French writer Annie Ernaux won the 2022 Nobel Prize in literature in 2022. She is the first French female writer to win the prize. In the words of the Nobel committee , Emaux was given the award“for the courage and clinical acuity (敏锐的洞察力)”of her writing.
Having spent over 5 decades as a writer, the 82-year-old winner has published more than 20 books to her name , including Cleaned Out (1974), Shame (1997), a 2008 memoir (回忆录) called The Years and A Girl’s Story (2016).
Rather than consider herself a writer of fiction, Emaux has used the term“an ethnologist (人类学家) of herself”“ to describe herself.
Bormn in 1940 in a rural village in Normandy, France, Ernaux grew up in a working-class environment as her parents ran a combined grocery store and cafe. She worked as a teacher before becoming a full-time writer.
Two books by other French writers inspired her to be a writer: The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir and Distinction by Pierre Bourdieu. The former led her to write about feminism (女权主义),and the latter raised her awareness of the huge gap between her and the environment she grew up in. Besides her reading influences, her“upbringing and experiences navigating adolescence and adulthood”also inspire many of her works,noted CNN. For example, the book Shame explores the theme of childhood trauma (创伤) while A Girl’s Story follows a young woman’s coming of age in the 1950s.
Though the matters Ernaux describes in her books are serious and even sometimes heavy, they are always written in plain language. Emaux described her style as flat writing” through which she aims to tell her stories objectively,“unshaped by florid (过多修饰的) description or overwhelming emotions ,”noted Fox News.
“She writes about things that no one else writes about, for instance her jealousy(嫉妒), her experiences as an abandoned lover and so on.I mean, really hard experiences,” Anders Olsson, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature, said after the award announcement in Stockholm. He went on to say,“ She gives words for these experiences that are very simple and striking. They are short books, but they are really moving.”
1. What can be learned about Annie Ernaux from the passage?| A．She described herself as a science fiction writer. |
| B．She started with a full-time writer before being a teacher. |
| C．She is considered to be the first French person to win the prize. |
| D．She was awarded for the bravery and observation shown in her writing. |
| A．Her hardships of life. |
| B．Her teaching career. |
| C．Her personal experiences. |
| D．Her working class background. |
| A．Serious and sharp. |
| B．Plain and objective. |
| C．Light and humorous. |
| D．Elegant and descriptive. |
| A．A Woman Telling Her Own Stories |
| B．A Teacher Becoming a Full-time Writer |
| C．A Female Writer Winning Many Awards |
| D．A French Female Fighting for Women’s Rights |
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【推荐1】Ten originated in China over two thousand years ago. Today, the country owns over 2,000 varieties of tea, differing in taste, sweet and purpose. Some teas, such as Huang Shan, refresh the sense of taste with their special flavour, while others, such as spicy chai, are added with spices (香料).
China first started exporting tea during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), and the drink has since come to lead humanity's drinking habits far beyond Asia. It is the most widely consumed drink on Earth today, aside from water and coffee.
In Chinese mythology, tea was first discovered by Chinese Emperor Shennong (“Divine Farmer”) in 737 BC, when a soft wind carried some leaves into a pot of boiling water. However, the oldest dependable evidence comes from ancient plant remains found in 2016 in Xi'an and western Tibet, showing that tea was grown at least 2,100 years ago during the Western Han dynasty when it was most likely used as medicine.
Generation after generation of tea makers experimented with different brewing (冲泡) techniques, leaves, and ceremonies, resulting in today’s tea culture full of life. There’s no doubt that China’s tea culture has become one of the most popular, diverse, and unique traditions in the world.
China is already the world’s largest tea exporter. The inclusion of the country’s traditional tea-making process on the UNESCO list will obviously generate practical benefits for tea makers in the country and across the world as more resources are given to protect and preserve such millennia-old tea culture and technical practices. As additional attention is brought to this traditional technique, the Chinese tea sector will further tap its potential and improve its growth.
As one of China’s oldest cultural practices, traditional tea processing techniques show the spirit of modesty (谦逊), peace, and comity (礼让). No matter your preference for green or dark tea, with milk or without, Chinese tea isn’t just brews. Instead, it is a bridge connecting different cultures and peoples.
1. What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?| A．Chinese tea has a fresh taste. | B．Chinese tea has a rich variety. |
| C．Chinese tea has a long history. | D．Chinese tea is added with spices. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Objective. | C．Careless. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．Chinese Tea Benefits the Globe a Lot |
| B．Chinese Protect and Develop Its Tea Culture |
| C．Chinese Tea Is Included in the UNESCO List |
| D．China Plays a Vital Part in Cultural Diversity |
| A．A news report. | B．A book review. |
| C．A culture magazine. | D．A science fiction. |
【推荐2】The running buffalo clover(a plant) used to spread across eight states, from Virginia to Arkansas. The more it was walked on by the buffalo the better it grew.
When buffalo disappeared, the plant was gone, too. Researchers believed the plant was extinct, which had not been spotted since 1940s—until a population was found in West Virginia in 1983. Now, after decades of protection, the small plant stands to be removed from the list of species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Biologist Rodney Bartgis came across a patch of running buffalo clover in 1983. He was recording plants in West Virginia and was wandering around a car road in the New River Gorge when he spotted some “unique-looking” leaves, which he recognized as running buffalo clover. After the finding was confirmed, the clover was considered no longer extinct and placed on the endangered-species list in 1987.
Part of the reason it took a while to start to find the clover in the wild is that, unlike other rare plants, this one won't grow in unspoiled areas. It likes being run over. When the clover was first discovered, US Fish and Wildlife Services(USFWS) forest managers were told to avoid driving in the area populated by the plant. But this made the clover there disappear. In the Fernow Forest in West Virginia, Gundy, a research forester, realized the skidders used to pull trees had helped ensure the clover's growth before anyone knew it was there. So in her work monitoring the population in Fernow, Gundy runs over the clover with a skidder. "You need to remember to agitate it,“ she says.
Since 1987, researchers have found 154 populations. But it's not out of the woods yet. The clover still faces threats from invasive species. The USFWS will have a public comment period, when the clover's case for delisting will be reviewed. Even if it is delisted, biologists from the USFWS will observe populations for years closely to ensure that the species is secure.
1. What do we know about the running buffalo clover from the first two paragraphs?| A．It has died out due to some human action. |
| B．It still needs careful protection from extinction. |
| C．It was considered extinct before its rediscovery. |
| D．It can grow better without buffalo stepping on it. |
| A．He discovered the clover by accident. |
| B．He noticed the clover in an unspoiled area. |
| C．He hardly recognized the clover when first seeing it. |
| D．He had searched for the clover for years before finding it. |
| A．She advised we should keep away from it. | B．She suggested we should disturb it. |
| C．She told us to remember to water it often. | D．She asked us to plant more and more buffalo clover. |
| A．The buffalo ate up the clover in the US. |
| B．The clover is almost free from natural enemies. |
| C．The USFWS is cautious of the protection of the clover. |
| D．The clover won't be removed from the protection list. |
【推荐3】The Vjosa River, one of the last wild rivers in Europe, has been declared a national park by the Albanian government, making it become the first wild river park on the continent.
Home to more than 1,000 animal and plant species, the river flows for 270 kilometers, from Greece, through Albania and into the Adriatic Sea. Giving the credit to no dams or other artificial barriers, it is rich in aquatic species and supports a large number of wildlife species, including otters, the endangered Egyptian vulture and the critically endangered Balkan lynx.
The wild river national park will include almost 13,000 acres of land, crossing most of the body of the country, with thousands of people living in its surroundings. The decision to establish the park is more important than people may realize. For years, the Vjosa’s fragile ecosystem has been under threat: at one point as many as 45 hydropower plants (水 电 站) were planned to build across the region. But thanks to the campaigning by environmental NGOs, the tiny Balkan nation was placed at the forefront of river protection.
Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, described the creation of the national park as a “truly historic moment” for nature as well as social and economic development. “Today we protect the only wild river in Europe once and for all,” he said. “This is about to change a mindset. Protecting an area does not mean that you make it in isolation from the economy.” He said national parks attract 20% more tourists compared with non-protected areas.
The park will cover the 118 miles of the Vjosa in Albania, three main tributaries (支流), and some land, including areas at risk of flooding. Phase II will add other tributaries. Unlike the IUCN's Wilderness Protected Areas, which limit the number of visitors, it will allow recreational tourism and some other activities such as local fishing, particularly for 60,000 residents in the catchment.
“We hope it will inspire others to come together to protect the wild places we have left, in a meaningful way,” said Ryan Gellert, Patagonia’s CEO, adding that the park was proof that the “destruction of nature did not have to be the price of progress”.
1. What makes the Vjosa River rich in wild species?| A．Sufficient water. |
| B．The government's policies. |
| C．The large area of fertile land. |
| D．The absence of human disturbance. |
| A．It helps to establish hydropower plants. |
| B．It relieves the power shortage in Albania. |
| C．It strengthens the protection of Vjosa's ecosystem. |
| D．It promotes the development of the local wild land. |
| A．Building the park is beneficial to the economy. |
| B．More wild rivers need to be protected in Europe. |
| C．Non-protected areas will inspire a boom in tourism. |
| D．Social progress comes at the cost of the natural environment. |
| A．It includes more tributaries. |
| B．It limits the number of visitors. |
| C．It covers areas at high risk of flooding. |
| D．It combines leisure activities with tourism. |
For a few years, Maupassant was connected with the Ministry of Public Instruction. It is interesting to note that Monsieur Loisel, a poor man character in The Necklace, worked there. He also served in the French army during the Franco-Prussian War. His favorite writing subjects were peasants, servants, in the city, and the Francd-Prussian War.
At an early age, Maupassant started writing short stories. In 1880, some of his works were published and he received a wide reputation for Boule de Suif (Ball of Tallow). With this success, he began to work full-time on writing. During the next ten years, he wrote over 300 stories, including six novels, three travel books, and a book of verse. Through them, he earn a lot of money.
His writing was classical and simple, avoiding social comments and dirty details. His works often showed a real world and an accurate knowledge of the subject. Although Maupassant wrote in many forms, he received widest recognition for his short stories. By 1890, Maupassant was suffering from the latter staged of syphilis（梅毒）. He died in 1893 in Paris.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Gustave Flaubert?
| A．He often went out for a walk with Maupassant. |
| B．He was a journalist and novelist working for church. |
| C．He had a great influence on Maupassant’s writing.. |
| D．He often helped Maupassant with his writing homework. |
| A．a man selling necklaces |
| B．a character in one of Maupassant’s works. |
| C．a short story written by Maupassant |
| D．a friend of Maupassant the Ministry of Public Instruction |
| A．They have few social comments. |
| B．They are simple and humorous. |
| C．They only focus on the lives of peasants. |
| D．They are full of imagination. |
| A．Only in his 30s did he begin to write stories. |
| B．He did not received any formal education. |
| C．He spent his last years happily. |
| D．Boule de Suif was his first success. |
【推荐2】O. Henry was an American writer whose short stories are known for wit, wordplay and clever twist endings. He wrote nearly 600 stories about life in America. He was born on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina. His father was a medical doctor. When Henry was three his mother died and he was raised by his grandmother and aunt.
Like many other writers, O. Henry’s early career aspirations were unfocused and he wandered across different activities and professions before he finally found his calling as a short story writer. He left school at the age of 15 and then had a number of jobs, including bank clerk. In 1896 he was accused of embezzlement(挪用公款). Although there has been much debate over his actual guilt, he was convicted of embezzling funds from the bank that employed him, he was sentenced to 5 years in jail.
While in prison he began writing short stories in order to support his young daughter. He published 12 stories while in prison. After serving 3 years of the five-year sentence, he was released for good behaviour. He moved to New York City in 1902 and wrote a story a week for the New York World and also wrote for other magazine.
His first collection of stories was Cabbages and Kings (1904). The next collection, The Four Million (1906), included his well-known stories The Gift of the Magi, The Cop and the Anthem and many others.
Unfortunately, O. Henry’s personal tragedy was heavy drinking. By 1908, his health condition became worse and his writing dropped off. He died in 1910. The funeral was held in New York City, but he was buried in North Carolina, the state where he was born. He was a gifted short story writer and left us a rich legacy of great stories to enjoy. All of his stories are highly entertaining, whether read for pleasure or studied in classrooms around the world.
1. Why was O. Henry sentenced in jail?| A．He was the murderer of his wife. |
| B．He was accused of embezzlement. |
| C．He stole jewellery from the bank. |
| D．He was sentenced for drink-driving. |
| A．support his daughter |
| B．make a living by himself |
| C．realise his dream of being a writer |
| D．make money for travel |
| A．O. Henry’s father was a medical doctor. |
| B．O. Henry’s sentence of five years was shortened. |
| C．O. Henry was buried in a different place from where his funeral was hold. |
| D．O. Henry had a great life in his later life. |
【推荐3】Harper Lee (1926—2016) was an American novelist widely known for To Kill a Mockingbird (published in 1960), which won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and has become a classic of modern American literature. The 1962 film adaptation starring Gregory Peck won three Academy Awards.
For decades, the book was Lee’s only major work of published fiction, but it was hugely influential for generations of U.S. readers. It has sold more than 10 million copies, and is one of the most widely taught novels in the U.S. schools. In 2007 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contributions to literature.
Lee wanted to live a simple life and was never comfortable with the attention the novel won her, and she practically disappeared from public life after it appeared. The world, however, continued waiting for a new novel from her, and on occasion she suggested that she was working on another story.
In 2015, a book did come out. Go Set a Watchman was more of a first draft, featuring Scout, the young girl who was the main character of To Kill a Mockingbird. Go Set a Watchman tells a story of Scout as adult.
Though Lee moved to New York in 1949, she spent many years guarding her privacy (隐私) in Monroeville, which served as the clear inspiration for the setting in To Kill a Mockingbird.
In 2007, Lee suffered a stroke (中风), but recovered and later settled in Monroeville permanently to care for her sister, Alice, who died in 2014. She was said to eat breakfast every morning at the same fast-food spot, and was friendly with her neighbors. The countless Americans knew her only through her works, and they will undoubtedly miss her.
1. What can be learned about Harper Lee from the first two paragraphs?| A．She was regarded as the greatest writer in America. |
| B．She made great contributions to American literature. |
| C．She once starred in a film adapted from her own novel. |
| D．She is the most popular writer in American schools in history. |
| A．She tried to get out of criticism. |
| B．She wanted to write another novel. |
| C．She suffered a stroke and was in recovery. |
| D．She felt uneasy about her novel’s influence. |
| A．It is based on her own life story. | B．It is adapted into a famous film. |
| C．It won her lots of honors and awards. | D．It continues the story of her earlier novel. |
| A．Influential but simple. | B．Ill-tempered but productive. |
| C．Caring but stubborn. | D．Inspiring but struggling. |
