A
The United States Congress is responsible for making and approving federal laws—rules that everyone in the country must follow. But exactly how do those laws get made? The process is not easy, and it takes a long time.
A law begins when someone puts forward an idea. The idea can come from anyone, but it has to get to a U．S. lawmaker who wants it to become legislation(法律)．In time, the idea is further developed into a written proposal, called a bill.
Then, a member of Congress officially proposes the bill. After the bill is introduced, it is sent to a small group of lawmakers, called a “committee”. Sometimes committee members seek more information about the proposal by holding hearings. Sometimes the committee changes the bill. Sometimes it decides not to take any action. In that case，we say lawmakers “table” the bill, or let it “die in the committee”．
But now and then, the bill is offered to lawmakers not on the committee. Those lawmakers debate the bill further. They might change the bill again. Finally, the full House or Senate votes on the bill. If it does not earn the majority of votes, the bill does not advance.
Finally, the agreedupon bill is sent to the president. If the president signs it, the bill becomes a law. If the president does nothing and Congress is officially meeting, the bill becomes a law.But if the president does nothing and Congress is not in session, the bill does not pass. Or the president can officially reject the bill.If that happens，the bill is not stopped. Instead, it is returned to both the Senate and the House. If twothirds of the senators and twothirds of the House members approve the bill once again, even with the president objecting, they turn the bill into a law.
【语篇解读】 本文主要介绍了美国法律的制定过程。
1．Who is the first to propose a bill?
A．A lawyer. B．A citizen.
C．A member of Congress. D．A committee member.
C [细节理解题。根据第三段第一句“Then，a member of Congress officially proposes the bill.”可知，第一个提出议案的人是国会成员。故选C。]
2．When does a bill finally become a law?
A．After it is sent to a committee.
B．When the president signs it.
C．After it returns to the Congress.
D．While Congress is not in session.
B [细节理解题。根据最后一段第二句“If the president signs it，the bill becomes a law.”可知，如果总统签署了一致同意的议案，那么该议案就成了一项法律。]
3．What can be inferred from the text?
A．Not every bill can be turned into a law.
B．Anybody can put forward a proposal.
C．If “tabled”，the bill has to be voted on.
D．Once proposed，the bill can't be changed.
A [推理判断题。根据对全文的整体理解，尤其是根据最后三段的内容可知，一项议案最终变成一项法律需要走很多程序，在这些程序中议案有可能被搁置或被否决，由此可推知，并不是每一项提案都会变成一项法律。]
