3 . The Advantages of Reading Widely

Many people tend to only read one type or genre(体裁) of books.     1     As we become more mature, we should possess sufficient ideas to be able to discuss certain topics. And a good way to learn about the world is to read about it. The benefits of reading widely are listed as follows

    2     For instance, in The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, there is a social divide between the working-class and the upper-class. The Outsiders made me realize that everyone’s point of view should be widely accepted as how they view things may differ from mine. Works such as The Outsiders have promoted my sense of empathy and understanding and helped me to grow as a more considerate person.

Reading widely helps us learn about and be more sensitive to the cultures of others. Nowadays, a number of people tend to read books only set in a certain context, making the certain culture the norm and find anything set outside that context strange and abnormal.     3     This enables them to be more familiar with different cultures and be more tolerant of cultural and religious practices.

Reading widely can also give you a greater sense of how the world works. For example, in the autobiography, I am Malala, we read about how the brave Malala fought to be educated in Pakistan. In A Hope More Powerful Than The Sea by Melissa Fleming, readers learn about the story of Doaa AI Jamil, a Syrian refugee, whose life was turned upside down by the ongoing war is Syria.     4    

    5     But I hope that more people of our generation begin to read a wide range of books so that they would have a broader worldview. Meanwhile, they are more likely to own the sense of empathy and understand the customs and cultures of others.

A．Reading is far ignored in our age.

B．However, it is vital for us to read more books.

C．In contrast, some people prefer to read more widely.

D．Reading widely inspires us to find out the great social divide.

E．Reading widely enables us to see the world from someone else’s standpoint.

F．The benefits brought by the certain type of books cannot be emphasized too much.

G．Reading books such as these will give you a better insight into many social issues worldwide.

5 . The Power of Poetry

People are suffering from depression and anxiety now more than ever. To help case the pain, they are turning to new approaches and, believe it or not, poetry is one of them.

It’s common sense that reading fiction can increase empathy (同理心).     1     Well, for decades, scientific studies have proven that poetry has a beneficial impact in managing pain, handling stress and improving personal well-being. Let’s dive a bit deeper, and consider some specific ways in which poetry can help mental health.

Poetry can be a form of comfort. By reading poetry, we can get the escapism we long for, transporting us out of our own world and into someone else’s.     2     Trying to uncover the meaning of a poem can give us a necessary break from our inner monologue as well.

It can be a shared experience. Poems are often quite emotional in nature.     3     There’s something quite comforting in the knowledge that we’re not alone and that our pain is shared with someone else. Poetry often reveals that there is universality (普遍性) in the human experience.

    4     Many poems creatively tackle some sensitive topics like depression, anxiety, abuse, poverty, all of which can be found in a poetic form, empowering both the poet and the reader.

To put it lightly, life is tough, but it’s important to remember that we’re not alone. The next time you’re feeling hopeless, try diving into the works of a poet.     5     Who knows?

A．However, how does it work?

B．But what’s so special about poetry?

C．As the saying goes, misery loves company.

D．Poetry can also be a platform for change and advocacy.

E．You might be inspired to write some poetry of your own.

F．Chances are that you will heat the love songs of the poet.

G．The repetition and rhyme found in it can relieve our pain.

6 . If you are having trouble in finding suitable books for your kids to read, or would like to try some new ones, maybe you can take advantage of the following passages to see what’s around.

	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Nobody has seen Willy Wonka inside his amazing chocolate factory for years. When he announces plans to invite the winners of five Golden Tickets hidden inside chocolate bars to visit his factory, the whole world goes after those tickets! Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is perhaps Roald Dahl’s best-known story.
	When the Sea Turned to Silver Pinmei’s grandmother always has the most exciting stories for her granddaughter. However, one night, soldiers of the King take her away. Knowing the King wants a special stone, Pinmei starts a journey to find the magic stone with her friend Yishan, a mysterious boy. This is a book full of Chinese stories, truth, and magic. Don’t miss it!
	A Mango-Shaped Space This is a wonderful book! Mia is different, because she sees colors when she hears sounds, and all letters and numbers have colors. Even words and people’s names look a certain way to her. She has difficulty with maths and language classes because of it. She doesn’t tell anyone about it until one day when she is going into the eighth grade.
	Because of Winn-Dixie One summer day, ten-year-old Opal goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries, and comes home with a dog. The dog Winn-Dixie is not an ordinary one. It’s because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie.

1. Which book best suits readers interested in Chinese culture?

A．Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.	B．When the Sea Turned to Silver.
C．A Mango-Shaped Space.	D．Because of Winn-Dixie.

2. What’s special about Mia?

A．She has a talent for language learning.

B．She can easily remember words and names.

C．She finds sounds, numbers and words have colors for her.

D．She keeps her secret long enough until the end of ninth grade.

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

A．To recommend some books.

B．To express his love for reading.

C．To share some interesting experiences.

D．To persuade readers to buy some books.

7 . Since 1931, The New York Times has been publishing a weekly list of bestselling books. Since then, becoming a New York Times bestseller has become a dream for every writer. Here are some of the New York Times nonfiction bestsellers from 2021.

Educated by TARA WESTOVER

Westover grew up in the rural mountains of Idaho with no formal education. Despite her extremist survivalist parents and violent older brother, Westover managed to make her way into college, eventually earning a Ph.D. You’ll be inspired by her amazing determination but sadden by the circumstances of her childhood.

Think Again by ADAM GRANT

Grant reminds us that just like we refresh our wardrobe from time to time, we need to routinely reexamine our beliefs and ways of thinking. Often our beliefs become habits, and Grant argues that being too attached to one identity and thought process can kill our creativity. Instead, we need to start spending as much time rethinking as we do thinking.

From Strength to Strength by ARTHUR C. BROOKS

Atlantic columnist Arthur C. Brooks teaches how to find happiness in the second half of life. Brooks points out that the more successful you are, the sharper you notice the decline in your abilities as you age. Brooks gives a roadmap to refocusing priorities to achieve greater happiness later in life.

Crying in H Mart by MICHELLE ZAUNER

A biography about growing up as a Korean American from the singer known for her Japanese Breakfast project. Growing up in Eugene, Oregon, Michelle Zauner struggled to fit in as the only Asian-American student in high school, burdened by the high expectations of her mother. Moving East, she began working in the restaurant industry and joined a band. But not until her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis did Zauner feel like she discovered her identity and understand her Koreanness.

1. The power of reexamining beliefs is emphasized by ______.

A．TARA WESTOVER	B．ADAM GRANT
C．ARTHUR C. BROOKS	D．MICHELLE ZAUNER

2. Who are the most likely target readers of From Strength to Strength?

A．Adolescents.

B．Scholars.

C．Retirees.

D．Businessmen.

3. Which pair of books is based on personal stories?

A．Crying in H Mart & Educated.	B．Think Again & Crying in H Mart.
C．Educated & From Strength to Strength.	D．From Strength to Strength & Think Again.

8 . Danay Ferguson loves to read. Her parents often find her ________ past her bedtime racing to the end of a story. “If you’re ________, you can be in your own world and do almost anything you ________,” she says.

Danay wanted to open a bookstore, so she did some ________. She learned that in low-income neighborhoods, there may be only 1 book for every 300 kids. She decided that needed to ________. So at age eight, Danay started an organization. Reading Heart collects books that are donated (捐赠) by people. Then Danay and her friends ________ the books to kids in schools and low-income neighborhoods.

On visits to ________, Danay turns the book giveaway into a ________. With dancing, free T-shirts, and tables of books, her “Book Tour” has visited more than 150 schools in her area to get kids ________ about reading at her reading party. After kids choose their books, Danay gives them a ________.

“They can keep their book, ” she says. “But when they’re done with it, they share it with a friend.” By ________ books, Danay explains, kids get to read ________. “It’s like building mini libraries for each kid. When we give 500 kids a free book to ________, each kid has the ________ to read 500 books! It’s a(an) ________ feeling to see a kid’s smile when they get a book for the first time.”

1.

A．alone

B．awake

C．sleepy

D．hungry

2.

A．reading

B．writing

C．studying

D．playing

3.

A．ask

B．need

C．want

D．remember

4.

A．homework

B．training

C．business

D．research

5.

A．keep

B．change

C．happen

D．support

6.

A．show off

B．show up

C．hand in

D．hand out

7.

A．museums

B．libraries

C．schools

D．markets

8.

A．party

B．concert

C．picnic

D．game

9.

A．serious

B．excited

C．worried

D．annoyed

10.

A．dream

B．story

C．task

D．job

11.

A．buying

B．hiding

C．exchanging

D．finding

12.

A．slower

B．less

C．faster

D．more

13.

A．collect

B．share

C．feel

D．describe

14.

A．chance

B．ability

C．wish

D．right

15.

A．important

B．similar

C．natural

D．amazing

10 . 将下列几个部分（A、B、C、D 和 E）按题号排序，构成一个符合逻辑的完整语篇。
A. But according to a new poll, Americans took more trips to the library than to the other leisure activities.
B. On the contrary, libraries are free, as are many of their available services like Wi-Fi, in addition to the endless supply of books.
C. Although it’s not the only reason, cost appears to play a part. Activities at the bottom of the list such as visiting theme parks and zoos are typically expensive.
D. Nowadays, we are given a wide range of available entertainment options. As a result, visits to the library may seem like an old-fashioned activity.
E. The poll surveyed 1,025 adults throughout the United States who were asked how many times they participated in nine different leisure activities, including visiting a library or attending a sporting event. Library visits came out on top as the favorite.