C
An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same tome.
In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched (发起) the "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book" project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong Kong.
In Chicago, the mayor(市长) appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbirdas the first book in the "One Book, One Chicago" program. As a result, reading clubs and neighborhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.
The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns, where a greater sense of unity (一致) can be achieved. Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point, putting all their energy and passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.
Ultimately as Nancy points out, the level of success is not measured by how many people read a book, but by how many people are enriched by the process, or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have shared a word.
46. What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?
A.To invite authors to guide readers.
B.To encourage people to read and share.
C.To involve people in community service.
D.To promote the friendship between cities.
47. Why was it difficult for New Yorkers to carry out the project?
A.They had little interest in reading.
B.They were too busy to read a book.
C.They came from many different backgrounds
D.They lacked support from the local government
48. according to the passage, where would the project be more easily carried out?
A.In large communities with little sense of unity
B.In large cities where libraries are far from home
C.In medium-sized cities with a diverse population
D.In large towns where agreement can be quickly reached
49. The underlined words "shared a word" in Paragraph 5 probably mean_________
A.exchanged ideas with each other
B.discussed the meaning of a word
C.gamed life experience
D.used the same language
50. according to Nancy, the degree of students of the project is judged by _________.
the careful selection of a proper book
the growing popularity of the writers
C.the number of people who benefit from reading
D.the number of books that each person reads
D
Blind imitation (模仿)is self-destruction. To those who do not recognize their unique worth, imitation appears attractive; to those who know their strength, imitation is unacceptable.
In the early stages of skill or character development, imitation is helpful. When I first learned to cook, I used recipes (菜谱) and turned out some tasty dishes. But soon I grew bored. Why follow someone else's way of cooking when I could create my own? Imitating role models is like using training wheels on a child’s bicycle; they help you get going, but once you find your own balance, you fly faster and farther without relying on them.
In daily life, imitation can hurt us if we subconsciously (下意识地) hold poor role models. If, as a child, you observed people whose lives were bad, you may have accepted their fear and pain as normal and gone on to follow what they did. If you do not make strong choices for yourself, you will get the results of the weak choices of others.
In the field of entertainment, our culture glorifies celebrities. Those stars look great on screen. But when they step off screen, their personal lives may be disastrous. If you are going to follow someone, focus on their talent, not their bad character or unacceptable behaviors.
Blessed is the person willing to act on their sudden desire to create something unique. Think of the movies, books, teachers, and friends that have affected you most deeply. They touched you because their creations were motivated by inspiration, not desperation. The world is changed not by those who do what has been done before them, but by those who do what has been done inside them. Creative people have an endless resource of ideas. The problem a creator faces is not running out of material; it is what to do with the material knocking at the door of imagination.
Study your role models, accept the gifts they have given, and leave behind what does not server you. Then you can say," I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors' tragedies and declare victory, and know that they are cheering me on. "
51. Imitation proves useful when you _________.
A.know you are unique
B.lose the balance of life
C.begin to learn something new
D.get tired of routine practice
52. To avoid the bad result of imitation, we should_________.
A.forget daily fear and pain
B.choose the right example
C.ask others for decisions
D.stay away from stars
53. according to the author, the world moves on because of those who are _________.
A.desperate to influence others with their knowledge
B.ready to turn their original ideas into reality
C.eager to discover what their ancestors did
D.willing to accept others' ideas
54. The trouble a creator faces is _________.
A.the lack of strong motivation
B.the absence of practical ideas
C.how to search for more materials
D.how to use imagination creatively
55. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?
A.To highlight the importance of creatively.
B.To criticize the characters of role models.
C.To compare imitation with creation.
D.To explain the meaning of success.