1 . How to Read a Poem

You’ve selected the poem you want to read — congratulations! Now it’s time for the business of reading it.

Examine the title and the shape

    1     — how does it make you feel? How does the title fit the shape of the poem? If the title is sad, let the shape of the poem inform the small difference of the emotion — if it’s short and sparse (稀疏的), maybe it’s coming from a place of desolation or desperation.     2    .

Read the poem as you normally read anything

Reading poetry doesn’t require a clever approach; you can read as you’d read anything else. On the first pass through, absorb whatever it is that arises upon first impression.     3    , maybe your stomach churns (恶心) at a particular phrase, or you hold your breath at a certain line. Explore the feelings that come up as you read.

    4    

Next, try reading the poem out loud or search for readings of the poem online. This is where the music of a poem emerges, and you can feel the shape of each word and line as you move through it.

Add context to paint a full picture

Finally, return to the poem context.     5    ; look at the publication date and consider the world around the poem when it was first released. Consider where the poem lives: Was it released as part of the author’s poetry book, or was it published in a literary magazine? From these details and materials you will get a deeper understanding of the poem.

A．Re-read for sound

B．Re-read for meaning

C．Dig into the author’s history

D．Notice where in the poem you react

E．Look for where the poem offers a moment of surprise

F．Before you start a poem, you should first read the title

G．Long messy forms might mean it’s coming from a place of confusion or anger

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. How does John feel about Amy’s poetry?

A．It is very classic.

B．It is very romantic.

C．It is very unique.

2. When is the conversation probably taking place?

A．On Monday.

B．On Tuesday.

C．On Thursday.

3. What topic of poetry will the speakers read about this Thursday?

A．Love.

B．Nature.

C．Friendship.

4. Whose works will the speakers read this week?

A．John Keats’.

B．Emily Dickinson’s.

C．William Wordsworth’s.

3 . I have always loved the Arthurian legend (传奇), as there is something quite special about King Arthur, and of course Merlin, my favourite character from the stories.

Death of an Empire is the second volume in MK Hume’s “Merlin” series which details Merlin’s life from birth. Merlin travels across the Roman Empire in search of his father, a voyage of discovery to understand just who he was. Eventually Merlin gets involved in the fight against the Hun’s invasion (入侵) of Europe at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plain.

Serving under the General Flavius Aetius, Merlin builds a reputation by saving the lives of thousands of soldiers. When he finally reaches Rome, he saves many more. But a far deadlier conflict between Emperor Valentinian and Senator Petronius Maximus is around the corner and Merlin must use all his strength to carry out his work.

If I had to choose just one word to describe this novel, there would be no other choice than “immersive (身临其境的)”. There has clearly been a serious amount of research carried out by the author. Combined with the descriptive prose and imaginative story, the book really does attract you from almost the very start. The story really does feel like you are a part of it as Merlin travels across the Roman Empire.

The author does a great job of mixing the rich history with established Arthurian legend. The battle scene is handled very effectively. The author employs a very effective form to show the main fight and this not only adds a degree of tension and a good level of excitement but almost makes you feel like you are right there hearing about what happened.

Death of an Empire is a very fine novel, a wonderfully rich tale and a rewarding story.

1. Why does Merlin travel across the Roman Empire?

A．To visit King Arthur.	B．To enjoy a nice view.
C．To get a well-paid job.	D．To find out his origin.

2. What can we learn about the novel?

A．It is a mixture of history and legend.

B．It features difficult language.

C．It speaks highly of an emperor.

D．It is a masterpiece of Merlin.

3. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．An effective description.	B．A long-running battle.
C．A wonderful feeling.	D．A well-known legend.

4. What is the text?

A．A news report.	B．A history story.
C．A book review.	D．A science fiction.

4 . It’s the year 2140 and two kids ride their surfboards in the heart of Manhattan, near the point where Sixth Avenue meets Broadway. If you are familiar with this junction you will know it is far from the US’s current coastline. But in Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel New York 2140, Manhattan is flooded after continuous climate change causes the sea level to rise by 15.25 m.

Robinson’s 2017 climate fiction novel belongs to a new kind of novel, which tells “the story of the next century”. It might be helping readers across the world comprehend the situation in which we currently find ourselves.

Climate change is an indescribable crisis to make sense of. Drop some poisonous chemicals in a river now and you will see dead fish within days, but what do you witness when you release (释放) carbon dioxide (CO₂)?

“This is where fiction comes in: it brings the abstract data closer to home by focusing on the face sand stories in these futures. Show readers a detailed account of a climate-changed future,” says Robinson, and they have an easier time imagining it. “Science fiction gets people thinking in a way that another report on climate change doesn’t,” says Shelley Streeby, a professor of Literature and Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego. “It helps people feel not only about what might be coming, but also about the present. It is about taking certain conditions that exist nowadays, extending them into the future and throwing a bunch of characters into their midst.”

In the search to adopt climate change as a topic, writers are doing what they do best: trying to tell a good story. Sometimes they write with a touch of optimism as they negotiate the current crisis. But even with this optimism, these writers want to make sure the world knows they, at least, are paying attention.

1. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．To give background on a story.

B．To promote the novel New York 2140.

C．To lead to the topic of climate fiction.

D．To show the influence of climate change.

2. How does the author show the climate change crisis is “indescribable”?

A．By inferring.	B．By comparing.
C．By analyzing.	D．By imagining.

3. What’s Streeby’s attitude toward science fiction?

A．Approving.

B．Cautious.

C．Negative.

D．Doubtful.

4. Which is the best title for the text?

A．Climate Crisis: No Longer a Forecast

B．The Future World: More Promising

C．New York 2140: A New Type of Novel

D．Climate Fiction: A Reminder of Climate Change

5 . More than anything, this is a book about unconditional love—a bond between a caring woman and a loyal dog. Harley’s Harlequin Heart written by Christy Jaeger and_________through the narration(叙述)of the dog Harley, shows why the power of love can overcome the_________that is part of every life journey. It also teaches us how we can make the world a(n)_________place together with dogs.

Harley takes us along on all his_________with his owner Jaeger—from growing up, being trained, to going to dog shows. Then one day, Harley is_________with bone cancer. Fortunately, it appears that there’s enough time to explore_________“Jaeger told me that everyone has a sixth sense, which_________ them when something’s not right. Looking back, I’m glad she paid attention to her_________alarm.” Harley thought.

Through surgery, this smart dog_________. It isn’t easy and he tells us about his pain and fears. But chances of__________look promising. After this experience, Harley__________realizes that when someone has cancer, the entire family will__________. However, all the people playing a part in the__________form a connection that is unbreakable .

Harley’s__________with cancer might concern adults considering reading this book with their children. But Jaeger through Harley’s__________ provides such a friendly, positive perspective(观点) that there is so much more reason to__________this book. Besides, it helps greatly that the book has a(n)__________ ending.

As Jaeger notes, “The book__________love to all who read it. This small element can be__________in the human and animal worlds.” Love can defeat all. That__________couldn’t be any clearer than in this wonderful book.

1.

A．explained

B．presented

C．designed

D．included

2.

A．misfortune

B．unease

C．inconvenience

D．discomfort

3.

A．easier

B．safer

C．better

D．richer

4.

A．packages

B．dreams

C．burdens

D．adventures

5.

A．diagnosed

B．attacked

C．loaded

D．faced

6.

A．mysteries

B．problems

C．cures

D．challenges

7.

A．forbids

B．hits

C．informs

D．warns

8.

A．active

B．inner

C．useful

D．sudden

9.

A．pushes through

B．bends down

C．cheers up

D．gets off

10.

A．treatment

B．recovery

C．victory

D．entry

11.

A．innocently

B．automatically

C．gradually

D．accidentally

12.

A．suffer

B．behave

C．perform

D．delay

13.

A．grouch

B．circle

C．protection

D．process

14.

A．competing

B．battling

C．continuing

D．mixing

15.

A．development

B．discovery

C．imagination

D．description

16.

A．possess

B．close

C．share

D．print

17.

A．typical

B．happy

C．ridiculous

D．sudden

18.

A．spreads

B．sends

C．expands

D．devotes

19.

A．decisive

B．logical

C．attractive

D．influential

20.

A．routine

B．force

C．message

D．image

6 . This year’s favorite books offer a mixture of advice on how to create a happier and more compassionate society through shifting our worldview and improving our social interactions.

Bittersweet

Writer Susan Cain describes bittersweet feelings as “a tendency to states of longing and sorrow and a curious joy at the beauty of the world”. Embracing these emotions can make our lives more meaningful. Such feelings can create motivation to reach a renewed sense of purpose. While sometimes unpleasant, they can spur spiritual growth and foster our connection with others.

Platonic

“Friendships are wrongly undervalued in our society,” writes psychologist Marisa Franco. It’s friendships that provide us with a great sense of belonging and happiness. Her book shows us how to go about it—by reaching out, offering affection and generosity. Franco gives practical guidance on how to manage psychological blocks to friendship, paving the way to deeper relationships.

Happier Hour

Many people feel they don’t have enough hours to do everything they’d like to do. But researcher Cassie Holmes shows why this attitude is wrong-headed. She encourages us to evaluate our current use of free time and how much pleasure we get from our activities. Then, she offers evidence-based tips on how to use time more wisely—by lessening technology use, developing relationships and experiencing gratitude.

The Secret Life of Secrets

Is keeping a secret a bad thing? In professor Michael Slepian’s book, “People don’t like to be alone with their thoughts, and having a secret can cause feelings of isolation and uncertainty.” Therefore, it’s probably good to find a different way to cope, like telling your trusting friends. Slepian offers tips on how to decide whether to keep or reveal a secret to avoid harming relationships.

1. What does Susan Cain try to convince us in her book?

A．Bitter feelings can change into sweet ones.

B．Unpleasant emotion blocks our mental growth.

C．Accepting sorrow and happiness makes us whole.

D．A sense of longing makes the beauty of the world.

2. Which book interests those who have trouble managing time?

A．Bittersweet.	B．Platonic.
C．Happier Hour.	D．The Secret Life of Secrets.

3. What aspect do Platonic and The Secret Life of Secrets both involve?

A．Pursuing wealth and health.

B．Reading to stop isolation of life.

C．Revealing a secret for stable friendship.

D．Developing interpersonal relationships.

8 . Four newest novels

If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal

What Animal Intelligence Reveals about Human Stupidity

by Justin Gregg. Little, Brown, 2022 ($29)

The book is a snappy read but lingers: it left me wondering why we don’t respect signals of intelligence from other species-and more deeply consider how our own intelligence works against us. -Darcy B. Kelley

Meet Us by the Roaring Sea

A Novel by Akil Kumarasamy. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2022 ($27)

Set in a future of eye scans, carbon credits and advanced Al. Akil Kumarasamy’s new novel nonetheless feels surprisingly like home-even as it tests the boundaries of self and story.

Doctors and Distillers

The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails

by Camper English. Penguin Books, 2022($18, paperbound)

Your favorite cocktail may very well have its roots in medicine of generations past. With immense wit and charm, author Camper English traces millennia to explore how civilizations used the fermented and distilled beverages to do everything from hydrating the workforce to fending off the Black Death.

The Milky Way

An Autobiography of Our Galaxy by Moiya McTier

Grand Central Publishing, 2022 (26)

Moiya McTier assumes the role of cosmic interpreter to let our galaxy tell her own story. As a character the Milky Way is a cross between a Greek goddess and GLaDOS. the artificially super intelligent computer system from the Portal video-game series.

1. Which book talks about the theme of intelligence of species?

A．Doctors and Distillers	B．The Milky Way
C．If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal	D．Meet Us by the Roaring Sea

2. What do the four books have in common?

A．They are all hard-covers.

B．They come out in the same year.

C．They share the same topic.

D．They are published by the same publishing.

3. How much should Tom, who wants to buy two of the books pay at least?

A．$44

B．$54

C．$56

D．$53

9 . Directions: After reading the passages below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each other.

Elon Musk Tweets an Ancient Chinese Poem. Here’s What It Means.

The world’s richest man caught up in Twitter spats (小争吵), now wants some peace. In a Monday tweet, Elon Musk wrote “humankined,” followed by the Chinese poem The Quatrain of Seven Steps, a widely known classical poem used     1    (describe) infighting between closely-related people. Here is the poem     2    (translate) into English by Moss Roberts:

Beans a simmer on a beanstalk flame

From inside the pot expressed their ire:

“Alive we sprouted on a single root — What’s your rush to cook us on the fire?”

The verses were attributed to Cao Zhi, the son of famous warlord Cao Cao,     3     lived between 192 and 232 during the Three Kingdoms period. What exactly happened in history is contested. But the popular tale goes     4     after Cao Cao’s death, his oldest son Cao Pi succeeded him to become an emperor. Cao Pi was jealous of his younger brother Cao Zhi’s literary talent and wanted to find an excuse to kill him. One day, Cao Pi ordered Cao Zhi to make a poem about their fraternal (兄弟间的) relationship within seven paces, and swore to have the younger brother executed     5     he failed.

Cao Zhi then made the bean-themed verses     6     the spot, alluding (影射) to Cao Pi’s cruel attempt to murder his own sibling.     7    (feel) ashamed, Cao Pi eventually let Cao Zhi go.

In China, the poem is taught to primary school students and is often quoted by people to describe unnecessary rivalries. Interest users, including people in China, are confused over what Musk     8    (refer) to. Musk later liked a reply to his post that translated the verses as “Humans are from the same ancestor, why are we so eager to destroy each other?” He     9     be talking bout a recent argument with the United Nations’ World Food Program. After the program’s director David Beaslety challenged the ultra-rich to provide $6 billion to help 42 million people, Musk over the weekend said he would sell his Tesla shares if the program could show on Twitter exactly     10     $6 billion could solve world hunger. Beasley invited Musk to talk, but Musk demanded open books (一目了然的事物) from the organization.

10 . These 4 novels will get your summer off to a terrific start

This Time Tomorrow

by Emma Straub

Straub’s new novel is a time-travel fantasy filled with her signature awareness of the infinite ways we humans make life harder for ourselves. The heroine here is a single woman named Alice who works at her old high school. Her father, a bestselling novelist who raised Alice on his own, is dying in a New York hospital. On the night of Alice’s 40th birthday, Alice returns from a drunken party and stumbles into the gift of time travel, which allows her to explore the big question, “What if”?

Search

by Michelle Huneven

Huneven’s comic novel is a delicious must-read for anyone who’s ever served on a committee. The narrator, Dana Potowski, is a food writer living in California who’s roped into joining the search committee for the new minister of the church. Huneven dramatizes how one strong personality—in this case a young woman swollen with insolence—can control a committee.

One-Shot Harry

by Gary Phillips

Group decisions are not something Harry Ingram worries about. He’s the star of this new hard-boiled mystery by veteran crime writer Gary Phillips. One-Shot Harry is set in L.A. in 1963, as racial tensions are worsening in advance of Martin Luther King’s upcoming Freedom Rally at Wrigley Field. Harry, a Black free news photographer who roams all over L.A. with his Speed Graphic camera, is the best of all possible guides to this moment. His job gives him entrée into neighborhoods and events that might otherwise be off-limits to him because of his race.

Knock Off the Hat

by Richard Stevenson

Richard Lipez, who wrote under the penname Richard Stevenson, was a groundbreaking author of gay detective novels featuring private eye Donald Strachey. Knock Off The Hat may be the best novel Dick ever wrote. Its main character, Clifford Waterman, is a former police detective dishonorably discharged from the Army during World War II for an “indecent act.”

1. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Straub is a bestselling novelist.

B．Huneven is a young woman swollen with insolence.

C．Black people were unable to enter into many places in 1963.

D．Clifford is a respectable former police detective.

2. What is the best choice for a time-travel novel lover?

A．One-Shot Harry	B．Search
C．Knock Off the Hat	D．This Time Tomorrow

3. What made Richard Stevenson famous?

A．He had a special penname.	B．He wrote gay detective novels.
C．He once served the army during WWⅡ.	D．He had a sharp vision.