Read the texts. Say in which texts you can find information about:
1.the role books play in people’s lives;
2.the places where the first printed books appeared;
3.the way people got the news in the past;
4.the advantages of e−books.
A. Radio, television and the Internet, the great inventions of the 20th century, have not made printed books less important. The books transfer to us the knowledge of the past, they help us deal with the present, and they teach us how to build a better future.

B. Books, newspapers, tabloids and magazines are so common these days that we cannot imagine the world without them. But five hundred years ago, nothing like them existed: most people in one place knew almost nothing about what was happening a hundred miles away, and nothing about foreign countries. Information was mostly transferred by travellers who used to tell stories about the places they had seen.

C. These days e−books are getting more and more popular. E−books can have not only text and pictures, but also audio and even video. The reader can choose to read or to listen to the audio version. E−books are cheaper than printed books; sometimes it is even possible to find free e−books online and download them. Also, they are more convenient for travelling as it’s possible to take several books or even a whole library on the trip. However, printed books are still loved by people. They have lots of advantages as well.

D. Ivan Fyodorov in Russia, Gutenberg in Germany and Caxton in England began to print books in the 15th century, the same century in which Columbus discovered America.
Columbus discovered a new world; but the printers opened up a new world of thoughts and knowledge that changed the lives of millions everywhere.