Question

Welcome to my Message Board!
Subject Slimming down classics?
Mr. Handsome 2007-5-12&24 AM	Orion Books,which decides there is a market in creating cut-down classics(经典著作)，is slimming down some novels by such great writers as L.Tolstoy,M.Mitchell and C.Bronte.Now,each of them has been whittled down to about 400 pages by cutting 30 to   40   per cent of the original,with words,sentences,paragraphs and,in a few cases,chapters removed.The first six shortened editions,all priced at ￡6.99 and advertised as great reads “in half the time”,will go on sale next month,with plans for 50 to 100 more to follow.The publishing house believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions.
Mr. Edwards 2007-5-12 9:40 AM	Well,I’m publisher of Orion Group.Thanks for your attention,Mr.Handsome. I must say,the idea developed from a game of “shame”in my office.Each of us was required to confess(承认)to the most embarrassing blanks in his or her reading.I admitted that I had never read Anna Karenina and tried but failed to get through Gone with the Wind several times.One of my colleagues acknowledged skipping(跳读)Jane Eyre.We realised that life is too short to read all the books you want to and we never were going to read these ones. As a leading publishing house,we are trying to make classics convenient for readers but it’s not as if we’re withdrawing the original versions.They are still there if you want to read them.
Ms.Weir 2007-5-12 11:35 AM	I’m director of the online bookclub www.lovereading.co.uk. Mr.Edwards,I think your shortened editions is a breath of fresh air.I’m guilty of never having read Anna Karenina,because it’s just so long.I’d much rather read two 300-page books than one 600-page book.I am looking forward to more shortened classics!
Mr. Crockatt 2007-5-124:38 PM	I’m from the London independent bookshop Crockatt & Powell. In my opinion,the practice is completely ridiculous.How can you edit the classics?I’m afraid reading some of these books is hard work,and that is why you have to develop as a reader.If people don’t have time to read Anna Karenina,then fine.But don’t read a shortened version and kid yourself it’s the real thing.

According to the message board,Orinon Books_______.

A.opposes the reading of original classics

B.is embarrassed for cutting down classics

C.thinks cut-down classics have a bright future

D.is cautious in its decision to cut down classics

In Mr.Edwards’ opinion,Orion Group is shortening classics to_______.

A.make them easier to read

B.meet a large demand in the market

C.increase the sales of literary books

D.compete with their original versions

By describing the shortened classics as “a breath of fresh air”,Ms.Weir_______.

A.speaks highly of the cut-down classics

B.shows gailty of the original classics

C.feels guilty of not reading the classics

D.disapproves of shortening the classics

Mr.Crockatt seems to imply that_______.

A.reading the classic works is a confusing attempt

B.shortening the classics does harm to the original

C.publishing the cub-down classics is a difficult job

D.editing the classic works satisfies children’s needs

Answer 1

【小题1】C

【小题2】A

【小题3】A

【小题4】B

解析:

【小题1】这是一道推断题。根据第一条信息“The publishing house believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions.”可知出版社认为读者会喜欢缩写的经典著作,也就是缩写版会有好的前景。

【小题2】这是一道推断题。根据第二条“We realized that life is too short to read all the books you want to and we never were going to read these ones”可以推断出人没有时间读完所有的名著,缩写版将会使读名著更加容易。

【小题3】这是一道推断题。根据第三条“I am looking forward to more shortened classics!”可知Ms.Weir很欣赏缩写的名著,用“a breath of fresh air”来表达她的赞誉。

【小题4】这是一道推断题。根据第四条“But don’t read a shortened version and kid yourself it’s the real thing.”说明Mr.Crockatt反对缩写名著,认为这样会歪曲了名著。