From their beginnings New England towns had a special democratic system of government. At a stated time all the citizens would assemble at a town meeting, where they would discuss local problems and express opinions freely. They also elected the town’s officials at these gatherings and made decisions about the taxes they would pay and about other community matters. These meetings were usually held at the town hall, which was located in the central square.
In the eighteenth-century town meetings, only men who owned property and who were church members actually voted, although everyone present was allowed to express their opinions. Later, all citizens were allowed to vote. Thus the town meeting became truly democratic. Town meetings are still common in New England communities.
In recent years the town meeting idea has been widely imitated. There are open sessions of this kind on radio and television. Occasionally a meeting of this type is called by a government agency in order to give an opportunity for free and open discussion on current problems and policies.
小题1:At a town meeting, people do the following things EXCEPT __________.
A．express their opinions about the government
B．elect officials of the towns
C．make a decision about whom they should marry
D．discuss some community matters小题2:In the 18th century, who had the right to vote?
A．All the citizens.
B．All the men except those who were church members.
C．The rich.
D．The rich men and the church members.小题3:Why has the town meeting been widely imitated?
A．Because many people are interested in it.
B．Because it is very democratic.
C．Because many people enjoy themselves at town meetings.
D．Because sometimes government agencies call them.小题4:According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A．Citizens can elect the officials in the town meeting.
B．In recent years, town meetings are often called by a government agency.
C．People can say what they want to say at the town meeting.
D．Nowadays this kind of meeting is also held on radio and television.小题5:This passage mainly talks about _______.
A．the New England town meeting
B．modern town meetings
C．a democratic meeting
D．New England towns
小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:B
小题4:B
小题5:A
题目分析：文章开头就点明了主题，主要介绍了英格兰的新市政会议，以及市政会议的主要讨论内容。
小题1:C。文中提到是付税费，而不是生活方面的费用。
小题2:D。依据为第二段中的“In the eighteenth-century town meetings, only men who owned property and who were church members actually voted, …”。
小题3:B。从文章的第一句和最后一段可看出市政会议之所以受欢迎是因为其民主性。
小题4:B。从文章的最后一段中的“Occasionally a meeting of this type is called by a government agency…”可知这种会议是偶尔召开，而不是经常开。
小题5:A。文章开头就点明了主题，主要介绍了英格兰的新市政会议。
点评：本文主要介绍了英格兰的新市政会议。考查细节题为主，细节题可以在文章中直接找到与答案有关的信息或是其变体。搜查信息在阅读中非常重要它包括理解作者在叙述某事时使用的具体事实、数据、图表等细节信息。在一篇短文里大部分篇幅都属于这类围绕主体展开的细节。做这类题一般采用寻读法即先读题，然后带着问题快速阅读短文，找出与问题有关的词语或句子，再对相关部分进行分析对比，找出答案。