Question

Don’t be surprised if you see a group of people dancing or shouting on the square. They are a flash mob (快闪族). Confused by their name? Actually, a flash mob, organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communications networks, is a group of people who gather suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a period of time, such as exchanging books, coming together to look at the sky, waving their hands and shouting something at the top of their lungs for 30 seconds, and then quickly disappear before the police can arrive.

Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob gathered on June 3, 2003 at Macy’s department store involving 100 people gathering on Macy’s Department Store. Following this, about 200 people flooded the lobby of the Hyatt hotel, applauding in one voice for fifteen seconds, and next participants pretending to be tourists on a trip invaded a shoe shop in Soho. A later mob saw hundreds of people in Central Park making bird noises.

Wasik claimed that he created flash mobs as a social experiment designed to tease hipsters (追逐时尚的人), and highlight the cultural atmosphere of agreement and of being part of “the next big thing”. Many web logs, chat rooms and Web groups are devoted to the craze. Though flash mobs were originally regarded as useless, the concept has already developed for the benefit of political and social events. Flash mobbing takes advantage of the efficiency of communicating information on Websites and by email, and protesters can similarly use the “on and off” concept to be involved in political events. Such flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock or frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place. They also have enormous economic potential, such as using flash mobs to advertise a product.

The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular. People use it to do many things. For example, in 2009, hundreds of Michael Jackson’s fans took part in a flash mob to remember him, gathering outside the railway station in Liverpool, singing and dancing Michael’s famous song, beat it together. In another example, some people took part in a flash mob to warn people against negative words. Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory.

1. A flash mob is most likely to        .

A. give out leaflets of a brand bicycle to the passers-by

B. gather in public places performing and leave quickly

C. plan to go mountaineering on the first day of Horse Year

D. sit for days in front of the city hall for higher wages

2.According to the passage, what contribute(s) most to the popularity of the flash mob?

A. Harper’s Magazine                 B. the government

C. political events                  D. digital networks

3.The purpose of the writing is        .

A. to amuse and interest            B. to argue and advise

C. to describe and introduce         D. to question and comment

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇介绍快闪族的文章，介绍了快闪族的含义和内容，它是如何形成的，以及如何发展的，还介绍快闪的目的。

1.B 细节理解题。根据is a group of people who gather suddenly in a public place和 then quickly disappear before the police can arrive.可知A flash mob是聚集在公共场所表演，并迅速离开，故选B。

2.D 推理判断题。根据Many web logs, chat rooms and Web groups are devoted to the craze. 许多网络日志，聊天室和网络团体都致力于这一热潮。可知数字网络让快闪族变得更流行，故选D。

3.

考点：考查日常生活类短文阅读