No country in the world has more daily newspapers than the US. There are almost 2,000 of them, as compared with 180 in Japan, 164 in Argentina and 111 in Britain. The quality of some American papers is extremely high and their views are quoted all over the world. Famous dailies like the Washington Post or the New York Times have a powerful influence all over the country. However, they are not national newspapers in the sense that The Times is in Britain or Le Monde is in France, since each American city has its own daily newspaper. The best of these presents detailed description of national and international news, but many tend to limit themselves to state or city news.

    Like the press in most other countries, American newspapers range from the “sensational” which feature crime and gossip (闲谈), to the “serious”, which focus on factual news and the analysis of world events. But with few exceptions, American newspapers try to entertain as well as give information, for they have to compete with the attraction of television.

    Just as American newspapers satisfy all tastes, so do they also try to attract readers of all political parties. A few newspapers support extremist (极端主义的) groups on the far right and on the far left, but most daily newspapers try to attract middle-of-the-road Americans who are moderate (中立的). Many of these papers print columns by well-known journalists of different political and social views, in order to present a balanced picture.

    As in other countries, American newspapers can be either responsible or irresponsible, but it is generally accepted that the American press serves its country well and that it has more than once courageously exposed political scandals (丑闻) or crimes, for instance, the Watergate Affair (水门事件). The newspapers drew the attention of the public to the horrors of the Vietnam War.

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    Jack Baines is a self-made millionaire, but his beginnings were very lowly. He was the youngest of eight children. His father had a1in a cotton mill (纱厂), but he was often 2to work because of poor health. The family couldn't 3to pay the rent or bills, and the children often went4. After leaving school at the age of 14, Jack was 5what to do when Mr Walker, his old teacher, offered to lend him ￡100 to start his own6.

    It was just after the war. Raw materials were not enough, and Jack saw a7in scrap metal(废弃金属). He bought bits of metal and stored it in an old garage. When he had built up a large amount, he sold it and8plenty of money.

    Jack9working hard. After one year he succeeded in10 the ￡100.

    By the time Jack was 30 years old he had11 his first million, and he wanted to12this achievement by doing something “13”. With all his money it was14to build a beautiful home for himself and his parents. In 1959, “Baines Castle” was built in the 15of the Lancashire countryside. It was one of the finest buildings in the country.

    Jack has recently sold “Baines Castle” for ￡500 million,16Jack still can't get used to 17the good life. He can 18be found drinking with the locals at the local pub(酒吧).

    “I remember being very19as a child, but never 20as a child,” says Jack, “and I will never forget where I came from and who I am.”