1 . The Onion was started by two university students in 1988. They said their paper was “America's finest news source”. For the first few years it enjoyed local popularity. Then in 1996 the Weekly Onion entered cyberspace. The new humorous online magazine became very popular. The website said The Onion had three million readers every week. The popularity of the online magazine led to increased interest in the print version. The Onion print magazine said it had almost one million readers each week.
The Onion covers all kinds of subjects and uses a kind of humour called satire. They use serious, journalistic language and style to make fun of people's ideas and activities.
For example, once an Onion online cover showed a picture of a dissatisfied young man in his disorganized home. The headline read, “Plan to straighten out entire life during week-long vacation yields mixed resuts.’ The report that followed was written in newspaper style, but, of course, this man's problems were not really worthy of newspaper coverage!
The Onion includes features found in a real newspaper. For example, there is a section called American Voices. It includes photographs of several people who have been stopped on the street. They provide their opinions on whatever subject they are asked about. They are very funny, but what is funnier is that The Onion uses the same photographs every week, but changes the names. So, readers realize quickly that the joke is on them.
Onion Editor-in-Chief Scott Dikkers has published several books of collected Onion reports. The most recent is called Embedded in America. Not everyone likes The Onion. Some people find it offensive. Others do not recognize it as a humour magazine and sometimes Onion stories are reported by real news organizations as real news reports.
1. According to the passage The Onion _______.| A．was very popular with college students when it was first started |
| B．has more readers online than those who read the print version |
| C．was first read online in 1988 |
| D．published its print version after setting up its website |
| A．that The Onion is offensive |
| B．what American men's problems are |
| C．how The Onion uses a style of news report to make fun of people's ideas |
| D．how the cover has a great effect on The Onion |
| A．An Introduction to The Onion | B．The History of The Onion |
| C．Opinions on The Onion | D．Why The Onion Is Popular? |
2 . The role of media historically has been central to the making of society and the construction of identity. It is vital in the search for information, stories and art to feed the human spirit and imagination to overcome the challenges ahead.
In an age of false news and misinformation, good quality content is more valuable than ever. History provides some context. In the UK the development of the liberal(自由的)media prior to the 1950s was characterized by a clear hierarchy(等级)when it came to the control of information. This model eventually gave way to a popular, audience-driven mass media in the 1980s, when the idea of the media as a source of popular pleasure took root.
Today, as more content is distributed via social platforms and the division between content creators and content consumers is unclear, technology companies — or “super competitors” — are taking greater responsibility for guaranteeing the quality and integrity of information. Perhaps as a reaction to this and with an odd nod to pre-1950s paternalism(家长式管理), there is a rising call for governments and regulators to take a more active role in the production and spreading of news to ensure equitable access to information.
Access to or quality of content is better than ever. But while destination media compete to become leaders in their specific areas, the tech giants are working out how to use media to dominate time, spend and data. What will be the impact of the strategies of the tech giants on the overall media landscape? The poet and novelist, Ben Okri, writes, “It may well be that it is not only science that saves us. We may also be saved by laughter, by the optimism of being able to see beyond these times, with stories, with community, with songs.”
In the absence of real contact, interaction and the consumption of experience is now mostly mediated(调解). The value and integrity of media has never been more relevant and significant.
1. What do the underlined words “some context” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．The development of the liberal media. |
| B．The model of the British clear hierarchy. |
| C．The changing of factors determining media content. |
| D．The idea of the media as a source of popular pleasure. |
| A．Media are losing their roles in shaping society. |
| B．It’s hard to divide content creators and consumers. |
| C．Media are misused to dominate time, spend and data. |
| D．The quality and integrity of information can’t be available. |
| A．Our life lacks passion. | B．People need proper media content. |
| C．Science can by all means save us. | D．Media cannot change the real life. |
| A．The Core of Media—Value and Integrity |
| B．The Transformation of Media Content |
| C．The Impact of Tech Giants on Media |
| D．The Ups and Downs of Media |
After Henry delivered all thenewspapers, he pedaled fast to The Gazette offices by 8: 30. The chief editorhad something important to tell him. He parked his bike and bounded up twonights of stairs to the chief editor's door.
Mr. Trotta greeted him."About those papers," he paused, "no good way to deliver badnews," Henry’s smile faded. "Were closing shop Saturday. Advertisingis down. Television is how people get their news today, Mr. Trotta shrugged, "You won't have to get up early on weekends." "No," said Henry, "but I like waking up early and meeting people on my route. It'ssad People won't get their neighborhood news any more.”
As Henry rode past the familiar houses, he saw Mr Grady on his porch (门廊) holding a broom (扫把). "Mr. Grady, wait," Henry called, setting down his bike. He led Mr. Grady to a chair and took the broom. In minutes, the porch was clean. "Now, Mr, Grady, anytime you have chores (家务) call me." They sat for a while asMr. Grady recalled how happy he’d been moving his family to 26 Maple. He sounded lonely.
A week after closing, Henry wondered if his customers missed The Gazette as much as he did. He thought of a way to find out.
He started out on his oldroute with a notebook. First stop: Mr, Jonas, 17 Oak. When Henry asked him about the paper, Mr. Jonas answered, "I sure liked reading the week'shappenings. By the way, I have a pile of old comics from The Gazette. Think someone would want them?"
“I’ll ask around." Henry made a note in his notebook.
He stopped at Mrs. Burke's, 27 Maple. She opened the door holding two babies. Her other two kids held on toher legs. Henry stared. "You could use a babysitter." "Definitely. I meant to put an ad in The Gazette, but....Know any neighbors with experience?”
Mr Simon was next door, carrying his violin out to his car. "Hey, Henry. My band is having aconcert in the park next Friday. Tell all your friends.”
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答.
As Henry made more notes, anidea started forming in his head.
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Customers cheered Henry idea and helpedsupply the news.
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4 . Almost every family buys as least one copy of a newspaper every day. Some people subscribe to as many as two or three different newspapers. But why do people read newspapers?
Five hundred years ago, news of important happenings--battles lost and won, kings or rulers overthrown(推翻)or killed--took months and even years to travel from one country to another. The news passed by word of mouth and was never accurate. Today we can read in our newspapers of important events that occur in faraway countries on the same day they happen.
Apart from supplying news from all over the world, newspapers give us a lot of other useful information. There are weather reports, radio, television and film guides, book reviews, stories, and of course, advertisements. The bigger ones are put in by large companies to bring attention to their products. They pay the newspapers thousands of dollars for the advertising space, but it is worth the money for news of their products goes into almost every home in the country. For those who produce newspapers, advertisements are also very important. Money earned from advertisements makes it possible for them to sell their newspapers at a low price and still make a profit.
1. The phrase “subscribe to” in the first paragraph means“________”| A．go to the newspaper stand and buy | B．send their own news stories to |
| C．agree to buy for a specific period of time | D．become faithful readers of |
| A．bad news traveled quickly and good news slowly |
| B．few people cared about events that took place in faraway countries |
| C．kings and rulers were often overthrown or killed |
| D．news was passed from one person to another |
| A．wasted | B．not much |
| C．well spent | D．of no use to anyone |
| A．Five hundred years ago it took a long time for news to reach other countries. |
| B．Newspaper advertisements turn people’s attention away from their products. |
| C．The news that we read in newspapers is mainly about new products. |
| D．When newspapers are sold at a low price, the newspaper producers will lose money. |
