新东方：2008年9.13高口听力Q16

李龙帅: 上海新东方学校口译研究中心成员。口译教研组听力课题组组长。中/高级口译听力明星教师。上海交通大学英语语言文学硕士。高级同声翻译。
　　Opinion polls have shown that Americans view the widespread use of illegal drugs as the No.1 problem in the United States. Every year, the United States spends 15 billion dollars on its war on drugs, mostly on the cost of law enforcement and prohibition. Most illegal drugs are expensive. Black market prices for heroin and cocaine, for example, are estimated to be 100 times greater than the cost of production. With such prices, drug pushers can earn billions of dollars each year by pushing their wares in even the poorest neighborhoods. Most people agree that the so-called drug war is far from being won in the United States. They find some solution to the drug problem. One repeated proposal is to fight the problem by making drugs legal. This proposal has in fact been the cause of a lengthy and unresolved debate. Ever since the 1970s the Americans have argued whether taking the extreme measure of legalizing drugs would in fact decrease drug use. People who support this proposal believe that the current policies of prosecution and punishment are a waste of money. They feel that more money should be spent on education and treatment, arguing that the black market drives the prices of drugs too high, providing an incentive to get into the drug business. They point to the gangsters of the 1920s and the 1930s who disappeared with the end of prohibition of alcohol and America. As it is now, they say, anyone who is caught using drugs is treated as criminal not as an addict who needs help. This proposal for legalization has been supported by a variety of leaders from the most conservative to the most liberal, from Secretary of the State to
　　federal district judges who advocated the sale of drugs as prices resembling their costs. The proposal to legalize drugs has not being accepted easily by all Americans, however. In fact, it has taken a lot of flag over the years. Those who oppose the legalization of drugs feel that decriminalizing drugs would be a surrender in a drug war that has not really even begun. For them, the solution is not to decriminalize drug crime but to make law more severe. They point out that legalization would lead to greater drug use, explaining that with drugs such as crack being so common in our cities. There would be an increase in cases of violent crime and child abuse and an even greater spreader of AIDS. Opponents of legalization also point to China. When opium was made legal there in the mid-19th century, the selling of opium increased and funded the drug trade rather than spoiled it down.
　　Those who were opposed the legalization also raised an important question such as which drugs would be legalized with the black market really disappear with the legalization of drugs? So is it time to recognize that the current war on drugs is not working and accept that the legalization maybe the only solution? Every few years voters are asked to cast their votes for politicians who claimed to have answers to this question. But as of yet, Americans have not chosen legalization as a solution to their country's drug problems.
　　新东方听力答案权威分析（答案出处见文中红字）
　　16. Which of the following best describes the drug problem in the U.S.?
　　正确答案：A. The widespread of illegal drug is the greatest concern of the Americans
　　对Talk来说，前三句话非常重要，通常与讲座主题相关，在这个位置，应盯住选项，边听边选。
　　17. How much is spent each year in fighting against the use of illegal drugs in the U.S.?
　　正确答案: C. 15 billion dollars
　　数字题型，听到选出，通常最先出现的数字为正确答案。但有实力的同学听到数字选出后能在选项旁标记一下数字所对应的关键信息。
　　18. Which of the following is cited as evidence in support of the proposal to make drugs legal?
　　正确答案：D. More money being needed in education and medical care.
　　19. There are several arguments against legalizing drugs, which of the following is not one of these arguments?
　　正确答案：A. Legalizing drugs would be considered unconstitutional.
　　细节题型，多听多选。
　　20. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
　　正确答案：A. Americans have not chosen legalization as a solution to drug problem.
　　最后一句，边听边选。