2011年英語四級考試仔細閱讀練習

Because of parents who cant or wont care for them but refuse to give up custody rights.

　　Fourteen-year-old Kimberly Mays fits neither description, but her recent court victory could eventually help children who do. Kimberly has been the object of an angry custody baffle between the man who raised her and her biological parents, with whom she has never lived. A Florida judge ruled that the teenager can remain with the only father shes ever known and that her biological parents have no legal claim on her.

　　The ruling, though it may yet be reversed, sets aside the principle that biology is the primary determinant of parentage. Thats an important development, one thats long overdue.

　　Shortly after birth in December 1978, Kimberly Mays and another infant were mistakenly switched and sent home with the wrong parents. Kimberlys biological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, received a child who died of a heart disease in 1988. Medical tests showed that the child wasnt the Twiggs own daughter, but Kimt only was, thus sparking a custody battle with Robert Mays. In 1989, the two families agreed that Mr. Mays would maintain custody with the Twiggs getting visiting fights. Those rights were ended when Mr. Mays decided that Kimberly was being harmed.

　　The decision to leave Kimberly with Mr. Mays rendered her suit debated. But the judge made clear that Kimberly did have standing to sue on her own behalf. Thus he made clear that she was more than just property to be handled as adults saw fit.

　　Certainly, the biological link between parent and child is fundamental. But biological parents arent always preferable to adoptive ones, and biological parentage does not convey an absolute ownership that cancels all the rights of children.

　　36. What was the primary consideration in the Florida judges ruling?

　　A) The biological link.

　　B) The childs benefits.

　　C) The traditional practice.

　　D) The parents feelings.

　　37. We can learn from the Kimberly case that ________.

　　A) children are more than just personal possessions of their parents

　　B) the biological link between parent and child should be emphasized

　　C) foster homes bring children more pain and suffering than care

　　D) biological parents shouldnt claim custody rights after their child is adopted

　　38. The Twiggs claimed custody rights to Kimberly because ________.

　　A) they found her unhappy in Mr. Mays custody

　　B) they regarded her as their property

　　C) they were her biological parents

　　D) they felt guilty about their past mistake

　　39. Kimberly had been given to Mr. Mays ________.

　　A) by sheer accident

　　B) out of charity

　　C) at his request

　　D) for better care

　　40. The authors attitude towards the judges ruling could be described as ________.

　　A) doubtful

　　B) critical

　　C) cautious

　　D) supportive

　　Unit 9

　　21. C 22. B 23. B 24.A 25. A

　　26. B 27. D 28. D 29.C 30. A

　　31. D 32. A 33. C 34.A 35. D

　　36. B 37. A 38. C 39.A 40. D

　　2011年英語四級考試仔細閱讀練習

Because of parents who cant or wont care for them but refuse to give up custody rights.

　　Fourteen-year-old Kimberly Mays fits neither description, but her recent court victory could eventually help children who do. Kimberly has been the object of an angry custody baffle between the man who raised her and her biological parents, with whom she has never lived. A Florida judge ruled that the teenager can remain with the only father shes ever known and that her biological parents have no legal claim on her.

　　The ruling, though it may yet be reversed, sets aside the principle that biology is the primary determinant of parentage. Thats an important development, one thats long overdue.

　　Shortly after birth in December 1978, Kimberly Mays and another infant were mistakenly switched and sent home with the wrong parents. Kimberlys biological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, received a child who died of a heart disease in 1988. Medical tests showed that the child wasnt the Twiggs own daughter, but Kimt only was, thus sparking a custody battle with Robert Mays. In 1989, the two families agreed that Mr. Mays would maintain custody with the Twiggs getting visiting fights. Those rights were ended when Mr. Mays decided that Kimberly was being harmed.

　　The decision to leave Kimberly with Mr. Mays rendered her suit debated. But the judge made clear that Kimberly did have standing to sue on her own behalf. Thus he made clear that she was more than just property to be handled as adults saw fit.

　　Certainly, the biological link between parent and child is fundamental. But biological parents arent always preferable to adoptive ones, and biological parentage does not convey an absolute ownership that cancels all the rights of children.

　　36. What was the primary consideration in the Florida judges ruling?

　　A) The biological link.

　　B) The childs benefits.

　　C) The traditional practice.

　　D) The parents feelings.

　　37. We can learn from the Kimberly case that ________.

　　A) children are more than just personal possessions of their parents

　　B) the biological link between parent and child should be emphasized

　　C) foster homes bring children more pain and suffering than care

　　D) biological parents shouldnt claim custody rights after their child is adopted

　　38. The Twiggs claimed custody rights to Kimberly because ________.

　　A) they found her unhappy in Mr. Mays custody

　　B) they regarded her as their property

　　C) they were her biological parents

　　D) they felt guilty about their past mistake

　　39. Kimberly had been given to Mr. Mays ________.

　　A) by sheer accident

　　B) out of charity

　　C) at his request

　　D) for better care

　　40. The authors attitude towards the judges ruling could be described as ________.

　　A) doubtful

　　B) critical

　　C) cautious

　　D) supportive

　　Unit 9

　　21. C 22. B 23. B 24.A 25. A

　　26. B 27. D 28. D 29.C 30. A

　　31. D 32. A 33. C 34.A 35. D

　　36. B 37. A 38. C 39.A 40. D