Hundreds of years ago, news was carried from place to place by people on foot or by horse. It took days, weeks and sometimes months for people to receive news. Now it is possible to send words and pictures around the world in seconds. Billions of people learn about news stories of their own country and all over the world every day, either by watching TV or reading newspapers.
Newspapers have been an important part of everyday life since the 18th century. Many countries have hundreds of different newspapers. How do newspaper editors decide which news stories to print？Why do they print some stories and not others? What makes a good newspaper story?
Firstly, it is important to report news stories. TV stations can report news much faster than newspapers. Yet, newspapers give more about the same story. They may also look at the story in another way, or they may print completely different stories to those on TV.
Secondly, a news story has to be interesting and unusual. People don't want to read stories about everyday life. As a result, many stories are about some kind of danger and seem to be “bad” news. For example, newspapers never print stories about planes landing safely; instead they print stories about plane accidents.
Another factor (因素) is also very important in many news stories. Many people are interested in news in foreign countries, but more prefer to read stories about people, places and events in their own country. So the stories on the front page in Chinese newspapers are usually very different from the ones in British, French and American newspapers.
语篇解读：本文讲述了现代社会人们获取news 的不同方式以及一个新闻故事应具备的要素。
1．According to the passage, how do people learn about news stories in the world now?
A．They carry news stories and tell others from place to place on foot or by horse.
B．They tell each other what they have seen with their eyes.
C．They watch TV or read newspapers.
D．They listen to the radio every day.
解析：选C 推理判断题。如今人们如何了解世界上的新闻故事呢？由文章第一段最后一句“Billions of people learn ... by watching TV or reading newspapers.” 可推知人们通过看电视或读报纸的方式获知新闻。
2．The difference between newspaper stories and TV news reports is that ________.
A．people can learn more about the same news story from a newspaper
B．people can read the news story more quickly in a newspaper
C．people can read news stories in other countries
D．people can read news stories about their own country
解析：选A 细节理解题。报纸新闻报道和电视新闻报道有什么不同呢？由文章第三段中“Yet, newspapers give more about the same story”可推知答案是A。
3．According to the passage, which of the following can you most possibly watch on TV?
A．You often play football with your friends after school.
B．Your teacher has got a cold.
C．A tiger in the city zoo has run out and hasn't been caught.
D．The bike in front of your house is lost.
解析：选C 细节理解题。你在电视上最可能看到的是什么？文章第四段说新闻报道的是不寻常和有趣的事，很多新闻看起来往往报道的是坏的消息和一些危险的事情。由此段可知A、B、D三项都不具备新闻的要素。
4．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A．News stories on the front page of every country are always the same.
B．People like to read interesting and unusual news.
C．Not only TV but also newspapers can help people to learn what is happening around the world.
D．Newspapers have been an important part of everyday life for more than two hundred years.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据文章最后一段可知中国报纸和英国、法国、美国等国的报纸在头版报道的内容上常常不同。根据此段可知A选项是错误的。
