What our society suffers from most today is the absence of consensus about what it and life in it ought to be. Such consensus cannot be gained from society’s present stage, or from fantasies about what it ought to be, for that the present is too close and too diversified, and the future too uncertain, to make believable claims about it. A consensus in the present hence can be achieved only through a shared understanding of the past, as Homer’s epics (史诗) informed those who lived centuries later what it meant to be Greek, and by what images and ideals they were to live their lives and organize their societies.

Most societies derive consensus from a long history, a language all their own, a common religion, common ancestry. The myths by which they live are based on all of these. But the United States is a country of immigrants, coming from a great variety of nations. Lately, it has been emphasized that an asocial(反社会的), narcissistic (自恋) personality has become characteristic of Americans, and that it is this type of personality that prevents us from achieving consensus that would counteract a tendency to withdraw into private worlds. In his study of narcissism, Christopher Lasch says that modern man, “tortured by self-consciousness, turns to new therapies not to free himself of his personal worries but to find meaning and purpose in life, to find something to live for”. There is widespread distress because national morale has declined, and we have lost an earlier sense of national vision and purpose.

Contrary to rigid religions or political beliefs, as are found in totalitarian (极权主义的) societies, our culture is one of great individual differences, at least in principle and in theory. But this leads to disunity, even chaos. Americans believe in the value of diversity, but just because ours is a society based on individual diversity, it needs consensus about some dominating ideas more than societies based on uniform origin of their citizens. Hence, if we are to have consensus, it must be based on a myth—a vision—about a common experience, a conquest that made us Americans, as the myth about the conquest of Troy formed the Greeks. Only a common myth can offer relief from the fear that life is without meaning or purpose. Myths permit us to examine our place in the world by comparing it to a shared idea. Myths are shared fantasies that form the tie that binds the individual to other members of his group. Such myths help to fight off feelings of isolation, guilt, anxiety, and purposelessness—in short, they combat isolation and the breakdown of social standards and values.

36. In the author’s view, the greatest trouble with the US society lies in the .

［A］ lack of serious disagreement over the organizations of social life

［B］ non-existence of unanimity on the forms the society should take

［C］ general denying of its conformity with what it was unexpected to be

［D］ public negation of the consensus on how to conduct social reforms

37. Homer’s epics mentioned intend to exemplify the fact that .

［A］ the present is varying too fast to be caught up easily

［B］ the future may be so indefinite as to be unpredictable

［C］ the past can help to shape a consensus in the present

［D］ the past determines social moralities for later generations

38. The asocial personality of Americans results from .

［A］ the multiracial composition of the US society

［B］ the absence of a common religion and ancestry

［C］ the want of shared myths they possess in life

［D］ the obstruction of achieving a general agreement

39. It can be inferred from the text that Christopher Lasch is most probably .

［A］ an earnest nationalist ［B］ an advanced psychologist

［C］ a radical reformer ［D］ a social historian

40. The author concludes that only shared myths can help Americans to .

［A］ bring about the uniformity of their culture

［B］ diminish their great individual differences

［C］ avoid the sense of being isolated and anxious

［D］ regain the feelings of social values and morale
答案：BCADC