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　　In a rare unanimous ruling, the US Supreme Court has overturned the corruption conviction of a former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell. But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, which included accepting gifts such as a Rolex watch and a Ferrari Automobile from a company seeking access to government.

　　The high court’s decision said the judge in Mr. McDonnell’s trail failed to tell a jury that it must look only at his “official acts,” or the former governor’s decisions on “specific” and “unsettled” issues related to his duties.

　　Merely helping a gift-giver gain access to other officials, unless done with clear intent to pressure those officials, is not corruption, the justices found.

　　The court did suggest that accepting favors in return for opening doors is “distasteful” and “nasty.” But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation. Simply arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event is not an “official act.”

　　The court’s ruling is legally sound in defining a kind of favoritism that is not criminal. Elected leaders must be allowed to help supporters deal with bureaucratic problems without fear of prosecution of bribery. “The basic compact underlying representative government,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court, “assumes that public officials will hear from their constituents and act on their concerns.”

　　But the ruling reinforces the need for citizens and their elected representatives, not the courts, to ensure equality of access to government. Officials must not be allowed to play favorites in providing information or in arranging meetings simply because an individual or group provides a campaign donation or a personal gift. This type of integrity requires will-enforced laws in government transparency, such as records of official meetings, rules on lobbying, and information about each elected leader’s source of wealth.

　　Favoritism in official access can fan public perceptions of corruption. But it is not always corruption. Rather officials must avoid double standards, or different types of access for average people and the wealthy. If connections can be bought, a basic premise of democratic society – that all are equal in treatment by government- is undermined. Good government rests on an understanding of the inherent worth of each individual.

　　The court’s ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism.

　　36. The underlined sentence(Para.1) most probably shows that the court

　　[A] avoided defining the extent of McDonnell’s duties.

　　[B] made no compromise in convicting McDonnell.

　　[C] was contemptuous of McDonnell’s conduct.

　　[D] refused to comment on McDonnell’s ethics.

　　37. According to Paragraph 4, an official act is deemed corruptive only if it involves

　　[A] concrete returns for gift-givers.

　　[B] sizable gains in the form of gifts.

　　[C] leaking secrets intentionally.

　　[D] breaking contracts officially.

　　38. The court’s ruling is d on the assumption that public officials are

　　[A] allowed to focus on the concerns of their supporters.

　　[B] qualified to deal independently with bureaucratic issues.

　　[C] justified in addressing the needs of their constituents.

　　[D] exempt from conviction on the charge of favoritism.

　　39. Well-enforced laws in government transparency are needed to

　　[A] awaken the conscience of officials.

　　[B] guarantee fair play in official access.

　　[C] allow for certain kinds of lobbying.

　　[D] inspire hopes in average people.

　　40. The author’s attitude toward the court’s ruling is

　　[A] sarcastic.

　　[B] tolerant.

　　[C] skeptical.

　　[D] supportive.

　　答案：36-40 CBABD

　　36. 答案【C】was contemptuous of McDonnell’s conduct.

　　解析：根據(jù)題干中的關(guān)鍵詞The underlined sentence (para. 1)，可以快速的回到原文精確定位到第一段的劃線句子，But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, which included accepting gifts such as a Rolex watch and a Ferrari Automobile from a company seekingaccess to government. 聯(lián)系文章第一句話，雖然最高法院沒有判定Robert McDonnell受賄罪，但是 holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, 即，在道德上卻對他的行為嗤之以鼻。由此可以鎖定C選項中的 was contemptuous of 法院其實非常輕視Robert McDonnell的行為。文章的D選項中出現(xiàn) ethics，原文中相同的詞，可能會混淆考生的思維，但是，此句話說的是拒絕從道德的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)評論Robert McDonnell的行為。

　　37. 答案【B】sizable gains in the form of gifts.

　　解析：根據(jù)題干中給出的信息，可知這一題是對文章第四段理解，由第四段推理出正確答案。從第四段But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation. Simply arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event is not an “official act.”可以知道，對腐敗的定義是，只有受賄者給予了行賄者實際的好處，例如 a contract or regulation, 如果提供的不是具體的好處，僅僅只是：arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event, 那么這種行為就不是受賄。由此可以得出答案為A.

　　38. 答案【A】allowed to focus on the concerns of their supporters.

　　解析：根據(jù)題干中的關(guān)鍵詞The court’s ruling is don the assumption可以鎖定文章的第五段，“The basic compact underlying representative government,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court, “assumes that public officials will hear from their constituents and act on their concerns.”可以知道，法院的裁定是建立聽取其選民的意見，按照他們的利益行事。所以原文中的constituents對應(yīng)A選項的 supporters，支持者。所以答案選擇A

　　39. 答案【B】guarantee fair play in official access.

　　解析：根據(jù)題干中的關(guān)鍵詞Well-enforced laws in government transparency可以鎖定文章的第六段This type of integrity requires will-enforced laws in government transparency, such as records of official meetings, rules on lobbying, and information about each elected leader’s source of wealth.但是從這句話中找不到所需的信息，從this type of可以知道這句話與前面的句子聯(lián)系緊密，因而可以追溯到這一段的第一句話，But the ruling reinforces the need for citizens and their elected representatives, not the courts, to ensure equality of access to government. 執(zhí)法力度需要加強(qiáng)市民及其當(dāng)選代表，而不是法院獲得接近政府的平等的機(jī)會。equality與B選項的fair play相對應(yīng)，因此選B.

　　40. 答案【D】supportive.

　　解析：本題考察的是態(tài)度題，從文中最后一句話: The court’s ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism.可以看出作者認(rèn)為法院的裁定是進(jìn)步的： a step forward，，因此可以看出作者對此的態(tài)度是supportive. sarcastic: 尖酸的，挖苦的;tolerant：寬容的，容忍的;skeptical：懷疑的。

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