Material 1: The democratic system of ancient Greece, represented by Athens, began with Solon's reform, reached its peak in the period of Pericles, and ended with the conquest of Alexandria. Although ancient Greek democracy did not exist for a long time, its system design was quite simple and rough, and it had its own insurmountable weaknesses and limitations. However, it is the beginning of human practice of democracy and pursuit of freedom, an inexhaustible source of wisdom for later generations to pursue democracy and freedom, and a bright pearl in the history of human civilization.
-Ren Jianlin: A study on the limitations of the democratic system in ancient Greece.
After World War II, people initially opposed the concept of monarchy and aristocratic politics, which led Americans to establish some state governments with weak executive heads and ineffective upper houses. The new constitution proposes a powerful executive head and a Senate with the same powers as the House of Representatives.
-American J. Bloom's The Course of America (I)
(1) According to the material 1, what are the "insurmountable weaknesses and limitations" of ancient Greek democracy? (6 points)
(2) According to the second material, combined with the knowledge learned, how did modern America break through the limitations of ancient Greek democracy? (6 points)
(1) Limitations: As far as the scope is concerned, it is only "citizen" democracy, and women, slaves and foreigners are excluded; (2 points) In nature, it is primitive direct democracy; (2 points) From the formal point of view, the democratic form of drawing lots and taking turns to sit in villages may lead to the abuse and misuse of state power. (2 points)
(2) Breakthrough: establishing bourgeois representative system and implementing indirect democracy; (2 points) Both the President and Members of Parliament are elected, which effectively eliminates the disadvantages of drawing lots; (2 points) Giving African-Americans 3/5 citizenship has broken through the limitations of Athenian civil democracy to some extent. (2 points)
Test analysis: This question examines the ability of reading comprehension and knowledge transfer. Question (1) asks what "weaknesses and limitations that ancient Greek democracy cannot overcome by itself" refers to the limitations of ancient Greek democratic politics. This combination of materials and knowledge can be summarized from three aspects: minority democracy in scope, direct democracy in nature and voting system in form, which may lead to abuse and misuse of power. Question (2): The setting of this question is relatively new. To answer this question, we need to combine the relevant knowledge of question (1) to make an inductive analysis, such as indirect democracy, election of president and members of parliament, granting citizenship to black Americans, etc., so as to break through the limitations of Athenian civil democracy to some extent.