题目内容：

    The word tolerance is widely used in liberal democracies （自由民主）． It indicates a positive meaning． Politicians urge us to be tolerant towards minorities． Educators teach us to be tolerant towards the other． The press is full of references to the need to display tolerance when faced with individuals or groups espousing a different view or holding a different religious belief． A tolerant society is an objective sought after by anyone who believes in the values of democracy． A tolerant individual is connected with virtuous qualities．

The question we must ask is whether we have been using the word tolerance fully aware of its meaning and whether we have applied it correctly to reflect what we really wish to convey．

The word tolerance means to bear， or to bear with． If I tolerate something or someone， I basically say that I am ready to bear it or him． I can tolerate a bad smell or a noisy neighbour． The act of toleration forces me to desist from conveying my objection to the existence of a phenomenon， which I find difficult to bear． A bad smell or a noisy neighbour is considered by me to be an objectionable phenomenon． By tolerating either of them， I am not transforming the bad smell or the noisy neighbour into positive phenomena． Let's be honest： I don't have a different taste when it comes to bad smells． I simply dislike it and hope that it disappears． I don't respect the noisy neighbour． I would rather have him stop at once the noise he is making so I can live in peace．

The subject tolerating is by nature not equal to the object being tolerated． If I tolerate you， I essentially say that I am above you and am prepared， although unwillingly， to bear with your presence or with your practices or opinions． That may be true in the case of an individual who is ready to tolerate the other． However， this attitude by such an individual， though empirically true， is hardly a virtue． Certainly， the fact that an individual， in reality， may merely tolerate the other or his opinion does not justify a government or any official authority promoting tolerance as a virtue． One cannot tolerate an equal being． True equality involves respect， not toleration． To respect the other as a distinctive person is hardly to tolerate him． This is the true meaning of equality： diversity existing in a mutually-respectful socio-legal setting．

A tolerant attitude involves the grant of a favour， not a right． The question we should ask ourselves is whether we would ever wish a parliament to make laws considering us， as individuals and as part of a collective entity or a permission to pursue certain actions interpreted as a favour rather than a right？ Indeed， would we ever wish anyone to listen to our views and accept us the way we are simply because he is kind enough to tolerate us？

1.The first two paragraphs are mainly intended to show that ______ ．

A. tolerance is a symbol of liberal democracies

B. democratic society always advocates tolerance

C. people's understanding of tolerance is one-sided

D. tolerance can be applied to many situations

2.The example of a bad smell and a noisy neighbour is raised to indicate that ______ ．

A. the writer are fed up with them

B. most people find them hard to tolerate

C. the writer isn't prejudiced against them

D. tolerating them isn't a virtuous act

3.The main idea of Paragraph 4is that ______ ．

A. tolerance shows an unequal relationship

B. most people promote tolerance as a virtue

C. people should show respect for each other

D. tolerance has nothing to do with respect

4.Which can be the best title for this passage？ ______

A. Tolerance and Respect B. What Is to Be Tolerated？

C. Is Tolerance a Virtue？ D. Should People Be Tolerant？