1 . A man may usually be known by the books he reads es well as by the company he keeps.
A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change.
People often discover their common characteristics by the mutual love for a book. As an old proverb goes, “Love me, love my book.”
Books are by far the most lasting products of human efforts. Temples and statues may fall into ruin, but books will survive.
The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens.
| A．Their spirits walk among us. |
| B．Books introduce us into the best society. |
| C．Great thoughts will never fade over time. |
| D．It is the most patient and cheerful companion. |
| E．The book is a truer and higher bond of relationships. |
| F．The world of a man’s life is the world of his thoughts. |
| G．One should always live in the company of best books and best men. |
2 . As a college student in Boston, I formed the habit of buying used books. I enjoy the hunt, the good price and the unrecognized treasures. I find old textbooks, ex-bestsellers, and books on subjects I’ve never heard of and now must learn all about. I don’t search for rare books, first editions, or leather-bound editions but books that are worth reading.
Rereading, for me, is a pleasure during retirement. The theater and the concert hall become less appealing to me, along with crowds. Staying alone and reading books have become extremely important to me. Literature needs the flesh of experience to have its full effect. Different books offer me insights and ways of expressing that stuck in my mind as grains of sand in an oyster now shine like pearls. My taste in books improves with age.
While packing for a move, which occurs at intervals of five to seven years, I clear my shelves and pick my books. I abandon a few, later regret my decisions, and look for them again. Several years ago, I got rid of books related to my job-architecture. Some were design guides, reference books, product catalogs, and things that went out of date. Some were historical or centered on a period or an architect. These had given me many hours of pleasure. Will I ever open their covers again? Certainly. I held on to the red bulk of Sir Banister Fletcher’s A History of Architecture and books on Paris, Rome, and Boston.
I gave away drafting equipment and instruments. I threw out rolls and rolls of paper, and old drawings of projects completed long ago, some of which had even been damaged. This time, I stay put in a cottage that suits my status and I’ve moved on in spirit. No doubt I will acquire more used books and throw away more books as passions grow and fade, like feathers changing with the seasons.
1. What does the author consider most important when choosing used books？| A．Their appealing covers. | B．Their reasonable prices. |
| C．Their excellent content. | D．Their collection value. |
| A．He has a small circle of friends. | B．His attitude towards work changes. |
| C．His communication skills improve. | D．He has a deeper understanding of life and books. |
| A．To show some books are worth reading repeatedly. |
| B．To recommend Sir Banister Fletcher’s books. |
| C．To suggest we avoid making poor decisions. |
| D．To explain his love for architecture. |
| A．He will stop throwing away used books. |
| B．He likes updating his collection of used books. |
| C．He is bad at using advanced drafting equipment. |
| D．He enjoys leading an active life in the countryside. |
3 . I can remember when my daughter Maggie, who is now six, used to crawl into my lap and say, “Daddy, read me a story.” Last year she announced, “Daddy, I’m going to read you a story.”
Maggie was a television child. When she first became conscious of anything beyond eating and sleeping, the TV set was right there, and it soon commanded her attention.
A few years ago, we were worried not only that we’d never get the children away from the set long enough to learn to read, but that we’d forget how to read ourselves. But in 1955 there was not only more reading than before TV, but more reading than ever before in history.
Clearly, reading has survived television as it has survived a lot of other things. When I was six, a wail went up about menaces (威胁) to reading at home: motor cars and cinema. When Maggie came along, there was television. The motorcar, the radio, the cinema and television do take up a lot of time.
Well, we’ve got more time. When my mother was a girl, people worked about 60hours a week. Now it’s 44. When Maggie grows up, it’ll be 30. And there’ll be numerous gadgets to do her housework. She’ll have to read. You can’t watch TV all day. At present Maggie is reading about Johnny Woodchuck. Ahead of her—and I’m a little envious—are her first brush with Black Beauty, Alice stepping through the looking glass, Huck and Jim drifting down the Mississippi, the emotional storms of Shakespeare, the spiritual agonies of Tolstoy. For reading isn’t all joy. Like life itself, it’s mixed with many moods, from ecstasy (狂喜) to despair. Maggie will learn to take the rough with the smooth, gathering from the ancient wisdom of long-dead genius a little fire to enrich her spirit.
And some day, if she’s lucky, she’ll get the biggest thrill of all, when a little girl climbs into her lap and announces, “Mummy, I’m going to read you a story.”
1. Which of the following things used to catch Maggie’s attention too much?| A．The motorcar. | B．The radio. | C．The cinema. | D．The television. |
| A．They face less working pressure. |
| B．There is more time available for reading. |
| C．Their parents encourage them more often. |
| D．They have a stronger desire for knowledge. |
| A．Her exposure to classic reading. | B．Her productive works in writing. |
| C．Her wild imagination in daily life. | D．Her spiritual reflection on the books. |
| A．Maggie has rich experiences. |
| B．Maggie has a good plan for reading. |
| C．Maggie will benefit a lot from reading. |
| D．Maggie is on the road to becoming a genius. |
| A．It is a blessing that reading can be passed down. |
| B．More girls like Maggie enjoy telling stories. |
| C．Maggie’s daughter brings her the biggest thrill. |
| D．Reading makes Maggie a fortunate girl. |
4 . Reading is good for more than just entertainment.
Reading can boost intelligence
People who exhibit strong reading skills early in life grow up to be more intelligent. That was the finding of a study published in 2014 that measured the cognitive development of 1, 890 sets of identical twins. When two twins shared the same genes and home environments, early reading skills appeared to be the factor that decided which twin would be better at both verbal tests (like vocabulary( and non-verbal (like reasoning tests).
Reading helps increase empathy
Feel stressed at the end of a long day?
Even after you put down a book, the effects of reading it are still present in your brain. A 2013 study discovered that when people read books, their brains continue to behave differently hours and even days later. The brains of readers show increased connectivity in the left temporal cortex — the region responsible for language receptivity — even hours after they’ve stopped reading. This suggests that reading can train the mind and boost neural function through a process that’s similar to muscle memory.
| A．Reading improves your passion |
| B．Reading may change your brain |
| C．Since reading is of significance |
| D．Reading books doesn’t just make you smarter |
| E．Opening a book is a good way to wind down |
| F．Because reading ability is something that’s learned |
| G．Committing part of every day to reading books can make you smarter, kinder, and more relaxed |
5 . Can People Really Learn to "Speed Read”？
There never seems to be enough time to read these days. With so many books and articles—especially on social media——the ability to read faster could be a life-changer.
“Speed reading is not actually possible," said Elizabeth Schotter, a scientist at the University of South Florida.
Some books and classes train people to read whole passages all at once by scanning text in a zigzag（之字形）pattern. These methods suggest that our eyes make wasted movements when looking back and forth over words. But studies find that the limit to reading comprehension is the ability to recognize words.
In recent years, numerous apps have claimed they can boost reading speed. These apps display text just one word at a time, one after another at a certain rate.
| A．So is there a way to become a faster reader? |
| B．Is the scientific community doubtful about speed reading? |
| C．So adjusting eye movements probably won't help you read faster. |
| D．Most people who claim to be speed-reading are actually skimming. |
| E．That way, your eyes are forced to focus on the word in front of you. |
| F．Reading is a complex task that requires cooperation between mental systems. |
| G．That is why so many classes, books and apps claim they can get you to read faster. |
6 . Below is a list of the most worthwhile writing competitions available.
TALF Flash Fiction Competition
The theme of this contest from Theme Arts and Literature Festival is "The Prime of Lile" in recognition of the l5th anniversary of the death of Muriel Spark. You can deal with this theme in any genre (体裁) and in any way you choose, although you are limited to 500 words.
Prizes : £200, £100, £50.
Entry Fee : £8.
Wild Nature Poetry Award 2022
Here we have a new contest from Indigo Dreams Publishing. It is for poems of up to 48 lines on the subject of cruel sports, wildlife in general, the natural world, or the environment.
Prizes: £200, £100, £75.
Entry Fee: £5.
SPM Poetry Book Competition
This international contest from Sentinel Poetry Movement is for full-length poetry collections on any theme and in any style. To enter, you submit up to 20 pages initially. If shortlisted (入围), you have to submit the full collection before December 31 .
Prizes: £500, £250, £100.
Entry Fee: £25.
Poetry Space Competition 2022
Here's a new contest from Poetry Space, an online platform for modern poetry from around the world, which requires poems of up to 40 lines on any subject. You have to be over 16 to enter. The judge is Rosie Jackson, a poet and creative writing tutor.
Prizes: £300, £200, £100.
Entry Fee: £5.
1. What is special about TALF Flash Fiction Competition?| A．It requires no entry fee. | B．It is about a certain theme. |
| C．It has the longest history. | D．It was started by a famous person. |
| A．SPM Poetry Book Competition. | B．Poetry Space Competition 2022. |
| C．Wild Nature Poetry Award 2022. | D．TALF Flash Fiction Competition. |
| A．It is a yearly contest. | B．Anyone can take part. |
| C．It has more than one limit. | D．In offers the most prize money. |
7 . Matt Haig, the best-selling author of the novel “The Midnight”, recommends some books that offer wisdom or comfort in difficult times.
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Rilke (1929). This is the ultimate comfort read. The book is what the title suggests: letters from an older poet to a younger one. The great thing about Rilke’s advice is that it acknowledges the darkness and suffering of existence, yet manages despite that—or maybe even because of that—to inspire.
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön(1996). I read this book during the first lockdown, and it was the perfect read for uncertain times. Chödrön is a Buddhist, but the advice and philosophy in these relatively few pages speaks universally. It’s a great book about embracing life in its totality, about seeing hope and suffering as part of a whole.
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne(1928). The Winnie-the-Pooh stories really speak to people going through tough times. In many ways, each of the characters reflects a different mental state: Eeyore is depressed, Tigger is hyper-active, Piglet is anxious, and Pooh reflects a hope and optimism much needed in recovery. I reread this book when I was ill with a panic disorder, and it soothed me.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (1994). In my opinion, this is the greatest book about writing ever written. But like Rilke, Lamott is offering far more than writing advice. She is offering wisdom on life and how to embrace its imperfect nature.
1. Which book came out first?| A．Bird by Bird. |
| B．The Midnight. |
| C．Letters to a Young Poet. |
| D．The House at Pooh Corner. |
| A．The tough times are everywhere. |
| B．Life consists of hope and suffering. |
| C．People have a variety of mental states. |
| D．The undesirable things of life can be ignored. |
| A．All contain inspiring advice. |
| B．They are based on true facts. |
| C．Matt Haig instructed their novelists. |
| D．Writing will be improved by reading them. |
8 . A trip to the library was like a great journey to a different country. To get there, we had to walk a mile. But our weekly journeys to the library were a piece of perfection. I had around me at one time all the people I loved best-my father and mother and brothers and sister-and all the things I loved best-quiet, space, and books.
I read a lot of books about science: not the spaceships my brothers preferred, but the birds and bees-literally. I brought home a book of birds and searched the trees for anything other than robins (知更鸟). I went through a phase of loving books with practical science experiments and used up a whole bottle of white vinegar by pouring it on the sides of our apartment building to prove that it was constructed of limestone (石灰石).
One Saturday, as I wandered through the young adult section, I saw a title: Little Women, by Lousia May Alcott. I had learned from experience that titles weren’t everything. A book that sounded great on the shelf could be dull once you got it home.
So I sat in a chair near the shelves to skim the first paragraphs. I read and read and read Little Women until it was time to walk home, and, except for a few essential interruptions like sleeping and eating. I did not put it down until the end. Even the freedom to watch weekend television held no appeal for me in the wake of Alcott’s story. It was about girls, for one thing, girls who could almost be like me, especially Jo. I had found someone who thought and felt the way I did.
1. What can we say about the author’s family?| A．They were travel fans. | B．They were bookworms. |
| C．They were against watching TV | D．They held seminars in the library. |
| A．Her different attitudes towards nature. |
| B．Her experiments of science. |
| C．Her reason of studying birds and bees. |
| D．Her reading craze at one time. |
| A．Book titles might be misleading. |
| B．Science books are more interesting than arts books. |
| C．Repetitive reading is important. |
| D．All books need to be digested. |
| A．She was totally transformed. | B．It made her sleepless and tasteless. |
| C．She was heartbroken. | D．It kept her absorbed. |
9 . Like a tired marriage, the relationship between libraries and publishers has long been reassuringly dull. E-books, however, are causing heartache. Libraries know they need digital wares if they are to remain relevant, but many publishers are too careful about piracy and lost sales to co-operate. Among the big six, only Random House and Harper Collins license e-books with most libraries. The others have either denied requests or are reluctantly experimenting.
Publishers are wise to be nervous. Owners of e-readers are exactly the customers they need: book-lovers with money—neither the devices nor broadband connections come cheap. If these wonderful people switch to borrowing e-books instead of buying them, what then? Electronic borrowing is awfully convenient. Unlike printed books, which must be checked out and returned to a physical library miles from where you live, book files can be downloaded at home. Digital library catalogues are often browsed at night from a; comfortable sofa. The files disappear from the device when they are due. Awkwardly for publishers, buying an e-book costs more, than renting one but offers little extra value.
You cannot resell it, lend it to a friend or burn it to stay warm. Owning a book is useful if you want to savor (品尝) it repeatedly, but who reads “Fifty Shades of Grey” twice?
E-lending is not simple, however. There are lots of different and often incompatible e-book formats, devices and licences. Most libraries use a company called Over Drive, a global distributor that secures rights from publishers and provides e-books and audio files in every format. Yet publishers and libraries are worried by Over Drived market dominance, as the company can increasingly dictate fees and conditions.
Library boosters argue that book borrowers are also book buyers, and that libraries are vital spaces for readers to discover new work. Many were cheered by a recent Pewsurvey, which found that more than half of Americans with Horary cards say they prefer to buy their e-books. But the report also noted that few people know that e-books are available at most libraries, and that popular titles often involve long waiting lists, which may be what inspires people to buy.
So publishers keep adjusting their lending arrangements in search of the right balance. The story of the library e-book is a nail-biter.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．Libraries are eager to keep relationship with publishers. |
| B．Several publishers have sold e-books to most libraries. |
| C．Libraries care too much about piracy and book sales. |
| D．Most publishers hesitate to cooperate with libraries. |
| A．It can help save readers' expenses on devices and broadband connections. |
| B．It needs checking out and returning to the library via the Internet. |
| C．It enables readers to resell the book files or lend them to friends. |
| D．It has a time limit for the book files downloaded on the device. |
| A．It has the privilege to offer readers various brands of e-readers. |
| B．It distributes e-books and audio files to publishers. |
| C．Its market dominance threatens publishers and libraries. |
| D．It devotes itself to improving conditions of e-book market. |
| A．people with library cards have to wait to borrow popular e-books |
| B．E-books are accessible in libraries and full of exciting prospects. |
| C．more than half of Americans choose e-books over physical copies |
| D．the desire to collect a popular book inspires people to buy it |
10 . The World's Coolest Bookstores
Where did you buy your last book? Chances are that you bought it on the Internet. But if you did, you missed the extraordinary experience of browsing in a real bookstore. These days bookstores offer lots of great books and plenty more.
Taipei's Eslite Dunnan Store
Time magazine once named Eslite Dunnan Store in Taipei "Asia's best bookstore ". One visit to the store tells you why. The store, spreading across five floors, offers a combination of restaurants, music and over 200,000 books. With its cosy reading spots, visitors sometimes say it's like a library. Others have called it the " 7-Eleven of bookstores" because it's open 24 hours a day.
Book Garden
The world's biggest bookstore is Tehran, Iran's Book Garden with 700,000 square feet of space. In addition to restaurants and a theater, the Book Garden features a park on the roof.
Libreria Acqua Alta
Venice, Italy, is a city surrounded by water. It seems that one of its most interesting bookstores is Libreria Acqua Alta. Its books are displayed in all things related to water such as boats, bathtubs and more.
La Caverne aux Livres
La Caverne aux Livres—the cave of books—was once a train. Today this unique French bookstore, located north of Paris, is home to thousands of second-hand books.
Bart's Books
Many readers like to sit inside with a good book. But at Bart's Books in California, guests can enjoy a good book and some fresh air. Bart's Books is believed to be the largest independently-owned outdoor bookstore in the US.
Whether you enjoy reading inside or outside, there's always an interesting bookstore to be discovered.
1. What is special about Taipei's Eslite Dunnan Store?| A．You can visit this bookstore at any time of the day. |
| B．You can take books from this store free of charge. |
| C．There are places where you can enjoy your meal. |
| D．It is characterized by a park directly on its roof. |
| A．Admire landmarks of Paris in the distance. |
| B．Search for some information about trains. |
| C．Enjoy a good book and outdoor scenery. |
| D．Browse a huge number of used books. |
| A．To urge people to read books inside and outside. |
| B．To encourage people to go to the real bookstores. |
| C．To inspire booksellers to open creative bookstores. |
| D．To appeal to booksellers to pay attention to this list. |
