1 . Here’re some great books that readers might enjoy this season.
Atana and the Firebird
It was written by Vivian Zhou. Atana is a mermaid (美人鱼) who lives alone on an island. One night,she meets a curious firebird named Ren. They go out to other islands. This attracts the attention of the Witch Queen, who invites them to her palace. But is the Witch Queen the protector she seems to be?
Balto and Togo
The book by Helen Moss connects history with imagination. It is an amazing piece of art. The story is set in Nome,a small community in Alaska. A serious disease breaks out, and it’s up to Balto and Togo, along with the rest of the dogsledding (狗拉雪橇) team, to deliver the life-saving medicine. Will they make it in time?
Gossamer
In her novel Gossamer, Lois Lowry explores how dreams come to be. The book follows several storylines involving tiny dream-giving creatures and the humans. Littlest One is a new dream-giver. From her teacher Thin Elderly, she learns how to collect pieces of memories and turn them into dreams. These are given to an elderly woman, a troubled boy, and a young mother. A new edition of this beloved book is coming out in January.
A Young Adventurer’s Workbook
It’s an interactive book by Sarra Scherb. By making a series of choices,readers shape their own story,creating a title for their adventure, drawing their character, and deciding who the villain (反派) will be. It’s all part of the fun. If you enjoy action, fantasy, and role-playing games, you’ll surely love this book!
1. What do we know about Balto and Togo?| A．It’ll be published in January. | B．It reflects a true event. |
| C．It was written by Vivian Zhou. | D．It describes Helen Moss’ bravery. |
| A．A famous publisher. | B．An author of a book. |
| C．A novel’s character. | D．Lois Lowry’s teacher. |
| A．A Young Adventurer’s Workbook. | B．Atana and the Firebird. |
| C．Balto and Togo. | D．Gossamer. |
2 . If you’ve reached the end of the year feeling as though you didn’t read enough, we’ve got you. Here are some of the best books of the year according to notable artists, image-makers and other cultural taste makers.
Emily Ratajkowski, model: Ghost Lover’“This collection of nine short stories probes into many of the same themes in Lisa Taddeo’s beloved ‘Three Women’, but discusses them in a sharper, more disagreeable way. She ruthlessly explores jealousy relationships between women, aging, revenge and, of course, desire. Taddeo never lets you come up for air -- making you laugh while simultaneously horrifying you all when you least expect it.”
Hans UIrich Obrist, artistic director: ‘I Always Knew’“This is a portrait of artist and writer Barbara Chase-Riboud, through the letters she wrote to her mother, Vivian Mae, between 1957 and 1991. In this remarkable title, Barbara Chase-Riboud tells her mother about her development as an artist, her love stories, and her trips around the globe, from Africa to China. In these memoirs (回忆录), Chase-Riboud frankly and passionately describes her aspirations, her ambitions and creative inspiration，while also showcasing love and tenderness to her mother.”
Avan Jogia, actor and director: ‘Who is Wellness For?’“‘Who is Wellness For?’ is a book that works as part social observation and part memoir. It explores the commercialization of healing and ritual and asks questions about the industry of wellness I found the read insightful, thoughtful, and unafraid. Wellness isn’t for anyone if it’s not for everyone.”
1. What sets “Ghost Lover” apart from “Three Women”?| A．The focus on themes. | B．The setting of stories. |
| C．The structure of books. | D．The tone of narration. |
| A．Barbara Chase-Riboud. | B．Hans Ulrich Obrist |
| C．Vivian Mae. | D．Avan Jogia. |
| A．They bring laughter to readers. | B．They share the same writing type |
| C．They center on the theme of love | D．They stand out as the best reads of the year. |
3 . A recent study suggests that when it comes to the benefits of reading, just doing it matters more than the content. Researchers have found that reading novels helps the brain development in understanding others and imagining the world. They also have found that people who spend a few hours per week reading books live longer than those who don’t read.
But how to build a habit of reading? Like any habit, the trick is in figuring out what suits you. The hardest part about reading is actually picking up a book. You have to sit down, pick up a book and start reading. “I always have a book next to wherever I put my phone,” My friend Jimmy once told me. “So if I want to check my phone,I physically can see the book there. Nine times out of ten. I end up reading the book instead of using my phone for nothing.”
Another challenge is time, and in that case, audio-books (有声书) can be a good choice. Audio-books are great for filling the mind while you’re on the way to work , washing dishes or working out at the gym.
If you’re still stuck on the way to developing a reading habit, the best way is to revisit your old favorite books to get your youthful reading pleasure. You should free yourself from the opinion that only important or educational books are worth reading. There’s no shame in rereading the books that made you fall in love with reading in the first place. Restarting the practice of reading is a little like picking up painting. It takes some work to get into the best state, but once you begin, the results are beautiful and satisfying.
1. What is the most difficult part in forming the reading habit?| A．Getting reading skills. | B．Finding a great book. |
| C．Having limited time. | D．Getting reading started. |
| A．They are time saving. | B．They provide more pleasure. |
| C．They help brain development. | D．They offer more book choices. |
| A．It helps restart reading. | B．It is of great convenience(方便). |
| C．It improves the taste for art. | D．It can increase your patience. |
| A．Method of killing free time | B．Advantages of using audio-books |
| C．Way to choose educational books | D．Advice on developing a reading habit |
4 . A recent study suggests that when it comes to the benefits of reading, just doing it matters more than the content. Researchers have found that reading novels helps the brain development in understanding others and imagining the world. They also have found that people who spend a few hours per week reading books live longer than those who don’t read.
But how to build a habit of reading? Like any habit, the trick is in figuring out what suits you. The hardest part about reading is actually picking up a book. You have to sit down, pick up a book and start reading. “I always have a book next to wherever I put my phone,” My friend Jimmy once told me. “So if I want to check my phone, I physically can see the book there. Nine times out of ten. I end up reading the book instead of using my phone for nothing.”
Another challenge is time and in that case, audiobooks (有声书) can be a good choice. Audiobooks are great for filling the mind while you’re on the way to work, washing dishes or working out at the gym.
If you’re still stuck on the way to developing a reading habit, the best way is to revisit your old favorite books to get your youthful reading pleasure. You should free yourself from the opinion that only important or educational books are worth reading. There’s no shame in rereading the books that made you fall in love with reading in the first place. Restarting the practice of reading is a little like picking up painting. It takes some work to get into the best state, but once you begin, the results are beautiful and satisfying.
1. What is the most difficult part in forming the reading habit?| A．Mastering reading skills. | B．Getting a great book. |
| C．Finding a comfortable place. | D．Getting reading started. |
| A．They are time-saving. | B．They provide more pleasure. |
| C．They help brain develop. | D．They offer more book choices. |
| A．It leads your way to reading. | B．It is cheap to get. |
| C．It improves the taste for art. | D．It can increase your patience. |
| A．Methods of Killing Free Time | B．Advantages of Using Audiobooks |
| C．Ways to Choose Educational Books | D．Tips on Developing a Reading Habit |
5 . 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 (登记) the books they own and would like to share. BookCrossing provides an ID 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 journal entry describing what they thought of it. Emails are then sent to the BookCrossers to keep them updated (及时了解) 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 (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 135 countries.
1. Why does the author mention book groups in the first paragraph?| A．To explain what they are. | B．To introduce BookCrossing. |
| C．To stress the importance of reading. | D．To encourage readers to share their ideas. |
| A．The book. | B．An adventure. | C．A public place. | D．The ID number. |
| A．Meet other readers to discuss it. | B．Keep it safe in his bookcase. |
| C．Pass it on to another reader. | D．Mail it back to its owner. |
| A．A new reading habit | B．A social activity of exchanging books |
| C．A new trend of online reading | D．A website that connects people through books |
6 . GET A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE WORLD’S MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATHERED ANIMALS WITH THESE BOOKS.
Flamingo
Biologist and photographer Claudio Contreras Koob spent 20 years travelling deep into the wet lands and forests of his native Mexico — and beyond — to feed his flamingo attraction. This book offers a unique window into the behavior and life of red-feathered birds, with more than 120 show-stopping shots displaying their beauty. teNeues, £35.
Around the World in 80 Birds
Inspiring secrets, national pride or scientific discoveries, every bird has a story to tell, from the weaver bird building multi-nest “apartment blocks” in Namibia to the bar-headed goose taking on a twice-yearly trans- Himalayan journey at an extreme altitude. Mike Unwin’s tour is accompanied by beautiful illustrations from Ryuto Miyake. Laurence King Publishing, £22.
A World on the Wing
Pulitzer-shortlisted Weidensaul, who’s at the forefront of research into bird migration, here tracks some of nature’s most remarkable journeys. He sails through the stormy Bering Sea, encounters trappers in the Mediterranean and visits former headhunters in northeast India, where a bird migration crisis has become a conservation success story. Pan Macmillan, £9.99.
Galapagos Crusoes: A Year Alone with the Birds
Explore this updated version of the 1968 title, Galapagos: Islands of Birds, by late bird expert Bryan Nelson, with previously unpublished material from his wife, June. The couple spent a year living on two Galapagos islands, studying birds, including the Galapagos albatross. This is their clever and amusing description. Bradt Guides, £11.99.
1. By whom is the second most expensive book illustrated?| A．Claudio Contreras Koob. | B．Ryuto Miyake. | C．Mike Unwin. | D．Weidensaul. |
| A．Flamingo. | B．Around the World in 80 Birds. |
| C．A World on the Wing. | D．Galapagos Crusoes: A Year Alone with the Birds. |
| A．Its moving plot. | B．Its vivid imagination. |
| C．Its romantic style. | D．Its humorous content. |
7 . You’re becoming an adult; your friends are changing; school is more challenging; and your life has more ups and downs than it used to. These books below are just for you to deal with the changes.
Say Goodbye to Stress by Dr. Jeff Brown
Kindle Edition: $ 11.79
Paperback: $ 16.95
Many have trouble getting their stress under control and want help. This book will encourage stressed-out readers with its stories from people like them about how they resolved or rethought the stress in their lives, learned to let go of anxiety and worry, and improved their lives by dealing with stress.
Find Your Inner Strength by Amy Newmark
Kindle Edition: $ 7.99
Paperback: $ 12.75
This powerful collection of stories will inspire you and help you find the inner strength to deal with the challenges in your own life. We are stronger than we think when we have to be. These brave people are the role models that show us all what is possible.
Random Acts of Kindness by Amy Newmark
Kindle Edition: $ 12.99
Paperback: $ 17.77
Make miracles happen for yourself and others. It’s easy. Just think outside the box and look around. There are so many ways that you can help--and it turns out the biggest beneficiary(受益人)may be you! Scientific studies have shown that “doing good” is good not only for others but also for the person doing it, making the person happier and healthier.
Be the Best You Can Be by Amy Newmark
Kindle Edition: $10.99
Paperback: $ 15.67
This collection shows kids positive role models to follow in its stories about making good choices, having confidence, and doing the right things. Parents and grandparents will enjoy discussing the stories with children, making it a family event.
1. How will you feel after reading Say Goodbye to Stress?| A．Moved. | B．Awkward. | C．Relaxed. | D．Confused. |
| A．It is written by a well-known author | B．It is the cheapest of the four books. |
| C．It has role models for kids to follow. | D．It shows readers how to do good deeds. |
| A．Say Goodbye to Stress. | B．Find Your Inner Strength. |
| C．Random Acts of Kindness. | D．Be the Best You Can Be. |
8 . 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 |
9 . Popular Self-Help Books
Want to be happier, healthier and more successful? Here are four popular self-help books to get you going.
How to Win Friends & Influence People —by Dale Carnegie
This is the book that started the self-help type. Carnegie says financial success is 15% professional knowledge and 85% ‘‘the ability to express ideas and inspire people’’. Here are a couple of his top tips: Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers; talk about your own mistakes before blaming the other person.
Who Moved My Cheese? —by Spencer Johnson
This book is about how to adapt to (适应) change in your life. It’s a story about two mice and two ‘‘little people’’(who represent humans). They all live in a maze (迷宫) and spend their days eating cheese. But one day they discover that their regular supply of cheese has disappeared. The mice immediately start searching the maze for more cheese but the two ‘‘little people’’ get angry. Finally, one of the ‘‘little people’’ accepts the situation and decides to look for a new cheese supply.
The Millionaire Next Door —by Thomas Stanley
The author of this book spent years interviewing American millionaires to figure out the secrets of their success. And he discovered that most millionaires don’t live a life in an expensive way. They’re rich because they live below their means and reinvest what they earn.
59 Seconds — by Richard Wiseman
This is a self-help book with a difference. Wiseman, a scientist, says 59 Seconds is about the ‘‘science of self-help’’. And he uses science to show many self-help ideas are false. Other tips in the book are: If you want to eat more healthily, hang a mirror in your kitchen. This can reduce unhealthy eating by 35%. If you want to be more creative, put a plant on your desk.
1. What is special about How to Win Friends & Influence People?| A．It talks about human’s behavior. |
| B．It was one of the first self-help books. |
| C．It was written after interviewing millionaires. |
| D．It speaks highly of the importance of sharing ideas. |
| A．59 Seconds. | B．Who Moved My Cheese? |
| C．The Millionaire Next Door. | D．How to Win Friends & Influence People. |
| A．Dale Carnegie’s. | B．Spencer Johnson’s. |
| C．Thomas Stanley’s. | D．Richard Wiseman’s. |
10 . To develop one’s taste in English, the most effective way is to read English books widely. Yet one may be at a loss to choose the proper books, especially as a beginner. As a native Spanish, I would like to share some of my reading experience.
My first English novel was Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, recommended by many English teachers and professors as an ideal book for English learners. But my experience was somewhat horrible. I had great difficulty in understanding the novel, let alone enjoying it. It’s not the vocabulary that troubled me, but rather the way Austen constructs sentences, and her way of thinking, which seemed rather unfamiliar to me at that time. My fading enthusiasm was much recovered after reading Hemingway’s novel-A Farewell to Arms. No long and puzzling sentences. And I particularly liked his brief style. So my first suggestion is, as a beginner, you’d better choose modern novels instead of classical ones.
However, if you limit yourself to novels, you will miss a lot of treasures. Besides, English essays also play a key role. They can at once inform you, entertain you, and improve your taste in English. The best example is Bertrand Russell’s work. Its language is plain, yet you cannot help feeling the elegance and the special sense of humor. His simple language enables his philosophy within the reach of ordinary people. Therefore, here comes my second suggestion-essays are also vital.
Never follow others’ recommendations and opinions blindly, however famous or influential the person might be. We should be open to various ideas, but always think independently and determine for ourselves. As a saying goes, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. With that in mind, we are bound to find out our favorite writers through reading and develop our fine taste in English.
1. What made the first English novel that the author read hard to understand?| A．Difficult conversations. |
| B．The old-fashioned vocabulary. |
| C．Not knowing the social background. |
| D．Sentences and Austen’s way of thinking. |
| A．Important. | B．Challenging. |
| C．Typical. | D．Convenient. |
| A．Compare books before buying. |
| B．Read books that are influential. |
| C．Don’t blindly follow others’ choices. |
| D．Choose books that challenge us most. |
| A．Give comments on literature works. |
| B．Tell beginners how to choose English books. |
| C．Encourage people to read more English books. |
| D．Recommend first class books to English learners. |
