【推荐2】Like reading? Interested in Chinese classical novels? Have a look at the following four books which are we known to most Chinese as Four Masterpieces.

The Water Margin

The Water Margin, also known as All Men Are Brothers in Pearl Buck’s translation, Shui Hu Zhuan in Chinese, is along chapter novel with the Song Jiang Uprising in the late Northern Song Dynasty as the main background and type of heroic legend. It is an immortal (不朽的) novel and has inspired many storytellers. The author of the novel is generally regarded as Shi Nai’an (1296~1371).

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is the first full-length historical romance novel in China. Its author is Luo Guan zhong (about 1330~1400), a famous novelist in the late Yuan Dynasty and the early Ming Dynasty. Characters such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang have become household names among the Chinese.

Journey to the West

Journey to the West is the first romantic chapter novel about gods and devils in ancient China. There are 100 copies of Journey to the Westin the existing Ming Publications without the author’s signature. Wu Yuxuan, a scholar of the Qing Dynasty, first proposed that the author of Journey to the West was Wu Cheng’en (1500~1582) of the Ming Dynasty.

The Dream of the Red Chamber

The Dream of the Red Chamber, also called The Story of the Stone, is said to be the greatest masterpiece of Chinese fiction. It is generally believed to be written by Cao Xueqin (about 1715~1763), a writer of the Qing Dynasty. With hundreds of persons and their stories, the story is very complex but also very interesting for its encyclopedic character(百科全书式的人物).

1. Which book should people read if they want to know something about the character Song Jiang?

A．The Water Margin.	B．Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
C．Journey to the West.	D．The Dream of the Red Chamber.

2. Who lived in the 16th century?

A．Shi Nai’an.

B．Luo Guanzhong.

C．Wu Cheng’en.

D．Cao Xueqin.

3. What column (专栏) in a magazine might the passage come from?

A．Health.

B．Literature.

C．Sports.

D．Science.

【推荐3】Writing a summary of a book, or making notes of a book, is a great way for you to absorb what you’re reading.     1     To write a good summary, read the book carefully while taking notes on important ideas, plot, and main characters. Here are ways to guide you to make notes.

Make notes on the text as you read. It will help you find important passages easily while you are writing the summary. Circle, highlight, or note anything that's confusing, important, surprising, or interesting. If the book belongs to you, feel free to highlight passages and write in it.     2    

Write notes while you’re reading.     3     Taking notes as you read will allow you to record things correctly. This will create less work for you than if you try to go back and check on details later. It might be a good idea to keep several different pieces of paper next to you for notes. One can be for general impressions and quick thoughts. You can also make notes to keep track of words you don’t recognize.

    4    Write down the main characters’ names and a brief description of their personalities or major characteristics. Include a line or two about each of the main characters’ desires and goals. You can also make a timeline of the major events that occur in the book, especially if the plot is complicated or confusing.

Break the book down into sections. To keep yourself from getting puzzled, think about the book in three parts. The story will have a beginning, middle, and end.     5     The beginning will be focused on introducing the major character. The middle will explore the major “problem” of the book. The end will resolve the book’s major problem.

A．Identify the main point of each section.

B．Organize your notes based on these sections.

C．Keep a list of the main characters or a timeline.

D．Use a dictionary to look these up and then write down the definitions.

E．Keep a notebook next to you while you read so you can put down your thoughts.

F．If the book does not belong to you, use sticky notes to mark the passages instead.

G．It also gives you a quick reference to remember the main points anytime you need it.

【推荐1】The Sherlock Holmes Museum is situated at 221B Baker Street, London, one of the world’s most famous addresses.

How to get here

Finding one of the most famous addresses in the world couldn’t be easier. We’re just a few minutes’ walk from Baker Street station on the London Underground, as well as easily accessible by bus, or by mainline train (Marylebone Station is just 5 minutes’ walk away).

Underground: We’re just a few minutes’ walk from Baker Street station on the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City Lines.

Bus: Bus numbers 13, 74, 189 and 274 all stop within a few feet of our front door while numbers 113, 18, 27, 30, 205 and 453 all stop nearby on Marylebone Road.

Train: The nearest mainline train station is Marylebone Station which is served by Chiltern Railways. London Paddington is also only a few stops away on the Bakerloo line.

Car: Limited parking can be found nearby at 170 Marylebone Road and Britannia Parking at the Landmark Hotel London, 222 Marylebone Road.

Opening hours

Monday-Tuesday: closed

Wednesday through Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.

Tickets

Adults—£15

Concessions (老年优待票)—£12

Children (under 16)—£10

Children (under 6)—Free

1. Which transport makes the walking distance to the museum shortest?

A．Underground.

B．Bus.

C．Train.

D．Car.

2. What can we know from the text?

A．You can visit the museum on Monday morning.

B．There arc few bus numbers to the museum.

C．Driving a private car is highly recommended.

D．The museum is quite easily accessible to visitors.

3. How much do a couple with 3 children (twins aged 8 and a baby) have to pay to visit the museum?

A．£45.

B．£50.

C．£54.

D．£60.

【推荐3】Coastal Living

$20.00 USD

Coastal Living brings you the best seaside spots to shop, eat, and adventure. Enjoy endless inspiration for getaways and family travel traditions, and must-try seafood recipes. Whether you’re looking for the perfect cruise, coast, or cuisine, our digital journal delivers you all the best.

Coastal Living, published by Meredith, is currently published 4 times annually.

Real Simple

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Find everyday easy solutions with this digital magazine. You’ll enjoy time-saving tips on reducing stress, organizing, dinnertime favorites, beauty products, fashion and tested and trusted health advice. Real Simple is your go-to source to infuse (注入) clean spaces and practical solutions into your busy life.

Real Simple, published by Meredith, currently publishes two double issues, which counts as two of 12 issues in an annual subscription.

Midwest Living

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Discover the best of the American Midwest. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a breathtaking adventure, Midwest Living delivers the inspiration to get you packing. You’ll also get a local eye on the best restaurants and must-visit seasonal celebrations. Plus, soul-warming recipes you’ll love, gardening tips and so much more!

Midwest Living Magazine, published online by Meredith, is currently published 6 times annually.

Successful Farming

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Get insight and insider information on the world of agriculture in every digital issue of Successful Farming. Farmers have turned to Successful Farming for more than 100 years to get sustainable advice on land, soil, markets, and more.

Successful Farming, published by Meredith, is currently published 12 times annually. Frequency of all magazines are subject to change without notice.

1. Which magazine comes out quarterly?

A．Coastal Living.	B．Real Simple.
C．Successful Farming.	D．Midwest Living.

2. Who are most likely to subscribe to Real Simple?

A．Fashion designers.	B．Reporters.
C．Famed chefs.	D．Housewives.

3. What do the four magazines have in common?

A．They are about daily life tips.	B．They are electronic magazines.
C．They introduce different lifestyles.	D．They have the same selling price.