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  3. In the USA, 85% of the population over the age if 21 approve of the death penalty. In the many states whcih still have the death

In the USA, 85% of the population over the age if 21 approve of the death penalty. In the many states whcih still have the death

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问题     In the USA, 85% of the population over the age if 21 approve of the death penalty. In the many states whcih still have the death penalty, some use the electric chair, which can take up to 20 minutes to kill, while others use gas or lethal injection.
    The first of these was the case of Ruth Ellis who was hanged for shooting her lover in what was generally regarded as a crime of passion. The second was hanged for murders which, it was later proved, had been committed by someone else.
    The pro-hanging lobby uses four main arguments to support its call for the reintroduction of capital punishment. First there is the deterrence theory, which argues that potential murderers would think twice before committing the act if they knew that they might die if they were caught. The armed bank robber might, likewise, go back to being unarmed.
    The other two arguments are more suspect. The idea of retribution demands that criminals should get what they deserve: if a murderer intentionally set out to commit a crime, he should accept the consequences. Retribution, which is just another word for revenge, is supported by the religious doctrine of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
    The arguments against the death penalty are largely humanitarian. But there are also statistical reasons for opposing it: the deterrence figures do not add up. In Britain,1903 was the the record year for executions and yet in 1904 the number of murders actually rose. There was a similar occurrence in 1946 and 1947. If the deterrence theory were correct, the rate should have fallen.
    The other reasons to oppose the death penalty are largely a mather of individual conscience and belief. One is that murder is murder and that the state has no more right to take a lifer than the individual. The other is that Christianity advises forgiveness, not revenge.  
According to the first four paragraphs, which of the following statements is NOT correct?
选项 A、Ruth Ellis was shot by his lover, which was regarded as a crime of passion.
B、The death penalty may help the potential murderers to arouse moral awareness.
C、The intentional murderer should eat his own bitter fruit.
D、According to the religious doctrine, punishment should be as severe as the injury suffere.
答案A
解析 意为：露丝·埃利斯被其情人枪杀，这种犯罪被视作“因情犯罪”(a passion of crime)。第二段指出，死刑案例之一是露丝·埃利斯案件，露丝·埃利斯因枪杀自己的情人被处以绞刑，这类犯罪通常被视为“因情犯罪”。可见，受害者应该是露丝·埃利斯的情人，而不是她自己。B意为：施行死刑可以使可能犯罪的杀手良心发现。即：如果杀人犯清楚地知道杀人会偿命，他也许会因为恐惧死亡而终止犯罪。第三段指出，赞成极刑的人认为应该将极刑(capital punishment)重新写入刑法，他们用四种论点支持自己的主张，其中之一即所谓的终止理论(deterrence theory)，即：如果杀人犯知道被捕后会被处以死刑，他们在犯罪前就会三思而后行。同样，持枪抢劫银行的罪犯也可能回心转意。可见，这些人不赞成某些州废除死刑的做法，他们主张利用罪犯犯罪前可能产生的恐惧心理有效地遏制犯罪。C意为：故意杀人者应自食其果。第四段指出，另外两种论点就不那么令人信服了。“偿债”意味着罪犯应自食其果：如果杀人犯故意杀人，他应该承担由此产生的后果。“偿债”与“报复”(revenge)同义，与“以血还血，以牙还牙”的教义相一致。D意为：根据教义，应该量刑定罪。这就是所谓的“以血还血，以牙还牙。”
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