1 . How long should my novel be?

This is a question I’m often asked, and it’s certainly not the same answer as how long a piece of string is! So, how long should your book actually be?

If we work backwards, from a production department point of view, a book of approximately 100,000 words will come in somewhere between 300 to 400 pages.     1     I’d suggest that 80,000 words up works well, occasionally stretching to 120,000 words on rare occasions.

Shorter texts are less daunting(使人气馁的) for an agent to submit rather than a block of manuscript so aim to make your publication path easier. There’s an implication that a standard book length should have a tighter handle on pacing, with the reader more readily drawn in. In turn, an overlong novel often indicates to a publisher that there’s potentially extensive editing work to be done by them.

    2     For example, historical fiction could more comfortably sit near the 120,000 mark. Literary fiction can head in the other direction, with 60,000 words still offering a feeling of fundamental worth to the publisher and reader, with an implication that the text is highly developed.

More commonly, issues over length tend to highlight that pacing is an issue, be it too long or too short. Overwriting, in particular, can be an issue for many authors, who might struggle to express their ideas clearly, using complex language that play down the flow of the book. Successful writing contains a clarity of thought that enables the writer to connect with the reader for maximum impact, allowing the story, characters and setting to shine through.

In terms of content, it’s important for an author to prioritise the key themes in the book.     3     Allow your reader to piece together information you delicately work through your text and avoid excess scenes and information, revealing instead what’s needed to keep that tension pulsing. Be brave as you cut back on the unnecessary, keeping a backup copy of your novel just in case you change your mind.

Work intuitively, from the heart, keeping secrets for as long as possible so the reader is forced to read on. In this way, a reader will readily connect with your words.     4    

A．Books do have different thresholds(门槛) according to genre.

B．This is plenty for a typical author’s book, particularly the first one.

C．Yes, there are exceptions to every genre but these are generally rare.

D．Is everything of equal importance and does everything need to be included?

E．Longer books are more expensive to produce and harder to sell in, so it increases their risk.

F．With a firm handle on length, your novel will have increased its chances of commercial publication.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many readers does this magazine have around the world?

A．About 20 million.

B．About 25 million.

C．About 45 million.

2. When was the first Time magazine issued?

A．In 1923.

B．In 1962.

C．In 2003.

3. What is the most notably special issue of Time magazine about?

A．The 100 best novels.

B．The 100 best TV show.

C．The 100 most influential people.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does NOT the woman read newspapers?

A．She is worried about wasting money.

B．She is concerned about the environment.

C．She gets all news from the web.

2. How many headlines pop out on the man’s first page every day?

A．About three or four.

B．About six or seven.

C．About eight or nine.

3. Why is the woman worried about loads of news?

A．Most of them might not be true.

B．They consume too much time.

C．People might ignore serious news.

4. What’s the woman’s attitude to “e-books replacing paper books”?

A．Supportive.

B．Indifferent.

C．Disapproving.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is Tom Hodgkinson?

A．Founder of a magazine.

B．Publisher of a novel.

C．Editor of a newspaper.

2. What do we know about the content of The Idler?

A．It’s old-fashioned.

B．It’s wide-ranging.

C．It’s student-targeted.

3. Why does the speaker give the talk?

A．To do a promotion.

B．To discuss an issue.

C．To introduce a lecturer.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Which organizations used to have a lot of power according to the speaker?

A．Libraries and printing companies.

B．Universities and bookstores.

C．Newspapers and publishers.

2. Why do many city people like e-books?

A．They are easier to carry.

B．They are cheaper.

C．They are more interesting.

3. What can we learn about Border’s Group?

A．They were bought by a tech company.

B．They made billions of dollars this year.

C．They used to have more than 600 stores.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1. When can people buy the magazine in the shops?

A．Next Monday.

B．This Saturday.

C．This Friday.

2. What method would help the man learn better?

A．Using relevant pictures.

B．Reading the information aloud.

C．Listening to others’ explanation.

3. What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A．A science course.

B．An article.

C．A new technology.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1. When was the first real newspaper started?

A．In 1609.

B．In 1665.

C．In 1704.

2. Which country was the first to publish newspapers?

A．England.

B．Germany.

C．America.

3. Which was the first successful newspaper in America?

A．The Strassburg Relation.

B．The New York Sun.

C．The Boston News Letter.

4. What did the speaker say about the first penny newspaper?

A．It was called The London Gazette.

B．It was the first one to have advertisements.

C．It only cost ten pence.

8 . 听录音，完成下列表格信息的填空

Information	Value
Magazine Name	The Idler
Founder	Tom Hokinson
Year of Launch	1
Publication Frequency	2     (Published every two months)
Content Categories	- Interviews on the good life,     3    and fashion photography. - Essays on various topics. - Recipes for making bacon. - Guides to housekeeping.
Purpose of the Magazine	To provide fun, freedom, and    4    in a busy world.
Subscription Information	You can download the application and subscribe     5    .

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Who is Tom Hokinson?

A．Founder of a magazine.

B．Publisher of a novel.

C．Editor of a newspaper.

2. What do we know about the content of The Idler?

A．It’s old-fashioned.

B．It’s wide-ranging.

C．It’s student-targeted.

3. Why does the speaker give the talk?

A．To do a promotion.

B．To discuss an issue.

C．To introduce a lecturer.

10 . The news industry has had a rough decade. Print readership is steadily declining, newspapers are closing, and journalists with decades of experience are being laid off. In response, major newspapers have made significant changes. They’re attempting to combat declining reader interest by shortening stories, creating clickbait (诱饵性标题), and most especially, using social media to their advantage.

With the rise of social media sites, many people have claimed that we are entering a new age in which news must be delivered in 140 characters or fewer. People’s ability to focus on long-form content and engage in deep reading has also been declining due to the endless distractions and excessive information in today’s world. This change in reading habits has led to a preference for short, easily-understood news pieces that can be quickly consumed. To interest a more specific and generally younger readership, newspapers have revised content, prioritizing articles that are visually appealing instead of having depth.

But, in reality, there is still a demand for in-depth reporting. In this era of misinformation and clickbait, readers are seeking reliable sources of news that provide context, analysis, and accountability. Depth reporting explores the fundamental causes, involves multiple perspectives, and uncovers the hidden truths that shape our world, helping readers get a more comprehensive understanding of complicated matters.

While social media have changed the way we consume news, the quality of news remains essential for public. It’s crucial for the news industry to achieve a balance between catering to changing reader preferences while also maintaining the integrity (完整性) of news. This means providing both quick updates and in-depth analysis, and using social media to promote their content, but not at the expense of accuracy or integrity. By doing so, news organizations can ensure that they remain relevant and trusted sources of information in a rapidly changing media environment.

1. What problem does traditional news industry face?

A．The decline of readership.	B．The lack of long-form stories.
C．The spread of unreliable information.	D．The shortage of experienced journalists.

2. What do we know from paragraph 3?

A．People’s need for in-depth reporting is decreasing.

B．Social media has played a key role in promoting hidden facts.

C．Clickbait greatly increases readers’ interests in exploring truths.

D．In-depth reporting can improve readers’ comprehension of complex issues.

3. According to the passage, the news industry should achieve a balance between         .

A．providing quick updates and focusing on popular topics

B．stating matters in multiple perspectives and shortening articles

C．satisfying readers’ preferences and ensuring the quality of news

D．widening news sources and maintaining the accuracy of contents

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．An advertisement.	B．A daily newspaper.
C．A diary entry.	D．A story book.