1 . When I was eleven, my parents gave me the first book I ever owned--The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe. It was written by the famous novelist Edgar Allan Poe. I clearly remember opening it, reading the first lines of the book, and saying to myself, “So this is what reading is!” I was delighted. Little did I know at the time that I was at the beginning of a lifelong journey.

So, if I read my first real book at the age of eleven, what was I reading before then? In a word, these books are relatively plotless and repetitive, and they attempt to teach children to recognize letters and their sounds and to build their vocabulary. But I still had no idea what writing was. In Poe's stories, the sentences were more complex and stylish than anything I had ever read before.

Poe, in short, was a start. My parents gave me that first book, but then I searched for other books. I liked science, which led me to discover Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. Other writers followed in quick one after another, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke. But I didn't limit myself to science fiction. Other books that deeply impressed me, and which I have carried on my life's journey, include: The Yearling. Shane, Ivanhoe, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Good Earth.

It went on from there. I became that kid who, long after his parents turned the lights off, hid under the covers with a flashlight, a book, and his greatest fear of being discovered and having his flashlight taken away. I realized that my parents must have known I was defying them. But in their wisdom they pretended to ignore it. And so I owe my start as a reader to my parents.

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A．The first book the author read was a novel.

B．The author didn't read any books before 11.

C．The author developed an interest in reading.

D．The importance of reading was understood by the author.

2. What is the purpose of plotless books?

A．To broaden children's visions.

B．To teach kids how to write.

C．To arouse kids' interest in novels.

D．To help children learn new words.

3. What did the author do after reading his first real book?

A．He tried doing scientific research.

B．He expanded the range of reading materials.

C．He started to write science fiction.

D．He advised his parents to buy more books.

4. The underlined word “defying” in the last paragraph can be replaced by “________.”

A．disobeying	B．blaming
C．appreciating	D．satisfying

2 . Different from a text-heavy novel, coffee table books offer large images and smaller sections of text, allowing us to easily dive in and explore.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art： Masterpiece Paintings by Kathryn Calley Galitz

If you're unable to wander along the corridors of this world-famous museum yourself, don't panic ： this book offers an impressive insight into some of the masterpieces housed here. Amazing images will attract the casual reader, while insights from Galitz, curator (馆长)of the museum, into different pieces are set to engage art and history lovers alike.

Destinations of a Lifetime ： 225 of the World's Most Amazing Places by National Geographic

With large, striking photos, a mere glance through this book will fuel the urge to travel. Besides a few of the hot places, there are plenty of destinations you may not have heard of. Alongside images of dramatic landscapes, accompanying text reveals highlights at each spot and handy tips on experiencing them like a local.

Secret Gardeners by Victoria Summerley

When thinking of some of Britain's most famous names, their busy, jet-set lifestyles probably spring to mind. But, away from the public eye, these individuals are just like us, and love nothing more than spending hours in their gardens. The pages of this beautiful book share fantastic images from the gardens of 25 well-known personalities.

The Story of Food： An Illustrated History of Everything We Eat by DK

The origins and facts of different ingredients are included in this book, along with explorations into the development of cooking over the ages. The book is more text heavy, but don't let that put you off： there are still plenty of beautiful photos and vivid illustrations throughout.

1. Which of the following books includes opinions from an expert?

A．Secret Gardeners.	B．The Story of Food,
C．Destinations of a Lifetime.	D．The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2. What does Victoria write about?

A．History of cooking.	B．Tips on traveling cheaply.
C．Lifestyles of personalities.	D．Private gardens in Britain.

3. What makes The Story of Food different?

A．It contains bigger sections of words.

B．It provides data people never heard of.

C．It appeals to casual readers and specialists.

D．It shares fantastic images by well-known people.

3 . I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child. Stories were like air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties, I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.

My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old. It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.

As I grew older and became a mother, the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life. I had several children and books were our main source (来源) of entertainment. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library, where my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.

I always read, using different voices, as though I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it! It was a special time to bond with my children and it filled them with the wonderment of books.

Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on form generation to generation.

As a novelist, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book. I see libraries as a safe haven (避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book. Libraries, in their own way, help fight book piracy (盗版行为) and 1 think all writers should support libraries in a significant way when they can. Encourage readers to use the library. Share library announcements on your social media. Frequent them and talk about them when you can.

1. Which word best describes the author’s relationship with books as a child?

A．Inseparable.

B．Uneasy.

C．Awful.

D．Casual.

2. What does the underlined phrase “an added meaning” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Pleasure from working in the library.	B．A closer bond developed with the readers.
C．Fun from acting out the stories.	D．Joy of reading passed on in the family.

3. What does the author call on other writers to do?

A．Give money to book fairs.	B．Write for social media.
C．Buy her novels.	D．Support libraries.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Reading: A Source of Knowledge	B．My Idea about writing
C．My Love of the Library	D．Library: A Haven for the Young

4 . 假定你是李华，你的网友Peter给你来信想了解你喜欢的一本中文名著，请你向他介绍。内容包括：
1．喜欢的著作；                            
2．你喜欢它的原因或它对你的影响；                         
3．希望对方给你推荐一些经典英文名著。
注意：1．词数100左右；             
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Peter,

How is everything going?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

5 . As France enters a strict four-week lockdown in order to prevent a dangerous second wave of coronavirus, its independent booksellers have requested the status of an essential service．

A statement announced by booksellers' association wants bookshops to be listed alongside supermarkets and drugstores as necessary to human well-being．Bookstores might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about what's needed in a dangerous situation, but they offer mental comfort that few other businesses can match．"Books satisfy our needs for understanding, reflection, sharing and communication, even in separation," says the statement．They appeal to the French government to "leave our bookstores open, so that social separation is not also cultural isolation．"

Bookstores have already established rules of conduct that allow shopping to occur in a safe, gem-free manner．They want curbside（路边）pickup to be allowed to continue, which means placing a customer's order to his car trunk without the buyer leaving his vehicle．The staff should wear a mask and maintain at least six feet of distance while delivering goods．

We also reached out to the American Booksellers Association（ABA）to learn whether American booksellers also view themselves as a much-needed service．CEO Allison Hill admits that booksellers "in no way outweigh healthcare workers during the stay-at-home period," but the role of bookstores and books should not be underestimated．Books are important to many people this year for various reasons, including homeschooling, education, emotional support, connection, and humanity．That is why "bookstores in the U．S．are given essential status during shutdowns so that they can continue offering curbside service．" Despite this, independent booksellers are struggling across the US, as they are in France．Hill said in a press release that one bookshop has closed per week since COVID-19 started and that 25% are in danger of closing by January．

1. Why did the association announce the statement?

A．To keep bookstores running．	B．To run bookshops near markets．
C．To compete with US booksellers．	D．To stress the benefits of books．

2. According to Paragraph 3, how will bookstores operate safely?

A．By providing home delivery．	B．By giving away free masks．
C．By offering less contact pickup．	D．By forcing buyers to leave the cars．

3. What can we infer from Allison Hill's words?

A．American bookstores are considered necessary．

B．The great importance of books is overlooked．

C．Booksellers are more important than doctors．

D．A quarter of bookstores have closed by January．

4. What's the main idea of the passage?

A．Books offer mental support in tough times．

B．Bookstores should be an essential service．

C．Bookstores are at the risk of closing down．

D．Booksellers contribute a lot during the pandemic．

6 . As the leaves start to change color and the autumn air turns fresh, sometimes nothing is more appealing than the attraction of a good book. Here are our four top picks for the best books.

The Most Fun We Ever Had

By Claire Lombardo

Doubleday

David and Marilyn have been married forever. Four kids and decades later, they're still as in love as the day they met. Lombardo paints an extraordinary picture of a family in what could well be one of the best novels published this year.

The Shadow King

By Maaza Mengiste

W. W. Norton & Company

A historical novel that takes place in the 1930s Ethiopia, The Shadow King focuses on the female soldiers who take up arms in World War II . In beautiful prose （叙述）, Mengiste shines a light on those whose lives are not often noticed.

Someone We Know

By Shari Lapena

Pamela Dorman Books

A quiet suburban town is shaken by a series of break-ins and a body that turns up in the trunk of a car in this latest psychological thriller by the author of The Couple Next Door. How are the crimes related? And what does the invader know?

The Only Plane in the Sky ： An Oral History of 9 /11

By Garrett M. Graff

Avid Reader Press

Journalist Graff puts together an oral history of 9/11 from the perspective of nearly everyone involved. Every single line is breathtaking and heartbreaking, weaving together the story of previously-unimaginable and tragic events that changed history.

1. Which of the following published the book about the army?

A．Doubleday.	B．W. W. Norton & Company.
C．Pamela Dorman Books.	D．Avid Reader Press.

2. Which author is good at writing suspense stories?

A．Claire Lombardo.	B．Maaza Mengiste.
C．Shari Lapena.	D．Garrett M. Graff.

3. Which of the following is TRUE about The Only Plane in the Sky ： An Oral History of 9/11?

A．It's about some true stories in 9/11.

B．It's about some female soldiers in World War Ⅱ.

C．It's about a journalist's experience in 9/11.

D．It's about a single tragic event in 9/11.

7 . For many of us, nothing is better than burying our head in a good book. Whether it's a crime story or a biography of someone's amazing life, it's good to read a book to switch off from the distractions of everyday life.

    1     It can be educational and broaden the mind. A good novel can make us happy, or make us cry as we sympathize with characters. A list of books about "bibliotherapy” can be offered to patients.     2     It's become so successful that it's about to be extended to children as well.

Professor Philip Davis, author of a book called Reading for Life, studies people in reading groups and found that it's reading literature --- written work thought to have artistic value, that has the best effect. He told the BBC that when reading something for pleasure, "...the brain begins to work from different parts, and it gets excited, it gets pre — emotional.     3    ”

Of course, it's easy in our smartphone generation to abandon a good book and play with our phones instead. But opening up a paperback could be a simple way to help maintain our mental health.     4     And they may allow you to see that awkward situation you've been anxious about for weeks from someone else's point of view.

    5     If the book list doesn't appeal, you could read book reviews, visit a library or bookshop or ask a friend. Once you've found the right text, you'll be fascinated!

A．You can see the brain coming to life.

B．And you could always use an e-reader.

C．You can lend it to friends and forget you did.

D．It may seem obvious that reading is good for us.

E．It's thought that they can help you set targets and find focus.

F．Reading books is actually being identified as a treatment to sickness.

G．If you're not a concerned reader, it can be hard to know where to begin.

8 . 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

9 . I had never really liked reading, and I thought it was a waste of time. But when my teacher told me to go to the library and find a book, I looked for one that I was actually interested in. I love basketball, so I picked out a basketball book which was called Hoops by Walter Dean Myers. It is an amazing story about a high school ball player named Lonnie. He is a great basketball player, and dreams of playing basketball in college someday, and of course in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Lonnie lives in Harlem, NY, and is struggling through poverty and other problems. He doubts his new coach, Carl, and doesn’t think that he will be there for his new team. However, he soon realizes what the man has done in his past, and can completely connect with him. Carl soon makes a huge influence on Lonnie, but they face many challenges.

This book makes me think about how hard it would be to grow up in a rough city. I have realized that basketball is a great way to escape the struggles we face.

From this story, you will learn that the people around you really affect who you are, and how important it is to have the support of family and friends in your life. I have learned a lot from this book, and I think that anyone who reads it will too. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

I am now reading more Walter Dean Myers’ books. A lot of his books are about growing up in Harlem, just like he once did. He has become my favorite author.

1. Hoops is a book about (a) ________.

A．teacher

B．library

C．basketball

D．coach

2. According to the story, Lonnie ________.

A．didn’t get help from his friends	B．was born into a rich family
C．realized his dream of playing in the NBA	D．disliked his coach in the beginning

3. From this book the author realizes that basketball ________.

A．makes it hard to live in a rough city

B．helps people make new friends easily

C．provides a good way to escape difficulties

D．tightly connects people with their family and friends

4. The purpose of the author in writing this text is to ________.

A．tell us his favorite author	B．introduce a book to us
C．show his interest in reading	D．teach us the importance of reading

10 . 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.