1 . Now that it's spring, you can take your reading from cozy couches and day beds to balconies, gardens, and anywhere the glorious natural light is going to touch. Here are some books that are just as illuminating as that spring sunshine.

Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi

$17.70（34% off）

Gingerbread men, gingerbread houses—when you think about it, this sweet treat is more popular in fable and fiction than you might expect. The magic of fairy tales plays a part in this novel about the myth- building that takes place in families, from the author of What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours.

The New Me by Halle Butler

$11.00（31% off）

Wake up, look in the mirror, swear it will all be different today. Sound familiar? Here's that feeling in novel form：Meet Millie, a 30-year-old flailing around in dissatisfaction. A job offer seems promising? Reinvention—but, sadly, easy transformations are for caterpillars, not lonely, anxiety-ridden women.

The White Card by Claudia Rankine

$11.00（31% off）

Mac Arthur Fellow Claudia Rankine follows up her award-winning 2014 poetry book Citizen with a play. Charlotte Cummings, a black artist, has a conversation with the family of a white art dealer, and a collector. As they discuss works of art, the differences between how each values art become apparent, especially when the subject of it is black suffering.

Invisible Women by Caroline Perez

$17.70（34% off）

You know, chest and arm pain, faint and sweating abnormally. But guess what? Those are typically experienced by men—a woman having a heart attack is more likely to feel tired and an unexpected stomach pain. Feeling unbalanced from the built-in prejudices all around us is common, and a corrective like Perez's book is welcome.

1. Which to choose if you are interested in magic?

A．Gingerbread.	B．The New Me.
C．The White Card.	D．Invisible Women.

2. What writing style is The White Card?

A．Novel.	B．Poetry.
C．Essay.	D．Play.

3. What is a symptoms of a female heart disease patient according to Perez s book?

A．Having a pain in her chest.

B．Having a sudden stomachache.

C．Having heavy sweat suddenly.

D．Falling unconscious abruptly.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Have you ever had problems in your life? Have you ever wondered how to be happy? If so, you will find the book Being a Happy Teenager     1     (use). In his book, Matthews tells us how     2     (have) a happy life and answers the questions of teenagers.

About problems with parents and friends, the book says we should stop     3     (be) angry and forgive them. The book tells us some skills such as how to put everything     4     (learn) by us from life into beautiful pictures.

Many teenagers think that     5     (happy) comes from a good grade or praise from other people.     6     you can still be happy even if there are no such “good” things. Success comes from     7     good attitude.     8    (learn) from problems, you will have success in the future. Some school students have problems such as being too tall     9     too short. But Matthews suggests that we should think about things     10     an optimistic way. This is Matthews’ most important lesson: you choose to be happy!

3 . When I was younger, I was addicted to reading. I could get through a whole book in a day, and used to beg my parents every night to let me stay up late so that I could just finish my chapter. From fairy-tales to thrillers, non-fiction to plays, I enjoyed reading any literature that I could get my hands on.

However, while there are many books for younger children,once you reach your mid-teens the choices become limited. I found myself choosing between books for children that were simple and not that interesting, and adult books that I couldn’t quite understand.

This lack of choice eventually led me to read less and less.When I was in secondary school,the only books I read were ones we were assigned in English class,and I was never very enthusiastic about my teacher’s choices.I thought too much discussion of symbolism and themes ruined the book.Maybe the sky being blue didn’t represent anything;maybe it was just a description!

Fortunately, I realized quickly that deciding to go to university meant I had signed up for four years of reading books. I chose a French literature module in my first year. I started out, thinking I wouldn’t enjoy any of the works we were studying over the course of the year.However,I soon realized that at a university level,the discussion was more fruitful and I found I had a lot to say!And being able to discuss my thoughts with others meant I could better understand the subtle aspects of the plot:yes,even the symbolism and themes.

I began reading again for pleasure, starting with Malcolm X’s autobiography and never looking back. Now, during my year abroad,I spend a lot of my spare time in bookshops and reading in cafes. I’m so happy that I rediscovered my love of books.

1. What does the author intend to say in Paragraph 1?

A．She used to stay up late at night.	B．She read very fast as a young girl.
C．She loved reading very much in her childhood.	D．She once bought many different kinds of books.

2. Why did the author read less when she was a teenager?

A．She was really tired of reading books.	B．She was too busy with her schoolwork.
C．She had no right to choose books herself.	D．She found very few suitable books to read.

3. What made the author start reading for pleasure again?

A．Her reading experiences at university.	B．Her professor of French literature.
C．A special bookstore abroad.	D．A book by Malcolm X.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．The importance of discussing a book’s theme.	B．The process of the author picking up reading.
C．The ways to form good reading habits.	D．The author’s desire to read widely.

4 . “For you, a thousand times over.” The words echoed (回响) in my heart long after I had finished the heartbreaking story. Each word struck me with the power of staunchness, the power of determination, and the power of love, whether it is from Hassan orAmir.

It’s hard to use a few words to describe what the story is about because too many things are revealed, friendship, familial affection, love, inferiority, timidity, betrayal, regret, atonement, etc. It’s even harder to imagine how the writer managed to expose so many aspects of human nature in just one story, with the truth of cruelty. Unlike many other stories in which the main characters are always perfect men or heroes. Kite Runner shows us a real man who is also desperate for others’ approval, who may also become timid in the face of challenge, who will also make big mistakes, just like most of us. In the story, we witness Amir’s growth from an immature, unconfident boy to a brave man, willing to shoulder responsibilities. But he grows up with pain and regret, and almost at the cost of his life.

The story strikes me with the cruel reality that some mistakes take a lifetime to make up for. Some hurt which has already been caused can never be undone. Some people, once left, may never return. So always keep a sense of responsibilities for what you are doing, so that unnecessary hurt can be avoided. If mistakes are made, try to make up for it at once, for you may never have a second chance. Also, cherish people you love when they are still by your side, for they may be away for good.

At last, I believe that the person, who is ever promised by others with the word “For you, a thousand times over”, is the luckiest guy in the world. I wish I could have this honor too.

1. The passage most probably is ________.

A．a book review	B．the preface of a book
C．a summary of a book	D．an original piece from a book

2. According to the passage, which statement is correct?

A．Amir reflects many aspects of human nature.

B．Amir grows up happily with love and friendship.

C．Amir likes to challenge himself in growth.

D．Amir is a brave hero who loses his life at last.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “for good”?

A．sometimes	B．frequently
C．forever	D．occasionally

4. Which of the following will the author most agree with?

A．Wait for what you love though it’s far away.

B．Cherish what you have before it’s gone.

C．Chase what matters despite the difficulties.

D．Avoid what hurts unless it counts.

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入一个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式（不多于3个单词）。

High-quality books on traditional Chinese culture are being brought back,     1    (judge) from the results of the 12th annual Wenjin Awards, China's national-level comprehensive book award to encourage public reading.

The results were announced on the World Book and Copyright Day. Awards from the National Library of China were given to 10 winning books from about 80 finalists     2    (choose) by 14 top librarians and scholars. Before that, several rounds of selection had been carried out among a field of 1, 800 books     3    were published in China last year.

The award has three categories: humanities, popular sciences and children’s books. Half the winners this year dealt with different     4    (aspect) of traditional Chinese culture. The mixing of social and physical sciences was a trend, and the winning children’s books were     5    (suit) for adult readers too.

“Many good children's books     6    (introduce) into China from other countries in recent years. They helped broaden people's horizons and inspired     7    (we)writing,” said Yu Hongcheng, author of the award-winning Dishes on Plate. “ However,     8    worries me that Chinese children may not have enough self-confidence from a cultural viewpoint when exposed to a market    9    ( main) filled with translations.” That concern encouraged her to create the picture book, which focuses     10     Chinese agricultural culture- starting with rice, a foundation of Chinese cuisine.

6 . Having your nose in a book might seem a little anti-social at times — but reading could actually make you a kinder, more considerate person, a study has found. Readers were more likely to act in a socially acceptable manner, while those who preferred watching television came across as less friendly and less understanding of

others' views, researchers said.

123 participants in the study were quizzed on their preferences for books, TV and plays at Kingston University, London. They were then tested on how much they considered people's feelings and whether they acted to help others. Researchers told the British Psychological Society conference in Brighton yesterday that fiction fans showed more positive social behavior.

Readers of drama and romance novels were also empathic, while lovers of experimental books showed the ability to see things from different directions. Comedy fans scored the highest for relating to others. The study suggested reading allows people to see different points of view, enabling them to understand others better.

The researchers added, “Exposure to fiction relates to a range of empathetic abilities. Engaging with fictional prose and comedy in particular could be key to improving people's empathetic abilities.”

However, the authors warned the study did not prove cause-and-effect. So it could be that reading causes positive behavior, or it could be that thoughtful, well-mannered people are more likely to prefer reading. So it is a good idea to pick up a book to begin your travel with the author. Each author will show how they would react to certain situations or confrontations through their characters. Everyone can view the same situation differently, and from 1001 different angles. The more you read, the much better you can understand other peoples' opinions.

1. What do we know about reading according to Paragraph 1?

A．It contributes more to one's anti-social role.

B．It is of rare benefit to readers.

C．It is related to one's social position.

D．It can add to one's social adaptability.

2. Researchers tested 123 participants in order to find         .

A．the way to improve reading skills

B．the influence of their preferences

C．the places to get new books

D．the time of reading books

3. What does the underlined word "empathic" in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Understanding.	B．Mad.
C．Sorrowful.	D．Delighted.

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To react to certain situations.

B．To understand peoples' opinions.

C．To persuade people to read.

D．To show how to begin travels.

7 . Three in five people in the UK hold a library card. For some, they’re a shelter from the stresses of day-to-day life.     1     If you’re considering joining your local library, now is the time to do so. And if you need any more encouragement, here are several reasons why you should.

Most libraries in the UK allow members of the general public to come and go as they like.     2     You can also take out a library card and borrow books for free, although you will inevitably face a fine for late returns.

    3     Imagine just how many books you have at your fingertips with a library card? There are lots of modern ones, as well as originals, and you can continue to expand your learning and vocabulary all the time. It’s a priceless experience, especially for kids, and also a great way to level the educational playing field.

Libraries develop with times. They have changed greatly since decades ago.     4     Some libraries have apps so you can see when your books are due back and even reserve books in some cases. There are also libraries which let you access books in digital formats on your mobile device — pretty cool.

Libraries are one of very few spaces left in towns and cities where members of the public can come together and actually be and feel like a community. They have notice boards to offer services like exercise classes or learning centers.     5    

A．Libraries help people learn.

B．Libraries help educate the kids.

C．They create a great sense of community.

D．You can go in, settle down and read a book without being charged a penny.

E．Most libraries now have computers and allow people to borrow CDs and DVDs.

F．Libraries help us save money as we’re borrowing books rather than buying them.

G．For others, particularly the homeless and people in poverty, a lifeline to the world.

8 . Children who spend more time reading with their parents have a greater chance of becoming better readers than those who don’t. With the help from their parents, children can learn techniques to improve their reading skills.

“A lot of parents think after their child learns to read, they should stop reading to them,” Donna George said. “They are sadly mistaken.”

George offers her services to parents at the Title I Learning Centers. She said reading aloud to children may be the most valuable thing parents can do. “It is better for children to hear things at a higher level than where they are,” George said. “Parents are their child’s first teacher.” Parents help their children build listening, phonics, comprehension and vocabulary skills when they read aloud to them.

Before parents can identify reading problems, they should escape the enemy —television and limit the time their children spend watching television. George suggested not allowing kids to have a TV in their bedrooms, setting a schedule of when kids can watch or keeping a list of how many programs children watch. Louise Joines said while her 14-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son enjoy reading, the television sometimes becomes a distraction. So she tries to build the situation by suggesting books the entire family will enjoy reading together, like the Harry Potter series.

Parents who do not read themselves should not count on their children being interested in it. If parents would read to their children at least 15 minutes every day, children would not have so many problems in school. It is the parents’ job to help build that desire in their children, and of course to know what kind of books to read is also important.

1. According to George, reading aloud to children_______________.

A．helps them correct mistakes

B．is helpful to their reading

C．is parents’ first duty to their children

D．can get children out of television’s attraction

2. The underlined word “distraction”(in Paragraph 4) means something that_________

A．can improve children’s reading

B．can help children’s right way of reading

C．can make children interested in reading

D．stop children from concentrating on reading

3. Which of the following is important according to the fourth paragraph?

A．Reading skills.

B．Reading speed.

C．Reading materials.

D．Reading environment.

4. If the passage is not completed, which of the following can follow the fifth paragraph?

A．Parents choose reading materials for their children.

B．Advice is given to control their children.

C．What TV programs children can watch during reading.

D．How children improve their reading by themselves.

9 . How to improve reading efficiency

1.Make sure of your purpose of reading.

Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons: pleasure or knowledge. Being specific and clear about your reading purpose not only helps you to avoid books that you don’t need to read, it also reminds you the book is important to you.    1    

2.Read only what you are attracted to.

Whether you are reading fiction or nonfiction, it's important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may recommend books that they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy.     2    

3.Give up books that you don't enjoy.

You may have selected books that match your purpose. You may have selected books that you are attracted to. But you are reading them, there may still be some books that you won't enjoy reading.     3     Remember reading shouldn't make you feel annoyed.

4.    4    

Having a reading goal helps you figure out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day.

5.Give yourself a deadline to finish each book.

Before you read each book, ask yourself when you need to finish this book. What I find interesting is that I tend to read books that I borrow from libraries faster than the books I bought.     5     I don't need to return those books. When you don't set a deadline to finish you book, there isn't a sense of urgency. And when something isn't urgent, you tend to slow down.

A．Set a reading goal.

B．Understand each word of the sentence.

C．Read books which you are interested in.

D．Reading is the most important way to get knowledge.

E．The reason is that the books I bought don't have a due date.

F．This encourages you to keep reading and complete the book faster.

G．Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.

10 . Reading is of great importance. That's why World Book Day came into being. World Book Day ___________on April 23rd every year, which____________to encourage people, particularly teenagers, to discover the ___________of reading so that they can fall in love with books. It's also the day to____________honor to those great writers who produced remarkable works of literature and made great _________to human civilization.

Many countries celebrate World Book Day and the___________is yearly held in different ways. On that day, millions of school children can buy books at a much_______price than usual in any bookstore in England, ___________attracts a number of students to flood into bookstores for they can pay less money to buy the_________books. World Book Day is also_____________in China. More and more people_______into the libraries and bookstores to read______________books. Most of them do more reading on that day, _______________they can change the world by changing themselves______________reading.

Reading makes us_______________and learned. Reading helps us to follow the___________development of science and technology. Reading enables us to have a good___________of and have a better understanding of foreign cultures and______. Reading also is one of the most important ways to learn foreign languages. We all know it's difficult and almost____________to learn everything in the classroom, yet the ways English people are living and working today can be__________by reading.

1.

A．appears

B．approaches

C．falls

D．forms

2.

A．aims

B．fails

C．remains

D．prepares

3.

A．laughter

B．pleasure

C．secrets

D．skills

4.

A．receive

B．enjoy

C．feel

D．express

5.

A．contributions

B．progress

C．trouble

D．benefits

6.

A．performance

B．celebration

C．activity

D．design

7.

A．higher

B．cheaper

C．lower

D．dearer

8.

A．that

B．which

C．where

D．when

9.

A．different

B．same

C．colorful

D．interesting

10.

A．shared

B．expressed

C．carried

D．celebrated

11.

A．crowd

B．gather

C．accompany

D．return

12.

A．simple

B．rare

C．various

D．expensive

13.

A．demanding

B．pretending

C．believing

D．doubting

14.

A．through

B．with

C．in

D．on

15.

A．hard-working

B．skilled

C．serious

D．wise

16.

A．fullest

B．greatest

C．latest

D．slightest

17.

A．collection

B．introduction

C．sense

D．knowledge

18.

A．exhibitions

B．experiences

C．habits

D．customs

19.

A．unfit

B．impossible

C．complicated

D．forgetful

20.

A．learned

B．suggested

C．accepted

D．informed