1 . Right now, I am looking at a shelf full of relics, a collection of has-beens, old-timers, antiques, fossils. Right now, I am looking at a shelf full of books. Yes, that’s right. If you have some spare cash (the going rate is about $89) and you are looking to enhance your reading experience, then I highly suggest you consider purchasing an e-reader. E-readers are replacing the books of old and I welcome them with open arms (as you should).
An e-reader is a device that allows you to read e-books. An e-book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images or both, and produced on, published through and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital. The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the e-book as “an electronic version of a printed book”, but e-books can and do exist without any printed equivalent.
E-readers put printed books to shame. E-readers are superior to printed books because they save space, are environmentally friendly and provide helpful reading tips and tools that printed books do not.
The average e-reader can store thousands of digital books, providing a genuine library at your fingertips. What is more, the e-reader itself is very small. It is easy to hold and can fit in a pocketbook or briefcase easily. This makes handling wooden giant such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina a breeze. Perhaps the only drawback to the space-saving aspect of an e-reader is that it requires you to find new things to put on your shelves.
In addition, e-readers are environmentally friendly. The average novel is about 300 pages long. So, if a novel is printed 1000 times, it will use 300,000 pieces of paper. That’s a lot of paper! And for the super bestsellers, these figures increase dramatically. For example, the Harry Potter book series has sold over 450 million copies. That’s about 2 million trees! Upon viewing these figures, it is not hard to grasp the severe impact of printed books on the environment. Since e-readers use no trees, they represent a significant amount of preservation in terms of the environment and its resources.
Finally, e-readers provide helpful reading tips and tools that printed books do not. The typical e-reader allows its user to adjust letter size, letterform and line spacing. It also allows highlighting and electronic bookmarking.
Furthermore, it grants users the ability to get an overview of a book and then jump to a specific location based on that overview. While these are all nice features, perhaps the most helpful of all is the ability to get dictionary definitions at the touch of a finger. On even the most basic e-reader, users can find instant definitions without having to hunt through a physical dictionary.
It can be seen that e-readers are superior to printed books. They save space, are environmentally friendly and provide helpful reading tips and tools that printed books do not. So what good are printed books? Well, they certainly make nice decorations.
1. As used in paragraph 1, it can be inferred that “has-beens, old-timers, antiques, fossils” are all words that describe something ____________.| A．outdated | B．typical | C．meaningful | D．useless |
| A．superior and dramatic | B．dense and environmental |
| C．awkward and heavy | D．significant and resistant |
① line spacing customization
② the ability to quickly jump to the end of a book
③ access to a printed dictionary at the touch of a finger
| A．①and ②only | B．①and ③only | C．②and ③only | D．①, ② and ③ |
| A．“If you have some spare cash(the going rate is about $89)and are looking to enhance your reading experience, then I highly suggest you consider purchasing an e-reader.” |
| B．“E-readers are replacing the books of old, and I welcome them with open arms (as you should).” |
| C．“An e-reader is a device that allows you to read e-books. An e-book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices.” |
| D．“E-readers are superior to printed books because they save space, are environmentally friendly, and provide helpful reading tips and tools that printed books do not.” |
2 . “The history of the world is but the biography (传记) of great men,” argued Thomas Carlyle, the advocate of what has come to be known as the “Great Man Theory of History.” This theory suggests that the broader movements and outline of history all go back to the leadership of great individuals who had unique influence on their times. Whether or not Carlyle’s theory proves true is debatable, but that certain individuals cast long shadows is not.
As one who is entrusted with a leadership position, I find it profitable to read of others who have led. Wherever you find me, you’ll likely find a good biography nearby. Why is this the case? First, I find good biographies fascinating. I’ll occasionally read a novel, but I’ve never been overly drawn to fiction. I have found myself unable to sleep while in the struggle of the Battle of Britain in William Manchester’s The Last Lion. For me, not to read biographies would rob me of pleasure in my life.
Second, I find good biographies informative. A good biographer tells not only the story of a person, but also of their times. Reading a good biography is like wandering through an intellectual shopping mall. The first store is what drew you there, but you will be pleasantly surprised along the way at what other items grab your attention. You’ll find no better account of the British Empire at its peak than the opening chapters of Manchester’s Visions of Glory, volume one of his The Last Lion. Strictly speaking, a biography is but a slice of history.
Third, I find good biographies relaxing. Winston Churchill once noted a man who works with his hands should have a hobby that engages his mind, and a man who works with his mind should have a hobby that engages his hands. Another way to apply Churchill’s saying is to combine technical, pen-in-hand vocational reading with leisurely biographical reading. Indeed, few things are more relaxing to me than winding down the evening and entering into another world.
This is why I love reading good biographies, and why I pity the person who neglects them. Don’t be counted among their number.
1. What is implied in the first paragraph?| A．The author finds Carlyle’s theory undebatable. |
| B．Carlyle believes great men alone cannot create history. |
| C．It is debatable whether one should read great men’s biographies. |
| D．The author agrees that history is greatly influenced by certain men. |
| A．good biographies | B．stories of certain times |
| C．the volumes of The Last Lion | D．the chapters of the British Empire |
| A．The author considers biographical reading enjoyable. |
| B．The author can travel to another world in the evening. |
| C．The author has fought many battles during his lifetime. |
| D．The author profits commercially by reading biographies. |
| A．To analyze the benefits of vocational reading. |
| B．To introduce to readers his unique reading strategies. |
| C．To present great men’s history through biography reading. |
| D．To recommend biography reading through his own experiences. |
3 . Top Six Most Challenged Books in 2017
Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) in the States tracked 354 challenges (formal attempts to remove or restrict access to library materials and services) to library, school, and university materials and services in2017. Some individual challenges resulted in requests to restrict or remove multiple titles. Overall, 416 books were targeted. Here are the "Top Six Most Challenged Books in 2017”.
1 | Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher Originally published in 2007. this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a debatable book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This young adult novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts, for it discusses self-killing. | 4 | GEORGE By Alex Gino Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child. |
2 | Drama Written and illustrated By Raina Telgemeier This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from a much-admired cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes confused sexual orientation characters and was considered "confusing.” | 5 | To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an America classical, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word to insult black people. |
3 | The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini This multigenerational novel praised by many critics was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to "lead to 'terrorism" and "promote IsIam.” | 6 | The Hate U Give By Angie Thomas Despite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut(首秀) year, this young adult novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curricular because of drug use and offensive language. |
| A．prize winners or well received by the public |
| B．written for curious young adults in schools |
| C．banned and challenged in nationwide libraries |
| D．involved with violence and aggressive language |
| A．The Hate U Give. | B．To Kill a Mocking bird. |
| C．The Kite Runner. | D．Thirteen Reasons Way. |
| A．OIF is responsible for the challenges reported from local schools and universities |
| B．the government is challenged by intellectual freedom in public materials and services |
| C．issues like mental illness, drug use and sex education really concern the government |
| D．best sellers and prize winners are often questioned and rejected by the public |
| Welcome to my Message Board! | |
| Subject: Slimming down classics? | |
Mr.Handsome 2007-5-12 6: 34 AM | Orion Books, which decides there is a market in creating cut-down classics (经典著作), is slimming down some novels by such great writers as L. Tolstoy, M. Mitchell and C. Bronte. Now, each of them has been whittled down to about 400 pages by cutting 30 to 40 pages percent of original, with words, sentences, paragraphs and, in a few cases, chapters removed. The first six shortened editions, all priced at ￡6.99 and advertised as great reads “in half the time”, will go on sale next month, with plans for 50 to 100 more to follow. The publishing house believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions. |
Mr.Edwards 2007-5-12 9: 40 AM | Well, I’m publisher of Orion Group. Thanks for your attention, Mr. Handsome. I must say, the idea developed from a game of “shame” in my office. Each of us was required to confess (承认) to the most embarrassing blanks in his or her reading. I admitted that I had never read Anna Karenina and tried but failed to get through Gone with the Wind several times. One of my colleagues acknowledged skipping (跳读) Jane Eyre. We realized that life is too short to read all the books you want to and we never were going to read these ones. As a leading publishing house, we are trying to make classics convenient for readers but it’s not as if we’re withdrawing the original versions. They are still there if you want to read them. |
| Ms. Weir 2007-5-12 11:35 AM | I’m director of the online book club. Mr. Edwards, I think your shortened edition is a breath of fresh air. I’m guilty of never having read Anna Karenina, because it’s just so long. I’d much rather read two 300-page books than one 600-page book. I am looking forward to more shortened classics! |
| Mr.Crockatt 2007-5-12 4:38 PM | I’m from the London independent bookshop Corckatt & Powell. In my opinion, the practice is completely ridiculous. How can you edit the classics? I’m afraid reading some of these books is hard work, and that is why you have to develop as a reader. If people don’t have time to read Anna Karenina, then fine. But don’t read a shortened version and kid yourself it’s the real thing. |
| A．opposes the reading of original classics |
| B．is embarrassed for cutting down classics |
| C．thinks cut-down classics have a bright future |
| D．is cautions in its decision to cut down classics |
| A．make them easier to read | B．meet a large demand in the market |
| C．increase the sales of literary books | D．compete with their original versions |
| A．reading the classic works is a confusing attempt |
| B．shortening the classics does harm to the original |
| C．publishing the cut-down classics is a difficult job |
| D．editing the classic works satisfies children’s needs |
They found that almost all of the categories (类别) showed a drop in these “mood words” over time. Only in the category of fear was there an increase in usage.
“It is a steady and continuous decrease,” said Dr Alberto Acerbi. He assumed that the result might be explained by a change in the position occupied by literature, in a crowded media landscape. “One thing could be that in parallel to books the 20th century saw the start of other media. Maybe these media—movies, radio, drama—had more emotional content than books.”
Although both joy and sadness followed the general downwards trend, the research, published in the journal PLOS One, found that they also exhibited another interesting behaviour：the ratio (比率) between the two varied greatly, apparently mirroring historical events.
During the Roaring Twenties the joy-to-sadness ratio reached a peak that would not occur again until before the recent financial crash. But the ratio plunged at the height of the Second World War. Nevertheless, the researchers held a reserved opinion about their claim that their result reflected wider social trends. In the paper, they even argue that the reverse could be true.
“It has been suggested, for example, that it was the suppression (压抑) of desire in ordinary Elizabethan English life that increased demand for writing ‘filled with romance and sex’… perhaps,” they conclude, “songs and books may not reflect the real population any more than catwalk models reflect the average body.”
(Note：Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN TEN WORDS.)
1. A study of more than five million books indicated a decline in “mood words” over time except
2. According to Dr Alberto Acerbi, one reason for the drop of “mood words” in books may be that
3. What were the two periods when the joy-to-sadness ratio was at its highest?
4. While the researchers found some changes in the use of “mood words” in books, they were not sure that
The Campus Bookstore Bookie’s , the campus bookstore is located at the Campus Activity Centre , main floor . Bookie’s is the only place in Kamloops to buy your course textbooks . There is a booklist in the bookstore listing the books required for each course . If you need help in finding your course textbooks , ask any of the staff in the bookstore . There are more than just textbooks at bookie’s . They carry a wide variety of stationary , art supplies and gift items . You can also buy telephone cards , postage stamps and bus passes . You must show your student card to get a discount for the bus passes . | |
| TEXTBOOK RETURNS 1) Do I need my receipt to return books ? Yes . 2) How long do I have to return books ? Books purchased must be returned within ten working days of the date of the purchase . 3) What if I wrote my name in the book ? Unfortunately , we cannot give you a full refund for books not in mint condition as publishers will not accept this for credit . 4) What happens if I miss the last day for return ? We may purchase the text book as “ used ” in accordance with our Buyback program . 5) What if I discover that my book has missing Pages half way through the semester ? We will replace the defective books , new or used , for a like copy of that title . Cash refunds are not given for defective books returned outside the normal return dates . | BUYBACKS 1) What books do you buy back ? We buy back all current edition textbooks . If we do not use them at UCC , we buy them 2) How much do I get for my books ? If bookie’s is buying the book for use at UCC , you will receive 50% of the current new retail price . In order to receive optimum buyback price , discs and supplements must accompany the book . 3) What happens to the books that I sell ? Books for bookie’s are processed by our staff and sold to students at 75% of the new retail price . 4) What condition do my books need to be in ? Books should be in good condition , meaning that the cover is still attached and all pages intact . Highlighting , notes and markings on the pages are perfectly fine . Workbooks and study guides are generally not purchased back unless they are free of all markings . No sales receipt is required for these books . |
| Bookstore Hours Monday—Thursday 9:00am—6:00pm Friday 9:00am—5:00pm Saturday and Sunday Closed | |
1. The intended readers of this passage are __________ .
| A．Book dealers | B．University students |
| C．Publishers | D．Campus staff |
| A．faulty | B．adapted | C．new | D．latest |
| A．you have lost the sales receipt |
| B．there are markings and notes on the pages |
| C．the cover of the book is missing |
| D．you miss the last day for return |
| A．Bookie’s is a place for students to buy their course textbooks . |
| B．Student cards are needed to get a discount for the textbooks . |
| C．Books bought in bookie’s can be returned within ten working days . |
| D．Books bought back are processed by the staff and sold to students . |
A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.
Men often discover their affinity (密切关系) to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, “Love me, love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this: “Love me, love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them.
A good book is often the best urn(瓮) of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a man’s life is, for the most part, but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, if remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters.
Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort.
Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effects of time have been to filter out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.
1. A good book may be among the best of friends because_____.
| A．it changes over the past of time |
| B．it contains all kinds of knowledge |
| C．it doesn’t betray us when we are in trouble |
| D．it comforts us in youth and instructs us in age |
| A．If you love me, you must reading books. |
| B．The book can be a bond between friends. |
| C．I love books as much I love friends. |
| D．If you love the author, you will love his books. |
| A．Time can tell whether a literature is good or bad. |
| B．All books are our constant companions and comforters. |
| C．Temples, statues and books cannot stand the test of time. |
| D．The world of a man’s thoughts is what his life is all about. |
| A．Reading Books |
| B．A Good Book |
| C．Our Best Friend |
| D．Companionship of Books |
| A. When a child should learn to read B. Why it is fun to teach a child reading C. What if a child has reading problems D. How you prepare a young child for reading E. What is the best way to teach a child reading F. Whether reading early promises later achievements |
Learning to read early has become one of those indicators — in parents' minds at least – that their child is smart. In fact, reading early has very little to do with whether a child is successful academically. Research has shown that difficulty with reading is often due not to inferior intelligence but to differences in the developmental wiring of each individual child. In some cases, there are neurological problems and developmental lags that can be overcome with proper training.
2. ______________
Traditionally, American schools teach children at age six, but many schools begin teaching informally in kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. If parents start too early to encourage reading, and a child does not immediately succeed, the parent has a hard time relaxing and letting the child go at his or her own pace.
3. ___________
Over the years, research has proved that the use of both the “whole language" method and the "phonic" method works best for a child to master reading. While the whole language approach, which includes reading to children and getting them interested in both the activity of reading and the story they are reading, is helpful, phonics must be taught. Children must be taught that one of the squiggles they see is a "p" and another a "b". Getting the print off the page requires a different ability than being able to understand the meaning of what is written.
4. _______________
You can start developing the skills needed in reading at a very young age without putting any pressure on children. Besides reading to them, parents can start "ear training" their child by playing thyme games. This develops the child's ability to recognize different sounds. In reading to children, parents also can point to words as they go, teaching the child that the funny lines on the page are the words you are saying. All this should be a fun activity.
5. _____________
Once a child is in school, the learning of reading is inevitably more serious. For children who have some kind of reading difficulty, you must get a professional diagnosis. While the teacher might say the child is merely disinterested but will get over it, disinterest or poor performance in reading can stem from a number of things, some being very specific learning disabilities that can be identified and worked on. But it is very tricky for parents to deal with their own child's learning disabilities.
