In 1931, Americans were suffering through the Great Depression. It was The Good Earth by Pearl Buck that brought comfort, the top-selling book that year.
Born into a religious workers’ family in 1892, Pearl Buck left the United States and moved to China with her parents. Her education began at home with her mother teaching her American school things while a Chinese tutor taught her other subjects, including writings of Confucius. In 1910, she went back to America to study philosophy. After graduation, she returned to China and married John Lossing Buck, an agriculture expert, eventually settling down in a small village in the north of China.
Had it not been for their first child Carol, who had an unusual disease causing her to have trouble learning, Pearl Buck might never have become a famous writer. The reason was money. She needed it to pay for her daughter’s care. She recalled why she chose China and its people as the subjects, “If none of you want to write these wonderful farmers. I will write about them. So, I wrote The Good Earth.”
The Good Earth tells the story of a poor Chinese man named Wang Lung and his wife O-Lan. It recounts how they work hard and finally make enough money to purchase some land for a farm. They stick to the land even in times of starvation, themselves begging on the streets. Experiencing ups and downs, Wang finds happiness in owning land and raising crops. He even forbids his sons to sell the land after his death.
Pearl Buck told her China stories with honesty and Americans were impressed by the new images of the Chinese totally different from those in Hollywood movies. The book earned Pearl Buck the Pulitzer Prize and was later adapted into an Oscar-winning movie. In 1938, she became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1. How did Pearl Buck benefit from her education?| A．She thought the best education lay in home. |
| B．She highly appreciated education in the countryside. |
| C．She preferred Chinese education to Western education. |
| D．She gained a lot from a combination of different styles of education. |
| A．Some Chinese advised her to do it. | B．She was in desperate need of money. |
| C．She couldn’t bear the boring rural life. | D．She desired a good education for her kid. |
| A．Good fortune always favors the characters. |
| B．Owning land is the lifeline for Chinese farmers. |
| C．Chinese farmers lead a terribly miserable life. |
| D．The characters make a fortune by buying and selling land. |
| A．The moral values of The Good Earth. |
| B．The fighting spirit of Chinese farmers. |
| C．A woman writer’s sacrifice to save her ill child. |
| D．A woman’s great China-themed literary achievements. |
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【推荐1】When I was nine years old, I never dreamed that the small vending machine (自动售货机) I had owned would turn me into a small business owner. Wanting to inspire his daughter’s business sense, my dad brought home a vending machine he had purchased from a friend. Setting it down in front of me in our living room, he asked in all seriousness, “Do you want to start a business?” I said yes.
I owned 15 vending machines by the time I left high school, with all of the profits going toward my college fund. In addition to being a great bonding experience for my family, I couldn’t tell you how many skills I learned from starting and developing my own business that helped me gain responsibility. I learned that not every experience in life led to the comforting encouragement: Well, you were tried. You should face bravely all kinds of difficulties.
Understanding both personal and professional finances is one of the most important life lessons to learn—the earlier, the better. I had to be fearless and confident—learning these skills at a young age saved me from speaking with difficulty through presentations later in life. Truly understanding what you’re selling displays confidence and reliability, as does truly believing in it. Comprehending the ins and outs of your product and business shines through when speaking with clients though rejection (拒绝) happens all the time.
Throughout the unbelievable experience of running my own business in my childhood, I’ve learned valuable skills that help me in my school, job and personal life. I believe in the value of customer service. I go after clients and chances and understand that sometimes things don’t go my way. With the help of my parents and customers who supported me, I grew up as a young entrepreneur with skills to keep for the rest of my life.
1. Why did the author’s dad give her a vending machine?| A．To earn her college fund. | B．To raise her business awareness. |
| C．To complete her class project. | D．To enrich her after-class life. |
| A．It was tough but worthwhile. | B．It was scary but smooth. |
| C．It distanced her from her family. | D．It taught her how to refuse clients. |
| A．Her attitude towards rejection. |
| B．Her understanding of financial problems. |
| C．Her insight into her business experience. |
| D．Her vision of the future vending machines. |
| A．One can succeed without support. |
| B．One is never too old to run the business. |
| C．Customer needs matters most in business. |
| D．Abilities acquired will pay off in the future. |
【推荐2】I arrived home from work, my mind racing. I was scheduled to perform an experiment using a pricey piece of equipment, but I had spent the whole day worrying about the experiment which was on the top of my agenda, and I amazingly longed to shut off my anxious thoughts. So after dinner, I made a cup of hot chocolate, stretched myself on my sofa, and opened a page. Almost instantly, my mind left behind the details of experimental design and stepped into a land of monsters, magic dust, and man-like bears comprising a wonderful world distinct from my daily life. It was exactly what I needed.
Growing up, I was virtually never a big fan of novels. My classmates would be crazy about the latest Harry Potter book, while my copy sat collecting dust on a shelf. Instead, I would choose to read through the reference books related to my disciplines for better grades. After I started graduate school, extracurricular reading didn’t appeal to me at all but I spent most of my time on campus digesting research papers and textbooks and my mind couldn’t handle processing fact-filled nonfiction books at home, too. So I knew that I needed to find a way to enjoy reading again.
To help me stick with it, I made a New Year’s resolution: I would read two fiction books per month for the entire year. The result was an almost instant appreciation of fiction, along with many unexpected results including ones that have benefited my schoolwork.
What surprised me the most was how much I learned. Some of the best books I read were historical fictional stories happening in a realistic historical setting. I learned about life in different countries as well as struggles people there faced during difficult periods in their histories. The books have helped me build sympathy and understanding, with an unexpected benefit: I’ve started to think more deeply about the diversity of issues in the scientific community and could serve it, heart and soul.
1. What did the author do to wipe out the anxiety?| A．He drowned it in chocolate. | B．He escaped into a fantasy world. |
| C．He slept on the sofa leisurely. | D．He conducted an experiment. |
| A．Reading novels was a waste of time. |
| B．Reading a good book was time well spent. |
| C．He was too busy to take good care of his books. |
| D．The Harry Potter book wasn’t as good as expected. |
| A．More sympathy went out to him. |
| B．His moral values were strengthened. |
| C．He learned much about religious diversity. |
| D．He gained new insight into his academic discipline. |
| A．Overestimated | B．Underestimated | C．Favourable | D．Temporary |
【推荐3】The dog Pooch Chi Chi managed to open the door and let a fire crew in after his owner collapsed on the kitchen floor.
Responders were searching for another entrance when they heard a “click” as the dog managed to unlock the door to let them in. They found the man, named only as Mr Green, collapsed on the floor in the kitchen as the fire took hold on the hob. Firefighters then swiftly put out the fire and carried out first aid until paramedics (急救医士) arrived.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said “a potential disaster” was avoided with help from the dog. They said they were called to the scene after a smoke detector was activated and a Careline alarm was sounded.
Mr Green initially answered the call but operator at Careline lost communication. Within six minutes, the crew was on scene and investigating. They could hear the alarm but were unable to establish contact with the man inside. With curtains drawn, the crew could not see inside but could hear a dog barking. They tried the front door, but it wouldn’t open. As the crew looked for another entrance, they heard a “click” and the front door opened. The crew went inside to find a man collapsed on the floor in the kitchen when a fire was beginning to take hold on the cooker. They contacted the ambulance service, put out the fire and allowed fresh air in. Firefighters then carried out first aid and stabilised the man until paramedics arrived. It wasn’t until later in the incident that they discovered that Chi Chi had managed to open the front door and let the crew inside.
Ian Bolton, Crew Manager for Home and Partnerships at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service added: “Having monitored diction in people’s homes means the fire service are only minutes away from providing lifesaving assistance. This is a real success story and highlights the importance of Careline and the fire service. Careline’s system, combined with the speed of our crews getting to the incident, saved Mr Green’s life. The cherry on the cake, however, was Chi Chi letting the crews in before they had to force entry to the property.”
1. How did the firefighters get into the kitchen?| A．They broke the door. | B．They unlocked the door, |
| C．The dog opened the door. | D．They found another entrance. |
| A．The man fell down and couldn’t move. | B．The system broke down accidentally. |
| C．The operator lost his senses. | D．The crew couldn’t see inside. |
| A．The swift reaction of Mr. Green. |
| B．The wide use of the smoke detector. |
| C．The dog unlocking the entrance to the door. |
| D．The joint work of Careline and the fire service. |
| A．Encouraging. | B．Competent. | C．Considerate. | D．Energetic. |
【推荐1】Stephen Edwin King, one of the best-selling authors of all time, has inked numerous novels. He once received the ‘National Medal of the Arts’ from the US President Barack Obama and was called “one of the most popular and productive writers of our time”
His carrier as a novelist began with the creation of ‘Carrie’. At that time he was a teacher and during the summer vacation he did part-time work to earn a little money to make his ends meet. However, the publication of ‘Carrie’ was a milestone in his life and it also helped to better his standard of living.
His books earned him fame and money and not being able to deal with the sudden success that he turned to alcohol. His book ‘Cujo’ was written around that time and according to him, he does not remember having written it. The character of Jack Torrance in the novel ‘The Shining’ is a reflection of King himself, but after his family took to questioning him about his drinking habits, he quit and never went back to it.
His book ‘Rage’ was about a school shooter and his violent doings, which the author wrote under the penname Richard Bachman. Years later, some school kids did such horrible crime and said they had read the book ‘Rage’. For the greater good of the society, the author suggested the book not be printed any longer.
All knows him as an author but very few know that King, together with contemporary writers Mitch Albom, Amy Tan and cartoonist Matt Groening forms the band ‘Rock Bottom Remainders’ and they even perform once in a while.
Though creating horror stories, King often skips 13 as it petrifies him. In an interview he said, “When I’m writing, I’ll never stop work if the page number is 13 or a multiple of 13; I’ll just keep on typing till I get to a safe number.”
1. Which book had a great effect on King’s life?| A．Carrie | B．Cujo |
| C．The Shining | D．On Writing: A Memoir ofthe Craft |
| A．hates | B．excites |
| C．frightens | D．comforts |
| A．He is addicted to alcohol. |
| B．He has a sense of social responsibility. |
| C．He is also famous for his music talent. |
| D．He does part-time jobs to experience life. |
【推荐2】Few writers have had such an impact on the thinking of the modem world as British writer George Orwell(1903—1950)．Orwell wrote many things on a variety of topics，for example，poverty in England in the 1930s during the Great Depression and his experience in the Spanish Civil War(1936—1939)．
But he is most famous for his works of fiction，Animal Farm(1945)and，especially，Nineteen Eighty-Four(1949)．These last books became especially influential in the West in the 1950s during the early Cold War years．
In Nineteen Eighty-Four，Orwell imagined a Britain of the future，modeled on the Soviet union(苏联)．His frightening tale of Winston Smith，a regular man who comes into conflict with the government，was close to the fears of many people of the time．Ideas from the novel soon entered everyday culture，and are still in use today．“Big Brother”，for example，is a phrase from the book that refers to how authority is always looking over one’s shoulder. Other phrases used in the novel，1ike“War is Peace”and “Freedom is slavery”are also still used now．Indeed，many people see Orwell’s book as a warning about what might happen if those in power become corrupted．
Even today，Orwell remains an influential voice. Often，writers achieve great fame and popularity，but they don’t affect how people live their everyday lives．UNESCO’S Memory of the World Programme recently decided to include a collection of Orwell’s writings on its register．
The Memory of the World register is similar to UNESCO’s world heritage site program，which protects places and buildings natural features in the world．According to its website，the idea behind the body is“that the world’s documentary evidence belongs to all”and should be “accessible forever to all”．
University College London，which proposed the idea to UNESCO，said in its application that Orwell’s work“had a great influence on human thought in all parts of the world，an influence that remain powerful today”．
1. What do we know about Orwell?| A．He only wrote about imaginary worlds． |
| B．He liked to follow the style of other writers． |
| C．His works were based on his own experience． |
| D．His books were well-received during the Cold War． |
| A．warn people of the dangers of corruption |
| B．present various conflicts with the government |
| C．expose the cruelty of the war in the 20th century |
| D．describe the serious effects of poverty in England |
| A．stress his ideas are still popular today |
| B．share some of his ideas with leaders |
| C．show how he used language in a creative way |
| D．explain how he described the dark side of society |
| A．They are a huge literary success． |
| B．They introduced a new way of writing． |
| C．They shaped political systems in Western countries． |
| D．They continue to have a great effect on human thought. |
【推荐3】Lu Xun is one of the greatest Chinese writers in the 20th century. Besides his famous stories, he also wrote many influential articles about the living conditions of Chinese people.
Born in 1881 to a wealthy family, Lu Xun had a happy childhood. In 1893, however, his grandfather, a senior government official, was put into prison for taking money. At the same time, his father became seriously ill. From that time on, his family were no longer accepted by relatives and friends. These early experiences greatly influenced his writing.
By the time Lu Xun arrived in Nanjing to study at university in 1899, he already believed that Chinese society had to change and become modern. In 1902 he went to study in Japan. There, he began writing articles for several Chinese student magazines. He showed a gift for writing and translating and he even wrote several books, although none was popular. He returned to China in 1909 because he was in need of money.
After working for several years as a teacher in Beijing, Lu Xun again returned to writing. In 1918, he wrote his famous short story Diary of a Madman. It was the first Chinese novel published using the everyday language that people spoke, which helped make it a great success. This, together with his novel The True Story of Ah Q (1921), made Lu Xun a leading Chinese writer.
Although successful, Lu Xun still worried greatly about china's future. In 1926, he moved to Shanghai and gave up writing stories in order to devote himself to what he called "pen warfare". He now only wrote articles which called on the people to fight against the government. For this, the government stopped him from publishing any more books. He was forced to write his articles using false names.
Since his death in 1936, Lu Xun's importance and influence have grown. Today, many of his writings are included in school textbooks and his works are read by millions around the world.
1. Which of the following greatly influenced Lu Xun's writing according to the passage?| A．The people he met in Japan | B．The experiences In his early life |
| C．Working as a teacher in Beijing | D．His father's being put into prison. |
| A．It was based on Lu Xun's diary. | B．It was the first novel to use everyday language |
| C．Its story took place in modern times | D．It was written using a western style. |
| A．the success of Diary of a Madman | B．the use of everyday language |
| C．the first Chinese novel | D．The True Story of Ah Q |
a. The government stopped him from publishing books
b. He wrote Diary of a Madman
c. His father became ill
d. He moved to Shanghai
e. His writings were put into textbooks
| A．c-a-b-d-e | B．c-b-d-a-e | C．a-c-d-b-e | D．a-d-b-c-e |
