1 . Flash fiction is a name for short stories that are kept within a specific word or character limit, usually up to 1,500 words.
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When planning a flash fiction story you first need to decide what are the important parts of the story that the reader just cannot miss. This might be a few moments from the beginning, middle and end. Once you have these, then any extra detail can either be cutaway or added in—if it makes the story better and the word limit allows.
●Develop characters using adverbs
Good flash fiction has well-developed characters who have personalities and faults. You can takeout long descriptions of your characters and replace them with the occasional adverb to help the reader understand the characters’ movements and behaviour. Adverbs are words that describe verbs.
●Use clauses to add colour and detail
Clauses add detail to sentences without adding too many words.
●Combine your sentences
| A．Practice to make it perfect |
| B．Plan carefully before writing |
| C．Writing flash fiction takes skill |
| D．You could use a relative clause |
| E．Verbs are words that describe physical or mental actions and states of being |
| F．Try doing this by picking a few things and putting them into a shorter sentence |
| G．They have different functions from other words used in flash fiction in English |
2 . In 2019, Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider living and working in Kunshan, East China’s Jiangsu province, had an unpleasant experience due to the wrong address left by a customer. On his way home that day, Wang wrote a poem, Man in a Hurry, expressing his feelings. Since then, Wang has been writing poems inspired by his daily life.
Wang’s poems, simple yet real, are seen as a tool to process his emotions, especially the personal experiences he has during his work. In 2022, one of his friends posted Man in a Hurry online. It quickly went viral and was viewed for over 20 million times. The same year, Wang published a collection of more than 180 poems. The book’s cover is blue, the same color as the uniform that Wang wears. His poems and stories deeply touched many people with similar struggles and negative emotions in their lives, the book’s first 5,000 copies sold out soon. So far, Wang has written about 4,000 poems.
“My wife didn’t understand why I enjoy writing poems. Now, she is very supportive,” says Wang. “My children didn’t know about my habit of writing poems at all. Now they get it, and they are also learning to write poems.” Wang has no plan to quit his job and become a full-time writer. Although he has a great passion for poems, the priority for him is to look after his family.
Poetry is like a distraction from stress and an opportunity for Wang to record his life. Whether it’s coping with pain, dealing with stressful situations, or coming to terms with life’s struggles, poetry makes him confident and happy.
1. What is special about the poem Man in a Hurry?| A．It was created based on an enjoyable experience. |
| B．It conveyed Wang’s emotions on an unusual day. |
| C．It was the most popular poem posted online in 2022. |
| D．It was published with Wang’s second book of poems. |
| A．Got ignored. | B．Got deleted. |
| C．Became a hit. | D．Became controversial. |
| A．Wang’s family is what he values most. |
| B．Wang’s wife objects to him writing poems. |
| C．Wang is going to stop delivering food someday. |
| D．Wang’s children dream of becoming writers. |
| A．Getting Inspired by Life. | B．Working as a Deliveryman. |
| C．Becoming a Full-time Poet. | D．Delivering a Feast of Poetry. |
3 . Boring weekend? Take a look at some of the science fiction novels below to get you into a different world.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein, the character, is a scientist who works on human life science research and tries to create life artificially. Through countless explorations in his laboratory, he created an ugly, scary monster. The author Marry Shelley thinks people have dual (双重的) personalities. Being laughed for a long time will make people become evil and even get out of control. It also creates a new word—Frankenstein, something that destroys its creator.
The Valley of Fear
What kind of place is the Valley of Fear? Let Holmes take you into the mystery. The novel is a part of the Sherlock Holmes series written by the late 19th century British detective novelist Arthur Conan Doyle. Most stories focus on cases that need Holmes to investigate, for he is good at solving problems through observation and deduction. Sherlock Holmes, a brilliant detective, describes himself as a “consulting detective”, that is, someone to whom he is often called when other people or the police are in trouble.
I Am Legend
Robert Neville, the last survival human being in the film. But he wasn’t alone. During the day, he searched the dead city. As soon as it was dark, he locked himself in. Not only did Richard Mattson describe a world of horror and vampires (吸血鬼), but also pioneered a way of writing about vampires using scientific method. This is a sad story, but you will be moved by the struggle, courage and hope of human beings in the face of the hopeless situation.
1. Which one is true about Frankenstein?| A．Frankenstein is a doctor with excellent medical skills. |
| B．Frankenstein creates an angle. |
| C．Marry Shelley thinks people’s personalities only have one side. |
| D．This novel has created the word “frankenstein”. |
| A．Expedition and adventure. | B．Observation and deduction. |
| C．Getting extra help from police. | D．Communicating with other people. |
| A．Marry Shelley. | B．Conan Doyle. |
| C．Robert Neville. | D．Richard Mattson. |
4 . The great pilosopher Vlaire once said “Reding makes people see and think clearly.” If you want to be a better self, try the following books.
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is kind of a literary Rosetta Stone, the inspiration, basis, and model for so many modern novels. For a book written in the early 19th century, its modernity is surprising only until you realize that this is the novel that in many ways defined what a modern novel is.
A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals
From New York Times bestselling author Millie Marotta comes this gorgeous celebration of the animal kingdom. Highlighting the difficulty of 43 endangered species from around the world, the book takes readers on a trip through freshwater, oceans, forests, mountains, deserts, grasslands and wetlands while learning about rare and well- known animals and their habitats.
Patriarchy and Capitalism
Chizuko Ueno, a leading Japanese sociologist, feminist (女权主义) critic and public intellectual, has been a pioneer in women’s studies and the author of many books, including Patriarchy and Capitalism, which discusses the status of Japanese women.
Know My Name
Chanel Miller’s breathtaking memoir is praised to be the Best Book of the Year in People magazine. In this book, she recalls all her whole life. It’s a story of trauma (创伤) and transcendence (超越), shining with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life.
1. What is special about Pride and Prejudice?| A．It has a long history. | B．It encourages readers. |
| C．It defines modern novels. | D．It includes surprising plots. |
| A．Marcovaldo. | B．Pride and Prejudice. |
| C．The Rings of Saturn. | D．A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals. |
| A．A record about endangered animals. | B．A folk tale. |
| C．A novel discussing female status. | D．An autobiography. |
5 . Lao She wrote Teahouse in 1957. The play shows the audience life in China between 1898 and 1945. It takes place in a teahouse in old Beijing and it tells us the story of Wang Lifa and his customers. It asks us to see the teahouse as the centre of the neighborhood. Finally, it says goodbye to old Beijing and its people.
The story starts in 1898 during the Qing Dynasty. It continues in 1916, and finally, it brings the audience to the end of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945. After the war, Wang loses the teahouse and he dies.
Lao She was born in Beijing in 1899. His parents sent him to the Teahouse’s School in Beijing and he learned to teach. Form 1924 to 1929 he taught Chinese to the English in London. He wrote many plays, novels and short stories. He was named a “People’s Artist” and a “Great Master of Language”. He was one of the greatest Chinese writers of the 20th century.
In Lao She’s Teahouse today, waiters bring tea to the customers and sell them delicious Chinese food. If you like Beijing Opera, folk music, acrobatics or magic shows, you can enjoy them in the teahouse. Lao She’s Teahouse gives a wonderful welcome to everyone from China and from all over the world.
1. How many years of life in China is shown in the play Teahouse?| A．47 years. | B．45 years. | C．98 years. | D．57 years. |
| A．Before 1945. | B．In 1916. | C．In 1898. | D．After 1945. |
| A．a Great Master of Language |
| B．a people’s Artist |
| C．a boss of Teahouse |
| D．one of the greatest Chinese writers of the 20th century |
| A．Only Beijing opera audience. | B．Only foreign customers. |
| C．Every customer from home and abroad. | D．Only Chinese customers. |
6 . I often find myself drawn to books that explore rural settings. Here are a few books that I've read and loved.
Rush Oh!
by Shirley Barrett
Rush Oh! is one of the most touching books I’ve read. It follows the Davidsons, a whaling family from Wales. After the death of her mother, Mary Davidson has many worries: her five siblings（兄弟姐妹）and caring for her father. The author Barrett’s exploration of this world and her characters are bittersweet and humorous.
Questions of Travel
by Michelle de Kretser
Questions of Travel, is a portrait of Ravi, a Sri Lankan refugee（难民）who flees to Australia after his wife and son’s death, and Laura, a young woman who moves to London and back again. The writing is beautiful and touching. Never before have I read Sydney brought so vividly to life.
The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt
by Tracy Farr
Lena Gaunt, in her 80s, looks back on her long and fascinating life. She has eventually traveled widely as a player of an instrument. Lena Gaunt reveals the parts of her life that gave he joy—her music, her daughter, Grace, and her lover-as well as those touched by the sadness of loss.
Too Easy
by J. M. Green
Too Easy is an irresistible novel starring Stella Hardy, a social worker in Melbourne. When one of Stella's clients is murdered and a neighbor goes missing, Stella begins to investigate. The plot sets a cracking pace through police investigations and journeys to Western Australia.
1. Which of the following is set in Sydney?| A．Rush Oh! | B．The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt |
| C．Too Easy | D．Questions of Travel |
| A．Bittersweet teenage experiences. | B．Attractive musical instruments. |
| C．Heart-shaking investigations. | D．Happiness and sorrow in life. |
| A．To recommend excellent writers. | B．To analyze book qualities. |
| C．To introduce good works. | D．To express personal values. |
