Rome had the Forum. London has Speaker’s Corner. Now always-on-the-go New Yorker

Rome had the Forum. London has Speaker’sCorner. Now always-on-the-go New Yorkers have Liz and Bill.

    Liz and Bill, two collegegraduates in their early 20s, have spent a whole year trying to have thousands ofpeople talk to them in subway stations and on busy street corners. Justtalk. 

    Using a 2-foot-tall signthat says, "Talk to Me," they attract conversationalists, who oneevening included a mental patient, and men in business suits.

    They don't collectmoney. They don't push religion (宗教). So what's the point?

  “To see what happens ,”saidLiz. “We simply enjoy life with open communication(交流).”

    Shortly after theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks, they decided to walk from New York City toWashington, a 270-mile trip. They found they loved talking to people along theway and wanted to continue talking with strangers after their return.

    “It started as acrazy idea,” Liz said. “We were so curious about all the strangers walking bywith their life stories. People will talk to us about anything: their jobs,their clothes, their childhood experiences, anything.”

     Denise wanted totalk about an exam she was about to take. She had stopped by for the secondtime in two days, to let the two listeners know how it went.

     Marcia had losther husband to a serious disease. “That was very heavy on my mind,” Marciasaid. “To be able to talk about it to total strangers was very good,” sheexplained.

     To celebrate ayear of talking, the two held a get-together in a city park for all the people theyhad met over the past year. A few hundred people showed up, as well as sometelevision cameramen and reporters.

     They may plan moreparties or try to attract more people to join their informal talks. Somepublishers have expressed interest in a book, something they say they'llconsider.

1.What did Liz and Bill start doing after September 2001?

    A. Chatting withpeople.         B. Setting up streetsigns.

    C. Telling stories tostrangers.     D. Organizing a speaker's corner.

2.What they have been doing can be described as______.

    A. pointless    B. normal        C.crazy         D. successful

3.Why are Denise and Marcia mentioned in the text?

    A. They knew Liz andBill very well.

    B. They happened to meetthe writer of the text.

    C. They organized theget-together in the city park.

    D. They are examples ofthose who talked to Liz and Bill.

4.What will Liz and Bill do in the future?

   A. Go in forpublishing.        B. Do more televisionprograms.

  C. Continue what they aredoing. D. Spend more time reading books.

5. How do they like the idea of writing a book?

    A. They have decided towait a year or two. 

    B. They will think aboutit carefully.

    C. They agreedimmediately.

    D. They find it hard todo that.

试题答案

【答案】

1.A

2.D

3.D

4.C

5.B

【解析】

试题