1 . By the end of the year, editors of New York Times have picked the 4 best books of 2019, including fiction and non-fiction. Let’s see which one will take your fancy.

Disappearing Earth

By Julia Phillips

In the first chapter of this novel, two young girls vanish, sending shock waves through a town on the edge of the remote and mysterious Kamchatka Peninsula. What follows is a novel of overlapping short stories about the different women who have been affected by their disappearance. Each tale pushes the narrative forward another month and exposes the ways in which the women of Kamchatka have been destroyed — personally, culturally and emotionally — by the crime.

No Visible Bruises

By Rachel Louise Snyder

Snyder’s thoroughly reported book covers what the World Health Organization has called “a global health problem”. In America alone, more than half of all murdered women are killed by a current or former life partner; domestic violence cuts across lines of class, religion and race. Snyder reveals pervasive myths (restraining orders are the answer, abusers never change) and writes movingly about the lives (and deaths) of people on both sides of the equation. She doesn’t give easy answers but presents a wealth of information that is its own form of hope.

Midnight in Chernobyl

By Adam Higginbotham

Higginbotham’s superb account of the April 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is one of those rare books about science and technology that read like a tension-filled thriller. Filled with vivid detail and sharply etched personalities, this narrative of astonishing incompetence moves from mistake to mistake, miscalculation to miscalculation, as it builds to the inevitable, history-changing disaster.

Exhalation

By Ted Chiang

Many of the nine deeply beautiful stories in this collection explore the material consequences of time travel. Reading them feels like sitting at dinner with a friend who explains scientific theory to you with no airs and graces. Each thoughtful, elegantly crafted story poses a philosophical question; Chiang arranges all nine into a conversation that comes full circle, after having travelled through remarkable areas.

1. Which of the following tells about the violence from a husband to a wife in a family?

A．Disappearing Earth	B．No Visible Bruises
C．Midnight in Chernobyl	D．Exhalation

2. How may readers feel when reading the book Midnight in Chernobyl?

A．Delighted.	B．Awkward.
C．Tense.	D．Calm.

3. What kind of book is Exhalation?

A．A folk tale.	B．A biography.
C．A love story.	D．A sci-fi story.

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。将答案填写在答题卡的相应位置。

What is a classic? It can     1    (put) in the following way: When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before: you see more in you than you did before.

A classic is a book that gives you wonderful feelings, and enables you to uncover part of the     2     (mean) of life. A classic is a book that has stood the test of time,     3     book that men and women all over the world want to keep all their lives. Not many books can stand such a test     4     (consider) all the books that have been produced, classics account for only a very small share of the total-less than 0. 001 percent. That is just a few thousand books. Under 100     5    those make up the solid core (核心).

You may ask     6     we should read the classics? I suggest three reasons: a classic opens your mind, helps you grow and helps you understand your life, your world, yourself. A classic can give you insights into yourself.     7     (certain), you can get pleasure out of almost any book. But a classic, once you go deep into it,     8     (lift) you up high! When you read classics, you'll find yourself     9     (inspire) by the thoughts and observations of the most gifted     10     (writer) in history.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的内容(不多于3个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone, which can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the texts. The more,     1     better. It can improve my language skills and also can help me to get good grades.

Before you start reading, ask     2    (you) why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main     3    (reason), pleasure or knowledge. Clearing about your reading purpose can not only help you choose the books you really need to read, but also remind you why reading the book is of great     4    (important) to you, so you will decide     5    (read) and finish the book faster.

No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy     6     you read. Your friends may tell you the books they are interested     7    , but those books might not be the ones you enjoy. Whenever you realize that you aren’t enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.

It is true to read the books that     8    (borrow) from libraries     9    (fast) than those I buy. The reason is that I don’t need to return those books I buy. Having a reading goal     10    (help) you work out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day. Before you read each book, you should know what time you need to complete this book by.

4 . Critical Reading

Critical reading applies to non-fiction writing in which the author puts forth a position or seeks to make a statement. Critical reading is active reading.     1     . Here are the things you should do to be a critical reader.

Consider the context of what is written.

You may be reading something that was written by an author from a different cultural context than yours. Or, you may be reading something written some time ago in a different time context than yours.     2    .

Question opinions made by the author.

Don't accept what is written at face value.     3     . Look for facts, examples, and statistics that provide support. Also, look to see if the author has involved the work of authorities.

    4    .

Assumptions are whatever the author must believe is true in order to propose opinions. However, in many cases, you must read carefully in order to identify any indirect assumption. Once you identify an assumption, you must decide whether or not the assumption is valid.

Evaluate the sources the author uses.

In doing this, be certain that the sources are credible as well as relevant.     5     . For example, studies done by Einstein in the early 20th century may not be appropriate if the writer is discussing the current state of knowledge in physics.

A．Analyze assumptions made by the author

B．What is written may very well reflect the author’s position

C．Before accepting it, be certain that the author provides abundant support for any view made

D．Look to see that what is written is consistent with what others have written about the subject

E．It involves questioning, evaluating and forming your own ideas about what the author is saying

F．Moreover, if the author is writing about a subject in its current state, be sure that the sources are current

G．In either case, you must take into account any differences between your values and attitudes and the author’s

5 .

Science for Kids This month’s most popular books.
1. Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky Price $25 We all know the story of Marie Curie and her many scientific achievements. But many other brilliant female scientists are far less well known. This book is a great introduction to the lives and works of some of the most important and up-to-now unknown women in science. Recommended for Ages: 12-15 【Order Now »】	Special Offer For this month only, all Besthooks Book Club members will pay 20% less for every book ordered. Join our club for free and save big money! Delivery We bring every book you order right to your door within three days. For Bestbooks Book Club members, this is free. Non-members must pay an extra $2 per book.
2. First Big Book of How by Jill Esbaum Price $15 An excellent book about sea life for young children. The book is divided into 4 parts, one for each of the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic oceans. It focuses on the different animals found in each of these seas, along with interesting facts and amazing pictures. Ages: 5-10 【Order Now »】
3. A Really Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson Price $15 Bill Bryson takes readers on a very funny and educational trip through the history of modern science-from its unexpected successes to its great failures and everything in between. Ages: 14 and over 【Order Now »】
4. National Geographic’s First Big Book of the World by Jan Carn. Price $20 This book is the perfect introduction to the seven continents. It tells young readers about the different animals that live on each of these lands and gives a simple descnption of the people’s history and culture. Ages: 5-12 【Order Now »】

1. How are the books on this webpage listed?

A．By price.	B．By popularity.
C．By reader’s age.	D．By writer’s name.

2. How much will a Bestbooks Book Club member pay in total if he orders First Big Book of How and A Really Short History of Nearly Everything today?

A．$24.	B．$26.
C．$30.	D．$34.

3. A primary school student who needs to write a science report about African elephants should choose ________.

A．Women In Science

B．First Big Book of How

C．A Really Short History of Nearly Everything

D．National Geo-graphic’s First Big Book of the World

4. What is the main purpose of this web page?

A．To sell books to young readers.

B．To attract new book club members.

C．To encourage students’ interest in science.

D．To review books young readers might like.

6 . I grew up in a house where the TV was seldom turned on. With one wall in my bedroom entirely ______ with bookshelves, most of my childhood was ______ on books I could get hold of. In fact, I grew up thinking of reading as ______ as breathing and books unbelievably powerful in ______ perspectives (观点) by creating worlds we could step into, take part in and live in.

With this ______ belief, I, at fourteen, decided to become a writer. Here too, reading became ________. Every writer starts off ______ that he has something to say, but being unable to find the _______ ways to say it. He has to find his own voice by reading widely and ______ which parts of the writers he agrees or disagrees with, or agrees with so strongly that it ______ his own world. He cannot write without loving to read, ______ only through reading other people’s writing can one discover what works, what doesn’t and, in the end, together with lots of practice, what voice he has.

Now I am in college, and have come to realize how ______ it is to read fiction (文学作品)．As a law student, my reading is in fact ______ to subject matter—the volume of what I have to read for classes every week ______ there is little time to read anything else. Such reading made it all the ______ to me that I live in a very small part in this great place called ______. Reading fiction ______ me that there is life beyond my own. It allows me to travel ______ the high seas and along the Silk Road, all from the ______ of my own armchair, to experience, though secondhand, exciting experiences that I wouldn’t   ______ be able to have in my lifetime.

1.

A．packed

B．lined

C．filled

D．crowded

2.

A．cost

B．paid

C．charged

D．spent

3.

A．natural

B．normal

C．free

D．difficult

4.

A．shaping

B．creating

C．building

D．destroying

5.

A．unbelievable

B．undeniable

C．unshakable

D．understandable

6.

A．funny

B．useful

C．useless

D．meaningless

7.

A．thinking

B．supposing

C．doubting

D．knowing

8.

A．safe

B．real

C．interesting

D．right

9.

A．discussing

B．disapproving

C．discovering

D．dismissing

10.

A．reshapes

B．repeats

C．recreates

D．returns

11.

A．although

B．because

C．but

D．when

12.

A．boring

B．important

C．difficult

D．serious

13.

A．devoted

B．connected

C．linked

D．limited

14.

A．proves

B．infers

C．means

D．tells

15.

A．clearer

B．prouder

C．harder

D．happier

16.

A．college

B．heaven

C．life

D．journey

17.

A．warns

B．reminds

C．informs

D．encourages

18.

A．through

B．over

C．across

D．past

19.

A．comfort

B．height

C．handle

D．length

20.

A．excitedly

B．hopefully

C．carefully

D．necessarily

7 . One day when I was 12, my mother gave me an order: I was to walk to the public library, and borrow at least one book for the summer. This was one more weapon for her to ______my strange problem—inability to ______. In the library, I found my way into the “Children’s Room.” I sat down on the floor and pulled a few books off the ______ at random. The cover of a book _____ my eye. It ______ a picture of a beagle(小猎兔狗). I had recently had a beagle, the first and only animal companion I ever had as a child. He was my secret sharer, but one morning, he was gone, _____ to someone who had the space and the money to care for him. I never forgot my beagle.

There on the book’s cover was a beagle which looked _____ to my dog. I ran my fingers ______ the picture of the dog on the cover. My eyes ran across the title, Amos, the Beagle with a Plan. ______, I had read the title. Without opening the book, I borrowed it from the library for the summer.

Under the shade of a bush, I started to read about Amos. I read very, very slowly with difficulty. ______ pages were turned slowly, I got the main idea of the story about a dog who, like mine, had been ______ from his family and who finally found his way back home. That dog was my dog, and I was the little boy in the book. At the end of the story, my mind continued the final _____ of reunion, on and on, until my own lost dog and I were, in my mind, running together. My mother’s call returned me to the ______ world. Something ______ me: I had read a book, and I had loved reading that book. Everyone knew I could not read. But I had read it. Books could be incredibly _____ and I was going to read them. I never told my mother about my “miraculous” (奇迹般的) ______ that summer, but she saw a slow but remarkable ______ in my classroom performance during the next year. And years later, she was ______ that her son had read thousands of books, was ______ a PhD in literature, and authored his own books, articles, poetry and fiction. The power of the ______ has held.

1.

A．compose

B．ban

C．defeat

D．cause

2.

A．speak

B．read

C．write

D．play

3.

A．shelf

B．floor

C．window

D．shell

4.

A．distracted

B．caught

C．paid

D．raised

5.

A．recognized

B．reviewed

C．presented

D．took

6.

A．washed away

B．given off

C．broken off

D．given away

7.

A．likely

B．different

C．similar

D．opposite

8.

A．out

B．behind

C．off

D．over

9.

A．Historically

B．Hopefully

C．Occasionally

D．Unknowingly

10.

A．Though

B．Since

C．When

D．Before

11.

A．differed

B．separated

C．broken

D．connected

12.

A．setting

B．channel

C．scenery

D．scene

13.

A．real

B．fairy

C．false

D．beautiful

14.

A．occurred

B．happened

C．hit

D．took

15.

A．wonderful

B．delighted

C．boring

D．regretful

16.

A．goal

B．training

C．opinion

D．experience

17.

A．procedure

B．improvement

C．recovery

D．speed

18.

A．confused

B．proud

C．fortunate

D．fond

19.

A．awarded

B．taught

C．refused

D．updated

20.

A．sound

B．saying

C．words

D．observation

8 . Almost none of us have the time to read everything we’d like to read. Yet we lose countless hours to daily activities that bring us little joy like taking buses and waiting in line. What if we could turn these little blocks of unoccupied time into precious and rewarding moments for learning and reflection?

Founded in 2012, iReader, a micro-learning app on mobile phones, brings the biggest ideas from best-selling books through 15-minute audio (音频) and text. So far, more than 3,000 books have been included, ranging from psychology and parenting to management and economics, with new titles added every day.

Reader is pioneering a new method of reading, with over 9 million users enjoying the benefits already. According to the Pew Research Center (PRC), the British read just 4 paper books a year and over 25% haven’t read a single paper book this year, but reading isn’t dying. There are now more ways for the British to read than ever before, due to the widespread use of e-books and audio books.

The books in iReader are rewritten to ensure it is easy to remember the main content. The way the content is edited has been specifically designed to ensure it is useful in practice. Besides, the content is rewritten with relevant examples in real life, which means users are more likely to remember and apply what is helpful to them.

Holger Seim, German co-founder of this app, declares, “iReader gives you the biggest ideas in the shortest possible time. It transforms great ideas into little packs you can listen to or read in just 15 minutes.”

1. What does the author suggest people do in the unoccupied time?

A．Read and think.

B．Write and share.

C．Avoid taking buses.

D．Bring joy to daily routines.

2. What can we infer from the PRC findings?

A．The British benefit a lot from reading.

B．Reading methods are more important than before.

C．Digital technology are taking the place of paper books.

D．New forms of books are changing the way the British read.

3. How does iReader make the content easy to remember?

A．By bringing fun to it.

B．By making it useful.

C．By using artistic designs.

D．By taking users as examples.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．iReader Prevents Reading from Dying

B．iReader Unites Worldwide Book-lovers

C．iReader: The Best New App Creation

D．iReader: Big Ideas in Small Packages

9 . The following list includes some books that come highly recommended by millions of readers and also a short summary of the highlights of each work.

The Go-Giver, by Bob Burg and John David Man

I didn't even expect that such a short book could make a huge difference in my way towards life.It simply explains complex laws that direct mankind, and concludes that there is always truth in the opposite.

Dao De Jing, by Laozi

Dao De Jing is one of the finest books on philosophy written by Laozi, an ancient Chinese philosopher and poet. It is sincere, exciting and makes you think a lot. Read it and get in touch with the clear educative understandings that give you enough tips to pursue your life goal full of passion.

The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D. Wattles

I had my own misunderstandings of getting rich till I read this book. The book made a huge difference to my life after I discovered the secrets mentioned. Read it and it teaches you how to .become rich, not immediately, but step by step.

The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

I never knew habits played such an important role in shaping our future until I read this book. It says, you are what your habits are, and also suggests the proven techniques to create new habits that change our lifestyles and eventually our lives. It is a must-read for everyone who wishes to form lifetime habits.

The Road Less Travelled, by Scott Peck

Simply put. Buy this book for the path towards understanding in a spiritual way that strengthens your personal growth. This book never gives you easy solutions to the challenges of life. It simply is part of life and leaves you with better understanding to lead a fulfilled life.

1. Who can tell you the secrets of becoming rich?

A．Wallace D. Wattles.	B．Bob Burg and John David Mann.
C．Laozi.	D．Charles Duhigg.

2. Which of the following ideas may Scott Peck agree with?

A．Habits can shape our future.

B．There is always truth in the opposite.

C．We should find easy solutions to challenges.

D．Difficulty is often part of personal growth.

3. What can we know about the books mentioned above?

A．They are all easily written.

B．They are all popular books.

C．All their writers are foreigners.

D．All the books are about life goals.

10 . My brother Gene was four years older than me. By the time I turned four, I was upset that he could read but I couldn’t. I burned with ______ to read a book like my brother. I begged: “Teach me to read, Mom! Please, please?!” Finally, Mom set aside time after lunch ______ reading lessons, and soon after my fifth birthday, I was reading.

I longed for my father, who was a great storyteller, to read me the books that I couldn’t yet read on my own. But my father worked three jobs to feed the family. He didn’t have the time or ______ in the evening to read to me.       ____, every Sunday morning, my brother and I lay next to him in bed, waiting for him to tell stories about his   ____. I can still hear my father’s voice ______ the cold winters on the family farm in Poland. His family didn’t have enough money to burn wood in the fireplace all night. He told us that he always volunteered to help with ______. I can smell the soup made by my grandma and ______ my father cutting onions, carrots and tomatoes for salad, and when no one was looking, putting a piece into his mouth. “I was always ______,” he explained. Hearing my father’s stories   ______ me closer to the books and the stories they held.

One Saturday afternoon when I was seven, we walked two blocks to the small ______ in our neighborhood, and my dad filled out forms for a card. That Saturday ______ my life: I met Mrs. Schwartz, the librarian, and my dad said, “You’re ______ enough to walk to the library yourself.” And so I did—almost every afternoon.

In my mind, Mrs. Schwartz was “the keeper of books and the guardian of stories.” Some days she read aloud to a small group of us ______. Most of time, Mrs. Schwartz let me ______ myself with books I pulled from the shelves and look through them to see which ones I’d ______ out. I remember that sometimes she’d ______ a book and tell me a part of the story. But she always let me choose. Books became my ______ who were my comfort when I felt lonely.

Yes, reading changed me. It gave me the _____ to study hard so I could become a teacher, and share my _____   of reading with my students. And inside my head, I can still hear the voices of my mother, father, and Mrs. Schwartz, which are with me every time I open the first page of a new book.

1.

A．anger

B．desire

C．worry

D．interest

2.

A．until

B．before

C．in

D．for

3.

A．energy

B．ambition

C．courage

D．ability

4.

A．Finally

B．Then

C．Therefore

D．Still

5.

A．workplace

B．farmland

C．childhood

D．neighborhood

6.

A．explaining

B．introducing

C．describing

D．interpreting

7.

A．cooking

B．reading

C．farming

D．living

8.

A．picture

B．discover

C．notice

D．catch

9.

A．busy

B．hungry

C．poor

D．tired

10.

A．laid

B．taught

C．drew

D．left

11.

A．club

B．bookstore

C．office

D．library

12.

A．saved

B．tested

C．changed

D．controlled

13.

A．near

B．old

C．ready

D．free

14.

A．graduates

B．candidates

C．regulars

D．communicators

15.

A．reward

B．familiarize

C．examine

D．surround

16.

A．find

B．check

C．lend

D．sign

17.

A．write

B．study

C．recommend

D．reserve

18.

A．companions

B．assistants

C．listeners

D．teachers

19.

A．chance

B．dream

C．order

D．drive

20.

A．lesson

B．love

C．time

D．plan