1 . Writing poetry is away to convey emotions, memories, and homesickness without directly stating what you are describing.    1    .If you’re considering trying your hand at writing poetry or are looking to improve, here are some tips to help you get going.

    2    People like Emily Dickinson, Edgar Alan Poe, Robert Frost, and Walt Whitman all changed the way people perceive and write poetry. Look up some poems by famous writer r to see what you like and what you don’t like about each of them. Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Sylvia Plath area lo famous poets that have varying styles. You can also see some examples of different styles and tones in n poetry by comparing and contrasting authors.

Get in tune with your emotions.

    3    .You can easily add emotions into your poetry if you understand what you are feeling throughout the day. Try to note whenever you are feeling a strong emotion and what made you feel it. Understanding your own emotions can be difficult. Try to explore how you feel on a daily basis, and what situations disturb your mood often.    4    . So they are a great tool to be used in poetry.

Set aside time to write every day.

The only way to get better at writing poetry is to practice it. Try to write poetry for at least 10 minutes a day, or more if you have time.    5    

A．Your first poem can be short

B．People feel emotions universally

C．A lot of poetry is filled with feelings

D．Read famous poems as examples to follow

E．Use descriptive language to convey emotions

F．Write about anything that you are inspired by

G．However, writing poetry for the first time can be challenging

2 . There tend to be two types of teachers when it comes to poetry: Ones who love it and bring it into the classroom freely and often. Then, others stay clear.     1     If the love is not there yet, I challenge you to try it! Here are several reasons to teach poetry in the classroom.

Build Reading, Speaking & Listening Skills

Children need to learn to read various texts, and poems are one of those forms. They learn to attend to the words they hear and think about what they mean together. Children strengthen their reading skills and build reading fluency through repeated reading. The dots connect in a child’s brain when they see, hear, and say it aloud.     2    

Inspire Poetry Writing

Teach how poems are constructed and the words they contain. It is the first step to writing.     3     We learn how to choose the right words to create imagery and effect. The simple patterns found in some poems are fun to follow and great places for children to start learning to write.

    4    

Poetry is a form of expression. Writing lets us express our feelings and thoughts on a subject, while reading encourages us to connect and find meaning in our experiences. Poetry can have a positive impact on children’s social and emotional learning. It may offer them a new way of thinking about something.

Build a Love for Reading

Expose children to various styles and types of text as they learn to read. As teachers, we want them to love the act of reading and what they read as they learn. Reading can be hard work, and the books children learn first often lack that unique ingredient. Poetry is different.     5     Poems provide enjoyment and laughter. They are engaging and fun to read!

A．Encourage Creative Thinking

B．Explore Language and Vocabulary

C．Poetry offers a memorable and motivational way to teach.

D．It has that special sauce that children long for and so much more!

E．Poetry teaches us how to combine words to form meaning and context.

F．This may be because they don’t think it fits with the curriculum and what they are teaching.

G．Reading comprehension also results in discussions about meaning, connecting, and visualizing.

3 .

Four novels to read this winter
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee	This classic novel explores racism in the American South through the eyes of a young girl named Scout Finch and her father, Atticus Finch, a just and sympathetic lawyer. To Kill a Mockingbird earned the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1961 and was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1962, giving the story and its characters further life and influence over the American social sphere. For more, click here
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez	This novel tells the story of the Buendía family over seven generations in the town of Macondo, combining magic realism with the portrayal of Latin American culture and history. The novel won many awards for Márquez, leading the way to his eventual honor of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982 for his entire body of work, of which One Hundred Years of Solitude is often lauded as his most triumphant. For more, click here
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison	This groundbreaking novel delves into the expression of identity for African American males, with the unnamed narrator facing adversity and discrimination as he moves from the South to New York City. The novel is renowned for its surreal and experimental style of writing that explores the symbolism surrounding African American identity and culture. Invisible Man won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction in 1953. For more, click here
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf	This novel describes one day in the life of a British socialite named Clarissa Dalloway, using a stream-of-consciousness style to provide a deeply personal look into the characters’ minds, focusing on their regrets, struggles with mental illness, and the impact of social pressures. The novel’s unique style, subject, and time setting make it one of the most respected and regarded works of all time. For more, click here

1. Which novel won the U. S. National Book Award for Fiction?

A．Invisible Man.	B．Mrs. Dalloway.
C．To Kill a Mockingbird.	D．One Hundred Years of Solitude.

2. What can we learn about One Hundred Years of Solitude?

A．The author won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1982.

B．The author tells his true family story in this novel.

C．The author uses a writing style called magic realism.

D．The author explores the symbolism on African culture.

3. Where can we most probably find the passage?

A．In a magazine.	B．In a science report.
C．On a movie poster.	D．On the Internet.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

China’s online literature industry is making an increasing impact overseas with some even     1     (say) that it can compare with U. S. and Korean films and TV shows. By the end of 2022, more than 16,000 Chinese online works of literature     2     (export) abroad, including over 6,400 physical book authorizations and over9,600    3    (translate) online works.

Overseas readers of Chinese web novels exceeded(超过) 150 million in 2022, mainly Generation Z born between 1996 and 2010. Among 15 major     4    (category), urban, western and eastern fantasy, gaming, and science fiction emerged as the five most popular types among overseas readers.

In June, Wang Xiang,     5     member of the online literature committee at the China Writers Association, told domestic media Chinese web novels are often similar to Hollywood movies in terms of their storytelling methods and focus     6     superhuman abilities. “Chinese online literature has become a     7     (globe) cultural center compared with Hollywood movies in terms of     8     (it) reach and influence among the worldwide audience,” said Wang.

Last year, 16 Chinese online works of literature were included in the British Library’s Chinese collection for the first time, all of which were first published on digital reading platform Qidian     9     readers can read kinds of Chinese online literature. According to data released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in April, the revenue(收入) of the domestic online literature market reached 38.93 billion yuan in 2022, a year-on-year     10    (grow) of 8.8%.

6 . How to Read a Poem

You’ve selected the poem you want to read — congratulations! Now it’s time for the business of reading it.

Examine the title and the shape

    1     — how does it make you feel? How does the title fit the shape of the poem? If the title is sad, let the shape of the poem inform the small difference of the emotion — if it’s short and sparse (稀疏的), maybe it’s coming from a place of desolation or desperation.     2    .

Read the poem as you normally read anything

Reading poetry doesn’t require a clever approach; you can read as you’d read anything else. On the first pass through, absorb whatever it is that arises upon first impression.     3    , maybe your stomach churns (恶心) at a particular phrase, or you hold your breath at a certain line. Explore the feelings that come up as you read.

    4    

Next, try reading the poem out loud or search for readings of the poem online. This is where the music of a poem emerges, and you can feel the shape of each word and line as you move through it.

Add context to paint a full picture

Finally, return to the poem context.     5    ; look at the publication date and consider the world around the poem when it was first released. Consider where the poem lives: Was it released as part of the author’s poetry book, or was it published in a literary magazine? From these details and materials you will get a deeper understanding of the poem.

A．Re-read for sound

B．Re-read for meaning

C．Dig into the author’s history

D．Notice where in the poem you react

E．Look for where the poem offers a moment of surprise

F．Before you start a poem, you should first read the title

G．Long messy forms might mean it’s coming from a place of confusion or anger

7 . I have always loved the Arthurian legend (传奇), as there is something quite special about King Arthur, and of course Merlin, my favourite character from the stories.

Death of an Empire is the second volume in MK Hume’s “Merlin” series which details Merlin’s life from birth. Merlin travels across the Roman Empire in search of his father, a voyage of discovery to understand just who he was. Eventually Merlin gets involved in the fight against the Hun’s invasion (入侵) of Europe at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plain.

Serving under the General Flavius Aetius, Merlin builds a reputation by saving the lives of thousands of soldiers. When he finally reaches Rome, he saves many more. But a far deadlier conflict between Emperor Valentinian and Senator Petronius Maximus is around the corner and Merlin must use all his strength to carry out his work.

If I had to choose just one word to describe this novel, there would be no other choice than “immersive (身临其境的)”. There has clearly been a serious amount of research carried out by the author. Combined with the descriptive prose and imaginative story, the book really does attract you from almost the very start. The story really does feel like you are a part of it as Merlin travels across the Roman Empire.

The author does a great job of mixing the rich history with established Arthurian legend. The battle scene is handled very effectively. The author employs a very effective form to show the main fight and this not only adds a degree of tension and a good level of excitement but almost makes you feel like you are right there hearing about what happened.

Death of an Empire is a very fine novel, a wonderfully rich tale and a rewarding story.

1. Why does Merlin travel across the Roman Empire?

A．To visit King Arthur.	B．To enjoy a nice view.
C．To get a well-paid job.	D．To find out his origin.

2. What can we learn about the novel?

A．It is a mixture of history and legend.

B．It features difficult language.

C．It speaks highly of an emperor.

D．It is a masterpiece of Merlin.

3. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．An effective description.	B．A long-running battle.
C．A wonderful feeling.	D．A well-known legend.

4. What is the text?

A．A news report.	B．A history story.
C．A book review.	D．A science fiction.

9 . 语法填空

The Million Pound Bank Note

It was the summer of 1903. Two old and wealthy brothers, Roderick and Oliver, made a bet. Oliver believed that with a million pound bank note a man could survive a month in London. His brother Roderick doubted it. At that moment, they saw a penniless young man    1     (wander) on the pavement outside their house. It was Henry Adams, a businessman,     2     was lost in London and did not know what he should do. The two brothers invited Henry in. They asked Henry some questions and they knew Henry was an American and it was the first time that he    3     (come) to London. As a matter of fact, Henry landed in Britain    4     accident. Back home Henry had his own boat. About a month before, he was sailing out of the bay. Then, towards nightfall Henry found himself    5     (carry) out to sea by a strong wind.

The next morning Henry had just about given himself    6     for lost    7     he was spotted by a ship. And it was the ship    8     brought Henry to England. In England, Henry earned his passage by working as an unpaid hand, which accounts for his appearance.     9     (hear) Henry's story, the two brothers gave Henry a letter    10     (contain) a million pound bank note. Their bet began…

10 .

The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie by Chavonne D. Stewart The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie is the first book in a wonderful children's books series, which is fun and exciting and also teaches kids valuable lessons. It tells the story of Amilya Rose Patterson, a creative eight-year-old with “can do” attitude and full of imagination, who is determined to set out on a new adventure, even if it means getting into trouble in the end and learning a lesson. Once she sets her mind to do something, nothing can stop her.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Little Prince, the most translated book in the French language, tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to explore the universe, learning the unexpected and unpredictable changes of adult behaviour through a series of his personal journeys to Earth and further adventures.

Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his test, though, it seems like that dream might never come true—until a family adopts (收养) him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism (自闭症). But Gus acts so differently from anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester, and sometimes he doesn't even want him in the room. Chester is not sure how to help Gus since this isn't exactly the job he trained for—but he's determined to find it out and show he's the right dog for the job.

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson The novel tells the story of two totally different little girls—quiet, shy, artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie—and how their lives unexpectedly intersect (相交) one day, when a note falls into the wrong hands.

1. From whom can you learn how to achieve your goals?

A．Gus.	B．Emmie.
C．Katie.	D．Amilya.

2. Which book shows the exploration of the universe?

A．The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie.

B．The Little Prince.

C．Chester and Gus.

D．Invisible Emmie.

3. What do these four books have in common?

A．They are stories about children.

B．They are written for parents.

C．They are about popular people.

D．They are love stories.