Charles Dickens is often thought of as one of the greatest British writers. February 7 marked the 200th anniversary of his birthday. Yet for many, his language is old-fashioned and his stories often improbable. So why do so many people know and read Dickens today?
One reason is the British government’s insistence that every child studies a Dickens novel at school. Alongside William Shakespeare, Dickens is on every English literature school reading list.
His stories, though often long by today’s standards, are great moral tales. They are filled with colorful characters.
Earlier this month, a ceremony was held in Portsmouth, where Dickens was born. Prince Charles said at the ceremony, “Dickens used his creative genius to campaign passionately for social justice… His characterization (人物刻画) is as fresh today as on the day it was written.”
His books stand out from many other writers because of his insight into human nature. Dickens, like Shakespeare, tells us truths about human behavior. They are as true in the 21st century as they were to his readers in the 19th century.
Readers have returned to Dickens’ books again and again over the years to see what he has to say about their own times.
No surprise then that it was Dickens whom Britons turned to during the economic crisis in the last couple of years. Dickens helped them make sense of a world that was rapidly falling apart. The BBC adapted one of his less well-known novels, Little Dorrit, into a popular television drama that introduced many Brits to the novel for the first time. A dark story about greed and money, it was the perfect illustration of bad times.
As long as Dickens’s novels have something to say to modern audiences, it seems likely that he will remain one of Britain’s best-loved writers.
In the article, the author intends to tell us ______.

A．why Dickens’ novels still appeal to readers in modern times

B．that Dickens’ works are no longer popular among young people

C．why the British government puts Dickens on school reading lists

D．that Dickens and Shakespeare’s works are required for study at school

In Britain, people still read Dickens because of ______.
a) romance in his books
b) moral value in his books
c) his colorful characters
d) his insight into human nature
e) government education requirement
f) his prediction of the current economic crisis

A．abdf

B．bcde

C．bdef

D．abed

We can infer from the article that ______.

A．it’s better to read Dickens in time of difficulty

B．Dickens was a great social observer of his time

C．human nature seems worse during bad times

D．Dickens’s novels are short and easy to read

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Little Dorrit is one of Dickens’ best-known novels.

B．Dickens’ novels are of greater value during economic crisis.

C．Dickens’ works have gained more popularity than Shakespeare’s

D．Dickens’ novels are still of realistic significance to today’s world.