1 . As a college student in Boston, I formed the habit of buying used books. I enjoy the hunt, the good price and the unrecognized treasures. I find old textbooks, ex-bestsellers, and books on subjects I’ve never heard of and now must learn all about. I don’t search for rare books, first editions, or leather-bound editions but books that are worth reading.
Rereading, for me, is a pleasure during retirement. The theater and the concert hall become less appealing to me, along with crowds. Staying alone and reading books have become extremely important to me. Literature needs the flesh of experience to have its full effect. Different books offer me insights and ways of expressing that stuck in my mind as grains of sand in an oyster now shine like pearls. My taste in books improves with age.
While packing for a move, which occurs at intervals of five to seven years, I clear my shelves and pick my books. I abandon a few, later regret my decisions, and look for them again. Several years ago, I got rid of books related to my job-architecture. Some were design guides, reference books, product catalogs, and things that went out of date. Some were historical or centered on a period or an architect. These had given me many hours of pleasure. Will I ever open their covers again? Certainly. I held on to the red bulk of Sir Banister Fletcher’s A History of Architecture and books on Paris, Rome, and Boston.
I gave away drafting equipment and instruments. I threw out rolls and rolls of paper, and old drawings of projects completed long ago, some of which had even been damaged. This time, I stay put in a cottage that suits my status and I’ve moved on in spirit. No doubt I will acquire more used books and throw away more books as passions grow and fade, like feathers changing with the seasons.
1. What does the author consider most important when choosing used books？| A．Their appealing covers. | B．Their reasonable prices. |
| C．Their excellent content. | D．Their collection value. |
| A．He has a small circle of friends. | B．His attitude towards work changes. |
| C．His communication skills improve. | D．He has a deeper understanding of life and books. |
| A．To show some books are worth reading repeatedly. |
| B．To recommend Sir Banister Fletcher’s books. |
| C．To suggest we avoid making poor decisions. |
| D．To explain his love for architecture. |
| A．He will stop throwing away used books. |
| B．He likes updating his collection of used books. |
| C．He is bad at using advanced drafting equipment. |
| D．He enjoys leading an active life in the countryside. |
2 . Below is a list of the most worthwhile writing competitions available.
TALF Flash Fiction Competition
The theme of this contest from Theme Arts and Literature Festival is "The Prime of Lile" in recognition of the l5th anniversary of the death of Muriel Spark. You can deal with this theme in any genre (体裁) and in any way you choose, although you are limited to 500 words.
Prizes : £200, £100, £50.
Entry Fee : £8.
Wild Nature Poetry Award 2022
Here we have a new contest from Indigo Dreams Publishing. It is for poems of up to 48 lines on the subject of cruel sports, wildlife in general, the natural world, or the environment.
Prizes: £200, £100, £75.
Entry Fee: £5.
SPM Poetry Book Competition
This international contest from Sentinel Poetry Movement is for full-length poetry collections on any theme and in any style. To enter, you submit up to 20 pages initially. If shortlisted (入围), you have to submit the full collection before December 31 .
Prizes: £500, £250, £100.
Entry Fee: £25.
Poetry Space Competition 2022
Here's a new contest from Poetry Space, an online platform for modern poetry from around the world, which requires poems of up to 40 lines on any subject. You have to be over 16 to enter. The judge is Rosie Jackson, a poet and creative writing tutor.
Prizes: £300, £200, £100.
Entry Fee: £5.
1. What is special about TALF Flash Fiction Competition?| A．It requires no entry fee. | B．It is about a certain theme. |
| C．It has the longest history. | D．It was started by a famous person. |
| A．SPM Poetry Book Competition. | B．Poetry Space Competition 2022. |
| C．Wild Nature Poetry Award 2022. | D．TALF Flash Fiction Competition. |
| A．It is a yearly contest. | B．Anyone can take part. |
| C．It has more than one limit. | D．In offers the most prize money. |
3 . From the very beginning of school we make books and reading a constant source of possible failure and public humiliation (侮辱). When children are little we make them read aloud before the teacher and other children, so that we can be sure they “know” all the words they are reading. This means that when they don’t know a word, they are going to make a mistake, right in front of everyone. After having taught fifth-grade classes for four years, I decided to try at all costs to rid them of their fear and dislike of books, and to get them to read oftener and more adventurously.
One day soon after school had started, I said to them, “Now I’m going to say something about reading that you have probably never heard a teacher say before. I would like you to read a lot of books this year, but I want you to read them only for pleasure. I am not going to ask you questions to find out whether you understand the books or not. If you understand enough of a book to enjoy it and want to go on reading it, that’s enough for me. Also I’m not going to ask you what words mean.”
The children sat stunned and silent. Was this teacher talking seriously? One girl, who had just come to us from a school where she had had a very hard time, looked at me steadily for a long time after I had finished. Then, still looking at me, she said slowly and seriously, “Mr. Holt, do you really mean that?” I said just as seriously, “ I mean every word of it.”
During the spring she really astonished me. One day, she was reading at her desk. From a glimpse of the illustrations (插图) I thought I knew what the book was. I said to myself, “It can’t be,” and went to take a closer look. Sure enough, she was reading Moby Dick. I said, “Don’t you find parts of it rather heavy going?” She answered, “Oh, sure, but I just skip over those parts and go on to the next good part.”
This is exactly what reading, I think, should be: find something, dive into it, take the good parts, skip the bad parts, get what you can out of it, and then go on to something else.
1. According to the passage, children’s fear and dislike of books may result from ________.| A．reading little and thinking little | B．reading often and adventurously |
| C．being made to read too much | D．being made to read aloud before others |
| A．for higher scores in exams | B．for knowledge |
| C．for enjoyment | D．for a larger vocabulary |
| A．it sounded stupid | B．it was not surprising at all |
| C．it sounded too good to be true | D．it was no different from other teachers’ talk |
| A．He likes reading the book. |
| B．He wants to drink a cup of tea. |
| C．He doesn’t think the book is interesting. |
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：在错的词下划一横线，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
My grandfather was the Chinese traditional literature lover. He seemed to know everything about it. I used to be take to bookstores, what we would stay for hours. However, I fell in love with books as a little kid and found very interesting to read stories. I especial liked Sun Wukong, a romantic figure of brave and adventure. Now I realized that without my grandfather, I wouldn’t have formed the habit of reading. Long after graduating from high school, but I have already decided to choose Chinese literature as my major.
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. |
| A．Claire Lombardo. | B．Maaza Mengiste. |
| C．Shari Lapena. | D．Garrett M. Graff. |
| 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 . Teens and younger children are reading a lot less for fun, according to a Common Sense Media report published Monday.
While the decline over the past decade is steep for teen readers, some data in the report shows that reading remains a big part of many children’s lives, and indicates how parents might help encourage more reading.
According to the report’s key findings, “the proportion (比例) who say they ‘hardly ever’ read for fun has gone from 8 percent of 13-year-olds and 9 percent of 17-year-olds in 1984 to 22 percent and 27 percent respectively today.”
The report data shows that pleasure reading levels for younger children, ages 2-8, remain largely the same. But the amount of time spent in reading each session has declined, from closer to an hour or more to closer to a half hour per session.
When it comes to technology and reading, the report does little to counsel (建议) parents looking for data about the effect of e-readers and tablets on reading. It does point out that many parents still limit electronic reading, mainly due to concerns about increased screen time.
The most hopeful data shared in the report shows clear evidence of parents serving as examples and important guides for their kids when it comes to reading. Data shows that kids and teens who do read frequently, compared to infrequent readers, have more books in the home, more books purchased for them, parents who read more often, and parents who set aside time for them to read.
As the end of school approaches, and school vacation reading lists loom (逼近) ahead, parents might take this chance to step in and make their own summer reading list and plan a family trip to the library or bookstore.
1. What is the Common Sense Media report probably about?| A．Children’s reading habits. | B．Quality of children’s books. |
| C．Children’s after-class activities. | D．Parent-child relationships. |
| A．In paragraph 2. | B．In paragraph 3. |
| C．In paragraph 4. | D．In paragraph 5. |
| A．E-books are of poor quality. | B．It could be a waste of time. |
| C．It may harm children’s health. | D．E-readers are expensive. |
By Roald Dahl
Price: $ 10.25
Gifted and sweet, Matilda White goes largely unnoticed by her less-than-loving parents. Things only get worse when she goes to school. Luckily, her teacher, Miss Honey, helps Matilda discover how special she is and encourages her to create the life she dreams about.
Ivy & BeanBy Annie Barrows
Price: $4.59
When Ivy moves in across the street, Bean is sure they won’t be friends. They are just too different. However, when Ivy helps Bean get away from her sister, who is trying to get Bean in trouble, a friendship blossoms between the unlikely pair. Kids who enjoy this book can read the whole series over the summer.
Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary DeedBy Emily Pearson
Price: $ 7.99
When Mary decides to give some fresh-picked wild blueberries to a neighbor, she starts a chain reaction of kindness. After Mrs. Bishop makes and shares newly-made cake, her recipients go on to spread kindness to others they meet. Mary might be a common little girl, but she learns that even children can help make the world a better place.
FrederickBy Leo Lionni
Price: $ 14.39
Frederick is a mouse who lives with his family in a large field. During the summer, all of the mice begin to store food to prepare for the cold winter months. All of the mice except Frederick, that is. Instead, Frederick collects things such as rays of sun, rainbows and words. Although the others think he is stupid, they come to learn that everyone’s contribution counts.
1. Who helps Matilda discover how special she is?| A．Her friend, Annie. | B．Her neighbor, Mary. |
| C．Her father, Mr. White. | D．Her teacher, Miss Honey. |
| A．Roald Dahl’s. | B．Leo Lionni’s. |
| C．Emily Pearson’s. | D．Annie Barrows’s. |
| A．Cakes. | B．Blueberries. |
| C．Books. | D．Flowers. |
| A．$4.59. | B．$7.99. |
| C．$14.39. | D．$10.25. |
| A．A story book. | B．A lesson plan. |
| C．A book review. | D．A kid’s magazine. |
9 . Below are four books of the 10 Best Books of 2019. Which one will you add to your booklist?
Exhalation （呼吸）
By Ted Chiang
■ Many of the nine deeply beautiful stories in this collection explore the material consequences of time travel. Reading them feels, like sitting at dinner with a friend who explains scientific theory to you without an ounce of condescension （傲慢）.Each thoughtful, elegantly crafted story poses a philosophical question; Chiang organizes all nine into a conversation that comes full circle, after having travelled remarkab1e val1eys ，，, deserts and plains.
Lost Children Archivef(档案）)）
By Valeria Luiselli
■ The Mexican author’s third novel — her first to be written in English — unfolds against a backdrop of crisis: of children crossing borders, facing death, being confined, being deported unaccompanied by their guardians.
The novel centers on a couple and their two children, who are taking a road trip from New York City to the Mexican border; the couple's marriage is on the edge of collapse and the woman tries to help a Mexican immigrant find her daughters, who've gone missing in their attempt to cross the border behind her. The brilliance of Luiselli's writing stirs anger and pity. Acutely sensitive, Luiselli has delivered an experimental book, one that is as much about storytellers and storytelling as it is about lost children.
The Yellow House
By Sarah Broom
■ In her first extraordinary, fascinating appearance, Broom pushes past the baseline expectations of memoir to create an entertaining and inventive combination of literary forms. Part oral history, part urban history, part celebration of a bygone way of life, "The Yellow House" is a full accusation of the greed, discrimination, indifference and poor city planning that led her family's home to be wiped off the map. Tracing the history of a single home in New Orleans East, from the ' 60s to Hurricane Katrina, this is an instantly essential text, examining the past, present and possible future of the city of New Orleans, and a true reflection of America.
No Visible Bruises
By Rachel Louise Snyder
■ Snyder's thoroughly reported book covers what the World Health Organization has called "a global health problem of epidemic proportions." In America alone, more
than half of all murdered women are killed by a current or former partner; domestic violence cuts across lines of class, religion and race. Snyder exposes myths (restraining orders are the answer,: abusers never change) and writes movingly about the lives of people on both sides of the equation. She doesn't give easy answers but presents a wealth of information that is its own form of hope.
1. If you are a fan of science fiction, which book will you choose?
| A．Exhalation Lost | B．Children Archive |
| C．The Yellow House | D．No Visible Bruises |
| A．In the book Exhalation, Ted Chiang describes a story told by his friend. |
| B．Lost Children Archive is Valeria Luiselli's first novel in English. |
| C．Several stories of literary forms make up the book, The Yellow House. |
| D．No Visible Bruises shows nothing but restraining orders are answers to family violence. |
10 . By the end of the year, editors of New York Times have picked the 4 best books of 2019, including fiction and non-fiction. Let’s see which one will take your fancy.
Disappearing Earth
By Julia Phillips
In the first chapter of this novel, two young girls vanish, sending shock waves through a town on the edge of the remote and mysterious Kamchatka Peninsula. What follows is a novel of overlapping short stories about the different women who have been affected by their disappearance. Each tale pushes the narrative forward another month and exposes the ways in which the women of Kamchatka have been destroyed — personally, culturally and emotionally — by the crime.
No Visible Bruises
By Rachel Louise Snyder
Snyder’s thoroughly reported book covers what the World Health Organization has called “a global health problem”. In America alone, more than half of all murdered women are killed by a current or former life partner; domestic violence cuts across lines of class, religion and race. Snyder reveals pervasive myths (restraining orders are the answer, abusers never change) and writes movingly about the lives (and deaths) of people on both sides of the equation. She doesn’t give easy answers but presents a wealth of information that is its own form of hope.
Midnight in Chernobyl
By Adam Higginbotham
Higginbotham’s superb account of the April 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is one of those rare books about science and technology that read like a tension-filled thriller. Filled with vivid detail and sharply etched personalities, this narrative of astonishing incompetence moves from mistake to mistake, miscalculation to miscalculation, as it builds to the inevitable, history-changing disaster.
Exhalation
By Ted Chiang
Many of the nine deeply beautiful stories in this collection explore the material consequences of time travel. Reading them feels like sitting at dinner with a friend who explains scientific theory to you with no airs and graces. Each thoughtful, elegantly crafted story poses a philosophical question; Chiang arranges all nine into a conversation that comes full circle, after having travelled through remarkable areas.
1. Which of the following tells about the violence from a husband to a wife in a family?| A．Disappearing Earth | B．No Visible Bruises |
| C．Midnight in Chernobyl | D．Exhalation |
| A．Delighted. | B．Awkward. |
| C．Tense. | D．Calm. |
| A．A folk tale. | B．A biography. |
| C．A love story. | D．A sci-fi story. |
