专题 02 人与自我（成长与教育）时文阅读与题型训练
时文阅读
语篇原文
A new study published on Aug 20 in the journal iScience shows that far fewer Americans are reading for pleasure
than 20 years ago. Researchers from the University of Florida and University College London studied data from more
than 236,000 people who took part in the American Time Use Survey between 2003 and 2023. They found that the share
of Americans who read for fun on a given day dropped from 28 percent in 2004 to 16 percent in 2023 - a decline of about
40 percent.
In a statement from University College London, co-author Jill Sonke said this is not just a small drop - it’s an
ongoing decline, calling the results “deeply concerning”. She added that reading for pleasure has long been an easy,
“high-impact way to engage creatively and improve quality of life”.
However, the decline was not equal for everyone. The researchers found bigger drops among African Americans,
people in rural areas and those with lower income or education. Women still read more than men, but rates fell for both
groups. “The people who could benefit the most from reading for pleasure for their health are actually benefiting the
least,” said co-author Daisy Fancourt from University College London.
For example, the share of Black Americans who read for fun peaked at around 20 percent in 2004 but dropped to
about 9 percent in 2023. White Americans saw a drop from around 29 percent to 18 percent in the same period.
The study also noted that while the number of people reading for fun has decreased, those who still do read are
spending more time on it. In 2003, they read for an average of 1 hour and 23 minutes per day. By 2023, this had
increased to 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Another worrying finding was that only 2 percent of adults read with children on a given day, even though more
than 20 percent of the survey participants had a child under 9. This is concerning because reading with children is linked
to early literacy development and academic success.
The researchers suggested several reasons for the decline, including the rise of social media and other digital media,
which take up more of people’s free time. Economic pressures that lead to longer working hours and less leisure time, as
well as limited access to reading materials in some areas, also play a role.
Jill Sonke emphasized the importance of reading, saying, “We live in an extremely complex and challenging time,
so we really need to be intentional about how we support our health. Reading is one of the simplest tools we have, and
losing it is a serious loss.”
The study’s broad definition of reading included books, magazines, newspapers, e-books and audiobooks, making
the decline even more notable. Despite the availability of digital reading options like the Libby app, which allows
borrowing e-books from multiple libraries, the trend has continued downward.
In conclusion, the significant drop in reading for pleasure among Americans over the past two decades is a cause for
concern, with potential impacts on creativity, empathy and overall quality of life. It highlights the need for efforts to
promote reading and ensure access to reading materials for all groups, especially those who could benefit the most.
核心词汇
1.publish /ˈpʌblɪʃ/v. 发表；出版
2.decline /dɪˈklaɪn/n. 下降；衰退；v. 减少；谢绝3.participant /pɑːˈtɪsɪpənt/n. 参与者；参加者
4.proportion /prəˈpɔːʃn/n. 比例；部分
5.rural /ˈrʊərəl/adj. 农村的；乡村的
6.benefit /ˈbenɪfɪt/v. 受益；得益于；n. 益处；福利
7.peak /piːk/v. 达到顶峰；n. 顶峰；顶点
8.literacy /ˈlɪtərəsi/n. 读写能力；识字
9.academic /ˌækəˈdemɪk/adj. 学术的；学业的；n. 学者
10.attribute /əˈtrɪbjuːt/v. 把…… 归因于；/ˈætrɪbjuːt/n. 属性；特征
11.pressure /ˈpreʃə(r)/n. 压力；压迫；v. 施压
12.emphasize /ˈemfəsaɪz/v. 强调；着重
短语积累
1.take part in 参加；参与
2.read for pleasure 趣味阅读；为娱乐而阅读
3.on a given day 在某一特定日子
4.link to 与…… 相关；连接
5.take up 占据（时间、空间）；开始学习
6.lead to 导致；通向
7.play a role 发挥作用；有影响
8.shed light on 阐明；使…… 清楚
9.have an impact on 对…… 有影响
10.access to 获得…… 的机会；进入…… 的途径
题型训练
阅读理解
难度 阅读时间
适中 7分钟
A new study published in the journal iScience reveals a sharp decline in pleasure reading among Americans over
the past two decades. Researchers analyzed data from 236,000 participants in the American Time Use Survey
between 2003 and 2023, finding that the proportion of people who read for fun on a given day plummeted from
28% in 2004 to 16% in 2023—a 40% drop.
The decline has not affected all groups equally. African Americans, rural residents, and those with lower income
or education levels saw the steepest falls. For instance, Black Americans’ pleasure reading rate dropped from 20%
to 9%, while White Americans’ fell from 29% to 18%. Women still read more than men, but both genders
experienced declines. Notably, the small group of consistent readers now spends more time reading—up from 1
hour 23 minutes to 1 hour 37 minutes daily.Another alarming finding is that only 2% of adults read with children under 9, despite 20% of survey participants
having young kids. This is troubling as shared reading boosts early literacy and academic success.
Experts attribute the trend to multiple factors: the rise of social media and digital media that occupy leisure time,
longer working hours due to economic pressures, and limited access to reading materials in some areas. Even with
digital options like the Libby app for borrowing e-books, the decline persists. The study’s broad definition of
reading—including books, magazines, e-books, and audiobooks—makes the downward trend even more
significant.
Co-author Jill Sonke emphasized that reading is a “high-impact way to engage creatively and improve quality of
life,” warning that losing this habit is a serious loss in today’s complex world.
1.What does the underlined word “plummeted” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A. Rose slowly B. Dropped sharply C. Remained stable D. Fluctuated slightly.
2.Which group suffered the biggest drop in pleasure reading?
A. Urban White women with high education.
B. Rural African Americans with low income.
C. Suburban men with middle-class income.
D. Educated professionals in big cities.
3.What is a key reason for the decline in pleasure reading?
A. Lack of digital reading tools.
B. Decreased interest in books.
C. Increased time spent on social media.
D. Shortage of physical libraries.
4.What is the authors’ attitude toward the decline in pleasure reading?
A. Indifferent B. Optimistic C. Concerned D. Doubtful.
七选五
难度 阅读时间
适中 6分钟
Pleasure reading among Americans has declined dramatically over the past 20 years, according to a study in
iScience. The share of people who read for fun on a given day fell from 28% in 2004 to 16% in 2023, a 40% drop
that experts call “deeply concerning.”
1. For example, African Americans’ reading rate dropped from 20% to 9%, while White
Americans’ fell from 29% to 18%. Rural residents and those with lower income or education also saw steeper
declines than other groups. Women still read more than men, but both genders experienced noticeable drops.
2. Those who continue to read for pleasure now spend more time on it—from 1 hour 23 minutes
daily in 2003 to 1 hour 37 minutes in 2023. This suggests that dedicated readers are more engaged, even as fewer
people participate.
Another worrying trend is the lack of shared reading with children. 3. Yet only 2% of adults
reported reading with kids on a given day. Research links shared reading to better early literacy and academic
performance, making this statistic particularly troubling.Several factors contribute to the overall decline. 4. Social media and digital media have taken up
more of people’s leisure time. Economic pressures have led to longer working hours, leaving less time for reading.
5. In some rural or low-income areas, access to books, magazines, and e-books remains limited.
Despite the availability of digital tools like the Libby app, which allows borrowing e-books from libraries, the
downward trend continues. Experts stress that reading is a simple yet powerful tool for creativity and quality of life,
urging efforts to promote reading access for all.
A. The decline is not evenly distributed across groups.
B. Digital reading has completely replaced physical books.
C. More than 20% of survey participants had a child under 9.
D. Additionally, access to reading materials is unequal.
E. However, there is a silver lining in the data.
F. Reading for pleasure has no connection to academic success.
G. One major cause is the rise of alternative forms of entertainment.
语法填空
难度 阅读时间
容易 5分钟
A recent study published in the journal iScience has shed light on a significant decline in pleasure reading among
Americans over the past two decades. Researchers from the University of Florida and University College London
analyzed data from over 236,000 people 1. (participate) in the American Time Use Survey between
2003 and 2023.
The results showed that the share of Americans 2. read for fun on a given day dropped from 28
percent in 2004 to 16 percent in 2023—a decline of about 40 percent. Co-author Jill Sonke described the trend as
“deeply concerning,” 3. (note) that reading for pleasure is an easy “high-impact way to engage
creatively and improve quality of life.”
What is particularly worrying is that the decline 4. (not be) equal across all groups. African
Americans, rural residents, and those with lower income or education levels experienced 5. (big) drops.
For example, the share of Black Americans reading for fun peaked at around 20 percent in 2004 but 6.
(fall) to about 9 percent in 2023.
Interestingly, those who still read for pleasure are spending more time on it. In 2003, they read for an average of
1 hour and 23 minutes per day, and by 2023, this 7. (increase) to 1 hour and 37 minutes. Another
concerning finding is that only 2 percent of adults read with children on a given day, even though over 20 percent
of survey participants had a child under 9. This is linked to early literacy development, 8. is crucial for
academic success.
Researchers suggested several reasons for the decline, including the rise of social media and digital media, longer
working hours due to economic 9. (press), and limited access to reading materials. Despite digital
options like the Libby app, the trend continues downward. Experts emphasize that reading is one of the simplest
tools for health and creativity, 10. losing it is a serious loss for society.
