阅读理解。
An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is
simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same
tome.
In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers
to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared
in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched (发起) the "If All of
Seattle Read the Same Book" project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book
discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other
American cities, and even to Hong Kong.
In Chicago, the mayor (市长) appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as
the first book in the "One Book, One Chicago" program. As a result, reading clubs and neighborhood groups
sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at
night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.
The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the
huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns,
where a greater sense of unity (一致) can be achieved.Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the
point, putting all their energy.
And passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself. Ultimately was Nancy
points out, the level of success is not measured by how many people read a book, but by how many people
are enriched by the process or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have
shared a word.
1. What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?
A. To invite authors to guide readers.
B. To encourage people to read and share.
C. To involve people in community service.
D. To promote the friendship between cities.
2. Why was it difficult for New Yorkers to carry out the project?
A. They had little interest in reading.
B. They were too busy to read a book.
C. They came from many different backgrounds.
D. They lacked support from the locate government.
3. According to the passage, where would the project be more easily carried out?
A. In large communities with little sense of unity
B. In large cities where libraries are far from home
C. In medium-sized cities with a diverse population
D. In large towns where agreement can be quickly reached
4. The underlined words "shared a word" in Paragraph 5 probably mean _____.
A. exchanged ideas with each other
B. discussed the meaning of a word
C. gamed life experience
D. used the same language
5. According to Nancy, the degree of students of the project is judged by _____.
A. the careful selection of a proper book
B. the growing popularity of the writers
C. the number of people who benefit from reading.
D. the number of books that each person reads.
