| A．Great. | B．Different. | C．Boring. |
2 . Developing a reading habit is an excellent way to improve your knowledge, expand your vocabulary and reduce stress.
One of the best ways to start a reading habit is to begin with short reading sessions. You can start by setting aside 10-15 minutes a day to read. Gradually increase the duration (持续时间) of your reading sessions.
Setting a reading goal is an excellent way to motivate you to read more and make reading a habit. You can set a goal of reading a certain number of books per month or per year. Additionally, you can set a goal of reading for a specific amount of time each day.
To make reading a habit, it is essential to choose books that interest you. If you don't enjoy the book you are reading, it will be difficult to stay motivated.
| A．Focus on the quality of your reading experience. |
| B．Find a quiet and comfortable space without disturbance. |
| C．To develop a reading habit, you need to make time for it. |
| D．Make sure you are passionate about the topics of the books. |
| E．However, it can be challenging if you seldom read regularly. |
| F．Whatever goal you choose, make sure it is realistic and achievable. |
| G．Starting small will make it easier to include reading in your daily routine. |
3 . 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 9-year-old 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 signed 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. Why did Burke thank J.K. Rowling according to the text?| 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. |
| 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．Unique. | B．Normal. | C．Precious. | D．Funny. |
| 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. |
4 . For many people, bookstores are wonderful places. That’s because the books on the shelves can take you away to magical lands, help you learn a foreign language, or cook a delicious meal. But when your community is too small to house a brick bookstore, you have to come up with another idea. A mobile bookstore was the result. That is the case for Rita Collins, 70, who dreamed of opening a used bookstore after retiring from teaching.
A business planning class from the American Booksellers Association convinced Collins to give up her idea of opening a bookstore in the small town where she lives. Her town, Eureka, Montana, only has a population of 1,517. Collins asked her instructors about a traveling bookstore on wheels and they doubted her idea. But she insisted on it.
Collins was inspired by Dylans Mobile Bookstore, a traveling bookstore in Wales run by Jeff Towns. She contacted Jeff for advice but she was largely on her own when it came to building her bookstore. First, she had to find a vehicle large enough to stand in. Then she had to have it refitted with shelves that would hold the books at a 15-degree angle so that they would stay in place while traveling. Collins named her bookstore St. Rita’s Traveling Bookstore, which has been on the road since 2015.
At first, she drove through Montana and then she made her first cross-country trip in 2016. After she retired in 2017, it became a full-time job. Collins and her bookstore have visited 30 states, stopping at festivals and events along the way. Collins loves meeting people and making connections. While she loves what she does, Collins doesn’t think she can keep doing it. In several years, she hopes to pass her traveling bookstore onto another book lover who shares the same interest and will keep it on the road.
1. According to the passage, what’s the basic requirement for opening a bookstore?| A．There must be a community with a popularity of 1517. |
| B．The American Booksellers Association should support the store. |
| C．A bookstore must store enough books. |
| D．The bookstore must offer delicious meals. |
| A．With a large vehicle. | B．At a 15-degree angle. | C．On the wheels. | D．On the road. |
| A．Nobody supported Collins at first. | B．Jeff helped Collins a lot in building her bookstore. |
| C．Collins made the bookshelves by herself. | D．Collins would devote all her life to her bookstore. |
| A．How to make her bookstore popular. | B．How to raise more money to support her store. |
| C．How to choose more suitable books. | D．How to choose a man who can inherit her bookshop. |
5 . Here are some highly recommended books for readers to choose.
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn $23.92
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s first published novel is incredibly relatable for anybody whose family members frequently question their relationship status. In Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? a thirty-something Nigerian woman attempts to find herself a wedding date and learns some valuable lessons about life and love.
Violeta by Isabel Allende $ 25.76
Isabel Allende’s expansive collection of works continues with Violeta — the story of a woman named Violeta Del Valle who gives readers a front-row seat to historic moments of the 20th century, from the Spanish flu to the Great Depression to the women’s rights movement, as she recounts the highs and lows of her 100-year life in a series of letters to her grandson.
The Perfect Escape by Leah Konen $15.64
Loved Leah Konen’s All the Broken People? Prepare yourself for her newest thriller (惊悚小说), The Perfect Escape, which is about a group of friends whose girls’ weekend goes wrong when they land themselves in deep trouble in the Catskills and one of them goes missing.
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner $24.84
Talk about suspense! Katherine Faulkner’s Greenwich Park, told from three angles, centers on a pregnant woman who meets another mom-to-be who couldn’t be more different from her. As their friendship develops, they realize they may be more connected than they think.
1. What can we know about Lizzie Damilola Blackburn?| A．She is a new rising novelist. |
| B．She has never written a book before. |
| C．She is good at creating romance novels. |
| D．She aims at sharing valuable lessons through writing. |
| A．Violeta. | B．Greenwich Park. |
| C．The Perfect Escape. | D．Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? |
| A．A news report. | B．An advertisement. |
| C．A book review. | D．A reading guidance. |
6 . 假定你是李华，你的美国网友将学习汉语，她发来邮件请求推荐一本学习汉语的书，请你用英
语写一封推荐“Elementary Spoken Chinese”这本书， 内容包括：
1.说明写信的目的；
2.推荐这本书的原因；
3. 希望获得重视，期待答复。
Dear Tom,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
7 . The Tianjin Binhai Public Library was described by The Daily Mail as “the world’s ultimate library” in 2017, and “breathtaking” was the word chosen for it. One book at the library and you’ll see why. With its futuristic design and walls loaded with books, it’s the dream library of every book lover.
But as the awe continues, there’s a burning question lying in the back of our minds: When physical bookstores are closing down one by one, what makes libraries immune from digitalization? And do we still need libraries as we’ve got the internet in our hands?
Reporter Ian Clark has the answer. “Libraries are not declining in importance -- people are simply changing the way they use them,” he wrote. What Clark means is that libraries have shifted from simply being storehouses of books to a medium to help “bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots”. According to him, Libraries Are Essential. Since not everyone can afford a smart phone, a tablet or an internet connection, and not everyone has the know-how to search the internet efficiently, it’s public libraries that make sure that these resources and technologies are available to a larger group of people. And one of the pitfalls that come with online materials is that they’re not always trustworthy. “Google doesn’t tell you what you’re not getting, so people need to evaluate the quality and completeness of what they see on their screens,” Sarah Pritchard, dean of libraries at Northwestern University, told Northwestern Research Magazine. And libraries are usually where that “evaluation” happens.
But all of these practical functions aside, we still need the physical space that a library provides. It’s something that’s called a “third place”, according to the Seattle Times. This is a place in which we can fully concentrate on our study and work without easily getting distracted. And compared to other “third places” like coffee shops, libraries have a “non-commercial nature” that allows you to relax completely. “Nobody is trying to sell you anything in the library. There is no pressure to buy and there is no judgment of your choices,” Anne Goulding, a professor at Victoria University in New Zealand, said. “There are few other spaces that you can just ‘be’ without somebody questioning your presence or your motivation.”
1. The attraction of the Tianjin Binhai Public Library lies in ________.| A．world’s ultimate library | B．design and book walls |
| C．every book lover’s dream | D．reports on The Daily Mail |
| A．problems | B．functions | C．mistakes | D．trends |
| A．Libraries have changed the way people read. | B．Libraries are as important as they used to be. |
| C．Libraries are better used by the poor than the rich. | D．Libraries are made more available to more people. |
| A．Libraries make people less likely to get distracted. |
| B．Libraries give people more motivation and inspiration. |
| C．Libraries provide people with a wider range of choices. |
| D．Libraries allow people to read without fear of being judged. |
8 . As we close out the final days of this year, treat yourself to a deliciously distracting new book —a book that you can dip into and out of throughout the holidays. Read up, rest up, and enjoy yourself.
Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and beyond
A must-have guide for yoga-loving mamas, Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond offers helpful relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that are tailored to each pregnant woman. The book also lays out valuable techniques for labor and staying in touch with your body as it continuously changes.
Mindfulness Activities for Kids
We could all use a little more peace in our lives. Uniquely suited for children and parents to do together, the 40 mindfulness exercises recommended here —from pausing to fully enjoy a tasty sandwich to taking chalk walk together—will not only teach children calm and gratitude, but also bring grown-ups and their littles closer together.
Before She Disappeared
Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic who devotes her time to solving cold cases, especially those involving people of color. A new investigation brings her to Boston, searching for a Haitian teenager who disappeared months ago. But as Frankie starts asking questions, someone else will stop at nothing to keep the answers hidden.
Oak Flat
Lauren Redniss’ Oak Flat tells the story of the land near the San Carlos Apache Reservation through an Apache family fighting to protect the land which the U. S. government and two world-power mining enterprises are attempting to seize and destroy for its copper resources. Visually striking and deeply reported, Oak Flat tells a larger story of endless westward expansion and native resistance.
1. Which book can help to improve family relations?| A．Oak Flat. |
| B．Before She Disappeared. |
| C．Mindfulness Activities for Kids. |
| D．Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond. |
| A．It’s a brief account of mining enterprises. |
| B．It centers on an Apache family’s struggle. |
| C．It sings high praise of the US government. |
| D．It supports westward expansion and native resistance. |
| A．Teenagers. | B．Men. | C．Kids. | D．Grown-ups. |
9 . Keeping children occupied has been a challenge for many of us but books can certainly help. Whether purchased as e-books or ordered online for delivery, the following titles are among the Times’ teams favourites.
Kia Kaha — Together; standing strong
Irish rugby players may boast of being together, standing strong’, but only Kiwis know how to kia kaha!
Best suited to little ones aged three to seven years of age, this book is a rousing celebration of all the many cultures that call Aotearoa home.
And, thanks to its accompanying CD (which can be downloaded instead), they can learn a heart-warming song in both Maori and English.
June Pitman-Hayes, Ngaere Roberts (Maori lyrics)&Minky Stapleton (illustrator): Kia Kaha — Together, standing strong |Scholastic
Showtym Adventures 7 — Jackamo the Supreme Champion
After her multi-champion pony suffers a severe injury, Vicki must turn to a beautiful, although inexperienced, mount to compete.
Although she is sure Jackamo has the X factor, has she actually bet everything on the wrong horse?
The latest addition to Kelly Wilson’s popular series, this book is a tale of tenacity (韧性) and overcoming the odds through commitment and hard work.
Kelly Wilson: Showtym Adventures 7 — Jackamo the Supreme Champion l Puffin
Cece Loves Science — Push and Pull
The “force” is strong with Cece! Designed to make science more accessible to young minds, this book sees Cece and her fiend Isaac team up to discover the opposing forces of push and pull can be used to help Cece’s dog, Einstein.
Fostering a love of learning, this series might just help a few older ones—to whom science class is a distant memory — discover how the universe works too!
Shelli R Johannes, Kimberly Derting &Vashti Harison: Cece Loves Science—Push and Pull l HarperCollins
Diary of a Wimpy Kid — Wrecking Ball
One of the most well-known characters in modern children’s literature — Greg Heffley, aka the Wimpy Kid—is up to his old tricks once again.
When the Heffleys receive an unexpected inheritance (遗产), major home improvements become their focus. How will this affect Greg? There’s only one way to find out!
Jeff Kinney: Diary of a Wimpy Kid — Wrecking Ball |Puffin
1. Which book is suitable for kids to learn cultures?| A．Kia Kaha — Together; standing strong |
| B．Showhpm Adventures 7 — Jackamo the Supreme Champion |
| C．Cece Loves Science — Push and Pull |
| D．Diary of a Wimpy Kid — Wrecking Ball |
| A．To help Cece’s dog. | B．To foster a love of life. |
| C．To discover how the universe works. | D．To make science more accessible to kids. |
| A．Jeff Kinney | B．Kelly Wilson. | C．Shelli R Johannes. | D．June Pitman-Hayes. |
| A．Borrow a book. | B．Buy a book on the Internet. | C．Return a book to the library. |
