Question

B

Books are typically written first, then narrated (朗读) for audio books. Until now, Audible, the largest company of audio books, has begun asking well-known writers to create works specifically for audio, instead of inviting people to narrate already existing print books. It’s a new chapter for the book industry.

Audible now has about 30 totally new audio works in production. And it turns out that audio books, which have long been regarded as less important than e-books, have actually been doing quite well. They are a $1,000,000,000 industry, with more than 35,000 titles published in 2013 alone.

What promotes that progress is not only an evolution of technology, but more importantly, the rise of the celebrity (名人) narrator. Narrators are key to the success of an audio book and these days, producers are signing on more and more celebrities. Celebrities’ narration is like a private performance to customers, who get a feeling of closeness in listening to their voices. Many of the customers buy audio books based on the narrator. They will listen to anything a specific actor or actress reads.

That is why Audible is taking the risk of not producing print books at all but starting totally new audio works. There’s another reason why the company is expecting its risk-taking action to pay off: humans have been telling stories since the beginning of time. We are taking part in a little habit that goes back thousands and thousands of years — before the first mark was ever made on a stone. Long before writing, people were telling each other stories and the audio book goes all the way back to that tradition. As Peter Allen sang softly in the 1970s, everything old is new again.

1.The ＂new chapter＂ (Para. 1) refers to a time of _________.

A. starting audio companies     B. producing new audio works

C. narrating print books for audio    D. creating electronic books

2.What does Paragraph 2 tell about audio books?

A. Their bright future       B. Their difference from e-books

C. Their great importance      D. Their previous production

3.Customers like celebrities’ narration because ______.

A. celebrities help them understand the stories

B. celebrities have more attractive voices

C. celebrities seem to be within their reach

D. celebrities have better narrating skills

4.Audible believes its risk-taking action will be rewarding because ______.

A. the action has lasted for a long time

B. customers play an active role in the action

C. the company has spent a lot on the action

D. the action agrees with the story-telling tradition

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】【文章大意】本文介绍了图书业的新篇章，从之前已有作品的朗读到专门创作朗读的作品。

1.】推理判断题。根据第一段中＂Until now, Audible, the largest company of audio books, has begun asking well-known writers to create works specifically for audio, instead of inviting people to narrate already existing print books.＂可知，这个最大的音频公司从邀请人们朗读已有作品转变为让著名作家专门创作有声朗读的作品。故选B。

2.】段落大意题。通读第二段，我们可看出第二段描述了有声书籍光明的未来。故选A。

3.】细节理解题。根据第三段中＂Celebrities’ narration is like a private performance to customers, who get a feeling of closeness in listening to their voices. Many of the customers buy audio books based on the narrator. They will listen to anything a specific actor or actress reads.＂可知，顾客喜欢名人朗读是因为顾客在听他们声音的时候，获得一种亲近感。故选C。

4.】细节理解题。根据文章最后一段中＂There’s another reason why the company is expecting its risk-taking action to pay off: humans have been telling stories since the beginning of time.＂可知，人类一直就有讲故事的传统，而目前的这种改变也正是适应了这一传统。故选D。