1 . The books we read when we’re young have a special sort of power, they can inspire us to be brave and resilient! (Marilda by Roald Dahi), take us on thrilling adventures (Divergent by Veronica Roth) and even introduce us to tragedy (悲剧) (The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson). They’re as formative as anything else in our young lives, and sometimes they’re the first place we encounter larger-than-life ideas, thinking of the lasting cultural import of To Kill a Mockingbird. In The Magic Words, Cheryl B. Klein, sets out to inform would-be writers on how great novels for young readers work.
The market for YA (young-adult) novels is booming: sales in the children’s and YA sector have been neck and neck with those of adult books in recent years, and adult authors including Meg Wolitzer and Carl Hiaasen are getting in on the phenomenon. The Magic Words aims to be a master class. And in the era of promoted self-help sensations like Marie Kondo and Brenie Brown, The Magic Words is of a piece.
Klein deconstructs the seemingly obvious (clear plot-lines, sympathetic characters) to reveal the technical significance of some beloved classics. L. M. Montgomery surely didn’t regard Anne of Green Gables as a cash-in endeavor. But for those who want to best-seller writers, Anne is instructive: what’s timeless and broadly appealing about Anne—her teenage heart and impulses (冲动) is what to examine. Once you understand that, Klein encourages you to get personal: What makes you ideal to write your story? And what does it mean to the reader?
On the latter question, The Magic Words is more than a handbook. It is also a timely social commentary on the responsibility YA writers have to young adults. They must start with an awareness of their readers—not only their age but also how they might connect with the issues, like bullies or tolerance that the characters face. The narratives we tell young readers can influence how they understand and value the world around them. The magic isn’t in the words: it’s in how the words come together to reflect and confirm the realities of a diverse young-adult experience.
1. What can be learned about the books introduced?| A．Divergent even introduce us to tragedy. |
| B．Matilda can take us on thrilling adventures. |
| C．To Kill a Mockingbird has lasting cultural significance. |
| D．The Bridge to Terabithia can inspire us to be brave and resilient. |
| A．The market or YA novels is shrinking. |
| B．Anne is a master in the field of YA novels. |
| C．Adult authors are getting in the field of YA novels. |
| D．Sales in the YA sector are less than those in the adults’. |
| A．Fully understand their readers first. |
| B．Find someone to sponsor their writing. |
| C．Develop a strategy to meet the market. |
| D．Copy the works of historical masters. |
| A．To promote the sales of YA books. |
| B．To introduce a book for the future writers. |
| C．To recommend a new writer. |
| D．To arouse people’s interest in reading. |
2 . Here are 4 books you should read at least once in your life.
Number the Stars by Lois
It tells the story of a Danish girl growing up in World War II with her best friend, Ellen, who happens to be Jewish. When she learns about the horrors that the Nazis are imposing on the Jewish people, she and her family stop at nothing to protect Ellen and countless other Jews. Lois’ novel is a powerful reminder that cultural and religious differences are no divide between true friends.
The Little Prince by Antoine
It is the story of a little boy who falls to Earth from an Asteroid (小行星) after visiting several other asteroids to try to understand mankind. In his travels he meets a series of strange and delightful characters and an untamed fox. The Little Prince is a heartwarming tale of the power of friendship and trust.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Who doesn’t love a novel about talking animals? It opens the door to imagination, asking us to imagine what a world where animals could talk would be like. On a more serious note, it challenges us to ask ourselves how we’d treat animals if they could talk. If they could tell us their joys and their fears, would mankind treat them more humanely?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The story centers on Jean Louise Finch, an unusually intelligent girl who ages from six to nine years old during the novel. Her father, Atticus Finch, a well-known and respected lawyer, defends Tom Robinson, an African American who is falsely accused of killing a young white woman. It is both a young girl’s coming-of-age story and a darker drama about the roots and consequences of racism and prejudice in society.
1. What do the two books Number the Stars and The Little Prince both involve?| A．History. | B．Travel. | C．Friendship. | D．Family. |
| A．A fairy story book. | B．An animal science book. |
| C．A biology textbook. | D．An animal book for kids. |
| A．Family conflicts. | B．Career design. |
| C．Legal systems. | D．Social issues. |
3 . J. K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, said that she had kept a fairy tale on her bookshelf for almost ten years. The story is called The Ickabog. She said that the story was the one that she wrote years ago in between writing the Harry Potter novels. She stressed, “It isn’t Harry Potter and it doesn’t include magic. This is an entirely different story.”
Ms. Rowling had always thought of the story as one that belonged to her children since she read it to them when they were younger. In recent weeks, she’s worked to bring the book to a final version.
Several weeks ago, the author said she came up with the idea of publishing the novel for free on her website to amuse children who were stuck at home because of lockdown (活动限制). She discussed the idea with her children, who are now teenagers, and they thought it was a good idea.
The Ickabog is a fairy tale set in a kingdom known as “Cornucopia”. The author described The Ickabog as “a story about the misuse of power”. She said the story wasn’t written about anything going on now but could be about any time or any country. And she hoped children could learn the results of people misusing their positions.
Because the book was first written as a read-aloud one, Ms. Rowling thought it was well-suited to being published in parts on the Internet. The book will be officially published in November as a regular book, as well as an eBook and an audiobook. The money from the sales of those books will go to support groups that have been hit hard by the pandemic (流行病). Many Fans said that they liked the idea. And they thought what J. K. Rowling was doing would make The Ickabog a second Harry Potter.
1. What did J. K. Rowling say about The Ickabog?| A．It took her almost ten years to finish it. |
| B．It wasn’t good enough to get published. |
| C．It might be a book suitable for all her fans. |
| D．It didn’t keep the style of her well-known works. |
| A．Caring for the weak is important. |
| B．They should value their own cultures. |
| C．They should learn from powerful people. |
| D．Using power in the wrong way can be harmful. |
| A．The Ickabog has something to do with Harry Potter. |
| B．J. K. Rowling’s good action will make The Ickabog a best-seller. |
| C．J. K. Rowling hopes her new book will attract young readers. |
| D．The Ickabog will become more popular than Harry Potter. |
| A．J. K. Rowling’s new ideas for writing |
| B．J. K. Rowling’s surprise for Harry Potter’s fans |
| C．J. K. Rowling supports sufferers with her new book |
| D．J. K. Rowling teaches her children with her new book |
4 . Walt Disney is credited for creating such wonderful things as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. However, he cannot take the credit for creating other well-loved characters, such as Cinderella and Snow White. They are almost automatically associated with Disney because Disney turned old fables (寓言) into cartoon movies.
The original Cinderella varies very much from the Disney version we know today. It started off with the girl mourning her mother’s death and going to her tomb three times a day. In addition, there were only birds that helped Cinderella; there was no such thing as a fairy godmother or helpful mice, nor was there mention of a horse and carriage.
The stepsisters were cruel: they always threw Cinderella’s food into the ashes of the fire and made her sleep on the ashes on the floor, hence her name.
In the original story, the king’s ball actually lasted for three days. With the help of the birds, the girl, beautifully dressed, danced with the prince on all three nights and the prince fell in love with her. However, she broke away from him to rush back home each night. On the last night, the prince placed soothing sticky on the stairs; as Cinderella made her escape, a shoe got stuck on it.
Here now is where the story becomes unpleasant: when the prince went to the house looking for the girl whose foot fit the shoe, the wicked (邪恶的) stepmother told one of her two daughters to cut off her big toe to fit into the shoe. The daughter did as told. So the prince took her away to be his bride. But when they passed the tomb of Cinderella’s mother, the birds called out to the prince, “Turn and peep, there’s blood in the shoe; the shoe is too small, the true bride waits for you.” Realizing he had been tricked, the prince returned the daughter to her mother. The other then had to cut off part of her heel in order to fit into the shoe, with the same result. Only Cinderella’s foot fit perfectly and so the prince chose to marry her. The story ends with the wedding day: as Cinderella’s two stepsisters followed her, pretending to be devoted to her so that they could enjoy the king’s riches, two birds flew by and plucked (啄) out their eyes. Because of their wickedness and falsehood, they had to spend the rest of their days blind.
The original Cinderella is so different from the Disney version. Thank goodness Disney made such changes; it indeed was a wise move.
1. What dose the underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Such wonderful things. | B．Other well-loved characters. |
| C．Old fables. | D．Cartoon movies. |
| A．The Birds came up with it. | B．It was given by Disney. |
| C．It came from the word “ash”. | D．She got it from her mother. |
| A．Helpful mice got Cinderella a beautiful dress. |
| B．The ball was held to celebrate the prince’s wedding. |
| C．Cinderella left her shoe on the stairs on purpose. |
| D．The birds told the prince that he had been cheated. |
| A．Excellent. | B．Accurate | C．Critical. | D．Ridiculous. |
1. Who is Narinder Dhami?
| A．A writer. | B．A director. | C．A footballer. |
| A．She should help them with her sister’s wedding. |
| B．A girl should avoid doing that kind of thing. |
| C．She should concentrate on her study. |
| A．Jess’s sister’s wedding. |
| B．The release of Jess’s favorite film. |
| C．The arrival of an offer from a university. |
| A．She falls in love with Joe. |
| B．She becomes famous in the U. S. |
| C．She gets a football scholarship at a university. |
The first English version of the famous martial arts novel, “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” (《射雕英雄传》)
In the publisher’s
Louis Cha is China’s most influential martial arts author with a total of 15 novels. Since the 1950s, about 100 million
7 . Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is a great book that has attracted young and old readers for over a century. Its long-lasting popularity shows Sewell’s skillful storytelling and the great message at the novel’s heart.
Through the eyes of Black Beauty, readers are sent to a world filled with trouble, pity, and hope. Sewell’s choice to tell the story from the horse’s viewpoint (角度) was a new method which made it easier for future writers to explore the thoughts of animals. The main ideas in the novel are just as important today as they were in the Victorian times.
Black Beauty is a lovely black horse that begins as a carriage (马车) horse, but when he is hurt, his rich owner decides that he is no longer good enough to be a carriage horse. From that moment, he is passed from owner to owner and goes through lots of hard work. Even though many unpleasant things happen to Black Beauty at the hands of unkind humans, he lives up to his name both outside and inside.
This story of his life from birth to old age is beautifully descriptive. Everything from his active days as a baby horse on a farm to a hard life pulling carriages on stone roads in London can be readily pictured in the readers’mind. Each part carries an important message about animal well-being, kindness, and respect, and is filled with plenty of page-turning suspense (悬念).
This Collector’s Edition of Black Beauty shows respect for this beloved book. Each part of the book has been carefully considered. From the drawings on the cover to the colored blocking, this is truly one-of-a-kind. The matching colored endpapers add an extra touch of luxury (奢侈), making it the perfect addition to any collector’s library and a great chance to experience the story that will reach your heart and stay with you forever.
1. What of Black Beauty helps future writers most?| A．The main idea. | B．The storyline. |
| C．The touching ending. | D．The way of writing. |
| A．It’s thin and weak. | B．It hates hard work. |
| C．It has good qualities. | D．It feels not up to the job. |
| A．To introduce each part. |
| B．To share feelings about the horse. |
| C．To give opinions about the story. |
| D．To give examples of page-turning suspense. |
| A．A diary entry. | B．A news report. |
| C．A children’s story. | D．A book review. |
8 . The hustle and bustle(喧嚣)of life, walking back and forth from the ideal to reality, and the inner confusion hidden behind a social mask-these daily experiences are recorded by Chinese youths in lines of poetry online. Recently, 124 Bilibili internet users shared their works in a poem collection.
One blogger on Xiaohongshu who goes by the nickname Gehuaren is one such poetry lover. The twenty-something girl not only writes poems as a form of entertainment in her spare time, but also improvises(即兴创作)poems for others at night markets in Yunnan. As a street-stall poet, Gehuaren often writes pieces of poetry quickly based on themes from customers. Once the poem has been completed, she refuses to change her work because she feels her poems reflect her first reaction. For her, everything in the world, no matter trivial or significant, can serve as her poetic inspiration. “A glass, a tree in the dawn or a person who once talked with me…these all could become themes for my poems,” said Gehuaren.
With free writing with a regular rhythm and broad themes, her poems strike a chord with many young people online, helping her gain over 190, 000 followers. Many have made comments “I feel healed by your poems because I can find beauty from unnoticeable things and in turn, slow down to reflect on my life.”
Apart from poetry, various means such as vlogging and photosharing can be used to record moments of daily life. But young people consider poetry to be the best way to express them. “Taking photos or vlogging can just show the object or emotions in real life. Yet poetry, which can be used to excite the imagination, shows the beauty of daily life, ”an 18-year-old said. So when he is inspired by the beauty of daily life, the boy writes it down into lines of poetry and then shares them with his friends on his WeChat Moments.
No matter why young people write their unique brand of poems, they are attempting to take every moment in lives seriously, face their lives bravely and actively express themselves.
1. How does Gehuaren find inspiration for her poems?| A．By referring to traditional Chinese poems. |
| B．By attending various online poetry lectures. |
| C．By exploring great moments in life. |
| D．By observing everyday life. |
| A．They are original and full of imagination. |
| B．They have a strong sense of rhythm. |
| C．They record the beauty of small and ordinary things. |
| D．They reflect the differences between the ideal and reality. |
| A．Positive. | B．Neutral. | C．Cautious. | D．Objective. |
| A．They hope to avoid challenges. |
| B．They intend to impress their peers. |
| C．They try to escape from the busy life. |
| D．They make their thoughts known bravely. |
1. 比赛的时间、地点；
2. 比赛的主题及安排；
3. 欢迎大家积极参加。
诗词朗诵大赛 Poetry Recitation Contest
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
Notice
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Poetry Association
10 . Poetry Challenges to Enrich Your Reading Life
Whether you desire for more poetry or simply appreciate striving for reading goals, these three poetry challenges can serve as that push to create space for more poetry in your life.
●Sign up for Poem-a-Day Newsletter
If a daily commitment interests you, visit Poets. org to sign up for the ever-popular Poem-a-Day newsletter. Over 250,000 people have subscribed to receive a “new” poem every weekday and a “classic” poem every weekend day.
●Participate in National Poetry Writing Month
If you prefer shorter commitments, National Poetry Writing Month takes place every April during National Poetry Month. For NaPoWriMo, poetry lovers pen “30 poems in 30 days.” Often while sitting at your writing desk and waiting on the muses (沉思), you can reach for authors and pieces that move you.
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Many poetry challenges exist because of others. Why not borrow what fit s your current life from those exciting challenges and invite other poetry enthusiasts to participate? If you do find yourself inspired by others, please credit the lovely minds that dreamed up the challenges.
Whether you’re new to poetry or a long-time fan, I’m crossing my fingers and toes that these poetry challenges cause you to form a deeper connection to the genre.
| A．Translate Poetry Compositions. |
| B．Create Your Own Poetry Challenge. |
| C．Perhaps writing poems will keep you reading poems, too. |
| D．In short, it gives you opportunities to create poetry challenge. |
| E．Also, they can connect you with a community of poetry readers. |
| F．At the very least, I hope it pushes you to put poetry first in your reading life. |
| G．Each month, a different guest editor takes charge of the weekday publications. |
