Passage 3

　　閱讀材料，回答下面試題。

　　No country in the world has more daily newspapers than the USA. There are almost 2,000 of them, as compared with 155 in Japan, 164 in Argentina and 111 in Britain. The quality of some American papers is extremely high and their views are quoted all over the world. Distinguished dailies like the Washington Post or the New York Times have a powerful influence all over the country. However, the Post and the Times are not national newspapers in the sense that The Times is in Britain or LeMonde is in France, since each American city has its own daily

　　newspaper. The best of these present detailed accounts of national and international news, but many tend to limit themselves to state or cite news.

　　Like the press in most other countries, American newspapers range from the "sensational", which feature crime, sex and rumor, to the serious, which focus on factual news and the analysis of world events. But with few exceptions American newspapers try to entertain as well as give in-formation, for they have to compete with television.

　　Just as American newspapers give way to all tastes, so do they also try and apply to readers for all political persuasions. A few newspapers support extremist groups on the far right and on the far left, but most daily newspapers attempt to attract middle-of-the-road Americans who are essentially moderate. Many of these papers print columns by well-known journalists of different political and social views, in order to present a balanced picture.

　　As in other democratic countries American newspapers can be either responsible or irresponsible, but it is generally accepted that the American press serves its country well and that it has more than once bravely uncovered political scandals (丑聞) or crimes, for instance, the Watergate Affair. The newspapers drew the attention of the public to the fears of the Vietnam War.

　　第 21 題單選 There are fewer national newspapers in

　　A. Britain than in the USA

　　B. France than in Britain

　　C. the USA than in Britain or France

　　D. France than in the USA or Britain 參考答案：C

　　第 22 題單選 Most American newspapers try to entertain their readers because

　　A. they have to keep up a good relation with them

　　B. they have to compete with television

　　C. they have to write about crime, sex and rumor

　　D. they have to give factual news in an interesting way 參考答案：B

　　第 23 題單選 Many American newspapers attract readers of different political tendency by

　　A. supporting extremist groups from time to time

　　B. inviting middle-of-the-road Americans to write articles for them

　　C. avoiding carrying articles about extremists

　　D. printing articles representing different political viewpoints 參考答案：D

　　第 24 題單選 In this passage, the word "press" ( Para. 2) means

　　A.a machine for printing B.the business of printing

　　C.great force D.newspapers 參考答案：D

　　第 25 題單選 The passage is mainly about

　　A. the characteristics of American newspapers

　　B. thc development of American newspapers

　　C. the functions of American newspapers

　　D. the merits and shortcomings of American newspapers 參考答案：A

　　閱讀材料，回答下面試題。

　　Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end—with commercials thrown in every three or four minutes. The commercials are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus win-dow. "Buy Super Clean Toothpaste. "" Drink Root Beer. " "Fill up with Pacific Gas. " Only if you sleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, are you spared the unending cry of "You Need It! Buy It Now !

　　The beginning of the fide is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you' ve traveled that way before. Usually some things have changed--new houses, new buildings, sometimes even anew road. The bus driver has a style of driving and it' s fun to try to figure it out the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly reckless or daring, the fide can be as thrilling as a suspense story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the fight or the left-hand lane? After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping

　　for a while helps pass the middle hours of the fide. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you' ve got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.

　　The end of the fide is somewhat like the beginning. You know it will soon be over and there' sa kind of expectation and excitement in that. The seat, of course, has become harder as the hour shave passed. By now you've sat with your legs crossed, with your hands in your lap, with your hands on the armrests--even with your hands crossed behind your head, The end comes just at the right time. There are just no more ways to sit.

　　第 26 題單選 According to the passage, what do the passengers usually see when they are on a long bus trip? A.Buses on the road.

　　B.Films on television. C.Advertisements on the board. D.Gas stations.

　　參考答案：C

　　第 27 題單選 What is the purpose of this passage?

　　A. To give the writer' s opinion about long bus trips.

　　B. To persuade you to take a long bus trip.

　　C. To explain how bus trips and television shows differ.

　　D. To describe the billboards along the road. 參考答案：A

　　第 28 題單選 The writer of this passage would probably be in favor of

　　A. bus drivers who weren' t reckless

　　B. driving alone

　　C. a television set on the bus D.no billboards along the road 參考答案：D

　　第 29 題單選 The writer feels long bus rides are like TV shows because

　　A. the commercials both on TV shows and on billboards along the road are fun

　　B. they both have a beginning, a middle, and an end, with commercials in every three or fourminutes

　　C. the drivers are always reckless on TV shows just as they are on buses

　　D. both traveling and watching TV are not exciting 參考答案：B

　　第 30 題單選 The writer thinks that the end of the tide is somewhat like the beginning because both are

　　A.Exciting B.comfortable C.tiring D.boring

　　參考答案：A