Liu Cixin’s novella The Wandering Earth begins at a time in the future when humanity has accepted the finding that our sun is in the final cataclysmic (灾难性的) stages of turning into a red giant. This transformation will include a helium-burst from the sun that will vaporize (使……蒸发) the Earth unless we either leave the planet
The idea of moving an entire planet has always seemed absurd (荒谬的) to me, however the
The Wandering Earth by Liu Cixin is a story
War Horse is a children’s novel by English author Michael Morpurgo. When it first came out in 1982, few
War Horse is set during the First World War and follows the lives of soldiers
Joey’s narration is not only deeply moving,
3 . This year the US will honour one of the country’s most famous writers — Mark Twain (1835—1910). Most readers know that his real name was Samuel Longhome Clemens, but how many know where the pen name “Mark Twain” came from?
The answer shows Clemens’ colourful early life before he became a writer. “Mark Twain” was the cry shouted on a ship when the ship entered a part of a river that was two fathoms (6 feet) deep. “Twain” is an oldfashioned way of saying “two”. Twain trained as a ship pilot on the Mississippi river for two years, a time that he wrote about in the humourous Life on the Mississippi (1883).
The famous river would become an important theme in many of his works — who could forget the journey of the Huck and Jim along it in his most famous book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)?
With little education, he had to teach himself how to write stories. Whenever possible, he would go to public libraries. There he spent much time reading and thinking, which greatly helped him with his writing.
On the other hand, his life experiences gave him wonderful material to write about and attract readers. Twain wrote in a style that has been called “local colour” because it shows great knowledge of local people and their customs.
This gift is very clear in the two books for which Twain is still celebrated today. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its followup The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which many people call “The Great American Novel”.
The most amazing invention in the book is the voice of Huck himself. Huck did not enjoy schooling. It shows in the way he uses language, in a spoken style. Only a master like Twain could copy the way a young southern boy talked so well.
1. According to the passage, what is the best part of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?| A．The deep social meaning. |
| B．The exciting life experiences. |
| C．The special way that Huck talks. |
| D．The nice view of the Mississippi. |
| A．At the beginning of Paragraph 2. |
| B．At the beginning of Paragraph 3. |
| C．At the beginning of Paragraph 4. |
| D．At the beginning of Paragraph 5. |
| A．Mark Twain’s career as a great writer. |
| B．Mark Twain’s interest in describing local life. |
| C．Mark Twain’s achievements in American literature field. |
| D．Mark Twain’s life experiences which influenced his writing. |
| A．Twain’s talent for selfteaching. |
| B．Twain’s “local colour” writing style. |
| C．Twain’s good sense of humour. |
| D．Twain’s experiences as a ship pilot. |
4 . Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Brontё, was first published in 1847. Widely considered as a classic, it is not just a romance novel, but an educational story. Women can learn so much from this great Victorian heroine. This is not to suggest that Jane doesn’t have shortcomings (缺点).
You can overcome your past however bad it is. In the novel, Jane Eyre is made miserable as a child by her horrible relatives.
Don’t be afraid to express your mind. In the novel she is not scared to voice her opinions when necessary. Talking helps improve relationships as well.
Be positive.
| A．Jane’s life is painful |
| B．You can decide your life |
| C．Her cousin, John, is the worst |
| D．However, there’s much to be learnt from the way she chooses to live |
| E．It is weak and silly to say you can’t bear what your fate requires you to bear |
| F．Remember that the possibilities of life are endless for those who take risks |
| G．Therefore, it is much better to talk about things than to hide unspoken anger |
I thought I knew a lot about Hamlet. And it was changed
People write poetry for various reasons. Some poems tell a story
The first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’ S Stone,
Harry Potter
Harry Potter follows the journey of a developing hero. The majority of kids don’t think they have the makings to become a hero,
Harry Potter is great storytelling. The story of good vs. bad has been told in various forms since the beginning of time and Harry Potter tells it with skill. Harry is a kid who is fighting to beat the bad.
Classical Chinese poetry is traditional Chinese poetry
Use and development of Classical Chinese poetry
Of the key aspects of Classical Chinese poetry, another is
9 . What does it mean to cry over a book? “I’m a reader who did not weep.” Ruth Graham, a well-known critic, wrote. “Does this make me heartless? Or does it make me a grown-up?”
Tears have played a surprisingly important part in the history of the novel. Readers have always asked about the role that emotion plays in reading: What does it mean to be deeply moved by a book? Which books are worthy objects of our feelings?
In different times, people answered those questions in different ways. In the 18th century, when the novel was still a new form, crying was a sign of readers’ virtue. “Sentimental” novels, full of touching scenes, gave readers an occasion to exercise their “finer feelings”. Your tear proved your susceptibility (易感性) to the suffering of others.
At that time, sentimental novels were hugely popular, but also easy to attack. Tears, after all, had no necessary connection to actual virtue, and they could be fake. There could also be too many of them. As the critic John Mullan points out, by the end of the eighteenth century, the word “sentimental” had acquired a new meaning “addicted to indulgence (沉溺) in superficial (肤浅的) emotion”—bringing it closer to the meaning that it has for us today.
In the 19th century the meaning of tears evolved in two different directions. Some writers sought to waken “higher” feelings in their readers: Victorian sentimentalists wrote touching scenes in an effort to inspire social and political reform. However, the “sensation” novel, a different type of Victorian best-seller, showed that tears could be enjoyable in themselves. Sensation novels were the forerunners (先导) of the modern thriller and mystery. Heavy on secrets, and madness, they were known for creating physical “sensations” in their readers— trembling, a fast beating heart, and tears. But these were tears without moral purpose or effect.
Today’s debate about crying while reading looks back on all of this history. The debate, in fact, is about why books matter to us, and what reading is “for”. Talking about what makes us cry is a way of talking about ourselves.
1. What was people’s attitude towards crying over novels in the early 18th century?| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive | C．Unclearing | D．Worried. |
| A．were similar to the modern thriller and mystery | B．were the same as sentimental novels |
| C．aimed for social and political reform | D．tended to amuse the readers |
| A．By providing examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the order of time. | D．By following the order of importance. |
| A．Crying While Reading Through Centuries | B．The History of The Novel |
| C．Sentimental Novels & Sensation Novels | D．Why Books Matter to Us |
For thousands of years, people have told fables (寓言)
Carson uses a simple, direct style common to fable. In fact, her style and tone (口吻) are seemingly directed at children. “There was once a town in the heart of America,
The themes of traditional fables often deal with simple truths about everyday life. However, Carson’s theme is a more weighty
