1. What is the possible relationship between the two speakers?
| A．Friends. |
| B．Teacher and student. |
| C．Customer and salesman. |
| A．It’s about poetry. |
| B．It’s written by Shakespeare. |
| C．It may be very valuable. |
2 . It’s a familiar plot in movies and books: A bright-eyed man moves to the big city in search of fame and fortune. In the noises and lights, all hopes and dreams come true. But why do we stick to this old story? In Four Lost Cities, author Annalee Newitz explores ancient settlements to find out why people flood into big cities — and why they leave.
The book is divided into four enjoyable, snack-sized sections, one for each city. Each section is accompanied by a handy map, drawn by artist Jason Thompson in an engaging cartoon style.
Rather than dry history, Newitz makes a special effort to highlight the oddities and innovations that made these cities unique. Take Catalhöyük, the oldest city they feature, which boomed between 7500 and 5700 BC in what is now Turkey. This ancient city existed for nearly 2, 000 years despite lacking things that we might consider necessary for a city, such as roads, special public spaces or shopping areas.
The section on Cahokia (AD 1050 to 1350) —located in what is now Illinois — offers an unexpected reason for a city’s emergence. Many people link cities with capitalism and trade. Cahokia’s 30-meter-tall pyramids, 20-hectare (公顷) squares and a population (at the time) bigger than Paris suggest that spiritual revival (复苏) can also build a large city. Cahokia and Angkor, which reached its peak from AD 800 to 1431 in what is now Cambodia, also show how cities can form when power gets concentrated in a few influential people.
Each city, of course, eventually fell. But Newitz also reveals something else: Collapsing infrastructure (基础设施) provided the final push that kept people away. Here we spot our potential future, as climate crises and political instability threaten our own urban networks. But Newitz’s vivid imaginings, bright language and boundless enthusiasm manage to keep the tone optimistic. These cities did end, yes. Yet the people lived on.
1. Why is a bright-eyed man mentioned in paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the topic. | B．To raise some doubts. |
| C．To make a comparison. | D．To present a phenomenon. |
| A．By citing data. | B．By defining a term. |
| C．By giving an example. | D．By telling a story. |
| A．Trade. | B．Capitalism. |
| C．A large population. | D．Concentration of power. |
| A．It features a cartoon style. | B．It offers insight into our future. |
| C．It consists of no original ideas. | D．It promotes the ancient cultures. |
3 . Robot science fiction has long been a favorite for readers. If you want to check out any of these titles for free, you can do so with Audible’s one-month free trial. Click here to download Audible’s app to try for $0.00.
I. Robot
The author of I, Robot, Isaac Asimov, is an indisputable giant within the world of robot science fiction due to his creation of the three laws of robotics. I, Robot is a landmark work of robot sci-fi which explores every facet of robots and their place in the world of humans, from their conception through to their possible replacement of humanity.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is an absolute landmark work of robot science fiction and has gained even greater recognition due to being made into the classic motion picture Blade Runner. The story’s hero is tasked with hunting down sentient robots that have gone immoral.
The Night Sessions
The Night Sessions by Ken MacLeod envisions a world in which religions and those who believe in them have been pushed to the edge of society. This is also a world populated by sentient robots that sometimes help humanity but are often shunned by their very creators.
Sea of Rust
Sea of Rust is set in a future world in which humanity has been totally wiped out by an unimaginably powerful artificial intelligence system and the robots it has at its command. In this world without mankind, the two most powerful artificial intelligence systems fight for control. It is both a tight story of survival and an optimistic adventure.
1. Which book has become more popular after being made into a movie?| A．I, Robot | B．Sea of Rust |
| C．The Night Sessions | D．Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? |
| A．It is a story of human survival. |
| B．It is set in a world full of robots. |
| C．It is about a harmonious world without mankind. |
| D．It’s about robots and humans fighting for control. |
| A．A website. | B．A newspaper. |
| C．A book review. | D．A journal of literary criticism. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)，不计分。
My book is The Call of the Wild. I bought one in Xinhua book store, which cost me 30 yuan. The book, which cover is black and green, contains 300 pages. Having been read the story three times, I am always touched by the dog’s experience. From the dog Bark’s grow, I realize each living being is born to adapt to nature and competition. Since I want to read another work writing by Jack London, I would like to exchange this book another novel called White Fang. If anybody is willingly to exchange the one with me, please contacting me immediately. It’s an pleasure to share books. Looking forward to your reply.
1. 有学生支持纸质书及原因；
2. 有学生支持电子书及原因；
3. 你的看法。
注意： 1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Paper Books or E-books?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6 . Today, we study literature from a young age—learning about our histories, faraway worlds and influential people. Whether we notice or not, these stories—both fiction and non-fiction—guide us throughout our lives. They allow us to see the world through another’s eyes, open up our world and teach us about every subject known to man.
Despite their importance, many people throw out their old books—laying waste the wisdom that lies on each page. In an effort to save this knowledge and share it with those less fortunate, a garbage man in, Bogota, Colombia has been saving thrown-away books for 20 years and sharing them with those in need.
“I hated to see all the books in the dustbins of wealthier neighborhoods. So I started to rescue them,’’ said Gutierrez. The first book he found was a copy of the classic novel Anna Karenina. The Tolstoy book was later joined by The Little Prince, Sophie's World, The Iliad and a number of novels. Today, he has collected around 25,000 books.
His growing collection didn’t go unnoticed. Gutierrez’s neighbors were soon borrowing the books to help with their children’s homework. “There was a lack of them in our neighborhood, so we started to help,”said Gutierrez.
The ground floor of Gutierrez’s home is now filled with books, from floor to ceiling. Over spilling with books, he opened it up as a free library, with the help of his wife Luz Gutierrez and their three children.
Word eventually spread around about Gutierrez and his books. Most of the books now come from donations. He now travels around the country, delivering free books to poor and remote districts. The library, named “The Strength of Words", has donated books to some 235 schools, institutions and community libraries across Colombia.
1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?| A．By stating some facts. |
| B．By contradicting a theory. |
| C．By describing a scene. |
| D．By referring to documents. |
| A．A heavy financial burden. |
| B．A companion in difficult times. |
| C．The beginning of his charity campaign. |
| D．One of his greatest achievements in life. |
| A．A good book is a light to the soul. |
| B．A bad beginning makes a bad ending. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. |
| D．One man's garbage is another man' s treasure. |
| A．Tolstoy books recovered from dustbins. |
| B．Literature now appeals to garbage collectors. |
| C．Free libraries popular with neighborhood kids. |
| D．Garbage man builds a library from rescued books. |
7 . A new study shows that the more people read any kind of fiction, the better their language skills are likely to be. The piece was written by Sandra Martin-Chang, professor of education, and PhD student Stephanie Kozak. They found that people who enjoyed reading fiction at leisure (休闲) and those who identified themselves as readers scored higher on language tests, whereas those who read to access specific information scored more poorly on the same tests.
As leisure reading declines as a pastime for younger adults especially, Martin-Chang says emphasizing the fun aspect of it can draw them back to novels while at the same time improving their verbal abilities.
Martin-Chang and Kozak used a scale called the Predictors of Leisure Reading ( PoLR) to investigate reading behavior ( motivations, obstacles, attitudes and interests). They then examined how well the PoLR predicted the language skills o£ 200 undergraduate students, with all data gathered at York University. The researchers note that the age range of the subjects in the study is of key interest. In early adulthood, reading becomes self-directed rather than imposed by others, which makes this a key time to develop one's own reading habits. This population is also rather understudied, with most existing research focusing far more on children.
The researchers administered a series of measures over two separate half-hour sessions. First, the volunteers completed the 48-question PoLR scale measuring various reading factors. They were then given language tests similar to those found in the SAT and a measure of reading habits called the Author Recognition Test. Those who scored higher read more and have better verbal abilities than those who scored lower. After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded that reading enjoyment, positive attitudes and deeply established interests predicted" better verbal abilities and that they were more strongly associated with exposure to fiction than non-fiction.
Besides having better verbal abilities, lifelong readers are known to be more understanding, more empathetic （同感的），less prejudiced, to attain higher socioeconomic status and even to live longer, healthier live than non — readers. Teachers and parents can inspire a love of reading by letting young people read what they want, without guilt or shame.
1. According to the new study, people's language skills are mainly influenced by their reading| A．environments | B．speeds | C．motivations | D．frequencies |
| A．approved | B．recommended | C．forced | D．evaluated |
| A．By making data analysis. | B．By conducting wide surveys. |
| C．By consulting previous studies. | D．By making reasonable assumptions. |
| A．Great pleasure of reading. | B．Various benefits of reading. |
| C．Ways to be a lifelong reader. | D．Methods of developing reading skills. |
8 . Different from a text-heavy novel, coffee table books offer large images and smaller sections of text, allowing us to easily dive in and explore.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art： Masterpiece Paintings by Kathryn Calley Galitz
If you're unable to wander along the corridors of this world-famous museum yourself, don't panic ： this book offers an impressive insight into some of the masterpieces housed here. Amazing images will attract the casual reader, while insights from Galitz, curator (馆长)of the museum, into different pieces are set to engage art and history lovers alike.
Destinations of a Lifetime ： 225 of the World's Most Amazing Places by National Geographic
With large, striking photos, a mere glance through this book will fuel the urge to travel. Besides a few of the hot places, there are plenty of destinations you may not have heard of. Alongside images of dramatic landscapes, accompanying text reveals highlights at each spot and handy tips on experiencing them like a local.
Secret Gardeners by Victoria Summerley
When thinking of some of Britain's most famous names, their busy, jet-set lifestyles probably spring to mind. But, away from the public eye, these individuals are just like us, and love nothing more than spending hours in their gardens. The pages of this beautiful book share fantastic images from the gardens of 25 well-known personalities.
The Story of Food： An Illustrated History of Everything We Eat by DK
The origins and facts of different ingredients are included in this book, along with explorations into the development of cooking over the ages. The book is more text heavy, but don't let that put you off： there are still plenty of beautiful photos and vivid illustrations throughout.
1. Which of the following books includes opinions from an expert?| A．Secret Gardeners. | B．The Story of Food, |
| C．Destinations of a Lifetime. | D．The Metropolitan Museum of Art. |
| A．History of cooking. | B．Tips on traveling cheaply. |
| C．Lifestyles of personalities. | D．Private gardens in Britain. |
| A．It contains bigger sections of words. |
| B．It provides data people never heard of. |
| C．It appeals to casual readers and specialists. |
| D．It shares fantastic images by well-known people. |
9 . As a child, I had a library phobia（恐惧症）.I associated going to the library with doing research for a school project or a book report. I defined reading as work, and books came from the library, so going to the library for fun was out of the range of my thinking. As hard as they tried, my parents could not get me interested in reading. They purchased a few of the Hardy Boys series.
The books collected dust. The closest I came to wanting to read was The Big Green Book by Robert Graves, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak, a gift from my aunt. Its lead character, a boy of about 8, my age, discovered a book of magic spells. I was fascinated Spells were not in the book, but I drew an imaginary magic circle with a long stick in my bedroom, stood inside the circle, took three deep breaths and made up my own spell. I never became invisible（看不见的），which was my goal. This was my favorite book. I read it again and again. Certainly no need to go to the library.
Eventually, I started reading novels in my 20s. To avoid going to the library, which was only seven blocks from my Brooklyn home, I joined various book clubs. I didn’t mind having to buy a book a month as long as I didn’t have to go to the library.
My library phobia was cured 23 years ago when my family moved to Long Island. The East Meadow Public Library, a two—block walk from our home, became a regular destination for me and my family. My children were introduced to books through the children’s section with free programs that even my wife and I enjoyed. My children made friends , and my wife and I made friends with the parents.
My library card is faded, the edges are ragged and I renew my membership time and time again. I have given up mail—order books, and when I go to a store that sells books, I snap（拍照） pictures of the book jackets that enthral me and put the book on reserve at the library.
1. What can we learn about the book The Big Green Book?| A．It appealed to the author’s parents. |
| B．It contained some magic spells. |
| C．It is a gift from the author’s uncle. |
| D．It inspired the author with some ideas. |
| A．To read novels. | B．To go to book clubs. |
| C．To start a school. | D．To purchase books on his own. |
| A．He moved to a new place. |
| B．He formed a new family. |
| C．He wanted to meet targeted people. |
| D．He discovered an additional function of the library. |
| A．puzzle | B．frighten | C．attract | D．escape |
10 . I grew up with easy access to books,and I’ve always felt that I benefited from it,even if it was as simple as always having something to do.For that reason,I make sure that the children who are a part of my life also have books,often giving them as gifts.
This desire to surround kids with books isn't just in my head.A recent study has demonstrated that children who grow up with home libraries perform better later in life when it comes to literacy(读写能力），applying math skills to everyday life and learning how to use digital technology.Reading is a gift that keeps on giving,apparently.
The study collected data from 160,000 adults from across 31 countries who participated in the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies(PIAAC).The PIAAC measures adults'skills in three categories:literacy,numeracy(计算能力）and digital literacy.
Participants in the PIAAC were asked to estimate how many books were in their households by the time they were 16 years old.The average number in the study was 115 books,but the actual numbers would vary from country to country.Turkish participants averaged 27,while those in Norway had 212 and kids in the UK had 143.The study found that the more books that were present in the home,the better the adults scored in the PIAAC evaluations.
Homes needed to have roughly 80 books to have any impact on the teens,raising PIAAC scores to the average level.Literacy scores in particular improved when more books were available,though they became steady at around 350 books.Numeracy skills improved in similar ways to literacy.Solving problems with digital technologies also saw improvement,but the score gains weren't as steep as they were for literacy or numeracy.
Access to books also helped to bridge education differences.Those who grew up without many books in the home and received university degrees performed roughly the same as those who had access to large home libraries and only completed nine years of school.
1. What is the author's attitude towards children reading books?| A．Unconcerned. | B．Doubtful. | C．Cautious. | D．Approving. |
| A．the only way to raise PIAAC scores is to read books |
| B．the purpose of the PIAAC is to measure one's reading,math and technology skills |
| C．participants from the UK performed best in the PIAAC |
| D．the more kinds of books one reads at home,the higher score one will get in the PIAAC |
| A．Access to books can help one receive a university degree. |
| B．Bookish adolescence can make up for a shorter education. |
| C．Those who grew up without many books wouldn't receive a university degree. |
| D．People with a basic education performed better than those with a higher level of education. |
| A．Reading Lots of Books as a Kid Helps Later in Life |
| B．Reading Books Helps Improve One's Intelligence |
| C．Reading-The Best Way to Improve One's Social Skills |
| D．Why Reading Makes One a Better Person |
