No country in the world has more daily newspapers than the USA. There are almost 2,000 of them, as compared with 180 in Japan, 164 in Argentina and 111 in Britain. The quality of some American papers is extremely high and their views are quoted all over the world. Famous dailies like the Washington Post or the New York Times have a powerful influence all over the country. However, they are not national newspapers in the sense that The Times is in Britain or Le Monde is in France, since each American city has its own daily newspaper. The best of these present detailed description of national and international news, but many tend to limit themselves to state or city news.
　Like the press in most other countries, American newspapers range from the “sensational” which feature crime and gossip(闲谈), to the “serious”, which focus on factual news and the analysis of world events. But with few exceptions, American newspapers try to entertain as well as give information, for they have to compete with the attraction of television.
Just as American newspapers satisfy all tastes, so do they also try to attract readers of all political parties. A few newspapers support extremist(极端主义的) groups on the far right and on the far left, but most daily newspapers try to attract middle-of-the-road Americans who are moderate(中立的). Many of these papers print columns by well-known journalists of different political and social views, in order to present a balanced picture.
As in other countries, American newspapers can be either responsible or irresponsible, but it is generally accepted that the American press serves its country well and that it has more than once courageously exposed political scandals(丑闻) or crimes, for instance, the Watergate Affair(水门事件). The Newspapers drew the attention of the public to the horrors of the Vietnam War.
【小题1】There are fewer national newspapers in          .
　　A. Britain than in the USA.    B. France than in Britain
　　C. the USA than in Britain or France
　　D. France than in the USA or Britain
【小题2】Most American newspapers try hard to entertain their readers because
.　　

A．they have to keep up a good relation with them

B．they have to compete with television

C．they have to write about crime and gossip

D．they have to give factual news in an interesting way

【小题3】Many American newspapers attract readers of different political preference by          .

A．supporting extremist groups from time to time

B．inviting middle-of-the-road Americans to write articles for them

C．avoiding carrying articles about extremists

D．printing articles representing different political viewpoints

【小题4】The passage is mainly about             .

A．the characteristics of American newspapers

B．the development of American newspapers

C．the functions of American newspapers

D．the advantages and disadvantages of American newspapers

HK’s Family Affair
　The 32nd Hong Kong Art Festival, to be held early next year, will be based on the theme of “family”.
　The art festival, considered to be Asia’s best, began in 1973.
　“We hope that people from Beijing and from all over the world will go to Hong Kong to enjoy the multiple performances in our art festival,”Douglas Gautier, the festival’s management director, said in a press conference in the capital.
　In the 29 days of the festival, which runs from February 8 to March 7, 2004, the audience can choose from 111 performances of 51 programmes staged by 700 foreign performers, 450 local artists and 160 actors from the mainland.
　Programmes vary from classical music, jazz, world music, Western and Peking opera, drama and dance to outdoor spectaculars.
　The programmes include Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio, Shakespeare’s drama Rromeo and Juliet, the ballet Mozartina and African dances, to name just a few.
　The lineup（阵容）includes the English Touring Theatre, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Zurich Ballet, The Spanish National Dance Troupe, as well as Europe Galante, the Petersen Quartet, pianists Angela Hewitt and Marc-Andre Hamelin, and saxophonist Jan Garbarek.
　In an effort to increase attendance, hotels and airlines are offering discount packages along with art festival ticket sales, most of which are at 20% and 30% discounts.
　　For more information, please check:
　　www. hk. artsfestival. org
【小题1】The press conference must have been held ________.

A．in Hong Kong	B．in Europe
C．in Beijing	D．in England

【小题2】By means of“discount packages”you can pay ________.

A．nothing for the cost

B．less than the usual cost

C．for the air ticket but not for the festival ticket

D．for the festival ticket but not for hotel rooms

【小题3】According to the text, we do NOT have any information about ________.

A．who will perform on stage	B．what programmes there will be
C．when the 32nd Art Festival will be held	D．which theatres will put on performances

【小题4】The main purpose in writing this text is ________.

A．to make the 32nd Art Festival known	B．to announce the plan of the art festival
C．to introduce the cost of the art festival	D．to sell a service during the art festival

HK’s Family Affair

　The 32nd Hong Kong Art Festival, to be held early next year, will be based on the theme of “family”.

　The art festival, considered to be Asia’s best, began in 1973.

　“We hope that people from Beijing and from all over the world will go to Hong Kong to enjoy the multiple performances in our art festival,”Douglas Gautier, the festival’s management director, said in a press conference in the capital.

　In the 29 days of the festival, which runs from February 8 to March 7, 2004, the audience can choose from 111 performances of 51 programmes staged by 700 foreign performers, 450 local artists and 160 actors from the mainland.

　Programmes vary from classical music, jazz, world music, Western and Peking opera, drama and dance to outdoor spectaculars.

　The programmes include Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio, Shakespeare’s drama Rromeo and Juliet, the ballet Mozartina and African dances, to name just a few.

　The lineup（阵容）includes the English Touring Theatre, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Zurich Ballet, The Spanish National Dance Troupe, as well as Europe Galante, the Petersen Quartet, pianists Angela Hewitt and Marc-Andre Hamelin, and saxophonist Jan Garbarek.

　In an effort to increase attendance, hotels and airlines are offering discount packages along with art festival ticket sales, most of which are at 20% and 30% discounts.

　　For more information, please check:

　　www. hk. artsfestival. org

1.The press conference must have been held ________.

A．in Hong Kong	B．in Europe
C．in Beijing	D．in England

2.By means of“discount packages”you can pay ________.

A．nothing for the cost

B．less than the usual cost

C．for the air ticket but not for the festival ticket

D．for the festival ticket but not for hotel rooms

3.According to the text, we do NOT have any information about ________.

A．who will perform on stage	B．what programmes there will be
C．when the 32nd Art Festival will be held	D．which theatres will put on performances

4.The main purpose in writing this text is ________.

A．to make the 32nd Art Festival known	B．to announce the plan of the art festival
C．to introduce the cost of the art festival	D．to sell a service during the art festival

 

In my opinion, what he told us about the affair simply doesn’t make any        .

A. meaning　　        B. idea　　　                        C. sense　　　                   D. point

 

D

Deal With spring officially here，we can look forward to fresh flowers and cherry blossoms.While you could stay home and admire the change in season，why not celebrate the end of winter with a fun spring time holiday？We’ve found a handful of terrific packages at home and abroad，good for departures through mid­May.
London’s Chelsea Flower Show for $849 Every May，London hosts the world­famous Chelsea Flower Show，showcasing astonishing gardens，and lively horticultural(园艺) displays that set the latest in garden design trends.This year，Virgin Vacations offers a six­night air­land packages priced at a sweet $849.Good for departures May 21—23，this deal covers the following costs：accommodations；airfare from New York；daily continental breakfast；and one full­day entrance to the Flower Show (May 24,25 or 26)．	Spring Flowers of Amsterdam for $739 Want to catch the spring flowers blooming in the lowlands of Holland？Amsterdam is a treat to visit at this time of year，as its numerous gardens explode with color.You can go Dutch and save some serious dollars to boot！At just $739 for a four­night stay with airfare，at this spring escape is priced to go！Good for travel between April 1 and May 17，the deal includes air from New York；accommodation at a budget hotel；daily breakfast；and a local map and guide.
Cherry Blossoms in Washington D．C.from $319/nt You don’t need to travel far for an impressive flower show！From March 31 through April 15，Washington D．C.is hosting its yearly Cherry Blossoms Festival，marking the 95th celebration of the original gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of D．C..Several hotels are honoring the occasion with special deals：for example，Hay­Adams offers a Cherry Blossom Package from $319/night with lodging (two­night minimum stay)，free parking，and a special amenity.	Tokyo Spring Fun for $949 To spot the cherry blossoms right at the source，we recommend a spring venture to Tokyo.Now you can visit on the cheap with the Asian Affair Holidays special we found：a Tokyo spring special starts at just $949！This deal covers airport transfers；five nights’ lodging at Tokyo Hilton International；and a half­day city tour.This particular price is valid for departures between April 1 and April 30，perfectly timed for the best of cherry­blossom season.

1.If you are not free until late May，you may travel to________.

A．London                 B．Amsterdam

C．Washington D．C.       D．Tokyo

2.If you want a guide，you may choose________.

A．London’s Chelsea Flower Show

B．Spring Flowers of Amsterdam

C．Cherry Blossoms in D．C.

D．Tokyo Spring Fun

3.The minimum cost for the closest show is________.

A．$ 849

B．$739

C．$319

D．$638