2025年專八真題及答案詳解

RevisedfinaldraftNovember26,RevisedfinaldraftNovember26,專八真題及答案詳解TESTFORENGLISHMAJORS()-GRADEEIGHT-PAPERONETIMELIMIT:95MINPARTILISTENINGCOMPREHENSION[40MIN.]InSectionsA,BandCyouwillheareverythingONCEONLY.Listencarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.MarkthecorrectanswertoeachquestiononyourColoredAnswerSheet.SECTIONATALKQuestions1to5refertothetalkinthissection.Attheendofthetalkyouwillbegiven15secondstoanswereachofthefollowingfivequestions.Nowlistentothetalk.1.TherulesforthefirstprivatelibraryintheUSweredrawnupby___.A)thelegislatureB)thelibrarianC)JohnHarvardD)thefacultymembers2.Theearliestpubliclibrarywasalsocalledasubscriptionlibrarybecausebooks___.A)couldbelenttoeveryoneB)couldbelentbybookstoresC)werelenttostudentsandthefacultyD)werelentonamembershipbasis3.WhichofthefollowingisNOTstatedasoneofthepurposesoffreepubliclibrariesA)Toprovidereaderswithcomfortablereadingrooms.B)Toprovideadultswithopportunitiesoffurthereducation.C)Toservethecommunity'sculturalandrecreationalneeds.D)Tosupplytechnicalliteratureonspecializedsubjects.4.Themajordifferencebetweenmodemprivateandpubliclibrariesliesin___.A)readershipB)contentC)serviceD)function5.Themainpurposeofthetalkis___.A)tointroducecategoriesofbooksinUSlibrariesB)todemonstratetheimportanceofUSlibrariesC)toexplaintherolesofdifferentUSlibrariesD)todefinethecirculationsystemofUSlibrariesSECTIONBINTERVIEWQuestions6to10arebasedonaninterview.Attheendoftheinterviewyouwillbegiven15secondstoanswereachofthefollowingfivequestions.Nowlistentotheinterview.6.Nancybecameataxidriverbecause___.A)sheownedacarB)shedrovewellC)shelikeddrivers'uniformsD)itwasherchildhooddream7.Accordingtoher,whatwasthemostdifficultaboutbecomingataxidriver?A)Therightsenseofdirection.B)Thesenseofjudgment.C)Theskillofmaneuvering.D)Thesizeofvehicles.8.WhatdoesNancylikebestaboutherjob?

A)Seeinginterestingbuildingsinthecity.B)Beingabletoenjoytheworldofnature.C)Drivinginunsettledweather.D)Takinglongdrivesoutsidethecity.9.ItcanbeinferredfromtheinterviewthatNancyina(n)___mother.A)uncaringB)strictC)affectionateD)permissive10.ThepeopleNancymeetsareA)ratherdifficulttopleaseB)rudetowomendriversC)talkativeandgenerouswithtipsD)differentinpersonalitySECTIONCNEWSBROADCASTQuestion11isbasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven15secondstoanswerthequestion.Nowlistentothenews.11.TheprimarypurposeoftheUSanti-smokinglegislationis___.A)totightencontrolontobaccoadvertisingB)toimposepenaltiesontobaccocompaniesC)tostartanationalanti-smokingcampaignD)toensurethehealthofAmericanchildrenQuestions12and13arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven30secondstoanswerthequestions.Nowlistentothenews.12.TheFrenchPresident'svisittoJapanaimsat___.A)makingmoreinvestmentsinJapanB)stimulatingJapanesebusinessesinFranceC)helpingboosttheJapaneseeconomyD)launchingafilmfestivalinJapan13.ThisisJacquesChirac's___visittoJapan.A)secondC)fortiethB)fourteenthD)forty-firstQuestions14and15arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitem,youwillbegiven30secondstoanswerthequestions.Nowlistentothenews.14.Afghanpeoplearesufferingfromstarvationbecause___.A)meltingsnowbeginstoblockthemountainpathsB)theTalibanhavedestroyedexistingfoodstocksC)theTalibanarehinderingfooddeliveriesD)anemergencyair-liftoffoodwascancelled15.peopleinAfghanistanarefacingstarvation.A)160,000B)16,000C)1,000,000D)100,000SECTIONDNOTE-TAKINGANDGAP-FILLINGInthissectionyouwillhearamini-lecture.YouwillthelectureONCEONLY.Whilelisteningtothelecture,takenotesontheimportantpoints.Yournoteswillnotbemarked,butyouwillneedthemtocompletea15-minutegap-fillingtaskonANSWERSHEETONEafterthemini-lecture.Usetheblankpaperfornote-taking.PartⅡPROOFREADING&ERRORCORRECTION(15MIN)ProofreadthegivenpassageonANSWERSHEETTWOasinstructed.PartⅢREADINGCOMPREHENSION(40MIN)SECTIONAREADINGCOMPREHENSION(30MIN)Inthissectiontherearefourreadingpassagesfollowedbyatotaloffifteenmultiple-choicequestions.ReadthepassagesandthenmarkyouranswersonyourColoredAnswerSheet.TEXTADespiteDenmark'smanifestvirtues,DanesnevertalkabouthowproudtheyaretobeDanes.ThiswouldsoundweirdinDanish.WhenDanestalktoforeignersaboutDenmark,theyalwaysbeginbycommentingonitstininess,itsunimportance,thedifficultyofitslanguage,thegeneralsmall-mindednessandself-indulgenceoftheircountrymenandthehightaxes.NoDanewouldlookyouintheeyeandsay,"Denmarkisagreatcountry."You'resupposedtofigurethisoutforyourself.Itisthelandofthesilksafetynet,wherealmosthalfthenationalbudgetgoestowardsmoothingoutlife'sinequalities,andthereisplentyofmoneyforschools,daycare,retrainingprogrammes,jobseminars-Danesloveseminars:threedaysatastudycentrehearingaboutwastemanagementisalmostasgoodasaskitrip.ItisaculturebombardedbyEnglish,inadvertising,popmusic,theInternet,anddespitealltheEnglishthatDanishabsorbs-thereisnoDanishAcademytodefendagainstit-olddialectspersistinJutlandSuchanationofoverachievers-abrochurefromtheMinistryofBusinessandIndustrysays,"Denmarkisoneoftheworld'scleanestandmostorganizedcountries,withvirtuallynopollution,crime,orpoverty.Denmarkisthemostcorruption-freesocietyintheNorthernHemisphere."So,ofcourse,one'sheartliftsatanysightingofDanishsleaze:skinheadgraffitionbuildings("ForeignersOutofDenmark!"),brokenbeerbottlesinthegutters,drunkenteenagersslumpedinthepark.Nonetheless,itisanorderlyland.YoudrivethroughaDanishtown,itcomestoanendatastonewall,andontheothersideisafieldofbarley,anicecleanline:townhere,countrythere.Itisnotanationofjay-walkers.Peoplestandonthecurbandwaitfortheredlighttochange,evenifit's2a.m.andthere'snotacarinsight.However,Danesdon'tthinkofthemselvesasawainting-at-2-a.m.-for-the-green-lightpeople——that'showtheyseeSwedesandGermans.Danesseethemselvesasjazzypeople,improvisers,morefreespiritedthanSwedes,butthetruthis(thoughoneshouldnotsayit)thatDanesareverymuchlikeGermansandSwedes.Orderlinessisamainsellingpoint.Denmarkhasfewnaturalresources,limitedmanufacturingcapability;itsfutureinEuropewillbeasabroker,banker,anddistributorofgoods.YousendyourgoodsbycontainershiptoCopenhagen,andthesebright,young,English-speaking,utterlyhonest,highlydisciplinedpeoplewillgetyourgoodsaroundtoScandinavia,theBalticStateTheorderlinessofthesocietydoesn'tmeanthatDanishlivesarelessmessyorlonelythanyoursormine,andnoDanewouldtellyouso.Youcanhearplentyaboutbitterfamilyfeudsandthesorrowsofalcoholismandaboutperfectlysensiblepeoplewhowentoffonedayandkilledthemselves.Anorderlysocietycannotexemptitsmembersfromthehazardsoflife.ButthereisasenseofentitlementandsecuritythatDanesgrowupwith.Certainthingsareyoursbyvirtueofcitizenship,andyoushouldn'tfeelbadfortakingwhatyou'reentitledto,you'reasgoodasanyoneelse.Therulesofthewelfaresystemarecleartoeveryone,thebenefitsyougetifyouloseyourjob,thestepsyoutaketogetanewone;andtheorderlinessofthesystemmakesitpossibleforthecountrytoweatherhighunemploymentandsocialunrestwithoutasenseofcrisis.16.TheauthorthinksthatDanesadopta___attitudetowardstheircountry.A)boastfulB)modestC)deprecatingD)mysterious17.WhichofthefollowingisNOTaDanishcharacteristiccitedinthepassageA)Fondnessofforeignculture.B)Equalityinsociety.C)Linguistictolerance.D)Persistentplanning.18.Theauthor'sreactiontothestatementbytheMinistryofBusinessandIndustryis___.A)disapprovingB)approvingC)noncommittalD)doubtful19.Accordingtothepassage,Danishorderliness___.A)setsthepeopleapartfromGermansandSwedesB)sparesDanessocialtroublesbesettingotherpeopleC)isconsideredeconomicallyessentialtothecountryD)preventsDanesfromacknowledgingexistingtroubles20.AttheendofthepassagetheauthorstatesallthefollowingEXCEPTthat___.A)DanesareclearlyinformedoftheirsocialbenefitsB)DanestakeforgrantedwhatisgiventothemC)theopensystemhelpstotidethecountryoverD)orderlinesshasalleviatedunemploymentTEXTBButiflanguagehabitsdonotrepresentclasses,asocialstratificationintosomethingasbygoneas"aristocracy"and"commons",theydostillofcourseservetoidentifysocialgroups.Thisissomethingthatseemsfundamentalintheuseoflanguage.Asweseeinrelationtopoliticalandnationalmovements,languageisusedasabadgeorabarrierdependingonwhichwaywelookatit.Thenewboyatschoolfeelsoutofitatfirstbecausehedoesnotknowthefightwordsforthings,andawe-inspiringpunditsofsixorsevenlookdownonhimfornotbeingawarethatracksymeans"dilapidated",orhairy"outfirstball".Theminertakesacertainprideinbeing"oneuponthevisitorornovicewhocallsthecagea"lift"orwhothinksthatmenworkinginawarmseamareintheir"underpants"whenanyoneoughttoknowthatthegarmentsarecalledhoggers.The"insider"isseldomdispleasedthathislanguagedistinguisheshimfromthe"outsider".Quiteapartfromspecializedtermsofthiskindingroups,tradesandprofessions,thereareallkindsofstandardsofcorrectnessatwhichmastofusfeelmoreorlessobligedtoaim,becauseweknowthatcertainkindsofEnglishinviteirritationordownrightcondemnation.Ontheotherhand,weknowthatotherkindsconveysomekindofprestigeandbearawelcomecachet.Inrelationtothesocialaspectsoflanguage,itmaywellbesuggestedthatEnglishspeakersfallintothreecategories:theassured,theanxiousandtheindifferent.Atoneendofthisscale,wehavethepeoplewhohave"position"and"status",andwhothereforedonotfeeltheyneedworrymuchabouttheiruseofEnglish.TheireducationandoccupationmakethemconfidentofspeakinganunimpeachableformofEnglish:nofearofbeingcriticizedorcorrectedislikelytocrosstheirminds,andthisgivestheirspeechthatcharacteristicallyunselfconsciousandeasyflowwhichisoftenenvied.Attheotherendofthescale,wehaveanequallyimperturbableband,speakingwithasimilardegreeofcarelessease,becauseeveniftheyareawarethattheirEnglishiscondemnedbyothers,theyaresupremelyindifferenttothefact.TheMrs.Mopsofthisworldhaveactiveandefficienttonguesintheirheads,andifwehappenednottolikethe/rwaysofsayingthings,well,we"canlumpit".Thatistheirattitude.Curiouslyenough,writersareinclinedtorepresentthespeechofboththeseextremepartieswith-in'foring.Ontheonehand,"we'regoin'huntin',mydearsir";ontheother,"we'regoin'racin’,mate."Inbetween,accordingtothisview,wehaveafarlessfortunategroup,theanxious.TheseactivelytrytosuppresswhattheybelievetobebadEnglishandassiduouslycultivatewhattheyhopetobegoodEnglish.Theylivetheirlivesinsomedegreeofnervousnessovertheirgrammar,theirpronunciation,andtheirchoiceofwords:sensitive,andfearfulofbetrayingthemselves.KeepingupwiththeJonesesismeasurednotonlyinhouses,furniture,refrigerators,cars,andclothes,butalsoinspeech.Andthemisfortuneofthe"anxious"doesnotendwiththeirinneranxiety.Theirlotisalsotheopenorveiledcontemptofthe"assured"ononesideofthemandofthe"indifferent"ontheother.Itisalltooeasytoraiseanunworthylaughattheanxious.Thepeoplethusuncomfortablystiltedonlinguistichighheelssooftenformpartofwhatis,inmanyways,themostadmirablesectionofanysociety:theambitious,tense,inner-drivenpeople,whoarebenton"goingplacesanddoingthings".Thegreaterthepity,then,ifadisproportionateamountoftheirenergygoesintowhatMr.Sharplesscalled"thisshabbyobsession"withvariantformsofEnglish-especiallyifthenetresultis(assooften)merelytosoundaffectedandridiculous.“Here",accordingtoBacon,"isthefirstdistemperoflearning,whenmenstudywordsandnotmatter….ItseemstomethatPygmalion’sfrenzyisagoodemblem…ofthisvanity:forwordsaxebuttheimagesofmatter;andexcepttheyhavelifeofreasonandinvention,tofallinlovewiththemistofallinlovewithapicture."21.Theattitudeheldbytheassuredtowardslanguageis___.A)criticalB)anxiousC)self-consciousD)nonchalant22.Theanxiousareconsideredalessfortunategroupbecause___.A)theyfeeltheyaresociallylookeddownuponB)theysufferfrominternalanxietyandexternalattackC)theyareinherentlynervousandanxiouspeopleD)theyareunabletomeetstandardsofcorrectness23.TheauthorthinksthattheeffortsmadebytheanxioustocultivatewhattheybelieveisgoodEnglishare___.A)worthwhileB)meaninglessC)praiseworthyD)irrationalTEXTCFredCookeofSalfordturned90twodaysagoandtheworldhasbeenbeatingapathtohisdoor.Ifyouhaven'tnoticed,thebackstreetboyeducatedatBlackpoolgrammarstyleshimselfmoregrandlyasAlastairCooke,broadcasterextraordinaire.AnhonorableKBE,hewouldbeSirAlastairifhehadnottakenAmericancitizenshipmorethanhalfacenturyago.Ifitsoundssnobbishtodrawattentiontohishumbleorigins,itshouldbereflectedthattherealsnobisCookehimself,whohasspentalifetimedisguisingthem.ButthefactthatheoptedtorenouncehisBritishpassportin1941-justwhenhiscountryneededallthewartimehelpitcouldget-ishardlyamatterforcongratulation.CookehasmadeafortuneoutofhisloveaffairwithAmerica,entrancinglistenerswithaweeklymonologuethathaswonRadio4manydevotedadherents.Partofthepullisthedevelopeddrawl.Thisisthemanwhogavetheworld"midatlantic",thelanguageofthediscjockeyandpublicrelationsman.HesoundsAmericantousandEnglishtothem,whileinrealityhehasfordecadesbelongedtoneither.Cooke'sworldisanAmericathatexistslargelyintheimagination.HetookagestoacknowledgethedisasterthatwasVietnamandevenlongertowakeuptoWatergate.Hispoliticshavedriftedtotherightwithage,andmostofhisopinionshavebeenacquiredonthegolfcoursewithfellowcelebrities.HechasedafterstarsonarrivalinAmerica,FixingupaninterviewwithCharlieChaplinandbrieflybecominghisfriend.HetoldCookehecouldturnhimintoafinelightcomedian;insteadheisanimpressionist'sdream.Cookelikedthesoundofhisfirstwife'snamealmostasmuchasheadmiredhergoodlooks.Buthefoundbringingupbabydifficultandleftherforthewifeofhislandlord.Womenlistenerswereunimpressedwhen,in1996,hedeclaredonairthatthefactthat4%ofwomenintheAmericanarmedforceswererapedshowedremarkableself-restraintonthepartofUncleSam'ssoldiers.HisarroganceinnotallowingBBCeditorstoseehisscriptinadvanceworked,notforthefirsttime,tohisdetriment.Hisdefenderssaidhecouldnothelplivingwiththe1930svalueshehadacquiredandsomewhatdubiouslywentontocite"gallantry"aschiefamongthem.Cooke'sraconteurstyleencouragedawholegenerationofBBCmentothinkofthemselvesasmoreimportantthanthestory.HistreaclytoneswerethemodelfortheregularWorldServicereportsFromOurOwnCorrespondent,knownasFOOCsinthebusiness.Theymayyetbehisepitaph.24.Atthebeginningofthepassagethewritersoundscriticalof___.A)Cooke'sobscureoriginsB)Cooke'sbroadcastingstyleC)Cooke'sAmericancitizenshipD)Cooke'sfondnessofAmerica25.ThefollowingadjectivescanbesuitablyappliedtoCookeEXCEPT___.A)old-fashionedB)sincereC)arrogantD)popular26.ThewritercommentsonCooke'slifeandcareerinaslightly___tone.A)ironicB)detachedC)scathingD)indifferentTEXTDMr.Duffyraisedhiseyesfromthepaperandgazedoutofhiswindowonthecheerlesseveninglandscape.TheriverlayquietbesidetheemptydistilleryandfromtimetotimealightappearedinsomehouseonLucanRoad.Whatanend!Thewholenarrativeofherdeathrevoltedhimanditrevoltedhimtothinkthathehadeverspokentoherofwhatheheldsacred.Thecautiouswordsofareporterwonovertoconcealthedetailsofacommonplacevulgardeathattackedhisstomach.Notmerelyhadshedegradedherself,shehaddegradedhim.Hissoul'scompanion!Hethoughtofthehobblingwretcheswhomhehadseencarryingcansandbottlestobefilledbythebarman.JustGod,whatanend!Evidentlyshehadbeenunfittolive,withoutanystrengthofpurpose,aneasypreytohabits,oneofthewrecksonwhichcivilizationhasbeenreared.Butthatshecouldhavesunksolow!Wasitpossiblehehaddeceivedhimselfsoutterlyabouther

Herememberedheroutburstofthatnightandinterpreteditinaharshersensethanhehadeverdone.Hehadnodifficultynowinapprovingofthecoursehehadtaken.Asthelightfailedandhismemorybegantowanderhethoughtherhandtouchedhis.Theshockwhichhadfirstattackedhisstomachwasnowattackinghisnerves.Heputonhisovercoatandhatquicklyandwentout.Thecoldairmethimonthethreshold;itcreptintothesleevesofhiscoat.WhenhecametothepublichouseatChapelTheproprietorservedhimobsequiouslybutdidnotventuretotalk.Therewerefiveorsixworking-menintheshopdiscussingthevalueofagentleman'sestateinCountyKildareAshesatthere,livingoverhislifewithherandevokingalternatelythetwoimagesonwhichhenowconceivedher,herealizedthatshewasdead,thatshehadceasedtoexist,thatshehadbecomeamemory.Hebegantofeelillatease.Heaskedhimselfwhatelsecouldhehavedone.Hecouldnothavelivedwithheropenly.Hehaddonewhatseemedtohimbest.Howwashetoblame

Nowthatshewasgoneheunderstoodhowlonelyherlifemusthavebeen,sittingnightafternightaloneinthatroom.Hislifewouldbelonelytoountilhe,too,died,ceasedtoexist,becameamemory-ifanyonerememberedhim.27.Mr.Duffy'simmediatereactiontothereportofthewoman'sdeathwasthatof___.A)disgustB)guiltC)griefD)compassion28.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatthereporterwroteaboutthewoman'sdeathina___manner.A)detailedB)provocativeC)discreetD)sensational29.WecaninferfromthelastparagraphthatMr.Duffywasina(n)___mood.A)angryB)fretfulC)irritableD)remorseful30.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingstatementsisNOTtrue?A)Mr.Duffyonceconfidedinthewoman.B)Mr.Duffyfeltanintensesenseofshame.C)Thewomanwantedtoendtherelationship.D)Theybecameestrangedprobablyafteraquarrel.SECTIONBSKIMMINGANDSCANNING(10MIN)Inthissectiontherearesevenpassagesfollowedbytenmultiple-choicequestions.SkimorscanthemasrequiredandthenmarkyouranswersontheColouredAnswerSheet.TEXTEFirstreadthefollowingquestion.31.InthepassageBillGatesmainlydiscusses___.A)aperson'sopportunityofalifetimeB)thesuccessofthecomputerindustryC)theimportanceofeducationD)highschooleducationintheUSNowgothroughTEXTEquicklyandanswerquestion31.Hundredsofstudentssendmee-maileachyearaskingforadviceabouteducation.Theywanttoknowwhattostudy,orwhetherit'sOKtodropoutofcollegesincethat'swhatIdid.Mybasicadviceissimpleandheartfelt."Getthebesteducationyoucan.Takeadvantageofhighschoolandcollege.Learnhowtolearn."It'struethatIdroppedoutofcollegetostartMicrosoft,butIwasatHarvardforthreeyearsbeforedroppingout-andI'dlovetohavethetimetogoback.AsI'vesaidbefore,nobodyshoulddropoutofcollegeunlesstheybelievetheyfacetheopportunityofalifetime.Andeventhentheyshouldreconsider.Thecomputerindustryhaslotsofpeoplewhodidn'tfinishcollege,butI'mnotawareofanysuccessstoriesthatbeganwithsomebodydroppingoutofhighschool.Iactuallydon'tknowanyhighschooldropouts,letaloneanysuccessfulones.Inmycompany'searlyyearswehadabrightpart-timeprogrammerwhothreatenedtodropoutofhighschooltoworkfull-time.Wetoldhimno.Quiteafewofourpeopledidn'tfinishcollege,butwediscouragedroppingout.Collegeisn'ttheonlyplacewhereinformationexists.Youcanlearninalibrary.Butsomebodyhandingyouabookdoesn'tautomaticallyfosterlearning.Youwanttolearnwithotherpeople,askquestions,tryoutideasandhaveawaytotestyourability.Itusuallytakesmorethanjustabook.Educationshouldbebroad,althoughit'sfinetohavedeepinterests,too.InhighschooltherewereperiodswhenIwashighlyfocusedonwritingsoftware,butformostofmyhighschoolyearsIhadwide-rangingacademicinterests.Myparentsencouragedthis,andI'mgratefulthattheydid.Oneparentwrotemethather15-yearoldson"losthimselfintheholeofthecomputer.”HegotanAinWebsitedesign,butothergradesweresinking,shesaid.Thisboyismakingamistake.Highschoolandcollegeofferyouthebestchancetolearnbroadly-math,history,varioussciences-andtodoprojectswithotherkidsthatteachyoufirsthandaboutgroupdynamics.It'sfinetotakeadeepinterestincomputers,dance,languageoranyotherdiscipline,butnotifitjeopardizesbreadth.Incollegeit'sappropriatetothinkaboutspecialization.Gettingrealexpertiseinanareaofinterestcanleadtosuccess.Graduateschoolisonewaytogetspecializedknowledge.Choosingaspecialtyisn'tsomethinghighschoolstudentsshouldworryabout.Theyshouldworryaboutgettingastrongacademicstart.There'snotaperfectcorrelationbetweenattitudesinhighschoolandsuccessinlaterlife,ofcourse.Butit'sarealmistakenottotaketheopportunitytolearnahugerangeofsubjects,tolearntoworkwithpeopleinhighschool,andtogetthegradesthatwillhelpyougetintoagoodcollege.TEXTFFirstreadthefollowingquestion.32.Thepassagefocuseson___.A)thehistoryandfutureofLondonB)London’smanufacturingskillsC)London'sstatusasafinancialcentrerD)thepastandpresentrolesofLondonNowgothroughTextFquicklyandanswerquestion32.WhatisLondonfor

Toputthequestionanotherway,whywasLondon,by1900,incomparablythelargestcityintheworld,whichitremaineduntilthebombardmentsoftheLuftwaffe

Therecouldbemanyanswerstothisquestion,butanyhistoryofLondonwillrehearsethreebroadexplanations.Oneistheimportanceofitslifeasaport.WhentheThamesturnedtoiceinFebruary1855,50,000menwereputoutofwork,andtherewerebreadriotsfromthosewhoseliveliboodshadbeenfrozenwiththeriver.Today,theThamescouldbefrozenforayearwithoutendangeringthelivelihoodsofanybutafewpleasure-boatmen.ThesecondmajorcauseofLondon'swealthandsuccesswasthatitwaseasilythebiggestmanufacturingcentreinEurope.AtthebeginningoftheIndustrialRevolution,DutchloomsandthestockingknittingframewerefirstpioneeredinLondon.ThevastrangeofLondon'smanufacturingskillsisanotherfact;almostanyitemyoucannamewasmanufacturedinLondonduringthedaysofitsprosperity.In1851,13.75percentofthemanufacturingwork-forceofGreatBritainwasbasedinLondon.By1961,thishaddramaticallyreduced.By1993,therewereamere328,000Londonersengagedinmanufacturing.Inotherwords,byourowntimes,twoofthechiefreasonsforLondon'sveryexistence-itslifeasapertandasacentreofmanufacture-haddwindledoutofexistence.London'sthirdgreatfunction,sincetheseventeenthcentury,hasbeenthatofnationalandinternationalbourse:theexchangeofstocksandshares,banking,commerceand,increasingly,insurance.BothInwoodandFrancisSheppard,inLondon:Ahistory,managetomakethesepotentiallydrymattersvividtothegeneralreader,andbothauthorsassureusthat"TheCity"inthefinancialsenseisstillasimportantaseveritwas.Both,however,recordthediminutionoftheCityasanarchitecturalanddemographicentity,withtheemptyingofmanycityoffices(sincetheadventofthecomputermuchoftheworkcanbedoneanywhere)andtheremovalofmanydistinctivelandmarks.TEXTGFirstreadthefollowingquestion.33.Theprimarypurposeofthepassageisto___.A)discusstheimpactoftheinternetB)forecastthefuturerolesofthebookstoreC)comparethepublisherwiththeeditorD)evaluatethelimitationsoftheprintedpageNowgothroughTEXTGquicklyandanswerquestion33.Sincetheadventoftelevisionpeoplehavebeenprophesyingthedeathofthebook.NowtheriseoftheWorldWideWebseemstohaverevivedthissmolderingcontroversyfromtheashes.Theveryexistenceofpapercopyhasbeenbroughtintoquestiononcemore.Itmightbethebookstore,ratherthanthebookitself,thatisonthebrinkofextinction.Manyofyouwillhavenotedtomofbooksellerwebsitespoppingup.Theyprovidelistsofbooksandletyoureadsamplechapters,reviewsfromothercustomersandinterviewswithauthors.Whatdoesallthismean

Browsingavirtualbookstoremaynotaffordyouthesamedustypleasureasbrowsingroundarealshop,butasfarasservice,priceandconvenienceareconcernedthereisreallynocompetition.Thismaychangebeforelong,aspublishers'websitesbegintoofferdirectaccesstonewpublications.

PerhapsitisactuallythepublisherwhoisendangeredbytherelentlessadvanceoftheInternet.Therearearemarkablenumberofsitesrepublishi