You might think the largest library in the world would be in Europe. But it isn’t. It’s in Washington D.C. It’s called the Library of Congress.
President John Adams started the library in 1800 for members of Congress. He wanted them to be able to read books about law. The first 740 books were bought in England. They were simply set up in the room where Congress met. Then Thomas Jefferson sold Congress many of his own books. He felt Congress should have books on all subjects, not just on law. This idea changed the library forever.
The library grew and grew. Now it covers a large area of land. It contains20million books as well as many pictures, movies, globes and machines. Experts in every field work there. Hundreds of people call every day with all kinds of questions. Many of them get answers right over the phone.
The library is a huge storehouse. Thomas Edison’s first movie and Houdini’s magic books are preserved there. And it is the proud owner of the world’s best collection of humorous books.
The first step in starting the Library of Congress was .
A. buying Thomas Jefferson’s books
B. buying books from England
C. putting up the library building
D. asking experts in every field to work there
Thomas Jefferson’s opinion about the library was that .
A. it should buy books on law
B. it should be the largest in the world
C. it should have books on all subjects
D .it should answer all kinds of questions
Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Thomas Jefferson enriched the collection of the Library.
B. The Library of Congress is in Washington D.C.
C. The Library of Congress has books on all subjects from the very beginning.
D. You can ask the experts in the Library of Congress all kinds of questions by phone.
The best title for this passage is .
A. General Introduction to the library of congress
B. The building of the Library of Congress
C. The Library of Congress—the American’s Pride
D. The Library of Congress—the World’s Best Collection of Humorous Books