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Facing the threat of the Internet, the traditional newspaper is thinking about what it can do to meet the challenge. To make teens get into the habit of reading, the French government is considering what kind of efforts it should pursue. It seems that the two questions have nothing to do with each other, but a recent announcement made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy has connected these two issues together. The announcement gives an answer to both of them.
President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a rescue plan for France's ailing print media, including measures to save printing and distribution costs. The plan also gives French teenagers a surprise as their 18-year-old birthday gift: France will offer all 18-year-olds a free daily copy of the newspaper of their choice.
"The habit of reading the press should start at a very young age," Sarkozy said, presenting the conclusion after talking to a group of journalists and officials in Paris. The President said the newspapers themselves would provide free copies for 18-year-olds, while the state would cover the cost of delivering them to many thousands of homes.
The plan is an attempt to introduce teenagers, who frequently only get their news online, to the delights of the printed world. A similar idea has been tested by L'Ouest-France (法蘭西部報) over the past few years. It offered some 18 to 24-year-olds a free paper once a week for a year. L' Ouest-France reported that 15% of young people wanted to continue with a paid subscription after the year was over.
People in France welcomed the plan which should get more kids interested in current affairs and make reading be a pastime, as well as rescue the newspaper industry.
Comprehension
1. What does the underlined word "ailing" (in Paragraph 2) probably mean?
A. newly established
B. in difficult situations
C. most popular
D. warm-hearted
2. It can be inferred from the passage that ____.
A. the government will pay for the delivery of newspapers to 18 -year-olds
B. the government will buy newspapers for 18-year-olds for one day
C. some of the government officials are against the plan
D. President Nicolas Sarkozy would like to help the government
3. What is people's reaction to the plan in France?
A. They think it a waste of money.
B. They will buy newspapers themselves for 18-year-olds.
C. They think highly of it and support it.
D. They are worried the young will leave the Internet.
4. Which of the following can serve as the best for the passage?
A. A surprising plan from the President
B. Help rescue the newspaper industry
C. Form. the reading habit for the young
D. Free newspapers fly to teens
Vocabulary
threat n. 威脅 v. threaten
challenge n. 挑戰
pursue v. 追求；實行，推行
ailing adj. 每況愈下的
distribution costs 發行成本
journalist n. 記者
attempt n./v. 企圖，試圖
introduce v. 采用，提出
subscription n. 訂閱
current affairs 時事
Keys to the comprehension
1. B。詞義猜測題。該段說法國總統薩科奇宣布救援計劃，以挽救“處于困境中的”印刷媒體。由此判斷其含義是B。
2. A。細節理解題。由第三段的“the state would cover the cost of the delivering them to many thousands of homes”可知法國政府不是為18歲的青年買報紙，而是免費把報社提供的報紙送給年輕人。
3. C。推理判斷題。根據最后一段可知，人們認為政府的這項舉措既能讓年輕人對時事感興趣，又能拯救報紙業。
4. D。主旨題。全文主要介紹了法國總統為挽救報紙行業，幫助年輕人養成看報的習慣而采取的一項措施。
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