题目

阅读理解 Of all the changes that have taken place in English-language newspapers during the past quarter-century, perhaps the most far-reaching has been the inexorable decline in the scope and seriousness of their arts coverage. It is difficult to the point of impossibility for the average reader under the age of forty to imagine a time when high-quality arts criticism could be found in most big-city newspapers. Yet a considerable number of the most significant collections of criticism published in the 20th century consisted in large part of newspaper reviews. To read such books today is to marvel at the fact that their learned contents were once deemed suitable for publication in general-circulation dailies. We are even farther removed from the unfocused newspaper reviews published in England between the turn of the 20th century and the eve of World War II, at a time when newsprint was dirt-cheap and stylish arts criticism was considered an ornament to the publications in which it appeared. In those far-off days, it was taken for granted that the critics of major papers would write in detail and at length about the events they covered. Theirs was a serious business, and even those reviews who wore (展示) their learning lightly, like George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Newman, could be trusted to know what they were about. These men believed in journalism as a calling (使命), and were proud to be published in the daily press. 'So few authors have brains enough or literary gift enough to keep their own end up in journalism,' Newman wrote "that I am tempted to define" journalism "as a term of contempt (轻蔑) applied by writers who are not read to writers who are". Unfortunately, these critics are virtually forgotten. Neville Cardus, who wrote for the Manchester Guardian from 1917 until shortly before his death in 1975, is now known solely as a writer of essays on the game of cricket. During his lifetime, though, he was also one of England's foremost classical-music critics, and a stylist so widely admired that his Autobiography （1） It is indicated in Paragraphs 1 and 2 that A . arts criticism has disappeared from big-city newspapers. B . English-language newspapers used to carry more arts reviews. C . high-quality newspapers retain a large body of readers. D . young readers doubt the suitability of criticism on dailies. （2） Newspaper reviews in England before World War 2 were characterized by ___________. A . free themes. B . casual style. C . elaborate layout. D . radical viewpoints （3） Which of the following would Shaw and Newman most probably agree on? A . It is writers' duty to fulfill journalistic goals. B . It is contemptible for writers to be journalists. C . Writers are likely to be tempted into journalism. D . Not all writers are capable of journalistic writing. （4） What can be learned about Cardus according to the last two paragraphs? A . His music criticism may not appeal to readers today. B . His reputation as a music critic has long been in dispute. C . His style caters largely to modern specialists. D . His writings fail to follow the amateur tradition. 答案： B A D A

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