Before the 1830s, most newspapers were sold through annual subscriptions in America, usually $8 to $10 a year. Today $8 or $10 seems a small amount of money, but at that time these amounts were forbidding to most citizens. Accordingly, newspapers were read almost only by rich people in politics or the trades. In addition, most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to a mass audience. They were dull and visually forbidding. But the revolution that was taking place in the 1830s would change all that.
The trend, then, was toward the “penny paper” — a term referring to papers made widely available to the public. It meant any inexpensive newspaper; perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.
This development did not take place overnight. It had been possible (but not easy) to buy single copies of newspapers before 1830, but this usually meant the reader had to go down to the printer’s office to purchase a copy. Street sales were almost unknown. However, within a few years, street sales of newspapers would be commonplace in eastern cities. At first the price of single copies was seldom a penny — usually two or three cents was charged — and some of the older well-known papers charged five or six cents. But the phrase “penny paper” caught the public’s fancy, and soon there would be papers that did indeed sell for only a penny.
This new trend of newspapers for “the man on the street” did not begin well. Some of the early ventures (企业) were immediate failures. Publishers already in business, people who were owners of successful papers, had little desire to change the tradition. It took a few youthful and daring businessmen to get the ball rolling.

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1.Which of the following best describes newspapers in America before the 1830s?

A Academic.

B Unattractive.

C Inexpensive.

D Confidential.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第一段第四及五句In addition, most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to a mass audience. They were dull and visually forbidding.可知，当时的报纸既枯燥又让人望而却步，故选B。

2.What did street sales mean to newspapers?

A They would be priced higher.

B They would disappear from cities.

C They could have more readers.

D They could regain public trust.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第二段和第三段可知，在1830年以前，买一份报纸虽然是可能的，但要专门跑到印刷厂，可见很不方便，而便士报的出现，使普通大众也可以买得起报纸，更重要的是可以在街上买到一份报纸，因此街头销售的出现方便了更广大的读者，从within a few years, street sales of newspapers would be commonplace in eastern cities.进一步印证了街头销售的出现使得报纸有了更多的受众，故选C。

3.Who were the newspapers of the new trend targeted at?

A Local politicians.

B Common people.

C Young publishers.

D Rich businessmen.

解析：选B。推理判断题。根据第一段的第二句at that time these amounts were forbidding to most citizens. Accordingly, newspapers were read almost only by rich people in politics or the trades.和第三段第三句street sales of newspapers would be commonplace in eastern cities以及第三段最后一句But the phrase “penny paper” caught the public’s fancy可知，新趋势下，报纸的目标受众是普通大众，故选B。

4.What can we say about the birth of the penny paper?

A It was a difficult process.

B It was a temporary success.

C It was a robbery of the poor.

D It was a disaster for printers.

解析：选A。推理判断题。根据全文，尤其是第三段的第二句It had been possible (but not easy) to buy single copies of newspapers before 1830, but this usually meant the reader had to go down to the printer’s office to purchase a copy.以及第四段可知，“便士报”的诞生并不容易，故选A。