8.The digital onslaught of e-books and Amazon-style e-trailers has put bookstores in an existential situation.Digital books are expected to outsell print titles by 2015in Britain,says Sam Hancock,digital product manager at HarperCollins,and even sooner in America.With the demise of HMV,that music-peddling stalwart,still fresh in everyone's minds,bricks-and-mortar bookstores appear to be on borrowed time.So,what is the future of the bookstore?
This was the burning questions on everyone's lips at a recent event at Foyles's flagship bookshop on Charing Cross Road in London,where some of Britain's leading literary agents,authors,marketing managers and booksellers gathered to discuss its fate ahead of the bookseller's move from its current big,old building to the former home of Central Saint Martin's,art school just up the road.
For a bookstore to remain successful,it must improve"the experience of buying books,"says Alex Lifschutz,an architect whose London-based practice is designing the new Foyles.He suggests an array of approaches:"small,quiet spaces cocooned with books; larger spaces where one can dwell and read; other larger but still intimate spaces where one can hear talks from authors about books,literature,science,travel and cookery."The atmosphere is vital,he adds.
Exteriors must buzz with activity,entrances must be full of eye-catching presentations and a bar and cafe is essential.
The trend for not only incorporating cafes in bookstores but also placing them on the top floor makes good sense.The new Foyles will have one,Mr.Lifschutz explains,because this draws shoppers upwards floor-by-floor,which is bound to encourage people to linger longer and spend more.
There are plenty of ways to delight the bookstore customer,but few are easily changed into money.The consensus is that bookstores need to become cultural destinations where people are prepared to pay good money to hear a concert,see a film or attend a talk.The programming will have to be intelligent and the space comfortable.Given how common it is for shoppers to browse in shops only to buy online later,some wonder whether it makes sense to charge people for the privilege.Victoria Barnsley,head of HarperCollins,thinks it might be a good idea.She cited similar experiments among clothing retailers to charge customers for trying on merchandise.
But forcing people to pay for the privilege of potentially paying for goods could discourage shoppers altogether.A more attractive idea might be a membership scheme like those offered by museums and Other cultural venues.Unlike reward cards,which offer discounts and other nominal benefits,a club membership could provide priority access to events (talks,literary workshops,retreats) and a private lounge where members can eat,drink and meet authors before events.Different memberships could tailor to the needs of children and students.
To survive and thrive,bookstores should celebrate the book in all its forms:rare,second-hand,digital,self-printed and so on.Digital and hybrid readers should have the option of buying e-books in-store,and budding authors should have access to self-printing book machines.The latter have been slower to take off in Britain,but in America bookstores are finding them to be an important source of revenue."The quality is now,almost identical to that of a book printed by a major publishing house,"says Bradley Graham,owner of a leading independent bookstore in Washington,DC,called Politics&Prose.His shop leases an Espresso Book Machine and makes it available to customers.
The bookstore of the future will have to work hard.Service will be knowledgeable and personalized,the inventory expertly selected,spaces well-designed and the cultural events enticing.Whether bookstores,especially small independents are up to the challenge,is not clear.
The fate of these stores is a cliffhanger.
63.What will be the future of bookstores?B
A.Bright.
B.Unclear.
C.Helpless.
D.Promising.
64.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a strategy to help a bookstore to be successful?C
A.Attractive presentations around the entrance.
B.Suitable spacing arrangements.
C.Luxurious decorations.
D.A bar and cafe.
65.Which of the following might be a better idea to attract shoppers?B
A.Charges on privileges.
B.Club memberships.
C.Periodic discounts.
D.Reward cards.
66.To survive,bookstores shouldD.
A.find ways to attract children and students
B.offer more second-hand books
C.lower the price of books
D.provide books in different forms.
分析 文章主要講述了未來的書店該怎么去發(fā)展,提出了一些建議.
解答 63.B 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章第一段的描述書店的將來是什么樣的大家都不清楚.故選B.
64.C 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容"small,quiet spaces cocooned with books; larger spaces where one can dwell and read; other larger but still intimate spaces where one can hear talks from authors about books,literature,science,travel and cookery."The atmosphere is vital,he adds.小的、安靜的空間堆滿書;更大的空間可以停留和閱讀;其他較大但仍親密的空間,一個可以聽到作者對書籍,談文學(xué)、科學(xué)、旅游和烹飪."氣氛是非常重要的,他補充說.Exteriors must buzz with activity,entrances must be full of eye-catching presentations and a bar and cafe is essential."外景得熱火朝天,入口必須充滿引人注目的演示和一個酒吧和咖啡館是必不可少的.結(jié)合選項故選C.
65.B 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容"A more attractive idea might be a membership scheme like those offered by museums and Other cultural venues."一個更吸引人的想法可能是像博物館和其他文化場所提供的會員制.故選B.
66.D 細(xì)節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容"To survive and thrive,bookstores should celebrate the book in all its forms:rare,second-hand,digital,self-printed and so on."為了生存和繁榮,書店應(yīng)該以各種形式來慶祝這本書:稀有的,二手的,數(shù)字的,自印的等等.故選D.
點評 做這類題材閱讀理解時要求考生對文章通讀一遍,做題時結(jié)合原文和題目有針對性的找出相關(guān)語句進(jìn)行仔細(xì)分析,結(jié)合選項選出正確答案.推理判斷題也是要在抓住關(guān)鍵句子的基礎(chǔ)上合理的分析才能得出正確答案,切忌胡亂猜測,一定要做到有理有據(jù).