Before the 1830s,most newspapers were sold through annual subscriptions in America, usually $8 to $10 a year. Today $8 or $10 seems a small amount of money, but at that time these amounts were forbidding to most citizens. Accordingly, newspapers were read almost only by rich people in politics or the trades. In addition, most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to a mass audience. They were dull and visually forbidding. But the revolution that was taking place in the 1830s would change all that.
The trend, then, was toward the "penny paper"-a term referring to papers made widely available to the public. It meant any inexpensive newspaper; perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.
This development did not take place overnight. It had been possible(but not easy)to buy single copies of newspapers before 1830,but this usually meant the reader had to go down to the printer's office to purchase a copy. Street sales were almost unknown. However, within a few years, street sales of newspapers would be commonplace in eastern cities. At first the price of single copies was seldom a penny-usually two or three cents was charged-and some of the older well-known papers charged five or six cents. But the phrase "penny paper " caught the public's fancy, and soon there would be papers that did indeed sell for only a penny.
This new trend of newspapers for "the man on the street" did not begin well. Some of the early ventures(企业)were immediate failures. Publishers already in business, people who were owners of successful papers, had little desire to change the tradition. It took a few youthful and daring businessmen to get the ball rolling.
28. Which of the following best describes newspapers in America before the 1830s?
A. Academic. B. Unattractive. C. Inexpensive. D. Confidential.
29. What did street sales mean to newspapers?
A. They would be priced higher. B. They would disappear from cities.
C. They could have more readers. D. They could regain public trust.
30. Who were the newspapers of the new trend targeted at?
A. Local politicians. B. Common people.
C. Young publishers. D. Rich businessmen.
31. What can we say about the birth of the penny paper?
A. It was a difficult process. B. It was a temporary success.
C. It was a robbery of the poor. D. It was a disaster for printers.
【答案】28. B 29. C 30. B 31. A
【解析】本文是一篇说明文。十九世纪三十年代之前报纸由于只能以年为单位订购，几乎仅仅是有钱人的专有物，后来一些有胆略的年轻商人打破现状，逐渐让街上以份售卖成为报纸销售的主流。这就是报纸行业的一场大的变革。
28. B 细节理解题。由第一段第四句“In addition, most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to a mass audience.”可知，在19世纪30年代之前大部份报纸都没有什么吸引大众的内容，故选B。
29. C细节理解题。由第二段第二句“It meant any inexpensive newspaper; perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.”可知，街上按单份卖的报纸相比之前只能以年为单位订购的报纸，更容易让普通大众消费，也就是有了更多的读者群，故选C。
30. B细节理解题。从第二段第二句The trend, then, was toward the "penny paper" - a term referring to papers made widely available to the public.可知报纸售卖的新潮流目的是向普通大众销售报纸，故选B。
31. A细节理解题。最后一段第一句“This new trend of newspapers for "the man on the street" did not begin well.”就谈到了开始得不顺利，再结合下文的“failure”以及“had little desire to change the tradition”可知，"penny paper"这一新潮流并不顺利，许多成功报纸商不愿改变传统，只是有一些年轻的有胆识的商人努力才促使改革成功。整个过程非常辛苦，故选A。
The trend, then, was toward the "penny paper"-a term referring to papers made widely available to the public. It meant any inexpensive newspaper; perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.
This development did not take place overnight. It had been possible(but not easy)to buy single copies of newspapers before 1830,but this usually meant the reader had to go down to the printer's office to purchase a copy. Street sales were almost unknown. However, within a few years, street sales of newspapers would be commonplace in eastern cities. At first the price of single copies was seldom a penny-usually two or three cents was charged-and some of the older well-known papers charged five or six cents. But the phrase "penny paper " caught the public's fancy, and soon there would be papers that did indeed sell for only a penny.
This new trend of newspapers for "the man on the street" did not begin well. Some of the early ventures(企业)were immediate failures. Publishers already in business, people who were owners of successful papers, had little desire to change the tradition. It took a few youthful and daring businessmen to get the ball rolling.
28. Which of the following best describes newspapers in America before the 1830s?
A. Academic. B. Unattractive. C. Inexpensive. D. Confidential.
29. What did street sales mean to newspapers?
A. They would be priced higher. B. They would disappear from cities.
C. They could have more readers. D. They could regain public trust.
30. Who were the newspapers of the new trend targeted at?
A. Local politicians. B. Common people.
C. Young publishers. D. Rich businessmen.
31. What can we say about the birth of the penny paper?
A. It was a difficult process. B. It was a temporary success.
C. It was a robbery of the poor. D. It was a disaster for printers.
【答案】28. B 29. C 30. B 31. A
【解析】本文是一篇说明文。十九世纪三十年代之前报纸由于只能以年为单位订购，几乎仅仅是有钱人的专有物，后来一些有胆略的年轻商人打破现状，逐渐让街上以份售卖成为报纸销售的主流。这就是报纸行业的一场大的变革。
28. B 细节理解题。由第一段第四句“In addition, most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to a mass audience.”可知，在19世纪30年代之前大部份报纸都没有什么吸引大众的内容，故选B。
29. C细节理解题。由第二段第二句“It meant any inexpensive newspaper; perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.”可知，街上按单份卖的报纸相比之前只能以年为单位订购的报纸，更容易让普通大众消费，也就是有了更多的读者群，故选C。
30. B细节理解题。从第二段第二句The trend, then, was toward the "penny paper" - a term referring to papers made widely available to the public.可知报纸售卖的新潮流目的是向普通大众销售报纸，故选B。
31. A细节理解题。最后一段第一句“This new trend of newspapers for "the man on the street" did not begin well.”就谈到了开始得不顺利，再结合下文的“failure”以及“had little desire to change the tradition”可知，"penny paper"这一新潮流并不顺利，许多成功报纸商不愿改变传统，只是有一些年轻的有胆识的商人努力才促使改革成功。整个过程非常辛苦，故选A。
苏19057182-3号