| A．A movie. | B．A novel. | C．A weekend plan. |
2 . We all like fantasy stories, and grow up reading and listening to fantasies. These tales fuel our imaginations, and satisfy our longings for adventures. The most interesting thing about fantasies is that their plots involve magical beasts and heroes，animal creatures talking like humans，and other things we can’t see in real life. Also, fantasies have a distinguished writing style, with freedom of expression.
Toy Fantasy
In toy fantasy stories, narrators(叙述者)bring their beloved toys to life that can live, talk, think，breathe and behave like human beings. You would see modern toy fantasies in a picture book format. Representative works are A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh and Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio.
Animal Fantasy
The animal fantasy tells tales about animals behaving like human beings, experiencing emotions, and having the ability to talk. However, animals in fantasies hold their various animal characteristics, too. Examples include The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, and The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter which influences children around the world.
Magical Fantasy
In a magical fantasy, you see a character having magical powers, or a strange magical object becomes the subject of the story. Stories of this type began widely spreading long ago, including Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and William Steig’s Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.
Modern Folktales
Modern folktales are types of fantasy that narrators tell in a traditional tale accompanying some typical parts, such as strong conflict, little description of characters, and sometimes magical elements. These tales come before all others and are popular, as authors throughout history, have written them. Hans Christian Andersen has written several tales of this category including The Nightingale, The Emperor’s New Clothes and Thumbelina.
1. What is the common feature of the fantasies?| A．Their characters are highly popular. |
| B．Their events occur in the unreal world. |
| C．Their writing styles show desires for freedom. |
| D．Their plots encourage people to have adventures. |
| A．Carlo Collodi. | B．Beatrix Potter. |
| C．William Steig. | D．Hans Christian Andersen. |
| A．The toy fantasy. | B．The animal fantasy. |
| C．The magical fantasy. | D．The modern folktales. |
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. |
| A．Powerful. | B．Similar. |
| C．Gentle. | D．friendly. |
| 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 . Graham Moore is the best-selling author of The Sherlockian and the screenwriter of The Imitation Game. His new book The Last Days of Night is out now. He is talking about some of his favorite books.
Murder in Three Acts
BY AGATHA CHRISTIE
My mother is a crime fiction（侦探小说）lover and，when I was having trouble learning to read, we’d sit in my bed at home in Chicago and take it in turns to read a paragraph. It was the first book I read cover-to-cover and I later became a writer because of that experience. Not only did it give me a love of crime fiction but, more importantly, it taught me that reading can be a shared experience.
Cryptonomicon
BY NEAL STEPHENSON
This book showed me that historical fiction need not be dry, but can be lively and enjoyable. Stephenson asks readers to take science seriously, but writes the story in a funny way. I’d long known of Alan Turing, but Stephenson’s technique (手法）of describing him was surprising; I saw how a writer can bring a real person to life for modern readers.
A Visit from the Goon Squad
BY JENNIFER EGAN
Egan uses a technique that I drew on when writing The Imitation Game. She tells stories from different voices and times, and uses many styles that say to readers, “I’ve done a lot of work, but now you have to join in and work it out for yourselves.”
With my latest book, my greatest hope is that readers will want to get other people discussing the book. I’ve just started the conversation.
1. What influenced Moore to be a writer?| A．Reading crime fiction in secret. | B．Having trouble learning to read. |
| C．Reading a book with his mother. | D．Writing stories at a young age. |
| A．Boring. | B．Serious. |
| C．Imaginative. | D．Humeorous. |
| A．Write her some letters. | B．Think for themselves. |
| C．Tell their own stories. | D．Ask her some questions. |
5 . The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie
By Chavonne D. Stewart, Jasmine Mills, published in 2014
Enter for a chance to win a copy of the book. It is the first book in a surprising series of children’s books. That’s fun and exciting but teaches kids valuable lessons.
Chester and Gus
By Cammie McGoven, published in 2017
Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems that dream might never come true--- until a family adopts him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus. But Gus acts so differently from anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus, but he’s determined to figure it out and show he’s the right dog for the job.
Invisible Emmie
By Terri Libenson, published in 2017
The novel tells the story of two totally different little girls in a class — quiet, shy and artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie-- and how their lives unexpectedly connected one day, when an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands. Emmie eventually learns to speak up for herself, realizing that being social isn’t as impossible as she thought.
Ocean Meets Sky
By Terry Fan, Eric Fan, published in 2018
“Young readers will be attracted.”— The Washington Post.
Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out of his window, it’s a constant reminder of the stories that his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Finn’s grandfather has gone but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He’ll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself! And when he arrives, maybe he’ll find something he didn’t know he was looking for.
1. Which book is related to the loss of loved ones?| A．The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie |
| B．Chester and Gus |
| C．Invisible Emmie |
| D．Ocean Meets Sky |
| A．To make him accompany a boy |
| B．To make him do the right job |
| C．To help a boy realize his dream |
| D．To help him pass his certification test |
| A．It may be gained for free |
| B．It’s the first children’s book in 20015 |
| C．It’s only for children’s fun |
| D．It’s mainly about teacher’s lessons |
| A．Chavonne D. Stewart and Jasmine Mills |
| B．Cammie McGovern |
| C．Terri Libenson |
| D．Terry Fan and Eric Fan |
| A．Adult novel |
| B．Children’s literature |
| C．Moral stories |
| D．Adventure literature |
6 . Have you ever had problems in your life and don’t know how to be happy? If
In his book, Matthews
Matthews writes about many
Many teenagers think
Some school students have
| A．any | B．not | C．never | D．so |
| A．wise | B．smart | C．useful | D．simple |
| A．orders | B．tells | C．asks | D．argues |
| A．problems | B．ideas | C．questions | D．comments |
| A．rules | B．classes | C．courses | D．subjects |
| A．says | B．writes | C．reads | D．thinks |
| A．for | B．like | C．at | D．with |
| A．make | B．turn | C．let | D．change |
| A．what | B．how | C．that | D．whether |
| A．for | B．but | C．so | D．or |
| A．yet | B．already | C．still | D．rather |
| A．bad | B．good | C．independent | D．normal |
| A．learn | B．rescue | C．struggle | D．separate |
| A．experiences | B．difficulties | C．personalities | D．problems |
| A．success | B．happiness | C．failure | D．height |
| A．way | B．means | C．goal | D．spirit |
| A．short | B．small | C．tall | D．fat |
| A．lower | B．higher | C．worse | D．better |
| A．take | B．spend | C．cover | D．cost |
| A．work | B．lesson | C．teaching | D．study |
7 . Books That Remind Me of Home
Being in another country makes you appreciate all the things you love about your home. Reading and sharing books helps me to connect with my home country, the UK.
Here are some books that, for me, create vivid memories of home.
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster
This book takes the form of a series of letters, and follows the story of a girl, Judy, as she goes to university and discovers a whole world of new experiences. It reminds me of my home and my mother, because she used to read it to me when I was ill in bed.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson-Burnett
Have you ever read a description of a rural (乡村的) area that made you feel like you were actually there? For me, this book does exactly that. It is about a young girl who discovers a secret garden.
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
This was one of my favourite books when I was younger, and for this reason it still strongly reminds me of England and my childhood. It follows three children and their adventures living next to a railway.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This is a science-fiction novel about a man’s adventures in space after the destruction of Earth. It is creative and has a very British sense of humour. When I read it, I feel a strong connection to my home.
1. How is Daddy Long Legs different from the other books?| A．It brings back memories. | B．It shows British humour. |
| C．It is in the form of letters. | D．It is designed for parents. |
| A．Jean Webster. | B．Frances Hodgson-Burnett. |
| C．E. Nesbit. | D．Douglas Adams. |
| A．Daddy Long Legs. | B．The Secret Garden. |
| C．The Railway Children. | D．The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. |
8 . The top four novels of 2018 are based on Christmas selections in national newspapers---the London Standard, the TLS, he Spectator and the New Statesman.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney’s first novel, Conversations with Friends, was one of last year’s most talked-about books, response to the Irish writer's follow-up has, if anything, been even more excited. The 27-year-old was praised for her ability to convey subtle adjustment of emotion. The novel was long listed for the Man Booker Prize—but many felt that it should have done better.
Vietnam by Max Hastings
This long-awaited historical novel is a real hit which follows the Vietnam War over three decades. Hastings, who reported from the battlefield in Vietnam as a journalist in his thirties, was praised for his profound knowledge of the conflict.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Pat Barker’s novel is a retelling of The lliad—but with women at the heart of the action. The central character is Briseis. Best-known for her First World War Set Regeneration Trilogy (1997), Barker, in her fifties, again focuses on the harmful effects of war.
A Certain Idea of France by Julian Jackson
This biography by British historian Julian Jackson born in 1954 records the life of Charles de Gaulle who is regarded as one of the greatest ever Frenchmen. While acknowledging that Charles de Gaulle wasn’t very likeable, Jackson respects his imagination and boldness---qualities that helped him lead France through its liberation from the Nazis and the war in Algeria. Critics suggested it would become the standard biography.
1. What is the author's purpose in writing the text?| A．To persuade people to buy the four novels. |
| B．To record the life experiences of the four great novelists. |
| C．To introduce the yearly top four novels. |
| D．To stress the importance of the four novelists. |
| A．Sally Rooney | B．Max Hastings | C．Pat Barker | D．Julian Jackson |
| A．Normal People | B．A Certain Idea of France |
| C．The Silence of the Girls | D．Vietnam |
9 . My favourite book is The Adventure of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Tom lives with his aunt Polly in a quiet street of St. Petersburg, Missouri. He’s a lively and clever young boy, and he finds himself in many exciting adventures. He runs away with his two friends, Huck Finn and Joe, to an island in the middle of the Mississippi River for several days. With Huck he goes looking for treasure, with Becky he gets lost in a cave. And finally, they find a box of gold.
My favourite scene in the book is when everyone thinks Tom is dead. He decides to go to his own funeral. He hides and watches for a time and then suddenly he appears. Everyone is astonished to see him but they’re also pleased to see him alive.
Tom is the hero of the story, but there are other important characters. Huck is an outsider and everyone is afraid of him. Becky is pretty with fair hair, Joe is Tom’s best friend. And Injun Joe is the bad man of the story.
The theme of the story is about children growing up. It describes how strangers are seen in small towns of America. Finally, it talks about freedom, social rules and how people are punished for bad behaviour.
Why do I think The Adventure of Tom Sawyer is a great book? Mark Twain wrote the story in 1876, but it’s still read and loved by people all over the world today. And although it’s only a story, Twain wrote it in the everyday English of the southern states of America in the 19th century, so it sounds very real. Today it’s thought to be one of the greatest books in American literature. Go on—read it! I know you’ll enjoy it, too.
1. Where does Tom run away with his two friends?| A．To a quiet street. | B．To a small town. |
| C．To an island. | D．To a forest. |
| A．Huck Finn. | B．Injun Joe. |
| C．Becky. | D．Polly. |
| A．They were surprised and happy. |
| B．They were surprised and sad. |
| C．They were worried and excited. |
| D．They were frightened and happy. |
| A．ask us to read the book |
| B．tell us how popular the book is today |
| C．tell us when Mark Twain wrote the story |
| D．tell us why the story sounds very real |
10 . Strongest Female Literary Characters of All Time
There are some of history’s most inspiring and great females who can be found on the pages of these novels.
Elizabeth Bennet
Called “Lizzie” or “Eliza” by her family and friends, Elizabeth Bennet is the stubborn and clever heroine from the 1813 Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. She’s the second eldest of five daughters in the Bennet family and, like the rest of her sisters, she is expected to marry for status and money, not for love. To remain true to herself, she would rather remain single, a concept that was unheard at the time.
Nancy Drew
She first appeared in the 1930s but remains one of the most iconic female characters in all of literature. Created by Edward Stratemeyer, Nancy Drew wasn’t simply a pretty girl. Instead, the brave, physically strong, and fiercely intelligent Nancy used her superior intelligence—not her looks—to solve a series of mysteries.
Josephine March
Jo March is the second eldest daughter in the March family and is a central focus in the novel Little Women, published by Louisa May Alcott in 1868. At 15, she is strong-willed, confident, and literary and unlike her sisters, she is outspoken and uninterested in marriage. Jo both struggles with and challenges society’s expectations of how women in the 19th century should carry themselves, making her one of literature’s most daring female characters.
Hester Prynne
Recognized by some critics as one of the most important characters in female literature, Hester Prynne is the leading character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter. Married but separated by distance from her husband, Hester has an affair with a minister and becomes pregnant.
1. Why would Elizabeth Bennet rather remain single?| A．She was the eldest daughter of the family. |
| B．She doesn’t want to marry for love. |
| C．She doesn’t want to cheat herself. |
| D．She is too stubborn. |
| A．Kind. | B．Clever. | C．Outspoken. | D．Proud. |
| A．Jane Austen. | B．Edward Stratemeyer. |
| C．Nathaniel Hawthorne. | D．Louisa May Alcott. |
