1 . What’s the effect of poetry on our brain? Scientists have been investigating the neuronal (神经元的) connections and brain circuits that can work in the reading of poetry for some time. And, even though the research has only just begun, the results are already fascinating.

Poetry has the oldest recorded texts in literature. Although it’s impossible to say exactly when it began to be used in the oral tradition, we dare to say that it’s accompanied humanity forever. This gives us an idea of the impact that poetic language can have on our emotional and cognitive state. The emotional response to literature in general shares areas of activation with music. However, more areas of the right hemisphere (半球) seem to be related to poetry. The researchers measured the goosebumps resulting from the tingling (强烈感受) sensation in reading poetry. This type of sensation has also been proven to result from music. However, the tingling sensations produced by poetry activate different areas of the brain compared to those activated by music.

Dr. Eugen Wassiliwizky’s team collected data on behavioral responses in people reading or listening to poetry. They proved that poetry is capable of causing emotional responses and rich emotional experiences. In addition, a poem expresses the poet’s ideas. From a psychological view, poetry is a game of language that manages to group words in a surprising way. We could compare this with how a chef combines ingredients that seem impossible to combine, producing extraordinary results. Poetry is based on rules of construction. It sets up a rhythm, which then breaks, before finally returning to it. The play on the meanings of words, sometimes several meanings in just one word, is extremely intellectually inspiring. We can read a poem a thousand times, and still find its new meanings.

Generally, our passage through the wonderful world of poetry is cut short by a rather reduced exposure during childhood and the overly analytical approach of this literary genre (类型),which is given in most schools. Although, the studies that experts have conducted on poetry get a lot of interesting results, poetry still holds a mystery that science hasn’t yet been able to investigate. For example, why a perfect cadence (抑扬顿挫) and rhythm can lift the spirit of people is the new challenge for the research.

1. What is the main difference between poetry and music?

A．Music causes fewer goosebumps.

B．Poetry creates more tingling sensations.

C．They work on different parts of the brain.

D．They are processed in different parts of the brain.

2. What does the author probably think of poetry?

A．It is vague in its meaning but rich in emotional experience.

B．It combines ingredients and extraordinary results.

C．It expresses something about the poet.

D．It’s a pure game of language that surprises to give readers.

3. What might be the problem when we learn poetry at school?

A．We analyze this literary genre too much.

B．We make children more exposed to it.

C．We haven’t read a poem a thousand times.

D．We rely too much on our teachers.

4. What is this text mainly about?

A．Findings about poetry.	B．The history of poetry.
C．How to write poetry.	D．How to appreciate poetry.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese Poetry. In     1     number of poems and variety of forms, in the beauty of imagery and broadness of themes, Tang Dynasty surpassed (超越) that of all ages before it.

The Complete Anthology of Tang Poetry collected    2    (approximate) 50,000 poems by 2,200 poets. This means that in 300 years the Tang poets wrote more poems than all the poets had in the years before it.

Several factors made this possible. The Sui rulers had started the civil service examinations     3    (select) officials from among scholars. These examinations were continued in the Tang Dynasty. As a result, many people, mainly landlords’ children, studied hard to sit for the examinations,     4     required writing poems.

Besides, there was to a certain extent     5    (free) of thought: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism were all studied and discussed by scholars. The unification of the country made     6     possible for scholars to travel north and south,     7    (increase) their contacts and experience and broadening their vision. Foreign arts, especially those of West and Central Asia,     8    (introduce) into Central China, and they enriched the     9    (culture) life of the Han people. Finally, Chinese poetry became rich     10     content and form.

3 . The Hitchhiker’ s Guide to the Galaxy (HG2G) by Douglas Adams

This is a comedy science-fiction series about a man’s adventures in space. It was initially a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It is extremely funny and inventive, and has a very British sense of humor, whose true meanings foreign readers can hardly make out though it has been translated into French and Italian and so on. But when I read it I feel a strong connection to my home. It was published in paperback by Pan Books, after BBC Publishing had turned down the offer of publishing a novelization, an action they later regretted.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Have you ever read a description of a landscape or countryside that made you feel like you were actually there? For me, this book does exactly that. It is about a young girl who is taken to live in a big house in my hometown and discovers a secret garden.

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

This book takes the form of a series of letters, and follows the story of a young orphan(孤儿), Judy, as she goes to university and discovers a whole world of new experiences. This book always reminds me of my family, especially my mother, because she used to read it to me when I was ill in bed.

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

This was one of my favorite books when I was younger, and for this reason it still strongly reminds me of England and my childhood. It is also set in Yorkshire where I was born and spent my childhood, and follows three children living next to a railway and their adventures.

1. What do we know about HG2G?

A．It was based on true adventures.

B．Its language is abstract and inventive.

C．Its humor is hard for foreigners to understand.

D．It was adapted for radio after being published.

2. Which books are set in the same place?

A．Daddy-Long-Legs & HG2G.

B．The Secret Garden & The Railway Children.

C．The Secret Garden & HG2G.

D．Daddy Long Legs & The Railway Children.

3. What do all the books have in common?

A．They follow children’s adventures.

B．They are British countryside series.

C．They refer to the author’s childhood.

D．They bring memories of home to the author.

4 . 阅读如下信息，从方框中A、B、C、D、E、F、G作品和作者与下列作品简介或者选段匹配起来。

A. Jane Austen        B. Sense and sensibility     C. Wuthering Heights     D. 1984 E. Charlotte Bronte       F. The Great Gatsby       G. To Kill A Mocking Bird

1. The novel was published in 1960. Enormously popular, it was translated into some 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. In 1961 it won a Pulitzer Prize. The novel was praised for its sensitive treatment of a child’s awakening to racism and prejudice in the American South.
2. And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow fast in movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with summer.
3. The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself with news, entertainment, education and the fine arts. The Ministry of Peach, which concerned itself with war. The Ministry of Love, which maintained law and order. And the Ministry of Plenty, was responsible for economic affairs. Their names, in Newspeak: Minitrue, Miniluv and Miniplenty.
4. A classic of English literature, written with incisive wit and superb character delineation, it centres on the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner.
5. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The first English version of the famous martial arts novel, “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” (《射雕英雄传》)     1     (schedule) to come out in the UK next year.    2     almost every Chinese person knows, the novel was written by Louis Cha, better known by his pen name, Jin Yong. London-based MacLehose Press has confirmed that the novel will come out in 12 volumes (册) with the first     3     (set) to come out on Feb. 22.

In the publisher’s promotional     4     (introduce) of the “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” the series was referred to as a Chinese version of “Game of thrones” (《权利的游戏》). The first volume has been translated by Anna Holmwood, an English publishing agent     5     (work) together with many famous Chinese writers, such as Yu Hua, and Yan Ge. Holmwood have been translating “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” since 2012, and from the second volume onwards she invited Gigi Chang to help her     6     the translation.

Louis Cha is China’s most influential martial arts author with     7     total of 15 novels. Since the 1950s. about 100 million     8     (copy) of his works have been sold around the world. But only three of them     9     （translate）for the English-speaking world so far. They are “Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain”, “The Deer and the Cauldron” and “The Book and the Sword”, Louis Cha is widely recognized as one of the most     10     (success) authors in China.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填写适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

You may like reading novels for fun. But you need to get     1     (organize) if you are reading a novel for school. Here     2     (be) a few tips.

First, pay attention to characters. What do they do in the novel? What do they want? Everything    3     is about a character can help us to understand him, from his     4     (appear) to the kind of food he eats.

Besides, the order of the story and the plot are     5     (equal) important. Make sure that as you reads, you make     6    quick note of what happens in each chapter. This will help you bring the things you have noticed about the character, setting, language and so on together. It’s     7     a great help for you to retell the story after you have read it.

Next, themes (主题). They are ideas that a novel explores.    8     is a must to understand the theme if you want to fully appreciate the novel. Perhaps love is a major theme, or justice, or survival.

Furthermore (而且), novels are made up     9     language. Writers use language in a special way     10    (make) their novels work. They may use metaphors, invent symbols, or show different characters’ personalities through their speech styles.

7 . It Was in the Victorian Era (维多利业时期)that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were more concerned to meet the tastes of the middle class. The best known works of the period included the works of Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters and others.

Charles Dickens came on the literary scene in the 1830s. Dickens wrote vividly about London life and the struggles of the poor. Most of his works were written in a very humorous style, which was popular with readers of all classes.

The Bronte sisters were English writers of the 1840s and 1850s. They began to write from early childhood. In 1846 they published the first book at their own expense as poets; however, their book attracted little attention, selling only two copies. Then the sisters turned to writing novels, each producing a novel in the following year.

An interest in rural(田园的)matters and the changing social and economic situation of the countryside may be seen in the novels of Thomas f tardy and a number of others.

Literature for children developed as a single style. Some works became well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Adventure novels were written for adults but are now generally grouped in the list for children. Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author at the end of the Victorian Era, best known for her children's books, which featured (以……为特色)animal characters. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902.

1. What can we know about Charles Dickens from the text?

A．He showed an interest in rural matters in his writing.

B．He focused on changing social and economic situation of the countryside

C．He wrote about the struggles of the poor in London.

D．He published the highly successful children's book.

2. Which is TRUE about the Bronte sisters?

A．They were English writers of the 1930s.

B．They paid to have their first book published.

C．They began their writing from the rural life.

D．Their first book was successful.

3. The author states in the last paragraph that            .

A．Edward Lear was famous for writing about animals

B．adventure novels were not written for children at first

C．Thomas Hardy was not as famous as Lewis Carroll

D．society changed rapidly in the Victorian Era

4. This text is mainly about

A．literature in the Victorian Era

B．writing styles in the Victorian Era

C．famous works in the Victorian Era

D．the importance of literature in the Victorian Era

8 . 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.

2. Who made a great contribution to the animal fantasy?

A．Carlo Collodi.	B．Beatrix Potter.
C．William Steig.	D．Hans Christian Andersen.

3. Which type of fantasy has the longest history?

A．The toy fantasy.	B．The animal fantasy.
C．The magical fantasy.	D．The modern folktales.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Filled with more than 400 characters and over 1000 pages long, “The Story of the Stone", also known    1     "The Dream of the Red Chamber", is one of the    2    （great）classical novels in Chinese literature. The story    3    （detail）the rise and fall of the noble Jia family during the Ming Dynasty. The middle part of the book is all about a tragic（悲剧的）love triangle between    4    main male character Jia Baoyu and his two cousins, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. The plot is so complex that it even has    5    （it）own academic field, which is called Redology. The book itself    6    （write）back in the 18th century and almost three hundred years later, it is still much loved by Chinese    7    （reader）. The Dream of the Red Camber was so popular in China that in the 1980s,     8    （base）on the book, a multi-episode TV series was made and Daguanyuan or Grand View Garden, a major setting in the story, was built in Beijing for this purpose.

The garden is located nor far from the Forbidden City, on Beijing's    9    （two）ring road. In the novel, this is    10    Jia Baoyu and his female cousins lived. Ma Juntong is the director for this place, which is also the Beijing Redology Culture Museum.

10 . 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.

2. Who offers a picture of a countryside?

A．Jean Webster.	B．Frances Hodgson-Burnett.
C．E. Nesbit.	D．Douglas Adams.

3. Which of the following tells about space explorations?

A．Daddy Long Legs.	B．The Secret Garden.
C．The Railway Children.	D．The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.