题目内容
Icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on Christmas Eve and then spending the night reading. This custom is so deeply rooted in the culture that it is the reason for Christmas Book Flood, when the majority of books in Iceland are sold between September and December in preparation for Christmas giving.
“Books get attention here.” Says Baldur Bjarnason, a researcher who has written about the Icelandic book industry.
The small Nordic island, with a population of only 329,000 people, is extraordinarily literary (文学的). They love to read and write. According to a BBC article, “The country has more writers, more books published and more books read, per head, than anywhere else in the world… One in 10 Icelanders will publish a book.”
It seems there is more value placed on physical, paper books than in North America, where e-books have grown in popularity. One bookstore manager said, “The book in Iceland is such an enormous gift-you give a physical book. You don’t give e-books here.” The book industry is driven by the majority of people buying several books each year, rather than the North American pattern of a few people buying lots of books.
It sounds like a wonderful tradition, perfect for a winter evening. It is something that I would love to incorporate (吸收) into my own family’s celebration of Christmas.
1.What do Icelanders do on Christmas Eve?
A. They give books to each other and read books.
B. They buy a lot of books to read.
C. They check the mailboxes and send cards to friends.
D. They get together and sing Christmas songs together.
2.How many people in Iceland can be described as writers?
A. 329,000 B. 32,900
C. 3,290 D. 3,290,000
3.What is the difference between Icelanders and North Americas on buying books?
A. People in Iceland never buy e-books.
B. People in North America never buy physical books.
C. A few people buy a large number of books in North America.
D. In Iceland, everyone buys a large number of books each year.