1. Why can’t David check the books out?
| A．His student ID is not available. |
| B．He hasn’t returned the overdue book. |
| C．He has been fined by the library before. |
| A．To do his friend a favor. |
| B．To work on his research paper. |
| C．To prepare for the midterm exam. |
| A．Call his friend. | B．Apply for a new ID. | C．Make a copy. |
2 . We are barely a quarter into 2024, and it is already shaping up to be an impressive year for literature lovers everywhere. With new releases spanning various fields, readers are bound to find something to bury themselves in.
Forever and Always
By Brittany J. Thurman (Author), Shamar Knight-Justice (Illustrator)
Publication date: January 16, 2024
Worry and love go hand in hand in this children’s picture book. Olivia waits anxiously for her dad to come home from work, so she makes him something to make the time go by. School Library Journal reviewed, “This book gives oxygen to all the unstated fears, perhaps burning them off, offering a reality right out of the headlines, but by leaving it child-sized has a huge impact.”
A Calamity of Souls
By David Baldacci
Publication date: April 6, 2024
Jack Lee, a white lawyer from Freeman County, has never done anything to raise his voice against racism, but this time he does. He makes the decision to represent a black man named Jerome Washington, who is accused of murdering a wealthy white couple. However, Lee doubts his decision as there are fewer chances of winning. Desire, a black lawyer from Chicago, has always fought for justice and equality, and she partners with Lee to face the legal battle against the best lawyer. Both of them fight together for a fair trial and justice.
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years
By Shubnum Khan
Publication date: January 9, 2024
When Sana and her dad move into Akbar Manzil, Sana can’t help but be fascinated by the house there. She endlessly explores the rooms, trying to unearth the house’s mysteries. But Sana is most curious by the locked room, which once belonged to a woman named Meena, the long-dead wife of the original owner of Akbar Manzil. Within the room’s walls also lives a sorrowful djinn who now watches Sana as her interest in Meena and the house’s mysteries turns into obsession.
1. What is special about the second book?| A．Its plot is extremely mysterious and complicated. |
| B．It themes on the love among children and parents. |
| C．It displays justice and fairness against the racism. |
| D．It encourages readers to maintain bravery and curiosity. |
| A．Readers who prefer horror novels. | B．Readers who favor detective tales. |
| C．Readers who are fond of romantic stories. | D．Readers who are fascinated by science fictions. |
| A．A Calamity of Souls | B．Forever and Always |
| C．School. Library Journal | D．The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years |
1. Who does the book belong to?
| A．David. | B．Mary. | C．Nancy. |
| A．It sells very well. |
| B．It can be found in a few bookstores. |
| C．The book is aimed at students. |
| A．Look for the book in a bookstore. |
| B．Give Mary a call. |
| C．Bring the book right now. |
4 . The Best Books of the Year
Poverty by Matthew Desmond
Hardcover: $14.8
Paperback: $6.5
“In his powerful book, Matthew Desmond exposes the realities of inequality in the world. His writing takes readers on a journey through the lives of those struggling to make ends meet. Desmond’s book is a powerful call to action, urging readers to demand change and work towards a more just and fair society. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the root causes of inequality and the urgent need for transformative solutions.” — Lindsay Powers
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Hardcover: $15.5
Paperback: $7.2
“Eig’s book dives into the life and times of Martin Luther King Jr., providing an in-depth and comprehensive account. This book offers deep insights into the life of one of the most influential figures in American history, revealing the hardships and heroics of a man who changed the world.” — Al Woodworth
The Wager by David Grann
Hardcover: $18.5
Paperback: $5.4
“This true story is a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It is a story of human ambition, greed, and the continuous pursuit of adventure, all set against the backdrop of the vast and unforgiving ocean. Journey into a world of adventures, where fortunes are made and lost, and lives hang in the balance. Witness pursuits of power and wealth. Experience the dangers and uncertainties of life on the high seas, where anything can happen and no one is safe.” — Al Woodworth
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Hardcover: $17.6
Paperback: $4.5
“Emily Henry’s latest has all the feels! More than your standard second-chance romance, Happy Place is about the beauty, pain, and joy that come with biological families, chosen families, growing up and apart, and how — as adults — we deal with this thing called life.” — Kami Tei
1. Whose book might be a biography?| A．Matthew Desmond’s. | B．Jonathan Eig’s. |
| C．David Grann’s. | D．Emily Henry’s. |
| A．Poverty. | B．King: A Life. |
| C．The Wager. | D．Happy Place. |
| A．$4.5. | B．$15.5. |
| C．$17.6. | D．$18.5. |
Alice Walker
Set in rural Georgia at the turn of the last century, Alice Walker’s epic novel weaves the heartbreaking and hopeful tale of Celie, an uneducated black teen fighting for her dignity and freedom. The novel bravely and honestly addresses issues like women’s struggles and ultimate resilience. Published in 1982, it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Award.
Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger
Poetic and heartfelt Holden Coalfield is one of the most famous literary characters of all time. Published first in 1951, Catcher in the Rye brilliantly captures the lonely teen experience of having to grow up and leave the tenderness and innocence of childhood behind. Though young adult fiction didn’t exist in its current form when J. D. Salinger wrote the novel, it’s considered one of the first teen books and consistently appears on high school reading lists.
The House of the Spirits
Isabel Allende
The 1982 novel—the best-selling Spanish-language novel of all time—revolves around three generations of Trueba women. Females’ struggle and themes of ancestors exist in all parts of the book, as is magic; no surprise since this work of magical realism was influenced by Gabriel Garcfa Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, which won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The Joy Luck Club
Amy Tan
This 1989 classic book explores four Chinese American families who gather and eventually recount their pasts in China and struggles as immigrants (移民) in the United States. Heart warning, heartbreaking, and a delight to read, The Joy Luck Club is one of the classic books that influenced a generation of Chinese American creators.
1. Which of the following books was published the earliest?| A．The Color Purple. | B．Catcher in the Rye. |
| C．The House of the Spirits. | D．The Joy Luck Club. |
| A．Isabel Allende. | B．J.D.Salinger. | C．Alice Walker. | D．Amy Tan. |
| A．They are relevant to females’ fight. | B．They influence three generations. |
| C．They address some teen problems. | D．They won the prizes in the same year. |
6 . In recent years, it seems that we are slowly coming to understand that animals like elephants, monkeys and pigs have not just brains, but complicated inner and social lives thanks to scientific advances in our understanding of animal minds. Yet that awareness hasn’t made itself felt to much greater degree in our closest relationship with animals: at the dinner table.
With Personalities on the Plate, Barbara King asks us to think hard about our meat eating and how we might reduce it. King does not criticize. Instead, she takes us chapter by chapter on a cook’s tour of animals we humans eat, from insects to pigs and dogs, while exploring the latest scientific discoveries about their intelligence and feelings that we humans often wrongly claim uniquely for ourselves.
Built on a mix of firsthand experience and close engagement with the work of scientists, farmers and chefs, Personalities on the Plate has successfully built a case for them as beings that deserve more than a trip down our stomachs. With humor and tales of animals acting as individuals expressing their emotions, Personalities on the Plate takes us on an unforgettable journey through the world of animals we eat.
“This thoughtful book is not about whether we ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ eat meat. Barbara King looks at the range of values and consequences surrounding farming and feasting, and at who we are considering eating,” says Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel. “Her book gives me a richer understanding. Her method and passion are effective. I ended the book agreeing that I can — and should — help these creatures and our environment by choosing to eat fewer of them or none at all.”
1. What does the author suggest in the first paragraph?| A．Lots of people plan to stop eating meat. |
| B．Meat consumption should be increased. |
| C．Scientists should do more to protect animals. |
| D．Our diet is hardly influenced by our knowledge. |
| A．It openly opposes meat eating. | B．It is written by scientists and chefs. |
| C．It includes humorous and vivid stories. | D．It denies animals’ intelligence and feelings. |
| A．Its method is too subjective. | B．Its conclusion is convincing. |
| C．The book is tightly organized. | D．The evidences are contradictory. |
| A．To review a book. | B．To recommend an author. |
| C．To promote a diet. | D．To advocate animals’ rights. |
7 . I arrived home from work, my mind racing. I was scheduled to perform an experiment using a pricey piece of equipment, but I had spent the whole day worrying about the experiment which was on the top of my agenda (日程), and I amazingly longed to shut off my anxious thoughts. So after dinner, I made a cup of hot chocolate, stretched myself on my sofa, and opened a page. Almost instantly, my mind left behind the details of experimental design and stepped into a land of monsters, magic dust, and man-like bears comprising a wonderful world distinct (不同的) from my daily life. It was exactly what I needed.
Growing up, I was virtually never a big fan of novels. My classmates would be crazy about the latest Harry Potter book, while my copy sat collecting dust on a shelf. Instead, I would choose to read through the reference books related to my academic fields for better grades. After I started graduate school, extracurricular reading didn’t appeal to me at all but I spent most of my time on campus digesting research papers and textbooks and my mind couldn’t handle processing fact-filled nonfiction books at home, too. So I knew that I needed to find a way to enjoy reading again.
To help me stick with it, I made a New Year’s resolution: I would read two fiction books per month for the entire year. The result was an almost instant appreciation of fiction, along with many unexpected results including ones that have benefited my schoolwork.
What surprised me the most was how much I learned. Some of the best books I read were historical fictional stories happening in a realistic historical setting. I learned about life in different countries, as well as struggles people there faced during difficult periods in their histories. The books have helped me build sympathy and understanding, with an unexpected benefit: I’ve started to think more deeply about the diversity of issues in the scientific community and could serve it, heart and soul.
1. What did the author do to wipe out the anxiety?| A．He drowned it in chocolate. | B．He conducted an experiment. |
| C．He slept on the sofa leisurely. | D．He escaped into a fantasy world. |
| A．Reading novels was a waste of time. |
| B．Reading a good book was time well spent. |
| C．He was too busy to take good care of his books. |
| D．The Harry Potter book wasn’t as good as expected. |
| A．More sympathy went out to him. |
| B．His moral values were strengthened. |
| C．He learned much about religious diversity. |
| D．He gained new insight into his academic fields. |
| A．Reading: A Lifelong Hobby | B．The Power of Research Papers |
| C．Novels: Love at Second Sight | D．The Benefits of History Reading |
A picture book stood quietly on the shelf of a children’s bookstore, waiting for young readers to read it.
One day, a little girl came. She sat down on the ground and read the picture book with interest. Then she put it back on the shelf, took out her pocket and said to the book, “I love you so much, but I can’t afford you. My father is working out of the town, and my mother is ill now. You see, my pocket is empty. I have no money.”
The next day, the little girl came again. She read the picture book again, and wrote a note, reading: “I want to read you once more, but I can’t come tomorrow because I will go to the hospital to take care of my mother. Can you fly over to my house like a bird? The note has my home address on it.” She put the note into the book, and left the bookstore.
How the picture book wanted to fly into the arms of the little girl! Books needed readers who liked them most, just like the little girl needed her mother. But it was not a bird. It could not fly, and its hardcover could not flap like wings. The picture book could do nothing but huddle (蜷缩) in the middle of the books, waiting for the girl to come again.
One day, there was a big boy who loved reading. He put all the books he liked into his shopping basket, including the picture book. His mother paid the bill for all the books without saying anything.
The big boy had his own bookshelf in his room, with all kinds of books ranked neatly on it. He began to read one book after another that he had bought. When he got to the picture book, he found the note. He was so surprised that he gave it to his mother. His mother read it and was deeply touched, knowing that there was a little girl who loved the picture book but could not afford it. They resolved to deliver the picture book to the address that the little girl had written on the note.
注意：
1．所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2．续写部分分为两段每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1:
The next day, the deliveryman returned the picture book, saying the girl could not be reached.
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Paragraph 2:
Until one day, the big boy heard a woman and a girl talking in the house.
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