4 . In 2012, fewer than 7% of Americans had read poetry, which was down from 17% in 1992. In 2015, poetry was one of the least popular art activities for American grown-ups, with under 10% picking up a book and reading for pleasure. Just when it seemed to be on its deathbed, Instapoetry — easy-to-understand poems that are short enough to fit in your Instagram description — came to save the day.

Instapoetry appeared thanks to social media and Instapoems are usually no longer than a few lines and very direct. The influence Instapoetry has made in the poetry world is great. In 2017, poetry sales were twice what they were in 2016. In 2018, 28 million Americans were reading poems, which was the highest percentage (百分比) of poetry readership in nearly twenty years.

Many people have raved about the new type of poetry. The fact that it’s direct while also being touching is what interests many readers. Before the appearance of Instapoetry, many people thought of poetry as being long and difficult to understand. With Instapoetry, it is easy to understand what the author is trying to say. Readers don’t feel stupid or think the poetry needs to be studied carefully. It’s just simple beauty.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Instapoetry has been criticized (批评) for having no meaning and for seeming like passing thoughts thrown on paper, packed up (包装) all pretty and given to the general public. Instapoetry has also been seen as a disgrace (耻辱) to writers who have worked tirelessly to improve their skills and achieve recognition.

In a world filled with a huge amount of entertainment (娱乐活动), people often choose things that are more showy, eye-catching and don’t take up too much time. Instapoetry fits the bill perfectly. While poets who choose to stick to traditional poetry should certainly keep writing, Instapoetry could be just what the poetry world needs to get it back on its feet.

6 . “For a long time, I thought poetry and mountain biking were complete opposites and would not go together at all,” says Mackenzle Myatt, a cyclist and writer from Canada, who just published her first poetry book, In Defense of Big Dreams, which goes around her lifelong love of mountain biking.

As long as Myatt can remember, she has been writing poetry and riding bikes. The two things were very separate sides of her — the sporty, competitive side and the part that loved books and writing, playing with language. It was only too mechanical to try to put them together until Myatt took ownership of her training and started digging into the mental and emotional side of sport. That’s when it really clicks with poetry.

Mountain bikers talk about the idea of flow quite a lot. During racing, the goal is to be able to achieve flow state and be super smooth as everything is happening automatically without thinking. The feeling of inspiration in writing is similar to the flow state on a mountain bike.

The flow can bring a sense of joy, which can then turn into a positive feedback loop between Myatt’s pursuits. “When I feel joy, I want to write about it now. But also, if I’m writing about joy, it encourages me to notice joy more often in daily tasks or riding bikes.” Myatt says.

In a sense, Myatt’s new book marks a successful new connection between the bike and the poetry, which not only runs throughout the book’s pages, but throughout her life, too. “The book is designed to inspire girls in sport and in life, but I really think the messages are universal and I hope that everyone can enjoy this book and act on their potential.”

7 .

Published in 1957, Teahouse is not only a peak of Lao She’s dramatist career but also a landmark in the history of modern Chinese drama.

Through a vivid     1     (describe) of what happened to a teahouse in Beijing and the fate of     2     (it) boss and a group of characters connected, Teahouse mirrors the social turmoil (动荡) and the     3     (pleasant) side of the old society. The play describes 70 characters     4     (live) in a 50-year-long period     5     involves three dynastic periods. It is a classic play with a high degree of artistic charm.

    6     successful performance of Teahouse by Beijing People’s Art Theater would be unimaginable without Jiao Juyin, the general director for the play. As a play     7     (fill) with many characters from different historical periods, Teahouse presented many severe     8     (challenge) to the director. However, Jiao Juyin had not only had a good command of the play but also turned it     9     a national poem. The teahouse in the play not only     10     (serve) as a stage set but also is a poetic symbol.

10 . Andrea Lankford quit her job after spending 12 years as a National Park Service forester specializing in search and rescue missions in scenic and remote American landscapes. However, decades later, three young hikers went missing on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). She found herself unable to turn away from the three separate cases despite challenges in the inquiry into them.

Trail of the Lost was her answer.

It’s an absorbing nonfiction narrative (叙事) about the three hikers, including their lives and those of the people looking for them. It also explores the history of the PCT and the rich subculture, practices and even literature that surround it and those who undertake the 2,650-mile journey.

The book is a rich multilayered narrative that works on three different levels. The first is the story of each of the three hikers. Lankford offers a biography (传记) of each of the missing men and shows them through the eyes of those who knew them well and those who joined the search.

Right underneath the narratives about the three hikers are the stories of everyone looking for them. Lankford played a role in each search but she allowed friends, family and even strangers to occupy center stage throughout most of the narrative. The story looks at the role of missing person Facebook groups in the searches and how crucial word of mouth can be. Many warm-hearted individuals came forth and became instrumental in the searches or provided valuable information. But Lankford also writes of the many who lied for no apparent reason and confused the investigations.

The narrative also shines a light on diverse aspects of the PCT. Lankford, who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and was the first person to mountain bike the 800-mile Arizona Trail, knows just how the PCT is physically and mentally demanding. Besides, the book explores threats from mountain lions to people with bad intentions who don’t observe the PCT’s unspoken moral rules, serving as a revelation of the well-known, hidden or ignored dangers of the PCT.

Written with a clear, fast-paced, straightforward style, Trail of the Lost is as full of hope and humanity as it is packed with pain, sorrow, danger and tension. Read it and you’ll find more than you seek.