61．What is mainly talked about in the first two paragraphs?

A．The first issue of Reader’s Digest.

B．The first trial of De Witt Wallace’s dream.

C．De Witt Wallace’s character and marriage.

D．The humble beginnings of Reader’s Digest.

60．What is the purpose of De Witt Wallace creating the earliest magazine?

A．To become wealthy　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．To offer people information.

C．To cure the wounds from the war.　　　　 D．To turn down uninteresting stories

59. It can be inferred from the passage that the March family had ______.

A. both happiness and sadness　　 B. wealthy neighbors

C. more girls than boys　　　　　 D. a lot of rich relatives

B

As De Witt Wallace lay in bed recovering from injuries that he unfortunately came by in World War I, he found there was a wealth of interesting information to read. Realizing few people would have the time to get through all this information, he knew exactly what to do. In 1920, this young American gave a sample magazine containing shortened articles to publishers across America. However, all turned him down.

De Witt and his new bride Lila Bell Acheson published the first issue of Reader’s Digest in February 1922. Working from home, the Wallaces printed 5,000 copies, which were sold by mail to 1,500 people and priced at 25 cents. From these humble(简单的)beginnings grew the world’s most widely-read magazine.

The magazine became popular and, by 1935, sales topped one million. In 1938, the first international edition was published in the United Kingdom. During World War II, editions were published for the first time in Latin America and Sweden. After the war Reader’s Digest moved into Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland. In 1950, Reader’s Digest published its shortened Books(now known as Select Editions in Australia).In 1959, music, the first non-print product line, was introduced. In 1962, Reader’s Digest revolutionized direct mail by introducing easy-to-enter Sweepstakes and a year later the first Reader’s Digest general book was published. In 1986, video was added to the Reader’s Digest product line.

In 1973, the Wallaces gave up active management of Reader’s Digest. De Witt died in 1981, aged 91; Lila in 1984, aged 94. With no heirs to the Wallace empire to take control, Reader’s Digest became a public company in the early 1990s and is now headed by a Chief Executive Office and Chairman of the Board.

58. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. The march Family 　　　　　 B. The March Parents

C. The March Girls　　　　　　 D. The March Relatives

57. Who was the most successful in career(事业)among the March girls?

A. Jo 　　　　　　　　　 B. Beth　　　　　　　　 C. Amy　　　　　　　　 D. Meg

56. The members of the March family were Father March, Mrs. March and their _______.

A. four daughters　 　　　　　　 B. five daughters

C. son and four daughters 　　 D. son and five daughters

54．A. how　 　　　　　　B. why　 　　　　　　　　　 C. what　　　 　　 D. when

53．A. design　　　　 　　　 B. make 　　　　　　　　　　 C. wear　　　 　　 D. touch

52．A. general　　　　 　　　 B. popular　 　　　　　　　 C. real　　　　 　　 D. true