American English | CEFR B1+ | 350 Words | Science Fiction
Contents 目录
Reading 阅读
Questions 题目
Vocabulary 词汇
Useful Structures 常用结构
Comprehension Questions 阅读理解问题
Reading 阅读
The Library That Never Closes
In a small American town, an old library was facing a serious problem. Fewer people were borrowing books, and the local government was considering closing it. Many residents believed that libraries were no longer necessary because almost everything could be found online.
However, a 17-year-old student named Emma had a different opinion. She believed the library could become an important part of the community again if it offered more than just books.
Emma suggested turning the building into a community learning center. Instead of simply providing books, the library could offer free computer classes, language lessons, and quiet spaces where students could study. It could also organize activities for children and workshops for adults looking for jobs.
At first, the town council was doubtful. Renovating the library would require money, and nobody could guarantee that people would use the new services. Emma therefore organized a survey to discover what residents actually needed.
The results surprised everyone. Many older residents wanted help learning how to use smartphones and online services. Parents hoped for a safe place where their children could spend time after school. Meanwhile, several unemployed adults were interested in improving their computer skills.
Encouraged by these findings, local businesses agreed to donate computers and furniture. Volunteers offered to teach classes, while the town council provided money for essential repairs.
Six months later, the library reopened with a completely different atmosphere. Students worked together on school projects, older residents attended technology lessons, and job seekers received help preparing their resumes. The building was busier than it had been in years.
Nevertheless, the project faced challenges. Volunteers sometimes canceled classes, and the library struggled to maintain its equipment. To solve these problems, Emma helped establish a committee responsible for organizing activities and raising funds.
Two years later, the library had become one of the most popular places in town. Although its doors still closed every evening, its influence continued through online classes, community projects, and friendships formed inside the building.
For Emma, the experience demonstrated an important lesson: technology does not necessarily make traditional institutions useless. Sometimes, helping them adapt to changing needs can make them more valuable than ever.
Questions 题目
Part 1: True / False / Not Given
Questions 1–5
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
Write TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN.
1. The local government had already decided to close the library before Emma suggested her plan.
Answer
FALSE
2. Emma wanted the library to provide services beyond lending books.
Answer
TRUE
3. The town council immediately supported Emma’s proposal.
Answer
FALSE
4. Most residents preferred traditional books to digital resources.
Answer
NOT GIVEN
5. Local businesses contributed equipment and furniture to the project.
Answer
TRUE
Part 2: Multiple Choice
Questions 6–10
Choose the correct answer, A, B, C, or D.
6. What was Emma’s main reason for conducting a survey?
A. To find out how much money the library needed
B. To understand what local people actually needed
C. To discover why students disliked reading
D. To persuade businesses to pay for repairs
Answer
B
7. Which group wanted help with smartphones and online services?
A. Parents
B. Unemployed adults
C. Older residents
D. Town council members
Answer
C
8. What was one problem after the library reopened?
A. Too few people visited.
B. Volunteers sometimes canceled classes.
C. The town council stopped all financial support.
D. Students refused to use computers.
Answer
B
9. Why was a committee established?
A. To replace the local government
B. To decide which books should be removed
C. To organize activities and raise funds
D. To close the library in the evening
Answer
C
10. What is the writer’s main message?
A. Digital technology should replace traditional libraries.
B. Young people should make all community decisions.
C. Traditional institutions can remain valuable by adapting.
D. Libraries should only provide educational services.
Answer
C
Part 3: Sentence Completion
Questions 11–15
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
11. Emma proposed offering free computer classes, language lessons, and quiet spaces where students could __________.
Answer
study
12. Some unemployed adults wanted to improve their computer __________.
Answer
skills
13. The town council provided money for essential __________.
Answer
repairs
14. Job seekers received help preparing their __________.
Answer
resumes
15. Emma’s experience showed that traditional institutions could become more valuable by adapting to changing __________.
Answer
needs
Vocabulary 词汇
| resident | /ˈrɛzɪdənt/ | 居民 |
| community | /kəˈmyunəti/ | 社区 |
| necessary | /ˈnɛsəˌsɛri/ | 必要的 |
| renovate | /ˈrɛnəˌveɪt/ | 翻新；修缮 |
| guarantee | /ˌɡɛrənˈti/ | 保证 |
| survey | /ˈsərveɪ/ | 调查 |
| unemployed | /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/ | 失业的 |
| essential | /ɪˈsɛnʃl/ | 必不可少的 |
| atmosphere | /ˈætməsfɪr/ | 气氛；氛围 |
| maintain | /meɪnˈteɪn/ | 维护；保养 |
| establish | /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ | 建立；设立 |
| adapt | /əˈdæpt/ | 适应；调整 |
Useful Structures 常用结构
face a serious problem 面临严重的问题
The old library was facing a serious problem.
这座旧图书馆正面临一个严重的问题。
consider doing something 考虑做某事
The local government was considering closing the library.
当地政府正在考虑关闭这座图书馆。
instead of doing something 而不是做某事
Instead of simply providing books, the library could offer free computer classes.
图书馆不仅可以提供书籍，还可以开设免费的电脑课程。
offer someone something 为某人提供某物
Volunteers offered residents free technology lessons.
志愿者为居民提供免费的科技课程。
be interested in doing something 对做某事感兴趣
Several unemployed adults were interested in improving their computer skills.
几名失业的成年人有兴趣提高自己的电脑技能。
be responsible for doing something 负责做某事
The committee was responsible for organizing activities and raising funds.
该委员会负责组织活动和筹集资金。
struggle to do something 努力做某事；做某事有困难
The library struggled to maintain its equipment.
图书馆在维护设备方面遇到了困难。
adapt to something 适应某事物
Traditional institutions must adapt to changing needs.
传统机构必须适应不断变化的需求。