Question

As I enter my 40s, I’ve noticed many of my parents’ generation think social networking is something they are simply unable to understand. They fear that, should they try, they will somehow get it wrong; they will say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing or behave in a way that causes embarrassment(尴尬). But here’s the first secret of social media: Everyone feels this way.

I recently met a young actor who was complaining that her work demands that she join Microblog, but she always feels like she doesn’t have anything smart to say. It’s the same resistance (抵制)I hear from the older generation, who, however, have somehow believed that age is the barrier(障碍), rather than the differences of personal taste.

Here’s the second secret of social media: everybody uses it for more or less the same reasons. Older generations often sign up to stay in touch with children and relatives. We talk about this kind of communication like it’s some old-fashioned activity, but it is exactly why younger people use social media. The truth is that most people use social media to gently keep an eye on one another, to see how those they care about are doing without needing to ring them up on the phone every night.

And this is the last secret of social media: everyone gets to use them in their own way. Newcomers—younger and older—who worry about “getting it right” are thinking that there’s a right way to get them. But actually there isn’t. Personally, I talk a lot on Microblog. And some people post nothing and they use social media every day as readers. Social media companies would rather see people decorating their networks with pictures and posts, but there’s no rule against being a fly on the wall. It’s also a fine way to get involved.

We’re quick to forget that the web wasn’t invented by 13-year-olds; it was created by today’s seniors. I’d never try forcing those with no interest in social networks to use Microblog. But don’t let the talk of age divides put you off. There’s nothing to stop the older generation from joining in the network their own generation created.

1.What’s the author’s purpose of writing this passage?

A. To share with us his personal experience using social media.

B. To free the old generation from fearing using social media.

C. To explain why the old generation don’t use social media.

D. To tell us a few secrets of social media that he discovered.

2.The expression “a fly on the wall” in the 4 ^th paragraph refers to _________.

A. people who prefer reading online books

B. people who simply observe others’ posts

C. people who cause trouble to others

D. people who post many fancy pictures

3.According to the author, which is a reason for old people’s fear using social media?

A. They have no particular interest in social networking.

B. They prefer staying in touch with relatives in real life.

C. They believe they may be trapped in embarrassing situations.

D. They have no idea which contents to post online.

4.Which of the following may best describe the structure of this passage?

A.     B.

C.     D.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.C

4.B

【解析】本文主要讲的是作者注意到父母一代人害怕使用网络社交媒体，所以他从三方面解释了网络社交是什么，旨在让老一代人能自由使用媒体。

1.B

推理判断题。本文主要讲的是作者注意到父母一代人害怕使用网络社交媒体，所以他从三方面解释了网络社交是什么，旨在让老一代人能自由使用媒体。故选B。

2.B

细节理解题。根据上文And some people post nothing and they use social media every day as readers.（一些人什么都不粘贴，只是作为一个读者）可知，社交媒体公司愿意看到人们用图片装饰他们的网络，但是也不反对只是看网络的人，可以猜测出，故选B。

3.C

细节理解题。根据第一段They fear that, should they try, they will somehow get it wrong; they will say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing or behave in a way that causes embarrassment(尴尬).可知，老人担心使用社交媒体是害怕尴尬情况出现。故选C。

4.B

篇章结构题。根据全文分析，第一、二段提出了第一种方式；第三段提出了第二种方式；第四段提出了第三种方式；最后一段是总结段。故选B。

【名师点睛】

《考试大纲》中提出的理解文章的基本结构的要求，在试题中往往通过篇章结构题来考查。

一、题型特点与命题方式

篇章结构题是近几年来出现的主要考查议论文结构的命题新方式，分析这一类的题我们可以看出：对文章组织结构的考查不外乎两个层次：一是按段落的组织方法理解文章的结构，二是按写作方法（论证方法）理解文章的结构。

二、解题思路与应试技巧

首先，英语的文章讲究使用主题段和主题句。主题段通常在文章的开头，简要概括文章的中心思想，主题句根据段落的写作手法的不同可能在段落的开头，也可能出现在段落的中间或末尾。段与段之间常用词语连接，承上启下，使文章行文连贯，逻辑严密。为突出主题，作者可能采用不同的写作手法来组织文章，通过举例、比较、类比等手法来透彻阐明主题观点。

另外，仔细分析文章结构的组织形式。从段落组织方式上讲，常见的文章结构有三种：总分式结构(总→分；总→分→总；分→总)、并列式结构(段落之间是平行关系，并且相对独立)、对照式结构(结构形式上是一正一反)。第4小题篇章结构题。根据全文分析，第一、二段提出了第一种方式；第三段提出了第二种方式；第四段提出了第三种方式；最后一段是总结段。此题就是属于“分→总”结构，故选B.