1 . About a decade ago, I attended a dinner in Guangzhou. The bird’s nest soup was gentle and delicious, the fish fresh and perfectly steamed. The most memorable dish, however, was the plain soup served at the end. Made from chicken, probably with ham as well, it was simple but perfect.
Ending a banquet with soup may seem odd to Westerners, accustomed as they are to sweets at a meal’s close. But, as Fuchsia Dunlop, an English food writer, explains in her new book, Invitation to a Banquet, “The transparent soup is an ideal conclusion to a meal.”
Invitation to a Banquet is Ms Dunlop’s seventh book. Unlike those for which she is best known, including The Food of Sichuan, Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper, and Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook(about Hunanese cuisine), this is not a cookbook. Instead, she has chosen 30 dishes and used each to illustrate different aspects of Chinese cuisine—and, in turn, Chinese life and history.
“Westerners have traditionally assumed that the Chinese eat animal parts because they are poor, when in fact turning up one’s nose at pigs’ heads and legs shuts the door on a wide range of foods that are really wonderful,” Ms Dunlop argues in the book.
In short, Ms Dunlop has made a convincing case for the superiority of Chinese cuisine, but in a delighted and expansive rather than chauvinistic (沙文主义的) way. She shows how it has absorbed foreign influences(as other cuisines have, too), how it has changed with China’s increasing wealth and how central it is to the country’s intellectual and cultural history.
She makes an equally good case in this book that the Chinese food most Westerners can find at their local takeaway is neither inauthentic nor wrong. Instead, it reflects local tastes which are as representative of the cuisine’s diversity as a frozen pizza is of Italy’s adventurousness. The local takeaway has made the real thing more accessible than ever outside China.
1. Which word best describes the author’s impression of the dinner in Guangzhou?| A．Favorable. | B．Conservative. | C．Negative. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper. | B．The Food of Sichuan. |
| C．Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook. | D．Invitation to a Banquet. |
| A．Avoid eating pigs’ heads and legs. | B．Go to the most expensive restaurants. |
| C．Be open-minded about any Chinese food. | D．Don’t try the local takeaway outside China. |
| A．A cookbook. | B．A book review. | C．A biography. | D．A travel journal. |
2 . What makes a good reader? You can find the answer in Readers Club. Today, we have some books for you. Come and join the fun!
The Old Man and the Sea won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1953. A year later, Hemingway won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The Old Man and the Sea is generally considered by many to be his greatest achievement. The leading character in this book is a person who can face difficulties and never give up.Hardback ￥21.70 Paperback ￥16.00
Heart, written by Edmondo De Amicis from Italy, is a diary of an Italian boy Eric. In his diary, he writes about the greatest love in the world: love for the nation, for the society, and also teachers’ love, classmates’ love, parents’ love, children’s love.
Hardback ￥27.20 Paperback ￥16.40
Peter Pan, created by Scottish novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie. Peter Pan is a young boy who can fly and never grows up. He spends his never-ending childhood having adventures (冒险) on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, playing happily with children both inside and outside Neverland.
Hardback ￥22.70 Paperback ￥14.60
Club members will get a discount (折扣) of 10% for hardback books and 20% for paperback books.
If you buy any of the two hardback books, e-books will be free for you.
1. Who won the Nobel Prize for literature?| A．Hemingway. | B．Leo Tolstoy. | C．Edmondo De Amicis. | D．Eric |
| A．Love. | B．Success. | C．Adventure. | D．loss. |
| A．A boy who likes keeping diaries. |
| B．A boy who always misses his family. |
| C．A boy who enjoys his never-ending childhood. |
| D．A boy who loves his teachers and classmates. |
1. Whose book has the woman been reading lately?
| A．Aaron Esterson. | B．Lori Gottlieb. | C．Erik Erikson. |
| A．It has an unexpected end. |
| B．It is very boring. |
| C．It is fantastic. |
| A．Read the book. | B．Start writing a book. | C．Talk with someone. |
4 . 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. |
| A．They include additional contents. |
| B．They leave a lively impression. |
| C．They have a special pleasant smell. |
| D．They can improve readers’ imagination. |
| A．Making her tired of reading. | B．Leading her to read aimlessly. |
| C．Bringing more fun to her. | D．Stopping her digging into reading. |
| 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. |
5 . Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair 2024
The Novel Fair is an annual competition initiated by the Irish Writers Centre (IWC). Described by The Irish Times as “A Dragons’ Cave for writers”, each year the Fair aims to introduce up-and-coming writers to top publishers and literary agents.
The Prize
The twelve winners will have the opportunity to present the summary of their novels directly to industry professionals. Leading publishers and agents will be invited by the IWC to meet these writers in person or through a series of online meetings. To get fully prepared for the meeting with publishers and agents, the winners will receive a place in a workshop on “How to Promote Your Novel”, two weeks in advance. Also, applicants who are longlisted (初选) but do not make it to the shortlist of twelve will have their works evaluated and criticized by the judging panel.
How to Enter
Entry fee for application is £ 55 (Members of IWC can enter for a discounted fee of £ 45). This competition only accepts manuscripts (原稿) for novels. Applicants are required to send a summary within 300 words and up to five chapters of their novels, which should be 10,000 words (+/-10%). Manuscripts should be submitted online. There is a limit of one entry per applicant.
Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world. Before entering the competition, please ensure that you have read the Novel Fair Terms & Conditions 2024 very carefully as the Fair is open to only novelists who have never published work previously. If you have any questions about the application process, please email novelfair@irishwriterscentre.ie.
1. Why does the IWC hold the Fair?| A．To serve as a platform for writers. | B．To advertise local books. |
| C．To encourage young people. | D．To arouse enthusiasm for reading. |
| A．Improve their writing skills. | B．Deal with the judging panel. |
| C．Learn about publishing process. | D．Present their novels attractively. |
| A．A novel published in 2023. | B．A summary of 200 words. |
| C．A paper manuscript by post. | D．A submission of seven chapters. |
6 . 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. |
| A．New Kid. | B．Save Me a Seat. |
| C．The First Rule of Punk. | D．It’s the First Day of School...Forever! |
| A．They are familiar with each other. | B．They both come from India. |
| C．They are quiet in class. | D．They both encounter challenges. |
7 . Books for children
Cyril and Pat by Emily GravettThis clever picture book shows younger readers the charming friendship between Cyril, a squirrel and Pat, who isn’t. Their friendship is powerful and shows children that it’s worth sticking up for those you care about. With vivid illustrations of life, leaves and flowers, an unexpected world is brought to life, and it’s the one that younger readers will delight in exploring every time they visit a park.
No One Is Angry Today by Toon TellegenFollowing a series of forest animal friends through their everyday lives, these stories examine why we do the things we do and how we feel about our actions. The brevity, clarity and high quality of these short stories also make them useful texts to study in literacy lessons, particularly in terms of viewpoint and writing styles.
The Midnight Panther by Poonam MistryPanther feels out of place and takes an adventure in the jungle to overcome challenges, conquer his insecurities and find out where he belongs. The Midnight Panther is an outstandingly illustrated and magical fable picture book. The atmospheric storytelling makes this book a joy to read aloud to a class and the breathtaking imagination lends itself to inspiring children’s creative writing.
Fiona the Fruit Bat by Dan RiskinFiona is the fruit bat who is afraid of the dark, afraid of the unknown and afraid to try flight. But calming and confidence-building words from her mother show her way. A good book to help children deal with new and unfamiliar situations. Reading this will not only teach them about overcoming fear, but also the science behind echolocation and lives of fruit bats.
1. What do we know about Cyril and Pat?| A．They are good friends. | B．They are both squirrels. |
| C．They enjoy collecting leaves. | D．They often visit remote parks. |
| A．Cyril and Pat. | B．Fiona the Fruit Bat. |
| C．No One Is Angry Today. | D．The Midnight Panther. |
| A．How to coexist with wildlife. | B．How to handle new situations. |
| C．How to get on with their mother. | D．How to develop an interest in science. |
8 . To develop one’s taste in English, the most effective way is to read a wide variety of English books. Yet one may be at a loss to choose the right books, especially as a beginner. As a native Spanish, I would like to share some of my 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 disastrous. 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 makes sentences, and her way of thinking, which seemed too hard for me at that time. My enthusiasm was much recovered after reading Hemingway’s novel A Farewell to Arms. No long and complicated sentences. And I particularly liked his brief and straightforward (简洁的) style. So my first suggestion is, as a beginner, you’d better choose contemporary novels instead of classical ones.
However, if you limit yourself to novels you will miss a lot of treasures. English essays can at once inform you, entertain you, and improve your taste in English. The best example is Bertrand Russell’s work. His simple language enables his philosophy within the reach of ordinary people. Here comes my second suggestion — essays are necessary.
Never follow others’ suggestions and opinions blindly, however famous or influential (有很大影响的) the person might be. We should be open to various ideas, but always think and determine by 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．Complicated conversations. | B．Sentences and Austen’s thinking style. |
| C．The old-fashioned vocabulary. | D．Not knowing the social background. |
| A．Enjoyable. | B．Unique. | C．Terrible. | D．Inspirational. |
| A．Don’t be affected by others’ ideas easily. | B．Read books that are instructive. |
| C．Choose books that challenge us most. | D．Compare books before buying. |
| 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. |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下画一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词; 2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Reading have a lot of benefits. It can open up our eyes because of books are full of knowledge. I like reading newspapers and magazines from that I get lots of fun and learn about what’s going on around the world. I also read storybooks or novels which make me relaxing and happy. I seldom read e-book because they’re bad for eyes. On weekends, I usual spend a whole afternoon read in the library. And I also read for about half the hour before going to bed every night. Now I am going to read more classics as well as English books improve my language skills. I’m sure reading can make a difference to my life.
10 . Borrowing Policies
The Henry G. Bennett Memorial Library provides materials and services to meet the information needs of graduate and undergraduate students, face-to-face and online learners as well as teachers and community members.
Borrowing for Students
General Collection: 21 days (fall and spring); 14 days (summer)
Curriculum Collection: 7 days (fall and spring); 7 days (summer)
Borrowing for Teachers
General Collection: 90 days (fall and spring); 90 days (summer)
Curriculum Collection: 90 days (fall and spring); 90 days (summer)
OK-Share Card
Any teachers or students of any OK-Share institution may use the collections of any OK-Share library on site. Upon completion of the OK-Share card application at their home library, teachers or students will be given an OK-Share card.
Services
OK-Share card borrowers are allowed two books in their possession at one time. Electronic tools may not be available to the OK-Share card borrowers.
Inform the library you use immediately if your card is lost or stolen. A $5.00 charge for a second OK-Share card must be paid to the lending library.
Books should be returned to the library where the library materials were borrowed. Materials returned by mail should be sent by first-class, insured mail. Materials sent by post office must be insured for at least $100.
Billing
The library is not responsible for informing borrowers that materials are overdue. OK-Share card borrowers are billed for fines for materials returned late.
1. What is the similarity for teachers and students to borrow materials?| A．They can keep them for 90 days anyway. |
| B．They all can borrow them in winter. |
| C．They can keep them in autumn for 14 days. |
| D．They can keep either general or curriculum collections. |
| A．Borrowing two books at a time. | B．Using necessary electronic tools. |
| C．Getting another card for free. | D．Getting materials mailed for free. |
| A．Tell them the date in advance. |
| B．Punish them by fining them. |
| C．Forbid them to borrow books again. |
| D．Force them to hand in the OK-Share card. |
