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One of the most valuable gifts bestowed by books is experience. Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books. Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of everyday life or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can. To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way, no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us, no passport to enter the land of our heart’s desire. Through books we may get the thrill of hazardous adventure without danger.
We can climb lofty mountains; brave the perils of an Antarctic winter, or cross the scorching sands of the desert, all without hardship. In books we may visit the studios of Hollywood; we may mingle with the gay throngs of the Paris boulevards; we may join the picturesque peasants in an Alpine village or the kindly natives on a South Sea island. Indeed through books the whole world is ours for the asking. The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited.
The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of the music, the triumphs of architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read.
Questions
16-20 are based on Passage Four.
16. In the first paragraph, we are told that______.
A. we should always read good books, not bad ones
B. happiness can be derived only from reading
C. enjoyment can be achieved by reading good books
D. reading good books is very important in one’s life
17. Why do we sometimes forget our surroundings and identity while reading?
A. Nobody comes to disturb you.
B. Everything is quiet around you.
C. You are reading very fast.
D. You are absorbed in the book.
18. According to the writer, ______portrayed in books may become our companions
and friends.
A. all characters, real and imaginary,
B. only real characters
C. only imaginary characters
D. none of the characters
19. Why do people like their acquaintances in books even more?
A. They resemble human friends.
B. They are the type we like.
C. They never desert us.
D. They never hurt our feelings.
20. “... the whole world is ours for the asking” implies that______.
A. in books the world is more accessible to us
B. we can ask to go anywhere in the world
C. we can make a claim to everything in this world
D. we can make a round-the-world trip free of charge
Passage Five
We were pleased to see the Defense Department finally recognize the power of the Supreme Court over prisoners of the military and order the armed forces to follow the Geneva Conventions requirement of decent treatment for all prisoners, even terrorism suspects. It was a real step forward for an administration that tossed aside the Geneva rules years ago and then tried to place itself beyond the reach of the courts.
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