高級英語期末考試試卷及答案A卷

第1學(xué)期

高級英語（第一冊）A卷

Directions:

1.WriteallyouranswersontheAnswerSheet.

2.YoumusthandinbothyourtestbookandyourAnswerSheet.

I.Vocabulary:Choosetheappropriatewordtofillintheblank.Youmayhave

tochangetheformofthewordinsomesentences.(10%)

1.Iftheworkweredonewecouldpaywell.

silentdiscreetcarefulsecret

2.Astheoffenderhiscrime,hewasdealtwithleniently.

admitconfess

3.Asaresult,thenervesoftheDukeandDuchesswerefrayedwhenthebuzzerofthe

outerdooreventuallysounded,

silentmute

4.Severalstrongmenwereneededtoopenandclosethegatestothecastle.

massivehugegreatbiggigantic

5.Thehousedetectivetookhistime,puffingacloudofbluecigarsmoke,

leisurelyslowlyunhurriedly

6.Toaskwhattheofcomputersareislikeaskingwhataretheapplicationsofelectricity,

usageapplicationpractice

7.MostAmericansrememberMarkTwainasthefatherofHuckFinn'sidylliccruisethrough

boyhood.

endlesspermanenteternal

8.Itwouldbe,butnomorethanwaitinghereforcertaindetection

periloushazardousparlouschancy

9.Itgrowslouderandmoreuntilyouroundacomerandseeafairylandofdancingflashes,

astheburnishedcoppercatchesthelightoflampsandbraziers.

distinct,innumerableclear,countlessdistinct,numerable

10.IwasofferedmyteachingjobbackbutI.LaterIbecameageologistforanoil

company.

refusedrejecteddeclined

11.IwasagaincrushedbythethoughtthatIstoodontheofthefirstatomic

bombardment.

spotsiteplacearea

12.JustastheIndustrialRevolutiontookovera(n)rangeoftasksfrommen's

musclesandenormouslyexpandedproductivity,sothemicrocomputerisrapidlyassuming

hugeburdensofdrudgeryfromthehumanbrain.

immenseenormousnumeroushuge

13.Thepooroldmandiedofatthehandoftheslave-owner.

mistreatmentill-treatment

14.MarkTwainhadbecomeaverymanduringhislaterlife,whichwasreflectedinhis

writings.Hebelievedthattheworldwaswrong,wherepeopleachievednothing.

sarcasticironiccynicalsentimental

15.Thisisthelawyerwhoislikelytowinthewholenation'sattention.

cleverintelligentremarkablebrilliant

16.Theofcomputersareincreasingatafantasticrate.

ablecapable

17.Ifhedoesguesscorrectly,hewillpricetheitemhigh,andlittleinthebargaining

produceresignsurrenderyield

18.ThefewAmericansandGermansseemedjustasasIwas.

constraincurbinhibitwithhold

19.Theywouldalsoliketotheatomicmuseum,

demolishdestroyruinsmash

20.Thehousedetective'spiggyeyessurveyedherfromhisgross-jowledface.

sardonicsarcasticironical

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ILSentenceandStructure(30%)

A.Paraphrasethefollowingsentences.Usebriefwords.(20%)

1.Hewillpricetheitemhigh,andyieldlittleinthebargaining.

2.Asyouapproachit,atinklingandbangingandclashingbeginstoimpingeonyourear.

3.ThefewAmericansseemedjustasinhibitedasIwas.

4.IthoughtsomehowIhadbeenspared.

5.IwillunsaynowordthatIhavespokenaboutit.

6.Weshallbestrengthenednotweakenedindeterminationandinresources.

7.Nowwearegettingsomewhere.

8.Thehousedetectivecluckedhistonguereprovingly.

9.InnoareaofAmericanlifeispersonalservicesopreciousasinmedicalcare.

10.Well,thatisCaliforniaallover.

B.Collocation:Choosethemostappropriateexpressiontofilltheblank.(10%)

1.Littlegirlsandelderlyladiesinkimonosteenagersandwomeninwestemdress,

a.rubbedtheshoulderwith

b.rubbedshoulderswith

c.rubbedtheshoulderwith

d.rubbedtheshoulderswith

2.Atlastthisintermezzo,andIfoundmyselfinfrontofthegiganticCityHall.

a.cametoanendb.cametotheend

c.cametoendd.cametoending

3.Thesellermakesapointprotestingthatthepriceheischargingisdeprivinghim

allprofit.

a.of...fromb.from...ofc.of...ofd.from...from

4.Theshop-keepersspeakinslow,measuredtones,andthebuyers.

a.followsuitb.takesuitc.followsuitsd.takesuits

5.Isupposetheywillbeinhordes.

a.gatheredupb.collectedupc.piledupd.roundedup

6.HitlerwashoweverwrongandweshouldtohelpRussia.

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a.makealloutb.makeoutallc.goalloutd.gooutall

7.TheNaziregimeisdevoidallthemeandprincipleexceptappetiteandracial

domination.

a.fromb.ofc.outd.away

8.InJune1941HitlersuddenlyanattackonRussia.

a.launchedb.exertedc.developedd.created

9.Thecustom-madeobjectwillbe.

a.ineveryone'sreachb.withineveryone'sreach

c.ineveryone'stouchd.withineveryone'stouch

10.Thewidestbenefitsoftheelectronicrevolutionwilltheyoung.

a.accruetob.accrueatc.accrueford.accruewith

III.Pleaseidentifythefiguresofspeechusedinthefollowingunderlinedpartsof

thesentences.(10%)

1()Thedinofthestall-holderscryingiheirwares,ofdonkey-boysandporters

clearingawayforthemselvesbyshoutingvigorously,andofwould-bepurchasersarguingand

bargainingiscontinuousandmakesyoudizzy.

2()WasInotatthesceneofthecrime?

3()Ifeltsick,andeverysincethentheyhavebeentestingandtreatingme.

4()IseetheGermanbombersandfightersinthesky,stillsmartingfrommany

aBritishwhipping,delightedtofindwhattheybelieveisaneasierandasaferprey.

5()Wewillneverparley,wewillnevernegotiate…

6()W《shallfighthimbyland,weshallfighthimbysea,weshallfighthimin

theair,until,...

7()Thelatter-dayAladdin,stillsnuglyabed,thenpressesabuttonona

bedsideboxandissuesastringofbusinessandpersonalmemos,whichappearinstantlyonthe

geniescreen.

8()TomSawyer'sendlesssummeroffreedomandadventure.

9()MarkTwaingainedakeenperceptionofthehumanrace,ofthedifference

betweenwhalpeopleclaimtobeandwhalthnyreallyare.

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10()Theinstantrichesofaminingstrikewouldnotbehisinthereportingtrade,

butformakingmoney,hispenwouldprovemightierthanhispickax.

IV.PassageReadingandQuestionAnswering(10%)

Theelectronicrevolutionpromisestoease,enhanceandsimplifylifeinwaysundreamedof

evenbytheUtopians.Athomeoroffice,routinechoreswillbeperformedwithastonishing

efficiencyandspeed.Leisuretime,greatlyincreased,willbegreatlyenriched.Public

education,sooftenadrearyandcapriciousprocessintheU.S.,maybeinvestedwiththe

inspiritingqualityofanOxfordtutorial—formpreschoolon.Medicalcarewillbedelivered

withgreaterprecision.

Letterswillnotsoeasilygoastray.Itwillbesafertowalkthestreetsbecausepeoplewillnot

needtocarrylargeamountsofcash;virtuallyallfinancialtransactionswillbeconductedby

computer.Inthemicroelectronicvillage,thehomewillagainbethecenterofsociety,asit

wasbeforetheIndustrialRevolution.

Massproductionofthemiraclechiphasalreadymadepossiblehomecomputersystemsthat

sellforlessthan$800—priceswillcontinuetofall.Manydomesticdevicesthatuseelectric

powerwillbecomputerized.Eventuallythehouseholdcomputerwillbeasmuchapartofthe

homeasthekitchensink;itwillprogramwashingmachines,burglarandfirealarms,sewing

machines,arobotvacuumcleanerandamachinethatwillrinseandstackdirtydishes.When

somethinggoeswrongwithanapplianceaquestiontothecomputerwillelicitrepair

instructions—infuturegenerations,repairswillbemadeautomatically.Energycostswillbe

cutbyacomputerizeddevicethatwilldirectheattolivingareaswhereitisneeded,andturn

itdownwhereitisnot;thedevice'subiquitouseye,sensingwherepeopleareatalltimes,

willsimilarlyturnthelightsonandoffasneeded.

Paperclutterwilldisappearashomeinformationmanagementsystemstakeoverfrommemo

pads,notebooks,files,billsandthekitchenbulletinboard.

A.Writeasummaryofthispassageinabout50words.(6%).

B.Answerthefollowingquestionsinonesentence.(4%)

1.Whatwillthefuturehomeorofficelooklike?

2.Howdoyouthinkthefutureelectricapplianceswillwork?

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V.Readingcomprehension(40%)

A.MultipleChoice

Passage1

INK-STAINEDRICHES:

Mencken,theDaddyofBad-BoyPunditry

InhisessayonH.L.Menckenentitled“SavingaWhaleZ，journalistMurrayKemptonpointsout

that“whalesaretheonlymammalsthatthemuseumshavenevermanagedtostuffandmountintheir

originalskins.^^lbKempton,Menckenisaverygreatwhalewho,almost40yearsafterhisdeath,still

defiescriticaltaxonomy.Thatisputtingitpolitely.Menckenindeathprovokesasmuchvitriolashe

didwhileliving.hehasbeencalledaracist,ahumanitarian,anarchconservativeandagreatliberal,

andthethornyfactis,hewasallthosethings.Nobodyknowswhattomakeofamanwhoturnedhis

diaryintoamanurepileofanti-SemitismatthesametimehewasworkingdiligentlytogetJewsout

ofHitler'sGermany.

BiographershavebeenstrugglingtotakeMencken\measuresincethe1920s.FredHobson's

Mencken...isthelatestandbestattempt.HobsonisthefirstofMencken'sbiographerstouseallthe

posthumouslypublisheddiaries,wherethe“SageofBaltimore^^ventedhismostodiousbigotriesand

wherehemostclearlyrevealedthealienationandlonelinessattheheartofhispersonality.Hobson

doesnottrytoresolvethecontradictionsinMencken'spersonality.Instead,hewiselyusesthisnew

materialtoportrayMenckenasamanforeverinconflictwithhimself,thecarefreecutupcoexisting

withthecontrolfreak,thecomicwiththetragedian.Eventually—atleastadecadebeforethe1948

strokethatrobbedhimoftheabilitytoreadorwrite—Mencken'sdarkerangelstookchargeofhis

soul.In1942,hewrote,“Ihavespentallofmy62yearshere,butIstillfinditimpossibletofitmyself

intotheacceptedpatternsofAmericanlifeandthought.Afteralltheseyears,Iremainaforeigner.”

ButasHobsonpointsout,thedarknesswasthereallalong,andthemiracleisthatoutofthis

almostparalyzingbleakness,Menckenwasonceabletospinexuberant,laceratingprosethatisas

funnyasitisessentiallyserious.Atthepeakofhispowers,inthe'20sandearly430s,heslaughtered

everysacredcowinsight,fromProhibitiontofundamentalism.Butashardashecouldbeon

hillbilliesandKlansmen,hewasevenharderonprofessors:"Ofathousandheadofsuchdulldrudges

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notten,withtheirdoctors*dissertationsbehindthem,evercontributesomuchasaflyspecktothesum

ofhumanknowledge."Coiningphraseslike“theBiblebelt“andaphorismslike""Democracyisthe

theorythatthecommonpeopleknowwhattheywant,anddeservetogetitgoodandhard,“Mencken

lefthisindecorousfingerprintsalloverAmericanthoughtandspeech.

Asanewspapercolumnist,amagazineeditorandabookwriter,Menckenradicallybroadened

thescopeandraisedthestandardsofAmericanjournalism.Butmostimportant,heprovedthatan

intellectualcouldthriveinthepopularpress....

ManyhaveimitatedMencken'sstyle....

Butthesadfactis,Mencken'sdisciplesarenotMencken.Flawsandall,hewasinimitable.As

Hobsonsays,“Hewasournay-sayingWhitman,and...hesoundedhisownbarbaricyapovertheroofs

ofthetimidandthefearful,thecontentedandthesmug."Withhischeapcigarsandhishick'shaircut,

andwithhisgaudy,orotundprose,helooksandsoundslikeanold-fashionedvaudevillian....Asnice

asitwouldbetostickthiscurmudgeonly,politicallyincorrectreliconabackshelfandforgetabout

him,weneedhisrancortoomuch.Betterthananyone,hestillinstructsusonthevalueoftheloyal

opposition.Athisbest,hemadehisreadersthinkandhekeptthemhonest.Nojournalistcouldwanta

betterepitaph.

1.KemptonthinksthatMenckenwas

[AJahugeman.|B]beyondreproach.[CJlargerthanlife.[D]hardtoclassify.

2.Hobson'sbiographyisatypicalofpreviousbooksabutMenckenbecauseit

[A]suessamplesofMencken'sprose,[Blcreatesaone-sidedportrait.

[C]glossesoverinconsistencies.[D]usesmaterialMenckenneverpublished.

3.Menckenisprobablybestcharacterizedasa/an

[A]optimist.[B]pessimist.[C]enthusiast.[D]defeatist.

4.Accordingtotheauthorofthepassage,Mencken'sproseis

[A]pedantic.[B]prosaic.[C]pungent.[D]poetic.

5.ThereviewerbelievesthatMencken'sworkshouldbeappreciatedbecause

[A]ithashistoricvalue.

[B]itremindsAmericansoftheimportanceofdissent.

[C]Menckenwasanexcellentreporter.

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[D]Menckencannotbecopied.

Passage2

THEDEATHOFASPOUSE

Formuchoftheworld,thedeathofRichardNixonwastheendofacomplexpubliclife.But

researcherswhostudybereavementwonderedifitdidn'lalsosignifytheendofaprivategrief.Had

theformerpresidentmerelyrunhisallottedfourscoreandone,orhadhefallenvictimtoapatternthat

seemstoafflictlongtimemarriedcouples:onespousequicklyfollowingtheothertothegrave?

Pat,Nixon5swifeof53years,diedlastJuneafteralongillness.Nooneknowsforsurewhether

herdeathcontributedtohis.Afterall,hewaselderlyandhadahistoryofseriousheartdisease.

Researchershavelongobservedthatthedeathofaspouseparticularlyawifeissometimesfollowed

bytheuntimelydeathofthegrievingsurvivor.HistorianWillDurantdied13daysafterhiswifeand

collaborator,Ariel;BickminsterFullerandhiswifediedjust36hoursapart.Isthismorethan

coincidence?

“Partofthestory,Isuspect,isthatwemenaresousedtoladiesfeedingusandtakingcareof

us,“saysKnudHelsing,anepidemiologistattheJohnsHopkinsSchoolofPublicHealth,"thatwhen

weloseawifewegotopieces.Wedon'tknowhowtotakecareofourselves."Inoneofseveral

studiesHelsinghasconductedonbereavement,hefoundthatwidowedmenhadhighermortalityrates

thanmarriedmenineveiyagegroup.But,hefoundthatwidowerswhoremarriedenjoyedthesame

lowermortalityrateasmenwho'dneverbeenwidowed.

Women'shealthandresiliencemayalsosufferafterthelossofaspouse.Ina1987studyof

widows,researchersformtheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles,andUC,SanDiego,foundthat

theyhadadramaticdeclineinlevelsofimportantimmune-systemcellsthatfightoffdisease.Earlier

studiesshowedreducedimmunityinwidowers.

Forbothmenandwomen,thestressoflosingaspousecanhaveaprofoundeffect.4tAllsortsof

potentiallyharmfulmedicalproblemscanbeworsened,nsaysGeraldDavison,professorof

psychologyattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.Peoplewithhighbloodpressure,forexample,

mayseeitrise.InNixon'scase,Davisonspeculates,4tthestroke,althoughnotcauseddirectlybythe

stress,wasprobablyhastenedbyit."Depressioncanaffectthesurvivingspouse'swilltolive;suicide

ratesareelevatedinthebereaved,alongwithaccidentsnotinvolvingcars.

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Involvementinlifehelpsprolongit.Mortality,saysDukeUniversitypsychiatristDanielBalzer,

ishigherinolderpeoplewithoutagoodsocial-supportsystem,whodon'tfeelthey'repartofagroup

orafamily,thatthey“fitin“somewhere.Andthat'sacommonproblemformen,whotendnotto

haveasmanyclosefriendshipsaswomen.Thesuddenabsenceofroutinescanalsobeahealthhazard,

saysBlazer.t4Apersonwholosesaspouseshowsdeteriorationinnonnalhabitslikesleepingand

eating,”hesays.'Theydon'thavethatotherpersontoorientthem,likewhendoyougotobed,when

doyouwakeup,whendoyoueat,whendoyoutakeyourmedication,whendoyougoouttotakea

walk?Yourpatternisnolongerlockedintosomeoneelse'spattern,soitdeteriorates.”

Whileearlierstudiessuggestedthatthefirstsixmonthstoayear-oreventhefirstweek-were

timesofhighermortalityforthebereaved,somenewerstudiesfindnospecialvulnerabilityinthis

initialperiod.Mostmenandwomen,ofcoursedonotdieasaresultofthelossofaspouse.Andthere

arewaystoimprovetheodds.Astrongsenseofseparateidentityandlackofover-dependencyduring

themarriagearehelpful.Adultsonsanddaughters,siblingsandfriendsneedtopayspecialattention

toanewlywidowedparent.Theycanmakesurethatheorsheissocializing,gettingpropernutrition

andmedicalcare,expressingemotionand,aboveall,feelingneededandappreciated.

6.Accordingtoresearchers,RichardNixon'sdeathwas

[A]causedbyhisheartproblems.[B]indirectlylinkedtohiswife'sdeath.

[CJtheinevitableresultofoldage.[D]anunexplainableaccident.

7.Theresearchreviewedinthepassagesuggeststhat

[A]remarriedmenlivehealthierlives.fB]unmarriedmenhavethelongestlifespans.

[C]widowershavetheshortestlifespans.[D]widowsareunaffectedbytheirmates'death.

8.Oneoftheresultsofgriefmentionedinthearticleis

[A]lossoffriendships.[B]diminishedsocializing.

[C]vulnerabilitytodisease.[D]lossofappetite.

9.Thepassagestatesthatwhilemarriedcouplescanprepareforgrievingby

[A]beingself-reliant.|B]evadingintimacy.

[C]developinghabits.[D]avoidingindependence.

10.Helsingspeculatesthathusbandssufferfromthedeathofaspousebecausetheyare

[A]unpreparedforindependence.[B]incapableofcooking.

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[C]unwillingtotalk.[D]dissatisfiedwiththemselves.

B.Readthefollowingpassageandanswerthequestions.Youranswersshouldbegivenin

English.Bebriefandstraighttothepoint.(20%)

ThePenaltyofDeath

H.L.Mencken

Oftheargumentsagainstcapitalpunishmentthatissuefromuplifters,twoarecommonly

heardmostoften,towit:

1.Thathangingaman(orfryinghimorgassinghim)isadreadfulbusiness,degradingto

thosewhohavetodoitandrevoltingtothosewhohavetowitnessit.

2.Thatitisuseless,foritdoesnotdeterothersfromthesamecrime.

Thefirstofthesearguments,itseemstome,isplainlytooweaktoneedseriousrefutation.

Allitsays,inbrief,isthattheworkofthehangmanisunpleasant.Granted.Butsupposeitis?It

maybequitenecessarytosocietyforallthat.Thereare,indeed,manyotherjobsthatare

unpleasant,andyetnoonethinksofabolishingthem-thatoftheplumber,thatofthesoldier,that

ofthegarbageman,thatofthepriesthearingconfessions,thatofthesand-hog,andsoon.

Moreover,whatevidenceistherethatanyactualhangmancomplainsofhiswork?Ihaveheard

none.Onthecontrary,Ihaveknownmanywhodelightedintheirancientart,andpracticedit

proudly.

Inthesecondargumentoftheabolitioniststhereisrathermoreforce,butevenhere,Ibelieve,

thegroundunderthemisshaky.Theirfundamentalerrorconsistsinassumingthatthewholeaim

ofpunishingcriminalsistodeterother(potential)criminal--thatwehangorelectrocuteAsimply

inordertosoalarmBthathewillnotkillC.This,Ibelieve,isanassumptionwhichconfusesa

partwiththewhole.Deterrence,obviously,isoneoftheaimsofpunishment,butitissurelynot

theonlyone.Onthecontrary,thereareatleastahalfdozen,andsomeareprobablyquiteas

important.Atleastoneofthem,practicallyconsidered,ismoreimportant.Commonly,itis

describedasrevenge,butrevengeisreallynotthewordforit.Iborrowabettertermfromthelate

Aristotle:katharsis.Katharsis,soused,meansasalubriousdischargeofemotions,ahealthy

lettingoffofsteam.Aschool-boy,dislikinghisteacher,depositsatackuponthepedagogicalchair;

theteacherjumpsandtheboylaughs.Thisiskatharsis.WhatIcontendisthatoneoftheprime

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objectsofalljudicialpunishmentsistoaffordthesamegratefulrelief(a)totheimmediatevictims

ofthecriminalpunished,and(b)tothegeneralbodyofmoralandtimorousmen.

Thesepersons,andparticularlythefirstgroup,areconcernedonlyindirectlywithdeterring

othercriminals.Thethingtheycraveprimarilyisthesatisfactionofseeingthecriminalactually

beforethemsufferashemadethemsuffer.Whattheywantisthepeaceofmindthatgoeswiththe

feelingthataccountsaresquared.Untiltheygetthatsatisfactiontheyareinastateofemotional

tension,andhenceunhappy.Theinstanttheygetittheyarecomfortable.Idonotarguethatthis

yearningisnoble;Isimplyarguethatitisalmostuniversalamonghumanbeings.Inthefaceof

injuriesthatareunimportantandcanbebornewithoutdamageitmayyieldtohigherimpulses;

thatistosay,itmayyieldtowhatiscalledChristiancharity.Butwhentheinjuryisserious

Christianityisadjourned,andevensaintsreachfortheirside-arms.Itisplainlyaskingtoomuchof

humannaturetoexpectittoconquersonaturalanimpulse.Akeepssstoreandhasabookkeeper,

B.Bsteals$700,employsitisplayingatdiceorbingo,andiscleanedout.WhatisAtodo?LetB

go?Ifhedoessohewillbeunabletosleepatnight.Thesenseofinjury,ofinjustice,offrustration

willhaunthimlikepruritus.SoheturnsBovertothepolice,andtheyhustleBtoprison.

ThereafterAcansleep.More,hehaspleasantdreams.HepicturesBchainedtothewallofa

dungeonahundredfeetunderground,devouredbyratsandscorpions.Itissoagreeablethatit

makeshimforgethis$700,Hehasgothiskatharsis.

Thesamethingpreciselytakesplaceonalargerscalewhenthereisacrimewhichdestroysa

wholecommunity'ssenseofsecurity.Everylaw-abidingcitizenfeelsmenacedandfrustrateduntil

thecriminalshavebeenstruckdown---untilthecommunalcapacitytogetevenwiththem,and

morethaneven,hasbeendramaticallydemonstrated.Here,manifestly,thebusinessofdeterring

othersisnomorethananafterthought.Themainthingistodestroytheconcretescoundrelswhose

acthasalarmedeveryone,andthusmakeeveryoneunhappy.Untiltheyarebroughttobookthat

unhappinesscontinues;whenthelawhasbeenexecuteduponthemthereisasighofrelief.In

otherwords,thereiskatharsis.

Iknowofnopublicdemandforthedeathpenaltyforordinarycrimes,evenforordinary

homicides.Itsinflictionwouldshockallmenofnormaldecencyoffeeling.Butforcrimes

involvingthedeliberateandinexcusabletakingofhumanlife,bymenopenlydefiantofall

civilizedorder---forsuchcrimesitseemstoninemenoutoften,ajustandproperpunishment.

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Anylesserpenaltyleavesthemfeelingthatthecriminalhasgotthebetterofsociety-thatheis

freetoaddinsulttoinjurybylaughing.Thatfeelingcanbedissipatedonlybyarecourseto

katharsis,theinventionoftheaforesaidAristotle.Itismoreeffectivelyandeconomically

achieved,ashumannaturenowis,bywaftingthecriminaltorealmsofbliss.

Therealobjectiontocapitalpunishmentdoesn'tlieagainsttheactualexterminationofthe

condemned,butagainstourbrutalAmericanhabitofputtingitoffsolong.Afterall,everyoneof

usmustdiesoonorlate,andamurderer,itmustbeassumed,isonewhomakesthatsadfactthe

cornerstoneofhismetaphysic.Butitisonethingtodie,andquiteanotherthingtolieforlong

monthsandevenyearsundertheshadowofdeath.Nosanemanwouldchoosesuchafinish.Allof

us,despitethePrayerBook,longforaswiftandunexpectedend.Unhappily,amurderer,underthe

irrationalAmericansystem,istorturedforwhat,tohim,mustseemawholeseriesofeternities.

Formonthsonendhesitsinprisonwhilehislawyerscarryontheiridioticbuffoonerywithwrits,

injunctions,mandamuses,andappeals.Inordertogethismoney(orthatofhisfriends)theyhave

tofeedhimwithhope.Nowandthen,bytheimbecilityofajudgeorsometrickofjuristicscience,

theyactuallyjustifyit.Butletussaythat,hismoneyallgone,theyfinallythrowuptheirhands.

Theirclientisnowreadyfortheropeorthechair.Buthemuststillwaitformonthsbeforeit

fetcheshim.

Thatwait,Ibelieve,ishorriblycruel.Ihaveseenmorethanonemansittinginthedeath

house,andIdon'twanttoseeanymore.Worse,itiswhollyuseless.Whyshouldhewaitatall?

Whynothanghimthedayafterthelastcourtdissipateshislasthope?Whytorturehimasnot

evencannibalswouldtorturetheirvictims?Thecommonansweristhathemusthavetimeto

makehispeacewithGod.Buthowlongdoesthattake?Itmaybeaccomplished,Ibelieve,intwo

hoursquiteascomfortablyasintwoyears.Thereare,indeed,notemporallimitationsuponGod.

Hecouldforgiveawholeherdofmurderersinamillionthofasecond.More,ithasbeendone.

1.Whatistheauthor'spointinthisessay?Sumup