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

I have heard having a good sense of humour often helps in breaking the ice. Also people remember you because of your humour. But I think I don’t have a very good sense of humour. Could you suggest how to build on this?

——Radha Karnik

This is a great question that is unfortunately difficult to answer. I can only give you my views on this topic, which may or may not be correct. I know that my sense of humour developed over time.

When I was younger I was not funny at all, now I can easily make people laugh. At the same time, sometimes I say things that I think are very funny but others do not. Improving wit and humour, I believe, is an ongoing process.

Now, there are various forms of humour and everyone has their individual style. Overall, I believe being fluent in a language is very important for being witty or funny. The way we play around with words adds the “funny” tag to an otherwise normal sentence.

Also, seeing irony is very important. I think humour is often the link between two unrelated things.

In my experience, laughing frequently and appreciating other people’s jokes and wit are very important. Within these, finding humour in everyday normal situations is the key.

I often notice what is going on around me and say funny things in my head and laugh to myself. That serves almost as practice for when I am in a group. I watch comedy shows and movies and I am sure that has some effect on helping me improve my sense of humour.

And last, having confidence that you are witty is important. There will always be someone wittier or funnier than you, which is fine. Just work on building your own style.

Remember, if you are trying to be funny and witty in order to break the ice at a business function, be careful.

In those situations, humour has to be mild and politically correct.

Yours,

Brad

1.Radha Karnik’s problem is that he doesn’t ________.

A. have friends

B. have a good sense of humour

C. understand others’ humour

D. know the functions of humour

2.By telling his own experience, Brad tried to make Radha Karnik believe that ________.

A. a sense of humour can be developed

B. a sense of humour helps impress others

C. laughter is the best medicine

D. laughter and humour go hand in hand

3.Which of the following would Brad agree with?

A. Everyone knows how to appreciate others’ jokes.

B. Everyone is as funny and witty as others.

C. Everyone needs to laugh to themselves each day.

D. Everyone has their individual style of humour.

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