Growing up as a youngster, and even today as somewhat of an “oldie”, there is nothing I like better than being able to go to a library. To be honest I have good memories of a tiny library in the remote north of Australia in a town called Roe Bourne, where I did a lot of my research for my masters. I think it was just the feeling of peace that was found inside.

What’s fascinated me here since coming to China is the way that many people use bookshops as virtual libraries. I’ve noticed in some of the huge bookstores that many customers will pick up a book or magazine and then just spend hours reading it in the shop. Some even just sit down right there on the floor and start reading – I’ve even seen some fellow bring a fold-up chair!

It’s quite a contrast really because back home in the bookshops or newsagents usually the boss prefers that we don’t touch the books or magazines in case we dirty them, rip them or try to steal them. One of their more common remarks to a customer who is looking at a text is, “Are you going to buy that? This isn’t a library you know.” What a pain!

Anyway these days I wonder if it is all changing.

With the internet becoming so pervasive and so many books, magazines and journals going electronic, in many ways it is cheaper and more efficient to just have everything available online. Though for all its efficiencies, I wonder if we lose something if we stop investing in public libraries.

I don’t feel the same romanticism for knowledge and literature when I go to a net bar to research nor do I think senior citizens feel comfortable surfing online in such public places amid gaming and qq chatters.

1. From the first paragraph, we can guess that________.

A．The writer is kind of a bookworm.

B．The writer was born in Roe Bourne

C．The writer was once a researcher in Australia.

D．The writer does not like libraries

2. According to the writer which of the following is NOT the fact about bookshops in China and the writer’s hometown?

A．Chinese people usually spend hours reading in the bookshops.

B．Chinese people use bookshops as virtual libraries.

C．The shopowner in the writer’s hometown doesn’t like people to touch the books for fear that the books get dirty.

D．The shopowner in the writer’s hometown often persuade readers to buy the books.

3. What’s the writer’s opinion about internet?

A．Internet has much efficiency.

B．He prefers a library rather than internet.

C．People will lose everything if investment in public libraries is stopped.

D．It’s a romance to go to a net bar talking amid gaming and qq chatters.

Some people who read very rapidly may say, “I am a rapid reader. I can read an entire book in one evening. ”Someone who reads slowly may say, “I read slowly, but I know what I read. I don’t miss a thing. ”

The rapid reader may be a good reader when he reads a story book for fun. But he may not be able to slow down enough to read directions carefully. He may read so rapidly that he does not take time to understand fully the ideas and information which it is important to remember.

The very slow reader may be a good reader when he reads directions for making something. But he may take altogether too much time to read a simple story that is meant to be enjoyed but is not important enough to be remembered.

So you see neither the reader who reads everything rapidly nor the one who reads everything slowly is really a good reader.

If you wish to become a better reader, here are four important things to remember about rate, or speed of reading.

1. Knowing why you are reading and what you are reading to find out will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.

2. Some things should be read slowly throughout. Examples are directions for making or doing something; science and history books, which are full of importance. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each important idea.

3. Some things should be read rapidly throughout. Examples are simple stories meant for enjoyment; news, letters from friend’s items or bits of news from local or home town papers, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors.

4. In some of your reading, you must change your speed fast to slow and slow to fast, as you go along. You will need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas, which must be remembered.

1. Is a slow reader or a rapid reader really a good reader according to this passage?

A. A slow reader　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.A rapid reader.

C. Both. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. Neither.

2. How fast should you read?

A. Rapidly. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. Slowly.

C. It depends on what we are reading. 　　   D. 200 words a minute.

3. What should be read slowly?

A. Something full of important information.

B. Newspapers and magazines.

C. Letters.

D. Novels.

4. What should be read rapidly?

A. Directions for making something.

B. Text book.

C. Science and history books.

D. Story books, newspapers, letters and so on.

5. What is the important rule you should keep in mind about speed of reading?

A. Read as fast as possible.

B. Fit your speed to your needs.

C. Read as slowly as possible.

D. Keep a speed at 200 words a minute.

If you want to become a better reader, what should you know about speed, or rate of reading?

Some people who read very rapidly may say, “I am a rapid reader. I can read an entire book in one evening. ”Someone who reads slowly may say, “I read slowly, but I know what I read. I don’t miss a thing. ”

The rapid reader may be a good reader when he reads a story book for fun. But he may not be able to slow down enough to read directions carefully. He may read so rapidly that he does not take time to understand fully the ideas and information which it is important to remember.

The very slow reader may be a good reader when he reads directions for making something. But he may take altogether too much time to read a simple story that is meant to be enjoyed but is not important enough to be remembered.

So you see neither the reader who reads everything rapidly nor the one who reads everything slowly is really a good reader.

If you wish to become a better reader, here are four important things to remember about rate, or speed of reading.

1. Knowing why you are reading and what you are reading to find out will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.

2. Some things should be read slowly throughout. Examples are directions for making or doing something; science and history books, which are full of importance. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each important idea.

3. Some things should be read rapidly throughout. Examples are simple stories meant for enjoyment; news, letters from friend’s items or bits of news from local or home town papers, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors.

4. In some of your reading, you must change your speed fast to slow and slow to fast, as you go along. You will need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas, which must be remembered.

1. Is a slow reader or a rapid reader really a good reader according to this passage?

A. A slow reader　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.A rapid reader.

C. Both. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. Neither.

2. How fast should you read?

A. Rapidly. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. Slowly.

C. It depends on what we are reading. 　　   D. 200 words a minute.

3. What should be read slowly?

A. Something full of important information.

B. Newspapers and magazines.

C. Letters.

D. Novels.

4. What should be read rapidly?

A. Directions for making something.

B. Text book.

C. Science and history books.

D. Story books, newspapers, letters and so on.

5. What is the important rule you should keep in mind about speed of reading?

A. Read as fast as possible.

B. Fit your speed to your needs.

C. Read as slowly as possible.

D. Keep a speed at 200 words a minute.