The Book Thief was written by the Australian author Markus Zusak and it has been his most popular work. Published（出版）in 2005, it has become an international bestseller and been translated into several languages. In 2013, it was adapted into a film of the same name.
Are you wondering who the “book thief” is? It was Liesel Meminger, a 12-year-old girl living in Germany during World War II. While the Nazis were creating horrors（恐怖）all around, Liesel came across something that she couldn’t give up: books. She stole books that belonged to the mayor’s（市长的）wife, as well as books that the Nazis wanted to destroy.
A Jewish man named Max inspired Liesel’s love for books. Liesel’s family hides Max in their house. He developed a close relationship with Liesel and taught her to read in secret. Soon, Liesel realized the power of words. She not only stole books, but also wrote her own stories.
“It is not the kind of story that has you crying one moment and laughing the next,” as The Guardian reported. Instead, the sadness of Liesel’s story interests you. It makes you realize that such kinds of things have happened to many other people. And it makes you think a lot.
1. Who is the writer of The Book Thief?2. Who was the book thief?
3. When did the thief steal books?
4. What did Max do for the young girl?
5. Why is the book recommended（推荐）?
2 . The reality show（真人秀）is a kind of television program. Usually a reality show has many series（集）. And it can be on TV for many years.
The reality show is different from other kinds of TV shows. Because it shows the life of common people and no actors or actresses play in it. It often shows true stories that happen in people’s daily life. So many people like to watch reality shows.
The first reality show came out in the 1990s in America. At that time, the most famous and popular reality show was Survivor. It was popular not only in America, but also around the world.
Reality shows also show different kinds of competitions（比赛）. For example, there’s a Chinese reality show called The voice of China（中国好声音）. In this show, there are four famous Chinese singers. Their job is to find their favourite students and help them be the winner. The show is very successful. Many people like to watch it.
阅读短文，回答问题。
1. What is the reality show?（回答不超过5个词）
2. The reality show is different from other kinds of TV shows.（翻译成中文）
3. Are there any famous actors or actress in the reality show?
4. When and where did the first reality show come out?（回答不超过5个词）
5. What do the four famous Chinese singers do in The voice of China?（回答不超过15个词）
Good morning! My name is Jack Brown. I am from America. I am 13. I’m in Class One, Grade Seven. My telephone number is 577-9844. Liu Yang is my good friend. Liu is his last name. Yang is his first name. He is 12. He is from China. His telephone number is 854-6745. He has a new school bag. It’s green. It’s his favorite color.
1. Where is Jack from?2. Which grade is Jack in?
3. What’s Jack’s phone number?
4. What’s Liu Yang’s favorite color?
5. What’s the relationship (关系) between Jack and Liu Yang?
4 . An old tiger lives in the forest. He does not want to look for food now. He often tells other animals to bring him food to eat. He sees a monkey and says, “I’m hungry (饿), Monkey. Go and bring me a fat pig.”
“Oh, Tiger,” says the monkey, “I can’t do that now. There is another tiger over there. He wants a fat pig, too. He doesn’t let me give you anything to eat. I am afraid (害怕) of him.”
“What?” says the tiger. “Where’s the tiger? I want to talk to him.”
“Come with me,” says the monkey.
The monkey and the tiger get to a bridge over the river. “Now look down into the water,” says the monkey. “Do you see the hand, the white teeth and the big eyes of a tiger?”
“Yes, I do,” says the old tiger. “I will eat him up!”
With these words, the tiger jumps into the river.
根据短文内容，在横线上填上合适的词语。
1. The tiger lives
2. The tiger often tells
3. The monkey can’t bring
4. The monkey and the old tiger get to
5. Is there really (真的) another tiger in the forest?(回答问题)
As China opens its door, studying abroad has become one of Chinese students’ dreams. It’s reported that there are more than 30, 000 Chinese students studying in the USA now. And more and more teenagers go abroad for study directly after their junior high school.
It’s true that studying abroad can help students develop themselves. Their foreign language skills will be improved and it may be easier to find jobs. But there are problems that should be thought about. Language is the first. Students must spend a lot of time learning another language. Students must also learn to live without parents’ care and deal with all kinds of things they haven’t had to do before, like looking after themselves. When they have to take care of themselves, it is hard for students to study well. There are reports about Chinese students abroad giving up finally because they meet tons of difficulties.
We know that there are many famous people who have achieved success through their hand work in China. Liu Xiang is a good example. Once an American teacher invited him there, but he refused. He kept training hard with his Chinese teacher. He surprised the world when he won a gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games. So when you wonder which country is better to study in, think again.
1. What has become one of Chinese students’ dreams?2. How many Chinese students are studying in the USA now?
3. What is the first problem that should be thought about?
4. Why do some Chinese students studying abroad give up finally?
5. What did Liu Xiang refuse?
David is eleven. He is in China with his family. He has a watch. It’s from his brother Kevin. Black is his favorite color. He has a black schoolbag. It’s from his parents. His favorite fruit is apples. He says they are good for his health. He likes Chinese best because he thinks it’s useful.
David is writing a letter to his grandma. She is in London.
“Dear Grandma, how are you? Have a good day!”
David asks his mom to read the letter. After reading it, his mom says to him, “This is a short letter.”
“Yes, mom, it’s short,” says David. “But it’s sweet (令人愉快的). Grandma will like it.”
What a lovely boy!
1. How old is David?2. Who is Kevin?
3. Where is David’s grandma?
4. Why does David like Chinese?
5. What does David’s mother think of his letter?
Calligraphy (书法) is one of the most traditional forms of art in China. It’s part of our culture. Since Sept. 2019, more than 20 schools in Rongcheng District (区), Jieyang have given calligraphy classes to their students. The new course is now popular with the students. Here is what they said about it: I think the course teaches us to write standard Chinese characters (汉字) in a proper way, using the right gestures. I advise making calligraphy a necessary subject in the primary school so that we can start to learn it at a young age. —Li Yuhui Although we are in an information age when many things can be done on phones and computers, still we should go back to handwriting by using brushes and ink. The lesson not only provides me with a good chance to learn Chinese art, but also makes me pay more attention to my handwriting. Calligraphy is well worth learning. —Xiao Ronglan I am glad to find my handwriting improves after taking the lesson. Now I spend about half an hour practicing calligraphy every day and it has become one of my hobbies. One thing which surprises me is that I also become more patient. That’s out of my expectation. —Wu Duanhua Our school sets up the course mainly to carry forward the traditional art. I don’t consider it boring or useless. Instead, it’s interesting and meaningful. I really enjoy the beauty the Chinese characters bring us. —Mo Linwei |
2. What is Li Yuhui’s advice?
3. Why does Xiao Ronglan think calligraphy is well worth learning?
4. Who practices calligraphy every day according to the passage?
5. What’s the main purpose of Mo Linwei’s school setting up the course?
My name is Lily Smith. I come from the UK. I’m now a student in Grade Eight. My father is an English teacher in my school. My mother is a doctor in a hospital.
For me, it is very busy from March to May. On March 8th, it is Women’s Day. I want to help my mother cook dinner. On March 12th, it is my father’s birthday. There is a big party for him in my house. I want to buy him a shirt. On April 1st, it is April Fool’s Day. I will think up some jokes (笑话). On the second Sunday of May, it is Mother’s Day. I want to buy my mother a dress. What about a blue one? It is her favorite color. I think she will like it very much.
1. What’s Lily’s family name?2. Is Lily’s father an English teacher?
3. What does Lily want to do on March 8th?
4. When is Lily’s father’s birthday?
5. What does Lily want to buy for her mother?
 Alice | l don’t have a soccer ball but my friend John has one. He often asks me to play soccer with him. I love tennis and I like watching tennis games on TV. |
 John | I love soccer and I often play soccer with my friend Alice. I don’t like basketball. It’s difficult for me. But my brother Frank likes it very much. He thinks it’s fun. |
 Frank | I love sports. I have one basketball and three tennis balls. I don’t have a baseball but I have two baseball bats. My cousin Jerry has baseballs. So we often play baseball together. |
 Jerry | I love baseball and I have two baseballs. I like ping-pong, too. I often play ping-pong with Tom. He has ping-pong bats. |
2. What does John think of basketball?
3. How many tennis balls does Frank have?
4. Who has baseballs?
5. What does Jerry often play with Tom?
10 . On New Year’s Day, my family decided to climb Mount Song. We hoped it could bring good luck to us for the whole year. It was cloudy in the morning. My grandparents, my parents and I had some dumplings for breakfast and then drove to Mount Song. At nine, we arrived at the foot of Mount Song and began to climb the mountain. It was cold, but we were all excited at first. We chose a road that visitors seldom took because we thought it would be fun. After two hours we found that the road conditions (路况) were getting worse. At half past twelve, we got to the top of the mountain. But it began to snow! All of us were cold and hungry. Soon we got to a small restaurant. It only sold instant noodles (方便面). One bowl of noodles was ten yuan and we had to pay for the hot water! Each of us had a bowl of noodles and gained some strength. There were no cable cars, so we had to walk down the mountain. Four hours later, we finally got to the foot of the mountain. What an unusual day!
1. What did the writer’s family do on New Year’s Day?2. How was the weather on New Year’s Day in the morning?
3. Why did they choose road that visitors seldom took?
4. When did they get to the top of the mountain?
5. How much was one bowl of noodles?
