2024年河北专升本英语阅读理解练习题及答案解析

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

　　Three centuries after the appearance of Franklin' s newspaper, 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 editors gather, they ask one another, ‘How are you?’, as if they just came out of the hospital or lost a 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(股本) 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 stockholders sell off their Times stocks.

　　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. However, most companies are still in trouble.

　　问题：

　　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 American newspapers.

　　D.It remains a successful newspaper in America.

　　【精析】C 根据第一段第二句“...the printer James Franklin, Benjamin Franklin’ s elder brother, started The New-England Courant, and that was what we might recognize today as the first real newspaper in America. ”可知,《新英格兰报》是我们现在可能公认 的第一份真正的美国报纸,即《新英格兰报》标志着美国报业的开端。故选 C。

　　2.What can we infer from 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.

　　【精析】D 根据第二段第二、三句“ Newspaper companies are losing advertisers, readers, market value􀆺” 可知,报纸公司正在失去广告商、读者、市值和在某些情况 下的自身的意义;主编在聚集的地方会互相问“你好吗?”,好像他们刚出院或输了一 场法律诉讼。由此可推知,因为报业的不景气,主编在生意上面临巨大的困难。故 选 D。

　　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.The New-England Courant.

　　【精析】 A 根据最后一段第一句“ The Washington Post Company has prevented the trouble only by changing part of its business to education...”可知,华盛顿邮报公司仅通 过把自己的部分业务转向教育就阻止了这个问题,即《华盛顿邮报》为自己的发展找 到了新的方法。故选 A。

　　4.Which of the following is NOT correct according to the author?

　　A.The rise of the Internet has made newspapers look slow.

　　B.Some newspapers have lost more than 40% of their market value.

　　C.The New York Times has seen much of its loss in 2004.

　　D.A bank manager suggested stockholders sell their Times stocks.

　　【精析】C 根据第三段第一句“...the rise of the Internet, which has made the daily newspaper look slow...”可知,互联网的兴起使日报看起来发展迟缓,所以 A 项正确; 根据第三段第二句“Some American newspapers have lost 42% of their market value...” 可知,一些美国报纸已经失去了自己市值的 42% ,所以 B 项正确;根据第三段第三句 “The New York Times Company has seen its stock drop by 54% since the end of 2004, with much of the loss coming in the past year. ”可知,纽约时报公司自 2004 年年底以来 股本下跌了 54% ,许多损失是在过去的一年中发生的,C 项(《纽约时报》在 2004 年 经历了许多损失)与原文表述不符,所以 C 项错误;根据第三段最后一句“A manager at Deutsche Bank suggested that stockholders sell off their Times stocks. ”可知,德意志银 行的一位经理建议股东们抛售自己的《纽约时报》股票,所以 D 项正确。故选 C。

　　5.How does the author seem to feel about the future of American newspapers?

　　A.Satisfied.

　　B.Hopeful.

　　C.Surprised.

　　D.Worried.

　　【精析】D 通读全文可知,第一段引出了本文的主题———美国报纸;第二、三段讲 述了美国报纸所面临的严峻形势;最后一段讲述了华盛顿邮报公司以变求生,但大多 数公司仍处于困境之中。由此可推知,作者对美国报纸的未来感到担忧。故选 D。