Public bookshelves are appearing across Germany on street corners,city squares and in suburban supermarkets. In these free?for?all libraries,people can grab whatever they want to read,and leave behind anything they want for others. There’s no need to register,no due date,and you can take or give as many as you want.“This project is aimed at everyone who likes to read .It is open for everybody,” Michael Aubermann,one of the organizers of the free book exchange said.

The western city’ s latest public shelf was put up next to Bayenturm. It is the fourth free shelf that Aubermann’ s group,the Cologne Citizen’s Foundation,has placed outside.“We set up our other outdoor shelves last year and it’s been working really well,” said Aubermann. The public bookshelves,which are usually financed by donations and cared for by local volunteer groups,have appeared independently of each other in many cities,suburbs and villages. Each shelf holds around 200 books and it takes about six weeks for a complete turnover,with all the old titles replaced by new ones.

Even commercial book stores and online book sellers seem to support the idea of free book exchanges.“We see this project rather as a sales promotion than as competition,”said Elmar Muether.“If books are present everywhere,it helps our business,too.”

So far,the Cologne book group has had few problems with damage or other problems. Aubermann said,“Propaganda (宣传) is the only kind of literature we do not allow here.”

At another bookshelf in the Bayenthal neighborhood,the lower shelves are reserved for children’s literature only.“It is important that we make it easy for everyone to participate in this ‘reading culture on the street’—from old readers to kids to immigrants,”Aubermann said.

While most of the shelves have so far been put up in upscale neighborhoods,Aubermann and the 20 volunteers who help look after the project are planning to put up future shelves in poor neighborhoods,where citizens often don’t have as much access to literature.

1.Which of the following is TRUE about the public bookshelves?

A. People can take the books and leave their books at will.

B. People can’ t borrow books unless they donate books.

C. People can borrow whatever they like after registering.

D. People have to return the books according to the required time.

2.According to Aubermann,the public bookshelves ________.

A. are financed by local volunteers

B. have been going well since their birth

C. were managed by the local government

D. will hold more books and take a shorter turnover

3.The underlined phrase “upscale neighborhoods” refers to ________.

A. communities that have many people

B. communities that have many tall buildings

C. communities that are free to live in

D. communities that are of high grade

4.Which might be the best title for the passage?

A. Public Reading Becomes Popular Worldwide

B. New Trends of Bookshelves in Germany

C. Public Bookshelves Spread Across Germany

D. Reading Culture on the Street in Europe

US President Barack Obama visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing on Nov. 18th, 2009. The Great Wall was the second sightseeing program for Obama during his visit to China.

Built originally as the biggest defense work in ancient China, the Great Wall today has become one of the must-see places for visiting foreign leaders to the country in the past sixty years.

“ I’m inspired by the majesty(雄伟壮观) of the Great Wall and gratefu1 for the warmth of the Chinese people,” Obama said after his half-hour tour.

“It's magical,” Obama said when walking along the Great Wall, “it reminds you of the sweep of history and our time here on earth is not that long. We better make the best of it.”

“I brought back the admiration(钦佩) for the Chinese civilization(文明), I bring here the greetings of American people.” Obama said when climbing a watchtower to enjoy a distant view at the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

Obama is the fifth US president to visit the Great Wall. Richard Nixon visited the Great Wall in 1972, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1998, In 2002, former US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura toured the same sections Obama did.

1.What did Barack Obama do on November 18th, 2009?

A. He visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

B. He discussed the program with others.

C. He wrote a letter to Chinese people.

D. He called his friends when he climbed a watchtower.

2.What does the underlined word mean in Chinese?

A. 必需的B. 必看的C. 游客多的D. 著名的

3.Obama said that he was inspired by ________.

A. the warmth of the Chinese people

B. the sweep of history

C. the Chinese civilization

D. the majesty of the Great Wall

4.In the last paragraph, ________ people visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall.

A. fourB. fiveC. sixD. seven

5.What's the best title for the passage?

A. Barack Obama Visited the Great Wall

B. History of the Great Wall

C. US Presidents who once visited the Great Wall

D. Get to Know the Chinese Civilization

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