How cool can libraries be in an era（時代）of iPods and Kindles? More than you think．Only if you know where to go．

Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States

The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours．It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus．Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening．The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the Chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime

Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland

The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I．It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 0fthe library's oldest books．The Long Room houses one of the oldest harps（豎琴） in Ireland．Dating to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol foreland．

Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, United States

At first glance, it looks like a spaceship．Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970．It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels．The library hosts "Dinner in the Library," which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from distinguished authors．

TU Delft Library: The Netherlands

The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997 and has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum．The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can't really see the actual Library．What makes it interesting is the roof, which is a grassy hill．The roof covers 5,500 square meters．And it has become one of the most striking and greenest structures in the area．

1.Which of the four libraries has the longest history?

A．Central Library．

B．Trinity College Library．

C．Geisel Library．

D．TU Delft Library．

2.What makes Geisel Library different from the others is that

A．famous writers often deliver speeches there

B．it has a reoffer grassy hill

C．Queen Elizabeth I founded the library

D．it is the largest single library in the world

3.In Central Library, you can

A．buy souvenirs

B．drink cocktails

C．enjoy sci-fi films

D．see the old harp

More and more mainland high school graduates are considering attending universities in Hong Kong. They feel that attractive scholarships, the high quality of education and a chance to experience a different culture present a good opportunity.

At Fudan University’s Handan campus, nearly 800 local high school graduates have attended an admission interview for Hong Kong University (HKU). The candidates have already passed the national college entrance exam and an HKU written test. HKU applicants in the mainland are 10,000 students this year, more than doubling last year’s applicants.

“Most of the applicants are excellent high school graduates with outstanding performance in the national college entrance exam,” Cui Jijia, an official with HKU’s Shanghai office, said.

Excellent freshmen from the mainland will be awarded a scholarship ranging from HK$30,000 (US$3,862) to HK$100,000 this year, as HKU has set aside a total scholarship budget of HK$55 million for first-year students.

One HKU applicant says that entering a university in Hong Kong provides access to jobs in Hong Kong in the future. “I’ll choose HKU if I receive an offer from both a local school and HKU,” he says.

Besides HKU, some other universities from Hong Kong also hold admission interviews for students from mainland high schools. They expect to enroll more than 1,300 mainland students.

45．Which one is not the reason for mainland students to enter a university in Hong Kong?

   A．Graduating from a Hong Kong university may present an opportunity to work in Hong Kong.

   B．The tuition in a Hong Kong university is not high.

   C．The high quality of education.

   D．A chance to have a different cultural environment.

46．According to this passage, we can know that ________.

   A．mainland high school graduates need an admission interview when they enter a university

   B．most mainland high school students prefer to enter a university in Hong Kong

   C．mainland universities have no scholarships

   D．most of the HKU applicants in the mainland are very excellent

47．If high school graduates want to enter Hong Kong University, they must ________.

   A．have an interview first                 

    B．be born in a rich family

   C．graduate from an excellent school  

   D．have an admission interview after they pass the written test

48．The main idea of this passage is _______.

   A．the scholarship of the universities in Hong Kong is very high

   B．the competition of entering a Hong Kong university is very tough

   C．excellent students in the mainland now have a new choice for higher education

   D．to study in a university in Hong Kong is better than to study in the mainland