Question

If you are a student, you may be probably required by your teacher to read quickly in class. You have been taught to skim or scan, to look for key words so as to understand the main idea of the article and the important points in the article. Skimming and scanning is a good strategy when you are pressed for time, such as when you are taking an exam, but today, many people skim and scan everything and they have lost the ability to enjoy reading.

In response to this, something called the "slow reading movement" has become popular. The idea is that people should shut off their computers and mobile phones for half an hour or forty-five minutes each day and enjoy the pleasure reading a good book—slowly! In many cities there are even slow reading clubs where members go to a cafe, not discuss books, but to sit quietly with each other, drink coffee and just read.

Researchers have found that reading slowly, especially books of fiction, helps people concentrate, relax and think about what they are reading. It also helps people empathize.This last point is important. When you read a novel slowly, you get to understand the characters’ emotions and to see the world through their eyes.

Reading, of course, isn't easy. You have to sit still, for one thing. And it can seem boring when compared to the excitement of playing video games. But, for me, reading has been an enduring pleasure in my life. From the age of ten, when I got my first library card, I’ve enjoyed the company of pirates and heroes, of evil criminals and clever detectives, of thousands of interesting people I would have never met in real life. Reading provided me with escape, but it also enabled me to understand the world around me. It was an education in a classroom that had no walls.

In your classroom, you have learned to read “fast”. Outside of the classroom, you should try to learn to read “slowly”. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.

1.When you are having an exam, it's acknowledged that ________.

A. reading slowly is the best way

B. reading word for word is a good method

C. reading fast is a good strategy

D. reading casually is a wonderful choice

2.Which of the following is NOT one of the characteristics of "slow reading movement"?

A. Enjoying the pleasure of reading a good book slowly.

B. Helping people refresh and relax.

C. Understanding the characters' emotions more accurately.

D. Getting the main idea of the article quickly.

3.What does the underlined word “empathize” (para.3) mean?

A. Benefit from something.

B. Feel sympathy for somebody.

C. Be interested in something.

D. Share feelings with somebody.

4.Why does the writer call reading “an education in a classroom that had no walls”?

A. Because there is no need to build walls for the books.

B. Because a library card is what you need to enjoy reading in the library.

C. Because reading enables people to better understand the world around them.

D. Because there are thousands of interesting people in the books who can help you escape.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.D

4.C

【解析】在当今快读的社会，作者倡导静下心来慢读，因为慢读可以使人恢复和放松，享受读书的乐趣，还能更准确地理解书中人物的情感。

1.C

细节推理题。根据第一段Skimming and scanning is a good strategy when you are pressed for time, such as when you are taking an exam可知，考试时浏览和略读是很好的方法，故选C。

2.D

推理判断题。根据第三段reading slowly, especially books of fiction, helps people concentrate, relax and think about what they are reading.和When you read a novel slowly, you get to understand the characters’ emotions and to see the world through their eyes.可知，慢读可以使人恢复和放松，享受读书的乐趣，还能更准确地理解书中人物的情感。前三项都对，D项是快读的特点，故选D。

3.D

猜测词义题。此处指慢读能让读者产生共鸣，下句对此作了解释，指能更准确地理解人物的情感。“empathize”指有同感，产生共鸣。与share feelings with somebody同义，故选D。

4.C

推理判断题。作者认为读书是在没有围墙的教室里接受教育，根据倒数第二段but it also enabled me to understand the world around me. It was an education in a classroom that had no walls.可知，因为读书能让人更好地理解自己周围的世界，所以作者认为读书是“在没有围墙的教室的教育”，故选C。