1 . "You are the same today as you will be in five years except for the books you read. " A love of reading can make your brain more efficient, lower stress levels, and inspire life pursuits （追求）. Here's how your brain and body benefit when you crack open a book.

Reading can improve brainpower.

    1     Whether you're interested in a book or simply scanning an instruction for your coffee maker, your brain will drive other functions一such as vision, language, and associative （相关的）learning, according to a survey by Ken Pugh, PhD.     2     Another recent study found that older adults who regularly read books are two and a half times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Reading can melt away stress.

Being lost in a good book lowers your levels of unhealthy stress hormones. In a British study, participants were involved in an anxiety-provoking （引发焦虑的）activity and then either read for a few minutes, listened to music, or played video games. The stress levels of those who read dropped 67 percent.     3    

    4    

Reading about someone who overcame hurdles may encourage you to achieve your own dream. If you'd like a raise, following a character into the boss's office may give you the courage to make the same request. The more you identify with a character and experience the events as if they were happening to you, the more likely you'll take action.

    5    Turn off your phone and computer, and set aside one or two hours to read books every day.

A．Reading can encourage life goals.

B．Reading can recall your memory.

C．As a result, stress is associated with reading.

D．That process forces you to think and concentrate.

E．Reading gives your brain a different kind of workout.

F．We cannot think too highly of the benefits of reading.

G．It was a more important drop than that of the other groups.

3 . Digital reading (数字阅读) appears to be destroying habits of “deep reading”. Astonishing numbers of people with years of schooling are in fact illiterate (文盲). This month’s Ljubljana Manifesto (宣言) explains: “The digital field may promote more reading than ever in history, but it also offers many attractions to read in a casual and scattered (零散的) manner— or even not to read at all. This increasingly endangers higher-level reading.”

That’s frightening, because “higher-level reading” has been necessary to civilization. It made the understanding and an international increase in empathy (共鸣). Without it, we would suffer a lot. As the Ljubljana Manifesto notes, “as much as one-third of Europeans struggle even with lower-level reading skills.” More than one-fifth of adults in the US “fall into the illiterate/functionally illiterate category”. Separately, post-pandemic (后疫情时期) reading scores for American13-year-olds are the lowest in decades. And the Washington-based Center for Global Development recently estimated that literacy (读写能力) in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa among those with five years of schooling has decreased by 10% this past half century.

Experts in the Ljubljana Manifesto record the demerits of digital reading: “Recent studies of various kinds indicate a decline of thoughtful reading, slow reading and long-form reading.” When you read a book on paper, you can be entirely inside the experience, absorb hundreds of pages of details thoroughly and begin to catch the world’s complexity. Online, says Maryanne Wolf of UCLA, we are “skimming, scanning and scrolling”. The medium is the message: doing deep reading on your phone is as hard as playing tennis with your phone. Recently, a bright 11-year-old boy told me I was wasting time on books: he absorbed more information faster from websites. He had a point. But digital readers also absorb more misinformation and seldom absorb fine opinions.

In short, as professors from Northwestern University predicted in 2005, we are returning to the days when only an elite (精英) “reading class” reads long texts, which is worrying.

1. What can we learn about digital reading from paragraph 1?

A．Digital reading has weakened the practice of deep reading.

B．Digital reading has solved the problem of illiteracy.

C．Digital reading has made deep reading accessible to wider readers.

D．Digital reading has caused a greater appreciation for deep reading.

2. What’s the second paragraph mainly about?

A．Digital reading’s great popularity.	B．The importance of deep reading.
C．American students’ reading skills.	D．The lowering of the level of literacy.

3. What does the underlined word “demerits” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Functions.

B．Depths.

C．Shortcomings.

D．Features.

4. What might be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．Advantages of digital reading.	B．Measures to practice deep reading.
C．Ways to encourage digital reading.	D．Benefits of lower-level reading.

4 . 4月23日是“世界读书日”（World Reading Day），假如你是班长，请你起草一份倡仪书，号召全班同学以实际行动迎接“世界读书日”的到来，为创建“书香校园”，多读书、读好书，养成课外读书的好习惯。字数100左右。
倡仪书应包括以下内容：
1．现状（ 看电视、上网时间多而读书的时间少）     
2．列举一些阅读的好处     
3．给同学们建议
开头已给，不计入词数。
Good morning! Boys and girls,

As we know, World Reading Day which falls on April 23rd is drawing near. The purpose of the global festival is to promote reading and publishing.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . What are the speakers probably talking about?

A．A school.

B．A library.

C．A bookstore.

6 . Do you enjoy reading? Do you read newspapers or magazines? Chances are, if you do any of these activities, your pre-school child is on his way to becoming a reader.
The process of learning to read is complex, and one of the most important things to know is that parents can help their children learn to read. As children have conversations with adults, they hear both new and familiar words and their vocabulary grows.
There are many opportunities for adults and children to talk together, such as when riding in the car or in a bus, doing housework like fixing dinner, or bathing and getting ready for bed. A major part of conversation is listening. When children talk, adults listen and respond. Then children listen and respond, and so the flow of conversation happens.
Have you watched you pre-school child pretend to read to his younger sisters or brothers? Have you read his favorite story over and over? These experiences tell children that reading is fun. And when things are fun and they are repeated, your child will see letters. He begins to connect them to familiar words, especially the letters that make up his name. A natural next step for him to take is to write the letters.
When children see parents make a grocery list, they want to use a pencil and paper to make their own list. To encourage these beginning writing activities, have pencils, markers, crayons and scrap paper within your children’s reach.
The more children get connected with talking, listening, reading and writing, the easier it is for them to become active readers. While you as a parent have a big influence on these early behaviors, it is important to remember that opportunities for literacy experiences happen when you and your child share in the basic routines（日常生活）of everyday life.
1. The third paragraph tells us that parents can talk with their children__________.

A．during daily routines	B．only in quiet places
C．in their spare time	D．when they are eager to walk

2. During the process of learning to read, children may _________.

A．copy the action of the adults.

B．prefer to talk with those of their own age.

C．show no interest in reading at all.

D．waste a lot of paper and other materials.

3. When do children want to learn to write?

A．When their parents ask them to do so.

B．When they believe they can write well.

C．When they know what they want to know

D．When they can connect letters with familiar words.

4. The passage is written to _____________.

A．talk about parents’ influence on their children’s behavior

B．encourage parents to set a good example to their children

C．advise parents to make reading a part of their children’s daily life

D．make parents believe in the importance of early reading

7 . Summer is approaching and the following books can accompany you during the hot season.

◆ And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner

Image Source: Penguin Random House

The smell of fresh-cut grass, the coldness of ice cream on your tongue and the sound of crickets（蟋蟀）at night join together. This romantic feast for senses is as much a celebration of the season as it is a summer bucket list! Attractive illustrations（插图）and descriptive text warm your heart and inspire play like never before.

Available from Amazon, $ 11.28

◆Three Little Words by Amy Novesky

Image Source: Disney Press 

Dory’s “Just keep swimming!” message of perseverance is perfect for anyone who has ever felt like they were drowning. Follow Dory into an unforgettable adventure as she finds her way in this beautiful watercolor adventure of friendship and survival. 

Available from Amazon, $ 12.06 

◆ There Might be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi

Image Source: Penguin Random House 

Meet Suki. She’s a small dog with a big fear of the beach. When a rescue is in order, Suki saves the day, proving that there’s nothing to fear but fear itself. As a quite possibly perfect picture book for anxious kids fearful to try new experiences, this timeless treasure opens the door to calming dialogues and messages of bravery and victory.

Available from Amazon, $ 11.84

◆ Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Image Source: Penguin Random House

You know that feeling when you’re as excited as you are scared to make a leap? That’s how Jabari feels about his first jump off the diving board. He knows how to swim. He knows jumping off surely looks fun. But does he have what it takes to take a try? With some gentle encouragement from his loving father, Jabari jumps.

Available from Amazon, $11.26

1. What can you enjoy in the book And Then Comes Summer?

A．The beauty of beach.	B．The joy of summer.
C．The loveliness of a dog.	D．The pleasure of swimming.

2. What do There Might be Lobsters and Jabari Jumps have in common?

A．They are sold at the same price.	B．Their characters do the same sport.
C．They can be bought in different websites.	D．Their characters succeed in overcoming fear.

3. Which book describes the experience of exploring the undersea?

A．And Then Comes Summer.	B．There Might be Lobsters.
C．Three Little Words.	D．Jabari Jumps.

8 . Four International Books Every Child Should Read

Konstantin, Gerda Wagener

Written in German, this book follows a shy crocodile named Konstantin who plays the instrument in secret in the jungle. The jungle’s other inhabitants are hiding and listening to him play. In the end, the shy and lonely animal finally finds friendship through his music.

Everyone Poops, Taro Gomi

Written in Japan, this book features the introduction of the toilet habits of a range of animals before explaining that everyone has to use the toilet. Designed to teach children that going to the toilet is nothing to be embarrassed about, the book helps kids to deal with toilet training.

Pettson and Findus, Sven Nordqvist

Pettson and Findus is a series about the adventures of an old man, Pettson, and his cat, Findus, living in the countryside. These stories are beloved in their home country of Sweden. The book describes lots of funny stories which will delight any child.

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas

The Three Musketeers was written in France in 1844. A young man named D’Artagnan who leaves home to pursue his dream of joining the Musketeers (火枪手) of the Guard. D’Artagnan isn’t accepted at first, but in the end manages to befriend three musketeers. This book is a must-read for any fans of action and adventures.

1. Which book tells of an animal who can play the instrument?

A．Konstantin.	B．Everyone Poops.
C．Pettson and Findus.	D．The Three Musketeers.

2. What is special about Everyone Poops?

A．It helps children to deal with toilet training.

B．It helps children develop an interest in Japanese.

C．It begins by introducing the toilet habits of animals.

D．It stresses the importance of training children in going to the toilet.

3. What do Pettson and Findus and The Three Musketeers have in common?

A．Both of them were written in France.	B．Both of them were written in the 19th century.
C．They both contain adventures.	D．They both tell a story about an old man.

9 . What story is the woman reading about?

A．Animals.

B．Her favourite writer.

C．Sisterhood.

10 . While you may know how to find the best app for your phone, do you know how to pick a book you'll really like? Here are some tips.

1. Start with your interests.     1     You can pick something that’s all about your interests, whether it’s ancient martial arts, computers, or fashion design. You name it, there are surely to be books about it.

2. What's your "type"? Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction? Fiction books like novels or short-story collections can transport you to another world, or help you imagine something beyond your own experience. Not all fiction is the same-maybe you like the classics, fantasy or mystery (悬疑) novels.     2    . Try a range of types of fiction and see what you prefer. Nonfiction books give you the who, what, when, and why of something.     3    , but that doesn't mean they're dull . Nonfiction books can bring to life the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington or help you see inside a Chinese dynasty. Many of them read like novels from start to finish.

3.     4    . What was your mother's favorite book when she was your age or your dad's? How about a brother's or sister's? Find out and give it a read-then you can share your thoughts about the book. After all, what is a better way to connect with that cousin you only see in the summer than trading reading recommendations and discussing your reactions?

4. Join the club-online or in person. Get your friends together and share information about authors, writing styles, and story types.     5    . Join a group with your friends and people you trust (avoiding sharing personal information with people you don't know, of course).

A．Explain your interests

B．Find a family favorite

C．They tell stories using facts

D．Maybe historical fiction is more your thing

E．A library can attract you with a lot of great books

F．Reading on your own isn't like reading for school

G．Most social networking sites also have book-club sections