It seems that you can hardly go to any bookstore without encountering Charles Dickens. From Oliver Twist to A Tale of Two Cites, Dickens’ works still enjoy great popularity today and are placed on notable shelves.
As someone who teaches Dickens, the question of why we still read him is often on my min. Nearly 10 years ago, I told my students that Dickens, works started crazes in Victorian readers. Then a hand shot up in the middle of the room. “But why should we still read his stuff?” A student asked. I was speechless because I had never considered the question myself. The answer I gave was only acceptable. “Because he teaches you how to think,” I said.
The question annoyed me for years, and for years I told myself answers, but never with complete satisfaction. We read Dickens because he not only was a man of his own times, but also is a man for our times. We read Dickens because his exploration of the human mind is deep. We read Dickens because we can learn from the experiences of his characters. These are all wonderful reasons, but not exactly the reasons why I read Dickens.
My search for an answer continued in vain, until one day a text message came from a student of mine. “We still read Dickens’ novels,” she wrote, “because they tell us why we are what we are.” Simple as it was, that was the explanation I had thought for years.
Like most people, I think I knew who I was without knowing it. I was Oliver Twist, always wanting and asking for more. I was Nicholas Nickleby, convinced that my father was watching me from beyond the grave. I was Pip, in love with someone far beyond my reach. I was all of these characters, and I began to understand more about why I was who I was because Dickens had told me so much about human beings. Dickens shines a light on who we are during the best and worst of times. That’s why we still need to read him today.
1. What does the underlined word “encountering” mean in Paragraph 1?A.Focusing on | B.Coming across |
C.Appealing to | D.Subscribing to |
A.There was a heated discussion about Dickens. |
B.The author was annoyed by the rude student. |
C.The author wasn’t satisfied with his own answer. |
D.None of the students showed interest in Dickens. |
A.Because he teaches us how to think. |
B.Because he is the best writer of his day. |
C.Because his language is easy to understand. |
D.Because we can know why we are what we are. |
A.The benefits of reading Dickens’ novels. |
B.The reason why we still read Dickens today. |
C.The great influence Dickens has on teenagers. |
D.The reason why Dickens enjoys great popularity. |
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【推荐1】In recent years, little free libraries of all shapes and sizes have popped up. Often built by community members, they could be found on street corners and the sidewalks across the United States, hoping to share their book collections with their neighbors. Minneapolis, Minnesota, even hosted the first Little Free Library Festival, where book fans came together to promote literacy (读写能力)in their communities.
For the most part, little free libraries have more in common with book sharing shelves in hotels, local parks, coffee shops and other public spaces than the traditional public library. Based on the rule of "take a book, leave a book," these little libraries can take many forms from birdhouse-like wooden structures to redesigned newspaper selling machines, Robert Wirsing writes for the Bronx Times.
The little free library organization began when a citizen of Hudson, Wisconsin, named Todd Bol built a little one-room schoolhouse, filled it with books and placed it in his front yard to honor his mother who passed away in 2009. Together with a local educator named Rick Brooks, the two began placing little free libraries across Wisconsin and sharing the idea with people across the country.
"Something we are eager for in this information age is that connection between people," Bol tells Margret Aldrich for Book Riot. "I want to show how Little Free Library is about readers inspiring readers. It goes on and on."
While Little Free Libraries seem like a harmless means to promote literacy by sharing books with neighbors, a few of the roadside landing libraries have caused minor legal problems. officials in Los Angeles and Shreveport, Louisiana, have told some citizens that their homemade libraries broke city roles and that they would have to remove them to avoid being fined.
Still, little free libraries have been well accepted by their commnunities. For anyone interested in making their own at home, the organization has posted helpful tips and guides for building the little book lending boxes in their neighborhoods.
1. What can we know about the little free libraries in America?A.They are state-owned. |
B.They are popular nationally. |
C.They are set up to sell books. |
D.They help those with no books to read. |
A.They lie in many public places. |
B.They share a large collection of books. |
C.They compete with traditional public libraries. |
D.They exist mainly in the form of wooden houses. |
A.To remember his dead mother. |
B.To help people form a habit of reading. |
C.To set an example to other communities. |
D.To share his knowledge, with other citizens. |
A.They cause minor legal problems. |
B.They should continue to exist. |
C.They mean a lot to community members. |
D.They should be supported by the government. |
【推荐2】Ways to increase your reading speed
In a world overflowing with information, the ability to read quickly and effectively is a valuable skill. Increasing your reading speed is a journey that combines technique, practice, and a patient mindset.
Active reading
Active reading involves engaging with the material rather than passively absorbing words. Techniques such as underlining key phrases, taking brief notes and asking questions about the content can significantly enhance your reading speed.
Expand your peripheral (周边的) vision
A substantial portion of reading involves the movement of your eyes across lines of text. By expanding your peripheral vision, you can take in more words with each glance.
Minimise subvocalisation (默读)
Subvocalisation, or the habit of pronouncing each word in your head as you read, can be a major barrier to reading speed.
Like any skill, increasing your reading speed requires consistent practice. Set aside devoted time each day for focused reading practice. Gradually increase the complexity and length of the material, challenging your brain to read faster while maintaining comprehension. This intentional and varied practice is key to improving your newfound speed-reading skills.
A.Practice regularly |
B.Concentrate on reading |
C.By following the strategies, you’ll be looking through texts in no time. |
D.These actions force your brain to stay focused and process information more efficiently. |
E.Gradually, your eyes will become better at capturing information in a wider field of vision. |
F.Despite a natural part of early reading development, it can block progress of reading faster. |
G.Practice widening your focus to capture groups of words rather than focusing on one word at a time. |
【推荐3】In February, the publishing company Puffin released (发行) new editions of some books by Roald Dahl that had been edited to remove or replace rude language. Dahl’s original work included terms that were once considered acceptable but that many people today find upsetting, such as describing characters as “fat” and “ugly”. Puffin said it changed those words and others so the books “can continue to be enjoyed by all.” Many people argued against the move, however, saying it amounted to censorship (bans on people’s ideas or language). Others say it’s good to remove outdated and hurtful language. What do you think? Should publishers revise old books?
Yes — times and language change. Society’s values are always changing. What would have been acceptable to say or do 50 years ago might not be OK anymore. People are right to point out when somebody says something hurtful, so the same should apply to books with rude language. A careful editor is able to successfully remove words or terms that upset people without changing what originally created by the author. The most important thing is that children (and adults) read books — and lots of them. Any minor changes to the text that make Dahl’s — or another writer’s--stories more accessible and inclusive are a good thing.
No — books should be left as they are. Censorship is dangerous because it limits what a person can say or how they express themselves. If we allow people to censor one author’s work, what’s to stop them from doing the same to every author’s work in the future? If somebody disagrees with an opinion or is angered by an idea, it doesn’t mean no one else should hear it. A healthy society hugs many different beliefs and points of view. If some people find certain words or descriptions upsetting, the best approach isn’t to ban or change them but to discuss, debate, and make people aware of why the material is hurtful. It can help people learn and understand.
1. Why did Puffin revise the books by Roald Dahl?A.To replace some childish words. | B.To maintain its popularity. |
C.To have people express freely. | D.To make people accept the books. |
A.Showing full support. | B.Showing total disagreement. |
C.Holding varied opinions. | D.Holding no special thoughts. |
A.It is necessary to replace the outdated words. | B.Books can attract more readers by updating. |
C.It is important to adjust our way to read. | D.Books should be treated the way they are. |
A.The big debate. | B.Around the world. | C.National news. | D.Science and technology. |
【推荐1】The role of media historically has been central to the making of society and the construction of identity. It is vital in the search for information, stories and art to feed the human spirit and imagination to overcome the challenges ahead.
In an age of false news and misinformation, good quality content is more valuable than ever. History provides some context. In the UK the development of the liberal(自由的)media prior to the 1950s was characterized by a clear hierarchy(等级)when it came to the control of information. This model eventually gave way to a popular, audience-driven mass media in the 1980s, when the idea of the media as a source of popular pleasure took root.
Today, as more content is distributed via social platforms and the division between content creators and content consumers is unclear, technology companies — or “super competitors” — are taking greater responsibility for guaranteeing the quality and integrity of information. Perhaps as a reaction to this and with an odd nod to pre-1950s paternalism(家长式管理), there is a rising call for governments and regulators to take a more active role in the production and spreading of news to ensure equitable access to information.
Access to or quality of content is better than ever. But while destination media compete to become leaders in their specific areas, the tech giants are working out how to use media to dominate time, spend and data. What will be the impact of the strategies of the tech giants on the overall media landscape? The poet and novelist, Ben Okri, writes, “It may well be that it is not only science that saves us. We may also be saved by laughter, by the optimism of being able to see beyond these times, with stories, with community, with songs.”
In the absence of real contact, interaction and the consumption of experience is now mostly mediated(调解). The value and integrity of media has never been more relevant and significant.
1. What do the underlined words “some context” in Paragraph 2 refer to?A.The development of the liberal media. |
B.The model of the British clear hierarchy. |
C.The changing of factors determining media content. |
D.The idea of the media as a source of popular pleasure. |
A.Media are losing their roles in shaping society. |
B.It’s hard to divide content creators and consumers. |
C.Media are misused to dominate time, spend and data. |
D.The quality and integrity of information can’t be available. |
A.Our life lacks passion. | B.People need proper media content. |
C.Science can by all means save us. | D.Media cannot change the real life. |
A.The Core of Media—Value and Integrity |
B.The Transformation of Media Content |
C.The Impact of Tech Giants on Media |
D.The Ups and Downs of Media |
【推荐2】Suppose you have everything: a good job, good health, good relationships and a lot of money. But still there is something missing from your life. Guess what? The love. It is not something that you should ignore. Life without love is just like a body without soul.
Love gives meaning to life as without love life is meaningless. Lucky is the person who gets love and keeps the flames of love burning forever. It is not a matter of days or months. Love is for life and life is for love
It is easy to fall in love but difficult to keep the flames of love burning. Before having serious long - term love relationships, be sure that the person you love is also sincere with you. A selfish person can make your life terrible. If this is the case with you then try to get rid of that person as soon as possible.
Most people do not give importance to their love life as they give importance to their professional life. This is a bad choice which ruins the whole life. A balance between the two is necessary in order to enjoy life in its entirety. Do not lose the love you need.
In order to make your life more exciting and enjoyable, you need a loving and caring person with whom you can share your values, dreams, joys and jokes. In difficult times of failure, pain, or loss of dear ones, this person should stand firm beside you and comfort you in every possible manner.
Love your life and love the person who is in your life. Keep the flames of love burning to live a great life.
1. What's the meaning of the underlined sentence in the second paragraph?A.Love is only for life |
B.Life is designed only for love |
C.Life is not separated from love |
D.When you have a good life, you can own a real love |
A.try to get rid of your bad manners as soon as possible |
B.make sure that the person you love is also sincere |
C.try to find out whether the person you love really loves you |
D.make sure that you treat the person sincerely |
A.to value everything one has | B.to be sincere with the people around |
C.to live a life full of love | D.to avoid being a selfish person |
A.To fall in love with a person |
B.To find a real person loving you. |
C.To make the flames of love burning forever |
D.To keep good relations with friends. |
【推荐3】By now, it is pretty well understood that we regularly pay for things in ways other than using money. Sometimes we pay sill with cash. But we also pay for things with data, and more often, with our time and attention. We effectively hand over access to our minds in exchange for something “fee”, like email, streaming video or online shopping pages. As opposed to “paying” attention, we actually “spend attention”, agreeing to the view ads in exchange for something we really want.
The centrality of that deal in our lives makes it unacceptable that there are companies who seize our time and attention for absolutely nothing in exchange, and indeed, without permission at all-otherwise known as “attention theft”.
Attention theft happens anywhere you find your time and attention taken without permission, like the new, targeted advertising screens in hospital waiting rooms, the airlines that play full-volume advertising from a screen right in front of your face, or the advertising - screens in office elevators. These are just few examples in what is a growing category. Combined, they threaten to make us live life in a screen-lined cocoon(茧),shrunken and incapable of independent thought.
Then, what makes it “theft”?Advances in neuroscience over the last several decades make it clear that our brain’s resources are unconsciously triggered(触发)by sound and movement;therefore the screens seize rare mental resources. Meanwhile, in the law, theft is typically defined as the taking control of a resource “under such circumstances as to acquire the major part of its economic value or benefit. ” Given the established market value of time and attention, when taken without permission or compensation, it really is not much different from someone taking money out of your pocket. Thus, when the firms selling public-screen advertising to target audiences brag of rapid growth and billions in profit, those are actually earnings made by stealing from us.
1. What phenomenon is described in Paragraph 1?A.Preference for cash. | B.Consumption of attention. |
C.Payments in shopping. | D.Addiction to mass media. |
A.By making a definition. | B.By analyzing causes. |
C.By giving examples. | D.By predicting results. |
A.It brings a fortune to the thief. |
B.It lays heavy burden on the brain. |
C.It takes up mental resources secretly. |
D.It brings about economic loss constantly. |
A.The Crisis of Attention Theft |
B.The Price of Attention Theft |
C.Ads:Source or Theft of Information |
D.“Paying” Instead of “Spending” Attention |