Libraries give kids a quiet and safe place to read and learn. For over 100 years, libraries have played an important role in Americans’ education. But how are these book-filled buildings changing with the times? You may be surprised to find out.
Benjamin Franklin famously founded (创建) America’s first lending library in 1731. But the public library system got its biggest development in the American history in the late 1800’s. Businessman Andrew Carnegie donated millions of dollars to help build free public libraries across the country. Between 1886 and 1919, Carnegie’s donations helped build 1,679 new libraries.
Carnegie believed that libraries could offer the chances to Americans, young and old. He knew that the more libraries there were, the more people would have opportunities to read and use books, speeches and news. 
If you can easily find a public library in your community(社区), you’ll get more chances. After all, the United States has 9,225 public libraries. Today, libraries keep growing. Seven tenths of the libraries have free Internet. It provides much more information and opportunities to ask for jobs online.
Libraries are also teaching kids about the fun of reading. The new program Read! Build! Play! adds reading into playtime. As kids listen to a book that is being read aloud, they use Legos (乐高积木) to build images(图像) from the story happily. Today’s libraries are always looking for creative programs to bring people into the library.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “The doors of wisdom(智慧) are never shut.” As long as the doors of public libraries are open, what he said is most certainly correct!
【小题1】 Benjamin Franklin founded the first lending library in _______.

阅读以下五个人的具体信息，然后为他们选择合适的商品,有一项为多余选项。

1.Thanksgiving Day is coming. Bruce wants to buy his grandma a small present. But he only has $60. His grandma’s eyesight is so poor that she sometimes can’t see the clock clearly.

2.Father’s Day is several days away. Ann is thinking about the gift for her father. Her father is a sports lover. He enjoys bike-riding to the countryside at weekends. But he always suffers from back pain from biking.

3.Frank’s grandparents live in an area which is very cold in winter, but they have no heating system in the room. Frank wants to send them a gift that can meet their need. Price isn’t a problem.

4. Emily’s aunt is a writer. She is a supporter of environmental protection. Emily decides to give her a present. But she can only afford things that cost less than $40.

5.Joe’s father’s birthday is coming. Joe wants to buy a gift for him with the $1,800 she made from the part-time job. Her father used to be a football player and his back aches from time to time.   A．Price: $1,699.00

A lot of us have a little trouble getting up out of chairs—maybe it’s a broken knee or a bad back. No matter where the ache or pain is, this lift chair can get your back on your feet.

B．Price: $679.00

This 7-speed bike is designed to provide comfort for the riders. No more aching back from biking in that uncomfortable, forward position.

C．Price: $49.98

This handsome talking watch has a clever voice that tells you the time when you push a button. The next time you forget your glasses, your watch will still be able to tell you what time it is.

D．Price: $39.95

This desk lamp brings many of the benefits of natural daylight indoors. It provides lighting that’s perfect for many indoors activities, such as writing, reading, painting, artwork, studying and much more.

E. Price: $119.98

If you like to be warm in your bed, here’s the electric blanket for you. It keeps you warm, holding a proper temperature all night long. It is easy to operate and wash.

F. Price: $59.95

Perhaps one of the worst things on a snowy day is the fact that you might slip and fall. Now you can walk easily and naturally on an icy patches with Icetrax Pro. Icetrax Pro give you confidence in snowy or ice conditions.