There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force; the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second. It is, therefore, necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man. This was covertly taught to rulers by ancient writers, who related how Achilles and many others of those ancient princes were given to Chiron the centaur to be brought up and educated under his discipline. The parable of this semi?animal, semi?human teacher is meant to indicate that a prince must know how to use both natures, and that the one without the other is not durable.?

　　A prince, being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast, must imitate the fox, and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. Those that wish to be only lions do not understand this. Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be good ; but

　　as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them. Nor have legitimate grounds ever failed a prince who wished to show colorable excuse for the nonfulfilment of his promise. Of this one could furnish an infinite number of examples, and show how many times peace has been broken, and how many promises rendered worthless, by the faithlessness of princes, and those that have best been able to imitate the fox have succeeded best. But it is necessary to be able to disguise this character well, and to be a great feigner and dissembler, and men are so simple and so ready to obey present necessities, that the one who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.?

　　1.The author of the passage does not believe that ?____.?

　　A) people can protect themselves?

　　B) the truth makes men free?

　　C) leaders have to be consistent?

　　D) princes are human?

　　2.The lion represents those who are ?____?.?

　　A) too trusting B) strong and careful?

　　C) reliant on force D) lacking in intelligence?

　　3.The fox, in this passage, is ?____.

　　A) admired for his trickery B) no match for the lion?

　　C) pitied for his trick D) considered worthless?

　　4.The writer suggests that a successful leader must ?____.?

　　A) be prudent and faithful?

　　B) cheat and lie?

　　C) have principle to guide his actions

　　D) tell the people the truth about his opponent?

　　5.The writer would approve an unsuccessful political candidate ____.

　　A) gave up all his opportunities?

　　B) promised to try again next time?

　　C) overthrew the government by force?

　　D) told the people the truth about his opponent?

　　答案與解析：

　　1.D。

　　本文作者并不認為王子們屬于人這一類。本題考察對作者意圖的理解。因為作者認為 by law是人類所用的斗爭方式;by force是動物采用的斗爭方式。而這些王子們只會the method of fighting by force，故D)是正確答案。

　　2.C。

　　獅子代表那些力量型的人。本題考察學生對明喻和隱喻的理解能力。在這篇文章的第二段的開頭，在獅子與狐貍之間有一個鮮明的對比，獅子不能躲過陷阱，而狐貍逃脫不了被狼襲擊的命運，故我們能看出獅子是靠自己的力量。

　　3.A。

　　在本文中，狐貍的狡猾受到稱贊。本題考察對作者的意圖的理解能力。第二段的開頭，作者也提到了狐貍能躲過陷阱和圈套，故狐貍在這篇文章中因為有計謀而受到稱贊。

　　4.B。

　　作者提出，一個成功的領導人必須學會欺騙和說謊。本題為推理判斷題，需從上下文的含義中找答案。從這篇文章的第二段的后半部分我們能夠推斷出 B)乃此題之答 案。因為一個成功的領導人必須具備兩手：欺騙與說謊。

　　5.C。

　　作者會贊成一個不成功的政治候選人會用武力推翻政府。本題為推理判斷題，需根據作者意圖去推斷出答案。從這篇文章的主題來看，是文斗或是武斗，對一個落選的政治家來說，文斗已經失敗，而只能退而求其次，采取 the struggling method by force也就是要推翻政府，故選C)。

2023年12月20日英語四級真題答案匯總

　There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force; the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second. It is, therefore, necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man. This was covertly taught to rulers by ancient writers, who related how Achilles and many others of those ancient princes were given to Chiron the centaur to be brought up and educated under his discipline. The parable of this semi?animal, semi?human teacher is meant to indicate that a prince must know how to use both natures, and that the one without the other is not durable.?

　　A prince, being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast, must imitate the fox, and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. Those that wish to be only lions do not understand this. Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be good ; but

　　as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them. Nor have legitimate grounds ever failed a prince who wished to show colorable excuse for the nonfulfilment of his promise. Of this one could furnish an infinite number of examples, and show how many times peace has been broken, and how many promises rendered worthless, by the faithlessness of princes, and those that have best been able to imitate the fox have succeeded best. But it is necessary to be able to disguise this character well, and to be a great feigner and dissembler, and men are so simple and so ready to obey present necessities, that the one who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.?

　　1.The author of the passage does not believe that ?____.?

　　A) people can protect themselves?

　　B) the truth makes men free?

　　C) leaders have to be consistent?

　　D) princes are human?

　　2.The lion represents those who are ?____?.?

　　A) too trusting B) strong and careful?

　　C) reliant on force D) lacking in intelligence?

　　3.The fox, in this passage, is ?____.

　　A) admired for his trickery B) no match for the lion?

　　C) pitied for his trick D) considered worthless?

　　4.The writer suggests that a successful leader must ?____.?

　　A) be prudent and faithful?

　　B) cheat and lie?

　　C) have principle to guide his actions

　　D) tell the people the truth about his opponent?

　　5.The writer would approve an unsuccessful political candidate ____.

　　A) gave up all his opportunities?

　　B) promised to try again next time?

　　C) overthrew the government by force?

　　D) told the people the truth about his opponent?

　　答案與解析：

　　1.D。

　　本文作者并不認為王子們屬于人這一類。本題考察對作者意圖的理解。因為作者認為 by law是人類所用的斗爭方式;by force是動物采用的斗爭方式。而這些王子們只會the method of fighting by force，故D)是正確答案。

　　2.C。

　　獅子代表那些力量型的人。本題考察學生對明喻和隱喻的理解能力。在這篇文章的第二段的開頭，在獅子與狐貍之間有一個鮮明的對比，獅子不能躲過陷阱，而狐貍逃脫不了被狼襲擊的命運，故我們能看出獅子是靠自己的力量。

　　3.A。

　　在本文中，狐貍的狡猾受到稱贊。本題考察對作者的意圖的理解能力。第二段的開頭，作者也提到了狐貍能躲過陷阱和圈套，故狐貍在這篇文章中因為有計謀而受到稱贊。

　　4.B。

　　作者提出，一個成功的領導人必須學會欺騙和說謊。本題為推理判斷題，需從上下文的含義中找答案。從這篇文章的第二段的后半部分我們能夠推斷出 B)乃此題之答 案。因為一個成功的領導人必須具備兩手：欺騙與說謊。

　　5.C。

　　作者會贊成一個不成功的政治候選人會用武力推翻政府。本題為推理判斷題，需根據作者意圖去推斷出答案。從這篇文章的主題來看，是文斗或是武斗，對一個落選的政治家來說，文斗已經失敗，而只能退而求其次，采取 the struggling method by force也就是要推翻政府，故選C)。

2023年12月20日英語四級真題答案匯總