As soon as it was revealed that a reporter for Progressive magazine had discovered how to make a hydrogen bomb, a group of firearm（火器）fans formed the National Hydrogen Bomb Association, and they are now lobbying against any legislation to stop Americans from owning one.
"The Constitution," said the association’s spokesman, "gives everyone the right to own arms. It doesn’t spell out what kind of arms. But since anyone can now make a hydrogen bomb, the public should be able to buy it to protect themselves."
"Don’t you think it's dangerous to have one in the house, particularly where there are children around?"
"The National Hydrogen Bomb Association hopes to educate people in the safe handling of this type of weapon. We are instructing owners to keep the bomb in a locked cabinet
and the fuse（导火索）separately in a drawer."
"Some people consider the hydrogen bomb a very fatal weapon which could kill somebody."
The spokesman said, "Hydrogen bombs don’t kill people—people kill people. The bomb is for self-protection and it also has a deterrent effect. If somebody knows you have a nuclear weapon in your house, they’re going to think twice about breaking in."
"But those who want to ban the bomb for American citizens claim that if you have one locked in the cabinet, with the fuse in a drawer, you would never be able to assemble it in time to stop an intruder (侵入者)."
"Another argument against allowing people to own a bomb is that at the moment it is very expensive to build one. So what your association is backing is a program which would allow the middle and upper classes to acquire a bomb while poor people will be left defenseless with just handguns."
16. According to the passage, some people started a national association so as to ________.
A) block any legislation to ban the private possession of the bomb
B) coordinate the mass production of the destructive weapon
C) instruct people how to keep the bomb safe at home
D) promote the large-scale sale of this newly invented weapon
17. Some people oppose the ownership of H-bombs by individuals on the grounds that ________.
A) the size of the bomb makes it difficult to keep in a drawer
B) most people don’t know how to handle the weapon
C) people’s lives will be threatened by the weapon
D) they may fall into the hands of criminals
18. By saying that the bomb also has a deterrent effect the spokesman means that it ________.
A) will frighten away any possible intruders
B) can show the special status of its owners
C) will threaten the safety of the owners as well
D) can kill those entering others’ houses by force
19. According to the passage, opponents of the private ownership of H-bombs are very much worried that ________.
A) the influence of the association is too powerful for the less privileged to overcome
B) poorly-educated Americans will find it difficult to make use of the weapon
C) the wide use of the weapon will push up living expenses tremendously
D) the cost of the weapon will put citizens on an unequal basis
20. From the tone of the passage we know that the author is ________.
A) doubtful about the necessity of keeping H-bombs at home for safety
B) unhappy with those who vote against the ownership of H-bombs
C) not serious about the private ownership of H-bombs
D) concerned about the spread of nuclear weapons
16. A 17. C 18. A 19.D 20. A
