阅读理解
| Welcome to my Message Board! |
| Subject: Slimming down classics? |
| Mr.Handsome 2012212 6:34 AM |
Orion Books, which decides there is a market in creating cutdown classics (经典著作), is slimming down so me novels by such great writers as L. Tolstoy, M. Mitchell and C. Bronte.Now, each of them has been whittled down to about 400 pages by cutting 30 to 40 pages percent of original, with words, sentences, paragraphs and, in a few cases, chapters removed.The first six shortened editions, all priced at ￡6.99 and advertised as great reads "in half the time", will go on sale next month, with plans for 50 to 100 more to follow.The publishing house believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions. |
Mr.Edwards
2012212
9:40 AM
|
Well, I'm the publisher of Orion  Group.Thanks for your attention, Mr.Handsome. I must say, the idea developed from a game of "shame" in my office.Each of us was required to confess (承认) to the most embarrassing blanks in his or her reading.I admitted that I had never read Anna Karenina and tried but failed to get through Gone with the Wind several times.One of my colleagues acknowledged skipping (跳读) Jane Eyre.We realized that life is too short to read all the books you want to and we never were going to read these ones. As a leading publishing house, we are trying to make classics convenient for readers but it's not as if we're withdrawing the original versions.They are still there if you want to read them. |
Ms.Weir
2012212
11:35 AM |
I'm the director of the online book club www.lovereading.co.uk.
Mr.Edwards, I think your shortened edition is a_breath_of_fresh_air.I'm guilty of never having read Anna Karenina, because it's just so long.I'd much rather read two 300page books than one 600page book.I am looking forward to more shortened classics |
Mr.Crockatt
2012212
4:38 PM |
I'm from the London independent bookshop Corckatt & Powell.
In my opinion, the practice is completely ridiculous.How can you edit the classics? I'm afraid reading some of these books is hard work, and that is why you have to develop as a reader.If people don't have time to read Anna Karenina, then fine.But don't read a shortened version and kid yourself it's the real thing. |
1.According to the passage board, Orion Books ________.
A. opposes the reading of original classics
B. is embarrassed for cutting down classics
C. thinks cutdown classics have a bright future
D. is cautious in its decision to cut down classics
2. In Mr.Edwards' opinion, Orion Group is shortening classics to ________.
A. make them easier to read
B. meet a large demand in the market
C. increase the sales of literary books
D. compete with their original versions
3. By describing the shortened classics as "a breath of fresh air", Ms.Weir ________.
A. speaks highly of the cutdown classics
B. shows her love for original classics
C. feels guilty of not reading the classics
D. disapproves of shortening the classics
4. Mr.Crockatt seems to imply that ________.
A. reading the classic works is a confusing attempt
B. shortening the classics does harm to the original
C. publishing the cutdown classics is a difficult job
D. editing the classic works satisfies children's needs
5. How many classics are involved in the massage board?
A. Two.
B. Three.
C. Four.
D. Five.