families struggle to pay for their kids’ college fees.

“That is the vast majority of feedback (反馈) that I’m also getting from my constituents (选民)，” she says. “You know, ‘Where is the relief for the rest of the population who obey the law ?’ ”

“I was very disappointed that the policy had been changed,” says Gerald Gaes, who served as an expert on college programs for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the 1990s. In 1994, President Clinton stopped federal student aid programs for inmates.

Gaes says research shows that college classes actually save taxpayers’ money over time, by reducing the number of inmates who break the law and wind up back in those expensive prison cells.

“It is cost-effective,” he says. “Designing prisons that way will have a long-term benefit for New York State.”

1.The underlined word “rehabilitate” probably means “          ”.

A．let people know more about prisoners.

B．help someone have a normal life again.

C．allow prisoners to experience the world.

D．encourage someone to help other people.

2.What is the debate about ?

A．Lawmakers’ rights in New York.

B．College classes for New York’s citizens.

C．Higher education in New York’s prisons.

D．Punishments given to New York’s criminals.

3.Cuomo does the calculations to prove           .

A．almost half of prisoners are likely to come back into prison.

B．college classes for inmates can save taxpayers’ money.

C．the costs of running prisons in the US are on the rise.

D．it is very difficult to reduce the number of inmates.

4.Most of Russell’s constituents believe Cuomo’s proposal           .

A．is unfair to middle-class families.

B．will benefit citizens obeying laws.

C．will be useless for improving prisons.

D．is based on most taxpayers’ feedback.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文是议论文。美国纽约州正在激烈辩论足 否应该向犯人提供高等教育的问题。

1.B 词义猜测题。根据本文第一句America used to have a strong college education system for prison inmates (prisoners).美国人过去常常对囚犯进行严格的学校教育，希望囚犯在出狱以后，能够正常的生活。可以推断“rehabilitate”应该是“使某人重新复正常生活”的意思。故B正确。

2.C。推理判断题。根据第二段Those taxpayer-supported college classes were put to an end in the 1990s. But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo would like to bring them back in the state, setting off a fierce new debate.可知对囚犯进行教育的活动在20世纪九十年代结束了，但是Andrew Cuomo想重新开始这样做，引起了热烈的讨论。可知这是一场关于纽约州监狱内是否进行高等教育问题的辩论。故C正确。

3.B.推理判断题。由第五、六两段可知，Cuomo 州长进行这些估算是为了证明面向犯人的大学课程能够为纳税人省钱。想说服他们这样做是正确的。故B正确。

4.A.细节理解题。由第八段最后一句taxpayers just won’t stand for inmates getting a free college education, while middle-class families struggle to pay for their kids’ college fees.大多数纳税人无法容忍给囚犯提供免费的大学教育，而中产阶级的人却要辛苦工作，挣扎着给孩子支付大学学费。说明人们认为这项提议对中产阶级是不公平的。故A项正确。

考点：考查议论文阅读