1 . Written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree is a children’s book that tells the story about a young boy and a tree in the forest. The story starts with the boy and the tree being the best of friends and having fun. As the boy grows older, he asks more from the tree, which willingly agrees until all that is left is a stump (树桩). In the end, the boy,   now an old man, comes back to the tree and tells it that all he wants is a place to sit on, something that the tree eagerly provides.

In the book, each part of-the story goes straight to the point without confusing readers. The book doesn’t include the events that happen to the boy in between. We see how the boy’s needs increase to a point that the tree finally gives its trunk as he grows. It makes the book easy to read and understand. The writing style may seem plain and boring at first but we need to keep in mind that it is a children’s book. If it weren’t that way, then it would be unattractive to its young readers.

The words used are very easy to understand. The phrase, “and the tree was happy” is quite moved and shows the tree’s love for the boy. The use of the word “need” also shows readers the attitude of the boy. The change from “need” to “want” in the end also tells readers the changes that the boy goes through.

Though the book has been criticized as it can be understood in different ways, it is because of this that the book succeeds. Again the book is written for children. Different children have their own ways to understand the book and will consider it interesting.

1. What is the book mainly about?

A．A boy’s great love for a tree.

B．A boy’s dependence on a forest.

C．A boy’s relationship with a tree.

D．A boy’s interesting life in a forest.

2. Why is the book suitable for young readers in the author’s opinion?

A．Its story is touching.	B．Its expressions are simple.
C．Its writing style is humorous.	D．Its topics are varied.

3. What makes The Giving Tree popular?

A．The comments kids gave.	B．The writing style.
C．The pictures in it.	D．The truth it mirrors.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To comment on a book.	B．To introduce a writer.
C．To recommend a story.	D．To give readers a lesson.

2 . Poetry Writing Tips for Beginners

Poetry is one of the oldest and most respected literary forms. It takes a certain style and skill with words to create a good work of poetry. Here are some easy-to-follow tips on writing poetry:

•     1    

Before you start the writing process, you should make sure that you read as many great poems as possible. Take a glance at the works of Neruda, Keats, Whitman, and Dickinson to name a few of the greats. This does not mean that you should copy their work of course.     2    .

• Choose a specific theme

Like any other type of literary work, your poem will need a specific theme. You can’t write a poem effectively if you don’t have a set theme. A theme will give your work both focus and a set goal.    3    . It could be about loss, love, hate, greed, etc. Your theme could also be about a very specific event in your life, such as your first love or a broken relationship.

• Read it aloud

During the writing process, it is important that you check how your poem sounds.    4    .However, it may sound awkward or lacking once you read it aloud. So take the time to read your work aloud. Read it aloud after each stanza (诗节). If you want to be more thorough, you could read it aloud to family and friends.

• Polish it up

After you have your poem critiqued (评论), now is the time to polish it up. Take their advice and make any changes to the wordplay or word usage. If you see any clunky wordplay in your work, try to smoothen them out. Remember that poetry should have a flow, an almost lyrical feel.

    5    .However, once you put these poetry tips for beginners into practice, you’ll be able to create quality poetry in no time.

A．Free your mind

B．Read great poems

C．It may seem perfect when you’re reading it

D．Your theme can be practically anything under the sun

E．Learning how to write poetry can be slow-going at first

F．It is still a very satisfying feeling to create great works of poetry

G．Think of them as references that will expand your horizons as a poet

3 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

In recent years, Chinese online literature has been recognized increasingly from home and abroad. For example, the British Library     1     (collect) Good Spring Time and 15 other Chinese online novels over a month ago. Covering themes of science fiction, history, reality and fantasy, these novels are considered the     2     (classic) of Chinese online literature from the past 20 years.

Good Spring Time is one of the     3     (famous) Chinese online novels. It focuses on Chinese porcelain culture, conveying a spirit that encourages people     4     (fight) against fate continuously, as well as the love and care among family members. Readers can see a splendid, elegant China through the tradition, romance, friendship, struggles and beauty     5     (describe) in the novel.

Hearing of the news     6     her work has been included in the Chinese bibliography of the British Library, Yi Qianchong, known     7     the author of Good Spring Time, is rather amazed and happy. “It’s a surprise to me that online fiction can     8     (add) to the collection of a foreign library. When my novel entered the collection of the National Library of China. I was very happy. It’s     9     milestone for my creation.”

“Today, when I heard that the British Library is collecting Chinese online literature, I’m     10     (delight) for online literature. It feels like the path of online novel writing is becoming ever wider.” she adds.

4 . 阅读短文，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词），或括号内单词的正确形式。

Lately, 16 Chinese online novels have been added to the collection of the British Library,     1     include My Heroic Husband, The Era of the Earth, Great Power, Heavy Industry, The Wisdom of the Great Song Dynasty, Mystical Treasures, and The Road to Revival.     2     (cover) themes of science fiction, history, reality and fantasy, these works are considered the classics of Chinese online literature from the past 20 years. More information about the 16 works can    3     (find) on the British Library’s website. Printed versions are available to borrow at the library.

One of the largest research     4     (library) in the world, the British Library houses more than 170 million items, including the     5     (culture) relics of different civilizations from throughout history. In the Chinese collection, people can find more than 450 Chinese oracle bones dating back over three millennia     6     the Shang Dynasty and the Diamond Sutra, the world’s     7     (early) dated printed book.

The library usually selects works     8     (base) on popularity or by considering    9     item’s value. In recent years, Chinese online literature     10     (attract) an increasing number of readers from overseas.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。1.

A．The adventure of a robot on a deserted island.

B．A robot’s reunion with its long lost friends.

C．The rich animal world through the eyes of a robot.

D．The escape story of a robot from a deserted island.

2.

A．She is broken and damaged in the accident.

B．She is brought back to life by a group of sea lions.

C．She is frightened at the sight of island animals.

D．She is delivered to the island as an experiment subject.

3.

A．They fight for limited resources.

B．They speak each other’s language.

C．Roz and the island animals trust each other.

D．Roz feeds animals with advanced programming.

8 . Best Short Story Collections Everyone Should Read

If you are on the lookout for great storytelling but don’t want to commit to a full-length novel, then short story collections are the answer. Here we have gathered four of the best short stories and collections, from all sorts of backgrounds and sources, to help you grow your“To Be Read”pile.

Runaway by Alice Munro

This award-winning collection features eight stories by the Canadian author Alice Munro. With straightforward and accessible prose(散文)，Munro tells stories of women and their relationships——with strong themes of love, friendship, and motherhood, among others. The idea of running away is another theme found throughout these stories.

The Complete Stories by Flannel O’Connor

Published in 1972,The Complete Stories actually won the National Book Award that same year. This collection includes 31 stories, twelve of which had never been included in any of O’Connor’s previous collections. They are told from the perspective of characters from the American South, as they deal with social issues like racism, gender roles, and more.

The Refugees by Vied Thanh Nguyen

From Thanh Nguyen comes this Pulitzer Prize winning collection of eight short stories that are all about Vietnamese refugees(难民)who have moved to the US. However,instead of describing the hardships of their trips, Nguyen focuses on the lives they’ve established in their new country. Each story demonstrates a unique immigrant experience as characters move between cultures, countries, relationships, memories, and emotions.

Flowers for Alger-non by Daniel Keys

This classic short story is about the journals of Charlie Gordon, a cleaner with an IQ of 68. Charlie’s luck changes when he is selected for an experiment that purports to turn him into a genius——but everything that goes up must come down in the end.Flowers for Alger-non won the Hugo Award in 1960 for its groundbreaking presentation. Heartbreaking and rich with subtle poignancy,it is likely to remain a staple for centuries to come.

1. Whose collection should you choose if you are interested in the topic on racial discrimination?

A．Alice Munro.	B．Flannery O’Connor.
C．Daniel Keys.	D．Vied Thanh Nguyen.

2. What do we know about The Refugees?

A．Its eight stories share the same characters.

B．It focuses on women and their relationships.

C．It is about the Vietnamese immigrants’ lives in the US.

D．It mainly describes the hardships of Vietnamese refugees’ trips.

3. What do these short stories and collections have in common?

A．They consist of eight stories.

B．They have won certain award.

C．They are told from an immigrant’s perspective.

D．They demonstrate the hardships of Canadian authors.

9 . How would human beings react if we found out we’re not alone in the universe? What if we knew an alien civilization was to invade (入侵) Earth? What would we do?

These are the questions asked in The Three-Body Problem. When a secret military project sends signals into space to get in touch with aliens, an alien civilization in face of destruction receives the signals and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, people begin to separate into different groups: those who welcome aliens and those who want to fight against them.

The novel was written by Chinese author Liu Cixin and published in 2008. Translated into English in 2014 and almost 20 languages since, it was called an absolute “must-read in any language” by Booklist magazine. Liu has won several awards for it and in 2015, he became the first Asian to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the highest award in science fiction.

Just from the title, one could imagine that the text might be heavy with physics terms (术语). But as US writer Jason Heller said: “Indeed this science fiction is full of lengthy passages explaining technical terms. But Liu Cixin supports all of that burning-brain theory with empathetic (感同身受的) characters and thrilling story plots.”

At the very heart of science fiction — and what makes it truly appealing to readers — is the concept of an uncertain future. This allows the author to push the boundaries of readers’ imaginations. Liu fully uses this approach to keep readers anxiously turning the page. While reading, they ask themselves, “What would I do?”

In an interview with The New York Times, Liu said, “China is on the path of rapid modernization and progress, kind of like the US during the golden age of science fiction in the 1930s to the 1960s. The future in the people’s eyes is full of attractions and hope, but also threats and challenges. That makes for very fertile soil.”

1. Why does the author ask the 3 questions in Paragraph 1?

A．To warn us of the crisis Earth is faced with.

B．To introduce the novel The Three-Body Problem.

C．To show the author’s worries about Earth.

D．To remind us to watch out for alien civilizations.

2. What can we know about the novel according to the passage?

A．It is about a fight between aliens and an army on Earth.

B．It was translated into many languages once published.

C．It has gained worldwide recognition and great success.

D．It targets the readers with a good knowledge of physics.

3. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Explaining very difficult physics terms.

B．Exploring the boundaries of readers’ imaginations.

C．Applying the concept of an uncertain future.

D．Encouraging readers to ask themselves questions.

4. What does Liu mean in the last paragraph?

A．China is now in the golden age of science fiction.

B．The USA authors can’t create science fiction now.

C．Now Chinese people are confused about the future.

D．China’s progress mainly depends on fertile soil.