A book on China’ s war survivors
The book draws its interviews from Tengchong,
The book tells stories of civilians
2 . Like reading? Interested in Chinese classical novels? Have a look at the following four books which are we known to most Chinese as Four Masterpieces.
The Water Margin
The Water Margin, also known as All Men Are Brothers in Pearl Buck’s translation, Shui Hu Zhuan in Chinese, is along chapter novel with the Song Jiang Uprising in the late Northern Song Dynasty as the main background and type of heroic legend. It is an immortal (不朽的) novel and has inspired many storytellers. The author of the novel is generally regarded as Shi Nai’an (1296~1371).
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is the first full-length historical romance novel in China. Its author is Luo Guan zhong (about 1330~1400), a famous novelist in the late Yuan Dynasty and the early Ming Dynasty. Characters such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang have become household names among the Chinese.
Journey to the West
Journey to the West is the first romantic chapter novel about gods and devils in ancient China. There are 100 copies of Journey to the Westin the existing Ming Publications without the author’s signature. Wu Yuxuan, a scholar of the Qing Dynasty, first proposed that the author of Journey to the West was Wu Cheng’en (1500~1582) of the Ming Dynasty.
The Dream of the Red Chamber
The Dream of the Red Chamber, also called The Story of the Stone, is said to be the greatest masterpiece of Chinese fiction. It is generally believed to be written by Cao Xueqin (about 1715~1763), a writer of the Qing Dynasty. With hundreds of persons and their stories, the story is very complex but also very interesting for its encyclopedic character(百科全书式的人物).
1. Which book should people read if they want to know something about the character Song Jiang?| A．The Water Margin. | B．Romance of the Three Kingdoms. |
| C．Journey to the West. | D．The Dream of the Red Chamber. |
| A．Shi Nai’an. | B．Luo Guanzhong. | C．Wu Cheng’en. | D．Cao Xueqin. |
| A．Health. | B．Literature. | C．Sports. | D．Science. |
3 . Reading can be a social activity. Think of the people who belong to book groups. They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. Now, the website Book Crossing.com turns the page on the traditional idea of a book group.
Members go on the site and register (登记) the books they own and would like to share. Book Crossing provides an identification number (识别码) to stick inside the book. Then the person leaves it in a public place, hoping that the book will have an adventure, traveling far and wide with each new reader who finds it.
Bruce Pederson, the managing director of Book Crossing, says, “The two things that change your life are the people you meet and books you read. Book Crossing combines both.”
Members leave books on park benches and buses, in train stations and coffee shops. Whoever finds their book will go to the site and record where they found it.
People who find a book can also leave a journal entry describing what they thought of it. E— mails are then sent to the BookCrossers to keep them updated about where their books have been found. Bruce Pederson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.
Book Crossing is part of a trend (趋势) among people who want to get back to the “real” and not the virtual (虚拟).The site now has more than one million members in more than one hundred thirty—five countries.
1. Why does the author mention book groups in the first paragraph?| A．To explain what they are. | B．To introduce Book Crossing. |
| C．To stress the importance of reading. | D．To encourage readers to share their ideas. |
| A．An adventure. | B．A public place. |
| C．The book. | D．The identification number. |
| A．Keep it safe in his bookcase. | B．Mail it back to its owner. |
| C．Meet other readers to discuss it. | D．Pass it on to another reader. |
| A．Online Reading: A Virtual Tour | B．Electronic Books: A New Trend |
| C．A Book Group Brings Tradition Back | D．A Website Links People through Books |
4 . Best Books of All Time
If you want to fill your shelves with the best books of all time, you’re in the right place.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein(1974)
The imagination of Shel Silverstein is on fall display in this classic collection of short stories and poems. Where the Sidevalk Ends is truly one of the best poetry books of all time because of is staying power for children. The stories of this American poet, author, singer, and folk artist have something for everyone.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy(1878)
Most critics regard it as one of the most iconic literary love stories. Leo Tolstoy’s Russian tale of unfortunate lovers is filed with fascinating quotes like,“He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” Described by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless”, this one belongs on any book collector’s shelf.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery(1943)
The Little Prince is a timeless tale of a prince’s journey from planet to planet in search of adventure. What he finds,however, are interactions with adults who leave him frustrated. In the Saharn Desert, he runs into the book’s narrator,and the two start an eight-day journey filled with lessons. It’s one of the most compelling short books we’ve ever read. It’s also one of the most widely read children’s classics all over the world. Whether you prefer reading in English,French, or another language, you’re bound to find a copy.
The Shining by Stephen King(1977)
The master of suspense must be included in any list of books you should read in a lifetime. That’s why you’ll find Stephen King’s The Shining here. Jack Torrance is a middle-aged man looking for a fresh start. He thinks he’s found it when he lands a job as the caretaker at an old hotel, the Overlook. But as snow piles higher outside, the hotel begins to feel more evil and dangerous, less freeing and more annoying. Horror fans, take note; This is one of the scariest and best Stephen King books of all time.
1. In which book can we read about lovers?| A．Where the Sidewalk End. | B．Anna Karenina. |
| C．The Little Prince. | D．The Shining. |
| A．They are both talking about adults. |
| B．They were both written in the 19408. |
| C．They are both love stories. |
| D．They are both for children. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Sports. | C．Culture. | D．History. |
| A．Buy the book from him. |
| B．Finish the story in a day. |
| C．Read the book this weekend. |
6 . Four New Nature Travel Books
British Woodland
Ebury Publishing,￡22
Discover the secret world of our trees with this book by bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears, who takes us on a journey from the planting of the very first seedling in Britain a thousand years ago to the present day. The book looks to our ancestors to show how man’s hand is critical in shaping woodland. It’s structured around how we can “use” our woods, providing a root to explore some of Britain’s most remarkable trees.
North York Moors & Yorkshire Wolds
Bradt Guides,￡l5.99
A “slow travel” guide to one of Britain’s most beloved landscapes, this newly updated book remains the only stand-alone guide to the region. Written by Yorkshire resident, outdoors enthusiast and travel writer Mike Bagshaw, it takes in sandy beaches, woodlands and chalk grasslands. It has information on walking and cycle paths, as well as wildlife-watching areas. Whale-and dolphin-watching tours are also covered.
Wild Isles
Harper Collins,￡25.
This rich photographic guide accompanies the new BBC documentary series of the same name, which sees Sir David Attenborough celebrate the wonders of British wildlife across a range of habitats. Written by natural history journalist Patrick Barkham and producer Alastair Fothergill, each chapter of the book focuses on a particular kind of wild space, from our wide variety of grasslands to our ocean shores, woodlands and remaining forests.
Springwatch
BBC Books,￡18.99.
Explore the UK’s richest regions for wildlife with 100 walks chosen for their unique plants and animals. Written by Wales-based travel journalist Luke Waterson, with a foreword(前言)by Chris Packham, this new guide is published together with the current Springwatch BBC TV series and features walks that best reveal the diversity of British nature.
1. What is British Woodland about?| A．Survival skills. | B．The journey to Britain. |
| C．Ancestors’ hardships | D．The exploration of woodland. |
| A．Ray Mears. | B．Mike Bagshaw. |
| C．Patrick Barkham. | D．Luke Waterson. |
| A．Both are adapted for TV series. |
| B．Both are written by co-authors. |
| C．Both focus on photography techniques. |
| D．Both reveal the diversity of British culture. |
1. What has Aja loved doing since she was little?
| A．Reading. | B．Playing. | C．Writing. |
| A．In a public area. | B．At her school. | C．In her house. |
| A．Worried. | B．Afraid. | C．Curious. |
| A．Learn to work. | B．Learn to sing. | C．Learn to read. |
8 . Jose Alberto Gutierrez’s life would never be the same again after finding a copy of Anna Karenina 20 years ago. It happened that he was driving his garbage truck through wealthier neighborhoods and seeing books thrown away by the rich. It inspired him to start rescuing books from the trash. Eventually, he turned his book collection into a community library.
In Colombia’s capital city of Bogota, libraries tend to be far away from poorer communities. The choice of buying new books is non-existent for poor families and having access to a library of books is a luxury. Gutierrez grew up poor, and his family could not afford to educate him beyond primary school. But his mother was a passionate reader and read stories to him every night. Her love for books left a deep impression on Gutierrez, who never let a lack of formal education stop him.
Today, his community library, “The Strength of Words”, occupies most of his home and is piled from floor to ceiling with fiction and non-fiction titles. Everything from school textbooks to storybooks can be found in his collection of over 20,000 books! The Strength of Words library is open every weekend, and children in Gutierrez’s neighbourhood are allowed to look through the book collection. Adults are also welcome to expand their vision and develop new skills for a better life.
Today, the Gutierrez family doesn’t only want to start libraries in neighbourhoods. They want to create more safe spaces for school children to spend their time reading. This is important for kids living in Bogota where many young people waste time in the streets.
Gutierrez’s journey to give treasure back to his local community is an amazing example of how every one of us can improve the lives of those around us by identifying needs, investing time and finding a simple solution. We can take a leaf out of Gutierrez’s book and act the same way.
1. Where might Gutierrez find a copy of Anna Karenina?| A．In the trash. | B．In a community library. |
| C．In a rich man’s house. | D．In his garbage truck. |
| A．It aims to recycle and reuse the garbage. |
| B．It is supported by wealthier communities. |
| C．It is in the charge of his passionate mother. |
| D．It makes knowledge accessible to poor kids. |
| A．We should value Gutierrez’s spirit of paying back. |
| B．We can follow Gutierrez’s example to help others. |
| C．We should go to visit Gutierrez’s library personally. |
| D．We can donate deserted books to Gutierrez’s library. |
| A．From Trash to Treasure | B．The Books of Gutierrez |
| C．From Home to Community | D．The Strength of Reading |
9 . Reading can be a social activity. Think of the people who belong to book groups. They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. Now, the website BookCrossing. com turns the page on the traditional idea of a book group.
Members go on the site and register the books they own and would like to share. BookCrossing provides an identification number to stick inside the book. Then the person leaves it in a public place, hoping that the book will have an adventure, traveling far and wide with each new reader who finds it.
Bruce Pederson, the managing director of BookCrossing, says, “The two things that change your life are the people you meet and books you read. BookCrossing combines both.”
Members leave books on park benches and buses, in train stations and coffee shops. Whoever finds their book will go to the site and record where they found it.
People who find a book can also leave a joural entry describing what they thought of it. E-mails are then sent to the BookCrossing to keep them updated about where their books have been found. Bruce Pederson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.
BookCrossing is part of a trend among people who want to get back to the real and not the virtual (虚拟). The site now has more than one million members in more than one hundred thirty-five countries.
1. Why does the author mention book groups in the first paragraph?| A．To emphasize the importance of reading. | B．To give the definition of book groups. |
| C．To introduce BookCrossing. | D．To call on reader to share books together. |
| A．An adventure. | B．The book |
| C．A public place. | D．The identification number. |
| A．Pass it on to another reader. | B．Send it back to its owner. |
| C．Keep it safe on the shelf. | D．Meet other readers to discuss it. |
| A．BookCrossing: The Best Website Ever |
| B．Online Reading: A Better Choice in Reading |
| C．Virtualization vs. Reality |
| D．BookCrossing: A Website Brings People Together Through Books |
10 . 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. |
