1 . Espionage (间谍活动)! Secrets! Suspense(悬念)! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a spy, Max in the House of Spies written by Adam Gidwitz is for you. New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony strongly recommended this book for teenagers, saying Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book.

Espionage and courage are at the heart of this historical novel about Max, an 11-year-old boy sent to London as Germany became ever more dangerous for its Jewish citizens. Max has lots of questions, not the least of which are why the Nazis hate him so much, and why teachers and other adults are saying terrible, hurtful, things about Jewish people as if they are facts. Humor comes in the form of two little sprites from German and Jewish folklore (民间传说), who are forever weighing in—and arguing—about Max’s decisions and desire to return to Germany to save his folks. Fantastic characters and important topics for conversation make this a top read.

Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London. Leaving home is hard and Max is alone for the first time in his life. But not for long. Max is surprised to discover that he’s been joined by two unexpected traveling companions, one on each shoulder, a kobold (精灵) and a dybbuk (恶灵) named Berg and Stein. Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is determined to find a way back home, and back to his parents. He has a plan to return to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the impossible: becoming a British spy.

Max in the House of Spies is a thought-provoking World War II story as only acclaimed storyteller Adam Gidwitz can tell it—fast-paced and hilarious, with a dash of magic and a lot of heart.

1. Who is the author of Max in the House of Spies?

A．Wonder

B．Adam Gidwitz

C．White Bird

D．Pony

2. What kind of story is Max in the House of Spies ?

A．High-fantasy novel

B．Folklore

C．historical novel

D．political novel

3. What do we know about Max Bretzfeld?

A．Max is an 11-year-old boy born in London.

B．Max is sent to London for further study.

C．Max is quite interested in Jewish folklore.

D．Max wants to save his folks in Germany.

4. Which part of a magazine is this text most likely from?

A．Health Care

B．Sports Event

C．Cultural Insights

D．Book Review

2 . Books for children

Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett

This clever picture book shows younger readers the charming friendship between Cyril, a squirrel and Pat, who isn’t. Their friendship is powerful and shows children that it’s worth sticking up for those you care about. With vivid illustrations of life, leaves and flowers, an unexpected world is brought to life, and it’s the one that younger readers will delight in exploring every time they visit a park.

No One Is Angry Today by Toon Tellegen

Following a series of forest animal friends through their everyday lives, these stories examine why we do the things we do and how we feel about our actions. The brevity, clarity and high quality of these short stories also make them useful texts to study in literacy lessons, particularly in terms of viewpoint and writing styles.

The Midnight Panther by Poonam Mistry

Panther feels out of place and takes an adventure in the jungle to overcome challenges, conquer his insecurities and find out where he belongs. The Midnight Panther is an outstandingly illustrated and magical fable picture book. The atmospheric storytelling makes this book a joy to read aloud to a class and the breathtaking imagination lends itself to inspiring children’s creative writing.

Fiona the Fruit Bat by Dan Riskin

Fiona is the fruit bat who is afraid of the dark, afraid of the unknown and afraid to try flight. But calming and confidence-building words from her mother show her way. A good book to help children deal with new and unfamiliar situations. Reading this will not only teach them about overcoming fear, but also the science behind echolocation and lives of fruit bats.

1. What do we know about Cyril and Pat?

A．They are good friends.	B．They are both squirrels.
C．They enjoy collecting leaves.	D．They often visit remote parks.

2. Which book is good for children’s creative writing?

A．Cyril and Pat.	B．Fiona the Fruit Bat.
C．No One Is Angry Today.	D．The Midnight Panther.

3. What does Fiona the Fruit Bat teach children?

A．How to coexist with wildlife.	B．How to handle new situations.
C．How to get on with their mother.	D．How to develop an interest in science.

3 . Snuggling (偎依) up with your little one from an early age and diving into a book together is always a great way to spend time.     1     They will give your little one a flying start in life.

Firstly, it’s a great introduction to reading, writing and vocabulary. Seeing an adult reading out the words and linking them to the shapes on the page begins to build literary building blocks that the children will use for the rest of their life.     2     It helps them build up their understanding of language as well as the wider world.

    3     It boosts children’s minds and develops their social awareness and skills. At a time when they are perhaps stuck indoors more than ever before, reading is the best way to spark children’s imagination. You can travel to the moon, meet the Gruffalo and pop into a chocolate factory! This means children will have a solid creative base and develop their own story-telling skills while enjoying adventurous days at home. Fantastic lands, stories and characters can inspire play ideas for children too. However, you’ll find books fit for children are limited on your bookshelf. Don’t worry!     4    .

Reading time is a brilliant bonding tool with parents or carers, which builds up confidence and a sense of security for little ones.     5     It can even help them sleep better. Now is the perfect time to build up a library of remarkable reads ready for children to enjoy now and in the future.

A．Turning to the Internet is a good idea.

B．These stories can encourage future leaders and thinkers.

C．Reading to your children from day one has a lot of benefits.

D．Secondly, there are many brilliant effects of hearing stories.

E．It can also make them get difficult feelings, like loss or sadness.

F．Reading aloud introduces children to new words they might not hear daily.

G．A regular bedtime story create s routine which small children especially love.

4 . A majority of the people do not read the classics. Their reasons begin with the language being too difficult and end with the storyline to distant to the present context. Love for classics is obviously not at first sight.     1     We begin as acquaintances (泛泛之交) and eventually become close friends with private jokes between us. So how does one approach a classic?

Don’t be afraid to be confused.

We get it: it’s hard to power through confusion. It doesn’t feel great when a book makes you feel confused. Every reader has to start somewhere.     2     Instead, be proud of yourself for trying, and get excited about all the new things you’ll learn.

Research, research, research.

    3     Researching the author-and the time and place they were writing about-can help you situate yourself during tricky passages. The author’s experience, viewpoint, and historical context might help you make the connections you might not have otherwise.

Just pick the book up.

This step is self-explanatory. While it’s not hard to just pick a book up, we know how difficult it can be to convince yourself to do so.     4     Take a deep breath, then leap onto the deck (甲板) of Melville’s Pequod or step cautiously through the gates of Castle Dracula.

Remember: there is no right answer.

There is no perfect way to read a classic text. There is no defining interpretation, no singular, exact answer. Your goal as a reader is to discover what aspects and insights are meaningful to you. Enjoy the process.     5     Even if your interpretation of the work isn’t quite perfect, it is still valuable!

A．It is a gradual affair.

B．Allow the book to grow with you.

C．It has some form of historical influence.

D．Before you turn to page one, do some digging.

E．Never beat yourself up for not knowing something.

F．Remind yourself that it’s a new learning opportunity.

G．Consider what confuses you, read with intention, and think critically.

5 . I was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World. It was full of ideas that were new to me, so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book. It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy (哲学).

That love for philosophy lasted until I got to college. Nothing kills the love for philosophy faster than people who think they understand Foucault, Baudrillard, or Confucius better than you — and then try to explain them.

Eric Weiner’s The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers reawakened my love for philosophy. It is not an explanation, but an invitation to think and experience philosophy.

Weiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher’s work in the context (背景) of one thing they can help us do better. The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates, see like Thoreau, listen like Schopenhauer, and have no regrets like Nietzsche. This, more than a book about understanding philosophy, is a book about learning to use philosophy to improve a life.

He makes philosophical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences, and he does so with plenty of humor. Weiner enters into conversation with some of the most important philosophers in history, and he becomes part of that crowd in the process by decoding (解读) their messages and adding his own interpretation.

The Socrates Express is a fun, sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire, loneliness, and aging. The invitation is clear: Weiner wants you to pick up a coffee or tea and sit down with this book. I encourage you to take his offer. It’s worth your time, even if time is something we don’t have a lot of.

1. Who opened the door to philosophy for the author?

A．Foucault.	B．Eric Weiner.
C．Jostein Gaarder.	D．A college teacher.

2. Why does the author list great philosophers in paragraph 4?

A．To compare Weiner with them.

B．To give examples of great works.

C．To praise their writing skills.

D．To help readers understand Weiner’s book.

3. What does the author like about The Socrates Express?

A．Its views on history are well-presented.

B．Its ideas can be applied to daily life.

C．It includes comments from readers.

D．It leaves an open ending.

4. What does the author think of Weiner’s book?

A．Objective and plain.

B．Daring and ambitious.

C．Serious and hard to follow.

D．Humorous and straightforward.

6 . EDITOR’S NOTE

A Century in Circulation

This year’s annual classics collection is particularly special, given it is the magazine’s 100th anniversary year. Peeling back the covers of the thousands of editions, published in numerous countries, and dating back to the first issue in February 1922, is always a task we enjoy doing.

This collection offers a wide range of different subjects. Each one we hope will inform, delight, amuse and perhaps even confound our readers: from stepping inside the French artist Pierre-Auguste’s inner circle of friends (Page 84), to finding peace from depression in a solitary walk on the beach (Page 92) and meeting a cat who held a family together as they began to fall apart (Page 20). My favorite article, Exploits of Charles (Page 100), is written by a mother about the increasingly odd behavior of a little boy in her young son’s kindergarten class. I am sure you’ll enjoy this amusing account of a small boy adjusting to his new classmates and teachers. With an endless supply of wonderful stories, surprising insights and experiences to share, Reader’s Digest remains a place to find fresh perspectives and a great read.

Happy reading!

Louise Waterson Editor-in-Chief

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1. What makes this issue of Reader’s Digest so unique?

A．A various range of subjects.

B．A countless supply of stories.

C．Special anniversary collection.

D．Fresh viewpoints and insights.

2. On which page can readers find a funny story?

A．Page 100

B．Page 92

C．Page 84

D．Page 20

3. Which article can possibly get the highest payment?

A．Secret World of a Wise Cat

B．Four Tips to Prevent Vision Loss

C．Reunited with My Rescuers, Two Fishermen

D．What Kind of School do Giraffes Like to Go

7 . The first rule of popular science is to reveal the wonder and mystery of the world. For that reason, Sentient (Picador), written by photographer and wildlife film-maker Jackie Higgins, is my pick of the year. According to my interviews with many readers, I select other four newly-published books in 2022.

Delicious

This book describes how our ancestors hunted and consumed ancient animals such as mammoths, bison, giant camels and many more now-extinct species. The diet of the Clovis peoples of North America was a menu described as “a record of a lost world”. This book explains how our dinners robbed the world of so many large animals. It gives inspiration for how modern humans can be at peace with nature.

The New Climate War

In 1999, Mann published a graph showing the rapid post-industrial rise in global temperatures. Two decades later, his book The New Climate War remains convinced that we can prevent climate change. This book sets out a common-sense approach to carbon pricing and a revision of the Green New Deal. Of course, there are still many people who deny that climate change is even happening.

The Geodesic Dome

Physicist Kate Greene imagines that she spends four months in a geodesic dome in Hawaii, with five other people, to mimic living in a colony on another planet. The story describes the future of our Earth. Kate makes readers cherish the natural environment. “No sunshine on our skin, and no fresh air in our lungs,” Greene turns the frustrations into a moving story.

Florida Scrub-Jay

The birds were once common across the peninsula. But as development over the last 100 years reduced the habitats on which the bird depends, the species became endangered. Mark Walters travels the state to report on the natural history and the current situation of Florida’s flag ship birds. This book can raise people’s awareness of protecting the birds’ habitats.

1. What can we infer about the author from the text?

A．He’s a column journalist.	B．He’s a scientist.
C．He’s a film-maker.	D．He’s a photographer.

2. Which book might be science fiction?

A．Delicious.	B．Florida Scrub-Jay.
C．The Geodesic Dome.	D．The New Climate War.

3. What do the listed books have in common?

A．They have happy endings.	B．They record the natural history.
C．They face doubts from many scientists.	D．They involve the environmental protection.

8 . Robot science fiction has long been a favorite for readers. If you want to check out any of these titles for free, you can do so with Audible’s one-month free trial. Click here to download Audible’s app to try for $0.00.

I. Robot

The author of I, Robot, Isaac Asimov, is an indisputable giant within the world of robot science fiction due to his creation of the three laws of robotics. I, Robot is a landmark work of robot sci-fi which explores every facet of robots and their place in the world of humans, from their conception through to their possible replacement of humanity.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is an absolute landmark work of robot science fiction and has gained even greater recognition due to being made into the classic motion picture Blade Runner. The story’s hero is tasked with hunting down sentient robots that have gone immoral.

The Night Sessions

The Night Sessions by Ken MacLeod envisions a world in which religions and those who believe in them have been pushed to the edge of society. This is also a world populated by sentient robots that sometimes help humanity but are often shunned by their very creators.

Sea of Rust

Sea of Rust is set in a future world in which humanity has been totally wiped out by an unimaginably powerful artificial intelligence system and the robots it has at its command. In this world without mankind, the two most powerful artificial intelligence systems fight for control. It is both a tight story of survival and an optimistic adventure.

1. Which book has become more popular after being made into a movie?

A．I, Robot	B．Sea of Rust
C．The Night Sessions	D．Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

2. What can we learn about Sea of Rust?

A．It is a story of human survival.

B．It is set in a world full of robots.

C．It is about a harmonious world without mankind.

D．It’s about robots and humans fighting for control.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A website.	B．A newspaper.
C．A book review.	D．A journal of literary criticism.

9 . Take our challenge ( for a chance to win a £50 National Book Token (代金券) and a bundle (捆) of books worth more than £200.

Where are you going this summer? How about visiting a village in the Himalayas or going on an adventure in 19^th century Amsterdam? Perhaps you’d prefer to meet a Jamaican freedom fighter? Set your reading superpowers free and find out just how far a good book can take you. Follow these three simple steps to complete the challenge.

Choose and read three books

This might just be the most difficult part of the challenge - there are so many great books. If you can’t decide what to read, take a look at the next two pages where you’ll see the 50 books our experts have chosen just for you this summer.

Rate (划分等级) and review

When you finish reading each book, rate it by filling in the stars on the form on page 20. Three stars is the highest rating and one is the lowest. Next, describe the book in three words. If you’d like to write a longer review, use the lined space on the form to share your thoughts.

Enter our prize draw

When you’ve filled in the form, take a photo of it and email it to competitions@ theweekjunior.co.uk with the words SUMMER OF READING in the subject line. Every form we receive will be entered into a prize draw to win books and book tokens (see page 20 for prize detail sand terms and conditions).

1. What does the author think the hardest part of this challenge is?

A．Choosing and reading three books.	B．Rating the chosen books.
C．Reviewing three books.	D．Finding 50 great books.

2. What should a person do to take part in the challenge?

A．Buy a bundle of books.	B．Email the required photo.
C．Rate and review 50 books.	D．Ask for help from experts.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In a novel.

B．In a book review.

C．In a history book.

D．In a magazine.

10 . How to Make Reading a Regular Habit

I’ve always been a bookworm. There’s no place I’d rather be than buried in the pages of an attractive story, absorbed into another life, another world. Yet many friends and fellow book-lovers have told me: “Oh, I haven’t read a book in ages... I’m just too busy.” However, research has found that regular reading helps us relax: reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by 68 percent.     1    

Dedicate reading time. Setting aside some dedicated time every day—whether on your morning commute (通勤) or in the bath before bed—is a good place to start.     2    

Listen to an audiobook. For those who find it tough to spend time on reading, audiobooks allow you to multitask. Book blogger Amanda Chatterton says she sticks to her headphones and “reads” while going for an hour-long pre-work walk in the morning. She says, “     3    You can listen on transport, out walking, in the bath, doing jobs around the house or just sitting and relaxing”.

    4     If you’re the kind of person who is motivated by targets, try using sites like GoodReads to set yourself a reading challenge for the year. You can also add an element of competition by following what friends are reading.

Join a book club. Joining in a book club is a perfect solution for people who like to combine reading with socializing.     5     Belonging to a book club where others choose stretches you beyond your habit of reading.

Making more time for reading doesn’t have to be a chore, and your life will be all the richer for it.

A．Set a challenge.

B．Connect with book lovers online.

C．It can also inspire you to try new types.

D．So how can we make reading a regular habit?

E．They are such a good way to increase your reading.

F．There are plenty of ways to build up a reading community.

G．Even just 15 minutes will see you finish an average-length book in 20 days