Question

Speed-reading is a vital skill in the Internet age. We skim over articles and e-mails to try to grasp key words and the essential meaning of a certain text. Bombarded（轰炸）with information from our electronic devices, it would be impossible to cope if we read word by word, line by line. But a new trend calls on people to unplug and enjoy reading slowly.

A recent story from The Wall Street Journal reported on a book club in Wellington, where members meet in a café and turn off their smartphones. They sink into cozy chairs and read in silence for an hour. Unlike traditional book clubs, the point of the Slow Reading Club isn’t exchanging ideas about a certain book, but to get away from electronic devices and read in a quiet, relaxed environment. According to the Journal, the Wellington book club is just one example of a movement started by book lovers.

Slow readers, such as The Atlantic’s Maura Kelly, say a regular reading habit sharpens the mind, improves concentration, reduce stress levels and deepens the ability to understand others.

Yet technology has made us less attentive readers. “Screens have changed our reading habits from the linear, left-to-right sequence, to a wild skimming and skipping pattern as we hunt for important words and information, which leads to weaker comprehension than reading plain text. The Internet may have made us stupider,” says Patrick Kingsley from The Guardian.

Slow reading means a return to an uninterrupted pattern, in a quiet environment free of distractions. Aim for 30 minutes a day, advises Kelly. “You can squeeze in that half hour pretty easily if only during your free moments–whenever you find yourself automatically starting your laptop to scan your favorite site for something to pass the time—you pick up a meaningful work of literature,” Kelly said. “Reach for your e-reader, if you like. Kindles make books like War and Peace less heavy. “

1.What’s the real purpose of the book club in Wellington?

A. To turn off its members’ smartphones.

B. To let its members relax in cozy chairs.

C. To make people share ideas about books.

D. To provide a quiet, relax environment for readers.

2.Slow reading has the following benefits except ________ according to Maura Kelly.

A. sharpening the mind    B. reducing stress levels

C. broadening the view    D. improving concentration

3.What Patrick Kingsley said suggests that ________.

A. the Internet slows our reading speed

B. the Internet is full of mistaken information

C. electronic devices have changed our reading patterns

D. electronic devices enable us to have a better understanding

4.What’s the best title for the text?

A. Time to Go Slow Reading    B. Electronic Devices Takeover

C. Kindles for Readers    D. Reading Matters More

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】本文主要讲了由于现代电子设备的流行，人们习惯了快读，这改变了人们阅读的方式，而在Wellington有一家读书俱乐部，它的目的就是让人们放下电子设备，坐下来安静的慢读一本书。

1.D 细节理解题。根据文中第二段的the point of the Slow Reading Club isn’t exchanging ideas about a certain book, but to get away from electronic devices and read in a quiet, relaxed environment.可知，这个慢读俱乐部的目的是隔离电子设备，并给人们阅读提供一个安静、舒适的环境。故选D。

2.C 细节理解题。根据文中第三段Slow readers, such as The Atlantic’s Maura Kelly, say a regular reading habit sharpens the mind, improves concentration, reduce stress levels and deepens the ability to understand others.可知，慢读的好处是使思想变的灵敏，提高注意力，减少压力，而没有扩展一个人的视野。故选C。

3.C 推理判断题。根据文中倒数第二段的Screens have changed our reading habits from the linear, left-to-right sequence, to a wild skimming and skipping pattern as we hunt for important words and information可知，电子设备的出现改变了我们的阅读方式。故选C。

4.A 主旨大意题。本文主要是建议人们应该每天抽空进行慢速的阅读，故选A。