Distant Education College,Jilin University Background Knowledge 1.In the United States and some Western countries, textbooks in public elementary and middle schools belong to the school.They are issued to the students.The students must not write on any page or mark any part of the textbook in any way,except for cheap paperbacks.When a textbook is issued or returned,its condition must be recorded in terms of New,Fair and Poor.In contrast,textbooks in colleges are bought by the individual students;they can cost about $200 a semester.Many students,however,buy used textbooks sold by former students. More Background Knowledge Distant Education College, Jilin University 1. In the United States and some Western countries, textbooks in public elementary and middle schools belong to the school. They are issued to the students. The students must not write on any page or mark any part of the textbook in any way, except for cheap paperbacks. When a textbook is issued or returned, its condition must be recorded in terms of New, Fair and Poor. In contrast, textbooks in colleges are bought by the individual students; they can cost about $200 a semester. Many students, however, buy used textbooks sold by former students. More