1 . The books we read when we’re young have a special sort of power, they can inspire us to be brave and resilient! (Marilda by Roald Dahi), take us on thrilling adventures (Divergent by Veronica Roth) and even introduce us to tragedy (悲剧) (The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson). They’re as formative as anything else in our young lives, and sometimes they’re the first place we encounter larger-than-life ideas, thinking of the lasting cultural import of To Kill a Mockingbird. In The Magic Words, Cheryl B. Klein, sets out to inform would-be writers on how great novels for young readers work.
The market for YA (young-adult) novels is booming: sales in the children’s and YA sector have been neck and neck with those of adult books in recent years, and adult authors including Meg Wolitzer and Carl Hiaasen are getting in on the phenomenon. The Magic Words aims to be a master class. And in the era of promoted self-help sensations like Marie Kondo and Brenie Brown, The Magic Words is of a piece.
Klein deconstructs the seemingly obvious (clear plot-lines, sympathetic characters) to reveal the technical significance of some beloved classics. L. M. Montgomery surely didn’t regard Anne of Green Gables as a cash-in endeavor. But for those who want to best-seller writers, Anne is instructive: what’s timeless and broadly appealing about Anne—her teenage heart and impulses (冲动) is what to examine. Once you understand that, Klein encourages you to get personal: What makes you ideal to write your story? And what does it mean to the reader?
On the latter question, The Magic Words is more than a handbook. It is also a timely social commentary on the responsibility YA writers have to young adults. They must start with an awareness of their readers—not only their age but also how they might connect with the issues, like bullies or tolerance that the characters face. The narratives we tell young readers can influence how they understand and value the world around them. The magic isn’t in the words: it’s in how the words come together to reflect and confirm the realities of a diverse young-adult experience.
1. What can be learned about the books introduced?A.Divergent even introduces us to tragedy. |
B.Matilda can take us on thrilling adventures. |
C.To Kill a Mockingbird has lasting cultural significance. |
D.The Bridge to Terabithia can inspire us to be brave and resilient. |
A.The market of YA novels is shrinking. |
B.Anne is a master in the field of YA novels. |
C.Adult authors are getting in the field of YA novels. |
D.Sales in the YA sector are less than those in the adults’. |
A.Fully understand their readers first. |
B.Find someone to sponsor their writing. |
C.Develop a strategy to meet the market. |
D.Copy the works of historical masters. |
A.To promote the sales of YA books. |
B.To introduce a book for the future writers. |
C.To recommend a new writer. |
D.To arouse people’s interest in reading. |
2 . Here are 4 books you should read at least once in your life.
Number the Stars by LoisIt tells the story of a Danish girl growing up in World War II with her best friend, Ellen, who happens to be Jewish. When she learns about the horrors that the Nazis are imposing on the Jewish people, she and her family stop at nothing to protect Ellen and countless other Jews. Lois’ novel is a powerful reminder that cultural and religious differences are no divide between true friends.
The Little Prince by AntoineIt is the story of a little boy who falls to Earth from an Asteroid (小行星) after visiting several other asteroids to try to understand mankind. In his travels he meets a series of strange and delightful characters and an untamed fox. The Little Prince is a heartwarming tale of the power of friendship and trust.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. WhiteWho doesn’t love a novel about talking animals? It opens the door to imagination, asking us to imagine what a world where animals could talk would be like. On a more serious note, it challenges us to ask ourselves how we’d treat animals if they could talk. If they could tell us their joys and their fears, would mankind treat them more humanely?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe story centers on Jean Louise Finch, an unusually intelligent girl who ages from six to nine years old during the novel. Her father, Atticus Finch, a well-known and respected lawyer, defends Tom Robinson, an African American who is falsely accused of killing a young white woman. It is both a young girl’s coming-of-age story and a darker drama about the roots and consequences of racism and prejudice in society.
1. What do the two books Number the Stars and The Little Prince both involve?A.History. | B.Travel. | C.Friendship. | D.Family. |
A.A fairy story book. | B.An animal science book. |
C.A biology textbook. | D.An animal book for kids. |
A.Family conflicts. | B.Career design. |
C.Legal systems. | D.Social issues. |
3 . J. K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, said that she had kept a fairy tale on her bookshelf for almost ten years. The story is called The Ickabog. She said that the story was the one that she wrote years ago in between writing the Harry Potter novels. She stressed, “It isn’t Harry Potter and it doesn’t include magic. This is an entirely different story.”
Ms. Rowling had always thought of the story as one that belonged to her children since she read it to them when they were younger. In recent weeks, she’s worked to bring the book to a final version.
Several weeks ago, the author said she came up with the idea of publishing the novel for free on her website to amuse children who were stuck at home because of lockdown (活动限制). She discussed the idea with her children, who are now teenagers, and they thought it was a good idea.
The Ickabog is a fairy tale set in a kingdom known as “Cornucopia”. The author described The Ickabog as “a story about the misuse of power”. She said the story wasn’t written about anything going on now but could be about any time or any country. And she hoped children could learn the results of people misusing their positions.
Because the book was first written as a read-aloud one, Ms. Rowling thought it was well-suited to being published in parts on the Internet. The book will be officially published in November as a regular book, as well as an eBook and an audiobook. The money from the sales of those books will go to support groups that have been hit hard by the pandemic (流行病). Many Fans said that they liked the idea. And they thought what J. K. Rowling was doing would make The Ickabog a second Harry Potter.
1. What did J. K. Rowling say about The Ickabog?A.It took her almost ten years to finish it. |
B.It wasn’t good enough to get published. |
C.It might be a book suitable for all her fans. |
D.It didn’t keep the style of her well-known works. |
A.Caring for the weak is important. |
B.They should value their own cultures. |
C.They should learn from powerful people. |
D.Using power in the wrong way can be harmful. |
A.The Ickabog has something to do with Harry Potter. |
B.J. K. Rowling’s good action will make The Ickabog a best-seller. |
C.J. K. Rowling hopes her new book will attract young readers. |
D.The Ickabog will become more popular than Harry Potter. |
A.J. K. Rowling’s new ideas for writing |
B.J. K. Rowling’s surprise for Harry Potter’s fans |
C.J. K. Rowling supports sufferers with her new book |
D.J. K. Rowling teaches her children with her new book |
4 . Walt Disney is credited for creating such wonderful things as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. However, he cannot take the credit for creating other well-loved characters, such as Cinderella and Snow White. They are almost automatically associated with Disney because Disney turned old fables (寓言) into cartoon movies.
The original Cinderella varies very much from the Disney version we know today. It started off with the girl mourning her mother’s death and going to her tomb three times a day. In addition, there were only birds that helped Cinderella; there was no such thing as a fairy godmother or helpful mice, nor was there mention of a horse and carriage.
The stepsisters were cruel: they always threw Cinderella’s food into the ashes of the fire and made her sleep on the ashes on the floor, hence her name.
In the original story, the king’s ball actually lasted for three days. With the help of the birds, the girl, beautifully dressed, danced with the prince on all three nights and the prince fell in love with her. However, she broke away from him to rush back home each night. On the last night, the prince placed soothing sticky on the stairs; as Cinderella made her escape, a shoe got stuck on it.
Here now is where the story becomes unpleasant: when the prince went to the house looking for the girl whose foot fit the shoe, the wicked (邪恶的) stepmother told one of her two daughters to cut off her big toe to fit into the shoe. The daughter did as told. So the prince took her away to be his bride. But when they passed the tomb of Cinderella’s mother, the birds called out to the prince, “Turn and peep, there’s blood in the shoe; the shoe is too small, the true bride waits for you.” Realizing he had been tricked, the prince returned the daughter to her mother. The other then had to cut off part of her heel in order to fit into the shoe, with the same result. Only Cinderella’s foot fit perfectly and so the prince chose to marry her. The story ends with the wedding day: as Cinderella’s two stepsisters followed her, pretending to be devoted to her so that they could enjoy the king’s riches, two birds flew by and plucked (啄) out their eyes. Because of their wickedness and falsehood, they had to spend the rest of their days blind.
The original Cinderella is so different from the Disney version. Thank goodness Disney made such changes; it indeed was a wise move.
1. What dose the underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refer to?A.Such wonderful things. | B.Other well-loved characters. |
C.Old fables. | D.Cartoon movies. |
A.The Birds came up with it. | B.It was given by Disney. |
C.It came from the word “ash”. | D.She got it from her mother. |
A.Helpful mice got Cinderella a beautiful dress. |
B.The ball was held to celebrate the prince’s wedding. |
C.Cinderella left her shoe on the stairs on purpose. |
D.The birds told the prince that he had been cheated. |
A.Excellent. | B.Accurate | C.Critical. | D.Ridiculous. |
5 . Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is a great book that has attracted young and old readers for over a century. Its long-lasting popularity shows Sewell’s skillful storytelling and the great message at the novel’s heart.
Through the eyes of Black Beauty, readers are sent to a world filled with trouble, pity, and hope. Sewell’s choice to tell the story from the horse’s viewpoint (角度) was a new method which made it easier for future writers to explore the thoughts of animals. The main ideas in the novel are just as important today as they were in the Victorian times.
Black Beauty is a lovely black horse that begins as a carriage (马车) horse, but when he is hurt, his rich owner decides that he is no longer good enough to be a carriage horse. From that moment, he is passed from owner to owner and goes through lots of hard work. Even though many unpleasant things happen to Black Beauty at the hands of unkind humans, he lives up to his name both outside and inside.
This story of his life from birth to old age is beautifully descriptive. Everything from his active days as a baby horse on a farm to a hard life pulling carriages on stone roads in London can be readily pictured in the readers’mind. Each part carries an important message about animal well-being, kindness, and respect, and is filled with plenty of page-turning suspense (悬念).
This Collector’s Edition of Black Beauty shows respect for this beloved book. Each part of the book has been carefully considered. From the drawings on the cover to the colored blocking, this is truly one-of-a-kind. The matching colored endpapers add an extra touch of luxury (奢侈), making it the perfect addition to any collector’s library and a great chance to experience the story that will reach your heart and stay with you forever.
1. What of Black Beauty helps future writers most?A.The main idea. | B.The storyline. |
C.The touching ending. | D.The way of writing. |
A.It’s thin and weak. | B.It hates hard work. |
C.It has good qualities. | D.It feels not up to the job. |
A.To introduce each part. |
B.To share feelings about the horse. |
C.To give opinions about the story. |
D.To give examples of page-turning suspense. |
A.A diary entry. | B.A news report. |
C.A children’s story. | D.A book review. |
6 . The hustle and bustle(喧嚣)of life, walking back and forth from the ideal to reality, and the inner confusion hidden behind a social mask-these daily experiences are recorded by Chinese youths in lines of poetry online. Recently, 124 Bilibili internet users shared their works in a poem collection.
One blogger on Xiaohongshu who goes by the nickname Gehuaren is one such poetry lover. The twenty-something girl not only writes poems as a form of entertainment in her spare time, but also improvises(即兴创作)poems for others at night markets in Yunnan. As a street-stall poet, Gehuaren often writes pieces of poetry quickly based on themes from customers. Once the poem has been completed, she refuses to change her work because she feels her poems reflect her first reaction. For her, everything in the world, no matter trivial or significant, can serve as her poetic inspiration. “A glass, a tree in the dawn or a person who once talked with me…these all could become themes for my poems,” said Gehuaren.
With free writing with a regular rhythm and broad themes, her poems strike a chord with many young people online, helping her gain over 190, 000 followers. Many have made comments “I feel healed by your poems because I can find beauty from unnoticeable things and in turn, slow down to reflect on my life.”
Apart from poetry, various means such as vlogging and photosharing can be used to record moments of daily life. But young people consider poetry to be the best way to express them. “Taking photos or vlogging can just show the object or emotions in real life. Yet poetry, which can be used to excite the imagination, shows the beauty of daily life, ”an 18-year-old said. So when he is inspired by the beauty of daily life, the boy writes it down into lines of poetry and then shares them with his friends on his WeChat Moments.
No matter why young people write their unique brand of poems, they are attempting to take every moment in lives seriously, face their lives bravely and actively express themselves.
1. How does Gehuaren find inspiration for her poems?A.By referring to traditional Chinese poems. |
B.By attending various online poetry lectures. |
C.By exploring great moments in life. |
D.By observing everyday life. |
A.They are original and full of imagination. |
B.They have a strong sense of rhythm. |
C.They record the beauty of small and ordinary things. |
D.They reflect the differences between the ideal and reality. |
A.Positive. | B.Neutral. | C.Cautious. | D.Objective. |
A.They hope to avoid challenges. |
B.They intend to impress their peers. |
C.They try to escape from the busy life. |
D.They make their thoughts known bravely. |
7 . Poetry Challenges to Enrich Your Reading Life
Whether you desire for more poetry or simply appreciate striving for reading goals, these three poetry challenges can serve as that push to create space for more poetry in your life.
●Sign up for Poem-a-Day Newsletter
If a daily commitment interests you, visit Poets. org to sign up for the ever-popular Poem-a-Day newsletter. Over 250,000 people have subscribed to receive a “new” poem every weekday and a “classic” poem every weekend day.
●Participate in National Poetry Writing Month
If you prefer shorter commitments, National Poetry Writing Month takes place every April during National Poetry Month. For NaPoWriMo, poetry lovers pen “30 poems in 30 days.” Often while sitting at your writing desk and waiting on the muses (沉思), you can reach for authors and pieces that move you.
●
Many poetry challenges exist because of others. Why not borrow what fit s your current life from those exciting challenges and invite other poetry enthusiasts to participate? If you do find yourself inspired by others, please credit the lovely minds that dreamed up the challenges.
Whether you’re new to poetry or a long-time fan, I’m crossing my fingers and toes that these poetry challenges cause you to form a deeper connection to the genre.
A.Translate Poetry Compositions. |
B.Create Your Own Poetry Challenge. |
C.Perhaps writing poems will keep you reading poems, too. |
D.In short, it gives you opportunities to create poetry challenge. |
E.Also, they can connect you with a community of poetry readers. |
F.At the very least, I hope it pushes you to put poetry first in your reading life. |
G.Each month, a different guest editor takes charge of the weekday publications. |
Aliens have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed human beings. Humans couldn’t lose anymore. Therefore, the world government has started to train military geniuses in the arts of war. Ender Wiggin is taking part in this training. He wins all the games. He knows time is running out, but can he save the planet?It’s good science fiction for boys.
The Broken Earth Trilogy (三部曲) by N.K. Jemisin
Moving into more modern territory, each entry of N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy won a Hugo Award when it was first published. It’s a science-fiction story married to fantasy elements that is one of the most famous pieces of literature.
The Expanse series by James S.A.Corey
This spectacular series consists of nine books. I know that looks like a lot of novels, but trust me, they are absolutely worth reading. The Expanse is easily one of the best sci-fi series in history, and now the TV adaptation has become one of the best sci-fi shows in history. The first book starts in our solar system and expands beyond it with a growing cast of characters that will feel like family after a dive into this fantastic series.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
This is the only stand-alone book on this list, so if you don’t feel like investing in 300,000 pages of content, Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash is for you. This author of the book uses virtual reality as the setting, and the main character is a pizza deliveryman in one world and a warrior prince in another.
1. Which book is suitable for you if you favor award-winning ones?A.The Broken Earth Trilogy | B.Ender’s Game |
C.Snow Crash | D.The Expanse |
A.They all have TV adaptations. |
B.They are based on true stories. |
C.They are best-sellers on shelf. |
D.They are fiction worth reading. |
A.To advertise. | B.To introduce. |
C.To recommend. | D.To instruct. |
9 . Guide posts Magazine
Guide posts is the inspirational magazine that will move and inspire you with heartwarming stories and faith-affirming (坚定信仰) articles that show anything is possible with hope and faith.
Product Description
Escape into the beautiful pages of the new Guide posts magazine and feel your spirits soar. You’ll be amazed at how uplifting and true stories of positive people can help fill your own life with more hope and joy and see the remarkable ways people are at work in your life. You’ll have comfort in stories of how others leaned on faith and overcame struggles. Discover new ways to live and to be inspired, reflect on inspiring quotes and “travel” to beautiful places and friendly small towns. You can also take a much-needed break from all the “screen time”, and relax with your new Guide posts magazine. You’ll get:
More pages of true stories of hope and inspiration;
All your favorite features like “Mysterious Ways”, “Someone Cares” and “The Up Side”;
New articles on spiritual growth with tips for applying them to your own life.
Publication
Guide posts is small in size, printed on beautiful, high-quality paper and it is published bi-monthly or 6 issues annually with a minimum of 100 pages each issue.
Special Offer
If you subscribe today, you can save almost 35% and receive a free gift-2023 Guide posts Calendar, and you also can get a free Scenic Wall Calendar.
Continuous Service Program
As part of the convenient Continuous Service Program, you will receive continuous service for as long as you wish. You will always be notified in advance with the price and term then in effect. There is no obligation (义务) to renew the subscription and you may cancel at anytime.
1. What kind of articles is Guide posts about?A.Folk tales. | B.Love stories. |
C.Encouraging stories. | D.Horror tales. |
A.Making yourself more confident. |
B.Becoming a warm-hearted person. |
C.Being invited to talk with positive people. |
D.Being invited to travel to places of interest. |
A.Saving nearly 65% of the money. |
B.Getting a Scenic Wall Calendar. |
C.Reading Guideposts on the Internet for free. |
D.Getting two-year Guide posts Calendars. |
10 . When it came to concealing his troubles, Tommy Wilhelm was not less capable than the next fellow. So at least he thought, and there was a certain amount of evidence to back him up. He had once been an actor—no, not quite, an extra—and he knew what acting should be. Also, he was smoking a cigar, and when a man is smoking a cigar, wearing a hat, he has an advantage: it is harder to find out how he feels. He came from the twenty-third floor down to the lobby on the mezzanine to collect his mail before breakfast, and he believed — he hoped — that he looked passably well: doing all right. It was a matter of sheer hope, because there was not much that he could add to his present effort. On the fourteenth floor he looked for his father to enter the elevator; they often met at this hour, on the way to breakfast. If he worried about his appearance it was mainly for his old father's sake. But there was no stop on the fourteenth, and the elevator sank and sank. Then the smooth door opened and the great dark-red uneven carpet that covered the lobby billowed toward Wilhelm's feet. In the foreground the lobby was dark, sleepy. French drapes like sails kept out the sun, but three high, narrow windows were open, and in the blue air Wilhelm saw a pigeon about to light on the great chain that supported the marquee of the movie house directly underneath the lobby. For one moment he heard the wings beating strongly.
Most of the guests at the Hotel Gloriana were past the age of retirement. Along Broadway in the Seventies, Eighties, and Nineties, a great part of New York's vast population of old men and women lives. Unless the weather is too cold or wet they fill the benches about the tiny railed parks and along the subway gratings from Verdi Square to Columbia University, they crowd the shops and cafeterias, the dime stores, the tearooms, the bakeries, the beauty parlors, the reading rooms and club rooms. Among these old people at the Gloriana, Wilhelm felt out of place. He was comparatively young, in his middle forties, large and blond, with big shoulders; his back was heavy and strong, if already a little stooped or thickened. After breakfast the old guests sat down on the green leather armchairs and sofas in the lobby and began to gossip and look into the papers: they had nothing to do but wait out the day. But Wilhelm was used to an active life and liked to go out energetically in the morning. And for several months, because he had no position, he had kept up his morale by rising early: he was shaved and in the lobby by eight o'clock. He bought the paper and some cigars and drank a Coca-Cola or two before he went in to breakfast with his father. After breakfast—out, out, out to attend to business. The getting out had in itself become the chief business. But he had realized that he could not keep this up much longer, and today he was afraid. He was aware that his routine was about to break up and he sensed that a huge trouble long presaged(预感)but till now formless was due. Before evening, he'd know.
Nevertheless he followed his daily course and crossed the lobby.
Rubin, the man at the newsstand, had poor eyes. They may not have been actually weak but they were poor in expression, with lacy lids that furled down at the corners. He dressed well. It didn't seem necessary—he was behind the counter most of the time—but he dressed very well. He had on a rich brown suit; the cuffs embarrassed the hairs on his small hands. He wore a Countess Mara painted necktie. As Wilhelm approached, Rubin did not see him; he was looking out dreamily at the Hotel Ansonia, which was visible from his corner, several blocks away. The Ansonia, the neighborhood's great landmark, was built by Stanford White. It looks like a baroque palace from Prague or Munich enlarged a hundred times, with towers, domes, huge swells and bubbles of metal gone green from exposure, iron fretwork and festoons. Black television antennae are densely planted on its round summits. Under the changes of weather it may look like marble or like sea water, black as slate in the fog, white as tufa in sunlight. This morning it looked like the image of itself reflected in deep water, white and cumulous above, with cavernous distortions underneath. Together, the two men gazed at it.
Then Rubin said, “Your dad is in to breakfast already, the old gentleman.”
“Oh, yes?Ahead of me today?”
“That's a real knocked-out shirt you got on,” said Rubin.“Where’s it from, Saks?”
“No, it’s a Jack Fagman—Chicago.”
Even when his spirits were low, Wilhelm could still wrinkle his forehead in a pleasing way. Some of the slow, silent movements of his face were very attractive. He went back a step, as if to stand away from himself and get a better look at his shirt. His glance was comic, a comment upon his untidiness. He liked to wear good clothes, but once he had put it on each article appeared to go its own way. Wilhelm, laughing, panted a little; his teeth were small; his cheeks when he laughed and puffed grew round, and he looked much younger than his years. In the old days when he was a college freshman and wore a beanie(无檐小帽)on his large blonde head his father used to say that, big as he was, he could charm a bird out of a tree. Wilhelm had great charm still.
“I like this dove-gray color,” he said in his sociable, good-natured way. “It isn’t washable. You have to send it to the cleaner. It never smells as good as washed. But it’s a nice shirt. It cost sixteen, eighteen bucks.”
1. Wilhelm hoped he looked all right on his way to the lobby because he wanted to________.A.leave a good impression | B.give his father a surprise |
C.show his acting potential | D.disguise his low spirit |
A.lived a luxurious life | B.liked to swap gossips |
C.idled their time away | D.liked to get up early |
A.He felt something ominous was coming. | B.He was worried that his father was late. |
C.He was feeling at ease among the old. | D.He was excited about a possible job offer. |
A.His shirt made him look better. | B.He cared much about his clothes. |
C.He looked like a comedian in his shirt. | D.The clothes he wore never quite matched. |