2 . Nearly two decades ago when the Google Books Project digitized and freely distributed more than 25 million works, book publishers argued that free digital distribution weakens the market for physical books. However, new research from Imke Reimers and Abhishek Nagaraj reveals that the opposite—increased demand for physical books, through online discovery—could be true.

The two researchers focused on a particular part of Google Books’ digitized works: those from Harvard University’s Widener Library, which helped seed the project in its early days. The condition that enabled their experiment: Harvard’s digitization effort only included out-of-copyright works, published before 1923, which were made available to consumers in their entirety. The works from 1923 and later were still copyrighted and not digitized.

The researchers analyzed a total of 37,743 books scanned (扫描) between 2005 and 2009. They looked at sales for the two years before this digitization period and the two years after, and found clear differences in the increased sales between digitized and non-digitized books. Approximately 40% of digitized titles saw a sales increase from 2003-2004 to 2010-2011, compared to less than 20% of titles that were not digitized. The increase in sales was also found to be stronger for less popular books.

“If a book is readily available online, people may decide that it’s a useful book and want to buy it,” Reimers said. “The ‘discovery effect’, which even increased the sales of a digitized author’s non-digitized works, is a strong driver of increased sales. It’s not a huge jump in sales, but it’s still good news for publishers.”

“And book lovers,” Reimers said, “are known for their preference for physical books, as opposed to digital versions, which could also play a role.” She added, “Whenever I talk to people about my research on books, at some point they all say, ‘I just love the feel of a book in my hand.’”

1. Why did the researchers choose the publications before 1923 for their research?

A．They were all masterpieces.	B．They were mostly searchable.
C．They were not protected by copyright.	D．They were only partly downloaded for free.

2. How did the researchers obtain the research findings?

A．By interviewing book users.	B．By comparing the sales data.
C．By classifying the book titles.	D．By referring to historical records.

3. Why does the author quote Reimers’ words in the last paragraph?

A．To point out the limitations of the study.	B．To stress people’s different reading tastes.
C．To tell another contributor to the sales rise.	D．To show a growing trend in reading books.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Consumers Are Enthusiastic About E-books

B．Book Publishers Object to Digitizing Books

C．Physical Bookstores Are Declining in Importance

D．Digitizing Books Promotes Demand for Physical Copies

3 . One Saturday last November, I stepped into my local library. I was about to read a book when I heard an elderly man speak to a lady. “This library will soon become a café. Everyone is reading with electronic devices,” he said. Hearing this, I wanted to shout, “I still read library books!” But my words stuck in my throat and I found teenagers around me were talking to friends or staring at their phones.

Reading online feels robotic to me. It’s like I stare at a screen and click “next” for the following page to appear until the very end of the e-book, and at the end of all of that, I just think, “That’s it?” But when I read a printed book, it’s like I’m holding on to the characters. I can imagine the plot better, as I can picture the scenes of each moment in my head with more accuracy and imagination.

Besides, some online books miss components (组成部分) that are in the printed novels. For instance, the physical copy of a fantasy novel I have read contains a map, but the e-book version does not. That is an injustice to e-book users; after reading and understanding the map, the story made a lot more sense for me, in terms of the setting and plot.

And personally, physically turning to the next page is better than clicking “next”. When reading online, I sometimes worry that I click “next” too quickly. It feels more like a race; I want to finish it because the pages just keep making that “flipping” sound and I wonder how long the book really is.

Some printed books have a special smell that makes the novel feel special to me. It’s hard to describe but I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks so. I know I cannot convince every teen to switch from the digital book to the printed one, but maybe my writing about the difference will at least get some of them to think about it.

1. Why will the library be replaced by a café?

A．Few people head for it.	B．It lacks good management.
C．Few people read its books.	D．It holds little attraction for the youth.

2. Why does the author prefer printed books according to paragraph 2?

A．They include additional contents.

B．They leave a lively impression.

C．They have a special pleasant smell.

D．They can improve readers’ imagination.

3. What influence does reading online have on the author?

A．Making her tired of reading.	B．Leading her to read aimlessly.
C．Bringing more fun to her.	D．Stopping her digging into reading.

4. What is the author’s purpose of writing this text?

A．To inspire teenagers’ interest in reading.

B．To show advantages of printed books.

C．To reduce the impact of electronic devices.

D．To encourage teens to change the reading medium.

4 . These novels focus on the excitement and drama of returning to class.

The First Rule of Punk

By Celia C. Pérez

(Puffin Books)

On the first day at her new middle school, Malú upsets a popular classmate and violates the dress code with her punk style. Her dad reminds her of the first rule of punk: Be yourself. Will keeping his advice in mind help Malú have a better rest of the school year? Ages 10 and up.

It’s the First Day of School...Forever!

By R. L. Stine

(Square Fish)

This classic book from the author of the Goosebumps series is filled with suspense and humor. Every day, Artie wakes up and the same thing happens — he bumps his head and gets ready for the first day of fifth grade. A twist ending helps explain why nothing changes from day to day. Ages 8–12.

New Kid

By Jerry Craft

(Quill Tree Books)

On the first day at a fancy prep school, Jordan realizes he’s one of only a handful of Black students. He doesn’t feel like he fits in with his classmates or his old friends in the neighborhood. Will he continue to feel stuck between the two worlds? This book is the only picture novel to win the famous Newbery Medal. Ages 8–12.

Save Me a Seat

By Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan

(Scholastic)

If you’re a fan of Fish in a Tree, you may enjoy this novel about two fifth graders. Ravi recently moved from India to New Jersey and feels like an outsider. Joe gets looked down upon because he needs extra help at school. As time passes, they realize they may share a lot in common. Ages 8–12.

1. Whose book is suitable for a 15-year-old boy?

A．R. L. Stine’s.	B．Jerry Craft’s.
C．Celia C. Pérez’s.	D．Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan’s.

2. Which probably attracts a kid most if he loves pictures?

A．New Kid.	B．Save Me a Seat.
C．The First Rule of Punk.	D．It’s the First Day of School...Forever!

3. In the novel Save Me a Seat, how do Ravi and Joe become friends?

A．They are familiar with each other.	B．They both come from India.
C．They are quiet in class.	D．They both encounter challenges.

5 . Los Angeles residents Joe Blackstone and Jamie Mohn have long recognized the lasting impact storytelling can have on a child’s life. Shortly after getting married, the couple began volunteering to read books to elementary school kids. Then, when they became parents themselves, they created the J3 Foundation to help organizations devoted to children’s growth. But after learning two-thirds of fourth graders who cannot read effectively end up on welfare, Blackstone and Mohn decided to take a more hands-on approach: in 2018, they launched J3’s Cozy Reading Club.

Each session of the two-hour, after-school program is free and includes outdoor activities and a healthy snack. Then, it’s time for some comfortable reading. After teachers read a book aloud and the group talks about the storyline freely, the kids find a spot to sit while grabbing a book of their choice to look through. In the end, they get to choose two books to borrow and take home.

In its first year, J3’s Cozy Reading Club served 15 students in one L. A.-area classroom. As of 2022, it had expanded to 17 schools across four different districts, impacting a total of at least 400 students, the vast majority of whom live in underserved communities. With impressive statistics backing it up 90% of the students have significantly improved their reading scores, and 95% say they’ve started reading for fun since taking part in the program——its founders have much to celebrate.

“Having more than 5,000 culturally relevant books available to them is so exciting. I love it when our students can see themselves and their classmates’ lives reflected in the books they are reading. The hope of changing one kid at a time makes all the work worthwhile,” Blackstone said.

Currently, J3 is in the process of raising $864,000, so the Cozy Reading Club can expand to an additional 24 Los Angeles schools and double its book collection to 10,000. This is worthwhile. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reported that 68% of U. S. fourth graders weren’t skilled at reading in 2022, up from 66% in 2019.

1. What can be inferred about Blackstone and Mohn?

A．They are children’s writers.	B．They teach reading in a school.
C．They value kids’ development.	D．They’ve donated much to charities.

2. What can children do in J3’s Cozy Reading Club?

A．Learn the history of books.	B．Discuss a book’s plot.
C．Cook and have snacks.	D．Buy interesting books.

3. What are the statistics in Paragraph 3 about regarding J3’s Cozy Reading Club?

A．Its great achievements.	B．Its various services.
C．Its long-term goals.	D．Its current programs.

4. Why does the author mention NAEP in the last paragraph?

A．To state reading is significant.	B．To show J3 is a necessary cause.
C．To assess J3’s potential abilities.	D．To criticize America’s education.

7 . Invited by an author-friend, I recently attended a program of readings by local African-American writers. As the audience in the library expanded, I noticed that I was among a minority of white and elderly supporters. After years of university teaching, volunteering in many organizations, and working as a psychologist in inner-city settings, I was comfortable amid many sorts and curious about what I might learn from these authors.

I settled into my seat as the chairman introduced a handsome and passionate man — Kendall Glaspie. He greeted us and then began to read from his five-chapter book of poems — Loved-Unloved: A Black Man’s Puzzle. I sat mesmerized, as the sounds and meanings of his words washed over me. Suddenly I reached back 60 years to a part of me, a college student of the second year, who first discovered Lawrence Ferlinghetti and A Coney Island of the Mind. Like Ferlinghetti, his work was meant to voice something. The moment felt magical.

After the program, I stood in his author-line to speak with him, purchase a copy, and ask if I could write about my experience while listening to him. He generously granted (准予) permission. Back home, I devoted myself to reading the poems, giving them the attention they deserved.

Kendall’s book did not disappoint. He sees it as “a collection of poems that explore complex dynamics that influence the identity and feelings of ordinary people in North America”. It investigates what the construct of love means to us as individuals and as a collective. Although I am not that remarkable — nor am I even of his generation —— I have spent my personal and professional life studying, discovering, and witnessing the healing power of love. I identified strongly with both the universal and much in the personal that he described. The depth of his grasp of the journey toward wholeness embracing all parts of ourselves but allowing our choices of action to be based on consciousness, left me impressed.

1. What do we know about the reading program?

A．It was often hosted in inner-city settings.

B．It was an uneasy attendance for the author.

C．It involved a few white and elder attendees.

D．It invited university teachers to give lectures.

2. What does the underlined word “mesmerized” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Fascinated.

B．Shocked.

C．Puzzled.

D．Bored.

3. Which aspect does Kendall’s book talk about in the text?

A．Choices of action.	B．The construct of love.
C．The identity of the individuals.	D．The meaning of life.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A guide to solving puzzles.	B．An essay on explorations of love.
C．An introduction to a program.	D．A blog on reading experiences.

8 . Here are some books that are suitable for English learners. Let’s have a look.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

One great thing about this book is that it gives you a deep understanding of a different culture. This book follows the life of Esperanza, a Mexican-American girl. Esperanza moves into a home on Mango Street, The house is old and small. In the new home, Esperanza feels like that she has no time to be alone. She promises herself that one days he will leave and have her own home.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

We can almost guarantee that native English speakers have read this book at least once. A baby pig called Wilbur is almost killed because of his status—he is the smallest pig and he is considered to be useless. Charlotte, a spider, knows that the farmers are planning to kill Wilbur. She promises to make a plan to save him.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

It is a classic. So, if you find yourself in a conversation about literature, this is a good one to talk about. This is a story of a long fight between an old experienced fisherman and the best fish he ever caught. Santiago has returned to the village without any fish for 84 days. On the 85thday, his luck changes and so does his life.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

It’s based on history. If you have already known a lot of information about World WarⅡ,this might be an interesting book for you. The year is 1943 in Copenhagen, Denmark. There are soldiers everywhere. The life of 10-year-old Annemarie has been changed a lot because of the war. But this is a story of hope and courage.

1. What can the readers learn from The House on Mango Street?

A．Mango Street is in Mexico.

B．Mango Street is very beautiful.

C．Esperanza is an ambitious girl.

D．Esperanza loves the new house a lot.

2. Which book mentions the close relationship between animals?

A．Charlotte’s Web.

B．Number the Stars.

C．The Old Man and the Sea.

D．The House on Mango Street.

3. What is Number the Stars special about?

A．It was written in 1943.	B．It’s historical literature.
C．It’s suitable for children.	D．It’s about a different culture.