London has a new magazine. But it's not printed on paper. Everyone who has a television can receive
it because it is on TV.
In order to read this magazine you have to have a decoder. Each page of it is numbered, so you only
have to dial the number to choose which subject you want to read about. There's a wide
choice—everything is included from cooking to the latest sports news.
If you want to read the news, the first thing you have to do is to turn to the index page which has an
easy-to-remember page number, 100 for example. Then you start choosing what you want to read. The
news is on pages 101 to 109, so you push out the numbers and the news appears written across your
screen. Perhaps you want to go out in the afternoon, so you press 181, and a brightly colored weather
map appears on the screen. But the weather is terrible so you decide to go shopping and dial 162 for a
list of the week's best bargains. But should you drive or take the train ? To answer the question you only
have to press 189 for the traffic report. It's very simple to use. But probably the best thing about the
service is that it's being updated all the time. Journalists type new material directly onto the screen and
whole pages of the magazine can be replaced in minutes.
London has already had three services. One, transmitted(传输)by ITV, is called ORACLE, while the
other two, on BBC, are called CEEFAX, because they let you see facts. Although CEEFAX and
ORACLE have been operating for some time, they have not been well publicized. BBC engineers do not
think that their idea will ever replace books and newspapers because they can be taken with you
everywhere. But many people agree that this is a breakthrough as great as the invention of printing, which
could change not just our reading habits but our whole way of life.
1. What is unusual about the mew magazine in London?
A. You can find any subject you want in it.
B. No paper is used to print the magazine.
C. There 1,000 page numbers in the index.
D. The speed of transmitting is astonishing.
2. It's clearly seen from the passage that ________.
A. it takes long for the service of the magazine to be updated
B. most of the postmen will be out of work someday
C. the readers can get all kinds of information without leaving home
D. everyone can read the magazine if there is a television at hand
3. According to the passage, the "decoder" is used to help people to ________.
A. read the information transmitted by TV signals
B. broadcast special TV programs at home and abroad
C. dial the number to choose which subject you want to read about
D. find the exact page in which you can get information you need
4. The passage is mainly about .
A. a new magazine printed in London
B. a popular TV program with three services
C. a great breakthrough in printing
D. an up-to-date way of keeping up to date
