For decades, arms-control talks centered on nuclear weapons. This is hardly surprising, since a single nuclear bomb can destroy an entire city. Yet, unlike smaller arms, these immensely powerful weapons have not been used in war in over 50 years.
Historian John Keegan writes: “Nuclear weapons have, since August 9, 1945, killed no one. The 50,000,000 who have died in war since that date have for the most part, been killed by cheap, mass-produced weapons and small ammunition, costing little more than the transistor radios which have flooded the world in the same period. Because small weapons have disrupted life very little in the advanced world, outside the restricted localities where drug-dealing and political terrorism flourish, the populations of the rich states have been slow to recognize the horror that this pollution has brought in its train.
Why have small arms become the weapons of choice in recent wars? Part of the reason lies in the relationship between conflict and poverty. Most of the wars fought during the 1990s took place in countries that are poor----too poor to buy sophisticated weapon systems. Small arms and light weapons are a bargain. For example, 50 million dollars, which is approximately the cost of a single modern jet fighter, can equip an army with 200,000 assault rifles.
Another reason why small weapons are so popular is that they are lethal. A single rapid-fire assault rifle can fire hundreds of rounds a minute. They are also easy to use and maintain. A child of ten can be taught to strip and reassemble a typical assault rifle. A child can also quickly learn to aim and fire that rifle into a crowd of people.
The global traffic in guns is complex. The illegal trade of small arms is big. In some African wars, paramilitary groups have bought billions of dollars’ worth of small arms and light weapons, not with money, but with diamonds seized from diamond-mining areas.
Weapons are also linked to the illegal trade in drugs. It is not unusual for criminal organizations to use the same routes to smuggle drugs in one direction and to smuggle guns in the other.
11. It is implied in the passage that _____.
A、the nuclear arms-control talks can never reach an agreement
B、small arms-control is more important than nuclear arms-control
C、the power of nuclear weapons to kill people has been diminished
D、unclear weapons were the topic of arms-control talks 50 years ago
12. The advanced world neglect the problems of small arms because ____.
A、They have to deal with drug-dealing and political terrorism.
B、They have no such problems as are caused by small weapons.
C、They face other more important problems such as pollution.
D、They have not recognized the seriousness of the problems in time.
13. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the reason for the prevalence of small arms?
A、Small arms are cheap.
B、Small arms are powerful.
C、Small arms are easier to use.
D、Small arms are easier to get.
14. We can conclude from the passage that _____.
A、small arms are not expensive in the black-market
B、it is unfair to exchange small arms for diamond
C、criminals use the same passage to smuggle drugs and small arms
D、where there are drugs, there are small arms
15. The best title for this passage is _____.
A、Small Arms Talks, Not Nuclear Arms Talks.
B、Neglect of Small Arms Control.
C、Global Traffic in Small Arms.
D、Small Arms, Big Problems.
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