Kong Zi, also called Confucius (551—479B.C.), and Socrates(苏格拉底) (469—399 B.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 philosopher 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 (激进的) than Confucius. Unlike Confucius, Socrates was not asked by rulers 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 government 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 munity of little concern. For Confucius, however, the family was the centre of the society, with family relations considered much more important than political relations.
Both men are respected much more today than they were in their lifetimes.
【小题1】Which of the following is TURE according to the first paragraph?A．Socrates and Confucius had much in monB．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.【小题2】Socrates shared with Confucius the idea that .
A. all men were equal when they were born
B. the lower classed should be ruled by the upper class
C. the purpose of man was to seek freedom and wisdom
【小题3】What made some people different from others according to Confucius?A．Family.B．Potential.C．Knowledge.D．Community.【小题4】This passage is organized in the pattern of .A．time and eventsB．parison and contrastC．cause and effectD．definition and classificationC
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(答案→)C
解析：本文采用对比的写作手法，介绍了生活在不同时代，不同国家的两位伟大的哲学家孔子和苏格拉底。尽管在生活背景，家庭观念，社会观念以及对待教育的态度等方面他们有着不同的看法，但是他们的思想观念对社会都有着很大影响。
【小题1】C 细节理解题。从文章第一段how these ideas in turn, shaped their societies.判断可知他们的观念无疑对社会有着很大影响，故C选项正确。
【小题2】B细节理解题。从文章倒数第二段Confucius assumed…it was knowledge that set men apart.和 Socrates focused… the superior class should rule the inferior classes.可知他们都认为上层阶级应该统治下层阶级。所以B为正确选项。
【小题3】C细节理解题。由文章第三段that it was knowledge that set men apart.可知C选项正确。是知识造成了他们的差别。
【小题4】B推理判断题。纵观全文可见，文章的每一段都是通过比较来说明他们生活背景，思想观念等各个方面的，所以B选项正确。