A silkworm becomes mature after shedding its skin for three times.

Franklin, Benjamin's older brother, started the New England Courant, and that was what we might recognize

today as a real newspaper. He filled his paper with stories of adventure, articles on art, on famous people,

and on all sorts of political subjects.

Three centuries after the appearance of Franklin's Courant, few believe that newspapers in their present

printed from will remain alive for long. Newspaper companies are losing advertisers (广告商), readers,

market value, and in some cases, their sense of purpose at a speed that would not have been imaginable just

several years ago. The chief editor (主编) of the Times said recently,"At places where they gather, editors

ask one another, 'How are you？', as if they have just come out of the hospital or a lost law case. "An article

about the newspaper appeared on the website of the Guandian, under the headline"NOT DEAD YET."

Perhaps not, but the rise of the Internet, which has made the daily newspaper look slow and out of step

with the world, has brought about a real sense of death. Some American newspapers have lost 42% of their

market value in the past three years. The New York Times Company has seen its stock (股票) drop by 54%

since the end of 2004, with much of the loss coming in the past year. A manager at Deutsche Bank suggested

that stock-holders sell off their Times stock. The Washington Post Company has prevented the trouble only

by changing part of its business to education; its testing and test-preparation service now brings in at least half

the company's income.

B. It marks the beginning of the American newspaper.

C. It remains a successful newspaper in America.

D. It carries articles by political leaders.

B. They care a lot about each other's health.

C. They stop doing business with advertisers.

D. They face great difficulties in their business.

B. The Guardian.

C. The New York Times.

D. New England Courant.

B. Hopeful.

C. Worried.

D. Surprised.