阅读理解。
Kong Zi,also called Confucius (551～479 B.C) ,and Socrates (469～399B.C) lived only a hundred
years apart, and during their lifetimes there was no contact between China and Greece,but it is interesting
to look at how the world that each of these great philosophers came from shaped their ideas,and how
these ideas in turn,shaped their societies.
Neither philosophers lived in times of peace,though there were more wars in Greece than in China.
The Chinese states were very large and feudal,while the Greek city-states were small and urban. The
urban environment in which Socrates lived allowed him to be more radical than Confucius. Unlike
Confucius,Socrates was not asked by rules how to govern effectively. Thus,Socrates was able to be
more idealistic,focusing on issues like freedom,and knowledge for its own sake. Confucius,on the other
hand,advised those in govemment service,and many of his students went out to government service.
Confucius suggested the Golden Rule as a principle for the conduct of life:" Do not do to others what
you would not want others to do to you. " He assumed that all men were equal at birth,though some had
more potential than others, and that it was knowledge that set men apart. Socrates focused on the
individual,and thought that the greatest purpose of man was to seek wisdom. He believed that the
superior class should rule the inferior (下层的) classes.
For Socrates,the family was of no importance,and the community of little concern. For Confucius,
however,the family was the centre of the society,with family retations considered much more important
than political relations.
Both men are respected much more today than they were in their lifetimes.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?
A. Socrates and Confucius had much in common.
B. Confucius had much influence on Socrates' ideas.
C. The societies were influenced by the philosophers' ideas.
D. There were cultural exchanges between China and Greece.
2. Socrates shared with Confucius the idea that ______
A. all men were equal when they were born
B. the lower classes should be ruled by the upper class
C. the purpose of man was to seek freedom and wisdom
D. people should not ask others to do what they did not want to
3. What made some people different from others according to Confucius?
A. Family.
B. Potential.
C. Knowledge.
D. Community.
4. This passage is organized in the pattern of _____.
A. time and events
B. comparison and contrast
C. cause and effect
D. definition and classification
