Question

Picture a library without books? Well, I can’t. Ever since I was little I would go to the library and take out numerous books. From picture books to beginning chapter books to YA books, books have always been a part of my life. Unlike many people today, I don't own a Kindle or a Nook or any type of e-reader. I prefer the old-fashioned book. There is something about holding a book and being able to turn the pages that I find comforting. In today's 21st century, books may become obsolete. For me that's something I find scary.

I am a fan of the old TV science-fiction series Twilight Zone. One episode（一段情節(jié)）is about a librarian who has become obsolete. Though this episode aired in 1961, the writer of the series, Rod Serling was exactly on point when it came to predicting the future.

In fact, in San Antonio, Texas the first-ever bookless library in the country opened. The library is full of iMacs, tablets and iPads which cost a huge $2.3 million. The library offers around 10,000 e-books. So the question is, is this what the future will soon be? Mary Graham, vice president of South Carolina's Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce states, "This is the future…If you're going to be building new library facilities, this is what you need to be doing."

It is our generation that will be the guinea pigs（試驗品）of increasing technology like this. Is this a good or bad thing? Well, digital libraries may help the environment by not using paper; however, I feel like something will always be lacking with a digital book. A digital library is just the beginning.

With all of this new technology, people seem to be more absorbed in their own world. One of my biggest complaints is when I am with my friends and they can't seem to get off their smart phone and talk to me. To make plans with a friend and then have them stuck on their phone the whole time is extremely rude. Not only is it disrespectful, but it reflects the direction of where human interactions are heading. Though social media is great, it also is addicting and has negative effects.

Often when I go on Facebook it just makes me feel worse about myself. I'll see many of my 800 Facebook friends showing off their newest accomplishment or acceptance to college. Additionally, our society is becoming increasingly lazy. For instance, instead of doing mental math, people use their phone to solve 89 + 74. It is simple tasks like these that are allowing people to lack important educational and social skills.

It is up to us to find a balance between technology and human values and interactions. With new technology being created every day, we need to learn how to use it alongside our great minds. After all, inventions are supposed to benefit society not harm it. In the day of technology, who knows what's next?

1.The underlined word "obsolete" (Paragraph l) is closest in meaning to .

A. outdated B. complex

C. expensive D. meaningless

2.What can we infer from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?

A. The episode still enjoys great popularity nowadays.

B. Rod Serling liked making predictions about the future.

C. The situation of books today is similar to what Rod Serling predicted in the episode.

D. The episode airing in 1961 was the most entertaining of the TV science-fiction series.

3.What can we learn about the library in San Antonio, Texas?

A. It is the first-ever library in America.

B. It is of no practical use although it costs so much.

C. It holds an exhibition of much electronic equipment.

D. People can read e-books there with the help of the new facilities.

4.Which of the following will the writer probably disagree with?

A. Great as social media is, it does have some negative effects.

B. With the increasing use of social media, something will actually be lost.

C. Through social media, people can develop educational and social skills around.

D. As a result of social media, people may communicate less with the people around.

5.The tone of the passage is best described as .

A. Optimistic B. Skeptical

C. Supportive D. Objective

 

Answer 1

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.C

5.B

【解析】

試題分析：設(shè)想一個沒有書籍的圖書館，這是讓作者不能接受的。作者更喜歡紙質(zhì)的書籍帶來的舒適感。科技給我們的生活帶來了巨大的變化，但科技并非是完美的，也會帶來一些負(fù)面的影響。

1. 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)“I prefer the old-fashioned book. There is something about holding a book and being able to turn the pages that I find comforting.”可知，在21世紀(jì)，紙質(zhì)書籍顯得有點過時，但作者卻更喜歡紙質(zhì)的書籍，劃線詞與old-fashioned同義，故選A。

2.細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)“One episode（一段情節(jié)）is about a librarian who has become obsolete.”可知，電視劇里的一個情節(jié)--一家圖書館變得過時，由此可知，電視劇的作者預(yù)見到了當(dāng)今書籍面臨過時的現(xiàn)狀，故選C。

3. 推斷題。根據(jù)“in San Antonio, Texas the first-ever bookless library in the country opened ...The library offers around 10,000 e-books.”可知，San Antonio,和Texas的市民可以借助新的科技閱讀電子書，故選D。

4. 推斷題。根據(jù)“I feel like something will always be lacking with a digital book ...people seem to be more absorbed in their own world ...With new technology being created every day, we need to learn how to use it alongside our great minds.”可知，作者認(rèn)為，科技并非完美，人們更多地沉浸在自己的世界里，我們應(yīng)該學(xué)會使用科技，而不應(yīng)該被科技改變自己的態(tài)度、價值觀等，故選C

5. 推斷題。根據(jù)第四段“Well, digital libraries may help the environment by not using paper; however, I feel like something will always be lacking with a digital book. A digital library is just the beginning.”和最后一段“After all, inventions are supposed to benefit society not harm it.”可知，作者不贊同用電子圖書館取代紙質(zhì)書籍。作者認(rèn)為，科技應(yīng)該給社會帶來益處而不是傷害。由此可見，就科技能否帶來便利來說，作者是持懷疑態(tài)度的，故選B。

考點：日常生活類閱讀。