1 . Popular Self-Help Books
Want to be happier, healthier and more successful? Here are four popular self-help books to get you going.
How to Win Friends & Influence People —by Dale Carnegie
This is the book that started the self-help type. Carnegie says financial success is 15% professional knowledge and 85% ‘‘the ability to express ideas and inspire people’’. Here are a couple of his top tips: Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers; talk about your own mistakes before blaming the other person.
Who Moved My Cheese? —by Spencer Johnson
This book is about how to adapt to (适应) change in your life. It’s a story about two mice and two ‘‘little people’’(who represent humans). They all live in a maze (迷宫) and spend their days eating cheese. But one day they discover that their regular supply of cheese has disappeared. The mice immediately start searching the maze for more cheese but the two ‘‘little people’’ get angry. Finally, one of the ‘‘little people’’ accepts the situation and decides to look for a new cheese supply.
The Millionaire Next Door —by Thomas Stanley
The author of this book spent years interviewing American millionaires to figure out the secrets of their success. And he discovered that most millionaires don’t live a life in an expensive way. They’re rich because they live below their means and reinvest what they earn.
59 Seconds — by Richard Wiseman
This is a self-help book with a difference. Wiseman, a scientist, says 59 Seconds is about the ‘‘science of self-help’’. And he uses science to show many self-help ideas are false. Other tips in the book are: If you want to eat more healthily, hang a mirror in your kitchen. This can reduce unhealthy eating by 35%. If you want to be more creative, put a plant on your desk.
1. What is special about How to Win Friends & Influence People?| A．It talks about human’s behavior. |
| B．It was one of the first self-help books. |
| C．It was written after interviewing millionaires. |
| D．It speaks highly of the importance of sharing ideas. |
| A．59 Seconds. | B．Who Moved My Cheese? |
| C．The Millionaire Next Door. | D．How to Win Friends & Influence People. |
| A．Dale Carnegie’s. | B．Spencer Johnson’s. |
| C．Thomas Stanley’s. | D．Richard Wiseman’s. |
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,
Before you start reading, ask
No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy
It is true to read the books that
3 . To develop one’s taste in English, the most effective way is to read English books widely. Yet one may be at a loss to choose the proper books, especially as a beginner. As a native Spanish, I would like to share some of my reading experience.
My first English novel was Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, recommended by many English teachers and professors as an ideal book for English learners. But my experience was somewhat horrible. I had great difficulty in understanding the novel, let alone enjoying it. It’s not the vocabulary that troubled me, but rather the way Austen constructs sentences, and her way of thinking, which seemed rather unfamiliar to me at that time. My fading enthusiasm was much recovered after reading Hemingway’s novel-A Farewell to Arms. No long and puzzling sentences. And I particularly liked his brief style. So my first suggestion is, as a beginner, you’d better choose modern novels instead of classical ones.
However, if you limit yourself to novels, you will miss a lot of treasures. Besides, English essays also play a key role. They can at once inform you, entertain you, and improve your taste in English. The best example is Bertrand Russell’s work. Its language is plain, yet you cannot help feeling the elegance and the special sense of humor. His simple language enables his philosophy within the reach of ordinary people. Therefore, here comes my second suggestion-essays are also vital.
Never follow others’ recommendations and opinions blindly, however famous or influential the person might be. We should be open to various ideas, but always think independently and determine for ourselves. As a saying goes, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. With that in mind, we are bound to find out our favorite writers through reading and develop our fine taste in English.
1. What made the first English novel that the author read hard to understand?| A．Difficult conversations. |
| B．The old-fashioned vocabulary. |
| C．Not knowing the social background. |
| D．Sentences and Austen’s way of thinking. |
| A．Important. | B．Challenging. |
| C．Typical. | D．Convenient. |
| A．Compare books before buying. |
| B．Read books that are influential. |
| C．Don’t blindly follow others’ choices. |
| D．Choose books that challenge us most. |
| A．Give comments on literature works. |
| B．Tell beginners how to choose English books. |
| C．Encourage people to read more English books. |
| D．Recommend first class books to English learners. |
4 . Every child in Montana will have a chance to get free books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which is in partnership with the state’s first lady, Susan Gianforte.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program to improve childhood literacy and a love for reading. The program provides free age-appropriate (与年龄相符的) books to children from birth to age five, regardless of the money their family makes. By providing free books and improving early reading ability, the program hopes to improve educational outcomes and create a foundation (基础) for a lifelong love of learning in young children.
“I’m so excited to be starting my Imagination Library widely in Montana!” said Parton. “I want to send my very special thanks to first lady Susan Gianforte for her partnership in making this amazing gift available (可获得的) to children and families across the state.”
Parton’s Imagination Library will provide a free book each month to any Montana child, ages 0 to 5 years old, who is registered with the organization.
“The ability of reading and writing helps the kids a lot with their development. When parents read to their kids or when the kids read alone, books attract them, fire their imagination, and spark their curiosity,” Gianforte said.
1. What does the underlined word “literacy” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．The idea of sharing. |
| B．The habit of listening. |
| C．The skill of solving problems |
| D．The ability of reading and writing. |
| A．By selling books statewide. |
| B．By working together with Gianforte. |
| C．By improving their early reading ability. |
| D．By organizing learning activities for their parents. |
| A．4. | B．6. | C．7. | D．8. |
| A．It’s costly. | B．It’s important. | C．It’s difficult. | D．It’s doubtful. |
5 . 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. |
6 . Anxieties (忧虑) about children and reading are not unusual, but news that fewer than half of those aged between 8 and 18 admit to actually enjoying it — the lowest level since 2005 — should raise a red flag. The survey, conducted by the National Literacy Trust ahead of World Book Day last Thursday, also showed a worrying picture of growing inequality.
10% of 3,000 parents interviewed across the UK said they were too stressed to read to their child because of economic pressures. And the percentage doubled among those who described themselves as struggling with financial problems. However, the sales data for the last year, released by an organization called Nielsen BookScan, showed a 15% increase in the overall number of children’s books sold compared with 2019. If poorer families are spending less of the money invested in children’s reading, it follows that richer families must be investing more.
Therefore, what is to be done? At a time of financial stress, libraries have a key role to play. A positive sign that they are doing so came with borrowing figures for last year. Libraries are where children of all ages go to choose books for themselves, different from bookshops, which is always influenced by parents’ budgets and tastes.
This is why the libraries are such an important part of the reading ecology. However, libraries have long been in the frontline (前线) of cuts to public services, especially libraries in schools. While prisons in the UK have libraries, primary schools are not. The result, according to one survey, is that 14% of kids have no library space at all. This disadvantage is more serious in the north of England, where children’s reading scores are lower.
As Children’s Prize winner in 2021, the author Cressida Cowell wrote an open letter to the prime minister, Boris Johnson, calling for an annual investment of £100 million a year in primary school libraries. Her demand should be taken seriously, as it directly meets the needs of children most badly affected by the cost of living crisis.
1. Which statement does the author probably agree with?| A．Families with financial problems are on the increase. |
| B．Family income influences children’s chance of reading. |
| C．Children are not willing to read because of study pressure. |
| D．Some UK parents can’t afford the time to read books for children. |
| A．They tend to reflect parents’ tastes. |
| B．They exist in every prison and school. |
| C．They have already got enough financial support. |
| D．They promote equality in children’s reading to some extent. |
| A．It satisfies all citizens. | B．It will be taken into account. |
| C．It offers reasonable advice. | D．It will solve the problem of inequality. |
| A．Reading: a Mirror of Economy. | B．Children’s Reading: a Gift for All. |
| C．Libraries: the Key to Reading Ability. | D．An Interview: Poor Families Are in Need. |
7 . Classic Books
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published almost a century ago in 1925, the story of the striving Jay Gatsby is still deeply influential in its exploration of class, society, and the false promise that money can buy happiness. Gatsby’s misguided chase for his first love is a sad tale that spans the ages. At the time, the book was considered a commercial failure, but you’d be hard to find a high school course today that didn’t include it.
Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger
Written in 1951, Catcher in the Rye brilliantly describes the lonely teen experience of having to grow up and leave the tenderness and innocence(纯真)of childhood behind. Though young adult fiction didn’t exist in its current form when J.D. Salinger wrote the novel, it’s considered one of the first teen books and constantly appears on high school reading lists.
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Written in 1818, this classic from Mary Shelley tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein and the monster(怪物) he creates. The themes of creation and responsibility the book explores still exist today, as technology and science produce more possibilities and power than ever before.
Little Women
Louis May Alcott
The story of the March sisters is a true American classic, and one of the most popular books written by a woman. Published in 1868 and set in the time of the Civil War, the book is popular because of its description of strong women and sisterly love. Not only is the novel a classic, but its film adaptations (of which there have been many) became classics in their own right.
1. What do the first two books have in common?| A．They belong to children’s books. | B．They explore the theme of love. |
| C．They are read in high school. | D．They are based on students’ stories. |
| A．It reflects present subjects. | B．It is connected with science. |
| C．It produces more possibilities. | D．It is about Mary Shelley’s story. |
| A．The Great Gatsby. | B．Catcher in the Rye |
| C．Frankenstein. | D．Little Women. |
8 . For many kids, reading doesn’t come easily. For parents, they can read with their kids often, and trying these simple ways can help their kids become excited about reading.
Read and reread.
Read aloud. Reading aloud to kids helps them build their vocabulary, introduces new facts and ideas, and helps them connect sounds with letters on the page. By reading with kids, parents also show they enjoy reading for fun themselves!
Create opportunities to read and write beyond the pages. It is necessary for parents to provide kids with many chances to read every day. Parents can write notes and leave them on children’s pillows, in a lunchbox or in a pocket. Parents can also ask friends and relatives to send postcards, letters, emails or text messages.
Get help if parents are worried. If parents are concerned about their children’s abilities or willingness to read, they can get help.
| A．Start with kids’ choices. |
| B．Reading aloud is not difficult for kids. |
| C．Parents should pick their own favorite readings. |
| D．Many kids reach for the same books again and again. |
| E．Parents had better talk to their children’s doctors or teachers. |
| F．Reading aloud provides time for parents and kids to enjoy together. |
| G．Besides, parents can leave some special letters and words on the fridge. |
A book club can be an enriching, satisfying way
Davina Morgan-Witts, a book club expert at Book Browse, conducted
“It’s not that they say social time is unimportant but it’s secondary,” Morgan-Witts explains. “It’s because of the open discussion and the sharing of opinions
10 . How can we make learning and reading fun again? How can we get our children excited to open a book? Or explore a new subject? Here are some ideas we used. Besides, these don’t just work for kids!
Find Fun Bookmarks
Do you have a super comfortable place in your home just for reading? Perhaps it’s time to make one! Throw blankets on the floor or make a permanent window seat where anyone can go to enjoy a good book. By making your home suitable for reading, you’ll be setting the stage for lifelong readers.
Get Into a Program
Most libraries have a reading program that ends in a prize especially in the summer. If your kids don’t have one, make your own reading challenge or program.
Model Learning
If you want your kids to become lifelong learners and readers, they should see their parents doing it too. The truth is that we do what is modeled for us, not what someone tells us to do.
| A．Create a Reading Spot |
| B．Find a Place for Reading |
| C．Find books that you love to read and join a challenge yourself |
| D．One of the best gifts you could give your kids is a love for learning |
| E．Adults can also use extra motivation to get our minds in high condition |
| F．These cute printable bookmarks to color are the perfect start to reading |
| G．Let the kids decide what they’d like to do if they hit their reading goals |
