For most of her life, Suanne Laqueur’s passion for storytelling was shown on the dance floor.
Although Laqueur began writing at a young age, dancing always took center stage. She majored in dance and theater at Alfred University and taught at her mother’s dance studio in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, for years. But when her mother was ready to retire and an opportunity opened for Laqueur to take over the studio, she realized she had no interest in taking on the business side of her art: “Owning a studio is a lot of work—financially, logistically. I love the teaching, the choreographing(编舞), the staging, but I didn’t want to own it.”
Yet Laqueur’s disinterest in running the studio changed when she became a self-published author. In the fall of 2013, she decided to pursue Self-publishing as a way of sharing her first completed novel with friends and family. During the process, she realized that following her true passion—telling stories through writing—made the business of the art worthwhile, and owning that business meant she could direct her writing career however she chose.
Starting with her second self-published novel, she began investing more time in marketing and building her audience. Her investment paid off. Since 2014, Laqueur, now 49, has self-published six novels, which collectively have hundreds of ratings and reviews on Goodreads. Her 2016 novel An Exaltation of Larks stole the show at the 25th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards, topping more than 2,300 entries to win the grand prize.
“You have to write the most truthful story to you, and I think self-publishing allows that freedom,’ she says. “If you work with traditional publishing, it’s more about what’s marketable, There are trade-offs, which everyone will tell you, but by self-publishing I have control of the book, I have control of the story, and I’m cool with that.”
1. From Paragraph 2，we can learn that Laqueur _______.| A．was a part-time writer when she was young |
| B．didn’t like teaching dancing in fact |
| C．wanted to own a publishing house |
| D．was interested in running her mother’s studio |
| A．Her mother’s persuasion. | B．The desire to make money |
| C．Self-publishing her novels. | D．Her own passion toward art. |
| A．became a failure. | B．was shown to people. |
| C．got all the attention. | D．was accidentally stolen. |
| A．Self-publishing will replace traditional publishing. |
| B．She will never use traditional publishing. |
| C．Traditional publishing only focuses on the market. |
| D．She enjoys the way of self-publishing. |
相似题推荐
Kirchoff.Inc, a book development company, is looking for a part-time front desk office worker. This position is perfect for a person who is cheerful, dependable, and pleasant to work with. Also, you should be able to welcome guests, redirect phone call, and take messages. More importantly, you can stay cool under pressure. You are expected to work 5:00--6:00 pm weekdays. You need to fill in some forms if you are interested.
Forms can be collected at
Kirchoff.Inc
866 United Nations Plaza, #525
New York, NY 10037
Important Points to Remember When Swimming
•Wait at least an hour after meals.
•Follow the advice of lifeguards.
•Don’t dive into unknown waters. Always swim in line with the shore.
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•Get out of the water if you feel tired or cold. Cold can kill even strong swimmers.
Help Telephone:212-543-5902
Atlantic City Beach Office
______________________
Arrive on time.
Introduce yourself in a polite manner.
Read company materials while you wait.
Have a firm handshake.
Listen.
Use body language to show interest.
Smile and nod to the interviewers.
Ask about the next thing you should do.
Thank the interviewer.
Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to.
For more information, please visit jobweb.com
368 Cooper Square, New York.
1. If you want to work in an office, where can you get the forms to fill in?
| A．jobweb.com |
| B．Atlantic City Beach Office. |
| C．368 Cooper Square, New York, NY |
| D．866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10037. |
| A．To keep close to the beach. |
| B．To dive into unknown waters. |
| C．To use floating toys on the water. |
| D．To swim soon after lunch. |
| A．Tips on Showing Interest in a Job |
| B．Steps to a Successful Interview |
| C．Advice on Introducing Yourself Politely |
| D．Rules of Body Language in an Interview |
【推荐2】In the early hours of the morning, Gary Miller was in his truck, traveling down the road alone to deliver. Everything seemed calm. But with the sound of a fire siren (警笛) cutting through the wind, he became alarmed. Miller, a trucker by trade, has been a volunteer firefighter for 40 years. That loud, sharp siren assured him that help was on the way.
Most people never realize that this help is often a crew of volunteer firefighters. They make up 70 percent of the country’s nearly 1.2 million firefighters. “When I was a teenager there would be many who responded. About 20 people were coming into the voluntary fire station at one siren.” Miller laughed. But now, at his 54, that memory is almost ironic (讽刺的)to him. When a call comes in, his station might get only three or four people responding. He said: “People don’t want to, or rather, they don’t have time to volunteer.” Adults’ burdens have become greater. There isn’t as much time left for volunteering when most people rely on a two-income household now more than ever.
Firefighters face far more than what we imagine. The emotional stress on a firefighter stands out. “We’re asked to help someone at their most vulnerable (易受伤的) time. But we can’t always save the day like we hope to.” Miller reflected on the case years ago. “A mother’s car was hit hard, and she had two children in the backseat." By the time he arrived on the scene, there wasn’t much to be done. “One child died in my arms and I felt so defeated.”
Along with the emotional stress, the physical danger is just as great. Even with the progress of equipment and new training, that’s still not always enough to save a firefighter’s life. In 2016, 60 firefighters died in the line of the duty. “When you respond, you never know if it is to be your last,” Miller said. “And that’s just a risk we take.” Miller continued. "It's dangerous. But it's also the most rewarding thing I've ever done."
1. What was Gary Miller doing when the fire siren sounded that morning?| A．He was off duty. | B．He was doing the daily routine. |
| C．He was on the way to rescue. | D．He was driving to the fire station. |
| A．Because many of his crew lost their lives. |
| B．Because he no longer serves the fire station. |
| C．Because firefighter is not an appealing job any more. |
| D．Because fewer people want to be volunteer firefighters. |
| A．The challenging task. | B．The emotional stress. |
| C．The increasing burden. | D．The possible danger. |
| A．A worthwhile experience. | B．A way to make a living. |
| C．An ironic memory . | D．A risky adventure. |
【推荐3】Andrew Feldman is a student at Lawrence Woodmere Academy (LWA) in Woodmere, New York. On June 25, 2018, he took home the top prize at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards(全美高中生音乐剧奖) at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.
Also known as the Jimmy Awards, the awards were named to remember James M. Nederlander, a theatre owner and Broadway producer who died in 2016.
Feldman won the award for Best Performance by an Actor for playing Frank Abagnale Jr. in LWA’s production of “Catch Me If You Can.” He and Reneé Rapp each received a $10,000 scholarship. Rapp from Charlotte, North Carolina, is the winner of the Best Performance by an Actress award. The other remaining seventy-eight finalists received $3,000 scholarships.
The finalists received a week of training at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts(TSOA) before the awards event. Instructors from Broadway taught them basic skills of performing arts.
Feldman also won the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Scholarship. Carnegie Mellon University, based in Pittsburgh, was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie. Feldman received an additional $7,500 to attend the university’s six-week summer play program.
He has been a Broadway lover since seeing “Beauty and the Beast” when he was young. And then he performed in his first play, a production of “Annie” at eight.
The shock of winning had still not disappeared. “Winning the Jimmy Award is not something I even imagined,” Feldman said. “I didn’t think it could actually happen! It’s now been about a week and a half and I still don’t believe it.”
In 2014, Feldman created a theatre company called Zneefrock Productions. The company was run totally by teens. It was set up to raise money for NEXT for Autism, an organization helping to support autism programs.
1. What did Feldman do during the week before June 25?| A．He traveled around Pittsburgh. | B．He received training at TSOA. |
| C．He performed at the Minskoff Theatre. | D．He visited Carnegie Mellon University. |
| A．He was certain of it. | B．He was not expecting it. |
| C．It took him a lot of effort. | D．It was not a great achievement. |
| A．A group of Broadway lovers. | B．A theatre company run by teens. |
| C．The winner of the Jimmy Awards. | D．The influence of the Jimmy Awards. |
【推荐1】Camping wild is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and, at its best, it makes little environmental influence. But with increasing numbers of people wanting to escape into the wilderness, it is becoming more and more important to camp unobtrusively(不引人注目地) and leave no mark.
Wild camping is not permitted in many places, particularly in crowded lowland Britain. Wherever you are, find out about organizations responsible for managing wild spaces, and contact them to find out their policy on camping and shelter building. For example, it is fine to camp wild in remote parts of Scotland, but in England you must ask the landowner’s permission, except in national parks.
Camping is about having relaxation, sleeping outdoors, experiencing bad weather, and making do without modern conveniences. A busy, fully-equipped campsite(野营地) seems to go against this, so seek out smaller, more remote places with easy access to open spaces and perhaps beaches. Better still, find a campsite with no road access: walking in makes a real adventure.
Finding the right spot to camp is the first step to guaranteeing a good night’s sleep. Choose a campsite with privacy and minimum influence on others and the environment. Try to use an area where people have obviously camped before rather than creating a new spot. When camping in woodland, avoid standing dead trees, which may fall on a windy night. Avoid animal runs and caves, and possible homes of biting insects. Make sure you have most protection on the windward side. If you make a fire, do so downwind of your shelter. Always consider what influence you might have on the natural world. Avoid damaging plants. A good campsite is found, not made—changing it should be unnecessary.
1. You needn’t ask for permission when camping in ________.| A．national parks in England | B．most parts of Scotland |
| C．crowded lowland Britain | D．most parts of England |
| A．with easy access | B．used previously |
| C．with modern conveniences | D．far away from beaches |
| A．protecting animals | B．building a campfire |
| C．camping in woodland | D．finding a campsite with privacy |
| A．the protection of campsites | B．the importance of wild camping |
| C．the human influence on campsites | D．the dos and don’ts of wild camping |
【推荐2】The Advantages of Hobbies
Hobbies provide entertainment and a chance to continuously learn something new and develop a skill set.
Hobbies are praised as a key to stress reduction. Becoming lost in the mental concentration or physical action which you are deeply interested in helps you shift focus from the parts of life that are stressful.
Hobbies provide a sense of community when you meet other people who enjoy similar activities.
Having a hobby can develop a talent that makes a person feel proud and satisfied. For example, a tennis hobby developed at a young age can lead to a career as a professional athlete one day.
| A．Focusing on something enjoyable can calm the mind. |
| B．Hobbies also provide a sense of achievement. |
| C．Some hobbies affect other aspects of your life. |
| D．There are a variety of hobbies. |
| E．They also provide many other social and health benefits. |
| F．Having a hobby increases the chances to interact with like-minded people. |
| G．Some hobbies containing physical activities offer an enjoyable way to stay healthy. |
【推荐3】I’d never thought of flying as something I would ever actually want to do in my free time until my family bought me what’s called a ‘flying experience day’ as a birthday present. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t like some of my friends, who would start shaking with fear at the thought of going in a plane of any size. I’d actually always looked forward to flying off somewhere on holiday, especially that feeling you get when the plane’s just taking off. But flying a plane was something other people did, not me.
I started researching the experience day online straight away. The little aircraft I was going to fly in could only go up to 3. 000 meters, which is quite low when you realize big jets fly closer to 10, 000 meters. I found out there was a half-hour talk from the instructor(教练)about safety and the controls. This seemed more than enough to me, as I was only going to be in the air for about the same amount of time, which I couldn’t quite believe. My parents were amazed that something like that was available for a twelve-year-old girl, but I’m very pleased it was.
On the day, I was quite nervous but Sheena, my instructor, was very calm, which helped a lot.
She took the controls as we took off, of course. It appeared to take ages to get high up, but it was only actually a minute or two, and then I took the controls. I was so excited, I wasn’t really listening to what Sheena was saying. I was hoping to see my house but it was hard to work out where everything was from the air. Even though we were flying at 280 kilometers per hour, you could hardly tell we were moving when you looked down.
I’m now so into flying that I’m considering it as a career. I’ll need to get a pilot’s license, of course, and I’m happy to save up for more classes to do this. It was such fun that I’d love to do it every day and get paid for it, too. The company that organizes experience days keeps sending emails about train driving and other things, but I only want more of one particular kind of experience now!
1. How did the writer feel about flying before she did the flying experience day?| A．Scared of flying in a small plane. | B．Confident that she would be good at it. |
| C．Uninterested in taking it up as a hobby. | D．Uncertain about what it would feel like. |
| A．How young the pilot can be. | B．How long the flight will take. |
| C．How high the plane would reach. | D．How much training is needed. |
| A．The plane appeared to travel very slowly. |
| B．Seeing where she lives was fantastic. |
| C．It was too noisy to hear the instructor. |
| D．The plane seemed to climb very quickly. |
| A．Learn how to fly other planes. |
| B．Have more flying lessons just for fun. |
| C．Try different ‘experience days’. |
| D．Do business offering experience days. |
| A．A 12-year-old girl’s rise to fame. |
| B．Preparation work needed for flying a plane. |
| C．Process of controlling a flying plane. |
| D．A12-year-old girl’s first flying experience. |
