The conception of God and nature and of the relation of man to both provided the 18th- century philosophers with their faith in the worth and dignity of the individual man and the efficacy of human reason. The 18th century was the moment in history when men experienced the first flush and freshness of the idea that man is master of his own fate； the moment in history，also，when this emancipating idea，not yet brought to the harsh test of experience, could be accepted with unclouded optimism.
Never had the nature seemed less mysterious, more simply constructed, more open and visible and eager to yield its secrets to common-sense questions. Never had the nature of man seemed less perverse，or the intelligence and will of men more pliable (yielding) to rational persuasion. Never had social and political evils seemed so wholly the result of ignorance and superstition, or so easily corrected by the spread of knowledge and the construction of social institutions on a rational plan.
The first task of political science was to discover the natural rights of man，the second to devise the form of government best suited to secure them. And for accomplishing this high task，for creating and maintaining a society founded on justice and equality, the essential freedom was freedom of the mind.
1.[单选题]The initial ‘words of this passage, “the conception of God and nature”，refer certainly to ____- A.God and nature as concepts created by humans
- B.the initial creation of the nature by God
- C.the creation of God Himself by human beings
- D.the thinking of God and nature by humans
2.[单选题]According to the author, the 18th-century philosophers began to believe in____- A.God
- B.nature
- C.their relation to God and nature
- D.the ordinary people including you and me
3.[单选题]In the next paragraph (not reproduced here)，the author will most probably write on____- A.development of medical equipment for hospitals
- B.meticulous plans on establishment of ideal governments
- C.surgery experts that help to cure mental diseases
- D.philosophers whose works liberate human minds
4.[单选题]The “emancipating idea” in the last sentence of the first paragraph refers to the idea that ____- A.man is master of his own fate
- B.men experienced the first idea
- C.history is made up of moments
- D.the first idea was flush and fresh
5.[单选题]In the first sentence of Paragraph 2, the author uses a literary device called____ to enliven his argument.- A.personification
- B.synecdoche
- C.hyperbole
- D.simile
6.[单选题]The theme or topic of this passage is about .- A.freedom of the mind
- B.political science
- C.justice and equality
- D.nature right of man
7.[单选题]According to the last sentence of the first paragraph，____ is true concerning “ this emancipating idea”.- A.the idea was yet to be tested through trials and errors of many
- B.it was accepted with an optimism that has been cast with doubt
- C.the people of the 18th century accepted it with great optimism
- D.the people of the 18th century knew it from their own experience
8.[单选题]In the paragraphs that come before the first reproduced here, the author discusses most probably ____.- A.the background of God coining to the earth
- B.an account of nature appearing on the earth
- C.what the 18th-century philosophers found
- D.the relations between the 17th-century people and God
9.[单选题]The tone of this passage is _ .- A.neutral and scholarly
- B.eloquent and articulate
- C.upbeat and enthusiastic
- D.balanced and optimistic
10.[单选题]According to the last sentence of Paragraph 2，all the following statements can be true EXCEPT .- A.Social evils may lead to human beliefs of monsters
- B.Political problems can be solved through education
- C.The building of a hospital may help to ease social disorder
- D.Education can help to cure both social and political problems
参考答案： D,D,D,A,A,B,A,C,B,A