2 . The Color Purple
Alice Walker

Set in rural Georgia at the turn of the last century, Alice Walker’s epic novel weaves the heartbreaking and hopeful tale of Celie, an uneducated black teen fighting for her dignity and freedom. The novel bravely and honestly addresses issues like women’s struggles and ultimate resilience. Published in 1982, it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Award.

Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger

Poetic and heartfelt Holden Coalfield is one of the most famous literary characters of all time. Published first in 1951, Catcher in the Rye brilliantly captures the lonely teen experience of having to grow up and leave the tenderness and innocence of childhood behind. Though young adult fiction didn’t exist in its current form when J. D. Salinger wrote the novel, it’s considered one of the first teen books and consistently appears on high school reading lists.

The House of the Spirits
Isabel Allende

The 1982 novel—the best-selling Spanish-language novel of all time—revolves around three generations of Trueba women. Females’ struggle and themes of ancestors exist in all parts of the book, as is magic; no surprise since this work of magical realism was influenced by Gabriel Garcfa Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, which won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

The Joy Luck Club
Amy Tan

This 1989 classic book explores four Chinese American families who gather and eventually recount their pasts in China and struggles as immigrants (移民) in the United States. Heart warning, heartbreaking, and a delight to read, The Joy Luck Club is one of the classic books that influenced a generation of Chinese American creators.

1. Which of the following books was published the earliest?

A．The Color Purple.	B．Catcher in the Rye.
C．The House of the Spirits.	D．The Joy Luck Club.

2. Who wrote a book related to the Chinese living in the U.S.?

A．Isabel Allende.

B．J.D.Salinger.

C．Alice Walker.

D．Amy Tan.

3. What do The Color Purple and The House of the Spirits have in common?

A．They are relevant to females’ fight.	B．They influence three generations.
C．They address some teen problems.	D．They won the prizes in the same year.

3 . Books make great gifts, but which ones to pick? We’ve rounded up some of 2023’s most talked-about reads.

THE COVENANT OF WATER

By Abraham Verghese Publish:2023. 5 $9. 24

Anyone who loves an extremely readable novel that will last through the holidays will enjoy it. This book, which has more than 700 pages, covers the history of a family living at the southern tip of India.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NADA

By Uzma Jalaluddin Publish:2023. 6 $11. 5

The author reimagines classic (经典) romances—Pride and Prejudice. You’ve Got Mail—with modern settings. It is a humorous retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion that’s as warm and cozy as a cup of tea. The main character Nada has a difficult career and a heart full of regret for her lost love—who just happens to re-enter her life as the novel begins,

KING:A LIFE

By Jonathan Eig Publish:2023, 5 $16. 99

This biography (传记) is about Marin Luther King. It’s a detailed description of his weakness and strength, heroism and important role in the history of American civil rights—a subject that’s as important today as it was in King’s era.

REALLY GOOD. ACTUALLY

By Monica Heisey Publish:2023. 1 $18. 99

Monica Heisey is one of the funniest Canadians most people have ever heard of. It’s a comedy with enough jokes to populate a Netflix stand-up special. If you’ve ever felt lost and hoped that it is leading towards wisdom (智慧), then it is your novel.

1. Which book is the most expensive?

A．KING:A LIFE.	B．MUCH ADO ABOUT NADA.
C．THE COVENANT OF WATER.	D．REALLY GOOD. ACTUALLY.

2. Who wrote a book about an American famous person?

A．Jonathan Eig.	B．Monica Heisey.
C．Abraham Verghese.	D．Uzma Jalaluddin.

3. What do MUCH ADO ABOUT NADA and REALLY GOOD. ACTUALLY have in common?

A．They tell many love stories.	B．They are about human rights.
C．They bring laughter for readers.	D．They are adapted from classics.

4 . 学校英语社团计划开展“走进经典(Embracing the Classics )”读书分享系列活动，现向全校同学征集书目。假如你是李华，请你用英文给社团负责人Jason 写信推荐一本经典名著（中外皆可），内容包括：
(1)书目名称；
(2)内容简介；
(3)推荐理由。
注意：1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Jason,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours sincerely

Li Hua

5 . As a kid, I hated having to memorise those long-winded speeches of Macbeth and Hamlet. Only later did I realise how brilliant Shakespeare was and how knowing his plays gives you a facility for language and deep insight into human psychology.

Now, 400 years later, in today’s world, quick rewards, and smooth-talking influencers, the dishonest characters in Shakespeare’s works are still very much alive. For instance, whenever I see a politician defend himself on TV with righteous indignation (义愤填膺), I remember a line from the play Hamlet: “The Lady doth protest too much, me-thinks.” It is spoken in response to the overacting of a character in the play created by Prince Hamlet to prove his uncle had killed his father. Today the phrase is commonly used to indicate doubt of someone’s sincerity.

A good education grounds you in permanent wisdom that helps you cope with all your victories and disasters. Learning algebra (代数) and statistics helps you make better financial decisions and basic knowledge about economics helps you get out of the stock market before the bubble bursts. I know how hard it can be for your teenage brain to focus on things that don’t make sense in your life right now. But my advice is to do it anyway because one day this knowledge will come in handy.

Take, for example, the 18th century English economist and scholar Thomas Robert Malthus wrote about how the human population was growing at too fast a rate to be sustainable. After reading his works Charles Darwin developed the theory of biological evolution.

People often say that in the age of AI, you don’t look for jobs you look for opportunities instead. To recognize these, you will need to be prepared. More specifically, you should cherish the opportunity to learn new things while never losing sight of the basic principle. The great thing about being grounded in the basics of different areas of study is that you can mix and match them to apply them to all sorts of situations.

1. What does the underlined word “ground” mean in the third paragraph?

A．Lay the foundation for.	B．Keep up with.
C．Take advantage of.	D．Make the most of.

2. What is the purpose of mentioning the story of Thomas Robert Malthus?

A．To show his deep insight into sustainable development.

B．To prove the success of Darwin is based on his ideas.

C．To draw readers’ attention to the fast-growing population.

D．To inspire everyone to make efforts to learn skills.

3. How can we seize opportunities in the age of AI?

A．By making preparations for finding jobs.

B．By grasping knowledge on the basic rules.

C．By applying theories to different situations.

D．By developing practical and critical theories.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the text?

A．How the Opportunities Hit Me on the Head

B．Reading Shakespeare Opens the Door to Wisdom

C．Good Education Pushes Individuals Hard Forward

D．You Never Know When What You Know Will Come in Handy

6 . Henry, Like Always

Lenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song

When his teacher upsets the regular class routine by placing an unexpected class parade during the period usually set aside for Share Time, Henry is having none of it. While there’s been a marked increase in books featuring kids on the autism spectrum, few have been early readers and fewer still are as funny as this one. It’s a masterpiece in conveying an understanding of a deep frustration that you might not necessarily feel yourself.

—Rakiesha Chase-Jackson, project manager, Member Partnership

Mascot

Charles Waters and Traci Sorell

This multiple-viewpoint novel reflects opinions of those with anti-racism. The conversation, which begins in the classroom, tests the tweens and their relationships. Respectively Black and Cherokee co-authors interweave differences of identity and impact with noteworthy attention to socioeconomic. Their engaging, accessible narrative invites readers to reflect on the controversy.

—Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Harvest House and author-curator of Heart drum All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me

Patrick Bringley

The book is for grown-ups: a peek behind the curtain at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. That’s where, after his brother died from cancer, Patrick Bringley quit his job and put on a blue uniform to become a guard. He writes that he just wanted to stand still for a while, but ended up staying for 10 years studying the Masters, pondering the mummies, and thinking about life, art, and beauty. It was so impressive that I actually planned a trip to The Met!

—Samantha Balaban, producer, Weekend Edition

Artificial: A Love Story

Amy Kurzweil

In Artificial: A Love Story, New Yorker cartoonist Amy Kurzweil describes how she and her father, a futurist, technologist and inventor Ray Kurzweil, harness the power of artificial intelligence to connect with the grandfather she never knew. Fred Kurzweil was a talented conductor and pianist from Vienna who fled the Nazis in 1938 to begin a new life in the USA. Through words and detailed pen and ink drawings, this smart and spiritual memoir demonstrates the relationship between technology and humanity.

—Chloe Veltman, correspondent, Culture Desk

1. Who are probably interested in the book Henry, Like Always?

A．Art lovers.

B．Music fans.

C．Schoolchildren.

D．Athletes.

2. Which book is completed by two writers according to the text?

A．Henry, Like Always.	B．Mascot.
C．All the Beauty in the World.	D．Artificial: A Love Story.

3. Why does Chloe Veltman recommend the book Artificial: A Love Story?

A．Because it pictures the happy life of some musicians.

B．Because it conveys the amazing dream of those futurists.

C．Because it is a cartoon with the theme of the family love.

D．Because it shows the links between technology and reality.

7 . Discover the secrets of the UK’s natural landscapes and the creatures with these new travel books.

North York Moors & Yorkshire Wolds

A “slow travel” guide to one of Britain’s most beloved landscapes, this newly updated book remains the only stand-alone guide to Yorkshire. Written by travel writer Mike Bagshaw, it takes in sandy beaches, woodlands, grasslands and wetlands. It has information on walking and cycling paths, as well as wildlife-watching areas for such sea animals as whales and dolphins.

Bradt Guides, £16.

Springwatch

Explore the UK’s richest regions for wildlife with 100 walks chosen for their unique scenery. Written by travel journalist Luke Waterson, with an introduction by Chris Packham, this new guide is based on the current BBC TV series and features walks that best reveal the diversity of British nature. With easy-to-follow maps and plenty of inspiring details on why the natural landscapes are so special, this is a walker’s best companion.

BBC Books, £19.

Wild Isles

This rich photographic guide accompanies the new BBC TV series of the same name, which sees Sir David Attenborough celebrate the wonders of British wildlife across a range of destinations. Written by natural history journalist Patrick Barkham, each chapter of the book focuses on a particular kind of wild space, from our wide variety of grasslands to our ocean shores, woodlands and forests.

HarperCollins, £25.

Flight Paths

Spring brings new bird life to the UK’s shores, but until recently little was known about the birds’ seasonal journeys. Written by science writer Rebecca Heisman, it brings much-needed insight into how best to protect and conserve the birds that visit our islands—and destinations far beyond.

Swift Press, £17.

1. How much is Springwatch?

A．£16.

B．£17.

C．£19.

D．£25.

2. Who is the author of Wild Isles?

A．Luke Waterson.	B．Patrick Barkham.
C．Rebecca Heisman.	D．Sir David Attenborough.

3. What is Flight Paths mainly about?

A．Grasslands.	B．Large sea animals.
C．Ocean shores.	D．Birds’ seasonal journeys.

8 . In recent years, it seems that we are slowly coming to understand that animals like elephants, monkeys and pigs have not just brains, but complicated inner and social lives thanks to scientific advances in our understanding of animal minds. Yet that awareness hasn’t made itself felt to much greater degree in our closest relationship with animals: at the dinner table.

With Personalities on the Plate, Barbara King asks us to think hard about our meat eating and how we might reduce it. King does not criticize. Instead, she takes us chapter by chapter on a cook’s tour of animals we humans eat, from insects to pigs and dogs, while exploring the latest scientific discoveries about their intelligence and feelings that we humans often wrongly claim uniquely for ourselves.

Built on a mix of firsthand experience and close engagement with the work of scientists, farmers and chefs, Personalities on the Plate has successfully built a case for them as beings that deserve more than a trip down our stomachs. With humor and tales of animals acting as individuals expressing their emotions, Personalities on the Plate takes us on an unforgettable journey through the world of animals we eat.

“This thoughtful book is not about whether we ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ eat meat. Barbara King looks at the range of values and consequences surrounding farming and feasting, and at who we are considering eating,” says Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel. “Her book gives me a richer understanding. Her method and passion are effective. I ended the book agreeing that I can — and should — help these creatures and our environment by choosing to eat fewer of them or none at all.”

1. What does the author suggest in the first paragraph?

A．Lots of people plan to stop eating meat.

B．Meat consumption should be increased.

C．Scientists should do more to protect animals.

D．Our diet is hardly influenced by our knowledge.

2. What can we know about Personalities on the Plate?

A．It openly opposes meat eating.	B．It is written by scientists and chefs.
C．It includes humorous and vivid stories.	D．It denies animals’ intelligence and feelings.

3. What does Carl Safina say about King’s book?

A．Its method is too subjective.	B．Its conclusion is convincing.
C．The book is tightly organized.	D．The evidences are contradictory.

4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the text?

A．To review a book.	B．To recommend an author.
C．To promote a diet.	D．To advocate animals’ rights.

10 . Reading is not just an important professional skill.It is also a way to enjoy creative andinspiring works of literature that enrich our life experiences.In order to build your readinghabit and enjoy your reading to the fullest,begin practicing good reading skills.For example:

Read for content.

    1     Don’t ignore its supporting reasons.When building up reading skills, it can be helpful to read with a pencil in hand to take notes or underline the key idea of each paragraph.

    2    

When encountering unfamiliar words or ideas,often the literary,historical,or socialcontext of the text can offer clues as to what the character or writer is talking about.This mayrequire a small amount of outside research to become informed on the different levels ofcontext presented by a text.

Look up unfamiliar words.

Merriam Webster online is a wonderful and thorough resource for defining unfamiliar words.Simply underline or make a list of unfamiliar words.When you reach a good stopping point,return to each word and look it up,re-reading the sentence it appeared in.     3    

Become familiar with literary devices.

Some common examples of literary devices that most people are familiar with aremetaphors(暗喻),similes,personification(拟人),etc.     4    .There are many more literaryelements to consider,with more advanced or less-known devices such as saying,mood,andmore.

Don’t rush

Reading for learning and enjoyment is never a quick run.     5    .Do not get discouragedif you are a slow reader,especially at first.Each day,as you read,your mind will take thereading strategy it learned before and apply them again,often with greater efficiency.

A．Learn to appreciate context

B．Keep reading materials handy

C．But this is just the tip of the iceberg

D．Find ways to connect reading to your everyday life

E．When you read,read for the main idea of each paragraph

F．This helps contextualize the word and its usage in case there are multiple meanings

G．Instead, take your time, nurture your skills and their development at your own pace