2 . Sitting close with your little ones from an early age and enjoying a book together is always a great way to spend time, but do you know reading to your children has a whole range of benefits that will give them a flying start in life?

Firstly, it’s a great introduction to vocabulary. Seeing an adult sounding out the words and linking them to the shapes on the page begins to build up vocabulary that they will use for the rest of their life.

Then there are a variety of good effects of hearing stories which improve their minds and develop social awareness and skills. At a time when they are perhaps stuck indoors more than ever before, reading is the best way to motivate (激发) children’s imagination. They can travel to the moon, meet the Gruffalo and pop into a chocolate factory all before they’ve even had lunch!

There’s no better way to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes than reading their stories and seeing things from another’s point of view is a great way to build empathy (共鸣), tolerance and other qualities needed. There are some fantastic children’s books which show characters acting as strong role models. These stories can encourage future leaders and thinkers, so every child can feel they can achieve their dreams, from the Little Leaders series to Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (叛逆女孩).

Now is the perfect time to build up a library of excellent reads ready for children to enjoy now and in the future. They will create memories to last a lifetime. On top of the benefits for your little ones, it’s fun, relaxing and a great chance to go back and reread the best books from your own childhood.

1. What kind of people is the text written for?

A．Parents.	B．Children.
C．Teachers.	D．Leaders.

2. What does the underlined phrase “pop into” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Start.	B．Visit.
C．Build.	D．Leave.

3. In which way does Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls do good to children?

A．Going to bed easily at bedtime.	B．Building good qualities.
C．Building a strong body.	D．Bringing back sweet memories.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Children’s reading habits.

B．Children’s reading materials.

C．Benefits of reading to children.

D．Ways of reading children’s books.

3 . High School Summer Reading List

We studied reading lists from around the country and found the following books. There’s a good chance you will open one of them this summer.

The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan

It focuses on four Chinese-American immigrant families who start a club known as “the Joy Luck Club”, playing the Chinese game of mahjong (麻将) for money while feasting on a variety of foods. The four Chinese women have to solve a lot of problems caused by different cultures.

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

After a ship full of zoo animals sinks at sea, an Indian boy is trapped on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger (孟加拉虎). During the hard period, he suffers a lot. But at last, he arrives at land. The book was the winner of 2002 Booker Prize.

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Kidd

During the civil rights (公民权) movement of the mid-1960s, a young white Southern girl goes on the lam (逃走) with her family’s African-American housekeeper, hoping to solve the mystery of her mother who gave her up.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

It’s about a young girl who lives in Nazi Germany during World War II. She steals books and shares them with neighbors as well as with a Jew who hides in her family’s basement.

1. If you want to know the difference between cultures, which book should you choose?

A．The Joy Luck Club.	B．Life of Pi.
C．The Secret Life of Bees.	D．The Book Thief.

2. What is The Secret Life of Bees mainly about?

A．A mother who gave up her daughter.

B．The cause of the civil rights movement.

C．A runaway African-American housekeeper.

D．A young girl who tried to learn about her mother.

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

A．To explain why these books are popular.

B．To show the importance of reading books.

C．To encourage high school students to read.

D．To introduce some books for high school students.

4 . Four Books about Super Scientists

You’ll find the lives of these top minds to be as inspiring as they are exciting in the following books.

The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing

Second World War code-breaker Alan Turing features on the Bank of England’s new £50 note as a computer pioneer. This biography follows him from his childhood as a quiet boy who loved maths to becoming one of the most important scientists in history.

100 Scientists Who Made History

Bringing together mini-biographies of 100 scientists and innovators, this book will give you an overview of the history of science. Including astronauts, biologists, chemists, coders, doctors and physicists, it features fun facts about everyone from Hippocrates and Leonardo da Vinci through to Marie Curie and Stephen Hawking.

Rosalind Franklin: A Life Story

Rosalind Franklin was the scientist whose contribution to a crucial discovery in DNA — the chemical that tells your body how to grow and develop — was not recognized until after her death. This book shines a light on the extraordinary story of her life and achievements, using timelines, illustrations and fascinating facts.

40 Inspiring Icons: Super Scientists

Each part of this colourful illustrated book introduces you to a different “super scientist” and their discoveries. This is a fun and easy way to learn about all sorts of ideas, including Louis Pasteur’s vaccinations and Ada Lovelace’s invention of mysterious codes.

1. Which book will attract readers who are interested in computer science?

A．Rosalind Franklin: A Life Story	B．100 Scientists Who Made History
C．40 Inspiring Icons: Super Scientists	D．The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing

2. Whose contribution was recognised after death?

A．Marie Curie’s.	B．Louis Pasteur’s.
C．Rosalind Franklin’s.	D．Stephen Hawking’s.

3. Where can the text probably be found?

A．In a novel.	B．In a magazine.
C．In a biography.	D．In a diary.

5 . It’s Wednesday at Lismore South Public School, in northern New South Wales, Australia. A group of eight-year-olds practise _______ with four-legged friend Maggie. Sandy-haired Charlie says he likes her “because she’s so calm”.

Maggic, too, is eight human-years old and _______ enjoys Story Dogs, which is now in 239 Australian schools. Owner, Anne Meagher, says Maggie was rather _______ and good at escaping when she first adopted (领养) her. Now Maggie can stay still and patiently allows readers to _______ books on her stomach.

“It _______ best when the children come face-to-face with Maggie,” Anne says. “I’ll _______ our rug (地毯) under a tree and we always finish with Maggie doing something fun. It’s a simple enough idea, reading to a _______, but somehow the children _______ and find reading easier.” Maggie _______ listens to the children read. She doesn’t ________ them or correct them. She’s non-judgmental. But the facts show she is helping children ________. I haven’t had one student in two years who hasn’t improved. I think we create a space where they can feel ________ to make mistakes and have a ________.

Karen Newton, the Lismore South Public School’s teacher, says ________ are satisfactory. “Parents say their children have ________ in home reading and they are more engaged with it. We’ve found comprehension (理解力) has improved.” she says.

“Story Dogs is ________,” says Janine Sigley who, with Leah Sheldon, came up with the programme, to make reading ________ for children, so they become confident lifelong readers.

“Schools have not only reported improved reading but also ________ self-confidence among readers who become more prepared to join classroom activities,” Janine says. “Story Dogs is helping to build up kids’ interest in reading, and once a child ________ to read, they can do so much ________ at school.”

1.

A．speaking

B．reading

C．running

D．thinking

2.

A．directly

B．suddenly

C．finally

D．clearly

3.

A．careless

B．brave

C．wild

D．friendly

4.

A．rest

B．find

C．throw

D．share

5.

A．works

B．fits

C．begins

D．prepares

6.

A．show

B．spread

C．hide

D．discover

7.

A．teacher

B．tree

C．child

D．dog

8.

A．disagree

B．win

C．relax

D．leave

9.

A．once

B．just

C．also

D．almost

10.

A．laugh at

B．depend on

C．look for

D．play with

11.

A．remember

B．communicate

C．succeed

D．connect

12.

A．afraid

B．comfortable

C．proud

D．ashamed

13.

A．try

B．break

C．game

D．check

14.

A．animals

B．results

C．students

D．lessons

15.

A．finished

B．practised

C．progressed

D．failed

16.

A．awful

B．strange

C．reasonable

D．helpful

17.

A．possible

B．proper

C．important

D．fun

18.

A．necessary

B．increased

C．healthy

D．lost

19.

A．waits

B．plans

C．promises

D．wants

20.

A．more

B．hard

C．quicker

D．easier

6 . Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation

by Stuart Gibbs

The CIA is on a task to find an equation (方程式) called Pandora, which could destroy the world if the wrong people get it. For help, they turn to Charlie, a 12-year-old girl who's as smart as Albert Einstein. People who like action-packed mysteries will enjoy reading this exciting book.

AstroNuts

by Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg

In AstroNuts, the Earth has been destroyed by humans for thousands of years. Four animals set out from Mount Rushmore, the headquarters (总部) of NNASA. Their task is to find a new planet fit for human life. Finally, they discover one: Plant Planet. The story's theme (主题) is simple: Don't harm the planet. Readers who love fantasy will enjoy AstroNuts.

Stargazing

by Jen Wang

Christine hears that Moon, who's new in town, is the kind of kid who beats people up for fun. But Moon and her mum come to live with Christine's family, and the two kids become best friends. Moon even shares a big secret with Christine. Stargazing is based on author Jen Wang's experiences as a child. The story is about the power of friendship and how people are able to change.

Roll with It

by Jamie Sumner

Roll with It is a story about a 12-year-old girl named Ellie. She has difficulty walking on her own and uses a wheelchair. When Ellie and her mum move to another state to take care of Ellie's grandpa, she must learn to navigate (处理) a new school and new friendships. This page-turner is a must-read for everyone. It's a heartwarming story that really shows the value of family and how being different is special.

1. Which book tells readers to protect the place we live in?

A．AstroNuts

B．Stargazing.

C．Roll with It.

D．Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation.

2. What makes Stargazing different from the other three books?

A．It talks about friendship.

B．It tells stories about animals.

C．It contains lots of scientific knowledge.

D．It was written according to the author's experiences.

3. What happened to Ellie?

A．She had difficulty in making friends.

B．She had an accident which left her in a wheelchair.

C．She went to a new school and had to start all over again.

D．She lost her mum and was taken care of by her grandpa.

7 . How parents can help children with reading skills

Making sure that your children read well can help them perform better in school and increase their confidence in their ability to communicate well. The following ways can be very helpful.

Have your children read to you.

Have your children choose their favorite book and sit down to read with you each evening.     1     It doesn't matter whether that starts after dinner or around the time your children go to sleep.

Stock (储备) your house with reading materials.

    2     It is reported that children who have different kinds of books and magazines to choose from at home actually score higher on standardized tests.

    3    

Researchers suggest having your children read signs on the road, menus, game directions, movie listings and other daily things. This will help your children try to understand the importance and applicability (适用性) of being able to read well.

Pay attention to reading problems.

See how well your children can sound out words, understand what they have read and use reading context (上下文) to understand the meaning of new words.     4     For example, you can take them to reading learning centers.

Use other reading tools.

    5     Take games as an example, try to use them as much as you can, since they can make children look forward to and enjoy the process (过程) of improving their reading ability.

A．Read wherever it is possible.

B．Take your children to a library.

C．Make reading an important part of each day.

D．Keep some reading materials available in your house.

E．Games, textbooks and books on tape are good choices.

F．If your children have difficulty reading, get them some help.

G．You should watch your children's progress with their reading skills.

8 . Many people are complaining that work and study are quite difficult at time. They need a method to relax. I have found that the best way to reduce ________ is to read a good book. It ________ me to escape from real life, it gives me a(n) ________ view on the world, and reading a book is a very ________ activity.

First, reading a good story is the best way to ________ about my troubles during the day. Many of the books I read have ________ plot lines（情节安排）, which attract me to the characters and action. When I am ________ reading, nothing in the outside world seems to exist anymore. One   cannot ________ in this dreamland forever, of course. ________ for an hour or so a day, it is very calming.

Second, reading books can also give me a new way to ________ the outside world. Even a fictional book can have this ________. When authors write a book, they ________ their ideas and feelings about how the world works. By ________ works of different writers, I find that I ________ more about other people, and ________ they think. This helps me to learn to ________ others just as they are.

Finally, the most ________ reason why reading is good for ________ is that it allows me to ________ the most amazing peace. For a devoted（投入的）reader, it is ________ to go to a bright, beautiful place to read. You can just stay at home, sitting in your favorite chair. With the house being completely quiet, you can enter the peaceful world of knowledge and imagination.

1.

A．debates

B．mistakes

C．pressure

D．influence

2.

A．forces

B．allows

C．requires

D．forbids

3.

A．new

B．easy

C．familiar

D．ordinary

4.

A．basic

B．tiring

C．special

D．peaceful

5.

A．care

B．learn

C．think

D．forget

6.

A．stupid

B．simple

C．boring

D．interesting

7.

A．teaching

B．studying

C．enjoying

D．practicing

8.

A．stay

B．leave

C．take

D．settle

9.

A．So

B．But

C．And

D．Unless

10.

A．look at

B．worry about

C．search for

D．believe in

11.

A．effect

B．success

C．problem

D．weakness

12.

A．ask

B．know

C．express

D．change

13.

A．buying

B．reading

C．judging

D．spreading

14.

A．trust

B．doubt

C．praise

D．understand

15.

A．why

B．how

C．when

D．whether

16.

A．admire

B．refuse

C．accept

D．recognize

17.

A．hopeful

B．important

C．probable

D．different

18.

A．working

B．writing

C．relaxation

D．exploration

19.

A．find

B．carry

C．leave

D．produce

20.

A．great

B．impossible

C．reasonable

D．unnecessary

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的内容（一个单词）或括号中词语的正确形式。

I love reading. At age 6, I could be found reading Harry Potter, a difficult book for a 6-year-old but I     1    (enjoy) it all the same.     2     soon became obvious that spelling for me was not difficult and I had a wide vocabulary. This is one way I benefited     3     reading at such a young age.

My advice for you as English learners would be to read the English novels     4     you have often read in your native language. Reading novels is a great way of     5    (improve) your vocabulary and spelling without realising it as you are absorbed（全神贯注的）in the storyline. You know the sorry well, so its     6    (usual) easy to follow it in English even if you do not understand every word.

This is another essential（基本的）point: it’s not necessary     7    (understand) every word. If you understand the     8    (mean) of the sentence, each word is not necessarily important. Quite often, if a word is used several times in a text, you’ll gradually get an idea of     9     it means.

Give it a try. If you like reading yon could open up     10     whole new world of literature.

10 . In recent years, little free libraries of all shapes and sizes have popped up. Often built by community members, they could be found on street corners and the sidewalks across the United States, hoping to share their book collections with their neighbors. Minneapolis, Minnesota, even hosted the first Little Free Library Festival, where book fans came together to promote literacy (读写能力)in their communities.

For the most part, little free libraries have more in common with book sharing shelves in hotels, local parks, coffee shops and other public spaces than the traditional public library. Based on the rule of "take a book, leave a book," these little libraries can take many forms from birdhouse-like wooden structures to redesigned newspaper selling machines, Robert Wirsing writes for the Bronx Times.

The little free library organization began when a citizen of Hudson, Wisconsin, named Todd Bol built a little one-room schoolhouse, filled it with books and placed it in his front yard to honor his mother who passed away in 2009. Together with a local educator named Rick Brooks, the two began placing little free libraries across Wisconsin and sharing the idea with people across the country.

"Something we are eager for in this information age is that connection between people," Bol tells Margret Aldrich for Book Riot. "I want to show how Little Free Library is about readers inspiring readers. It goes on and on."

While Little Free Libraries seem like a harmless means to promote literacy by sharing books with neighbors, a few of the roadside landing libraries have caused minor legal problems. officials in Los Angeles and Shreveport, Louisiana, have told some citizens that their homemade libraries broke city roles and that they would have to remove them to avoid being fined.

Still, little free libraries have been well accepted by their commnunities. For anyone interested in making their own at home, the organization has posted helpful tips and guides for building the little book lending boxes in their neighborhoods.

1. What can we know about the little free libraries in America?

A．They are state-owned.

B．They are popular nationally.

C．They are set up to sell books.

D．They help those with no books to read.

2. What is a common character of little free libraries?

A．They lie in many public places.

B．They share a large collection of books.

C．They compete with traditional public libraries.

D．They exist mainly in the form of wooden houses.

3. What is Todd Bol's primary aim of building a library?

A．To remember his dead mother.

B．To help people form a habit of reading.

C．To set an example to other communities.

D．To share his knowledge, with other citizens.

4. What does Todd Bol think of the little free libraries?

A．They cause minor legal problems.

B．They should continue to exist.

C．They mean a lot to community members.

D．They should be supported by the government.