1 . There are always some persons in your life who touch your soft heart with kindness.

As a little girl, my favorite thing was _______. And when I thought about _______ I wanted to be when I grew up, I figured I’d be a librarian, just because the two librarians changed my life.

At that time, the town library limited the number of books a person borrowed _______ two once a week. I _______ the books in just three days. So to read more, I was _______ about what books to choose. The librarian, Mrs. Tonne, was a warm person. Every time I went into the library, she greeted me, _______. When learning about my trouble, she often _______ some better books. Thanks to her help, I _______ a lot from these books.

Gradually, I developed an interest in writing, _______ poems. When I was in fourth grade, our school librarian, Mrs. Ketelsen, encouraged me to write more. When my poem was not accepted, she ________ me with comfortable words. Once she helped ________ some poems I’d written about dinosaurs to Highlights magazine. It was my first published writing!

Later, at the University of Iowa, ________ I majored in journalism, my dream was different. I realized that I was shy about interviewing people, which made me ________. When I recalled Mrs. Tonne and Mrs. Ketelsen, I made a decision without ________ to be devoted to writing. And now I am an editor at Reader’s Digest.

Whenever I think of the help from them, how ________ I am. It is their kindness that makes me what I am.

1.

A．reading

B．painting

C．exploring

D．creating

2.

A．how

B．why

C．where

D．what

3.

A．of

B．to

C．from

D．between

4.

A．published

B．edited

C．presented

D．finished

5.

A．under the weather

B．in the air

C．at a loss

D．on the rocks

6.

A．shouting

B．smiling

C．crying

D．dancing

7.

A．exchanged

B．recommend

C．designed

D．adapted

8.

A．reflected

B．devoted

C．expected

D．benefited

9.

A．extremely

B．fortunately

C．especially

D．slightly

10.

A．inspired

B．challenged

C．contented

D．tricked

11.

A．admit

B．send

C．revise

D．settle

12.

A．although

B．because

C．when

D．since

13.

A．relaxed

B．satisfied

C．impressed

D．upset

14.

A．hesitation

B．tension

C．exception

D．argument

15.

A．concerned

B．relieved

C．grateful

D．regretful

4 . If the only reading you ever do is the novel or magazine, the speed at which you read -probably does not matter very much. But if you have to read a great deal for study, you will appreciate the benefits of being able to read more quickly.     1    

·Before you open the book, make sure that you are comfortable. You need a seat which supports your back and the book should be at the right distance from your eyes.     2    

    3     Look at the table of contents, the preface, the chapter heading,etc.This will help you to decide whether you really need to read the whole book or only certain parts of it. Ten minutes spent in this way could save you quite a lot of time in the long run.

If you decide that you need to read the whole book, decide how much you can read at a time.     4     A history book which may contain the facts in story form will be easier to read than one dealing with scientific subjects. In the former case you may be able to read a chapter. In the latter you may only be able to read one page.

Always keep a pencil and paper beside you.     5    Note also the facts important for your purpose as well as anything which leads you to further research. You don't have to write these things in detail. It is enough to put the page number and one or two words as a reminder .

A．Stop to have a rest now and then.

B．Spend a few minutes looking through the book.

C．This depends on the type of book you are reading.

D．Here are some tips to help improve your reading speed.

E．Make a note of any page which is of special importance.

F．You may find yourself having to learn something by heart.

G．Keep the room cool rather than warm to avoid feeling sleepy.

5 . Best books for 12 to 14-year-olds

Mortal Engines

Author: Philip Reeve

Publisher: Scholastic

London is on the move again: the city searches the world for resources on wheels, eating smaller towns. But when he is thrown off the city, young hero Tom is soon forced to reexamine life as he knows it.

Set in a futuristic background, this imaginative story is a blend of action and adventure. The book has won the Blue Peter Book Award.

Coram Boy

Author: Jamila Gavin

Publisher: Egmont

Toby’s and Aaron’s lives are linked by the Coram Man, who collects unwanted children from across the country, supposedly to send them to a safe new life. In reality, the man sells the children into slavery. Soon, Toby and Aaron find themselves united on a journey, filled with danger and excitement.

Rich with historical detail, this book provides an important insight into the 1750s society. It was a winner of the Whitbread Children’s Book Award.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Author: Mark Haddon

Publisher: Red Fox

Seen through the eyes of Christopher, a mathematical talent and Sherlock Holmes fan, this novel opens with the discovery of a dead dog on a neighbor’s lawn. In his search to discover the identity of the killer, Christopher uncovers some information about his own family and he starts a journey to London to find his mother.

Watership Down

Author: Richard Adams

Publisher: Penguin

Young rabbit Fiver believes that a great disaster is about to strike the place where he lives－but no one will listen to him. At last he manages to ask a few brave rabbits to leave before it’s too late. Hunted by dogs and foxes, their journey is a dangerous one—but the rabbits can still dream of a peaceful and safe new life at Watership Down.

This book won both the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Carnegie Medal.

1. Which author’s book focuses on life in the future according to the text?

A．Philip Reeve’s	B．Jamila Gavin’s.
C．Mark Haddon’s	D．Richard Adams’s.

2. What makes Christopher try to find out the truth?

A．His losing touch with his mother.	B．The dead body of a dog.
C．His neighbor’s request.	D．An overgrown lawn.

3. What is special about Watership Town?

A．Its main character is a detective lover.	B．Its stories are based on historical facts.
C．It is about some rabbits escaping a disaster.	D．It won the Whitbread Children’s Book Award.

6 . I grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, and every morning, sometimes before I woke up, my dad left for work. I didn't know much about what my dad actually did all day. But one thing I did know about my dad's day was that he often spent his lunch break looking for books for me. He would often come home in the evening with a book for me in his bag. When he handed the "gift" over to me, I immediately investigated its cover, checked out the description on the back, and sometimes started reading right then.

I was not always as appreciative of those books as I should have been, especially in my younger years. One time, Dad brought home a paperback（平装书）called Bunya the Witch. I scanned the cover quickly before declaring, "Ugh! It's just another stupid farm book," and dropping it on the ground. I was rightfully reprimanded for being an ungrateful kid, and I learned that valuable lesson about not judging a book by its cover—Bunya the Witch turned out to be one of my favorites.

As I got older, my dad favored books focused on strong young female characters, like Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs, Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt, and Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz, books I remember to this day.

It's not just the books themselves that stay in my memory. It's the girl reading them, and what she felt as she read. I think back to hours spent in my childhood bedroom, reading about young women who faced lives much more difficult than mine. I learned from their courage and drew inspiration from their bravery.

To this day, I love to read. I love the excitement of opening up a new book and getting lost in whatever story the author wants to tell me. And quite often, when I've read something really wonderful, the first person I pass it along to is my dad. I figure I owe him.

1. What do we know about the young author from Paragraph 1?

A．She asked for gifts every evening.

B．She was interested in books.

C．She cared about her dad's work.

D．She enjoyed investigating incidents.

2. What does the underlined word "reprimanded" in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Ignored.

B．Defended.

C．Excused.

D．Scolded.

3. What lesson may the author learn from the three books mentioned in Paragraph 3?

A．Treasure one's present life.

B．Never judge a book by its cover.

C．One should fight against life's hardships.

D．Teens can also achieve really great things.

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

A．Dad, me, and love of reading	B．Dad—my first teacher in life
C．Reading—a source of knowledge	D．Readers, books, and a key to success

8 . My little cousin is already three years old. Last week, when I was shopping with my aunt, 1 suggested she buy some wordless books for him. She refused and said wordless books were useless. If you also think so, then you're wrong.

Anyone who has “read” a picture book can tell you that you don't need words to tell a story. Preschoolers(学前儿童)can follow a story told in pictures. And even though kids aren't reading words, it turns out that wordless books can help them develop important skills. Here are some reasons why little kids should read wordless books.

Through reading wordless books, young kids and preschoolers can learn how a book works: from front to back, left to right, and top to bottom. Following a story helps kids understand the structure of storytelling: cause and effect, conflict(冲突)and resolution, character development and a narrative(叙述的) way with a beginning, middle and end. Kids can hear many new words. They can also learn to recognize objects, people, places, animals and actions and tell a story based on pictures. This helps kids have a larger vocabulary and connect pictures with things they see.

Reading wordless books helps kidsobtainconfidence. A young kid or preschooler is proud to have finished a favorite book and have understood the whole story from start to finish without adults' help. When they're proud of themselves, they become more confident.

Reading wordless stories helps little kids develop a love of books. Wordless book can be enjoyed by little kids. After they find the pleasure in reading, they’ll fall in love with reading.

Wordless books can be enjoyed by all little kids. Books without text are great for kids who speak different languages, are learning English, or have developmental or learning difficulties that make reading words challenging.

1. The author's aunt refused to buy wordless books because ________.

A．her son didiVt like reading	B．she considered such books useless
C．there're too many books at her home	D．her son was too old to read such books

2. According to Paragraph 3, through reading wordless books, kids can______ .

A．learn to explain pictures under help	B．learn about how to read stories
C．learn how to think on their own	D．know what forms a book or a story

3. What does the underlined word “obtain” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Get.

B．Use.

C．Show.

D．Expect.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Why there are wordless books.	B．Why kids love reading wordless books.
C．Why reading wordless books helps kids.	D．Why people should read wordless books.