With the start of BBC World Service Television, millions of viewers in Asia and America can now watch the Corporation's news coverage, as well as listen to it.
And of course in Britain listeners and viewers can tune in to two BBC television channels, five BBC national radio services and dozens of local radio station. They are brought sport, comedy, drama, music, news and current affairs, education, religion, parliamentary coverage, children's programmes and films for an annual license fee of ￡83 per household.
It is a remarkable record, stretching back over 70 years - yet the BBC's future is now in doubt. The Corporation will survive as a publicly-funded broadcasting organization, at least for the time being, but its role, its size and its programmes are now the subject of a nation-wide debate in Britain.
The debate was launched by the Government, which invited anyone with an opinion of the BBC - including ordinary listeners and viewers - to say what was good or bad about the Corporation, and even whether they thought it was worth keeping. The reason for its inquiry is that the BBC's royal charter runs out in 1996 and it must decide whether to keep the organization as it is, or to make changes.
Defenders of the Corporation - of whom there are many - are fond of quoting the American slogan. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The BBC ain't broke, they say, by which they mean it is not broken (as distinct from the word broke, meaning having no money), so why bother to change it?
Yet the BBC will have to change, because the broadcasting world around it is changing. The commercial TV channels － ITV and Channel 4－ were required by the Thatcher Government's Broadcasting Act to become more commercial, competing with each other for advertisers, and cutting costs and jobs. But it is the arrival of new satellite channels - funded partly by advertising and partly by viewers' subscriptions - which will bring about the biggest changes in the long term.
1.The world famous BBC now faces ________.
A. the problem of new coverage B. an uncertain prospect
C. inquiries by the general public D. shrinkage of audience
2.In the passage, which of the following about the BBC is not mentioned as the key issue?
A. Extension of its TV service to Far East.
B. Programmes as the subject of a nation-wide debate.
C. Potentials for further international co-operations.
D. Its existence as a broadcasting organization.
3.The BBC's royal charter （line 4, paragraph 4） stands for ________.
A. the financial support from the royal family B. the privileges granted by the Queen
C. a contract with the Queen D. a unique relationship with the royal family
4.The foremost reason why the BBC has to readjust itself is no other than ________.
A. the emergence of commercial TV channels
B. the enforcement of Broadcasting Act by the government
C. the urgent necessity to reduce costs and jobs
D. the challenge of new satellite channels
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Shopping habits in the United States have changed greatly in the last quarter of the 20th century. _1in the 1900s most American towns and cities had a Main Street. Main Street was always in the heart of a town. This street was 2on both sides with many _3businesses. Here, shoppers walked into stores to look at all sorts of merchandise: clothing, furniture, hardware, groceries. _4, some shops offered _5.These shops included drugstores, restaurants, shoe-repair stores, and barber or hairdressing shops. _6in the 1950s, a change began to _7. Too many automobiles had crowded into Main Street _8_ too few parking places were _9_ shoppers. Because the streets were crowded, merchants began to look with interest at the open sp aces _10_ the city limits. Open space is what their car-driving customers needed.
And open space is what they got _11the first shopping centre was built. Shopping centers, or rather malls, 12_ as a collection of small new stores _13_ crowded city centers. _14_ by hundreds of free parking space, customers were drawn away from _15_ areas to outlying malls. And the growing _16_ of shopping centers led _17_ to the building of bigger and better stocked stores. _18_ the late 1970s, many shopping malls had almost developed into small cities themselves. In addition to providing the _19_ of one stop shopping, malls were transformed into landscaped parks, 20_ benches, fountains, and outdoor entertainment.
1.A. As early as B. Early C. Early as D. Earlier
2.A. built B. designed C. intended D. lined
3.A. varied B. various C. sorted D. mixed up
4.A. Apart from B. However C. In addition D. As well
5.A. medical care B. food C. cosmetics D. services
6.A. Suddenly B. Abruptly C. Contrarily D. But
7.A. be taking place B. take place C. be taken place D. have taken place
8.A. while B. yet C. though D. and then
9.A. available for B. available to C. used by D. ready for
10.A. over B. from C. out of D. outside
11.A. when B. while C. since D. then
12.A. started B. founded C. set up D. organized
13.A. out of B. away from C. next to D. near
14.A. Attracted B. Surprised C. Delighted D. Enjoyed
15.A. inner B. central C. shopping D. downtown
16.A. distinction B. fame C. popularity D. liking
17.A. on B. in turn C. by turns D. further
18.A. By B. During C. In D. Towards
19.A. cheapness B. readiness C. convenience D. handiness
20.A. because of B. and C. with D. provided
---Are you being_____, sir?
---No, I just want to buy a cellphone.
A. looked after B. attended to C. led in D. admitted in
______ the owner’s electric blanket was on fire, the pet cat kept scratching on the bedroom door
till she woke up, ____ her life miraculously.
A. Realized, saving B. Having realized, saved
C. Realizing, saving D. Realized, saved
The old man had a son and a daughter, ____ treated him well, _____ greatly disappointed him.
A. neither of them, which B. neither of whom, which
C. neither of them, it D. neither of them, which
---Will this fish_____ until tomorrow?
---Only if you put it in the fridge.
A. keep B. last C. stay D. remain
