阅读理解
根据短文内容, 从下框的A～F选项中选出能概括每一段主题的最佳选项, 选项中有一项为多余项。

A. Perseverance B. Respecting C. American morals D. Honesty in American morals E. Moral values in America F. Compassion

1.________
Do Americans have any morals? That’s a good question. Many people insist that ideas about right
and wrong are merely personal opinions. Some voices, though, are calling Americans back to traditional
moral values. William J. Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education, editedTheBookofVirtuesin
1993 to do just that. Bennett suggests that great moral stories can build character. The success of Bennett’s book shows that many Americans still believe in moral values. But what are they?
2.________
To begin with, moral values in America are like those in any culture. In fact, many aspects of morality
are universal. But the stories and traditions that teach them are unique to each culture. Not only that, but
culture influences how people show these virtues.
3.________
One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The wellknown legend about George
Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down his father’s favorite
cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet. When his father asked him about it, George said, “I cannot
tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.” Instead of punishment, George received praise for telling the truth.
Sometimes American honesty－being open and direct－can offend people. But Americans still believe
that “honesty is the best policy.”
4.________
Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop’s fable about the turtle and the
rabbit that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won
because he did not give up. Another story tells of a little train that had to climb a steep hill. The hill was so
steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it. But the train just kept pulling, all the while
saying, “I think I can, I think I can.”At last, the train was over the top of the hill. “I thought I could, I
thought I could, ”chugged the happy little train.
5.________
Compassion may be the queen of American virtues. The story of “The Good Samaritan” from the
Bible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan man found a
poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kind Samaritan, instead
of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need. Compassion can even turn into a positive cycle.
In fall 1992, people in Iowa sent truckloads of water to help Floridians hit by a hurricane. The next
summer, during the Midwest flooding, Florida returned the favor. In less dramatic ways, millions of
Americans are quietly passing along the kindnesses shown to them.

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