B
The American newspaper has a history of more than three hundred years. In 1721, James Franklin, the elder brother of Benjamin Franklin, started The New-England Courant, which is often considered one of the first real newspapers in America. The paper included adventure stories, articles on art, reports about famous people and discussions of political subjects.
Three centuries later, however, many people doubt whether traditional printed newspapers can survive for much longer. Newspaper companies are losing advertisers, readers, and market value at a speed that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago. Some people in the newspaper industry even feel that newspapers are losing their sense of purpose.
A chief editor once joked, “When editors meet each other today, they ask, ‘How are you?’, as if they had just come out of the hospital or lost a law case.” The joke reflects the difficult
situation many newspapers are facing today. Some newspapers have reduced the number of pages, while others have cut jobs or even closed down completely.
The rise of the internet has changed the way people get news. Online news is faster and easier to access, making printed newspapers seem slow and less connected to modern life. Today, many people read news on their phones or computers instead of buying a daily paper. As a result, newspaper companies are trying hard to find new ways to attract readers.
To survive, some newspaper companies are developing online services including digital subscriptions and other new businesses. Although traditional newspapers are facing great challenges, many people still believe that professional journalism will remain important in the future.
5. What can we learn about the New-England Courant? ()
A. It was started by Benjamin Franklin.
B. It mainly reported sports news.
C. It was one of America's first real newspapers.
D. It remains a successful newspaper in America.
6. 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.
7. What are some newspaper companies doing to survive? ()
A. Moving all their offices to smaller cities.
B. Printing fewer kinds of news stories.
C. Developing online services.
D. Asking readers to write articles for free.
8. How do most people feel about professional journalism? ()
A. Worried.
B. Positive.
C. Doubtful.
D. Indifferent.
Ⅱ.读后续写(25分)
得分
阅读下面材料,根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段,使之构成一篇完整的短文。
I looked out at the smiling faces packed into the school hall. Flashes from cameras lit up in all directions. The applause filled my ears. I had done it. I had really done it.
Just a few months earlier, I would never have pictured myself acting in a play in front of two hundred people. “Not for a million dollars,” I would have said. But when the time came, I got up on stage and faced one of my greatest fears and discovered I could do more than I ever gave myself credit for. I found a new person inside me, a much more daring, outgoing person who had been hidden all along, just waiting for the opportunity to appear.
If not for my teacher, Mrs. Sather, I might never have found that opportunity.
In the first and second grades, I was extremely shy. I had friends, but it just wasn't in my personality to be very outgoing, even when I knew someone well. I was afraid I would do or say something wrong, so usually I just smiled and listened to other people's conversations. I did well in school and I loved to write. However, I would escape into my writing, where I could be myself and never had to worry about what other people thought of me. In my stories, I was never shy.
My teacher, Mrs. Sather, always encouraged me to write more. She told our class to go after our dreams and dig in with both hands. I think she was one of the first people to see my inner strength. One day, she announced that our class was going to perform a play she had written. “I’ll begin to cast everyone tomorrow,” she said. “I need someone who is not afraid to be on stage in front of a lot of people to play the lead part of Dorothy. Anybody want to try?” A few excited hands shot up—mine, of course, was not one of them—and Mrs. Sather smiled. “We’ll talk more about it tomorrow,” she said. Then the bell rang and my classmates slowly left the classroom.
注意:1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
When I was loading up my backpack, Mrs. Sather asked me to go to her.


Hearing Mrs. Sather's words, I realized it was time to make a change.


技法指导
推理判断题——评价看法

语篇解读 本文是一篇说明文。文章简述了美国报业的历史与现状。重点分析了传统纸媒在互联网冲击下面临的生存危机与转型尝试,并肯定了专业报道的持续价值。
5. C 细节理解题。根据文章第一段"In 1721, James Franklin ... considered one of the first real newspapers in America." 可 知, New England Courant 是美国最早的一批真正的报纸之一。故选 C。
6. D 推理判断题。通读全文可知,文章旨在说明报纸存在危机。根据文章第三段可推知,报纸编辑在工作中面临很大困难。故选 D。
7. C 细节理解题。根据最后一段"To survive, some newspaper companies are developing online services including digital subscriptions and other new businesses."可知,一些报业公司拓展线上业务以求生存。故选 C。
8. B 细节理解题。根据最后一段"many people still believe that professional journalism will remain important in the future."可知,许多人仍然相信专业报道在未来依然具有重要价值。故选 B。
Ⅱ.读后续写
When I was loading up my backpack, Mrs. Sather asked me to go to her. Mrs. Sather stared into my eyes as if seeing my inner self locked away inside. "I would love you to give this a try for me. But if you really don't want to, I won't make you. It is your choice," Mrs. Sather wanted me to play this role. She shocked me, for I was always a shy person, not even daring to speak in a loud voice in public.
Hearing Mrs. Sather's words, I realized it was time to make a change. After seconds of hesitation, I nodded and said, "Mrs. Sather, I want to play the role. And I will try my best to play it well." Over the next few weeks, I practiced my lines tirelessly until I knew them by heart. When the night of the performance finally arrived, I stepped onto the stage and gave it my all. As the play ended, facing the approving smiles and applause, I felt like a new person.