It seems to me that British newspapers aren"t really newspapers at all. They contain news, it is true, but much of this news only appears in print because it is guaranteed (保证) to shock, surprise or cause a chuckle.
What should we expect to find in a real newspaper? Interesting political articles. Accurate reports of what has been happening in distant comers of the world. The latest news from the stock exchange. Full coverage of great sporting events. In-depth interviews with leading personalities.
It is a sad fact that in Britain the real newspapers, the ones that report the facts, sell in thousands, while the popular papers that set out to shock or amuse have a circulation of several million. One"s inescapable conclusion is that the vast majority of British readers do not really want a proper newspaper at all. They just want a few pages of entertainment.
I buy the same newspaper every day. In this paper political matters, both British and foreign, are covered in full. The editorial column may support government policy on one issue and oppose it on another. There is a full page of book reviews and another devoted to the latest happenings in the theatre, the cinema and the world of art. Stock exchange prices are quoted daily. So are the exchange rates of the world"s major currencies. The sports correspondents are among the best in the country, while the standard of the readers" letters is absolutely first class. If an intelligent person were to find a copy of this paper 50 years from now, he or she would still find it entertaining, interesting and instructive.
So my favourite newspaper is obviously very different from those popular papers that have a circulation of several million. But that does not mean that it is "better" or that they are "worse. " We are not comparing like with like. A publisher printing a newspaper with a circulation of several million is running a highly successful commercial operation. The people who buy his product are obviously satisfied customers and in a free society everybody should have the right to buy whatever kind of newspaper he pleases.
单选题
What kind of newspaper does the author prefer?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 本题问及作者对报纸的态度，在第4段内容里基本上可找到答案。
D)项里的“serious newspaper”指严肃的报纸。作者列举了报纸所载内容的几个方面来体现其严肃性。如：
political matters are covered in full(全文刊登政事)
full page of book reviews(整版书评)
stock exchange prices are quoted daily(每天的股票报价)
单选题
The real newspapers are more suitable for ______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] intelligent people：理解力强的人
单选题
According to the author, the popular papers are ______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] (见最后1段)
最后1段第1句“my favourite newspaper is obviously very different from those popular papers…”中的“my favourite newspaper”是作者最喜欢的“real newspaper”。