Question

Something Fun

A person is on trial for murder in a court room in Oklahoma. There is strong evidence indicating that he is guilty（有罪的）. However, the body is not found.

In the defense’s (辩护方) closing speech, the lawyer, knowing that his client (委托人) is guilty and that it looks like he’ll probably be seriously punished, decided to play a clever trick.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury (陪审团), I have a surprise for you all,” the lawyer says as he looks at his watch. “Within one minute, the person assumed dead in this case will walk into this court room,” he says and he looks towards the court-room door. The jury, somewhat surprised, looks at the door eagerly. A minute passes. Nothing happens.

Finally the lawyer says, “Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all waited with expectation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is a reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you pass a judgment of not guilty.”

The jury, clearly confused, back off to discuss.

A very few minutes later, the jury returned and one of them pronounces a verdict (裁决) of guilty.

“But how?” asks the lawyer in surprise. “You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door.”

Answers the jury member, “Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t.”

1.Why was the person on trial according to the passage?

A.Because he couldn’t pay off the debts.

B.Because he probably killed somebody.

C.Because he didn’t pay the tax in time.

D.Because he planned to cheat the jury.

2.Why did the lawyer come up with the trick?

A.To find the body. B.To frighten the jury.

C.To help his client. D.To save himself.

3.Why did the jury look at the door eagerly?

A.The lawyer’s words must be true.

B.They expected his family to come in.

C.They were surprised and cheated by the lawyer.

D.They thought the person on trial was escaping.

4.What did the jury member’s answer mean in the last paragraph?

A.They firmly believed that nobody was killed.

B.The behaviour of the client gave him away.

C.The jury still needed more evidence to prove it.

D.The lawyer’s words were worth thinking about.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文，主要讲述在俄克拉荷马州一间法庭上审判犯人的一个小故事。辩方律师想通过小把戏为其当事人谋得无罪释放，但最终陪审团识破而且判处当事人有罪。

1.细节理解题。根据“There is strong evidence indicating that he is guilty（有罪的）. However, the body is not found.”可知已经有强有力的证据证明当事人是有罪的，只不过还没有找到尸体，因此当事人可能是因为杀人罪而被审判的，故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据文章“In the defense’s (辩护方) closing speech, the lawyer, knowing that his client (委托人) is guilty and that it looks like he’ll probably be seriously punished, decided to play a clever trick.”可知，这位律师知道他的委托人是有罪的并且会受到严重的惩罚，但是作为律师，他的职责就是要帮助他的当事人摆脱罪名，因此他决定玩小把戏是为了帮助他的当事人摆脱罪名，故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据文章“The jury, somewhat surprised, looks at the door eagerly. A minute passes. Nothing happens. ”可知陪审团对于律师的话感到很惊讶，但是最终什么也没发生，因此陪审团知道是被律师骗了，故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据 “Answers the jury member, “Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t.” 可知陪审团成员的意思是我们的确盯着门看，但是当事人没有，因此推断出当事人不相信律师的话，故选B。