Question

    Before the 1830s, most newspapers were sold through annual subscriptions in America, usually $8 to $10 a year. Today $8 to $10 seems a small amount of money, but at that time these amounts were forbidding to most citizens. Accordingly, newspaper were read almost only by rich people in politics or the trades. In addition, most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to a mass audience. They were dull and visually forbidding. But the revolution that was taking place in the 1830s would change all that.

The trend, then, was toward the “penny paper” — a term referring to papers made widely available to the public. It meant any inexpensive newspaper, perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.

This development did not take place overnight. It had been possible (but not easy) to buy single copies of newspapers before 1830, but this usually meant the reader had to go down to the printer’s office to purchases a copy. Street sales were almost unknown. However, within a few years, street sales of newspapers would be commonplace in eastern cities. At first the price of single copies was seldom a penny — usually two or three cents was charged — and some of the older well-known papers charged five or six cents. But the phrase “penny paper” caught the public’s fancy, and soon there would be papers that did indeed sell for only a penny.

This new trend of newspapers for “the man on the street” did not begin well. Some of the early ventures (企业) were immediate failures. Publishers already in business, people who were owners of successful papers, had little desire to change the tradition. It took a few youthful and daring businessmen to get the ball rolling.

1.Which of the following best describes newspapers in America before the 1830s?

A.Academic. B.Unattractive.

C.Inexpensive D.Indifferent.

2.What did street sales mean to newspapers?

A.They would be priced higher. B.They would disappear from cities.

C.They could have more readers. D.They could regain public trust.

3.Who were the newspapers of the new trend targeted at?

A.Local politicians. B.Common people.

C.Young publishers. D.Rich businessmen.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了“便士报纸”的诞生历史。

1.

推理判断题。根据第一段中的Before1830s,…Accordingly newspapers were read almost only by rich people.In addition,most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to mass audience. They were dull and visually forbidding.可知，19世纪30年代之前，……报纸几乎只有富人才会阅读。此外，大多数报纸几乎没有能吸引大众的内容。它们枯燥乏味，视觉上令人生畏。由此推断，那时的报纸没有什么吸引力。A. Academic.学术的；B. Unattractive.没有吸引力，无魅力的；C. Inexpensive.廉价的，不贵的；D. Confidential.机密的，保密的。故选B项。

2.

推理判断题。根据第二段中的The trend, then, was toward the “penny paper” — a term referring to papers made widely available to the public. It meant any inexpensive newspaper, perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.可知，当时的趋势是“便士纸”，指的是公众广泛使用的报纸。它意味着任何便宜的报纸，也许更重要的是，它意味着可以在街上买到单份的报纸。由此推断，街头销售意味着报纸可以有更多的读者。故选C项。

3.

推理判断题。根据第二段中的The trend, then, was toward the “penny paper” — a term referring to papers made widely available to the public. It meant any inexpensive newspaper, perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.可知，当时的趋势是“便士纸”，指的是公众广泛使用的报纸。它意味着任何便宜的报纸，也许更重要的是，它意味着可以在街上买到单份的报纸。由此推断，报纸是针对大众的，这种新趋势的报纸以平民百姓为对象。故选B项。