2007-2011全國大學(xué)生英語競賽c類試題集

2007NationalEnglishContest

forCollegeStudents(LevelC-Preliminary)PartIListeningComprehension(25minutes,30points)SectionA(6points)Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear6shortconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionwillbereadonlyonce.Aftereachquestion,therewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthethreechoicesmarkedA,BandC,anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.A.Hehasn'tfoundasuitableone.B.Hehasn'tenoughmoney.C.Heprefershisoldone.A.Intenminutes. B.Infifteenminutes.C.Intwentyminutes.A.HavedinnerwithMary.B.SeeafilmwithMary.C.Dohishomework.A.Rainy. B.Sunny. C.Cloudy.A.Hehastogotothebank.B.Hehasmissedthetrain.C.Histrainhasbeendelayed.6.A.￡315.B.￡350.C.￡375.6.A.￡315.B.￡350.C.￡375.SectionB(4points)Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearonelongconversation.Theconversationwillbereadonlyonce.Attheendoftheconversation,therewillbeaone-minutepause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourquestions,eachwiththreechoicesmarkedA,BandC,anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.Whatofficeisthestudentlookingfor?A.Accounting.B.EconomicHistory.C.Economics.Whenwastheorientationmeetingheld?A.Yesterday. B.LastFriday. C.Aweekago.Whatistheruleaboutattendanceatlectures?A.Itisoptional. B.Itisnecessary. C.Itisdifficulttoenforce.Howoftendoesthestudenthavetoattendtutorials?A.Onceeveryotherweek.B.Threetimesaweek.C.Onceaweek.SectionC(10points)Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear10shortnewsitems.Aftereachitem,therewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthequestionandthenthethreechoicesmarkedA,BandC,anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.WhendidthebombgooffinapopularmarketincentralBaghdad?A.Lateintheevening. B.Atmid-morning.C.Lateintheafternoon.What'sthepurposeoftheAmberAlertprogram?ToreportthenumberofchildrenmissingintheU.S.everyyear.Tohelpfindthechildrenwhoarebelievedtohavebeenabducted.TofindoutthereasonswhychildrenarekidnappedintheU.S.Howmanyvillageshavebeeninvolvedintheinter-communalfightinginChad?A.Fewerthan8.B.About10. C.Over20.Whatisthebesttacticwhenyou'recaughtupbyarollingwaveofsnow?A.Tocreatespacearoundyou.B.Tooutruntheavalanche.C.Toleavetheskiresortinstantly.What'sthenewsitemmainlytalkingabout?A.Developmentofmedicaltechnology.B.HealthcareinCalifornia.C.HealthinsuranceintheU.S.HowmanypeopledidbirdflukillinIndonesiaintwoweeks?A.5. B.2. C.35.What'sthefunctionofthenewdrugproducedbyPfizer?Reducingdogs'weight.Increasingdogs'appetite.C.Controllingdogs'population.WhatwillsoonbegininthesouthernSenegalesetowns?A.Plantingnewagriculturalcrops.B.Biofuelproduction.C.Fuelrecycling.WhendidPontibeginmakingfilms?A.In1913. B.In1931. C.In1938.What'sthemainreasonDemocratscouldregaincontrolofCongressafter12years?NancyPelosihasbecometheirleader.AmericansaredissatisfiedwiththeIraqwar.TheysupportsendingmoretroopstoIraq.SectionD(10points)Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearashortpassage.Therearetenmissingwordsorphrasesinit.Fillintheblankswiththeexactwordsyouhearonthetape.RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.Everytravellerhasataletotellaboutbaddriving.Theseareusuallyexaggerated(21)oflifeonthemainstreetsofcitieswherethemotoristsarecrazyandtrafficlightsaretreatedascolourful(22)ItallhappenedonaSundayAprilmorning.I(23)myintentiontoturnleftintoasideroadandpausedastheoncomingtrafficcleared.ButasIdroveacrosstheroad,anelderlymandrivingabattered

Renault12chosetoovertakeme(24)passontheinside.Therewasafearfulbangandmycarwaspushedsideways.Ifeltgroggyandbruisedandwastakentohospitalinthebackseatofapolicecar.Theremyspleenwasremoved.Fortunately,though,myrecoverywassteadyand(25)Butthat'snottheendofthetale.Yes,Ihadtakenoutinsuranceanditcoveredmymedicalexpenses,(26)whileIrecoveredandmyflightshome.However,asalways,therewasacatchtoit.Ihad(27)hiredmycarfromabackstreetfirmcalledKavisthathadbeenrecommendedbythehotelfrontdesk.IwasassuredthatIhadfullinsurancecover,butKavis(28)mycreditcard￡800onthedayoftheaccident.MysolicitortookadviceontheformIhadsigned.Beinginahurryatthetime,Ihadn't(29)togetittranslated."Mr.Balmerwasstupidtosignthisdocument,"itread.I(30)withasmile.Afterall,Iamstillalive!PartIIVocabularyandStructure(10minutes,15points)Directions:Thereare15incompletesentencesinthispart.ForeachblanktherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.31.IfIlosemynewwatchmyparentswillbeveryannoyedme.A.againstB.withC.forD.aboutA.againstB.withC.forD.aboutdon'tthinkpossibletomasteraforeignlanguagewithoutmuchmemorywork.A.this B.that C.its D.itDoesbrainpoweraswegetolder?Scientistsnowhavesomesurprisinganswers.A.descend B.decline C.reduce D.collapsedon'tbelieveinBrown'sadventureatall.Itsoundsso.A.incredible B.credible C.incredulousD.credulousWe'llnevergettothestationontimewerunasfastaswecan.A.incaseB.evenifC.providedthatD.ifonlyOilsalesvolumeinlocalurbanandruralareasroseby24%and50%,overJuly2006.A.separatelyB.individuallyC.independentlyD.respectivelyTheshippingauthoritiesfollowedtheoftheunidentifiedsubmarineontheirradarscreens.A.channelB.way C.courseD.directionIsetoffassoonasIgotthenewsaboutmygrandpa'sillness.Unfortunately,heatthehospitalbeforeI.A.hasdied;wentthere B.haddied;arrivedC.died;hadbeenthere D.wasdying;hadgoneThecommitteehasmaderulesallitsmembersaresupposedtowork.A.bywhichB.sothatC.nowthatD.forwhichTheyweremarriedforfifteenyearsbuthavenowupandliveapart.A.split B.dividedC.divorcedD.separatedWewouldn'thavemissedthetrainifwetothestation.A.didn'twalkB.wouldn'trunC.hadn'twalkedD.weren'trunningNomatterwhatmeasuretheytook,innoway.couldtheoutflowingtidebecontrolledtheoutflowingtidecouldbecontrolledcouldtheoutflowingtidecontroltheoutflowingtidecouldcontrol一DidyougetanyinformationfromPeter?一Heanexpert,buthedoesn'tseemtoknowmuch.A.believestobe B.issupposedtobeC.thoughttobeD.isclaimedbeing一Theradio'sterriblyloud.Couldyouturnitdownalittle?一Sorry!一Yes,andsomethingelse-wouldn'titbeanideatobuyyourownsoap?Isitdisturbingyou?IforgotwhereIputmysoapthismorning.Afootballmatchwasbroadcastliveonit.Couldyourepeatwhatyousaid?一CanIbookaroomfromnowuntilFriday?一What'stheprice?一$128.75notcountingtheservice.Definitely.Goseeityourself.Yes,ourhotelisquiteneartothestation.Ofcourse.Wouldyouliketofollowme?YoucanhaveRoom33,overlookingthesea.PartIIIIQTest(5minutes,5points)Directions:Thereare5IQTestquestionsinthispart.Foreachquestionthereare4choicesmarkedA,B,CandD.MarkyouranswerontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.46.Whichfigurecompletesthesequence?47.Amanhas29socksinhisdrawer,9identicalblue,8identicalgreyand

12identicalblack.Thelightshavefusedandheiscompletelyinthedark.Howmanysocksmusthetakeouttomakecertainthathehasapairofeachcolour?A.21B.14C.23D.A.21B.14C.23D.24Whichcomesnext?A,1A,111A,311A,?A.1312AB.13211AC.1231AD.A.1312AB.13211AC.1231AD.11231AFindtheweighttobalancethescales.4kg16kgA.2kgB.4kgD.5kg4kg16kgA.2kgB.4kgD.5kgWhatisthemissingnumber?PartIVReadingComprehension(25minutes,40points)SectionA(6points)Directions:Thereisonepassageinthissectionwith6questions.Foreachquestion,therearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Youshoulddecideonthebestchoice.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.Questions51-56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.“AUniqueExperienceinThesecretliesintheIndianCuisine”O(jiān)peningnightattheGandhiRestaurantbroughtcriesofpraiseanddelightfromcustomerswhentheysampledtheuniquecuisineonMondaynight.OpenedbyCountyCouncillor,Mr.TonyPeaston,theGandhioffersthediscerningdinerauthenticIndiandishes,manyavailableforthefirsttimeinHampshire.preparation-onlyauthenticIndianherbsandspicesareusedtoindividuallyprepareeachspecialdish,followingancientrecipes,manyhandeddownthroughgenerationsofIndianchefs.HighStandardTvetravelledextensivelyanddinedatmanyIndianrestaurantsthroughoutthecountry,butrarelyhaveItastedIndianfoodofsuchahighstandard,extolledCouncillorPeaston.“WhilstGandhihimselfwasaleaderofmen,theGandhiRestaurantcouldbeconsideredtheleaderofanewbreedofIndiancuisineinHampshire,headded."ByfarthebestcurrywehavehadinthePortsmoutharea,"wasthecommentofHavantdiners,Mr.andMrs.JimCairnsofDenvilles."Weenjoyedthedifferentmenuandfoundtheadviceofthestaff,explaininghoweachdishwasprepared,veryhelpfulfordecidingourchoiceofmenu,^^theysaid.SuchglowingcommentsreflecttheexclusivenatureofthedishesavailableattheGandhiRestaurant.OriginalRecipesYoucanchoosefromamenuwhichofferscurriesandtandoories,knowingeachoneisspeciallycookedforyou,withindividualcareandattention,accordingtostrictoriginalrecipes,byatopLondonchef,formerlyofCoventGarden.Andafteryouhavesampledthespicydelightsofyourmaincourse,youcanselectfromachoiceoforiginalIndiansweetstotemperyourpalate.Relaxinginthecomfortablesurroundingsoftherestaurant,youcanhaveahottoweltofreshenyourselforcleanyourfingersbetweencourses-anothertouchofIndianliving.TheGandhiRestaurant,situatedat139KingstonRoad,Portsmouth,isfullylicensedandopensevendaysaweek.YoucanpopinforatraditionalIndianlunchbetween12and2:30pmorenjoyalanguideveningmeal,whentherestaurantisopenfrom6pmtomidnight.Buttakecaretobookinadvance,asdemandforthiscuisineisexpectedtobehigh,soavoiddisappointmentbytelephoningPortsmouth811966.Asproofofconfidenceinyourenjoyment,theGandhiisofferinga10percentdiscountonthecostofyourmeal,whenyouproducethisadvertisementwithinthreemonthsoftheopening.ThestaffattheGandhilookforwardtoservingyouwithyourfirsttasteoftrulyauthenticIndiancuisineinthisarea-andtheyknowyouwillcomebackagainandagain.“AUniqueExperienceinIndianCuisine“heremeansthattheGandhirestaurantistheonlygenuineIndianrestaurantinHampshireofferscustomersitsownspecialstyleofcookingmakesspecialfoodfornativeIndiancustomersistryingoutIndianrecipesforthefirsttimeHowdoesthefoodpreparationcontributetotheunique,experience?Itvariesfromcustomertocustomer,dependingontheprice.Themethodsusedaresecretandknownonlytothechef.ItusesgenuineIndianingredientsandfollowsancientrecipes.ItfollowsmethodsdescribedbytraditionalIndianauthors.Accordingtothearticle,inwhatwaydoestherestaurantliveuptoitsname?ItwillsoonbeasfamousthroughouttheworldasGandhihimself.TheownerconsidershimselftobealeaderofthelocalIndiancommunity.IthashadaconsiderableinfluenceonotherHampshirerestaurants.ItsetsnewstandardsofexcellenceforotherIndianrestaurantstofollow.WheredidthetopchefoftheGandhiRestaurantusetowork?A.InLondon.B.InHampshire. C.InDenvilles.D.InPortsmouth.Hottowelsareprovided.becausecustomersfeelcoldtomakecustomersfeelmorerelaxedmainlyforhygienicreasonstogivecustomersthetruefeelofIndianlifeCustomerscanobtainacheapermealby.bringingtheadvertisementwiththemmakingaphonecalltotherestaurantprovidingproofoftheirenjoymentcontributingtothecostofadvertisingSectionB(7points)Directions:Inthissection,thereisonepassagefollowedby7statements.GooverthepassagequicklyandmarktheanswersontheAnswerSheet.Forquestions57-63,markY(forYes)ifthestatementagreeswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage;N(forNo)ifthestatementcontradictstheinformationgiveninthepassage;NG(forNotGiven)iftheinformationisnotgiveninthepassage.Questions57-63arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Elevendaysago,ashefelthimselfbeingcrushedfromheadtotoe,AndrewJepsonwascertainhewasabouttodie.

Yesterdaythe26-year-oldconstructionworkerwasabletostrollaroundhisparents'homeRidgesinunevensurfacetakesomeofroller's4-tonloadWorkeriscrushedintobrokengravelIconcretebaseasrollerreversesoverhimat4mph.Ridgesinunevensurfacetakesomeofroller's4-tonloadWorkeriscrushedintobrokengravelIconcretebaseasrollerreversesoverhimat4mph.timehowheoverbyafour-tonhappenedasMr.buildingsiteatroller wasTheaccidentJepsonworkedataHeathrowandthereversingat4mph.“IwaslookingawayandthenIjustfeltitgoovermyleg'',hesaid.4tIfelltothefloorandfeltthisamazingpaininmylegasitwasbeingcrushed.''“When1feltitrunningovermeIthoughtthisisit,I'mdead.Nobodycansurvivethis.''"TherewasabsolutelynothingIcoulddo.Thepainwashorrendousandalltheairwasbeingcrushedoutofmylungs.''"Icouldn'tbreathe.Ithoughteverybreathwouldbemylast.''ThemachinetookmorethanasecondtorolloverMr.Jepson'sbody."ItcameovermyheadbutIhadmyhardhatonwhichmusthaveblockedmostofthepressure,''hesaid.Workmatesbelievedhewouldbedeadbuttheunevensurface,foundationforaroad,cushionedmuchoftheweightoftherollerandsavedhim."AfterwardsItriedtogetstraightup,''hesaid."Iwasfullyconscious.IwasinshockbutforsomereasonIthought,'IfIstaydown,Iwilldie.'''"LuckilyalabourerranoverandkeptmedownsothatIwouldnotdoanymoreinjurytomyself.''"Thedriverrushedover.Hewasreallyupset.Isaid,4Youarenottoblame,itwasjustanaccident.,,5Mr.Jepson,asiteengineer,sufferedcrushedribs,bruising,cutsandacollapsedleftlungbutescapedpermanentinjury.Anairambulancearrivedanddoctorsoperatedatthescene.Hespenttwodaysinintensivecarebutsixdayslaterwasbackathisparents'homenearSpalding,Lincolnshire.“Itislikebeingbornagain,"saidMr.Jepson,whohasamazeddoctorswithhisrecovery."WhenIcamearoundfromtheanaestheticIjustcriedwithjoy.Beingabletowalkandbreatheagainisthemostwonderfulthingintheworld."Mr.Jepson's62-year-oldfather,John,said,"WhenweheardhehadbeenunderarollerIfearedtheworst.Weprayedallthewaytothehospital.Toseehimnowisjustwonderful."Mr.Jepson'semployer,constructionfirmLaing,saidtheaccidentwasstillbeinginvestigated.Statements:Theaccidenthappenedtwoweeksago.Mr.Jepsonwaspavingtheroadwhentheaccidenthappened.rherollerwasgoingbackwardswhenithitMr.Jepson.Aworkmanranimmediatelytothesceneoftheaccident.Anoperationwasperformedatthesceneoftheaccident.Thecompanyhasdecidedwhoisresponsiblefortheaccident.Theinvestigationoftheaccidentlastedforalmosttwoyears.SectionC(7points)Directions:Youaregoingtoreadamagazinearticleaboutsand.Sevensentenceshavebeenremovedfromthearticle.Choosefromthesentences(A-H)theonewhichfitseachgap(64-70).Thereisoneextrasentencewhichyoudonotneedtouse.MarkyouranswersontheAnswerSheet.Sand:aschildrenweplayonitandasadultswerelaxonit.Itissomethingwecomplainaboutwhenitgetsinoureyesonawindybeach,andpraisewhenitismadeintosandcastles.Butwedon'toftenlookatit.Ifwedid,wewoulddiscoveranaccountofageologicalpastandahistoryofsealifethatgoesbackthousandsand,insomecases,mil-lionsofyears.Sandcoversnotjustseashores,butalsoocean曉ds,desertsandmountains.Anditisamajorelementinmanufacturedproductstoo-concreteislargelysand,whileglassismadeoflittleelse.65Well,itislargerthanfinedustandsmallerthanshingle.Infact,accordingtothemostgenerallyacceptedschemeofmeasurement,grainscanbecalledsandiftheirdiameterisgreaterthan0.06ofamillimetreandlessthan0.6ofamillimetre.Dependingonitsa喻andorigin,aparticularsandcanconsistoftinystonesorporousgrainsthroughwhichwatercanpass. Theyhavecomefromthebreakingdownofrocks,orfromthedeadbodiesofseacreatures,whichcollectonthebottomoftheoceans,orevenfromvolcaniceruptions... Ifitisadazzlingwhite,itsgrainsmaycomefromnearbycoral,fromcrystallinequartzrocksorfromgypsum,likethewhitesandofNewMexico.OnPacificIslands,jetblacksandsformfromvolcanicminerals.Otherblackbeachesaremagneticandareminedforironore.Itwashesrockintostreamsandriversanddowntothesea,leavingbe-hindsoftermaterials.Bythetimeitreachesthesea,thehardestrocksremainbutevery-thingelsehasbeenbrokenintotinyparticlesof0.02millimetrediameterorless.Thelargestpiecesfalltothebottomquickly,whilesmallerparticlesfloatandsettleonlyslowlyindeeperwater,whichiswhythesandybeachontheshorelinesooftenturnstomudfurtherout.Iftheindividualfragmentsstillhavesharpedges,youcanbesuretheywereformedfairlyrecently.ThisisthecaseontheislandofKamoamainHawaii,whereabeachwascreatedafteravolcaniceruptionin1990.Moltenlavaspilledintotheseaandexplodedintoglassydroplets.ItseemsthatwhenthepoetWilliamBlakes資&infinityinagrainofsandhewasnotfarwrong.Sandisanirreplaceableindustrialingredientwhichhasmanyuses. Sandcushionsourlandfromtheforceofthesea,andgeologistssayitoftendoesabetterjobprotectingourshoresthanthemostadvancedcoastaltechnology.Thesemayhavetheshapeofstarsorspirals,theiredgesroughorsmooth.Itisoneofthemostcommonsubstancesonearth.Inaddition,ithasonevitalfunctionwhichyoumightneverevennotice.Rainisanimportantforceinthecreationofbeaches.Inthegreatslowcycleoftheearth,sandthatwasoncerockcanturntorockagain.Whatexactlyissand?Colourisanothercluetotheoriginsofsand.Itcanbedifficulttodatethesandonabeachaccuratelybutitispossibletogetageneralideaofwhetherornotthesandis“young”or"old".SectionD(10points)Directions:Inthissection,thereisonepassagefollowedby5questions.Readthepassagecarefully,thenanswerthequestionsinasfewwordsaspossible(notmorethan10words).RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.Questions71-75arebasedonthefollowingpassage.RareamongAmericanactors,DepphasmadeanameforhimselfeffortlesslyswitchingbetweenmainstreamHollywoodmoviesandmore"outoftheordinary"projects.Talkingabouthischoiceofroles,heoncesaid,"Withanypartyouplay,thereisacertainamountofyourselfinit.Therehastobe,otherwiseit'snotacting.It'slying."HighlightsofarichlydiversecareerincludeEdwardScissorhands,SleepyHollowandPiratesoftheCaribbean.Deppdroppedoutofschoolatsixteentoconcentrateonacareerinmusic,playingtheguitar(heplayedwithmorethantwentybands).However,hismusicalcareerrifledtotakeoff,andhefoundhimselfsellingpensoverthephonetopaythebills.HisluckybreakcamewhenmakeupartistLoftAllison,towhomhewasbrieflymarried,introducedhimtoNicolasCage.Althoughatfirsttheydidnotlikeeachother,theylaterbecamegoodfriendsandCagepersuadedhimtotryacting.DeppsignedonwithCage'sagent,andmadehisfeaturefilmdebutinWesCraven'shorrorfilmNightmareonElmStreet,inwhichthecharacterheplayedwas

eatenbyhisbed.AfterthathehadhisfirstscreenleadingroleinPrivateResort.DeppwentontoachieveteenidolstatusintheTVseries21JumpStreet,butafterfourseasons,hewantedout,withthehopeofmakingthetransitiontothebigscreen.HestarredinCry-Baby,followedbyTimBurton'sEdwardScissorhands,afterwhichhewentontowinconsiderablecriticalacclaiminEdWood,areunionwithBurton.DeppmadehisfeaturedirectorialdebutwithTheBravein1997,afilmhealsoco-wroteandstarredin.PremieringattheCannesFilmFestival,thefilmalsofeaturedMarlonBrando,butearnedmostlynegativereviews,withmostcriticsblamingitsweakscript.SleepyHollowteamedhimwithdirectorBurtonyetagain,beforehestarredinTedDemme'sBlow,andappearedinthethrillerFromHell,aboutJacktheRipper.OFFscreen,hisgoodlooksand“badboy"image(hewasoncearrestedforattackingintrusivepaparazziwithawoodenplank)haveearnedhimalotofmediaattention.HewasvotedoneofthefiftymostbeautifulpeopleintheworldbyPeoplemagazinein1996.Hehasalsohadhisfairshareofcelebrityromances;whenhisengagementtoEdwardScissorhandsco-starWinonaRyderended,hehadatattoo(oneofatleasteight),whichsaid"WinonaForever",alteredbylasertogetridofthelasttwolettersofhername.HisrelationshipwithmodelKateMossalsoendedabruptlyin1998,whenhestarteddatingFrenchsinger-actressVanessaParadis.Theyarenowmarriedandhavetwochildren,Lily-RoseMelodyandJack.MorerecentworkhasincludedPiratesoftheCaribbeanwithGeoffreyRushandOnceUponaTimeinMexico.Questions:WhatdoesJohnnyDeppthinkofactingarolewithouthavinganypartofoneselfinit?WhoinspiredDepptostarthisfilmcareer?WhydidmanycriticsnegativelyreviewDepp'sfilmTheBrave?HowmanyfilmshasDeppmadewithdirectorTimBurton?WhathavebroughtDeppalotofmediaattentionoffscreen?SectionE(10points)Directions:Inthissection,thereisonepassagefollowedbyasummary.Readthepas-sagecarefullyandcompletethesummarybelowbychoosingamaximumofthreewordsfromthepassagetofillinthespaces76-80.RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.Questions76-80arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Lackofculture,orratheranexcessofthewrongsortofculture,isoftenconsideredtobesynonymouswithdisadvantage.Mostcommonlyassociatedwithlowculturalstandardsarelowlevelsofreading,andsomethirteenpercentofalltwenty-three-year-oldsfeeltheyhavetroublewithreadingandwriting.Onewayofcompensatingsuchdisadvantagedyoungpeopleisthoughttobetoprovidethemwiththeculturetheylack:inparticular,highqualityreadingmaterial.Whereasfortytofiftypercentofyoungpeopleagedsixteentotwentyrarelyreadabook,themajorityappeartoreadcomics.In1991salesofViz,aUKcomic,exceededonemillioncopiesperissue,makingitthefourthbest-sellingperiodicalinBritain.Thereadingofcomics,however,isnotrestrictedtoyoungpeople:by1992itwasestimatedthattwooutofthreemenagedeighteentofifty-threereadViz.Thenumberofimitatorsthiscomichasspawned,includingZit,Gas,BrainDamageandSwiz,indicatestheextentoftheinfluenceitwields.Thereadingofcomicswastraditionallyregardedbytheeducationalestablishmentwithconsiderablesuspicion.Whereasthere