1 . Mass communication is a very broad field which includes advertising, mass promotion, political campaigns, public relations, mass education and even the way you interact with other people. It covers just about everything you do in your daily life. Some characteristics of mass communication are: communication, information overload, group effort and feedback. There are some more that are less often mentioned but are just as important as the ones that have been listed above.

The most basic feature of communication is interaction. Interaction takes the form of communication where you can interpret what someone is trying to say. For example, when a person says “How are you?” and you respond in a loud voice or in a concerned manner, it’s considered interaction.

Another characteristic of mass communication that you’ll come across is a large number of receivers. When communicating with a group of people, it is important to keep in mind that each receiver will bring different characteristics to the table when communicating. Different receivers will take up different topics and bring a different set of characteristics to the table. In some cases, you will need to communicate with many different types of receiver in order for your communication ideas to be fully expressed and taken into full effect. You should therefore consider the characteristics of your receivers when planning your communication strategies.

New media is also impacting communication. Each type of new medium has diverse different ways in which it can deliver messages. You can make use of several types of communication in many cases and reach a wide range of target audiences. For example, you can use the Internet in order to communicate with your audience. As a result, the amount of information also in turn becomes too much for the human mind to process in a timely and effective manner. This overload is not only unsound, but it also tends to make people impatient, which finally takes the form of arguments and other types of exchanges that are based on facts, assumptions or personal experiences. However, although you may have to deal with some constraints, the Internet is still a very powerful tool that should not be ignored.

1. What role does the example given by the author in the second paragraph play?

A．Explain the importance of politeness.

B．Explain the concept of interaction.

C．Explain the characteristics of communication.

D．Explain what body language is.

2. Why should we consider different receivers when planning communication?

A．Because communicators have many different characteristics on the dinner table.

B．So that your ideas can be accurately expressed and play a role.

C．In order to better improve your communication strategy.

D．Because the receivers have different views on different topics.

3. Why does communication often take the form of argument?

A．Because there are too many types of communication.

B．Because people have different experiences.

C．Because the new media is not perfect.

D．Because overloaded information is boring.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards mass communication?

A．Uncaring.	B．Indifferent.
C．Objective.	D．Subjective.

2 . By our very rough calculations, Reader’s Digest has published some 35,000 articles in nearly 1,200 issues. These small pages have held some very big names, including U.S. presidents, world leaders, sports legends, and, indeed, the biggest contributors of all, everyday Americans with a story to tell. These are some of our proudest moments.

How to Keep Young Mentally by Mary B. Mullett

This first article in the first issue highlighted inventor Alexander Graham Bell and his belief in lifelong learning: “The first essential of any real education is to observe. Observe! Remember! Compare!” It was an appropriate beginning. reflecting our self-educated founder’s endless curiosity.

I’ve Come to Clean Your Shoes by Madge Harrah

The morning of a family funeral, an acquaintance shows up unannounced and says, “I’ve come to clean your shoes.” He spends the day quietly shining every pair in the house. The writer ends with: “Now, whenever I hear of an acquaintance who has lost a loved one. I try to think of one specific task suiting that person’s need. And if the person says, ‘How did you know I needed that done?’ I reply, ‘it’s because a man once cleaned my shoes.’”

Strange Encounter on Coho Creek by Morris Homer Erwin

A miner spends days camping in the Alaskan wilderness, working hard to earn the trust of a mother wolf stuck in a trap before she and her four pups starve to death. Eventually, he is able to free her. Four years later, he encounters a wolf in the same meadow. Yes, the same wolf. When we shared this classic on rd.com in 2019, it went viral and it has now been read by many millions online and in print.

How Honest Are We by Ralph Kinney Bennett

Our famous “wallet drop” set up the ultimate test of honesty: If we left wallets in cities around the country, how many would be returned? Well over half, it turned out—67 percent. The most honest city? Seattle, whose upstanding residents returned nine out of ten wallets.

1. What do we know about the acquaintance in the story I’ve Come to Clean Your Shoes?

A．He shows concern by cleaning shoes.

B．He cleans shoes at the owner’s request.

C．He comforts the owner by telling his own story.

D．He visits the house where the owner is severely sick.

2. Which article gained significant popularity online?

A．How to Keep Young Mentally.	B．I’ve Come to Clean Your Shoes.
C．Strange Encounter on Coho Creek.	D．How Honest Are We.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In a history book.

B．In a magazine.

C．In a novel.

D．In a brochure.

3 . The news plays an important role in our lives, which has been emphasized even further during the past year. If you find yourself beginning to feel negative impacts from the news, now is the time to start putting protective steps into place.

Control consumption.     1     Alternatively, you may have noticed a pattern you are experiencing — for example, do you tend to feel more negative impacts if you read the news when you’re tired or just before bed, or during periods of increased stress? If so, you may wish to limit exposure at certain times of day or in particular contexts.

Take ownership over your emotions.     2     It is your right to feel how you do. In doing so, acknowledge that you have control over your reactions. This can help you feel more empowered to act positively.

    3     If you’re being disturbed by negative news coverage, try to find some other resources to focus on. For instance, during the current pandemic (流行病), the WHO suggests focusing on recovery stories.

Seek support. Contact support groups or health care professionals. It’s important to recognize the value of positive social support and to recognize that seeking help is a positive and strong step. These contacts can also help you find other helpful resources.     4    

What works for one person may not be the best approach for another. Everyone is an individual.     5     Do not hesitate to seek professional help to guide you through this process.

A．Focus on the positive.

B．Take time to find what works for you.

C．Always remember that you are not alone.

D．Never blame yourself for negative emotions.

E．It’s also important to invest time in self-care.

F．This includes taking some time out from the media.

G．Staying informed and educated is particularly important.

4 . Mr Wilson, professor of news media, has recently received many questions from his students and answered them online. Here are some of them:

• What is mass media?

Mass media refers to the sources of information and news that reach a large audience. Besides traditional media, technology has changed and there are many new media introduced to convey information to the masses such as: books and magazines, televisions, Internet videos, films and documentaries.

• What is the importance of mass media?

Different types of mass media provide us with various types of political, religious, economic and social related news and information.

Each media has its significance in some or the other way. For example, a newspaper provides information in rural areas and urban areas as well as a TV which also provides information, news and entertainment shows through a digital medium.

• What is traditional media?

Traditional media is considered as the oldest form of mass media, which transfers culture and tradition from generation to generation. People over some time developed different ways of communicating through local languages and written mediums. There are various forms of traditional media such as folk songs, fairs and festivals.

• Which sector is considered as the root of mass media?

The first modern mass media institution began with the development of the printing press.

• Are there any problems associated with mass media?

As with everything in life, mass media also comes with its own shortcomings. But there are enough experts to make up for that.

1. What has contributed to the popularity of modern media?

A．Communication.	B．Economic change.
C．Traditional culture.	D．New technology.

2. Which is described as a traditional mass medium?

A．A dialogue between father and son.

B．A radio programme broadcasted at night.

C．A folk song popular with youngsters.

D．A piece of big news via Weibo.

3. What is true of media?

A．It offers us all kinds of news.

B．The root of mass media is Internet.

C．The invention of paper is considered as the root of mass media.

D．There are no shortcomings in mass media.

5 . Books for Young Readers

Ivy+Bean by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall

Ivy is quiet; Bean is loud and goofy. Ivy wants to be a witch; Bean wants to play games. Naturally, they’re going to end up being best friends and getting into all kinds of scrapes together since their approach to pretty much everything—from discovering dinosaurs to starting their own summer camp—is “Why not?” (For ages 6 to 10)

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson and Nina Mata

Ryan Hart wants to see the good in everybody, even when she gets teased for having a boy’s name. She has a lot to deal with—her dad’s been laid off and the family has to move to a smaller house. But when Ryan runs into problems, she’s always looking for ways to make sunshine. (For ages 7 to 10)

Better Nate Than Ever (series) by Tim Federle

The budding drama club kids in your life will love this trilogy (三部曲) about a small-town boy with big Broadway dreams. Nate Foster longs to get away from Jankburg. Pennsylvania to star in a Broadway show. And then something amazing happens. There’s an open casting call for a Broadway musical based on E. T. He just has to get there. (For ages 10 and up)

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Fans of Raina Telgemeier will love Jerry Craft’s sympathetic graphic novel about seventh-grader Jordan, who’s trying to fit in at the fancy new private school where he’s one of the few kids of color in his grade. And all he really wants to do is draw comics—so how can he stay true to himself and his neighborhood, and still figure out his new school? (For ages 8 to 12)

1. Which word can best describe Ryan Hart?

A．Responsible.

B．Optimistic.

C．Reliable.

D．Enthusiastic.

2. Which book is about a boy pursuing his dream?

A．Ivy+Bean.	B．Ways to Make Sunshine.
C．New Kid.	D．Better Nate Than Ever(series).

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To persuade.

B．To advertise.

C．To recommend.

D．To entertain.

6 . How long should my novel be?

This is a question I’m often asked, and it’s certainly not the same answer as how long a piece of string is! So, how long should your book actually be?

If we work backwards, from a production department point of view, a book of approximately 100,000 words will come in somewhere between 300 to 400 pages.     1     I’d suggest that 80,000 words up works well, occasionally stretching to 120,000 words on rare occasions.

Shorter texts are less daunting (使人气馁的) for an agent to submit rather than a block of manuscript so aim to make your publication path easier. There’s an implication that a standard book length should have a tighter handle on pacing, with the reader more readily drawn in. In turn, an overlong novel often indicates to a publisher that there’s potentially extensive editing work to be done by them.

    2     For example, historical fiction could more comfortably sit near the 120,000 mark. Literary fiction can head in the other direction, with 60,000 words still offering a feeling of fundamental worth to the publisher and reader, with an implication that the text is highly developed.

More commonly, issues over length tend to highlight that pacing is an issue, be it too long or too short. Overwriting, in particular, can be an issue for many authors, who might struggle to express their ideas clearly, using complex language that play down the flow of the book. Successful writing contains a clarity of thought that enables the writer to connect with the reader for maximum impact, allowing the story, characters and setting to shine through.

In terms of content, it’s important for an author to prioritise the key themes in the book.     3     Allow your reader to piece together information you delicately work through your text and avoid excess scenes and information, revealing instead what’s needed to keep that tension pulsing. Be brave as you cut back on the unnecessary, keeping a backup copy of your novel just in case you change your mind.

Work intuitively, from the heart, keeping secrets for as long as possible so the reader is forced to read on. In this way, a reader will readily connect with your words.     4    

A．Books do have different thresholds (门槛) according to genre.

B．This is plenty for a typical author’s book, particularly the first one.

C．Yes, there are exceptions to every genre but these are generally rare.

D．Is everything of equal importance and does everything need to be included?

E．Longer books are more expensive to produce and harder to sell in, so it increases their risk.

F．With a firm handle on length, your novel will have increased its chances of commercial publication.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1. When was the first real newspaper started?

A．In 1609.

B．In 1665.

C．In 1704.

2. Which country was the first to publish newspapers?

A．England.

B．Germany.

C．America.

3. Which was the first successful newspaper in America?

A．The Strassburg Relation.

B．The New York Sun.

C．The Boston News Letter.

4. What did the speaker say about the first penny newspaper?

A．It was called The London Gazette.

B．It was the first one to have advertisements.

C．It only cost ten pence.