Question

In 2012 my wife and I decided to open our bookstore in spite of unfavorable situations. The challenges facing small bookstores were-and remain-significant. Apart from the obvious rise in online selling, the increase in the popularity of e-books has negatively affected independent providers.

The question is why a new, small-scale（小规模的）provide would voluntarily enter such a challenging market? From a personal view, our reasoning was sound: we wanted to share our love of great books and reading for pleasure with as many like-minded people as possible.

Having done our homework, one thing became clear. In order for us to succeed, we would have to offer something that none of our larger competitors already provided. And so we started the Willoughby Book Club. We set up our website in the summer of 2012, and we haven’t looked back.

The idea of service is simple. We offer a range of book subscription gift packages, available in three-month, six-month and 12-month options. Our customers choose a package, tell us a little about the person they’re buying it for, and we use this information to send the receiver a hand-picked, gift-wrapped book once a month. We also recently decided to give one new book to Book Aid International for every gift subscription sold. These books are sent out to sub-Saharan Africa, supporting the educational work there. Within four months of starting out, we won the Young Bookseller of the Year Award at the 2013 Bookseller awards.

Our brief journey from new booksellers to award receivers has been challenging and rewarding. The biggest thing we’ve learned is that, despite the pressures facing independent providers, there is a place for them in the UK market. It’s just a question of finding it.

1.What challenges do the couple have to face when opening their bookstore?

A. Their bookstore is in an unfavourable place.

B. They are short of money and manpower.

C. Their books tore has limited great books.

D. Online selling and e-books are gaining popularity.

2.What does the underlined word “sound” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A. accurate    B. controversial

C. reliable    D. safe

3.In order to succeed, the couple have taken practical measures except ________ .

A. setting up a book club

B. building their website

C. sending the customers gifts every month

D. aiding some Africans by giving them new boos

4.What’s the author’s opinion on being an independent provider?

A. It is anything but challenging.

B. It is difficult but worth it.

C. It is too difficult to succeed.

D. It is just a question.

Answer

1. D

2. C

3. C

4. B

【解析】

本文是一篇夹叙夹议文，讲述了尽管在线销售的明显增长，电子书的普及也对供应商产生负面影响，作者夫妇二人仍然开了一家书店，目的是与更多志同道合的人分享对好书的热爱，分享阅读的乐趣，作者认为尽管独立供应商面临很大的压力，但在英国市场仍有一席之地。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的“Apart from the obvious rise in online selling, the increase in the popularity of e-books has negatively affected independent providers.”可知，除了在线销售的明显增长，电子书的普及也对供应商产生了负面影响，故D项正确。

2.词义猜测题。根据画线词后的“we wanted to share our love of great books and reading for pleasure with as many like-minded people as possible.”可知，我们的理由是合理的：我们想要与更多志同道合的人分享对好书的热爱，分享阅读的乐趣，由此可知画线词词义为“合理的、可靠的”，故C项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段中的“And so we started the Willoughby Book Club. We set up our website in the summer of 2012,”及“These books are sent out to sub-Saharan Africa, supporting the educational work there.”，这对夫妇成立了图书俱乐部、建立了自己的网站，并向撒哈拉以南的非洲提供图书援助，而没有提到每个月都给顾客送礼物，故C项正确。

4.观点态度题。根据最后一段中的“The biggest thing we’ve learned is that, despite the pressures facing independent providers, there is a place for them in the UK market. It’s just a question of finding it.”可知，尽管独立供应商面临很大的压力，但在英国市场仍有一席之地，只是找到它的问题，由此可知，作者对成为独立供应商持积极的态度，虽然艰难但很值得，故B项正确。