1 . English history is vast, from its rule under the Romans to the rise, heights and decline of the British Empire. When choosing a book to recommend on my country’s history, I wanted something that could summarize this sweeping history but didn’t get stuck in the details of things that hold me back from thoroughly engaging with this truly rich history. Then, I found Dominic Haynes’ A Brief History of England. It had just what I was looking for and was a real joy to read.
The book is a whistle-stop tour through the whole of English history, from its earliest people to the movement of settlers from Europe. It looks at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Elizabeth I’s reign (统治) and the lasting impact of Shakespeare. Then it touches on the English Civil Wars and the shift of rule from kings and queens to the parliament (议会) running the country and the establishment of the political parties of the Whigs (辉格党) and Tories (托利党) still functioning today in some form as the currently ruling Conservative Party (保守党). It also covers the Napoleonic Wars and the world wars and even contemplates (思考) England’s post-Brexit (脱欧后的) present and future.
This really is quite the sweeping tome. However, it’s very short. This means it’s easy to navigate and get a hold of a huge amount of history, but it also means it’s very light on the details. At times, this can be frustrating, as there are parts where it feels like just another paragraph or page would really elevate this book. But for an introduction to English history or perhaps a reminder or refresher, it’s great and particularly useful as it is likely to fill in some gaps in your knowledge.
Furthermore, because of the pace of the book, there’s not a dull moment. It’s a real page-turner, covering the succession (交替) of kings and queens, wars, famines (饥荒) and changes in the social order of the country at home and the country’s influence across the world.
One reviewer on Amazon described the book as “a small masterpiece”, and said, “This is a great book for anyone who wants to get a crash course in English history or for those who want a quick reference to that subject.”
So, jump in, dear readers, and get a hold of what made England what it was, what it went on to be, and where it may stand in our global future.
1. What is the main focus of Dominic Haynes’ A Brief History of England?A.Detailed exploration of England’s political parties. |
B.An introduction to the British Empire’s rise and fall. |
C.A brief overview of England’s historical shifts and events. |
D.In-depth analysis of England’s post-Brexit policies. |
A.Its pace is slow and frustrating. |
B.There’s a shortage of information on wars. |
C.It dives too deeply into political complexities. |
D.It lacks detailed information due to its shortness. |
A.A book that is exciting to read. | B.A book that has lots of pages to turn. |
C.A book that is easy to understand. | D.A book that is complicated. |
A.Jump into the UK’s past. | B.The ebb and flow of the UK. |
C.The significance of studying the UK’s history. | D.The UK, you always live in people’s hearts. |
2 . Reading for pleasure can be an important and enjoyable childhood activity. Unlike listening and spoken language, which develop rapidly and easily in young children, reading is a taught skill and is acquired and developed through specific learning over time. Until now it has been unclear what effect—if any—encouraging children to read from an early age will have on their brain development, cognition(认知) and mental health later in life.
To find out this, researchers from the universities of the UK and China looked at data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) groups in the US. Of the 10,243 participants studied, just under a half had little experience of reading for pleasure or did not begin doing so until later in their childhood. The remaining half had spent between three and ten years reading for pleasure.
The team found a strong link between reading for pleasure at an early age and a positive performance in adolescence on cognitive tests that measured such factors as verbal learning, memory and speech development, and at-school academic achievement. These children also had better mental health, when assessed using a number of clinical scores and reports from parents and teachers, showing fewer signs of stress and depression, as well as improved attention and fewer behavioral problems such as aggression and rule-breaking.
Children who began reading for pleasure earlier also tended to spend less screen time—for example, watching TV or using their smartphone or tablet—during the week and at weekends in their adolescence, and also tended to sleep longer.
The best amount of reading for pleasure as a young child was around 12 hours per week. Beyond this, there appeared to be no additional benefits. Instead, there was a gradual decrease in cognition, which the researchers say may be because they are sedentary and spend little time on other activities that could be cognitively improving, including sports and social activities.
1. What did the research focus on?A.The state of children’s reading ability. | B.The development of reading for pleasure. |
C.Effects that early reading has on children. | D.Difficulties in listening, speaking and reading. |
A.Improve their performance at school. | B.Better their mental pressure. |
C.Better their observation ability. | D.Reduce their screen and sleeping time. |
A.Sitting still for a long time. | B.Developing hobbies. |
C.Taking physical exercise. | D.Participating in community activities. |
A.Benefits of early reading for pleasure. |
B.Ways for children to master a taught skill. |
C.Important and enjoyable childhood activities. |
D.Cognitive tests measuring academic achievement. |
3 . Soon there will be a Review Blitz! In a month, we are searching for reasonable reviews that reflect your sincere opinions. Just keep in mind that the deadline for your reviews is October 23, 2023.
Rules:
To enter, you must be a teen (aged 13-19) with a Teen Creativity account.
Submissions ought to be relevant to the topic.
Each review must be no more than 250 words.
There is no restriction on the number of pieces you can submit.
Guidelines:
Give a brief summary of the book. Avoid explaining the entire plot or telling your reader how the book ends.
Inform the reader what you like or dislike about the book.
Recommend the book to specific readers. Does the book lend itself well to older teens? Would science fiction enthusiasts show interest in this book? It’s helpful for readers to think about the book in light of other books they’ve read.
Remember that it’s okay to have a strong opinion! Don’t start sentences with “I think”, “I believe” or “In my opinion”.
Prizes:
All participants will be given a certificate.
First prize winners will respectively have one review published in Teen Creativity magazine and obtain a free 6-month magazine subscription.
Second-place winners will each receive a free 3-month magazine subscription.
You’ll receive these prizes before December 28, 2023.
Submit your works to www.teencreativity.com. We hope reviewing books brings you joy.
1. Which of the following meets the requirement of Review Blitz?A.A person can present no more than one piece of work. |
B.Each piece of work can have a maximum of 250 words. |
C.Reviews must be written by people under 20 years old. |
D.Works must be uploaded by the end of October 2023. |
A.The likes and dislikes of the book. |
B.The recommendation to all readers. |
C.Statements containing “In my opinion”. |
D.A summary that demonstrates the whole plot. |
A.Self-learners. | B.Teaching staff. |
C.Professional trainers. | D.Bookish adolescents. |
1. 小说名称;
2. 内容梗概;
3. 小说对你的影响。
注意:
1. 写作词数应为80词左右;
2. 短文题目已为你写好,请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
My Favorite Novel
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5 . From learning about protecting wild animals and natural habitats to reading about the effects of recycling, books are perfect for showing people how to get involved. Here are four of such books.
Tall Trees
Describing the wildlife that lives in Northern California’s redwood forests, it turns story time into a counting lesson as readers count all the creatures in the forests. Readers will also love remembering Tony Frederick’s playful poetry about the animals of the forest.
Save the Bees
Bethany Stahl has a whole series of “Save the...” books, and they all have great lessons for readers. The explanations are fun and perfect for animal lovers who want to learn how to make a difference. On her website, she even has links to free books, which are great resources for parents or teachers.
My Friend Earth
The message of this book, written by Patricia MacLachlan, is beautiful and simple, encouraging kids to learn about Earth and all that it does. It has acute die-cut (模切) design, which is fun for little hands to explore, although those under 4 might need some help. It covers a wide range of topics and will help kids gain an appreciation for everything from rain and wind to bears and birds.
Thank You, Earth
The author of this book, April Pulley Sayre, has written many award-winning books, and this one is truly special. It was written in a letter format (格式), thanking Earth for so many great natural moments. You’ll find beautiful pictures in this book.
1. Whose book includes poems about wildlife?A.April Pulley Sayre’s. | B.Bethany Stahl’s. |
C.Patricia MacLachlan’s. | D.Tony Frederick’s. |
A.Tall Trees. | B.Save the Bees. |
C.My Friend Earth. | D.Thank You, Earth. |
A.It has a special theme. | B.It is in the form of a letter. |
C.It is based on real events. | D.It targets at teenagers. |
A.In a bookstore. | B.In a library. | C.In a classroom. |
7 . Plastics have been found from the top of Mount Qomolangma to newly-formed beaches in Hawaii. The amount of plastic in our environment is shocking. What can we do about it? I’m inspired by Kate Nelson, who has lived without using single-use plastic for over ten years. Kate is also the founder of Sea the Mermaids, an organization focusing on stopping human-sourced ocean pollution through education and community action.
She recently wrote an inspiring and practical guidebook I Quit Plastics: and you can too, which is full of information and tips on how to cook, clean, shop, wear and live plastic-free. Upon first opening, you will see a recipe for Cashew Cheese that looks amazing! Not only does this book provide many delicious recipes, but also explores interesting problems about plastic pollution.
For example, Kate explores the problems about plastics and social justice, including plastic privilege(特权). She points out that wealthier countries, such as the USA, export their plastic waste to Southeast Asia, but many of these countries cannot process their own waste. In addition, most of the affordable food, though processed and unhealthy, is heavily packaged in plastic. People that live in “food deserts” in cities and depend on corner stores have no choice when it comes to avoiding plastics. Kate writes in the book, “Not everyone will have bulk (散装) food stores or farmers’ markets near where they live.”
Kate’s writing is easy to read without sounding preachy (说教的). Her explanations and reasoning are clear. From food to beauty to cleaning, Kate’s practical recipes and tips make it easy for everyone to reduce their chances of using single-use plastic. She develops effective strategies that others can easily adopt and offers clear steps to help people improve on the plastic quifting journey.
1. Why does the author talk about plastic in the first paragraph?A.To lead to the topic. | B.To share an experience. |
C.To doubt serious pollution. | D.To explain plastic pollution. |
A.Famous persons. | B.The latest news. |
C.Classic music. | D.Reusable shopping bags. |
A.They eat too much unhealthy food. |
B.They can’t afford to buy enough food. |
C.They can’t avoid plastic-packaged food. |
D.They prefer bulk food to packaged food. |
A.An environment report. | B.A book review. |
C.An author’s introduction. | D.A scientific research. |
1. What do most students write on the sides of each page?
A.Questions. | B.Long notes. | C.New vocabulary. |
A.Using as many colors as possible. |
B.Reading a chapter with one pen in the hand. |
C.Marking the information as much as possible. |
A.By reviewing the marks. |
B.By reviewing all the books. |
C.By asking their teachers questions. |
1. What can be said about the man?
A.He loves reading. |
B.He has no time to read for fun. |
C.He prefers movies to books. |
A.Legal documents. |
B.Thrillers. |
C.Biographies. |
A.A book on Mona Lisa. |
B.A book on a rock band. |
C.A book on a murder. |
A.Next Monday. |
B.Next Friday. |
C.On the weekend. |
10 . Learn With Homer
Price: Free
Grade level: Pre-K, K
Skill: Comprehension, Phonics (拼读法)
Device: iPad
It’s a learn-to-read app for kids aged 3 to 6 that includes drawing, voice recording, stories, songs, and more, along with more traditional phonics exercises.
This app can be helpful for kids who have speech production problems and language organization problems.
Inspiration Maps
Price: $ 9.99
Grade level: 4th and above
Skill: Comprehension, Writing
Device: iPad
Inspiration Maps is a mind-mapping tool that helps kids visually (视觉上) organize ideas. They can create maps, organizers, brainstorms, and text outlines. Outlines can be changed to maps, and maps can be changed to outlines. Users can share creations by emailing, printing, or saving to iTunes, Dropbox, Photos, or the app (as PDF or PNG files) . The Lite version (简化版本),which is free, lets kids create up to five mind maps with no sharing choices.
Aesop’s Quest
Price: $ 0.99
Skill: Comprehension
Grade level: 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Aesop’s Quest, based on Aesop’s Fables, is a learning game where the student must remember parts of a story to complete a level. At the end of each story level, the student is rewarded with tests. After solving the tests, the story is complete and the child can continue to the next story.
Developed together with the Virginia Department of Education.
Light Sail
Grade level: Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and above
Price: Free
Skill: Comprehension
Device: iPad
Light Sail is an e-reading platform that helps teachers support their students’ independent reading. Students can use Light Sail to check out text from their schools’ online libraries and read the books directly on their iPad. As students progress through a book, questions appear to check their comprehension. As students complete these assessments (评定), they earn prizes.
1. What do the four apps have in common?A.They try to improve kids’ comprehension ability. |
B.They are developed for high-school students. |
C.They can be downloaded onto iPhone. |
D.They are free of charge. |
A.Learn With Homer | B.Aesop’s Quest | C.Light Sail | D.Inspiration Maps |
A.It is developed only for teachers. |
B.It is a platform to support students’ independent reading. |
C.It helps users to finish their homework. |
D.It develops users’ comprehension through games. |