As France enters a strict four-week lockdown in order to prevent a dangerous second wave of coronavirus, its independent booksellers have requested the status of an essential service．

A statement announced by booksellers' association wants bookshops to be listed alongside supermarkets and drugstores as necessary to human well-being．Bookstores might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about what's needed in a dangerous situation, but they offer mental comfort that few other businesses can match．"Books satisfy our needs for understanding, reflection, sharing and communication, even in separation," says the statement．They appeal to the French government to "leave our bookstores open, so that social separation is not also cultural isolation．"

Bookstores have already established rules of conduct that allow shopping to occur in a safe, gem-free manner．They want curbside（路边）pickup to be allowed to continue, which means placing a customer's order to his car trunk without the buyer leaving his vehicle．The staff should wear a mask and maintain at least six feet of distance while delivering goods．

We also reached out to the American Booksellers Association（ABA）to learn whether American booksellers also view themselves as a much-needed service．CEO Allison Hill admits that booksellers "in no way outweigh healthcare workers during the stay-at-home period," but the role of bookstores and books should not be underestimated．Books are important to many people this year for various reasons, including homeschooling, education, emotional support, connection, and humanity．That is why "bookstores in the U．S．are given essential status during shutdowns so that they can continue offering curbside service．" Despite this, independent booksellers are struggling across the US, as they are in France．Hill said in a press release that one bookshop has closed per week since COVID-19 started and that 25% are in danger of closing by January．

【小题1】Why did the association announce the statement?

A．To keep bookstores running．	B．To run bookshops near markets．
C．To compete with US booksellers．	D．To stress the benefits of books．

【小题2】According to Paragraph 3, how will bookstores operate safely?

A．By providing home delivery．	B．By giving away free masks．
C．By offering less contact pickup．	D．By forcing buyers to leave the cars．

【小题3】What can we infer from Allison Hill's words?

A．American bookstores are considered necessary．

B．The great importance of books is overlooked．

C．Booksellers are more important than doctors．

D．A quarter of bookstores have closed by January．

【小题4】What's the main idea of the passage?

A．Books offer mental support in tough times．

B．Bookstores should be an essential service．

C．Bookstores are at the risk of closing down．

D．Booksellers contribute a lot during the pandemic．