Reading

Nowadays few of us read books after we leave school.
This is rather disturbing, for one should know that books are no less necessary to one’s mental life than fresh air is to one’s physical life. From good reading we can derive companionship, experience and instruction. A good book is our faithful friend. It can increase our contentment when we are cheerful and happy, and lessen our pain when we are sad or lonely. Books can also offer us a wide range of experience. Few of us can travel far from home or live long over 100, but all of us can live many lives through the pages of books. What’s more, reading books can increase our intellectual ability, broaden our minds and make us wise.
With the coming of TV, books are no longer read as widely as they once were. However, nothing can replace the role that books play in our lives.

Useful words and expressions:
1. leave school 离校，中学毕业
2. disturbing 烦扰的
3. mental 精神的
4. derive 得到
5. companionship 伴侣
6. intellectual 智力的