1 . There are literally thousands of books about running, each with their unique stories and angles. Here are four that might interest you.
● Advanced Marathoning – 2nd Edition
by Pete Pfitzinger, Scott Douglas ($38.13)
Shave minutes off your time using the latest in science-based training for serious runners. Advanced Marathoning has all the information you need to train smarter and arrive on the start line ready to run the marathon of your life.
Including marathon-pace runs and tempo runs, Advanced Marathoning provides only the most effective methods of training. You’ll learn how to improve your running workouts with strength, core, flexibility, and form training.
● Determined to Win: The Overcoming Spirit of Jean Driscoll
by Jean Driscoll ($10.99)
Jean Driscoll was named 25th of the top 100 women athletes in the century by Sports Illustrated for Women. Born with spina bifida (脊柱裂), Jean was never supposed to walk. But because of her intense determination, she not only learned to walk but to fly – in a wheelchair across the finish line.
In her autobiography, Jean describes her flight from physical paralysis (瘫痪) to true spiritual freedom. She shows us what perseverance can achieve.
● Boston Marathon Portraits: Pictures of Inspiration
by Raymond Britt ($19.99)
Boston Marathon Portraits features dramatic images of an exceptional race: the Boston Marathon. On race day, Boston comes alive with excitement and determination. This book presents these emotions and the action of the Boston Marathon, focusing on striking scenes and photos of runners before the race, at the starting line, the finish line and when the celebration of finishing begins.
● Women Runners
by Irene Reti, Bettianne Shoney Sien ($11.18)
This selected set of literary fiction, poems, and essays by women runners captures the essence of running, and the many hopes and dreams of women.
1. Which book would be your best choice if you were looking for tips on marathon training?| A．Women Runners. |
| B．Determined to Win: The Overcoming Spirit of Jean Driscoll. |
| C．Boston Marathon Portraits: Pictures of Inspiration. |
| D．Advanced Marathoning - 2nd Edition. |
| A．Development of marathon. |
| B．Effective training methods. |
| C．Amazing photos of runners. |
| D．Essays written by runners. |
| A．A novelist. | B．An editor. |
| C．A marathon winner. | D．A photographer. |
2 . Some libraries use unique architecture to encourage visitors to explore the bookshelves and settle down with a new book, or use roving libraries to bring books to hard-to-reach populations. No matter how they achieve it, these novel libraries are keeping the magic of reading alive.
Bishan Library (Singapore)
Built in 2006, this library with skylights and trellises, is meant to invoke a modern glass treehouse. Glass pods of varying colors stick out of the building randomly to create cozy yet airy corners for reading throughout the building. At the same time, a more open-plan children’s room on the basement level invites interaction while preventing noise from filtering upward and disturbing those concentrating in the lofty perches above.
Stuttgart City Library (Stuttgart, Germany)
Opened in 2011, this nine-story public library is characterized by its attractive white color scheme (lit by blue light at night), its bold cubic shape. This cultural center for the city, designed to feel open and full of light, can be entered from any of its four sides, and people can borrow artwork as well as books.
The Camel Library Service (North Eastern Province, Kenya)
To combat low literacy rates in the desert of Kenya, the government created a roaming library composed of nine camels bringing books to villages. The library travels four days a week serving the region’s nomadic people. With more funding, they plan to increase their reach both in distance and the books they carry.
Macquarie University Library (Sydney, Australia)
A wonderful combination of cutting-edge and sustainable ideas, this building was made from recycled materials, features a green roof, and was designed to look like the shape of a eucalyptus tree. It is also state of the art, using robot cranes to bring requested books to the front desk.
1. Which of the following can offer the service of lending artwork?| A．Bishan Library. | B．Stuttgart City Library. |
| C．The Camel Library Service. | D．Macquarie University Library. |
| A．It is intelligent and environmentally-friendly. |
| B．It has a green roof and a eucalyptus tree outside. |
| C．It is like a modern glass treehouse with skylights. |
| D．It opens four days a week serving the local people. |
| A．prevent noise |
| B．recycle old books |
| C．encourage reading |
| D．present beautiful appearances |
3 . Marie Curie and Her Daughters
by Imogen Greenberg
Illustrated (插图) by Isabel Greenberg
You’ve probably heard of scientist Marie Curie and her discoveries, but how about her daughters, Irene and Eve? This beautiful illustrated book follows the adventures of the family as they save lives during wars, travel around the world, and change the history of science.
Swordswoman!
by Devika Rangachari
Discover the amazing true story of Queen Lakshmibai of Jhansi — an Indian queen who could read and write. Find out how she trained other women to fight next to her and became a symbol of resistance to British rule in India in 1857.
Queens: 3,000 Years of the Most Incredible Women in History
by Victoria Crossman
Celebrating queens from all over the world and through history, this book describes Cleopatra of Egypt, Queen Nanny of Jamaica, Catherine the Great of Russia, Empress Jingu of Japan, Boudicca in Britain and Queen Elizabeth II, among others. It’s full of illustrations and details.
The Girl with Her Head in the Clouds
by Karen McCombie
Illustrated by Anneli Bray
London, 1904. When a couple of showmen need help with a stunt, 16-year-old Dolly volunteers. Soon, she’s busy with working as a parachutist (跳伞者). This story is based on the real life of parachute performer Dolly Shepherd.
1. Which of the following books is science-related?| A．Queens: 3,000 Years of the Most Incredible Women in History. |
| B．The Girl with Her Head in the Clouds. |
| C．Marie Curie and Her Daughters. |
| D．Swordswoman! |
| A．Imogen Greenberg’s. | B．Devika Rangachari’s. |
| C．Victoria Crossman’s. | D．Karen McCombie’s. |
| A．They have the same social background. | B．They describe the influence of wars. |
| C．They are created by two people. | D．They are about women heroes. |
4 . Some libraries use unique architecture to encourage visitors to explore the racks and settle down with a new book, or use flowing libraries to bring books to hard-to-reach populations.
Kansas City Library (Kansas City, Missouri)
Along the south wall of this parking garage’s exterior, visitors are treated to what looks like a huge shelf of books. The building originally served as a bank, which is readily apparent when the library has screenings in its Vault Theater, inside an actual 1925 bank vault.
Stuttgart City Library (Stuttgart, Germany)
Opened in 2011, this nine-story public library designed by Eun Young Yi is characterized by its impressive white-on-white color scheme, its bold cubic shape and its cavernous interior. This cultural center for the city, designed to feel open and full of light, can be entered from any of its four sides, and readers can borrow artwork as well as books.
The Camel Library Service (North Eastern Province, Kenya)
To fight with low literacy rates in the desert of Kenya, the government created a roaming library composed of nine camels to bring books to villages. The library travels four days a week serving the region’s migratory people. Currently the service focuses on children, but with more funding they plan to increase their reach both in distance and the titles they carry.
Macquarie University Library (Sydney, Australia)
A stunning combination of cutting edge and sustainable, this building was made from recycled materials, features a green roof, and was designed to imitate the look of a eucalyptus tree. It is also state of the art, using robot cranes to bring requested books to the front desk.
1. What is the feature of Kansas City Library?| A．It used to be a bank. | B．It has only a book shelf. |
| C．It served as a park lot. | D．It makes use of robot cranes. |
| A．Kansas City Library. | B．Stuttgart City Library. |
| C．The Camel Library Service. | D．Macquarie University Library. |
| A．To sell the artwork in libraries. | B．To urge people to read books. |
| C．To show the art of architecture. | D．To keep people staying in the libraries. |
5 . Here are a few books for your children to read as they grow up. Just choose one right now!
I’m Gonna Like Me
Jamie Lee Curtis
Price: $15.00 (15% off)
Celebrate liking yourself? Through the dialogues between a girl and a boy, Jamie lee Curtis’s text and Laura Cornell’s artwork show children that the key to feeling good is liking yourself because you are you.
It’s Okay To Be Different
Todd Parr
Price: $20.00 (10% off)
The book, full of bright colors and silly scenes, tells children how to learn to accept others, understand others, and respect others. The author always tells stories in a way that is easy to understand for children.
Psychology for Kids Vol. I: 40 Fun Tests That help You Learn About Yourself
J. Kincher
Price: $18.00 (15% off)
These forty interesting tests help children explore their interests and abilities, find out why they act the way they do, and discover what makes them different.
The Golden Rule
Ilene Cooper
Price: $10.00 (20% off)
The Golden Rule: “Treat others as you want to be treated.” In this book, a grandfather explains to his grandson that the Golden Rule means you treat people the way you would like to be treated. It’s golden because it’s so valuable, and it’s a way of living your life simply.
What Do You Really Want?
Beverly K. Bachel
Price: $20.00 (15% off)
Each part includes fun exercises, helpful suggestions, and success stories from teens. Readers learn how to set a goal, put it into action, build a support system, use positive self-talk, celebrate their successes, and more.
1. If a kid is always complaining(抱怨) about others, he or she should read ________.| A．I’m Gonna Like Me |
| B．Psychology for Kids |
| C．It’s Okay To Be Different |
| D．What Do You Really Want? |
| A．talks about how to treat others |
| B．discusses how to reach one’s goal |
| C．teaches children how to feel good |
| D．shows how to succeed in a short time |
| A．$26.00 | B．$30.75 |
| C．$33.30 | D．$35.00 |
6 . The Best Books on Skyscrapers.
Ever since the late 1800s, the skyscrapers have inspired fascination around the world. The books listed here not only pay tribute to various skyscrapers, but also to the architects who conceived them.
Chicago Skyscrapers: Postcard History Series
Of all the historic tall buildings, the 1885 Home Insurance Building in Chicago is often considered to be the first skyscraper ever built. In this popular book, preservationist Leslie Hudson has gathered some postcards to help us explore Chicago’s skyscraper era.
Rise of the New York Skyscraper, 1865-1913
Historian Carl W. Condit (1914-1997) and Professor Sarah Bradford Landau have given us a fascinating look at the history of New York’s tall buildings and the building boom in Manhattan in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This book may be slightly academic in parts, but the engineering history shines through.
Skyscrapers: A History of the World’s Most Extraordinary Buildings
Architectural historian Judith Dupré revised and updated this popular book in 2013. Why so popular? Not only is it thoroughly researched, well-written, and beautifully presented, it also is a huge book, measuring 18.2 inches long. That’s from your waist to your chin! It’s a tall book for a towering subject.
Skyscrapers: A Social History of the Very Tall Building in America
This book reminds us that architecture does not stand apart from society. The skyscraper, in particular, is the type of building that not only inspires architects and engineers, but also the steelworkers and finishers who build them. Author George H. Douglas in his book explores many experience only by the social history of the architecture thriller films.
1. Whose book can help us explore the earliest skyscraper ever built?| A．Judith Dupré | B．Leslie Hudson |
| C．George H. Douglas | D．Carl W. Condit and Sarah Bradford Landau |
| A．It includes many postcards. | B．It is slightly academic. |
| C．It is oversized. | D．It is about towers. |
| A．They are all beautifully presented. |
| B．Their authors are architectural historians. |
| C．They all get involved in the history of skyscraper. |
| D．They remind us that architecture comes from society. |
7 . Reading is essential but how can one choose the right books to read and where can one find them? A few famous people may give you some helpful tips.
● Read books from past eras.
●
Reading too wide a variety in too short a time would keep the teachings from leaving a lasting impression on you. Seneca the Younger, a first-century Roman philosopher, suggested that “you must linger (流连) among a limited number of master thinkers, and digest their works, if you would obtain ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind.”
● Shop at secondhand bookstores.
Virginia Woolf believed the works in secondhand bookstores have an attraction which the usual volumes of the library lack. Browsing through these books gives you the chance to run into something that wouldn’t have risen to the attention of librarians and booksellers.
● Check out authors’ reading lists.
In his 1940 guide How to Read a Book, American philosopher Mortimer J. Adler talked about how to choose books. He attached importance to those that other authors consider worth reading.
● Make the final decision by yourself.
| A．Interest is the best teacher. |
| B．Great authors are great readers. |
| C．Leave some room for older works. |
| D．Learn more about those great authors. |
| E．Don’t jump too quickly from book to book. |
| F．There’s no “best books” list that everyone should follow. |
| G．Usually they are much more selective in organizing their collections. |
8 . When I first picked up Michelle Zauner’s memoir “Crying in H Mart,” I was attracted by the familiar name of the local Korean market 10 minutes away from my house. Looking through its pages was no different from looking through an old photo album, reminding me of my old memories. And I wanted to look at each and every photo, up close.
Despite being a struggling artist making up for lost time with a sick mother, Zauner somehow made her unique experiences related to her audience. One of the factors that helped make this possible was food. Every food and every aspect of Korean culture she described seemed so familiar to me, as I’m a Korean American. Not only this, we have similar experiences, and have common feelings of being torn apart by two cultures that seem to refuse to accept us just for being who we are. Zauner shone a new light on my attitude to my own identity.
In other ways, this relatability to such a specific target audience can become a weakness. This memoir was obviously meant for a Korean, specifically a Korean American audience. With such a small audience of 0.6 % of the United States population in 2019, the story that Zauner wanted to tell would not be received by many.
An avoidable point of the memoir that caused confusion could have been the organization of the timeline. Looking at the book as a whole, there was no specific order in which Zauner organized the events of her life. The most effective way to do this would have been to progress through the book stating with her earliest memories with her mother and ending with her moments of grieving.
I felt thankful that I was able to discover such a novel that made me feel understood for the first time in years. And most of all, 1 felt inspired that there are people like Zauner who make mistakes but try again. Even when the world tells them it’s too late, they try again. Even when they feel lost, they try again and find a way. And there was one thing I was sure of after I read he book: I will try again.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Making up for lost time. | B．Designing a book like an album. |
| C．Bringing back the author’s old memories. | D．Letting Zauner’s readers understand her experiences. |
| A．Its small readership. | B．Its difficult languages. |
| C．Its weak market in Korea. | D．Its sales in America in 2019. |
| A．To point out one limitation of the book. |
| B．To describe Zauner’s life in order of time. |
| C．To explain why he falls in love with the book. |
| D．To introduce an effective way to write a memoir. |
| A．To be thankful. | B．To stay positive. |
| C．To understand others. | D．To avoid making mistakes. |
9 . Looking for books suitable for your juniors? Here are what our editors recommend:
Room for Everyone
Musa and Dada drive to the shore — but the bus stops many times: “You need a ride? Come in! There’s still room!” One stop becomes two stops which soon becomes ten, and the bus is overcrowded, but there’s always room for one more if you make the room, making this trip a joyous tale.
Author: Naaz Khan
Reading age: 4 - 8
Wonder
Auggie Pullman was born with a facial difference which prevents him from going to a mainstream school. Entering a new school, he wants nothing more than to be treated normally — but his new classmates can’t ignore his extraordinary face. Auggie is a hero to prove that you can’t give in when you were born to stand out.
Author: R. J. Palacio
Reading age: 8 - 12
Starfish Hardcover
Ellie is tired of being fat and she’s found her safe space — her swimming pool — where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. Finally, with the support of those loving her, Ellie might be able to be a starfish in real life — by being her own excellent self.
Author: Lisa Fipps
Reading age: 10 - 13
Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer
Lynne Cox started swimming almost as soon as she could walk. By age sixteen, she had broken all records for swimming the English Channel. She narrowly escaped a shark attack, and was cheered across the Cook Strait by dolphins. She even swam a mile in the Antarctic. Lynne writes the same way she swims, with tough spirit and joy.
Author: Lynne Cox
Reading age: 14 - 18
1. Who are the target readers of this text?| A．Teenagers. | B．Parents. | C．Booksellers. | D．Editors. |
| A．Their schooling. | B．Their appearance. |
| C．Their weight. | D．Their friendship. |
| A．Naaz Khan’s. | B．R. J. Palacio’s. | C．Lisa Fipps’s. | D．Lynne Cox’s. |
10 . Independence is something that can be difficult to achieve. But don’t worry because here we have four books that can help you. If you don’t buy less than three of them, you’ll be given a 20% discount!
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
Taking care of your finance is hard. Dave Ramsey, a famous businessman, is here to take you on the whole process of planning your finance, and show the myths of cash advances and debt consolidation (债务重整), to make sure your finance is healthy.
Price: $14.49
Grace’s Guide by Grace Helbig
Grace Helbig shared her tips to becoming a grown-up. The book is full of personal stories of Helbig, her struggles and the lessons she learnt from failing many times. This book is your on-the-go fun read with pictures and drawings of Helbig, and worksheets (作记录) to practice.
Price: $7.95
The Oh She Glows Cookbook by Angela Liddon
Having suffered from eating disorder and living on diet, Angela Liddon promised to cat healthily forever. She threw out her fat-free butter spray (黄油喷雾) and low-caloric frozen dinners after learning how to properly cook. This book contains more than 100 recipes (食谱) covering breakfast, salads, soups. power snacks and the main dishes for a healthy meal at any time of the day. We all know that healthy eating is all part of being independent.
Price $22.22
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Life can be hard, especially when it comes to relationships with others. In the book, Strayed gives advice on love and life. She writes about different subjects: a son rejected by his parents, a mother who has lost her child. And the message hidden throughout all her advice is always that, if you want a good life, you have to create it.
Price: $8.76
1. How much will you save at least if you buy three of the listed books?| A．$6.24. | B．$5.68. | C．$6.64. | D．$9.10. |
| A．They are about how to grow up healthily. |
| B．They involve their authors’ experiences. |
| C．They are mainly about how to work better |
| D．They teach readers to learn from others’ life stories. |
| A．Graces Guide. |
| B．The Oh she Glows Cookbook. |
| C．The Total Money Makeover. |
| D．Tiny Beautiful Things. |
