2 . What kind of book is the woman reading?

A．Science fiction.

B．Romantic fiction.

C．Horror fiction

3 . Family plays an important part in much fiction, of course, but sometimes the short story form has offered us an insight into family life that the longer novel does not. Here are some for you to taste.

Prelude, by Katherine Mansfield

Prelude is one of Katherine Mansfield's longest and finest short stories. Because Prelude is a modernist short story, the emphasis is on characters rather than plots. Mansfield is using the Burnells’ house-move, and the period when they are busy settling into their new home, as a situation to observe family, women and class.

He, by Katherine Anne Porter

Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980) wrote just one novel and fewer than thirty short stories, yet she is regarded as an important twentieth-century American writer, with He among her most celebrated and critically praised works. An important theme of Porter’s work is the search for meaning in a modern and increasingly materialist world.

Signs and Symbols, by Vladimir Nabokov

It is a short story by the Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977), originally published in the New Yorker in 1948. The story centers on an elderly married Russian couple who move to the United States; their son is suffering from paranoid delusions (妄想症) and has been limited to a care center. Signs and Symbols focuses on the couple’s attempt to visit their son and its result.

Down at the Dinghy, by J. D. Salinger

This short story was originally published in 1949. It involves an adult speaking to a child. It is about a young boy who runs from home and goes down to the nearby lake, where he gets into a boat and refuses to speak to his mother. The story ends with the mother bonding with her son.

1. What is special about Prelude?

A．It’s about scientific observation.	B．It’s the longest of the four.
C．It involves moving to a new place.	D．It focuses more on figures than plots.

2. What do we know about Katherine Anne Porter and Vladimir Nabokov?

A．They are contemporary writers.	B．Their works center on critical thinking.
C．They both seek for meaning in modern life.	D．Their works were published in the New Yorker.

3. Who are the target readers of the text?

A．Science fiction fans.	B．Family-based short story lovers.
C．Those who plan to be writers.	D．People trying to have a family.

5 . Three grade 11 students from Harbour View High School, Canada, wanted to convey their message of fighting climate change to a younger audience. So, they wrote a children’s book named Keeping It Cool as part of a project.

Upon receiving their first order of 12 copies, Claire Malco, the illustrator of the book, vividly recalls the moment when the realization struck. “I just sat there with my mouth open and was like, wow, this is actually happening,” Malco told CBC News.

Coauthored by Joanna Jackson and Olivia Jordan, the book employs age-appropriate analogies (类比), coupled with vibrant illustrations, to promote actions kids can take against climate change. To explain the concept of the atmosphere, for example, the young authors drew a bubble(气泡) around Earth throughout the story. They also call for actions, such as planting trees and vegetable gardens – explaining how plants absorb CO2 from the “bubble” atmosphere just like a vacuum cleaner (真空吸尘器). The book also tells kids how they can avoid polluting the bubble by trying to walk, bike or scoot instead of taking a car or bus.

“The entire second half of the book is just things kids can do without needing their parents’ support … We wanted it to be something that every kid could finish,” Jordan explained to CBC News.

On Earth Day, the students visited a local elementary school where they read their stories and facilitated discussions about the text with every grade 5 class. They spread awareness that, regardless of age, anybody can help make a positive impact on Earth’s climate.“Educating students was the intention when writing this book. Having the opportunity to present to 10 different classes helped us gain insight on how to better our presentation and content, as well as see the impact this book will have on students,” the students told Our Canada Project.

1. Why did the three students write Keeping It Cool ?

A．To change a younger audience.	B．To show their talent for illustrating.
C．To describe environmental problems.	D．To inform kids of handling climate change.

2. What does the underlined word “vibrant” mean in paragraph 3?

A．Vivid.

B．Ordinary.

C．Complex.

D．Abstract.

3. What did the students do to promote the book in an elementary school?

A．They discussed the text with 5 classes.	B．They wrote the book with the students.
C．They did a presentation in every class.	D．They inspired discussions about the text.

4. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A news report.

B．A book review.

C．A children’s book.

D．A diary.

6 . Once upon a time, the villagers in a small village lived their poor lives. Very few people could read _________ one girl named Hannah. She loved to explore and would spend hours in the woods away from the village, looking for new things.

One afternoon, when Hannah was on one of her adventurous _________, she came upon a (n) _________ cottage. The cottage looked very old in its condition. She _________ opened it and she was left amazed. In front of Hannah was a room full of _________! She realized that she found a hidden _________, which could satisfy her love of reading.

She _________ the books for many days. They were very _________, filled with different stories. The little girl was so _________ by one of the characters from books who strove for good that she determined to learn from him. She learned that the true __________ of good lies within one’s own heart and makes people change! With the __________ in heart, she decided to share the stories with the villagers.

Making this her mission, Hannah started telling stories every day at the __________. At the start, only very few villagers came for the stories. But she didn’t __________ and the word of her telling stories spread rapidly, causing more and more __________ to come. Soon, the word of Hannah’s __________ spread to far-off towns. People traveled from different places to just listen to her stories. The villagers helped her rebuild the cottage for __________ more people to enjoy the stories.

She later __________ workshops there in which she taught her fellows how to read. Hannah was their mentor (导师) and everyone __________ her.

Hannah continued her __________ throughout her life. She was __________ for the good she did even after she was long gone.

1.

A．along with

B．except for

C．as long as

D．instead of

2.

A．tasks

B．attempts

C．explorations

D．experiments

3.

A．lost

B．shiny

C．splendid

D．abandoned

4.

A．curiously

B．anxiously

C．hurriedly

D．carelessly

5.

A．books

B．weapons

C．money

D．gold

6.

A．puzzle

B．treasure

C．measure

D．condition

7.

A．owned

B．brought

C．enjoyed

D．borrowed

8.

A．strange

B．common

C．boring

D．interesting

9.

A．confused

B．inspired

C．thrilled

D．misguided

10.

A．fuel

B．face

C．power

D．encouragement

11.

A．good

B．glory

C．knowledge

D．responsibility

12.

A．town

B．room

C．shelter

D．cottage

13.

A．give up

B．take off

C．calm down

D．move on

14.

A．writers

B．kids

C．students

D．villagers

15.

A．tale

B．storytelling

C．reading

D．legend

16.

A．forcing

B．seating

C．providing

D．begging

17.

A．conducted

B．attended

C．repaired

D．established

18.

A．knew

B．invited

C．admired

D．accepted

19.

A．plan

B．hobby

C．career

D．mission

20.

A．replaced

B．renewed

C．remembered

D．reconsidered

8 . For those looking to fry up something new this winter, these are the cookbooks to have in your kitchen bookshelf.

1. Made in Bangladesh, by Dina Begum

£28, Hardie Grant

The second cookbook from food writer Dina Begum is a love letter to Bangladcsh. Alongside the selection of tempting recipes are detailed ingredient notes, explanations of distinctive spice mixtures and advice on traditional preparation and serving, all accompanied by vivid photography of busy street-sellers, grass-covered landscapes and market produce.

2. Manju’s Cookbook, by Manju Patel

£22, Ryland Peters & Small

At the age of 80, Gujarat-born Manju Patel was given a restaurant in Brighton by her sons. Six years later, she remains an important part of the business — named Manju’s — but has also found the time to write this cookbook, which showcases dishes including mattar paneer（奶豆腐）and Gujarati dal.

3. Ester, by Mat Lindsay

£30, Murdoch Books

Australian restauranteur Mat Lindsay’s new book isn’t for the green-hand home cook. Ester is a celebration of modern Aussie cuisine, focusing on fire and perfect technique. Recipes include flame-grilled bone marrow with sesame-seed sambal, and sourdough ice cream.

4. Maydan, by Rose Previte

£30, Abrams

This new cookbook from Washington, DC-based chef Rose Previte is inspired by her Lebanese roots and travels in the Middle East. You can surely be inspired if you enjoy Lebanese dishes.

1. Which of the following book is the cheapest?

A．Ester.	B．Manju’s Cookbook.
C．Maydan.	D．Made in Bangladesh.

2. If you want to try Lebanese food, whose book will you choose?

A．Rose Previte.	B．Mat Lindsay.
C．Manju Patel.	D．Dina Begum.

3. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To ask readers to learn to cook.

B．To make comments on the four books.

C．To recommend new cookbooks to readers.

D．To make comparisons between the books.