1 . When was the last time you went to your local library? Last week? A month ago? A year ago?
For many reasons, borrowing books from libraries seems to be in decline. With advances in technology, it is now possible for people to download and read whatever they like on electronic devices such as Kindles.
Call me old-fashioned, but I've never got into the e-book: I like to have printed books lining my bookshelves; I love the smell of a new book; and I enjoy leafing through paper pages—as long as I avoid the paper cuts! Also, what would I do with my vast bookmark collection if everything I read was electronic?
I prefer paper books to e-books, and I also prefer to own them myself. Libraries only lend books, so of what use are they to someone like me, or to someone who prefers e-books?
Personally, I still love libraries. They offer a quiet space to sit, read, think, do research…a real escape from the outside world. When I was at university, I frequently spent hours at the school library and borrowed numerous printed materials, as it was just too expensive to buy brand new books every week to read for seminars and lectures. Libraries are free!
Libraries often organize interesting activities as well. At home, my local library hosted actors, historians and other speakers during the town's annual art and literature festival. Well-known authors are also invited to libraries to give speeches or lead discussions about their work. Events such as these are a great way to appeal to people of all ages in the community and encourage the use of libraries.
Since moving abroad to work in Quebec for a year, the importance of libraries has become clear to me on an even more personal level. The school I work in has an incredible library, which is proving invaluable when I want a good book to read but am feeling conscious that everything I would want to read during the year is unlikely to fit in my suitcase by the time l go home!
There are still many fantastic ways to use libraries—maybe we just need to be more awake to them!
1. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?| A．The reason why people like reading books on Kindles. |
| B．The reason why people seldom borrow books from libraries. |
| C．The advantages of modern technology. |
| D．How to download electronic books. |
| A．To tell her personal story. | B．To introduce a special book. |
| C．To explain how to read books. | D．To show she loves printed books. |
| A．read many e-books | B．bought many new books |
| C．often visited the school library | D．gave a speech at the school library |
| A．To take part in interesting activities. |
| B．To lead discussions about her work. |
| C．Because she couldn't afford to buy new books. |
| D．Because she couldn't bring many books back home. |
| A．To give some advice on reading. | B．To stress the advantages of libraries. |
| C．To compare different kinds of books. | D．To share the author's reading experience. |
