1 . 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.

2 . Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”

The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.” The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless!”

“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.

“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”

1. What puzzled the grandson most was _________.

A．why he forgot what he read soon	B．whether it was useful to read books
C．what kind of book he could understand	D．how he could read books like his grandpa

2. Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water?

A．To get him to realize the use of reading books.	B．To punish him for not reading carefully.
C．To clean the dirty basket in the river.	D．To train him to run faster.

3. What lesson can we learn from the story?

A．The old are always wiser than the young.	B．It is foolish to carry water with a basket.
C．You can’t expect to remember all you read.	D．Reading books can change a person gradually.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Grandpa and Grandson	B．Carrying Water in a Basket
C．Baskets and Books	D．Reading for Total Changing

3 . How to Pick a Great Book to Read

The world is full of great books，just waiting to be read.How can you pick one you'll really like? Here are some tips:

What makes you happy?

    1    Are you really into dinosaurs or dogs or a specific person? Are there a few careers you're interested in? You can find books about almost anything you like，and you're more likely to enjoy reading a book if you're already interested in its subject.

Fact or fiction?

Some books are entirely made up and imagined.Those are called fiction books.Novels，short stories are all examples of fiction.These books can transport you to another world or help you imagine something beyond your own experience.

Non－fiction books give you the who，what，when and why.    2    Non－fiction books can bring everything to life from the first trip to the moon to what it's like to explore the deepest oceans.Try both fiction and non－fiction books to see which you like better.

Find a family favorite.

What was your mother's favorite book when she was your age? Or your dad's？    3    Then you can talk about what they liked about it and share your thoughts.It's a fun way to get to know your family a little better，and to find a book you'll enjoy!

Ask an expert.

    4    Tell a librarian about your interests—rock stars，sports teams，historical events，whatever you're into—and the names of some books you already like.Your librarian can help you find other books that you're sure to love.

Launch a book swap.

    5    It's always fun to see what your friends are reading.Even if they're not exactly bookworms，you can all encourage each other to read and share books and authors you like.You also can look for book swaps in your area.It's a great way to build your personal library for free!

A．Ask them and give it a read.

B．Many of them read novels from start to finish.

C．Why not get some friends together and trade favorite books?

D．If you have a favorite hobby，look for books about that activity.

E．They tell stories using facts—but that doesn't mean they're boring.

F．Read the passage and decide for yourself whether it seems knowledgeable.

G．Your local library is a great place to find books that you'll love，and you don't have to search all by yourself.

4 . A good book can be satisfying. If reading is a habit you’d like to get into, there are some ways to develop it.

●Realize that reading is enjoyable if you have a good book. If you have a difficult book and you are forcing yourself through it, it will seem like a task.     1    

●Set time. You should have some time during every day when you’ll read for at least 5 to 10 minutes.    2     For example, make it a habit to read during breakfast and lunch and even dinner if you eat alone.

●Always carry a book.     3    When I leave the house, I always make sure to have my car keys and one book at hand. The book stays with me in the car, and I take it into the office and to appointments and pretty much everywhere I go.

●    4    Find a place in your home where you can sit in a comfortable chair. Don’t lie down unless you’re going to sleep. There shouldn’t be a television or a computer near the chair, and no music or no noisy family members/ roommates. If you don’t have a place like this, create one.

●Reduce television/ the Internet. If you really want to read more, try cutting back on time on TV or the Internet.     5    Still, every minute you reduce of the Internet/ TV, you could use for reading. This could create hours of book reading time.

A．Go to bookstores.

B．Find a quiet place.

C．This may be difficult for some people.

D．Wherever you go, take a book with you.

E．Have some good tea or coffee while you read.

F．It means you will read no matter how busy you are.

G．If this happens, give up the book and find another one that you’ll really love.