| A．A film. | B．A novel. | C．A foreign language. |
2 . If you want to fill your shelves with the best books of all time, you’re in the right place.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (1974)
The imagination of Shel Silverstein is on full display in this classic collection of short stories and poems. The book is truly one of the best poetry books of all time because of its staying power for children. The stories of this American poet, author, singer and folk artist have something for everyone.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)
Most critics regard it as one of the most typical literary love stories. The author’s Russian tale of unfortunate lovers is filled with fascinating quotes like, “He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking.” This one belongs on any book collector’s shelf.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1943)
It is a timeless tale of a prince’s journey in search of adventure. What he finds, however, are interactions with adults who leave him so upset. It’s one of the most appealing short books we’ve ever read and also one of the most widely read children’s classics all over the world.
The Shining by Stephen King (1977)
The master of mystery must be included in any list of books you should read in a lifetime. That’s why you will find it here. Horror fans take note: This is one of the scariest and best Stephen King books of all time.
1. In which book can we read about unfortunate lovers?| A．Anna Karenina. | B．The Shining. |
| C．The Little Prince. | D．Where the Sidewalk Ends. |
| A．Shel Silverstein. | B．Stephen King. |
| C．Antoine de Saint-Exupery. | D．Leo Tolstoy. |
| A．They are both novels. |
| B．They are both for children. |
| C．They are both about adults. |
| D．They were both written in the 1970s. |
3 . There are thousands of science books on a huge variety of topics.Which ones should you choose? Luckily for you, we have made a list of the best science books that you should not miss.
A Short History of Nearly EverythingWritten by Bill Bryson, it is a popular science book that explains some areas of science.It was published on February 4,2003, and was one of the best-selling popular science books of 2005 in the UK.It explains a variety of scientific topics in a vivid and comprehensive way, which makes it accessible for people with no science knowledge.But it’s quite long.
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple WordsIt is a 2015 non-fiction book created by Randall Munroe, in which the author explains various complex subjects using common English words.It covers a wide range of topics and explains complex ideas using illustrations, so it’s entertaining and easily understood.However, the words and phrases used to describe the subjects are too technical to understand.
Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in SpacePublished on October 19,2017, the book is Tim Peake’s personal guide to life in space, based on his own experience. Q&A format makes it easy to quickly find answers and images are used to illustrate some of the more complex ideas, making it suitable for both children and adults. The disadvantage is that the Q&A format can become boring sometimes.
Brief Answers to the Big QuestionsWritten by Stephen Hawking, the 2018 book examines some of the universe’s greatest mysteries and promotes the view that science is very important in helping solve problems.It provides a great introduction to Stephen Hawking’s thoughts.Since complex ideas are communicated in a simple and understandable language, your previous physics knowledge is not required.For more advanced readers, it’s too basic.
1. Which is the oldest of the following books?| A．A Short History of Nearly Everything. |
| B．Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words. |
| C．Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in Space. |
| D．Brief Answers to the Big Questions. |
| A．Various topics. | B．Technical terms. |
| C．Complicated subjects. | D．Scientific illustrations. |
| A．They stress the practical use of science. |
| B．They use Q & A formats to explain ideas. |
| C．They require previous science knowledge. |
| D．They seem to appeal to the general public. |
4 . In a world featuring endless choices, the search for simplicity has become more than just a desire—it’s a necessity. The book Yes Means Yes, Everything Else Means No explores the philosophy of simplicity and decision-making. Written by Bruce Mullen, this book goes beyond self-help clichés (陈词滥调) and offers a genuine, actionable approach to guiding life’s choices.
The book recognizes decision-making as the centre of human existence and invites readers to admit each decision carries a weight. “Yes Means Yes, Everything Else Means No” sums up a sign if can’t rule—a definite “Yes” and a clear “No.” It encourages readers to focus on the “Yes” and stop readers from puting their effort into uncertain things. Another rule stressed in the book is simplicity in decision-making. By adopting simplicity, decision-makers aim to get the key information, focus on the most related factors, and avoid unnecessary aspects, enabling quicker judgments and swifter conclusions.
The book is a practical guide to enhance decision-making skills. The author doesn’t merely express the philosophy but equips readers with the tools they need to apply effectively. From techniques to give preference to tasks to methods for avoiding distractions (分心), the book offers skills for simplifying the decision-making process.
Through personal experiences, Mullen determined the power of simplification, guiding people to make decisions according to one’s own values and desires. Beyond individual context, this book also influences business strategies, relationship dynamics, and societal considerations. Mullen not only explores the essence of “yes means yes” but stresses the significance of making clear decisions at a crossroads.
“Yes Means Yes, Everything Else Means No” is more than a book; it’s a philosophy that can change how we approach decisions. For those seeking to guide life with clarity and purpose, this book is a guiding light in the fog of in decision.
1. What are the readers encouraged to do according to paragraph 2?| A．Solve uncertain matters. |
| B．Summarize a key principle. |
| C．Concentrate on related things. |
| D．Make decisions independently. |
| A．To provide readers with life values. |
| B．To help readers express philosophy. |
| C．To improve readers’ critical thinking skills. |
| D．To equip readers with decision-making skills. |
| A．Definition of simplicity. | B．Rules of making decisions. |
| C．Benefits of stressing clarity. | D．Influences of decision-making. |
| A．Recommending a book. | B．Sharing a positive attitude. |
| C．Describing a simple lifestyle | D．Solving philosophical problems. |
This bright picture book by Taye Diggs and Shan e W. Evans is a tool, great for comforting kids who feel worried about their looks. A young boy is made fun of for the color of his skin (皮肤), but an important lesson from his mother makes him realize that his differences are what make him special. Ages 4-8.
Thank You, Mr. Falker
Celebrated author and illustrator (作家和插图画家), Patricia Polacco, tells the story of her personal experience of fighting dyslexia (a difficulty in reading and spelling caused by a brain condition) and the teacher who gave her the courage to keep going. Kids will love reading about fifth-grader Trisha and patient Mr. Falker. Ages 5-8.
New Kid
It’s always hard being the new kid at school, but it can be quite difficult when you’re from Washington Heights in New York City and you study at a top private school across town. New Kid by Jerry Craft follows Jordan’s first year at Riverdale, addressing problems head-on. This book was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2020. Ages 8-12.
The Giving Tree
What wouldn’t this tree do for this little boy? Shel Silverstein tells a story of unselfish love and unending sacrifice (牺牲) as, starting with apples and shade (阴凉处), a tree gladly gives more and more to a boy over the years, finally giving all of itself. Ages 2-6.
1. Which book is about the author’s experience?| A．New Kid. | B．Chocolate Me! |
| C．The Giving Tree. | D．Thank You, Mr. Falker. |
| A．Jerry Craft’s. | B．Shel Silverstein’s. |
| C．Patricia Polacco’s. | D．Taye Diggs and Shane W. Evans’s. |
| A．Love and sacrifice. | B．Starting over at a new school. |
| C．A boy looking different from others. | D．A teacher helping a girl read and spell. |
6 . Cartoons suit the way we like information to be presented these days: vividly and in small amounts. We are used to cartoons and comic series that take a biting look at modern life or provide a bit of escapism. But recently we have seen an increase in the number of comic books: booklength comics with a single, continuous narrative. Historically, comic books were not popular outside France, Belgium, Japan, and the US. The exception is the worldwide popularity of a young reporter-detective from Belgium, Tintin.
The creation of the Belgian cartoonist Herge, The Adventures of Tintin first appeared in a Belgian newspaper in 1929. Each story appeared as a cartoon series week by week, but soon after was republished in book form. One of the main attractions for readers was that they were taken to parts of the world they had never seen and probably never would: Russia, Congo, America. Herge himself only traveled outside Belgium later in life, but his passion was educating his readers about other cultures and places.
Two things set Herge apart as a comic novelist. The first was his technical drawing skills: with just a few simple lines he could communicate a particular facial expression or movement. The second was the careful research he put into his stories. In The Crab with the Golden Claws, Tintin follows an opium-smuggling (鸦片走私) ring to North Africa; in King Ottakar’s Scepter, he makes an attempt at a military coup (政变) in a central European country. While telling these stories, Herge also made a fine balance between serious topics and humor.
Tintin had more than his fair share of adventures, but perhaps the greatest is his journey to the Moon, told in Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon. Written in 1953, sixteen years before the first Moon landing, the stories show a remarkable eye for technical detail and feeling for the nature of space travel. In the early 1950s, few could imagine what it was like to be looking down at our planet from outer space. And that is Herge’s true gift: to understand what a place was like without ever having been there.
1. What can be learned about comic books from the passage?| A．They mostly involve detective stories. |
| B．They were just popular in several countries. |
| C．They present information in small amounts. |
| D．The Adventures of Tintin is the world’s first comic book. |
| A．The stories were created in Belgium, a European country. |
| B．The stories were the first comic novel published in book form. |
| C．The stories used to be cartoon series that appeared week by week. |
| D．The stories enable them to learn about places they have never been to. |
| A．To show Herge liked touching on serious topics. |
| B．To show Herge based stories on research results. |
| C．To illustrate Herge himself had a good sense of hurnor. |
| D．To illustrate Herge was expert at applying technical drawing skills. |
| A．He had been longing for a trip to the Moon. |
| B．He never had any chance to leave Belgium for travelling. |
| C．He could describe accurately those experiences he never had. |
| D．He devoted himself to education before creating comic books. |
7 . Liz Pichon, known for her bcstselling Tom Gates series for children, shares the books that shaped her.
The Bad Speller by William Steig
Reading this as a child was a life-changing moment. Although I loved reading, I found it quite difficult. My mum had an American friend who bought me this book because she knew how much I struggled with spelling, and she thought it would make me laugh. It really did. And it stuck in my memory a lot. Even now, it’s one of those books that never seems to age. I love the drawings—they planted a seed in my head somewhere that pictures and words go together and can be really funny.
Silly Verse for Kids by Spike Milligan
This book is so tiny and thin, but I loved that it had all these silly poems inside with rich attractive drawings—and it made me want to write rhymes, and to have a go at drawing. After buying this in a local bookshop, I started reading it. And after finishing reading it, I started writing my own poetry. I’m always including silly poems in my books and I think that’s definitely down to the influence of this book.
Jaws by Peter Benchley
This book has a particular meaning for me. In school, I had a teacher who didn’t have a television. It made me think when I had to come up with a story for my homework, I could just change the plot of Jaws a little and he’d never know. When he read it, he thought it was amazing. I tell that story to children now, because copying other people’s stories is a great way of learning how to do things—by seeing how other people do them.
1. What is the purpose of the text?| A．To explain three bestsellers of Liz Pichon. | B．To sell Liz Pichon’s favorite books. |
| C．To introduce three life-changing books. | D．To promote Tom Gates series for children. |
| A．The Bad Speller. | B．Silly Verse for Kids. | C．Jaws. | D．Tom Gates series. |
| A．They’re both difficult to read | B．They both have wonderful drawings. |
| C．They’re both given as a present. | D．They both contribute to Liz’s spelling. |
| A．It taught her to do things by copying. | B．It helped her get along with her teacher. |
| C．It made her fall in love with drawing. | D．It planted a seed of reading in her head. |
| A．On the best-seller list. | B．In the comic column of a newspaper. |
| C．On the English-talents list. | D．In the education column of a magazine. |
8 . Four famous classic Italian writers
When speaking of Italian literature, many people come up with Dante. But there are many other famous Italian authors. Below are four recommended writers and their masterpieces.
Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533)
Ariosto is best known for his epic (史诗般的) poem Orlando Furioso, which was published in 1977. As a poet always with new ideas, Ariosto invented the way of “singing the poem to the audience”. The poem presents a rich variety of characters, which has been an encouragement for many paintings and musical works.
Italo Calvino (1923-1985)
Calvino was the author of If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler published in 1979. The novel differs from others for its unique description of a frame story - a unifying story within which several tales are related. It has encouraged musicians like Sting to create their works. At the time of his death in 1985, Calvino was one of the world’s most translated Italian writers.
Umberto Eco (1932-2016)
Eco wrote The Name of the Rose, a historical murder mystery (神秘) novel published in 1980. In the story, he skilfully applied the use of signs and symbols to it. A number of his books deal with the meaning and understanding of communication.
Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873)
Manzoni is most famous for his novel The Betrothed published in 1827. The novel was regarded to be connected with Risorgimento, the Italian unification movement(统一运动) in the 19th century. Probably we can say, without this great novelist and this masterpiece of world literature, Italy wouldn’t be Italy.
1. What do Orlando Furioso and If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler have in common?| A．They have both influenced musical works. |
| B．They both have related characters and stories. |
| C．They were both published in the same year. |
| D．They are both translated into many languages. |
| A．A unique describing style. | B．A mix of new ideas. |
| C．The use of signs and symbols. | D．The history of a movement. |
| A．Ludovico Ariosto. | B．Italo Calvino. | C．Umberto Eco. | D．Alessandro Manzoni. |
| A．Read a novel. |
| B．See a movie. |
| C．Watch a TV program. |
10 . As an active theater-goer and play-reader, I edit this book to share my passion for the theater with others. To do this I have searched through many plays to find the ones that I think best show the power and purpose of the short play.
Each play has a theme or central idea the playwright (剧作家) hopes to get across through dialogue and action. A few characters are used to create a single impression growing out of the theme. It is not my intention to point out the central theme of each of the plays in this collection, for that would, indeed, ruin the pleasure of reading, discussing, and thinking about the plays and the effectiveness of the playwright. However, a variety of types are presented here. These include comedy, satire (讽刺剧), historical and regional drama. To show the diverse nature of the short play, I have included a guidance play, a radio play and a television play.
Among the writers of the plays in this collection, Paul Green, William Saroyan, and Maxwell Anderson have all received Pulitzer Prizes for their contributions to the theater. More information about the playwrights will be found at the end of this book.
To get the most out of reading these plays, try to picture the play on stage, with you, the reader, in the audience. The house lights become less bright. The curtains (幕布) are about to open, and in a few minutes, the action and dialogue will tell you the story.
1. What do we know about the author from paragraph 1?| A．He has written dozens of plays. | B．He is a professional stage director. |
| C．He has a deep love for the theater. | D．He likes reading short plays to others. |
| A．State the plays’ central ideas. | B．Select works by famous playwrights. |
| C．Include various types of plays. | D．Offer information on the playwrights. |
| A．Control their feelings. | B．Use their imagination. |
| C．Apply their acting skills. | D．Bear their audience in mind. |
| A．A short story. | B．An introduction to a book. |
| C．A play comment. | D．An advertisement for a theater. |
