Question

【題目】The American newspaper has been around for about three hundred years. In 1721, the printer James Franklin, Benjamin's older brother, started the New England Courant, and that was what we might recognize today as a real newspaper. He filled his paper with stories of adventure, articles on art, on famous people, and on all sorts of political subjects.

Three centuries after the appearance of Franklin's Courant, few believe that newspapers in their present printed form will remain alive for long. Newspaper companies are losing advertisers, readers, market value, and in some cases, their sense of purpose at a speed that would not have been imaginable just several years ago. The chief editor of the Times said recently, "At places where they gather, editors ask one another, ‘How are you?’, as if they have just come out of the hospital or a lost law case." An article about the newspaper appeared on the website of the Guardian, under the headline "NOT DEAD YET."

Perhaps not, but the rise of the Internet, which has made the daily newspaper look slow and out of step with the world, has brought about a real sense of death. Some American newspapers have lost 42% of their market value in the past three years. The New York Times Company has seen its stock (股票) drop by 54% since the end of 2004, with much of the loss coming in the past year. A manager at Deutsche Bank suggested that stock - holders sell off their Times stock.

The Washington Post Company has prevented the trouble only by changing part of its business to education; its testing and test-preparation service now brings in at least half the company's income.

【1】What can we learn about the New England Courant?

A. It is mainly about the stock market.

B. It carries articles by political leaders.

C. It marks the beginning of newspapers.

D. It remains a successful newspaper in America.

【2】What can we infer about the newspaper editors?

A. They often accept readers' suggestions.

B. They care a lot about each other's health.

C. They stop doing business with advertisers.

D. They face great difficulties in their business.

【3】Which of the following found a new way for its development?

A. The Washington Post. B. The Guardian.

C. The New York Times. D. New England Courant.

【4】How does the author seem to feel about the future of newspapers?

A. Satisfied. B. Hopeful. C. Surprised. D. Worried.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】D

【3】A

【4】D

【解析】本文主要講述了美國報業(yè)從起源到現(xiàn)在面臨的困境。作者通過回顧和現(xiàn)狀事實的描述，也表達了自己的擔(dān)憂：未來報業(yè)何去何從？

【1】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第一段the printer James Franklin, Benjamin's older brother, started the New England Courant, and that was what we might recognize today as a real newspaper.可知，James Franklin創(chuàng)辦的New England Courant就是我們今天所知的真正的報紙，也就標(biāo)志著美國報業(yè)的開始，故答案為C。

【2】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段Newspaper companies are losing advertisers, readers, market value可知，報社正在逐漸失去廣告商，讀者和市場價值，以及后面編輯的話"At places where they gather, editors ask one another, ‘How are you?’, as if they have just come out of the hospital or a lost law case."，編輯們現(xiàn)在見面聊天的時候都會互相問候“你還好嗎”仿佛剛出院或輸了一場官司，其實隱含的意思就是因為報紙業(yè)的不景氣，編輯們現(xiàn)在正面臨著困難，所以這個問候應(yīng)該是你們報社生意怎么樣？故答案為D。

【3】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)最后一段可知，找到一種新的發(fā)展方式的是The Washington Post《華盛頓郵報》。故答案為A。

【4】推理判斷題。通讀全文，作者列舉了報業(yè)所面臨的種種問題，可以判斷作者對此很擔(dān)憂。故答案為D。