1 . As we close out the final days of this year, treat yourself to a deliciously distracting new book —a book that you can dip into and out of throughout the holidays. Read up, rest up, and enjoy yourself.
Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and beyond
A must-have guide for yoga-loving mamas, Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond offers helpful relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that are tailored to each pregnant woman. The book also lays out valuable techniques for labor and staying in touch with your body as it continuously changes.
Mindfulness Activities for Kids
We could all use a little more peace in our lives. Uniquely suited for children and parents to do together, the 40 mindfulness exercises recommended here —from pausing to fully enjoy a tasty sandwich to taking chalk walk together—will not only teach children calm and gratitude, but also bring grown-ups and their littles closer together.
Before She Disappeared
Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic who devotes her time to solving cold cases, especially those involving people of color. A new investigation brings her to Boston, searching for a Haitian teenager who disappeared months ago. But as Frankie starts asking questions, someone else will stop at nothing to keep the answers hidden.
Oak Flat
Lauren Redniss’ Oak Flat tells the story of the land near the San Carlos Apache Reservation through an Apache family fighting to protect the land which the U. S. government and two world-power mining enterprises are attempting to seize and destroy for its copper resources. Visually striking and deeply reported, Oak Flat tells a larger story of endless westward expansion and native resistance.
1. Which book can help to improve family relations?| A．Oak Flat. |
| B．Before She Disappeared. |
| C．Mindfulness Activities for Kids. |
| D．Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond. |
| A．It’s a brief account of mining enterprises. |
| B．It centers on an Apache family’s struggle. |
| C．It sings high praise of the US government. |
| D．It supports westward expansion and native resistance. |
| A．Teenagers. | B．Men. | C．Kids. | D．Grown-ups. |
1. What does Tony have in his hand?
| A．Lots of books. | B．A book review. | C．A reading list. |
| A．Teacher and student. | B．Reader and librarian. | C．Friends. |
| A．A Song of Ice and Fire. | B．Thirteen Reasons Why. | C．First Test. |
| A．The man needs to finish the book. |
| B．The book is boring. |
| C．The man should check with his professor. |
4 . Books open doors in our minds, allowing us to live an entire lifetime and travel the world without even leaving the comfort of our chairs. Here are 4 books you should read at least once in your life.
Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry
This novel tells the story of Annemarie Yohansen, a Danish girl growing up in World War Ⅱ with her best friend, Ellen, a Jewish. She and her family protected Ellen and her parents from the Nazis. Lowry’s novel is a reminder that cultural and religious differences are no divide between true friends.
The Little Prince
by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry
The most-translated book in the French Language, the Little Prince, is the story of a little boy who falls to Earth from an Asteroid (小行星) to try to understand mankind. In his travels he meets a series of strange and delightful characters. It is a heartwarming story of the power of friendship and trust.
The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner is the story of the unlikely and complicated friendship between Amir, the son of a wealthy merchant, and Hassan, the son of his father’s servant until the war separates them. It’s a story about the enduring love of friendship, and the power of forgiveness.
The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
The story recounts the experiences of Hazel, a teenager with cancer, and the experiences of the other teens in her cancer support group. Green captures the struggles of terminal illness with tenderness, reminding us that love, friendship, and faith go beyond all.
1. Which book is set in the second World War?| A．The Little Prince. | B．Number the Stars. |
| C．The Kite Runner. | D．The Fault in Our Stars. |
| A．They are all related to friendship. | B．They are all translated into French. |
| C．They are all based on real experiences. | D．They are all told through children’s view. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a magazine. | D．In a history book. |
5 . There are always some persons in your life who touch your soft heart with kindness.
As a little girl, my favorite thing was
At that time, the town library limited the number of books a person borrowed
Gradually, I developed an interest in writing,
Later, at the University of Iowa,
Whenever I think of the help from them, how
| A．reading | B．painting | C．exploring | D．creating |
| A．how | B．why | C．where | D．what |
| A．of | B．to | C．from | D．between |
| A．published | B．edited | C．presented | D．finished |
| A．in the lead | B．in panic | C．at a loss | D．on the rocks |
| A．shouting | B．smiling | C．crying | D．dancing |
| A．exchanged | B．recommend | C．designed | D．adapted |
| A．reflected | B．devoted | C．expected | D．benefited |
| A．extremely | B．fortunately | C．especially | D．slightly |
| A．inspired | B．challenged | C．contented | D．tricked |
| A．admit | B．send | C．revise | D．settle |
| A．although | B．because | C．when | D．since |
| A．relaxed | B．satisfied | C．impressed | D．upset |
| A．hesitation | B．tension | C．exception | D．argument |
| A．concerned | B．relieved | C．grateful | D．regretful |
6 . Reading can be a social activity. Think of the people who belong to book groups. They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. Now, the website BookCrossing.com turns the page on the traditional idea of a book group.
Members go on the site and register (登记) the books they own and would like to share. BookCrossing provides an ID number to stick inside the book. Then the person leaves it in a public place, hoping that the book will have an adventure, traveling far and wide with each new reader who finds it.
Bruce Pederson, the managing director of BookCrossing, says, “The two things that change your life are the people you meet and books you read. BookCrossing combines both.”
Members leave books on park benches and buses, in train stations and coffee shops. Whoever finds their book will go to the site and record where they found it.
People who find a book can also leave a journal entry describing what they thought of it. Emails are then sent to the BookCrossers to keep them updated (及时了解) about where their books have been found. Bruce Pederson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.
BookCrossing is part of a trend (趋势) among people who want to get back to the “real” and not the virtual (虚拟). The site now has more than one million members in more than 135 countries.
1. Why does the author mention book groups in the first paragraph?| A．To explain what they are. | B．To introduce BookCrossing. |
| C．To stress the importance of reading. | D．To encourage readers to share their ideas. |
| A．The book. | B．An adventure. | C．A public place. | D．The ID number. |
| A．Meet other readers to discuss it. | B．Keep it safe in his bookcase. |
| C．Pass it on to another reader. | D．Mail it back to its owner. |
| A．A new reading habit | B．A social activity of exchanging books |
| C．A new trend of online reading | D．A website that connects people through books |
7 . When I was young, I was a terrible student. I didn’t
Each Christmas, I would get a package from Grandmother. “Another
Although I was not interested in
During my second term in college, I
I
| A．like | B．avoid | C．stop | D．suggest |
| A．phone | B．bag | C．book | D．toy |
| A．look for | B．break down | C．play with | D．clean up |
| A．Suddenly | B．Gradually | C．Curiously | D．Finally |
| A．memorize | B．sell | C．improve | D．publish |
| A．children | B．Christmas | C．school | D．gifts |
| A．provided | B．filled | C．left | D．helped |
| A．slept | B．sat | C．waited | D．spoke |
| A．received | B．asked | C．showed | D．wanted |
| A．rest | B．explain | C．cry | D．travel |
| A．agree | B．hope | C．afford | D．happen |
| A．tell | B．give | C．read | D．lend |
| A．forgot | B．needed | C．repeated | D．doubted |
| A．hurried | B．pretended | C．continued | D．refused |
| A．teacher | B．writer | C．manager | D．doctor |
8 . If you’ve reached the end of the year feeling as though you didn’t read enough, we’ve got you. Here are some of the best books of the year according to notable artists, image-makers and other cultural taste makers.
Emily Ratajkowski, model: Ghost Lover’“This collection of nine short stories probes into many of the same themes in Lisa Taddeo’s beloved ‘Three Women’, but discusses them in a sharper, more disagreeable way. She ruthlessly explores jealousy relationships between women, aging, revenge and, of course, desire. Taddeo never lets you come up for air -- making you laugh while simultaneously horrifying you all when you least expect it.”
Hans UIrich Obrist, artistic director: ‘I Always Knew’“This is a portrait of artist and writer Barbara Chase-Riboud, through the letters she wrote to her mother, Vivian Mae, between 1957 and 1991. In this remarkable title, Barbara Chase-Riboud tells her mother about her development as an artist, her love stories, and her trips around the globe, from Africa to China. In these memoirs (回忆录), Chase-Riboud frankly and passionately describes her aspirations, her ambitions and creative inspiration，while also showcasing love and tenderness to her mother.”
Avan Jogia, actor and director: ‘Who is Wellness For?’“‘Who is Wellness For?’ is a book that works as part social observation and part memoir. It explores the commercialization of healing and ritual and asks questions about the industry of wellness I found the read insightful, thoughtful, and unafraid. Wellness isn’t for anyone if it’s not for everyone.”
1. What sets “Ghost Lover” apart from “Three Women”?| A．The focus on themes. | B．The setting of stories. |
| C．The structure of books. | D．The tone of narration. |
| A．Barbara Chase-Riboud. | B．Hans Ulrich Obrist |
| C．Vivian Mae. | D．Avan Jogia. |
| A．They bring laughter to readers. | B．They share the same writing type |
| C．They center on the theme of love | D．They stand out as the best reads of the year. |
9 . Reading can be a social activity. Think of the people who belong to book groups. They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. Now, the website Book Crossing.com turns the page on the traditional idea of a book group.
Members go on the site and register (登记) the books they own and would like to share. Book Crossing provides an identification number (识别码) to stick inside the book. Then the person leaves it in a public place, hoping that the book will have an adventure, traveling far and wide with each new reader who finds it.
Bruce Pederson, the managing director of Book Crossing, says, “The two things that change your life are the people you meet and books you read. Book Crossing combines both.”
Members leave books on park benches and buses, in train stations and coffee shops. Whoever finds their book will go to the site and record where they found it.
People who find a book can also leave a journal entry describing what they thought of it. E— mails are then sent to the BookCrossers to keep them updated about where their books have been found. Bruce Pederson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.
Book Crossing is part of a trend (趋势) among people who want to get back to the “real” and not the virtual (虚拟).The site now has more than one million members in more than one hundred thirty—five countries.
1. Why does the author mention book groups in the first paragraph?| A．To explain what they are. | B．To introduce Book Crossing. |
| C．To stress the importance of reading. | D．To encourage readers to share their ideas. |
| A．An adventure. | B．A public place. |
| C．The book. | D．The identification number. |
| A．Keep it safe in his bookcase. | B．Mail it back to its owner. |
| C．Meet other readers to discuss it. | D．Pass it on to another reader. |
| A．Online Reading: A Virtual Tour | B．Electronic Books: A New Trend |
| C．A Book Group Brings Tradition Back | D．A Website Links People through Books |
10 . Books teach us about truth , science , literature , friendship and the value of love and caring. Here are 4 books you should read at least once in your life.
1. Charlotte’s web by E.B. White
Charlotte’s web is a novel about a pig named wilbur and a spider named Charlotte written by American author E.B. white. It first came out in 1952, with illustrations by Garth Williams. Alive-action film version was published in 2006. White’s novel is a lesson for children and a reminder for adults of the beauty of nature and the importance of respecting every creature on this earth.
2. The Little prince by Antoine De saint-Exupery
The most-translated book in French, The Little prince is the story of a little boy who falls to Earth from a minor planet to try to understand mankind. In his travels he meets a series of strange and delightful characters. It is a fable about the foolishness of man and man’s tendency toward self-destruction, as well as the transformative power of friendship and trust.
3. The kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The kite Runneris is the story of the unlikely and complicated friendship between Amir, the son of a wealthy merchant, and Hassan, the son of his father’s servant. Hosseini brings his homeland to life for us, showing us a world of ordinary people, the enduring love of friendship, and the power of forgiveness.
4. Required Reading for All Teenagers by Douglas pagels
Much-loved for its mix of heartfelt thoughts, Required Reading for All Teenagers combines the words of Douglas pagels with the writings of famous people from the fields of sports. Now in are designed version, it is a better-than-ever source that gives parents some solid advice on parenting teenagers.
1. What do we know about charlotte’s web?| A．It was once adapted for a film. | B．It was illustrated by E.B. white. |
| C．It was originally released in 2006. | D．It was specially designed for kids. |
| A．Animals. | B．Friendship. | C．Forgiveness. | D．Celebrities. |
| A．Charlotte’s web. | B．The Little prince. |
| C．The kite Runner. | D．Required Reading for All Teenagers. |
