成人英语三级考试阅读理解模拟题（17）

　　Fingerprints,one of the great deciders of innocence or guilt in criminal charges,are now being placed in doubt .This is because of a growing number of claims from defendants that their“prints”have been“lifted”and planted at scenes of crimes. And these allegations(主张，断言)are being taken seriously by lawyers, judges, and policemen because it is possible to move a fingerprint from one spot and place it elsewhere. A committee of lawyers is making an investigation into fingerprinting. They are not aiming to establish if these allegations are true or not ,but they are questioning current fingerprinting methods as part of a general inquiry into scientific evidence.

　　How can a fingerprint be transferred? A fingermark left on a greasy(油污的)glass or some other smooth surface can be “lifted” with a strip of adhesive(胶粘剂). It can then be deposited on another, perhaps incriminating, object. Before 1973 , finger prints at the scene of a crime used to be photographed for identification purposes and the objects carrying the prints were shown in court as well. However, this is no longer necessary. Since 1973, a new method of taking prints has been used. Police experts can now use a strip of adhesive tape to “lift” a print which is then produced in court as evidence. As a result, criminals are accusing the police of lifting their prints and planting them at the the scene of a crime. And lawyers are worried about this increasing number of claims.

　　According to the ex-chief of Scotland Yard’s fingerprint department, Mr. Harold Squires,more than 55 of the cases he now gets are making these claims. But so far he has not seen any fingerprint evidence that proves the allegations to be true. Lifting a mark and putting it on another object requires great skill and trouble. It's almost impossible but it can be done. It can usually be easily detected by experts, but there is a chance that even experts may not be able to tell. So he would like the old method of photographing prints and producing then together with the objects to be generally used again.

　　1.According to the passage, fingerprints have been regarded as _______ of a suspected criminal's innocence of guilt.

　　A. a minor proof

　　B. a key proof

　　C. the only proof

　　D. one of many proofs

　　Best Answer:B

　　详解：答案B。本题间及在判断嫌疑犯清白与否时，指纹被当作什么。从文章第一段第一句中one of the great decider of innocence or guilt可以看出，指纹被当作主要证据之一，即一个关键证据，B项与之相符。因此，B项为正确答案。

　　2.The purpose of the investigation being made by a committee of lawyers is ________.

　　A. to establish the truth of the allegations from suspected criminals

　　B. to prove the innocence of the defendants

　　C. to show the honesty of the policemen

　　D. to inquire into the reliability of present fingerprinting methods

　　Best Answer:D

　　详解：答案D。本题问及律师委员会进行调查的目的。文章第一段第四、五句指出：律师委员会进行调查并不是想证实这些断言的真假性，而是他们对目前将指纹用作证据的科学性持怀疑态度，D项与之一致。因此，D项为正确答案。

　　3.Since 1973 ______.

　　A. it has been essential to produce in court the objects on which the fingerprints were found

　　B. police fingerprinting methods have been simplified

　　C. claims against police fingerprinting methods have always been successful

　　D. the policemen have transferred a great number of fingerprints on incriminating objects

　　Best Answer:B

　　详解：答案B。文章第二段指出，1973年前，为了进行指纹的鉴别，犯罪现场的指纹被拍照，并且印有指纹的物件会在法庭上展示出来。从1973年以来，有一种新方法来取指纹，即特警用一种胶带粘起指纹。可见，取指纹的方法简化了。因此，B项为正确答案。

　　4.From the passage we can conclude that ________.

　　A. many criminals have used fingerprints to prove that they are innocent

　　B. transferring fingerprints needs great skills and efforts

　　C. prople can always tell whether a fingerprint on an incriminating object is true or false