Question

【题目】After years of sales growth, major publishers reported a fall in their e-book sales for the first time this year, introducing new doubts about the potential of e-books in the publishing industry. Yet despite the increasing realization that digital and print can easily coexist in the market, the question of whether the e-book will “kill” the print book continues to surface. It doesn’t matter if the intention is to predict or dismiss this possibility; the potential disappearance of the book does not stop to inspire our imagination.

After television was invented, many claimed radio would die. But radio ended up surviving by finding new uses; people started listening in cars, during tram rides and on factory floors. The myth of the disappearing book isn’t new, either. As early as 1894, there was guess that they’d be replaced by what we today call audiobooks. This happened again and again. Movies, radio, television, and smartphones—all conspired to destroy print books as a source of culture and entertainment. It is not by chance that the idea of the death of the book surfaces in moments of technological change.

We create emotional bonds with media as they become an integral part of our life. The emergence of a new technology —like e-readers — doesn’t just in indicate economic and social change. It also causes us to adjust our relationship with something that has become an integral part of our day-to-day life.

The ones who still worry for the disappearance of print books may rest assured: Books have endured many technical revolutions and are in the best position to survive this one. Yet the myth of the disappearing medium will continue to provide an appealing narrative about both the power of technology and our dislike to change. Easy to remember and to spread, the story of the death of media reflects our excitement for the future, as well as our fear of losing parts of our intimate world一and finally, of ourselves.

【1】What do people tend to believe according to the text?

A. Print books will disappear in the end.

B. It is unwise to invest in e-books.

C. Digital and print will exist all the time.

D. The death of books is just an imagination.

【2】What can we learn from the second paragraph?

A. The forms of books change with new technology.

B. Books have a bright digital future actually.

C. Culture will disappear with the end of books.

D. The idea of book death follows technological changes.

【3】What does the myth of disappearing books reflect?

A. Our doubt about the power of technology.

B. Our fear of losing ourselves in society.

C. Our preference for new technology.

D. Our pleasure of experiencing technical revolutions.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】D

【3】B

【解析】本文是一篇说明文。主要说明了这样的疑问:随着科学技术的发展，电子书是否会取代纸质书？作者最后得出结论，纸质书在众多的技术变革中都存活了下来，这次也一样。

【1】推理判断题。根据第一段的Yet despite the increasing realization that digital and print can easily coexist in the market, the question of whether the e-book will “kill” the print book continues to surface和最后一句话可知，人们一直认为书会消失。故选A。

【2】推理判断题。结合第二段的内容以及最后一句话It is not by chance that the idea of the death of the book surfaces in moments of technological change.可知，书会消失这种观点是伴随着技术变革出现的。故选D。

【3】推理判断题。根据最后一段的the story of the death of media reflects our excitement for the future, as well as our fear of losing parts of our intimate world一and finally, of ourselves.可知，人们认为书的消失，其实来自于对于未来的莫名的兴奋以及对于这种变革会导致自己消失的恐惧。故选B。