1 . For generations, young people all over the world have taken an interest in social justice and found the courage to fight for their own rights and the rights of others. Here are four inspiring middle grade books that prove you’re never too young to stand up for what you believe in and make a difference.

This series follows 11-year-old Parvana, who lives under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. When her father is arrested and her family is left without someone who can work or even shop for food, Parvana, forbidden to earn money as a girl, disguises herself as a boy to help her family survive. The Breadwinner is an empowering tale with a sharp and brave heroine.

Stella lives in the separated south in 1932. Out, late one night, wandering around, Stella and her brother witness a Klu Klux Klan activity, starting an unwelcome chain of events in her otherwise sleepy town. With a compelling and courageous voice, Stella tells the story of how she and her community ban together against racism and injustice.

When Julian is sent to stay with his disinterested aunt and uncle for four months, he discovers that his Uncle’s corporation plans to cut down a group of redwood trees at Big Tree Grove and decides to take a stand to save the trees. Perfect for the young environmentalists in your life, Operation Redwood is an adventurous tale as Julian and his friends hatch scheme after scheme to save these giants of nature.

For more mature readers, this unforgettable autobiography tells the true story of Nujood Ali, a ten-year-old Yemeni girl married off at a young age, who decides to resist her abusive husband and get a divorce. A moving tale of tragedy, triumph, and courage, Nujood’s brave resistance has inspired generations of women and young girls.

1. What is the purpose of the four books?

A．To call for people to find the courage.

B．To show the definition of social justice.

C．To inspire young people to make a difference.

D．To prove young people can fight for the rights.

2. Who might be interested in the book Operation Redwood?

A．An adult who shows interest in human nature.

B．A college student who majors in human rights.

C．A middle school student who is interested in science.

D．A high school student who wants to protect the environment.

3. Which book is adapted from a real story?

A．I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced.	B．Stella by Starlight.
C．The Breadwinner Trilogy.	D．Operation Redwood.

2 . Epic Fails: The Wright Brothers Nose-diving into History

By Erik Slader and Ben Thompson. Ages 6 to 12.

The first book in the Epic Fails series deals with one of the most ambitious goals humans have pursued to fly. Authors Slader and Thompson focus on life-or-death scenes, such as when the Wright brothers crashed their sailplane over and over on the sandy coast of North Carolina: it took them two more years to get it right.

Epic Fails: The Race to Space: Countdown to Liftoff

By Erik Slader and Ben Thompson. Ages 6 to 12.

Today, everyone is familiar with Neil Armstrong’s famous words as he first set foot on the moon, "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. "He made it look easy, but America’s Journey to the moon was anything but simple. Our first attempt was a failure. Still we didn't give up. We tried again. And again. And each time we failed, we failed a little bit better.

Fantastic failures:True Stories of People Who Changed the World by Falling Down First

By Luke Reynolds.Ages 6 to 12

Teacher Luke Reynolds opens each chapter with a quick, impossibly perfect version of one person's life and then says how that person actually had to face huge challenges to accomplish goals. In this book, Reynolds writes about various common men, women and children.

Cyrus Field’s Big Dream: The Daring Effert to Lay the First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable

By Mary Morton Cowan. Ages 6 to 12

In 1853, it took at least a week to relay a message between the United States and Europe because people had to be transported on ships over the Atlantic Ocean. Cyrus Field tried to reduce that transmission ((传送) time to just minutes by laying a long undersea cable. In this book, Cowan describes many failures. Field suffered before he achieved this major breakthrough.

1. What do we know about Fantastic Failures?

A．It was written by a famous actor.	B．It tells stories of ordinary people.
C．It is about science fiction stories.	D．It is about some celebrities’ success.

2. Cyrus Field made a major breakthrough in the area of         .

A．communication	B．entertainment
C．transportation	D．sailing

3. What lesson can we learn from the four books?

A．All roads lead to Rome.	B．An early bird catches worms.
C．Failure is the mother of success.	D．Actions speak louder than words.

3 . Which book you should read is based on your next travel destination.

As you’re traveling around Amsterdam, read “The Fault in Our Stars”.

Previously adapted into a film in 2014, John Greens story of star-crossed teenagers famously includes a trip to Amsterdam. The Anne Frank House and The Rijksmuseum are two of many major destinations mentioned in the book. Plus, the bench from the film adaption of this novel has even become its own tourist spot.

“The Elegance of the Hedgehog” is excellent reading for a trip to Paris.

Before wandering down the Champs-lysées, open Muriel Barbery’s novel for a delightful peek into the lives of wealthy Parisians. Set in an upscale French, apartment building, the story follows two totally different people who discover they are kindred souls.

Bring “One Hundred Years of Solitude” to read in South America.

A significant work of literature, Gabriel García Márquez’s classic follows generations of the Buendía family as they live in their South-American town. García Márquez’s magical realism paired with his lush descriptions makes the book a perfect read for visiting some of the breathtaking sights of South America.

“Call Me by Your Name” by André Aciman should perhaps be read in the summertime, in Italy.

André Aciman’s novel is said to take place in the Northern-Italian seaside region of Liguria. And if you’ve seen the 2017 coming-of-age film adaptation of the book, you’ll already know the story describes beautiful summers in Northern Italy, complete with seaside encounters and lush greenery.

If you’re visiting New York City, enter the mind of Holden Caulfield.

“The Catcher in the Rye” is a classic tale of a lost teenager’s unplanned trip to New York City. In the JD-Salinger novel, Holden visits a nightclub in the East Village, goes ice skating in Rockefeller Center, and takes his sister to the Central Park Zoo.

1. Which book was adapted into a film in 2017?

A．The Fault in Our Stars.	B．The Elegance of the Hedgehog.
C．One hundred Years of solitude.	D．Call Me by Your Name.

2. Which of the following best explains the underlined word “kindred”?

A．Powerful.	B．Similar.
C．Gentle.	D．friendly.

3. What does the book “The Catcher in the Rye” mainly talk about?

A．Star-crossed teenagers trip to Amsterdam.

B．A teenager’s unintended trip to New York City.

C．Seaside encounters in beautiful summers in Northern Italy.

D．The life of generations of the Buendia family in South-American town.

4 . In the 19th century, the "coming-of-age" novel became popular. In these stories, we read about    1    （hero）growing into maturity from childhood.

David Copperfield, by British novelist Charles Dickens, is a good example of this type of story.    2    tells the story of a gifted boy of the same name,     3    goes through many challenges in hopes of becoming a successful writer. Part of the reason Charles Dickens loved his own novel, David Copperfield, was that it    4    （model）on his own life. In the novel, he related early personal experiences    5    （mean）a lot to him, including his work in a factory, his education, and his efforts    6    （publish）novels.

The novel takes place in the Victorian era（1837-1901）and contains Dickens` eritiques（批评）of his society and the anxiety surrounding the relationship    7    social classes. It describes    8    darkest parts of British society in that time, especially the    9    （pain）circumstances of many children.

Young David suffers for his goal,     10    does he reach his dream of becoming a successful writer？Read the book to find out.

5 . Literature reflects life. So in ageing Japan there are a large number of hit books by aged authors. “Age 90: what’s so great about it?” is a humorous essay on the difficulties of the elderly, by Aiko Sato, who is 95. It sold one million copies in 2017, making it Japan’s bestselling book that year.

In 2018 the Akutagawa literary prize went to Chisako Wakatake, 63 at the time, for her first novel “Live by Myself”. The books talk about how to live in old age. “Going to Die Soon”, also by Ms Uchidate, features 78-year-old Hana, a former alcohol-shop owner trying to make the most of her remaining years. The novel has been called a book for shukatsu, or preparing for death, making readers think more deeply about what it means to age.

Japan’s population has the world’s highest percentage of over-65s. People are living longer, so many have at least 20-30 years of retirement, for much of which they are energetic.

And although the Japanese have been spending less on books, that is least true for the over-60s. Lawson, a convenience-store chain, recently decided to stock books with the older generation in mind.

But the wrinkly writers’ books are attracting younger readers, too. Some are preparing for their own old age or want to understand the increasing number of old people they see around them. Others find relevance in the themes explored, such as loneliness, a problem that stretches well beyond the silver-haired.

The most notable feature of the new trend is that the vast majority of authors, and main characters, are women. Especially popular, are the ara-hun (“around-hundred” years-old) writers like Ms Sato, whose book, readers say, helps them be more positive. Their popularity also reflects support for strong women who are passionate about their work, a phenomenon that is all too rare in Japan today.

1. “Going to Die Soon” is a book ________.

A．about how to stay positive in old age

B．which won the Akutagawa literary prize in 2018

C．which helps people live the rest of the life to the fullest

D．written by a 78-year-old Hana, an alcohol-shop owner

2. The books by aged authors are popular with younger readers because ________.

A．young readers now have more elder relatives

B．young readers face similar problems as the elderly

C．young readers are worried about becoming old

D．young readers are as lonely as the elderly

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Aged writers might be more successful than younger writers.

B．An aging society brings more chances for women writers.

C．People have to work after their retirement in an aging society.

D．Ambitious career women might not be popular with the Japanese.

6 . Have you ever had problems in your life and don’t know how to be happy? If ____, you will find “Being a Happy Teenager” by Australian writer Andrew Matthews ____.

In his book, Matthews ____ us how to have a happy life and answers the ____ of teenagers.

Matthews writes about many ____ in the book, such as parents and friends, and the book ___ we should stop being angry and learn to forgive. The book tells us of useful skills ___ how to put what you have learned into pictures of your mind to ____ your memory better.

Many teenagers think ____ happiness comes from a good exam result, ____ praise from other people. But you can ____ be happy even when there are no such “good” things. Success comes from a(n) ____ attitude. If you ____ from problems, you will have success in the future.

Some school students have ____ of being too tall or too short. But Matthews tells us that ___ comes from thinking about things in a positive ____. If you are ____, people notice you and you can get a ____ view at the movie; if you are short, your clothes and shoes ____ less room in your bedroom! This is Matthews’ most important ____: you choose to be happy!

1.

A．any

B．not

C．never

D．so

2.

A．wise

B．smart

C．useful

D．simple

3.

A．orders

B．tells

C．asks

D．argues

4.

A．problems

B．ideas

C．questions

D．comments

5.

A．rules

B．classes

C．courses

D．subjects

6.

A．says

B．writes

C．reads

D．thinks

7.

A．for

B．like

C．at

D．with

8.

A．make

B．turn

C．let

D．change

9.

A．what

B．how

C．that

D．whether

10.

A．for

B．but

C．so

D．or

11.

A．yet

B．already

C．still

D．rather

12.

A．bad

B．good

C．independent

D．normal

13.

A．learn

B．rescue

C．struggle

D．separate

14.

A．experiences

B．difficulties

C．personalities

D．problems

15.

A．success

B．happiness

C．failure

D．height

16.

A．way

B．means

C．goal

D．spirit

17.

A．short

B．small

C．tall

D．fat

18.

A．lower

B．higher

C．worse

D．better

19.

A．take

B．spend

C．cover

D．cost

20.

A．work

B．lesson

C．teaching

D．study

7 . A good book is indeed the best friend of a person. The same goes for high-profile CEOs of world recognized companies as well. Let’s have a look at the favorite books of some of the world-famous CEOs.

Apple CEO—Tim Cook, Competing against Time by George Stalk Jr. and Thomas M. Hout

This book is based on 10 years of valuable research done by the authors. It talks about how new concepts of managing time in new product development, production and sales provide companies with the advantages to succeed in this highly competitive world.

Microsoft CEO(Former)—Bill Gates, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

A few themes explored in the novel are rebellion（叛逆）, anxiety and confusion. It tells that young people are a little confused, but can be smart about things and see things that adults don’t really see. Gates said, “ I didn’t actually read The Catcher in the Rye until I was 13, and ever since then I’ve said that's my favorite book.”

Oracle CEO—Larry Ellison, Napoleon by Vincent Cronin

This book is considered by far the best biography ever written on Napoleon        Bonaparte. Ellison said, "It's interesting to read about him for a couple of reasons: to see what an ordinary man can do with his life and to see how history can distort（歪曲）the truth entirely."

OWE CEO— Oprah Winfrey, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This book talks about how a little girl observes the people around her. Winfrey said, “ I read it in eighth or ninth grade, and I was trying to recommend the book to other kids. So it makes sense to me that now I have a book club, because I have been doing that probably since I read this book.”

1. What is the theme of Competing Against Time?

A．How to increase production.	B．How to improve efficiency.
C．How to enrich experience.	D．How to save energy.

2. Which book may be chosen by parents to learn about rebellious kids?

A．Competing against Time.	B．The Catcher in the Rye.
C．Napoleon.	D．To Kill a Mockingbird.

3. What can be inferred from Winfrey’s words?

A．She loved reading when young.

B．She read the book with other kids.

C．The book has an influence on her career.

D．The book is about a girl’s thoughts.

8 . 假定你是李华，你在某贴吧上看到美国孔子学院(Confucius Institute)的学生Henry发帖，希望通过网络视频互动学习中国诗词。请你给他写封邮件，内容包括：
1．表示愿意帮助他；
2．说明你想帮助他的原因。
注意：
1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

When we read a poem. we often imagine what the poets    1     (think) when they wrote or what they were doing at the time. These thoughts let us connect with the words better,as if we'd created the poem    2     (we). Will a poem still mean as much if a compute writes it?

By    3     (use) algorithms (算法) , computers can now create all kinds of text, including research papers, books, news, stories and even poems. Computer-generated poems might be correct in both grammar and style,     4    some say they still lack     5     (create) and true meaning.

Australian researcher Oscar Schwartz created a website    6    (call) "bot or not". On his site, you can read poems and guess whether they    7    (write) by a human or a computer.Schwartz recently gave a speech at TedX Sydney, in    8    he stated that some of the website's poems were able to    9    (foolish) 65 percent of human readers.

He said that on his website, he hoped people would question the difference between humans and machines一and be able to identify what it is    10    makes us human.

10 . Science has a lot of uses. It can uncover laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there’s always a temptation (诱惑) to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation.

Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest book The Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren’t?

To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of disciplines (学科). Considering this, you might expect the book to be a dry recitation of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unorthodox (非常规的), and perhaps unfortunate, way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader’s attention.So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters.

On the whole,Brooks’ story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks’ attempt to translate his tale into science.

1. The author mentions the functions of science at the beginning of the passage to__________.

A．illustrate where science can be applied

B．demonstrate the value of Brooks’ new book

C．remind the reader of the importance of science

D．explain why many writers use science in their works

2. According to the author, which of the following could be a strength of the book?

A．Its strong basis.

B．Its convincing points.

C．Its clear writing.

D．Its memorable characters.

3. What is the author’s general attitude towards the book?

A．Contradictory.

B．Supportive.

C．Cautious.

D．Critical.

4. What is the author likely to write about after the last paragraph?

A．Problems with the book.

B．Brooks’s life experience.

C．Death of the characters.

D．Brooks’s translation skills.