Reading comprehension.
There is famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was writing a poem when he was
interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones. Someone was delivering a message. When Coleridge got back to his
poem, he had lost his inspiration. His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his door. His unfinished
poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment (碎片,
片段).
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought, which brings us to the
cell phone.
The most common complaint about cell phones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people
around them. But marc damaging may be the cell phone's disruption of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our call phones, and this is by and large a
healthy, productive development. "I didn't hear it ring" or "I didn't realize my cell phone had shut off" arc
among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we're beyond reach.
The notion or idea of being unreachable is not a new concept-we havoc "Do Not Disturb" signs on the
doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cell phones? Why must we apologize if
we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
The problem is that we come from a long-established tradition of difficulty with distance communication.
Until the recent mass deployment of cell phones, it was easy to communicate with someone next to us or a
few feet away, but difficult with someone across town, the country or the globe. We came to take it for
granted.
But cell phones make long-distance communication common, and endanger our time by ourselves. Now
time alone, or conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something
to be cherished. Even cell phone devotees, myself usually included, can't help at times wanting to throw their
cell phone away, or curse the day they were invented.
But we don't and won't, and there really is no need. All that's required to take back our private time is a
general social recognition that we have the right to it.
In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt for the rings of our phones. Given the case of
making and receiving cell phone calls, if we don-t talk to the caller right now, we surely will shortly later.
A cell phone call deserves no greater priority than a random word from a person next to us. Though the
call on my cell phone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg-who has finally read my novel and
wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I'm better off thinking about the idea I just had
for a new story, or the pizza I'll eat for lunch.
1. What's the point of the anecdote about poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?
A. To direct readers' attention to the main topic.
B. To show how important inspiration is to a poet.
C. To emphasize the disadvantage of not having a cell phone.
D. To encourage readers to read the works of this poet.
2. What does the writer thinks about people telling "white lies" about their cell phones?
A. It is a way of signaling that you don-t like the caller.
B. It is natural to tell lies about small things.
C. It is basically a good way to protect one's privacy.
D. We should feel guilty when we can't tell the truth.
3. According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cell phones?
A. People get so bothered by the cell phone rings that they fail to notice anything else.
B. People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cell phones.
C. Cell phones interrupt people's private time.
D. With cell phones it is no longer possible to be unreachable.
4. What does the underlined word "contempt" probably mean?
A. Habit.
B. Disrespect.
C. Like.
D. Value.
5. What does last paragraph suggest?
A. A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention.
B. Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author's novel.
C. You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cell phone.
D. Never let cell phones interfere too much with your life.
