阅读理解。 An idea that started in Seattle's

题目：

阅读理解。

     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 time.

     In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit 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 appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as 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 can be achieved. Or it may show that New Yorkers

missed the point, putting all their energy and passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion

about a book itself.

     Nancy points out that 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.

1.What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?

A. To encourage people to read and share.

B. To invite authors to guide readers.

C. To involve people in community service.

D. To promote the friendship between cities.

2. 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 lacked support from the local government.

D. They came from many different backgrounds.

3.The underlined words "shared a word" in Paragraph 5 probably mean _______.

A. discussed the meaning of a word      

B. exchanged ideas with each other

C. gained life experience              

D. used the same language

4. According to Nancy, the degree of success of the project is judged by _______.

A. the careful selection of a proper book

B. the growing popularity of the writers

C. the number of books that each person reads.

D. the number of people who benefit from reading.