1 . Books for Young Readers
Ivy+Bean by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall
Ivy is quiet; Bean is loud and goofy. Ivy wants to be a witch; Bean wants to play games. Naturally, they’re going to end up being best friends and getting into all kinds of scrapes together since their approach to pretty much everything—from discovering dinosaurs to starting their own summer camp—is “Why not?” (For ages 6 to 10)
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson and Nina Mata
Ryan Hart wants to see the good in everybody, even when she gets teased for having a boy’s name. She has a lot to deal with—her dad’s been laid off and the family has to move to a smaller house. But when Ryan runs into problems, she’s always looking for ways to make sunshine. (For ages 7 to 10)
Better Nate Than Ever (series) by Tim Federle
The budding drama club kids in your life will love this trilogy (三部曲) about a small-town boy with big Broadway dreams. Nate Foster longs to get away from Jankburg. Pennsylvania to star in a Broadway show. And then something amazing happens. There’s an open casting call for a Broadway musical based on E. T. He just has to get there. (For ages 10 and up)
New Kid by Jerry Craft
Fans of Raina Telgemeier will love Jerry Craft’s sympathetic graphic novel about seventh-grader Jordan, who’s trying to fit in at the fancy new private school where he’s one of the few kids of color in his grade. And all he really wants to do is draw comics—so how can he stay true to himself and his neighborhood, and still figure out his new school? (For ages 8 to 12)
1. Which word can best describe Ryan Hart?| A．Responsible. | B．Optimistic. | C．Reliable. | D．Enthusiastic. |
| A．Ivy+Bean. | B．Ways to Make Sunshine. |
| C．New Kid. | D．Better Nate Than Ever(series). |
| A．To persuade. | B．To advertise. | C．To recommend. | D．To entertain. |
2 . If you want to understand China but can’t afford an expensive international flight, these four books can give you a complete overview of the country.
River Town
River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler — This book is a journal of the author’s two years spent teaching English in a small town called Fuling, situated on the banks of the Yangtze River. Hessler writes about his experiences living in a foreign culture and observing the lives of the town’s residents. The book was published in 2001 and has won several awards, including the Kiriyama Prize.
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
It is a book that tells the story of China’s modernization. It was written by Ezra Vogel and published in 2011. The author describes how Deng Xiaoping’s policies led to significant changes in China’s economy and society. The book has received critical honors and won the Lionel Gelber Prize in 2012.
The Search for Modern China by Jonathan Spence
This book is a comprehensive history of China from the Ming dynasty to the present day. The author, a prominent scholar of Chinese history, provides a detailed analysis of the social, cultural, and political changes that have taken place in China over the past 500 years. The book was first put out in 1990 and has since been revised and updated several times. This book was the top bestseller for years.
Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China
Written by Leslie T. Chang, this book, published in 2008, is a reportage on the lives of young women who leave their rural homes to work in factories in China’s cities. Chang, a former New York Times journalist, interviewed hundreds of factory girls to provide insight into the social and economic changes in China.
1. What type of literature is River Town?| A．A travel guide of Fuling. | B．A personal diary. |
| C．A science fiction. | D．A reference book. |
| A．It received positive reviews. |
| B．It was published 500 years ago. |
| C．It was written by a history teacher. |
| D．It has remained the same since its first publication. |
| A．River Town |
| B．The Search for Modern China |
| C．Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China |
| D．Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China |
3 . Reading newspapers has become an important part of everyday life. Some people read newspapers as the first thing to do in the morning, others read newspapers as soon as they have free time during the day so that they can learn what is happening in the world.
Sometimes, we do not have enough time to read all the news carefully, so we just take a quick look at the front page. At other times, we may be in such a hurry that we only have a few minutes to look at the headlines of the passages.
Newspapers can be found everywhere in the world. We can get many different kinds of newspapers in big cities, but in some mountain villages we can see few newspapers.
Some newspapers are published once a week, but most of the papers are published once a day with many pages, some even published twice a day! You know different people enjoy reading different newspapers. Some like world news, and others prefer short stories. They just choose what they are interested in.
Today newspapers in English have the largest number of readers in the world. The English language is so popular that many Chinese students are reading English newspapers such as China Daily or 21st Century. They bring us more and more information with the internet.
1. People read newspapers in order to _____.| A．learn the latest news | B．read short stories |
| C．do something in the morning | D．meet their own different needs for reading |
| A．they read from one article to another |
| B．they have no time to read them |
| C．they just read the headlines |
| D．not everyone reads all the articles in the papers |
| A．in Chinese | B．in English | C．in other languages | D．with many pages |
| A．books | B．magazines | C．the Internet | D．advertisements |
4 . Mr Wilson, professor of news media, has recently received many questions from his students and answered them online. Here are some of them:
• What is mass media?
Mass media refers to the sources of information and news that reach a large audience. Besides traditional media, technology has changed and there are many new media introduced to convey information to the masses such as: books and magazines, televisions, Internet videos, films and documentaries.
• What is the importance of mass media?
Different types of mass media provide us with various types of political, religious, economic and social related news and information.
Each media has its significance in some or the other way. For example, a newspaper provides information in rural areas and urban areas as well as a TV which also provides information, news and entertainment shows through a digital medium.
• What is traditional media?
Traditional media is considered as the oldest form of mass media, which transfers culture and tradition from generation to generation. People over some time developed different ways of communicating through local languages and written mediums. There are various forms of traditional media such as folk songs, fairs and festivals.
• Which sector is considered as the root of mass media?
The first modern mass media institution began with the development of the printing press.
• Are there any problems associated with mass media?
As with everything in life, mass media also comes with its own shortcomings. But there are enough experts to make up for that.
1. What has contributed to the popularity of modern media?| A．Communication. | B．Economic change. |
| C．Traditional culture. | D．New technology. |
| A．A dialogue between father and son. |
| B．A radio programme broadcasted at night. |
| C．A folk song popular with youngsters. |
| D．A piece of big news via Weibo. |
| A．It offers us all kinds of news. |
| B．The root of mass media is Internet. |
| C．The invention of paper is considered as the root of mass media. |
| D．There are no shortcomings in mass media. |
5 . Before the 1830s, most newspapers were sold through annual subscriptions in America, usually $8 to $10 a year. Today $8 or $10 seems a small amount of money, but at that time these amounts were forbidding to most citizens. Accordingly, newspapers were read almost only by rich people in politics or the trades. In addition, most newspapers had little in them that would appeal to a mass audience. They were dull and visually forbidding. But the revolution that was taking place in the 1830s would change all that.
The trend, then, was toward the “penny paper”—a term referring to papers made widely available to the public. It meant any inexpensive newspaper; perhaps more importantly it meant newspapers that could be bought in single copies on the street.
This development did not take place overnight. It had been possible(but not easy)to buy single copies of newspapers before 1830,but this usually meant the reader had to go down to the printer’s office to purchase a copy. Street sales were almost unknown. However, within a few years, street sales of newspapers would be commonplace in eastern cities. At first the price of single copies was seldom a penny—usually two or three cents was charged—and some of the older well-known papers charged five or six cents. But the phrase “penny paper” caught the public’s fancy, and soon there would be papers that did indeed sell for only a penny.
This new trend of newspapers for “the man on the street” did not begin well. Some of the early ventures(企业) were immediate failures. Publishers already in business, people who were owners of successful papers, had little desire to change the tradition. It took a few youthful and daring businessmen to get the ball rolling.
1. Which of the following best describes newspapers in America before the 1830s?| A．Academic. | B．Unattractive. | C．Inexpensive. | D．Popular. |
| A．They could have more readers. | B．They would disappear from cities. |
| C．They would be priced higher. | D．They could regain public trust. |
| A．Common people. | B．Local politicians. |
| C．Young publishers. | D．Rich businessmen. |
| A．It was a robbery of the poor. | B．It was a temporary success. |
| C．It was a difficult process. | D．It was a disaster for printers. |
Bookroo—Best Book Subscription (订阅) for Ages 0 to 3 | |
| Key Information | Delivery: Monthly. |
| Number: 12. | |
| Price: Price starts at about $20 per month, but there’s a discount (折扣) available; A three-month subscription is $19 per month, a six-month subscription is $18 per month, and a year-long plan is$17 per month | |
| Its Advantages | Books designed for small hands |
| Content to upgrade as kids grow up. | |
| Extra materials included in books. | |
| Its Disadvantages | No choices to return books you don’t like. |
| No way to prevent copies. | |
| Shipping (运费) not included in price. | |
| More Information | With a book plan designed specially for young kids, Bookroo specializes in picking the best books for early childhood. Bookroo is a wonderful choice for your child’s first book subscription plan. Each month comes with three carefully selected books suitable for reading with babies. If you find yourself with a book that you have already had, you can donate it to a local library, and then send Bookroo the proof (证明). You’ll get a $5 discount for your next order. |
| A．$ 17. | B．$ 20. | C．$ 24. | D．$ 36. |
| A．Its books are too large for kids. |
| B．Its shipping costs extra money. |
| C．Its content is only suitable for kids. |
| D．Its books include no other materials. |
| A．Donate it and get a discount from Bookroo. |
| B．Sell it to the local library at a lower price. |
| C．Return it to Bookroo and get a free order. |
| D．Send it to Bookroo and ask for a new one. |
7 . If you're too busy to buy the latest issues of your favorite magazines,never fear-help is at hand.With digital subscriptions available from My Favourite Magazines,you can get every issue straight to your tablet or cellphone.Below are some fantastic monthly magazines you can enjoy today.
How It Works is a magazine with exciting facts about our world.Each issue is packed with interesting facts and stories on everything from science,technology and transport,to the environment and history.With easy-to-follow diagrams,fun trivia(花絮）and all the vital answers to questions you didn't even realize you had,it cures boredom and feeds curious minds.$2.5 per issue(standard price:$3.5).
Have you found yourself staring up at the stars in awe?All about Space discovers the mysteries of our Solar System and beyond.From the amazing technology and spacecraft that enables humans to venture(冒险） into orbit,to the complexities of space science,the All about Space team has you covered.$2.6 per issue（standard price:$3.7).
History of War takes you through the stories,strategies,heroes and machines of armed conflict through the ages.Each issue covers some of the most astonishing and inspiring stories from battlefields across the centuries,including powerful interviews with soldiers and expert analyses from leading historians.$2.7 per issue(standard price:$3.8).
From the plots of ancient Rome,to the scandals(丑闻）of the Tudor Court and heroic tales from World War II-All about History takes you on a journey across the centuries,and leaves in all the drama and entertainment our attractive past has to offer.Each issue is full of valuable pictures and interesting stories written by historians.$2.8 per issue(standard price:$4).
1. How much can it save you to subscribe the first magazine for a year?| A．2.5 dollars. | B．3.5 dollars. | C．6 dollars. | D．12 dollars. |
| A．How It Works. | B．All about Space. | C．History of War: | D．All about History. |
| A．It interviews soldiers from World War II. |
| B．It is the cheapest of the four magazines. |
| C．It tells many historical stories over the centuries. |
| D．It solves the questions you're puzzled at. |
8 . By the end of the year, editors of New York Times have picked the 4 best books of 2019, including fiction and non-fiction. Let’s see which one will take your fancy.
Disappearing Earth
By Julia Phillips
In the first chapter of this novel, two young girls vanish, sending shock waves through a town on the edge of the remote and mysterious Kamchatka Peninsula. What follows is a novel of overlapping short stories about the different women who have been affected by their disappearance. Each tale pushes the narrative forward another month and exposes the ways in which the women of Kamchatka have been destroyed — personally, culturally and emotionally — by the crime.
No Visible Bruises
By Rachel Louise Snyder
Snyder’s thoroughly reported book covers what the World Health Organization has called “a global health problem”. In America alone, more than half of all murdered women are killed by a current or former life partner; domestic violence cuts across lines of class, religion and race. Snyder reveals pervasive myths (restraining orders are the answer, abusers never change) and writes movingly about the lives (and deaths) of people on both sides of the equation. She doesn’t give easy answers but presents a wealth of information that is its own form of hope.
Midnight in Chernobyl
By Adam Higginbotham
Higginbotham’s superb account of the April 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is one of those rare books about science and technology that read like a tension-filled thriller. Filled with vivid detail and sharply etched personalities, this narrative of astonishing incompetence moves from mistake to mistake, miscalculation to miscalculation, as it builds to the inevitable, history-changing disaster.
Exhalation
By Ted Chiang
Many of the nine deeply beautiful stories in this collection explore the material consequences of time travel. Reading them feels like sitting at dinner with a friend who explains scientific theory to you with no airs and graces. Each thoughtful, elegantly crafted story poses a philosophical question; Chiang arranges all nine into a conversation that comes full circle, after having travelled through remarkable areas.
1. Which of the following tells about the violence from a husband to a wife in a family?| A．Disappearing Earth | B．No Visible Bruises |
| C．Midnight in Chernobyl | D．Exhalation |
| A．Delighted. | B．Awkward. |
| C．Tense. | D．Calm. |
| A．A folk tale. | B．A biography. |
| C．A love story. | D．A sci-fi story. |
9 . Hundreds of years ago, news was carried from place to place by people on foot or by horse. It took days, weeks and sometimes months for people to receive news. Now it is possible to send words and pictures around the world in seconds. Billions of people learn about news stories of their own country and all over the world every day, either by watching TV or reading newspaper.
Newspapers have been an important part of everyday life since the 18th century. Many countries have hundreds of different newspapers. How do newspaper editors decide which news stories to print? Why do they print some stories and not others? What makes a good newspaper story?
Firstly, it is important to report news stories. TV stations can report news much faster than newspapers. Yet, newspapers give more about the same story. They may also look at the story in another way, or they may print completely different stories to those on TV.
Secondly, a news story has to be interesting and unusual. People don’t want to read stories about everyday life. As a result, many stories are about some kind of danger and seem to be “bad” news. For example, newspapers never print stories about planes landing safely; instead they print stories about plane accidents.
Another factor (因素) is also very important in many news stories. Many people are interested in news in foreign countries, but more prefer to read stories about people, places and events in their own country. So the stories on the front page in Chinese newspapers are usually very different from the ones in British, French and American newspapers.
1. According to the passage, how do people learn about news stories in the world now?| A．They carry news stories and tell others from place to place on foot or by horse. |
| B．They tell each other what they have seen with their eyes. |
| C．They watch TV or read newspapers. |
| D．They listen to the radio every day. |
| A．people can learn more about the same news story from a newspaper |
| B．people can read the news story more quickly in a newspaper |
| C．people can read news stories in other countries |
| D．people can read news stories about their own country |
| A．Two. |
| B．Three. |
| C．Five. |
| D．Six. |
| A．Your teacher has got a cold. |
| B．The bike in front of your house is lost. |
| C．You often play football with your friends after school. |
| D．A tiger in the city zoo has run out and hasn’t been caught. |
