Question

    Every week, two converted blue buses packed with children’s books carefully drive along the streets of Kabul, avoiding areas where deadly explosions are common. These travelling libraries stop off at schools in different parts of the city, delivering a wealth of reading material directly to youngsters who have limited access to books.

“A lot of schools in our city don’t have access to something as basic as a library,” says Freshta Karim, a 27-year-old Oxford University graduate who was inspired to start Charmaghz, a non-profit organization, in her home city having grown up without many books herself. “We were trying to understand what we could do to promote critical thinking in our country.”

While for many people a bus or train journey presents a rare opportunity to get stuck into a book, in some cities public transport is being used as means of getting books to communities that need them most. Afghanistan, for example, has one of the world’s lowest literacy rates, with only three in 10 adults able to read, according to UNESCO. The majority of public schools in Kabul do not have libraries and the city’s libraries do not offer many children’s books. For Karim, buses were a cost-effective, efficient way to get books to children.

Charmarghz rents them from a state-owned bus company. “We go to nearby schools,” she says. “We try to stop inside communities rather than on the main streets where explosions often happen.”

The organization is funded by donations from local business and communities, and also rents a third bus that acts as a mobile cinema. Over 600 children visit the buses each day to read, socialise and play games. “They are often very excited,” she says. “Our biggest challenge is that so many children want to come inside the bus, but we can’t have all of them in one day.”

1.Why does Freshta Karim set up the organization?

A.To raise money for the poor. B.To recycle abandoned buses.

C.To build libraries for the local schools. D.To offer the children more reading opportunities.

2.What is special about Charmarghz?

A.It’s funded by UNESCO. B.It’s a state-owned organization.

C.It buys buses from a company. D.It aims to inspire critical thinking.

3.What is the most pressing problem for Charmarghz?

A.Deadly explosions. B.Poor public transport system.

C.Shortage of travelling libraries. D.Lack of support from the government.

4.Which of the following best describes Freshta Karim?

A.Caring and courageous. B.Humorous and ambitious.

C.Demanding and enthusiastic. D.Honest and hardworking.

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.C

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了27岁的牛津大学毕业生Freshta Karim在家乡创办了非营利组织Charmaghz，来为孩子们提供更多的阅读机会。阿富汗是世界上识字率最低的国家之一，喀布尔的大多数公立学校没有图书馆，对Karim来说，Charmaghz用巴士给孩子们送书是一种经济有效的方式。

1.

细节理解题。根据第一段中These travelling libraries stop off at schools in different parts of the city, delivering a wealth of reading material directly to youngsters who have limited access to books.可知这些流动图书馆会在城市的不同地区的学校停留，直接为那些接触书籍不多的年轻人提供丰富的阅读材料。由此可知，Freshta Karim建立了这个组织，是为了给孩子们提供更多的阅读机会。故选D。

2.

推理判断题。根据第二段“A lot of schools in our city don’t have access to something as basic as a library,” says Freshta Karim, a 27-year-old Oxford University graduate who was inspired to start Charmaghz, a non-profit organization, in her home city having grown up without many books herself. “We were trying to understand what we could do to promote critical thinking in our country.”可知“我们城市的很多学校都没有像图书馆这样的基础设施，”27岁的牛津大学毕业生Freshta Karim说，她在成长过程中没有很多书，受启发在家乡创办了非营利组织Charmaghz。“我们试图弄清楚我们能做些什么来促进我们国家的批判性思维。”由此可推知，Charmarghz特别之处在于，它的目的是激发批判性思维。故选D。

3.

推理判断题。根据最后一段The organization is funded by donations from local business and communities, and also rents a third bus that acts as a mobile cinema. Over 600 children visit the buses each day to read, socialise and play games. “They are often very excited,” she says. “Our biggest challenge is that so many children want to come inside the bus, but we can’t have all of them in one day.”可知该组织的资金来自当地企业和社区的捐赠，并租用了第三辆巴士作为移动电影院。每天有600多名儿童来巴士上阅读、社交和玩游戏。“他们通常非常兴奋，”她说。“我们最大的挑战是，这么多孩子想要进来，但我们不可能在一天之内让所有的孩子都进来。”由此可推知，Charmarghz最迫切的问题是缺少流动图书馆。故选C。

4.

推理判断题。根据第二段“A lot of schools in our city don’t have access to something as basic as a library,” says Freshta Karim, a 27-year-old Oxford University graduate who was inspired to start Charmaghz, a non-profit organization, in her home city having grown up without many books herself. “We were trying to understand what we could do to promote critical thinking in our country.”可知“我们城市的很多学校都没有像图书馆这样的基础设施，”27岁的牛津大学毕业生Freshta Karim说，她在成长过程中没有很多书，受启发在家乡创办了非营利组织Charmaghz。可知Karim创办了非盈利组织来帮助那些没有书看的孩子们，说明Karim是个乐于助人的人；结合倒数第二段Charmarghz rents them from a state-owned bus company. “We go to nearby schools,” she says. “We try to stop inside communities rather than on the main streets where explosions often happen.”可知Charmarghz从一家国有公交公司租借。“我们去附近的学校，”她说。“我们尽量在社区内停车，而不是在经常发生爆炸的主要街道上。”可推知，Karim敢于在动荡不安的阿富汗创办让更多儿童读书的项目，说明Karim是个勇敢的人；由此可推知，Freshta Karim是一个乐于助人且勇敢的人。故选A。