1 . Family plays an important part in much fiction, of course, but sometimes the short story form has offered us an insight into family life that the longer novel does not. Here are some for you to taste.
Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldPrelude is one of Katherine Mansfield's longest and finest short stories. Because Prelude is a modernist short story, the emphasis is on characters rather than plots. Mansfield is using the Burnells’ house-move, and the period when they are busy settling into their new home, as a situation to observe family, women and class.
He, by Katherine Anne PorterKatherine Anne Porter (1890-1980) wrote just one novel and fewer than thirty short stories, yet she is regarded as an important twentieth-century American writer, with He among her most celebrated and critically praised works. An important theme of Porter’s work is the search for meaning in a modern and increasingly materialist world.
Signs and Symbols, by Vladimir NabokovIt is a short story by the Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977), originally published in the New Yorker in 1948. The story centers on an elderly married Russian couple who move to the United States; their son is suffering from paranoid delusions (妄想症) and has been limited to a care center. Signs and Symbols focuses on the couple’s attempt to visit their son and its result.
Down at the Dinghy, by J. D. SalingerThis short story was originally published in 1949. It involves an adult speaking to a child. It is about a young boy who runs from home and goes down to the nearby lake, where he gets into a boat and refuses to speak to his mother. The story ends with the mother bonding with her son.
1. What is special about Prelude?| A．It’s about scientific observation. | B．It’s the longest of the four. |
| C．It involves moving to a new place. | D．It focuses more on figures than plots. |
| A．They are contemporary writers. | B．Their works center on critical thinking. |
| C．They both seek for meaning in modern life. | D．Their works were published in the New Yorker. |
| A．Science fiction fans. | B．Family-based short story lovers. |
| C．Those who plan to be writers. | D．People trying to have a family. |
2 . Flights of imagination take wing with picture books
Room for Everyone (ages 4-8)
Written by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Merce Lopez
Hop on the dala-dala (a kind of minibus taxi) on the way to the blue crystal waters of Zanzibar! Rhythmic language dances across the pages as more and more people and their belongings pile into (挤进) the vehicle on the way to the beach. It seems there can’t possibly be room, but “after some moving around and fun, they make enough room for everyone.” This is a book you will be happy to read again and again because it’s so full of sunlight and energy.
Gladys the Magic Chicken (ages 4-9)
Written by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Adam Rex
It’s a big, sweeping story that’s just right for sharing a belly laugh (捧腹大笑) with the whole family. Set in ancient times, the story centers around a much-celebrated chicken named Gladys. At 48 pages, this is longer than the standard picture book, which helps give it a bigger feeling.
Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey (ages 4-10)
Written and illustrated by Erin Entrada Kelly
Readers might know Erin Entrada Kelly from her Newbery Medal-winning chapter book, “Hello, Universe”. In this start of a series aimed at younger readers, Kelly again creates rich characters, but this time with short chapters and cute line drawings that work perfectly for early independent chapter-book reading.
A Boy Named Isamu (ages 3-7)
Written and illustrated by James Yang
One of the unexpected charms of this book is that it is told in the second person. The lines between audience and character, observer and artist, and reader and listener soften to allow us to explore isolation (孤独) and creativity along with the protagonist (主人公). This book might help everyone understand how one might be “alone but not lonely”.
1. What can be learned about Room for Everyone?| A．It consists of simple words. | B．It is an award-winning book. |
| C．It features cute line drawings. | D．It is full of fun and happiness. |
| A．Merce Lopez. | B．Adam Rex. | C．Erin Entrada Kelly. | D．James Yang. |
| A．It is told in the second person. | B．It involves short chapters. |
| C．It has two characters. | D．It is for older readers. |
3 . A Book-list by Trusted Critics
I Can ExplainShinsuke Yoshitake
Has your mom ever caught you picking your nose or biting your nails? In this book, bad habits yield complex explanations that justify their very existence.
And really, how hard is it to believe that nose pickers are actually pushing hidden nose buttons that release “cheerful beams” that make everyone happy?
Where Butterflies Fill the SkyZahra Marwan
What happens when you have to leave your home where the desert reaches all the way to the sea and 100 butterflies always fill the sky? This picture book about immigration deals with its serious subject matter while keeping heart, humor and family close at hand.
It tells the true story of how the girl and her family moved from one land to another.
FarmhouseSophie Blackall
Our lives are our stories. In this one Sophie Blackall manages to spin a single sentence capturing the imagined lives of a houseful of children on a farm. The images and story were inspired by the detritus (废弃物) she discovered in an old farmhouse.
The resulting images are sure to delight children and adults alike, while the story is a reminder of what we leave behind.
My Brother Is AwaySara Greenwood
It’s never easy to explain that a family member is imprisoned, and it can be especially hard for children.
This simple picture book draws on the author’s own childhood to tell the story of a young girl whose brother is in prison. A gentle and hopeful story for kids about very adult situations and complex feelings.
1. What is Where Butterflies Fill the Sky about?| A．A story of 100 butterflies always filling the sky. |
| B．A story of immigration, family, and finding home. |
| C．A story of serious matters of a girl and her mom. |
| D．A story about very adult situations and complex feelings. |
| A．Where Butterflies Fill the Sky. | B．I Can Explain. |
| C．Farmhouse. | D．My Brother Is Away. |
| A．Senior students. | B．Adults. | C．Kids. | D．Foreigners. |
4 . The following are the comments on The Berry Pickers.
Donna David
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024
I enjoyed the story. The characters were interesting and the story of the people working in the blueberry fields in Maine was of great interest to me. But there’s a problem. In the story, they speak about coming to Maine for 2 months. The blueberry season was and is 3 — 5 weeks. I think the author should have been a little more thoughtful in her research to make it more accurate (精确的).
Mom2AC
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
This is such a beautiful and heartbreaking story of two families—one filled with love, pain, and loss, the other with secrets. The story was beautifully written and had me in tears at the end. I love books that have me thinking about the characters once the book is finished.
Diana Jaycox
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2023
I read The Berry Pickers as part of a Kindle Reading Challenge. The Berry Pickers was not my normal pick of reading material. That is what I love about the Kindle Reading Challenges; I am forced to try new authors. This is not the kind of novel you can read in one setting. No, The Berry Pickers, requires you to read slowly, enjoying the richness of Amanda Peters’ words, and her great settings.
EH
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
As I began reading, I thought I’d mistakenly bought a book for young adults. It’s not badly written, but it is too simple for its subject matter. It’s also overly long, and would have worked better as a novel.
1. What is Donna David’s complaint about The Berry Pickers?| A．It’s very long. | B．It’s inaccurate. |
| C．It’s too simple. | D．It’s poorly-organized. |
| A．Donna David and EH. | B．Diana Jayeox and EH. |
| C．Mom2AC and Diana Jaycox. | D．Donna David and Diana Jaycox. |
| A．To share comments on a book. | B．To record personal experiences. |
| C．To complain about bad service. | D．To introduce a reading activity. |
5 . ※ Brown Girl Dreaming
By Jacqueline Woodson
As a winner of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newberry Honor Book, in her book, Brown Girl Dreaming, the author uses poetry to tell her true story of growing up as a black woman in the 1960s and 1970s. Woodson’s beautiful language explores big ideas while describing her family, her growing awareness of race and the civil rights movement, and her life in South Carolina and New York City.
※ When You Were Everything
By Ashley Woodfolk
Cleo and Layla have been best friends for years. But in their second year of middle school, everything changes. Layla starts hanging out with her new friends, and the two girls’ friendship slowly ends. Cleo is still trying to make sense of what happened as she tries to make new friends. Told across two timelines, Cleo’s story of sadness surrounding a lost friendship will be relevant for many 8th graders trying to deal with past middle school friend drama and looking forward to high school.
※ The Hound of the Baskervilles
By Arthur Conan Doyle
The famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Watson set out to look into a new case in Dartmoor, England. A man is dead, with many dog paw prints leading to his body. Holmes and Watson arrive in Dartmoor to find several unexplainable events and clues. Together, they start to figure out a puzzle that has defined mystery and detective fiction ever since.
※ The Hobbit
By J. R. R. Tolkien
This story is an opener to the longer and more challenging The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It’s an adventure story set in a fantasy world. With dwarves (小矮人), hobbits, sword fights, wizards and dragons, the book’s plot and humor have stood the test of time.
1. How is Brown Girl Dreaming different from the other books?| A．It focuses on city life. | B．It uses clear language. |
| C．It has won many awards. | D．It tells humorous stories. |
| A．Friendship and growth. | B．Lost love and gained hope. |
| C．Learning to be more independent. | D．Dealing with pressure from schoolwork. |
| A．The Hobbit | B．Brown Girl Dreaming |
| C．When You Were Everything | D．The Hound of the Baskervilles |
| A．Lack of sleep. | B．Too much e-reading. | C．A sad thing. |
Jackie was searching for her library book in her room. Outside her house stood her friend Sasha waiting for her to go to the library. But the book was missing.
Jackie then ran into her sister’s bedroom. “Have you seen my library book? Last week my book was bitten by your cat. The week before that, you dropped my book in the park,” Jackie asked angrily. Her sister shook her head. Despite her efforts, Jackie found no traces of the book there.
“What’s taking you so long, Jackie?” Mom’s voice rang through the house. “I need to find my library book. It has a red cover. It’s due (到期) today. If I have lost the library book, I am not allowed to check out any books for a whole month,” Jackie sighed, walking down the stairs. She nearly ran into her mom, who was carrying a heavy laundry (待洗衣物) basket.
“Good luck with that book. The library closes in twenty minutes.” Mom stopped to grab Jackie’s clothes from the railing and wrinkled her nose. “I’m putting these in the laundry,” said Mom, disappearing down the basement stairs.
Jackie ran around the house, looking under the sofa, in the fridge, and behind the piano. However, the book was nowhere to be found. Where was that library book? The thought of not being able to get into the world of stories and knowledge for a whole month made her feel very sad. Jackie sank onto the living room sofa, her mind racing with thoughts of the result she would soon face.
Just then Mom came into the living room and suddenly said, “Have you searched all the places? You need to think carefully and see if you’ve missed anything?” “I’ve searched everywhere I can think of, but I still haven’t found it,” Jackie almost cried. “I looked for you in your painting room in the backyard last night where you were practising your painting. I seemed to see a red thing. Maybe it was in the painting room,” Mom added.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Without wasting another moment, Jackie rushed outside to the painting room.
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Rushing to the library, Jackie and Sasha found the door still open.
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8 . So, do you want to know how to read classic books? Maybe you are excited to deal with classic literature but you don’t know where to start.
Slow down the pace. The biggest difference between modern literature and classic literature is the pace. Modern reading can often feel like a short race.
Listen to the audio(有声的)book. Sometimes the best way to devote yourself to a classic book is to listen to it. Many classic books were intended to be read aloud. Books used to be very expensive, so people shared them. This meant that a family might gather together to listen to a few chapters every night.
Choose your favourite. Finally, the key to reading classic books and actually enjoying them is to choose one that actually appeals to you. Classic Books can get mixed up into a single genre(流派)“Classic”.
| A．Look up dates and history. |
| B．But that’s really not the case. |
| C．Don’t be afraid to look things up. |
| D．However, classic literature is more of a marathon. |
| E．A character list can keep who is related to whom in check. |
| F．Listening to audio books is a lovely way to continue that tradition. |
| G．Or perhaps you’ve tried reading classics before and don’t really get the main points. |
9 . Helping your children learn to read is of great importance. It might mean finding support if they are having difficulties, which can affect their future success.
Choose some activities
As your child begins to read, there are many activities you can choose. The activities include pointing out letters, practicing sounds, singing nursery (童谣), and reading stories together.
When your child is reading more independently, you can help make it enjoyable for them. Listening to your child read aloud, going to the library to check out new books or old favorites, and reading books in series are ways to help your child get more interested in reading and continue growing as a reader.
Find right books
Lots of kids love non-fiction books because they are about the world they know and see around them. There are many books about topics such as animals, sports, other countries and famous people.
Adjust your methods
If your child is struggling to read, there is no need to panic.
| A．They can ask teachers for help. |
| B．They are just a few examples of such activities. |
| C．These books may get your child excited about reading. |
| D．Here are some ways to help your children learn to read. |
| E．Make reading interesting |
| F．Help your child read |
| G．Every child learns in his or her own way. |
10 . I was reading Natalie Goldberg’s writing guide Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, and as I worked my way through its sixty-four short chapters, I became less and less attracted by her thoughts and suggestions as a sort of tiredness set in.
Then I realized I had been doing it all wrong. Writing Down the Bones is not a book to be absorbed in one sitting, or even sequentially in a handful of reading sessions. Each of those dozens of distinct chapters should be experienced separately — this is a book for snacking on over a period of time, not gorging on in one or a few meals.
Goldberg shares in the introduction that she put out this book at an ideal time, in the mid-1980s, when many more people than before began to throw their interest in writing. Soon, the wide use of home computers would ease their effort considerably. Since then, the book has been used widely in schools and writing workshops as a source of inspiration, and when it’s read part by part, I think, it provides a steady diet of encouragement and exercises.
Why? Goldberg’s lively anybody-can-do-this essays are sometimes a little strange, but her comments about how daily life can get in the way of fighting to become a great writer are supportive, somehow. “This woman has had false starts and personal crises and self-doubt, just like me,” I tell myself, “but here I am, holding in my hands a book she wrote, a book that a number of people have read, and continue to read.”
Goldberg recommends writing in many of the various environments: not just at home or in a cafe or at a workshop; how about setting up a spontaneous (发自内心的) writing booth at an outdoor fair or festival? It’s just like those kissing booths in the past — except that instead of giving out kisses for a dollar (did people actually do that once upon a time?), you write a poem on a topic of the customer’s choosing. She says the booth was always a hit.
1. Why did the author become less and less attracted by the book at first?| A．Because he didn’t find the materials he liked in the book. |
| B．Because he read the book wholly in a short time. |
| C．Because he found the book was too old and complex to read. |
| D．Because he didn’t have enough time to enjoy the book himself. |
| A．She is a woman full of crazy and imagined. |
| B．She once had many personal problems of her own. |
| C．She had her book read by few people throughout years. |
| D．She is not fond of her daily life at home writing at all. |
| A．It is better to write from the bottom of heart. |
| B．Writing poems better than other forms of writing. |
| C．Kissing booths are always knocked down by others. |
| D．The kissing booth is a good topic for the poem writing. |
| A．Negative. | B．Neutral. | C．Supportive. | D．Indifferent. |
