By Roger Lancelyn Creen
I loved reading when I was little. I think that’s the reason I love writing for children. My parents were both English teachers, and our home was full of books. Dickens was a family favourite. But the book that really fired my imagination was King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, which my father read to me at bedtime when I was around 12.
Diary of a Nobody
By George and Weedon Grossmith
I’m a fool for a classic, and I’m so glad I finally came across Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith. It began life as a serial in Punch, with text by Ceorge and illustrations by Weedon. Put simply, it’s the funniest book I’ve ever read, and the model for so many brilliant first-person narratives like Adrian Mole and Bridget Jones. The short pitch is that it follows the social climbing of a London clerk, Charles Pooter but of course it’s so much more than that, poking fun at all things from middle class.
Exhalation
By Ted Chiang
It’s never too late to have your life changed by a book, and it happened to me again recently when I read Ted Chiang’s Exhalation. Ted Chiang wrote Story of Your Life, which inspired the sci-fi alien-visitation classic Arrival. I love that too, but each and every piece in Exhalation is its match in writing skills. If there are super-intelligent aliens in the galaxy seeking to communicate important truths, Ted Chiang may well be one of them.
1. What is special about the book King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table?| A．It describes a story of intelligent aliens. |
| B．It stimulates the author’s imagination of writing. |
| C．It helps the author to improve the writing skills. |
| D．It opens a window for the author to understand classics. |
| A．Roger Lancelyn Green. | B．George. |
| C．Weedon Grossmith. | D．Ted Chiang. |
| A．A diary. | B．A novel. | C．A guidebook. | D．A magazine. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】There are four novels for you.
The Boy in the Striped PyjamasThis book takes you through waves of emotion as you start to understand the main character, a 9-year-old boy Bruno. The story taking place during the Holocaust (大屠杀), we witness the horror from the boy’s viewpoint. You will be shocked by some of the surprising aspects of the book as the boy makes friends with a Jewish boy named Shmuel in the concentration camp (集中营). They meet up on their side of the fence each day.
The Book ThiefThe story is about a young girl named Liesel who has to live with foster parents (养父母) during World War II. On the way to her new home, her brother dies, setting the sad tone for the story. There is hope, however, when Liesel discovers her love for reading and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing attacks with a Jewish man hidden in her basement.
The Fault in Our StarsThis is probably the most touching book that makes you cry, as it records the experiences of teens who are dying of cancer and living their last days in love. The real tragedy is the love between the main characters, who know that they’re certain to die.
A Child Called “It”It’s one of the saddest stories of abuse (虐待) in recent decades. A Child Called “It” is based on the true story of Dave Pelzer, a boy from California who suffered at the hands of his cruel mother. The tears will come from both sadness and the inspiration tied to Dave’s fight for survival in an environment where he is considered useless.
1. Which book is a love story?| A．The Fault in Our Stars. | B．A Child Called “It”. |
| C．The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. | D．The Book Thief. |
| A．Liesel’s brother. | B．Bruno. | C．Liesel. | D．Dave Pelzer. |
| A．They have a sad ending. | B．They are connected with wars. |
| C．They are emotionally powerful. | D．They expose the dark side of society. |
【推荐2】Four Popular Science Books
Eureka
£14.99
NewScientist (a website) has been a treasure-house of fascinating (有吸引力的) and surprising questions and answers for many years. From how to measure the speed of light using chocolate, to why dogs howl (叫) at fire alarms, Eureka brings together 365 amazing questions, fascinating facts and exciting experiments.
Mustn’t Grumble
£14.99
A fascinating book about a great number of small illnesses that humans live with every day of the year, and what we can learn about them from Senior Staff Writer at NewScientist, Graham Lawton.
This book is not about what happens when we’re ill with something serious enough to send us to the doctor or lie in bed. Instead, it is mainly about many small, boring illnesses, aches and pains which we always put up with.
Generations
£20.00
Generations provides a new view for understanding the most divisive (有争议的) things ranging today: from culture wars to climate change and mental health to housing. Including data from all over the world, and with possible results for humanity’s future, this big-thinking book will change how you look up on the world.
Unthinkable
£10.99
Award-winning science writer Helen Thomson has spent years travelling the world tracking down incredibly rare (罕见的) brain disorders. In Unthinkable she tells the stories of nine uncommon people. From the man who think she’s a tiger to the doctor who feels the pain of others just by looking at them, their experiences prove how the brain can shape our lives in unexpected and, in some cases, brilliant and alarming ways.
1. What does the book Mustn’t Grumble help you do?| A．Answer cultural questions. | B．Take care of patients. |
| C．Deal with health problems. | D．Get much chemistry knowledge. |
| A．Knowledge about the brain. | B．World travel experiences. |
| C．Achievements of 9 people. | D．Sufferings caused by diseases. |
| A．Eureka. | B．Generations. | C．Unthinkable. | D．Mustn’t Grumble. |
【推荐3】Library Rules and Regulations
Opening hours
Monday — Friday: 8:00 am — 10:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am — 4:00 pm
Sunday: 2:00 pm — 5:00 pm Public holidays: Closed
General rules
* Silence should be strictly observed in the library. Users are strictly prohibited from making or receiving calls at any given time. Discussions are not allowed, either.
* All readers must show their identification cards (student IDs) at the entrance.
* Marking, writing on or tearing pages is prohibited.
* Smoking, spitting, eating, sleeping, drinking or littering is banned.
* To improve the library service, users are free to report what they think the library should get better at to the librarian or by filling the opinion book at the security desk.
* Users are required to ensure that valuable items (like money, phones, laptops and
calculators) are not left in the luggage area.
Borrowing rules
* Undergraduate (大学本科生的) students — 2 books for one week
* Postgraduate students — 2 books for two weeks
* Lost or damaged information materials on loan should be replaced or charged at the current market price of the information materials.
* For a book out of print (绝版的), the librarian will guide the borrower to the alternative books available.
E-resources
The library subscribes to e-books and e-journals which can be accessed from the University library website and all computer labs via a laptop with wireless connectivity. We have off-campus access that will allow users to access the e-resources off campus. Users are advised to consult the e-resource librarian for the purpose of accessing e-resources.
Membership
* Membership of the library is open to all students and academic staff for free.
* External (外部的) members shall be considered on production of recommendation letters from school employees (员工). In addition, they shall pay 1 dollar per day.
1. When can somebody borrow a book from the library?| A．9:00 am on Thanksgiving Day. | B．10:30 pm on Tuesday. |
| C．5:00 pm on Saturday. | D．4:00 pm on Sunday. |
| A．Lost information materials must be charged at twice the current market price. |
| B．The librarian tends to offer a borrower some advice as for a book out of print. |
| C．Undergraduate students can keep two books for two weeks. |
| D．Postgraduate students can keep three books for one week. |
| A．Pay seven dollars a week. |
| B．Ask the e-resource librarian for suggestions. |
| C．Offer advice on bettering the library service. |
| D．Get a recommendation letter from a student. |
【推荐1】Beyond its amazing landscapes, Banff National Park also boasts a rich cultural heritage. In this comprehensive guide, we will introduce you to a collection of museums of Banff, providing essential information to make your visit a truly immersive experience.
● Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Location: 111 Bear St, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Cost: $12 CAD ($10 USD) for adults, $10 CAD ($8 USD) for students, and free for children under 12 years old and are valid for 90 days from purchase.
The museum showcases the art, culture, and history of the Canadian Rockies region. It features a diverse collection of artworks, historical photographs, and artifacts that highlight the natural beauty and human stories of the area.
● Canada House Gallery
Location: 201 Bear St, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission: Free
It is a well-known art gallery that showcases contemporary and traditional Canadian artwork. The gallery features a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artistic mediums created by Canadian artists. Visitors can explore the gallery and appreciate the talent and creativity of Canadian art.
● The Banff Park Museum
Location: 91 Banff Ave, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission Cost: $4.90 CAD ($4 USD) for adults, $4.40 CAD ($3.50 USD) for adults 65and over, and free for youth under 17 years old.
The museum is a historic site featuring a collection of over 5,000 specimens (标本) of wildlife, including birds, mammals, insects, and plants. The museum building itself is a charming log cabin, dating back to 1903.
1. How much would a couple pay if they want to explore the Whyte Museum with a senior high student and an 8-year-old son?| A．$22 CAD. | B．$22 CAD. | C．$34 CAD. | D．$18 CAD. |
| A．At Canada House Gallery. | B．At the Whyte Museum. |
| C．At the Banff Park Museum. | D．At the Canadian Rockies region. |
| A．Travel. | B．Business. | C．Science. | D．Entertainment. |
【推荐2】There are some typical types of trains you’ll find yourself traveling on in France. SNCF (法国国家铁路公司) operates a mix of high-speed services on major routes and slower regional services between smaller stations around France. Find out more about each train type below.
TGV
High-speed: up to 320 km/h
Connects Paris with major cities in France
Double-decker trains
One of the most popular modes of transport for long distance travel in France. These modern trains run on around 50 high-speed routes and always require a reservation in advance.
Intercites
Stops at cities not part of the TGV network
Day and night services
Night trains between Paris and Toulouse, Rodez, Briancon and Latour de-Carol
Intercites trains are mainly used for medium distance journeys across France. Although not as fast as TGV trains, they service a lot of stations across the country that aren’t on TGV routes. Reservations are usually required on most Intercites services.
TER
Regional trains (one for each region in France)
Low-cost
Stops at smaller stations around France
TER stands for Transport Express Regional and there are 20 different regional
TER services operating across France. Popular with commuters, you’ll likely board one of these trains for shorter distance travel to smaller cities and towns throughout France. You won’t need a reservation to board a TER train.
Sleeper trains
Overnight travel to several destinations in France
Comfortable and secure cabins
Opportunity to save on accommodation
Operated by Thello, the popular night train route in France starts in Paris and works its way down into Italy. If you want to save money on accommodation during your trip, taking a sleeper train lets you wake up feeling refreshed at your next destination.
1. What do TGV trains and Intercites trains have in common?| A．Both can travel at 320 km/h. | B．Both are double-decker trains. |
| C．Both usually require a reservation. | D．Both connect big cities in Europe. |
| A．It features night services. |
| B．It travels as fast as TGV trains. |
| C．It is suitable for long distance travel in France. |
| D．It offers regional services at relatively low costs. |
| A．In a story book. | B．In a guidebook. |
| C．In a biography. | D．In a fashion magazine. |
【推荐3】Bridport Prize
The Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel AwardThe Novel Award is open to writers aged 16 and over living in Britain and Ireland and British writers living overseas.
IMPORTANT: All entries are judged anonymously(匿名地). Please do not include your personal information in the document or the file name, otherwise it will be disqualified.
General
Entries can be on any subject in any style or form.
Entries must be submitted online or by post. No email submissions.
Entries must be in English.
Do not add cover or title pages.
Do not send illustrated work.
Entries can be withdrawn by logging into your submittable account. Entry fees will not be refunded.
Deadline
The deadline date for entries is 12 midnight (UK time) on 30 July 2023.
Length
8,000 words maximum, 5,000 minimum taken from the opening chapter.
Fees
£24 per novel. There is no limit to the number of novel submissions.
Format
Entries must be typed in Arial 12 pt black font, double-spaced with numbered pages and the novel’s title on every page. Save as a Microsoft Word document(. doc or. docx) or PDF file with the novel title as the file name. Please do not include your name in the file name as this will lead to disqualification. The maximum allowed file size is 2MB. Include the word count for the submission on the top right first page.
Results & Awards
A prize-giving event will be held at Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset for the winner, runner-up and three Highly Commended winners on 22 October 2023. Full results and the Judges’ Report will be published on the website that afternoon.
If you want to learn more about the Novel Award, please contact kate@bridportprize.org.uk.
1. Which of the following will result in disqualification?| A．Writing a novel of 6,000 words. | B．Resubmitting your entry by post. |
| C．Including illustrations in your entry. | D．Forgetting to add the cover page of your entry. |
| A．Name your file with your name. |
| B．Ensure your file size is 2MB at most. |
| C．Add the word count to every page of your entry. |
| D．Include the title of your entry on the top right first page. |
| A．It charges £24 per competitor. |
| B．It demands a specific subject. |
| C．Its winners will be awarded prizes on the website. |
| D．Its Judges’ Report will be available on 22 October 2023. |
