In the pre-COVID-19 era, children’s personalised books used to be a niche market (小众市 场). Far from their early version that merely had the child’s name stuck on the book cover today’s personalised books feature entire families — including pets. Instead of meeting unknowr characters and new story worlds, the readers meet themselves. With the persuasive power of personalisation, publishers find their way into children’s inner worlds quicker than with non- personalised books
Well-designed personalised books can enhance children’s vocabulary learning. However, it’s also been found that in their talk about the story of a personalised book, they talk about “me, me, me”. Part of this self-centredness is natural at a young age, but part of it is caused by the personalised character of the book. In a recent study, personalised books, as opposed to thei non-personalised versions, do not help children understand the moral of a story or apply it to thei own lives
In most popular personalised books, children are pictured as the heroes and stars of their own stories. What is certain is that in addition to personalised hero books, we need personalised books where the child is a minor character or a character who experiences depression. The problem is that such books are unlikely to be popular and are therefore unlikely to be written. We are thus heading towards a situation where children see themselves in a positive light in their own personalised books and where they see others as failures in non-personalised books. It introduces children to a culture of“me vs you” where shared humanity is replaced by a false narrative of “I am the best!”
The most powerful children’s books are those that hit the sweet spot of personalisation and diversity. Such books teach children out-group empathy (同感) that occurs with story characters whose,experiences are different from their own. Authors can convey such out-group empathy by constructing strong plots that immerse (使沉浸) children in the story, but also challenge them to think beyond their comfort zone. The current personalised books take us from this ideal. They represent an economic interest in individualisation, and might ill prepare young minds for an uncertain future.
1. What makes current children’s personalised books different from their earlier versions?| A．Children can see their own name on the cover. |
| B．More family members are included in the books. |
| C．More new story worlds are introduced to children. |
| D．Publishers give up supplying them to the niche market. |
| A．They tend to focus on themselves. |
| B．They relate it to their own lives. |
| C．They can understand its morals better. |
| D．They tend to use new words they’ve learnt. |
| A．They fail to show common humanity. |
| B．They are characterised by happy endings. |
| C．They make children give in to defeat easily. |
| D．They fail to impress children with depression. |
| A．The reasons for reading personalised books. |
| B．The reasons for standardising the publishing market. |
| C．The necessity of raising the quality of children’s books. |
| D．The necessity of developing empathy among young readers. |
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【推荐1】What’s your favorite online magazine for kids? Here are four that are worth a look and a read.
National Geographic Kids
Parents, students, and teachers can take the help of this quality resource to learn about people, places, science, space, history, nature, and various fun activities. The magazine aims for the age group of 8-14. Interactive content includes videos, games, photos, blogs, etc. This is one online magazine that parents and teachers will always choose without hesitation (犹豫).
TIME For Kids
TIME magazine for adults might be too serious. The version for kids isn’t but it does go deep with a lot of educational content and teaching resources that are helpfully arranged around grades. The weekly classroom news magazine covers world news and aims to develop the reading and analyzing (分析) habit in kids.
Weekly Reader
An offline and online magazine for elementary school students features a lot of educational tools for teachers and students alike. All of its magazines are arranged around grades from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. Lots of the tools are interactive and based around nicely designed stories that make learning fun. Some sections are open to only subscribers (注册人) though.
Highlights
Highlights, com brings out magazines for kids of ages 2-12. The publication group’s purpose is to help children become their best selves. The homepage also gives you further websites to explore like Puzzlemaniakids.com and Highlightskids.com. Play free online puzzles, solve riddles, go creative with fun activities, and even learn a little about nature and science at these two sites. For instance, you can go into a story adventure or create your own stories at The Timbertoes.
1. In order to browse all the sections on Weekly Reader, you need to ________.| A．download the contents | B．ask for permission |
| C．subscribe to it | D．use some tools |
| A．National Geographic Kids. | B．TIME For Kids. |
| C．Weekly Reader. | D．Highlights. |
| A．They are accessible through the Internet. | B．They are arranged around grades. |
| C．They are interactive with story-telling. | D．They are encourged by teachers. |
【推荐2】Have you ever had one of those days when all you wanted to do was read an emotionally powerful story that would cause you to tears? Most of us tend to be attracted by stories that reach us on multiple levels, including sadness. There are plenty of books that make you cry (and sometimes laugh) and that you can really sink your teeth into. Here are four of them.
1. The Kite Runner
This realistic and moving description of life in Afghanistan accounts for the people who were badly affected by the Taliban. You’ll cry as you get to know the familial relationships and cruelty involved, but you’ll also get a sense of hope as you quickly read through this appealing novel.
2. The Book Thief
Let’s put it this way: Death itself is the narrator. The story is about a young girl named Liesel who has to live with foster parents during World War II. On the way to her new home, her brother dies, setting the gloomy tone for the story. There is hope, however, when Liesel discovers her love for reading and makes a relationship with a young Jewish man she helps hide from the Nazis.
3. The Fault in Our Stars
This is probably the most likely book on the list to make you cry, as it records the experiences of teens who are dying from cancer and living their last days in love. Their lifestyle is tragic and disturbing at the same time, as we watch their health worsen. The real tragedy is the love story between the main characters, who know that their romance is fruitless.
4. A Child Called “It”
Easily one of the saddest stories of abuse 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 family. The tears will come from both sadness and the inspiration tied to Dave’s fight for survival in an environment where he is believed worthless.
1. What do the four books have in common?| A．They are all about cruel wars. |
| B．They all probably make you cry. |
| C．They are all about suffering children. |
| D．They are all adapted from true stories. |
| A．The Kite Runner | B．A Child Called “It” |
| C．The Fault in Our Stars | D．The Book Thief |
| A．advise us to buy some books | B．inspire us to read more |
| C．explain why we love reading | D．introduce some moving books |
With over 485 thousand checkouts, Ezra Jack Keats’ 1962 picture book The Snowy Day is the most borrowed book in the New York Public Library. The beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a young African-American child named Peter who lives in a city and experiences it with after his neighborhood’s first snowfall. Keats won the Caldecott Medal in 1963.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee’s 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those rare books that are both beloved and compulsory, ending up on many high school reading lists. It’s the fifth most-borrowed book with over 422 thousand checkouts. The Pulitzer Prize-winning book is loosely based on Lee’s own life in Alabama in the 1930s.
Charlotte’s Web
K. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web was published in 1952. Though it does have illustrations,it is a novel with different chapters. The plot centers on u pig named Wilbur who befriends a spider named Chariots and their gang of barnyard colleagues. With more than 337 thousand checkouts, it is the sixth most borrowed book in NYPL history.
Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury’s 1953 book Fahrenheit 451 is an example of dystopian fiction and features a future version of American society in the year 1999. Though some claim that the novel has not aged well, it has been checked out more than 316 thousand times, making it the seventh most-borrowed book in NYPL history, potentially thanks to it being required reading for many students.
1. Which book is relevant to the authors experience?| A．The Snowy Day, | B．To Kill a Mockingbird. |
| C．Charlotte's Web. | D．Fahrenheit 451. |
| A．It is enjoyed by the students. | B．It won Pulitzer Prize. |
| C．It pictures a future version. | D．It is required reading. |
| A．They are all award-winning books. |
| B．They are all compulsory in school. |
| C．They are all books that are intended for children. |
| D．They are all among the top ten most-borrowed books. |
【推荐1】The World Health Organization (WHO) says there has been a sharp increase in the number of children in developing countries who weigh too much. In African countries, the WHO says the number of overweight or obese children is two times as high as it was 20 years ago.
Around the world, about 43 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2011. Doctors use height, weight and age to measure whether a person is underweight, normal, or obese.
Overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. The condition can lead to serious health problems like diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Francesco Branca, director of the WHO Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, says people are eating manufactured or processed food more often, which often has a high sugar，fat and salt content. Another reason of gaining weight is the city lifestyle. They travel in cars or other vehicles more than on foot, and have less physical activities in general.
Mr. Branca says reducing the number of overweight children will not be easy. He says the goal is difficult to meet even in wealthy countries.
The WHO has some basic solutions for individuals（个人） : to lower your in-take of fat ,sugar, salt and processed food, eat more fruit and vegetables, and increase physical activity. These actions are especially important for children and governments should concern providing vitamin for children.
Reducing the number of overweight children will not be easy. The goal is difficult to meet even in wealthy countries. Educational campaigns about problems linked to obesity would also help. Food manufactures must balance quality and taste with the dangers of sugar, fat and salt.
The current goal of the WHO’s World Health Assembly is to prevent an increase in the percentage of overweight children during the next twelve years.
1. What’s the main idea of the passage?(No more than 15 words)2. What is the meaning of the underlined word "obese" in Paragraph 2? (No more than two words)
3. What diseases can overweight or obesity lead to?(No more than 10 words)
4. Why do people put on weight easily? (No more than 12 words)
5. If you are overweight or obese, what should you do? (No more than 20 words)
【推荐2】
Last month, the first ESA Investment Forum took place at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. More than 100 participants from all over the world showed up and expressed an interest for investments in the field.
“The focus of the Investment Forum is to highlight the commercial benefits of satellite and space technology in applications on Earth and to give potential investors an opportunity to meet with a number of newly established companies using various versions of space technology.” explained Frank M. Salzgeber, acting Head of the TTP office.
So if you have some money and you have not decided yet how to invest, or if you simply want a more unusual alternative, this looks like the right spot.
| A．In the next decade or so, the opportunity for a life outside the office will become an even bigger draw than it already is |
| B．Investing in space technology now may be similar to buying Microsoft shares two decades ago: highly profitable |
| C．There are many industrial sectors（部门）that will greatly benefit from applications developed in and for the outer space |
| D．New projects from a broad range of technologies look really hopeful, like satellite communication, imaging technology, etc. |
| E．In a few decades, travel agencies around the world could advertise “space tours” and who knows, maybe even on the Moon |
| F．Many new companies are developing space related products and services, proving that space will be the next big attraction for people who want to invest in something new |
【推荐3】“It’s raining cats and dogs!” Although this phrase isn’t very common in England any more, it clearly shows we don’t always say what we mean. One thing that is often frustrating for language learners is that they understand every word in a sentence and yet the meaning remains unclear - like this sentence that actually means “It’s raining heavily!” However, it’s not just idioms that cause difficulties for people learning English.
The British are often considered to be polite but this can be very confusing for non-native speakers. We often don’t say what we are thinking—in fact we often say the opposite! Here’s an example that will hopefully explain what I mean: “You should come around for tea!”
British people are less open than people from other cultures, so we aren’t as quick to invite people into our homes. This phrase is one of those that we say but often don’t really mean, so when no further details are given, you can probably assume (认为) it was made in the name of politeness! But how does this compare to other countries?
When I lived in India, lots of people would invite me into their homes but I always assumed that they were just being polite. Of course, I was wrong. The invitations were almost always genuine, and people expected me to visit them. In fact, I think I spent more time at other people’s houses than my own!
In England, we often think it’s polite to offer or suggest something even if we don’t actually want to do it, while in other cultures people are more direct. Perhaps if English people just say what they were thinking, things would be a lot easier—especially for non-native speakers!
1. What does the writer mean by mentioning the example “It’s raining cats and dogs!”?| A．It’s time for people to protect these pet animals. |
| B．The weather condition in England is rather awful. |
| C．What British people say is different from what they think. |
| D．It is easy for non-native learner to understand idioms. |
| A．Direct and honest. | B．Too traditional to accept. |
| C．Serious and formal. | D．Difficult to understand. |
| A．Personal. | B．Sincere. |
| C．Informal. | D．Special. |
| A．To encourage people to show politeness. |
| B．To teach people how to avoid misunderstandings. |
| C．To discuss how to learn English idioms effectively. |
| D．To advise people to understand politeness culturally. |
【推荐1】How crowded your neighborhood is can affect the health of our planet, a new study finds. Scientists measured the effect that people have on the environment using a carbon footprint. That footprint reflects the amount of carbon dioxide (二氧化碳)—a greenhouse gas—that is sent into the atmosphere because of people’s daily activities.
Carbon footprints tend to be low for citizens. Living in a suburb (郊区) outside a city, however, can be opposite.
People living in the city centers have low carbon footprints, the researchers found. “It is much easier to have a low carbon effect if your home is close to where you work, shop and play,” explains Jones. Living within walking or biking distance cuts back on the amount of carbon dioxide compared with moving people by cars. And cities with bus and subway networks allow people to travel great distances while keeping the amount of greenhouse gases low.
Not everyone can afford to live in the city, however. Suburbs offer more space, allowing people to build larger homes. Suburbs may offer better schools to kids. But those homes are usually far away from where owners work, play or learn. So people who live in suburbs often drive long distances.
The average household in a large city sends out about 40 tons of carbon dioxide per year. The average suburban household, however, sends out close to 50 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The new findings are an important contribution to climate research. They would give scientists a better understanding of how culture might mix with locations to influence our carbon footprints.
You may not have any control over the location of your home. Still, everyone can take steps to reduce their carbon footprints. That’s because how much we pollute is influenced not just by where we live, but also by how we live.
To reduce your footprints, start small. Turn off lights when they’re not in use. Recycle or reuse things instead of throwing them away. And as people get used to making small changes, the leap to bigger ones will get easier.
1. Why do people living in suburbs have higher carbon footprints?| A．Because they often drive to work, play or do other things. |
| B．Because their homes take up too much space. |
| C．Because they often use buses and subways to travel great distances. |
| D．Because they have to send their kids to schools by car. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By explaining processes. |
| A．People living in big cities produce more carbon dioxide. |
| B．Culture plays the most important role in influencing the environment. |
| C．Any process of making new products may pollute the environment. |
| D．One’s small step can make a big difference to the environment. |
| A．Health. | B．Sports. | C．Culture. | D．Environment. |
【推荐2】While we aim to avoid any appearance of baseless theories, it is noteworthy to observe the long-standing practice of putting magnets (磁铁) in cows, a phenomenon that has been carefully unfolding for years. Why are farmers putting magnets in cows?
Known as cow magnets, the devices are placed inside cattle to deal with “hardware disease”. Hardware Disease occurs after an animal eats a metallic object that then makes a hole in the wall of the reticulum, the second stomach room in ruminant animals (反刍动物). This issue arises from the natural eating behaviors of these ruminants, similar to a person at an unlimited food event — quickly and eagerly large bites without sufficient chewing. This fast-paced feeding approach makes them tend to unintentionally consume metal pieces in their food, including broken farm machinery parts, nails and wires used in fencing, for instance.
Metal objects entering the reticulum may result in infections, increased body temperatures, digestive problems, and unease for the animals. To address hardware disease, the main strategy is to prevent metal from entering the cattle’s diet. Farmers have also adopted the method of placing cow magnets into the stomach using either a stomach tube or a balling gun. The cow magnet attracts such objects and prevents them from becoming fixed in the animal’s tissue. These magnets, once positioned, remain within the animals throughout their lifespan, only being removed after death when the cows pass away or are processed for meat.
Moseley, a Veterinary Medicine professor, states in a hardware disease resource, “The magnet gathers foreign metallic objects, reducing the risk of making a hole in the reticulum.” Research shows a mild magnetic field affects a cow’s small blood pathways, improving circulation and aiding recovery without significant impact on the cow or milk quality.
1. Why are magnets fed to cows?| A．To change feeding habits. | B．To prevent hardware disease. |
| C．To improve the milk quality. | D．To enhance digestive system. |
| A．Eating without chewing. | B．Taking magnets by mistake. |
| C．Sufficient chewing hard food. | D．Swallowing metals accidentally. |
| A．To describe the historical practice of putting magnets in cows. |
| B．To deny the adoption of cow magnets to enhance cattle health. |
| C．To discuss the influence of a mild magnetic field on milk quality. |
| D．To explain the reason for using magnets to prevent hardware disease. |
| A．Exploring more potential benefits of cow magnets. |
| B．Investigating the broader applications of magnets. |
| C．Discussing the alternative methods of caring for cows. |
| D．Evaluating the long-term effects of magnets on animals. |
【推荐3】It’s well-known that meditation (冥想) has many benefits, but do you know how to practice it for a beginner?
Set a proper scene
Find a space for meditation. It should be private and quiet. Make sure the temperature is comfortable. Sit on a cushion (垫子) if the floor is uncomfortable. You may play soft music if you like.
_______________.
Take a moment to loosen up. Remember that the goal of meditation is to relax. Loosen your clothing, remove your shoes and have a good stretch. Do your best to ease any muscle tension that might keep you from achieving relaxation. Make an effort to relax your facial muscles.
Focus on your breath
Sit down in the space you’ve prepared. Close your eyes and breathe. Each time you breathe in, count “one”. Each time you breathe out, count “one”. The idea is to strengthen being in the moment — the last breath doesn’t matter, and the next one doesn’t matter; only this one matters.
Feel your breath inflate (胀大) your lungs and push on your diaphragm (隔膜). Feel how sweet it is to inhale the fresh air. As you do this, your body will gradually begin to relax and all of your attention will be centered within your mind.
Return to real life
Once you feel fully centered in your mind, allow yourself to gradually drift back to real life. Move your fingers and toes and slowly wake your body up. Open your eyes and remain there for a few minutes until your senses come back, and then slowly stand up.
Even if you can’t make it fully into your mind, you still get some benefits from it. If you want to feel better, you just need to practice. Set about 10 minutes around the same time every day and repeat this exercise.
1. The text is about _________.| A．steps in practicing meditation for beginners |
| B．tips on how to breathe slowly |
| C．the benefits of practicing meditation |
| D．the best way to stay relaxed |
| A．Forget yourself. |
| B．Prepare yourself for it. |
| C．Avoid being disturbed. |
| D．Pay attention to your inner self． |
| A．look for |
| B．take in |
| C．keep away |
| D．think of |
| A．do some exercise in advance |
| B．listen to some popular music |
| C．practice it every day |
| D．spend a long time in practicing it |
