2 . The Justice of the Court

The purpose of the American court system is to protect the rights of the people. According to American law, if someone _________ a crime, he or she is considered _________ until the court proves that the person is guilty. _________, it is the responsibility of the court to prove that a person is guilty. It is not the _________ of the person to prove that he or she is innocent.

In order to arrest a person, the police _________ be reasonably sure that a crime has been committed. The police must give the suspect the reasons why they are arresting him and tell him his rights under the law. Then the police take the suspect to the police station to “book” him. “Booking” means that the name of the person and the charges against him are _________ listed at the police station.

The next step is for the suspect to go before a judge. The judge decides whether the suspect should be kept in jail or _________. If the suspect has no previous criminal record and the judge feels that he will return to court rather than run away — for example, because he owns a house and has a family — he can go free. Otherwise, the suspect must _________ bail (保释金). At this time, too, the judge will appoint a court lawyer to defend the suspect if he can’t afford one.

The suspect returns to court a week or two later. A lawyer from the district lawyer’s office presents a case against the suspect. This is called a(n) _________. The attorney (律师) may present __________ as well as witnesses. The judge at the hearing then decides whether there is enough reason to hold a trial. If the judge decides that there is __________ evidence to __________ a trial, he or she sets a date for the suspect to appear in court to formally admit guilty or not guilty.

At the trial, a jury of 12 people listens to the evidence from both lawyers and hears the testimony of the witnesses. Then the jury goes into a private room to consider the evidence and decide whether the defendant is guilty of the crime. If the jury decides that the defendant is innocent, he goes free. __________, if he is guilty, the judge sets a date for the defendant to appear in court again for __________. At this time, the judge tells the convicted person what his punishment will be. The judge may send him to prison, order him to pay a fine, or place him on probation (缓刑).

The American justice system is very complex and sometimes operates slowly. However, every step is designed to protect the rights of the people. These __________ rights are the basis, or foundation, of the American government.

Exploring the Essence of Heroism

Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. But as we     1     deeper into the lives of our heroes, we inevitably confront our own need for them and start questioning the     2     of heroism itself.

Across diverse cultures, heroes exhibit certain traits that attract and motivate others. A hero has a story of adventure to tell and a community offering its     3    . The exploits of the heroes are extraordinary,    4     the collective imagination of their communities. But a hero goes beyond mere fame. Heroes are like high-voltage(高电压) transformers,    5     to serving powers or principles larger than themselves, which take the energy of higher powers and channel it for the benefits of ordinary folks.

The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. A crucial test for would-be heroes is what or whom do they serve? If the answer or evidence suggests they are     6     solely by a quest for personal renown, they may be famous persons but not heroes.

While figures like Madonna and Michael Jackson command fame, their influence     7     in comparison to true heroes. Heroes, by contrast, serve as catalysts (催化剂) for profound societal change. They possess a vision that     8     beyond the ordinary. With their skills and charm, they mobilize the masses and pave the way for new opportunities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. It may be possible to     9     a large-scale revolution without leaders with personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, and the vision ambiguous.

In conclusion, heroes are not just individuals of genius or originality, but they are also embodiments of selflessness and service to a higher purpose. They breathed new life into unchangeable situations,    10     the beginning of transformation and progress.

6 . The prevalence (普遍) of sweatshop (血汗工厂) labor depends largely on the definition being used. At its most _______ definition, the term refers to work in a confined space (small, surrounded by walls) that is extremely difficult or dangerous. Sweatshops are considered to be fairly common. If the definition being used is closely related to the commonly-held _________ of a factory with overworked, under-paid workers, sweatshop labor becomes less common than expected. _________, they are still prevalent in third-world countries. According to the United States Government Accountability Office, a sweatshop is any workplace that breaks one or more state and federal _________ laws. Experts believe that roughly 50 percent of manufacturers—_________ in the clothing industry — employ sweatshop labor.

It can be _________ to figure out the exact number of sweatshops in a particular area. These workplaces usually, if not always, violate labor laws. Violations can include workers being paid less than minimum wage, child labor, and the severe lack of safety regulations. _________, many of these locations tend to hide their identities as sweatshops through a number of different means. For example, they might bribe government officials.

Another factor that _________ the prevalence of sweatshop labor is the economic situation in the country or region. Many individuals choose to work in sweatshops simply because there are no better alternatives _________ livelihood (生计), even if the income they’re being given still cannot support their basic standards of living. This has led to a sharper increase in sweatshops in third-world economies. In these countries, there is a __________ advantage to working in a sweatshop rather than not working at all. __________, the large number of people willing to work under such conditions causes employers to run more sweatshops.

Certain economists argue against the popular opinion that sweatshop labor should be considered __________. Sweatshop supporters argue that the workplaces are a necessity for poor countries. Sweatshop workers actually earn more than average in those countries. Following this train of thought, sweatshops are looked upon as an economic stimulus (刺激物). Employers following this belief are __________ to increase the number of sweatshops in poorer countries.

However, other experts think that __________ labor standards in third-world countries creates a downward spiral (螺旋线). That is to say, people will be forced to accept working in increasingly worsening circumstances. The demand for work is significantly larger than the number of jobs that are available. It’s quite __________ for wages and employee rights to continue going downwards in response to such desperation. As a result of the economic circumstances in a given region, employers who follow this philosophy are quick to point out that their businesses do not fall under the definition of a sweatshop.

7 . Residents of urban areas make use of public transportation on their way to school or the office. But when their final ________ isn’t near a bus stop or subway station, those folks have a problem. Transportation experts often ________ to this as the “last mile problem”——finding a way to close the gap between public transportation stops and one’s destination.

With the last mile problem in mind, the makers of the URB-E ________ a compact (紧凑的) electric vehicle that weigh around 13 kilograms. Unlike bikes, which often don’t fit on crowded buses or trains, the URB-E collapses into a form ________ to carry-on luggage. And since the URB-E can be carried ________ anywhere, it’s not as vulnerable to thieves as bikes are.

Depending on usage, the URB-E can travel for 32 kilometers on a single ________. reaching a top speed of 24 kilometers per hour. Although there are other vehicles attempting to ________ the last mile issue, the URB-E ________ for its ease of use, portability and affordablo price. For the price of a nice laptop, you could have an URB-E to drive to the office.

The URB-E is made from aircraft-grade aluminum (铝合金) and comes in two basic models: the URB-E Commuter and URB-E GP. The main ________ between the two is that the Commuter model has two rear wheels while the GP has only one. That means the Commuter offers greater stability, as ________ to the GP’s ability to make sharper turns like a bicycle.

Both models come with accessories (附件)________ LED front and rear lights and a shock-absorbing seat. They also ________ a smart-phone holder and USB charging port right on the steering column. In fact, smart-phones play a big role in the URB-E app to do things like monitor battery charge or control the lights. ________ accessories include a cup holder and a folding luggage shelf.

At this year’s international Consumer Electronic Show (CES)in Las Vegas, tech website The Verge awarded the URB-E with its “Best Personal Transportation” award. Singing the URB-E’s ________, Verge editor Ben Popper said, “The URB-E felt like the kind of vehicle an enlightened citizen of 2030 would own.” “So why wait that long, when the URB-E is ________ for order now?”

10 . Today, in most of the theatres in Britain, the stages are situated behind a sort of arch (拱门), called the proscenium (幕布前的舞台部分) arch. The arch runs across the building with the stage on one side of it and the auditorium, housing the audience, on the other. The audience is kept to the area from which it can get a clear view of the stage.    1     The actor can ignore them until the end, when they applaud the performance.

    2     Stage furniture or properties -“props”, as they are referred to in the business -are now as few as possible. Elaborate scenery is used only when it is going to last throughout the play, or when it is so constructed that it can be changed quickly. Modern theatres are built with the stage extending far in front of the proscenium arch, if indeed they have a proscenium arch at all, electricity, already long in use, has recently had a revolutionary effect.

The modern idea of having the stage in front of the proscenium arch is not really modern, of course. It makes our stages much like Shakespeare’s.    3    The famous speeches of Hamlet, for instance, can be delivered more quietly and naturally than they were in the last century. The actors no longer have to worry much about not being heard, or about turning their backs to the auditorium.

Moreover, nowadays, people are finding that modern theatres are built to sit in comfortably for two or three hours at a stretch.    4     The result of these improvements is that, in spite of the high price of seats, perhaps more people than ever before are keen on theatre-going.