5 . Last summer at a bookstore, my son Henry was fascinated by the cover of the first novel from Peter Brown’s middle-grade trilogy (三部曲). He then finished it in just two days. “Dad, why did The Wild Robot have to be so sad?” He tearfully asked me.

The story is set on a remote island, where a robot named Roz learns to survive and communicate with the island’s creatures, and becomes part of the community. For my son, it was the first book he discovered on his own; the first to impact him with the mix of tragedy (悲剧) and joy.

When I finished the book, I knew why Henry loved it. In our book club discussion, he described how Brown’s pictures and words had made the story feel real. When talking about its final scenes, where Roz leaves to find repairs for her injured body, Henry cried again. His previous reading experiences had cheerful, “happily-ever-after” endings, but this book introduced him to the beauty of complex emotions. I tried to explain how sadness can enhance the meaning of happy moments, but failed to fully convince him.

Once our discussion ended, Henry requested to buy The Wild Robot Escapes and instantly fell in love with it. He read the first two books repeatedly, so you can imagine his excitement when we finally got a copy of The Wild Robot Protects.

We both agree it is worth the wait. Roz leaves the island again to stop an underwater threat: “the poison tide.” Brown expertly balances between breathtaking adventure and unsettling ideas- not just happiness and sadness, but also, given the climate-change undercurrents, hope and despair.

And, here’s something special about Roz: her physical clumsiness and confusion about life, conveyed through her expressive eyes and downturned mouth. Her story reflects the challenges of surviving in a strange place, much like a child’s journey. Readers love Roz. They learn from her. Even better, they learn alongside her. Roz gave Henry the power to push through the first book’s sad parts, getting him ready to appreciate that, sometimes, sadness isn’t a bad thing to feel.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

9 . International Literacy (读写能力) Day, also called World Literacy Day, was set in 1966 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The purpose was to help improve the world’s ability to read and give people better opportunities in life.    1    

·Collect Books to Donate

Kids in some poor communities might have difficulty getting chances to read the books they need to improve their skills and become better readers.    2    . Keep an eye out for books that can be donated.

·Tutor (辅导) a Student How to Read and Write

    3    . They can use extra help from a tutor to get skills as well as confidence. Go to the local library or school to find out ways that literacy programs can use extra help with tutoring

·    4    .

In addition to helping someone read locally, it’s also possible to get connected with a literacy organization through the World Literacy Foundation. This organization mainly focuses on helping children from low-income backgrounds.    5    

10 . It’s summer. You’re on your favourite beach towel, a friend beside you. You’re both absorbed in books, occasionally taking sips of water. But what happens when it’s time to head home? Will you carry on reading together later? Generally speaking, reading tends to be seen as a solitary (孤独的) pastime.     1     However, the benefits of sharing the experience are numerous and worth sticking with throughout the year.

    2     For example, you don’t have to brainstorm to organize a conversation, because you both have a book in your hands. You can get lost in your book without worrying about seeming rude by not keeping up a constant stream of chatter. As you both enter the same state, your blood pressure will go down, muscle tension will ease, and your worries will fade away. All these put you at ease.     3     A quiet corner of the playground, a blanket spread out on the grass in the garden, or any calm space where you feel relaxed will do.

Spending time together reading can strengthen friendships. As you turn the pages, you might discover interesting facts to pass a long or funny anecdote to giggle (咯咯笑) over. Sometimes, you’ll come across more serious themes, such as losing a loved one or a cherished pet, or facing any one of life’s many challenges.     4    

Reading fiction has been shown to enhance empathy (同理心), which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. As you know, novels allow us to live countless experiences through their characters, which will result in heightened sensitivity.     5     For example, a person’s empathetic response increases as he emerges from being immersed in a story.