Virginia is set to begin enforcing the toughest drunken-driving punishment, one that will require thousands of first-time offenders—whether they were highly drunk or slightly over the limit—to install in their cars blood- alcohol testing devices that can lock the ignition. The devices work like this—A driver must blow into a blood alcohol device linked to the car’s ignition. If the result is higher than the legal limit, the car will not start. The device also requires random “rolling retests” once the driver is on the road.
Virginia’s current law requires only repeated offenders or those with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher to have an ignition interlock device in their cars.
The new law, which takes effect in July, will roughly increase the number of people required to use ignition interlock devices four times, and offenders will have to pay about $ 480 for a typical six-month installation.
The measure has caused a debate between groups battling drunken driving and those representing offenders. Such groups as Mother Against Drunken Driving and The Washington Regional Alcohol Program say that Virginia’s 274 alcohol-related road deaths and more than 5,500 injuries in 2010 remained unacceptably high despite years of cracking down on drunken driving. Ignition interlock devices, they say, reduce repeat offenses. But some public defenders and lawyers argue that the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders at the legal blood alcohol limit 0.08, and that the court system will be burdened by more cases going to trial and lower-ine drivers will be affected by the fees.
Del. Sal R. Iaquinto, who sponsored the bill, had a simple reply for concerns about the costs of the interlock devises: “How much does a life cost?” “Blowing into a tube for six months, you will remember that,” Iaquinto said, “And you’re not likely to offend again.”
【小题1】The underlined word “ignition” in Paragraph 1probably refers to the part in a car where .A．the alarm goes offB．the engine startsC．the door opensD．the car is fueled【小题2】Who are required to install the blood alcohol devices according to the current law?A．The first time drunken-driving offenders.B．The drivers who are not able to pay offence fees.C．The repeat drunken-driving offenders.D．Drivers whose blood alcohol level is below 0.15.【小题3】The reason why some defenders and lawyers oppose the new law is that .A．fewer cases go to trialB．lower-ine drivers will not afford to drink againC．interlock devices increase repeat offenses D．the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders【小题4】The debate aroused by the measure implies that .A．prevention is better than cureB．no law is absolutely perfectC．punishment is the key to allD．justice has long arms【小题5】What is Del. Sal R. Iaquinto’s attitude towards the new law?A．Negative.B．Indifferent.C．flexible.D．workable.B
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(答案→)B
解析：本文报道了弗吉尼亚州开始实施严厉的酒后驾车处罚，要求第一次犯规者，在他们的汽车里安装的血液酒精测试设备如果结果是高于法定限制，汽车将无法启动，这一举措引起了不少争议。
【小题1】词义猜测题。从第一段If the result is higher than the legal limit, the car will not start及上文提到的 lock一词说明该装置会锁住汽车的发动机启动。
【小题2】细节题。从第二段Virginia’s current law requires only repeated offenders or those with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher to have an ignition interlock device in their cars可知正确答案为C
【小题3】细节题。从第四段But some public defenders and lawyers argue that the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders at the legal blood alcohol limit 0.08可知反对者认为该设备是过于严厉惩罚犯规者。
【小题4】推断题。从第四段，第五段的描述可知这一举措引起的争论说明：法律没有绝对完美的。
【小题5】推理题。从最后一段Del. Sal R. Iaquinto所说的话How much does a life cost?” “Blowing into a tube for six months, you will remember that,” “And you’re not likely to offend again.” 可知他认为生命更重要。有了这一装置，就不可能再违章犯规，因此他的态度是认为可行的，故选D