The chance of a snowy holiday season in most American cities is practically impossible this year,so any festive atmosphere to be enjoyed will have to be the imaginary sort. Luckily, there are books for that.
The Complete Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
Any reader of fairy tales knows Andersen's responsible for the snowy scenes in The Snow Queen,the story of children Kay and Gerda,who must face the goddesslike woman who controls all snowflakes after Kay is kidnapped.
Family Life by Akhil Sharma
It's a beautiful yet tragic novel about an Indian family immigrating to America,only to face entirely new hardships.Sharma's novel isn't entirely set in the wintertime, but his poetic descriptions of winter weather as lovely yet isolating make it a great choice for a December read.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Go ahead and give up the movie adaptation that has been produced recently and read or reread the classic itself.You know the story:a scientist driven by his ambition discovers a method for creating life, and spends two years cobbling together a living creature, who later feels angry with him.
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
Dillard's first book is,as its title suggests,about her change from being a selfcentered child to being an adult more concerned with the world around her than with her own personal concerns.Her parents are key figures in the story.One famous scene takes place during what the author calls “a big snow”,in 1950.
1. Who wrote a novel about The Snow Queen?| A．Annie Dillard. | B．Mary Shelley. |
| C．Akhil Sharma | D．Hans Christian Andersen. |
| A．The Snow Queen. | B．Family Life. |
| C．An American Childhood. | D．Frankenstein. |
| A．It has been adapted for movies. | B．It's about the secret history. |
| C．It's about an Indian family. | D．It's a fairy tale. |
| A．selfcentered children | B．adults |
| C．scientists | D．Dillard's parents |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Magazines make great reading materials for kids. Libraries often have a large selection of periodicals (期刊) for every age group and reading level, and for many areas of interest. And some magazines may even have issues going back years and even decades! Below is a list of some of them!
Military Kids LifeIt is about finding the bright side of life as a military kid! Inside each quarterly issue, your child will encounter inspiring stories, articles, and photographs! (8 to 16 years)
FacesWith articles, folk tales, and hands-on projects, Faces magazine takes young readers around the world for an honest and objective view of how children in other regions live. (9 to 14 years)
MakeMake magazine publishes tested projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews and inspirational stories, accessible by all ages and skill ranges. (9 to 18 years)
BrioBrio magazine for teen girls has a fresh new look that includes more pages filled with inspiring profiles, cultural insights, health & beauty tips, faith-filled features and added fun! (13 to 18 years)
Please note: Though all the magazines on this list are written for children, some issues may contain content that you may feel inappropriate for your child. As always, please review all reading materials before giving them to your child to read.
1. Which magazine can help develop kids’ international awareness?| A．Faces. | B．Make. |
| C．Brio. | D．Military Kids Life. |
| A．All the magazines are proper for children. |
| B．Magazines are usually published for children. |
| C．Some magazines have back issues in libraries. |
| D．Only magazines for kids are accessible in libraries. |
| A．To argue. | B．To inform. |
| C．To entertain. | D．To persuade. |
【推荐2】Books to Read in Your 20s
The Kite Runner
By Khaled Hosseini
As a Middle Eastern and North African Studies student, I have a great interest in books about what takes place in this area. I first read this book in high school and really enjoyed it because of its accurate language. If any of you is interested in reading this book and hasn't yet, I highly recommend it.
Fire fly Lane
By Kristin Hannah
This is my favorite book. It is a story about friendship, love and life lessons. The story covers the lives of two best friends, Tully and Kate, from childhood to adulthood. I learned so much about friendship and life. So, read Firefly Lane! You'll laugh, you'll cry, and then you'll share this book to your best friend.
Half the Sky
By Nicholas Kristof
For any person of any age, Half the Sky is a must-read. It describes the struggle of women and the most pressing human rights problems of our time: the common oppression of women and girls.
The Little Prince
By Antoine de Saint
This children's book is simple. It might seem like a wrong book to recommend to someone in their twenties, but perhaps that's what makes it a good choice. It sings praises to exploration and shows the importance of making friends.
1. Who is the writer of the book The Kite Runner?| A．Khaled Hosseini. | B．Kristin Hannah. |
| C．Nicholas Kristof. | D．Antoine de Saint. |
| A．It's written by Tully and Kate. | B．It talks about friendship and life. |
| C．It's a simple book for children. | D．It's a comic book with humorous writing. |
| A．The Kite Runner. | B．Firefly Lane. |
| C．Half the Sky. | D．The Little Prince. |
【推荐3】The books we read when we’re young have a special sort of power: they can inspire us to be brave and resilient (Matilda by Roald Dahi), take us on thrilling adventures (Divergent by Veronica Roth) and even introduce us to tragedy (The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson). They’re as formative as anything else in our young lives, and sometimes they’re the first place we encounter larger-than-life ideas. Consider the lasting cultural import of To Kill a Mockingbird or even the urgency of a newer best seller like I’ll Give You the Sun, Jandy Nelson’s 2014 novel centering on a contradictory issue. In The Magic Words, Cheryl B. Klein, an executive editor at Scholastic whose projects include the last two Harry Potter books, sets out to inform would-be writers on how great novels for young readers work.
The market for YA novels is booming: sales in the children’s and YA sector have been neck and neck with those of adult books in recent years, and adult authors, including Meg Wolitzer (Belzhar) and Carl Hiaasen (Razor Girl), are getting in on the phenomenon. Magic Words aims to be a master class. If you think it sounds silly, it isn’t. In the era of elevated self-help sensations like Marie Kondo and Breníé Brown, The Magic Words is of a piece.
Klein deconstructs the seemingly obvious clear plotlines, sympathetic characters to reveal the technical intricacies of some beloved classics. L. M. Montgomery surely didn’t whip up Anne of Green Gables as a cash-in endeavor. But for those who want to capitalize, Anne is instructive: what’s timeless and broadly appealing about Anne - her teenage heart and impulses——is what to examine. Once you understand that. Klein encourages you to get personal: What makes you ideal to write your story? And what does it mean to the reader?
On the latter question, The Magic Words is more than a handbook. It is also a timely social commentary on the responsibility YA writers have to young adults. Those who write to a younger demographic must start with an awareness of their readers——not only their age but also how they might connect with the issues, both the mundane bullies and the cultural tolerance that characters face. The narratives we tell young readers can influence how they understand and value the world around them. The magic isn’t in the words: it’s in how the words come together to reflect and affirm the realities of a diverse young-adult experience.
1. According to the first paragraph, it can be learned that ________.| A．The Bridge to Terabithia can inspire us to be brave and resilient |
| B．Matilda by Roald Dahi can take us on thrilling adventures |
| C．Divergent by Veronica Roth even introduce us to tragedy |
| D．To Kill a Mockingbird has lasting cultural significance |
| A．Anne is a master in the field YA novels. |
| B．Sales in the children’s and YA sector have been neck and neck. |
| C．Adult authors are getting in the field of YA novels. |
| D．The market for YA novels is booming. |
| A．full of absurd plots and complex narrative structure |
| B．one of the masterpieces of Klein |
| C．not only a handbook but also a timely social commentary |
| D．a novel composed of many letters |
| A．find someone to sponsor their writing | B．fully understand their readership first |
| C．develop a strategy to meet the market | D．copy the works of historical masters |
【推荐1】There are so many ways to make new friends such as joining a sports team, taking part in community activities, or traveling. And there is no doubt that a friend in need is a friend indeed because he can help you out when you are in trouble or encourage you when you are frustrated (沮丧). Personally, joining a sports team will be my first choice.
The primary reason for this is that everyone in a sports team has the same interest, which is the most fundamental (基础的) character for friends. Because of it, they will become your potential friends so that the chance to be true friends is very high. In addition, the same interest can give you a lot of topics to talk about with your friends in daily conversation.
Another factor that should be taken into consideration is the memory. After you fight for a goal with your partners, it will leave you a good experience, which is necessary for a long-lasting friendship. I used to be a player in the basketball team of my high school. Even though it was five years ago, I can remember all the exciting moments when we fought for the championship as if they happened yesterday. And although we went to different universities, we get together so many times.
In addition, trust is also an important aspect. As we know, keeping trust is the most important thing in the team because it can make you be together all the time. Furthermore, you can share happiness and sadness with reliable friends and they will make you feel life is beautiful and that the future is bright.
Join a sports team, and your new friends are waiting for you.
1. Why does the author think that a friend in need is a friend indeed?| A．He can share your happiness. | B．He can help you when you need him. |
| C．He can help you join a sports team. | D．He can encourage you when you succeed. |
| A．Taking part in community activities | B．Remembering exciting moments |
| C．Joining a sports team | D．Traveling with others |
| A．best | B．suitable | C．reliable | D．possible |
| A．No sports teams, no new friends | B．A friend in need is a friend indeed |
| C．Join a sports team to make new friends | D．True friends should have the same interest |
【推荐2】Despite the common appearing of tablet computers and e-readers, we simply cannot break our addiction to paper. An estimated four billion trees are cut down every year to make paper or cardboard, an energy-consuming process with a vast environmental footprint. Now chemist Yadong Yin of the University of California, Riverside, and his colleagues have developed “rewritable” paper that could help control that impact.
Printed rewritable paper is made using Prussian blue nanoparticles (纳米粒子). The researchers coated conventional paper with nanoparticles of two chemicals: Prussian blue that gives blueprints their characteristic color, and titanium dioxide (二氧化钛), a substance used in sunscreens.
UV light makes the titanium dioxide nanoparticles donate electrons (电子) to their Prussian blue neighbors, shifting its color from midnight blue to milky white.
By shining that UV light through a transparent (透明的) screen marked with black text, the researchers “printed” blue text on a white background. The text lasts about five days and then naturally fades away: “Every morning I could just push a button, and a printer would give me a fresh newspaper to read over breakfast,” Yin says.
The paper can also be reset by heating and reused more than 80 times, a significant improvement over previous types of rewritable paper. “The key advantages are high reusability and stability, easy handling and low cost,” says Sean X. Zhang, a materials scientist at Jilin University in China, who was not involved in the study but has also worked on developing rewritable paper. By comparison, technologies such as electronic ink—used for Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite—involve moving charged black-and-white particles around, which requires electronics.
Since reporting their invention in Nano Letters early this year, the scientists have used a digital projector to replace their transparent screen. They are now working on increasing the number of times the paper can be reused. Zhang says a key difficulty will be persuading companies to develop the unconventional UV control needed for widespread use. Even though commercialization could be a few years away, Yin says, “We’ve had a lot of discussions with industry investors.”
1. What are paragraphs 2-4 mainly about?| A．Working principles of the new invention. |
| B．Comparison between different papers. |
| C．Key benefits of the new invention. |
| D．The function of UV light. |
| A．expensive | B．unreliable | C．conventional | D．eco-friendly |
| A．Print, wipe, rewrite |
| B．The nanotech commercialized |
| C．The history of paper |
| D．Reduce, reuse, recycle |
There is certainly a lot to be said for real trees. There is something fun about gathering the family together, going to a Christmas tree farm, and selecting or even cutting down your own tree. Real Christmas trees have that lovely holiday pine needle smell and they look great in your home.
Of course, on the other hand, they also leave a complete mess behind and needles that seem to keep appearing for weeks or even months after the tree comes down. You must also find a way to deal with your real Christmas tree after you’re done, which may mean cutting it into pieces so it will fit in the trash. Many dustmen will refuse to take away a tree that is left beside your regular trash, especially if it is a big tree or an old, yellow one with falling needles, making it hard to pick up. They don’t want a face full of sharp needles any more than you do!
With a fake Christmas tree, there is no mess, but there is also no Christmas smell and no exciting trip to the Christmas tree farm. Of course, these trees look the same in appearance as a real tree when decorated, and there is no need for the old twisted threads used in the past. For some people, a can of pine air freshener is enough to recreate the pleasant smell of a real tree.
As to which tree is the better choice, it is really a matter of personal preference. Both real and fake trees certainly have their benefits, and knowing which is better for you this Christmas really depends on what your family wants.
1. Which of the following shows the benefits of real Christmas trees?
a.providing more fun
b.easy to clean up
c.giving off a natural smell
d.easy to decorate
| A．a, c | B．a, d | C．b, c | D．b, d |
| A．why many dustmen refuse to take away a real tree |
| B．how long a real tree can live |
| C．how to cut a real tree into pieces |
| D．what weaknesses a real tree has |
| A．look more beautiful | B．are more fashionable |
| C．can be used longer | D．are more convenient |
| A．Objective. | B．Disapproving. |
| C．Skeptical. | D．Optimistic. |
【推荐1】The Internet has become part of teenager’s life. There’s a report on 3375 students aged from 10 to 18 in seven Chinese cities. It says that 38 percent of them believe they use the Internet often. While most of them get useful information and use the Internet to help in their studies, some are not using it in a good way. Many are playing online games too much. A few even visit Web sites they should not look at. Bad things can happen if young people spend too much time on the Internet.
In order to help young people use the Internet in a good way, a textbook on good Internet behavior has started to be used in some Shanghai middle schools this term. It uses real examples to teach students all about good ways of using the Internet. It gives useful advice such as it’s good to read news or find helpful information to study. Some students also make online friends. But if you are meeting a friend online, let your parents know.
Teachers and parents all think the book is a very good idea. It will teach students how to be a good person in the online world. It will be a guide for teens to use the Internet and keep students away from the bad sites.
1. The underlined word “it” means______.| A．the book | B．report |
| C．the Internet | D．useful information |
| A．3375 | B．1280 |
| C．2100 | D．3000 |
| A．To make online friends |
| B．To play online games |
| C．To get useful information to help in their studies. |
| D．To visit Web sites they should not look at. |
| A．Because it helps with the students studies. |
| B．Because it gives useful information for studying. |
| C．Because it is used in Shanghai middle schools. |
| D．Because it deals with how to behave well on the internet. |
【推荐2】Whether you seek culture, community, or comfort food in America, these amazing festivals prove that small towns from coast to coast know how to throw big celebration.
Tulip Time
Go: May in Holland, Michigan
There’s no better place to celebrate Michigan’s Dutch Heritage than a town called Holland, where six million tulips are planted in private fields, city parks, and other gardens around town. First introduced in 1929, Tulip Time draws a half million visitors and features eight days of events, including three parades, an arts-and-crafts show, carnival rides, fireworks, and plenty of Dutch food tastings.
Texas SandFest
Go: April in Port Aransas, Texas
Since 1997, this artistic sand festival attracts talented amateurs and master sculptors alike to beautiful beaches of Port Aransas. A three-day event typically held over a weekend in late April, SandFest features parades, live music, entertainment, food, and sand sculpting lessons.
Burlington Steamboat Days
Go: June in Burlington, Iowa
Going strong for over 55 years, the four-day Burlington Steamboat Days draws an impressive lineup of musical headliners and new artists to this small town. Over the years, attendees have been treated to performances by Louie Armstrong, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, and more. In addition to music, there are carnival games and parades, as well as a golf tournament.
National Balloon Classic
Go: July-August in Indianola, Iowa
Every summer since 1976, the small town has put on one of the largest festivals in the Midwest. The weeklong National Balloon Classic features twice-daily flights of more than 100 colorful hot-air balloons, skydiving demonstrations, and balloon rides. There’s also live music, food vendors, and a kid’s play area.
1. Which of the following has the longest history?| A．Tulip Time. | B．Texas SandFest. |
| C．Burlington Steamboat Day. | D．National Balloon Classic. |
| A．Take a balloon ride. | B．Attend sculpting lessons. |
| C．Learn steamboat’s history. | D．Enjoy great performances. |
| A．They kick off with parades. | B．They all last for a week long. |
| C．They take place in small towns. | D．They are held in the same state. |
“All that it takes to steal a password is a quick eye,” said one of the researchers of the study. “With all the personal information we have on our phones today, improving their security is becoming increasingly necessary.” In developing a secure solution to this problem, the researchers studied the practicality of using free-form gestures. With the ability to create any shape in any size and location on the screen, the gestures were popular as passwords. Since users create them without following a template, the researchers predicted these gestures would allow for greater complexity.
The researchers carried out a create-test-retest experiment where 63 people were asked to create a gesture, recall it, and recall it again 10 days later. The gestures were captured on a recognizer system designed by the team. Using this data, they tested the complexity and accuracy of each gesture using information theory. The result of their analysis is that people are favorable to use free-form gestures as passwords.
To put their analysis into practice, the researchers then had seven students in computer science and engineering, each with considerable experience with touchscreens（触摸屏）, attempt to steal a free-form gesture password by observing a phone user secretly. None of them were able to copy the gestures with enough accuracy. The gestures appear to be extremely powerful against attacks.
Though the testing is in its early stage and widespread adaptation of this technology is not yet clear, the research team plans to continue to analyze the security and management of free–form passwords in the future. They believe this is the first study to explore free-form gestures as passwords. They will soon publish their findings.
1. What can we learn about free-form gestures?
| A．They are improving mobile security in a way. |
| B．Users will have to make use of simple gestures. |
| C．They will never be copied by others. |
| D．Users must move their fingers in fixed shapes. |
| A．template | B．application | C．accuracy | D．security |
| A．it is easy to steal any password with a quick eye |
| B．better ways of setting passwords should be developed |
| C．people had better not use smart phones to pay bills |
| D．personal information should not be stored in a phone |
| A．advise people to use free-form gestures |
| B．discuss whether smart phones are safe |
| C．talk about the practicality of passwords |
| D．introduce the study of a new password |
