2017公共英語PETS1級考試閱讀（一）

　　Elections are the lifeblood of a democracy. The word democracy literally means “the people rule,” an important concept in America's history. In the mid-1700s, England began passing laws that made the American colonies angry. The colonists had to pay more and more taxes and enjoyed less and less freedom. They felt the government of England didn't represent their interests. On July 4, 1776, the colonies declared their independence from England. They wanted to establish a democracy where people could have a voice in government.

　　選舉是民主的原動力。民主這個字照字面的意思是‘人民自主’，是美國歷史中一個重要的觀念。十八世紀(jì)中期，英國開始通過一些使美國殖民地憤怒的法律。殖民地人民必須付愈來愈多的稅，享有愈來愈少的自由。他們感到英國政府沒有代表他們的權(quán)益。一七七六年七月四日，殖民地宣布脫離英國獨立。他們想要建立民主制度，使人們在政府中有發(fā)言權(quán)。