1 . Searching for the perfect gift can be difficult, especially age-appropriate materials for teenagers. Look no further. We have a list of the best teen magazines. Give the gift of reading to your teens today!
Muse For teens up to age 14, Muse teaches, challenges, and excites readers of both genders. Sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute, this magazine features award-winning authors and focuses on science, history, and arts. Whether your teen is interested in genetics, video games, outer space, beekeeping, robots, or mythology, this magazine has it all! | |
Sports Illustrated Kids Perfect for sports fans aged 8 to 14, SI Kids supplies readers with interesting sports news they won’t want to miss. Articles on favorite athletes feature incredible photography and illustrations. Girls and boys alike will enjoy the advice from athletes, coaches, and experts in the field: they’ll find tips on nutrition, performance, morale (士气), and more. | |
Girls’ Life Magazine Designed for 10 to 15-year-olds, Girls’ Life provides inspiration and entertainment for every reader. She’ll find tips for dealing with stress, navigating high school, achieving academic success, and beauty and fashion advice. This print magazine delivers fun — quizzes, reader submissions, and more — helping guide young women through their teen years while still allowing them to be young. | |
National Geographic Kids While designed for kids aged 6 and up, this magazine features a lot of important, fun information about the world around us. Discover great stories about wildlife, current events, pop culture, science, technology, other kids’ adventures, and more! They’ll feel like they’re exploring the places themselves, with stunning photography, lively stories, and exciting facts. |
A.Information about award-winning authors. | B.Advice on coping with high school. |
C.Suggestions from coaches about nutrition. | D.News reports about interesting events. |
A.Girls’ Life. | B.Muse. |
C.Sports Illustrated Kids. | D.National Geographic Kids. |
A.Kids. | B.Parents. | C.Teenage boys. | D.Teenage girls. |
2 . Some children love reading, some dislike it, and many are in between. Most children and adults are drawn to reading materials that are engaging and understandable.
Compare books to films.
Encourage curiosity about vocabulary. As your child reads books, suggest that you look up difficult or unfamiliar words in the dictionary together.
Strengthen spelling skills. If you are making flashcards with difficult words, have your child practice spelling the words out loud or on paper. Give your child the opportunity to double-check spelling and find mistakes independently. This is a great strategy to use throughout the year.
A.Create literature with your child. |
B.Ask your child to make up stories. |
C.Compare how they are similar and how they are different. |
D.Have your child read a book and then check out the video version of the book. |
E.But, your child will eventually have to read uninteresting or complicated materials. |
F.It teaches your child to self-correct and also reduces their fear of dealing with difficult words. |
G.Consider making flashcards of these words and guessing the meanings before finding the definition. |
3 . There are many learn-to-read apps that can help children get started with reading. The best reading apps make it fun for children to learn this essential skill, and can help give them a head start over their peers.
FarfariaFarfaria is perfect for children that are fascinated by castles, knights (骑士), fairies and magical folk tales. Readers can explore various subjects and themes through numerous mystical “lands” on a map, which consists of unique stories to develop their reading abilities. Farfaria keeps children engaged through their colorful and mystical stories and instead of games or planned classes, it places reading skills in practical applications.
Hooked on PhonicsWith a proven track record extending more than 30 years, Hooked on Phonics is truly the gold standard for education excellence. Along with worksheets, questionnaires (问卷) and stories, children are taught new lessons via entertaining videos, songs and activities. And to motivate children to read, it has the awards and achievements feature. Parents or teachers can also track children’s progress and even add more children.
ABCmouseThis award-winning reading app has been specially designed for young children, and it’s great for helping children learn letters, phonics, sight words and more advanced reading concepts through educational and fun games, books and puzzles. The software’s distinctive “Step-by-Step Learning Path” has over 850 courses across 10 levels. Furthermore, it allows parents to keep a record of their child’s progress.
NogginThrough fun games, engaging activities and personalized lessons that feature children’s favorite Nick Jr. characters, it helps young children build key foundational skills. Not only does it have a ton of great lessons and games to help children build early literacy, but the app also includes an impressive library of e-books. New books are added each month, so children will never get bored as they enjoy an always-growing library in the app.
1. Which app offers a magic-world-themed learning experience?A.Noggin. | B.Farfaria. | C.ABCmouse. | D.Hooked on Phonics. |
A.They both have a long history. | B.They both provide rewards for children. |
C.They both record children’s learning process. | D.They both divide the courses into different levels. |
A.It engages children through fun games. | B.It allows children to build their own libraries. |
C.It encourages children to learn from Nick Jr. | D.It has a growing number of e-books available. |
4 . The Christmas Pig, J. K. Rowling’s first children’s novel since Harry Potter I, is a feel-good book, full of surprises, which will delight adults and children alike, not only for the original story, but also for the imaginative scenery, characters and objects that interact with the main characters.
It tells the story of Jack and the love he feels for Dur Pig, a stuffed toy pig who has been with him since he was a toddler. After losing him on Christmas Eve, Jack will embark on a great adventure to save Dur Pig with the help of the Christmas Pig, a brand-new replacement for Dur Pig.
J. K. Rowling shows again, with this book, why she is considered one of the greatest storytellers of her time. She distinguishes herself again in world building, and younger and older readers will be surprised, chapter after chapter, by the original ideas that she introduces in this world that Jack and his friend visit. The world Rowling creates is not complex but it does not underestimate children: it is a world with clear logic that the protagonists (主人翁) must follow, carefully crafted to serve the story and not its readers.
J. K. Rowling’s The Christmas Pig will surely delight loyal readers of her previous works, as they will discover familiar elements that evoke nostalgic (怀旧的) memories of Harry Potter. It is hard to tell if those references are there on purpose, but there may be some satisfaction in thinking that Rowling must have noticed and enjoyed them privately while she was writing them.
Parents around the world may have a difficult time every night, once a chapter is finished and their children must go to sleep. The Christmas Pig will keep readers turning pages with a great and imaginative story, filled with cliffhangers at the end of most chapters that will leave kids asking for more. Reviewers can rest assured that The Christmas Pig has all the magic that J. K. Rowling can provide, and that’s more than enough.
1. Why is J. K. Rowling rated as one of the best storytellers of her time?A.Her capacity in building characters. |
B.Her ability to design complicated plots. |
C.Her tendency to write to children’s taste. |
D.Her creativity in world building. |
A.They are added for the reader’s satisfaction. |
B.They may be adapted from the Harry Potter books. |
C.They may be intentionally placed by J. K. Rowling. |
D.They are difficult to notice and do not add much to the story. |
A.Suspense. | B.Imagination. | C.Magic. | D.Challenge. |
A.Critical | B.Objective | C.Enthusiastic | D.Indifferent |
5 . Family: Poems — by Mr. Keith Keenan
Kindle $0.00; Hardcover $12.50; Paperback $7.00.
The poet describes personal thoughts and feelings in a lyrical journey to understand and celebrate his family. “Family” looks at living honestly in places, not illusions. Figurative (形象的) language, a love of metaphor and sharp images all make the poems work.
Time to Heal — by Aleandra Vasiliu
Kindle $9.99; Hardcover $21.94; Paperback $12.64.
From the bestselling author comes an inspirational poetry book about love, healing, and growth. It is a reminder to strive to change for the better. Featuring more than 130 uplifting poems and black-and-white illustrations, it’s a great companion when you need to embrace self-love and personal transformation.
Seeds from a Birch Tree — by Clark Strand
Kindle $9.99; Hardcover $26.80; Paperback $16.95.
Seeds from a Birch Tree makes nature into a spiritual path. Its message was simple: Haiku teaches us to return to nature by following the seasons — seventeen syllables at a time. With its mix of poetry and memoir (回忆录), the book guides us to the joy hidden in plain sight, leading us to get into a good state of body and mind.
A Poem for Every Day — by Allie Esiri
Kindle $9.99; Hardcover $28.05; Audio CD $18.05.
This audio book is a collection of 366 poems which link to events on key dates—funny for April Fools’ Day, festive for Christmas. This is the perfect gift for poetry lovers of all ages. These poems are informative, peaceful, and energetic!
There are a large number of poetry collections on Amazon. More information, please click here.
1. How much will you pay if you are to buy a hardcover edition of a book on haiku?A.$12.50. | B.$21.94. | C.$26.80. | D.$28.05. |
A.Family: Poems features plain language. |
B.Time to Heal features colorful illustrations. |
C.Seeds from a Birch Tree focuses on human nature. |
D.A Poem for Every Day focuses on festive celebrations. |
A.A marketing website. | B.A literature magazine. |
C.A book review. | D.A news report. |
6 . J. K. Rowling frequently shows there is magic every day. Her Harry Potter series has helped people through times of stress and depression and she is always there to deliver wise words of encouragement.
She is one celebrity who is very active on Twitter. So when a single dad named Matt Burke sent her a message thanking her for the series, she noticed. Her series had helped strengthen his relationship with his 9yearold daughter Bailey.
He included a link to his article titled Being a Broke Parent. He explained how he hadn’t found a level of financial stability that allowed him to pay bills on time and take his daughter on more activities and events. The family also doesn’t have the Internet or TV, which means there’s no “digital babysitter” and he has to rely on his own creative ways to bond with his daughter. Since he received the series, the main thing that has occupied them these days is reading books together.
Burke admits that he thought he was “too cool” for the books when they first came out and he was in his twenties, but he’s loving reading them now. “We switch off chapter by chapter reading them out loud,” Burke explains. “This not only allows her to get more used to reading aloud in front of someone, but it gets me directly involved in something she loves, and it gives me the chance to be very dramatic when I read my chapters and bring myself into the characters in the book, which has proven to be a ton of fun.”
After hearing Burke’s story, Rowling said how honored she was when Harry Potter was a part of his family’s life and offered Burke more books. Besides, people are also offering to send Burke more books as gifts. For Burke, this experience, far more than gifts, will be what he treasures.
1. What is implied in Burke’s words in paragraph 4?A.He has found it interesting to read the series. |
B.He was too old to understand the series better. |
C.He has chosen a better way of reading the series. |
D.He hopes to play a role in the drama in the future. |
A.Useless. | B.Normal. | C.Valuable. | D.Boring. |
A.J. K. Rowling chooses to help improve kids’ health. |
B.J. K. Rowling gives a magical gift to a single father. |
C.J. K. Rowling has a deep influence on others’ growth. |
D.Burke comes to know J. K. Rowling through her series. |
A.She guided him how to write a good story. |
B.She encouraged him when he was in trouble. |
C.Her books helped him through times of confusion. |
D.Her books helped him improve his bond with his daughter. |
7 . Three grade 11 students from Harbour View High School, Canada, wanted to convey their message of fighting climate change to a younger audience. So, they wrote a children’s book named Keeping It Cool as part of a project.
Upon receiving their first order of 12 copies, Claire Malco, the illustrator of the book, vividly recalls the moment when the realization struck. “I just sat there with my mouth open and was like, wow, this is actually happening,” Malco told CBC News.
Coauthored by Joanna Jackson and Olivia Jordan, the book employs age-appropriate analogies (类比), coupled with vibrant illustrations, to promote actions kids can take against climate change. To explain the concept of the atmosphere, for example, the young authors drew a bubble(气泡) around Earth throughout the story. They also call for actions, such as planting trees and vegetable gardens – explaining how plants absorb CO2 from the “bubble” atmosphere just like a vacuum cleaner (真空吸尘器). The book also tells kids how they can avoid polluting the bubble by trying to walk, bike or scoot instead of taking a car or bus.
“The entire second half of the book is just things kids can do without needing their parents’ support … We wanted it to be something that every kid could finish,” Jordan explained to CBC News.
On Earth Day, the students visited a local elementary school where they read their stories and facilitated discussions about the text with every grade 5 class. They spread awareness that, regardless of age, anybody can help make a positive impact on Earth’s climate.“Educating students was the intention when writing this book. Having the opportunity to present to 10 different classes helped us gain insight on how to better our presentation and content, as well as see the impact this book will have on students,” the students told Our Canada Project.
1. Why did the three students write Keeping It Cool ?A.To change a younger audience. | B.To show their talent for illustrating. |
C.To describe environmental problems. | D.To inform kids of handling climate change. |
A.Vivid. | B.Ordinary. | C.Complex. | D.Abstract. |
A.They discussed the text with 5 classes. | B.They wrote the book with the students. |
C.They did a presentation in every class. | D.They inspired discussions about the text. |
A.A news report. | B.A book review. | C.A children’s book. | D.A diary. |
8 . Benefits of Reading Nonfiction Books
Can you remember the last piece of nonfiction that you read?
When reading nonfiction, students must use an analytical approach to gather information, identify key concepts, and comprehend what they read. Students also learn valuable research and investigative skills as they interact with nonfiction.
•Nonfiction builds vocabulary and language skills.High-quality nonfiction will introduce new words with visuals to support comprehension. Often, nonfiction books contain features, like a glossary (术语表), for students to reference vocabulary words and their definitions.
A.Nonfiction enhances academic progress. |
B.Nonfiction promotes critical thinking skills. |
C.Notification might be difficult to understand for some. |
D.Teachers can use nonfiction to inspire their students’ interests. |
E.No need to tire your brain for the title of a history book or textbook. |
F.Nonfiction books share facts that can build students’ prior knowledge. |
G.This is helpful for English language learners as they build their academic vocabulary. |
9 . Bill Gates isn’t doing much light reading this summer. For his annual list of reading recommendations for the season, he’s picked four books that you can really sink into on vacation.
Upheaval, Jared Diamond
Diamond examines how people react to the different crises in their lives. Specifically, he looks at how six countries responded to big challenges, and learned how to adapt in the face of adversity. Gates writes. “I finished the book even more optimistic about our ability to solve problems than I started.”
Nine Pints, Rose George
Gates glowingly recommends this deep dive into what you ever wanted to know about the stuff in your veins (静脉). He thinks everyone should know more about this topic. “There is nothing that more people have in common than blood,” he writes.
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
It’s 1922 and Alexander Rostov has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life under house arrest in a Moscow hotel. Even though this book is sure to please anyone who is interested in learning more about Russia, Towles goes beyond just politics in his best-seller. “The book is technically fiction,” Gates writes.
Presidents of War, Michael Beschloss
Beschloss studies how presidents dealt with nine different US conflicts from the War of 1812 to the Vietnam War, and makes critical connections about their decisions and power as leaders. “It is hard to read about today’s conflicts without thinking about how they might connect to the past,” Gates writes.
1. Which book would most appeal to those interested in serious politics?A.Upheaval. | B.Nine Pints. |
C.Presidents of War. | D.A Gentleman in Moscow. |
A.Tricks of diving. | B.Illustrations of blood cells. |
C.A thorough study of blood. | D.A glimpse of blood function. |
A.It’s impossible to solve all the problems. | B.It’s critical to make far-sighted decisions. |
C.It’s difficult to understand today’s conflicts. | D.It’s necessary to connect the present to the past. |
10 . Andrew is a teenager from Germany, studying in Garden School. He is very interested in Chinese classic novels. He wants to buy some to read but he doesn’t know what to choose. Therefore, he asked his classmates to recommend some and he has made a list according to their recommendations.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Author: Luo Guanzhong(1330 — 1400) Recommended by: Tom Reason for recommendation: It influences the world most because it is very rich in strategies (策略) and many are applicable (适用的) today. One of them in the story is the Empty Fort Strategy by the famous strategist Zhuge Liang. The story has spread all over the world. Price: ¥ 58 Dream of the Red Chamber Author:Cao Xueqin(1715 — 1763) Recommended by: Coco Reason for recommendation: It is worth reading as there is a whole group of fans around the world called “Redologists (红学研究者)”. They have conferences and debate its details. It offers a panoramic (全景式的) view of society. The female characters in it are especially strong. Cao wished to respect them. Price: ¥ 55 The Journey to the West Author: Wu Cheng’en (about 1501 — 1582) Recommended by: Chen Ying Reason for recommendation: It is a classic novel published in the 16th century. It has positive spirit and no fear of difficulties. It focuses on a “hero’s journey” and the hero must complete difficult tasks, learning lessons along the way. Price: ¥64 The Water Margin Author: Shi Naian(1296 — 1371) Recommended by: Judy Reason for recommendation: It focuses on action and anti-hero themes (主题). Though the 108 people, 105 men and 3 women, may be “bad guys”, they make up their mind to protect their own people. The novel has been translated into many languages, including German. Price: ¥45 |
1. Who was born in the 13th century?
A.Luo Guanzhong. | B.Cao Xueqin. |
C.Wu Cheng’en. | D.Shi Naian. |
A.One. | B.Two. | C.Three. | D.Four. |
A.Romance of the Three Kingdoms. | B.Dream of the Red Chamber. |
C.The Journey to the West. | D.The Water Margin. |
A.it is published in the 16th century | B.the edition (版本) in German is easier for him to understand |
C.Andrew can be one of the Redologists | D.Andrew likes Zhuge Liang very much |