1 . About a decade ago, Lawson was at a beach in Virginia watching his kids build castles right next to the waves.
“I kept trying to get them to come back because I thought it was a terrible idea,” he remarked. He wanted them to build their sandcastles closer to the dunes. But they found it more exciting to build right where the waves hit, seeing their sandcastles get destroyed, and then rebuilding them with whatever debris washed up from the ocean. “It seemed so symbolic, somehow, of how life works more than just building your perfect sandcastles,” said Lawson. When he decided to turn that sunny day into a children’s book, the idea came to just use pictures. “It seemed like it would work beautifully without words,” he said.
A Day for Sandcastles is illustrated by Qin Leng. It’s the second wordless picture book for Lawson and Leng since 2021’s Over the Shop. Leng’s illustrations stay pretty true to real life. Three siblings spend the day building sandcastles and watching them get destroyed by a flying hat. “To me it’s a celebration of childhood and the simple joys of life. These are the things I like to capture,” said Leng.
Leng spent part of her childhood in France, and she was inspired by European comic books. “What I love to do when I illustrate a picture book is add side stories to the main storyline. I always think about the readers and the longevity of the book, and I want them to be able to discover something new every time they revisit the book,” Leng explained.
At the end of the day, the sleepy-eyed kids pile into the bus that will take them home. “Those last pages are some of my favorite. They capture that feeling like at the end of the day on the beach, when it’s getting dark and you feel completely exhausted,” Lawson said. It must be a universal childhood feeling: happy with sand, sticky from the salt, hot from the sun, and ready to fall asleep the moment you get into the car.
1. Why does Lawson mention the scene where the kids built sandcastles?| A．To suggest a way to enjoy leisure. | B．To remind readers of the childhood. |
| C．To convince us of how life works. | D．To tell us the inspiration for his book. |
| A．They are purchased by kids universally. | B．Readers can only find pictures in them. |
| C．They carry no elements of comic books. | D．The stories are literally works of fantasy. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Pleased. | C．Disturbed. | D．Exhausted. |
| A．Childhood in sandcastles | B．Beautiful childhood memories |
| C．Popular illustrated books | D．Explore the mystery of nature |
2 . My eleven-year-old son reads a lot, but for the past year he’s only been reading comics or graphic (图解的) novels. In my view, these are the books made up, mainly, of cartoons and speech bubbles and are lacking in full pages of text. As a PhD in classical literature, I turn my nose up at my son’s comics, considering them just picture books.
My son has argued well for his cause. His claim is that comics are literature or close enough and they do contain many of the basic elements of any novel: plot, backstory, dialogue and etc. But my view is that language is unique. The complicated details of plot, emotion, and inner thought that words alone can convey are surely lost when graphics take their place. And if the pictures are already there for you, what work is left to the imagination?
According to the view of some experts on parenting, we should encourage our kids to love books in all shapes and forms, without limiting the type of books they should love. I see their point, but I also worry that laziness might be playing a role here and that’s a motivation I’m less happy to enable. Comics are simply easier to read than other kinds of books; they demand less attention and my suspicion is that they become appealing for that very reason. While this is a fine way to help early or reluctant (不情愿的) readers get into better habits of reading, I’m not so sure the same is true for older kids. In an age of instant satisfaction from fragmentation (碎片化) reading, we are all losing the ability to focus on longer texts, and that’s worrisome.
My son is in his academic and emotional development. I want him to be reading things that will challenge him and force him to think deeply and critically, which will help him improve. Isn’t this what reading is for? Do his comic books have such power?
1. What is the author’s attitude toward comics according to paragraph 1?| A．Dismissive | B．Approving | C．Unclear | D．Objective |
| A．Plot can only be expressed by language. |
| B．All the details cannot be conveyed by graphics. |
| C．Language can show the basic storyline more clearly. |
| D．Graphics fail to develop children’s interest in reading. |
| A．He likes reading books with full pages of text. |
| B．He thinks comics give much space for imagination. |
| C．He believes comics share many similarities with novels. |
| D．He claims comics are easier to read than other kinds of books. |
| A．To advise kids to get rid of reading comics. |
| B．To show the significance of reading for children. |
| C．To share her worry about her son’s choice of reading. |
| D．To compare the differences between comics and novels. |
3 . Upcoming Book Fairs and Festivals
If you’re an author, you owe it to yourself to check out this list of book fairs and festival s that authors can attend.
Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, October 14—15, San Diego, CA. The World Mystery Convention is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization which holds an annual convention in honor of Anthony Boucher, the distinguished mystery fiction critic, editor and author. Bouchercon is their annual world mystery convention, where every year readers, writers, publishers, editors, and booksellers gather for a weekend of education, entertainment, and fun!
The Appalachian Writer’s Conference, October 28, Berea, KY. The conference is a literary workshop that offers beginning writers a chance to sharpen existing skills and learn new techniques from award-winning, seasoned novelists, non-fiction writers, memoirists, and poets. The guests will stay at Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and have a chance to meet Kentucky Artisans.
Kansas Book Festival, November 10—12, Topeka, KS. This event, designed to celebrate the best of Kansas literature, arts and history, will offer a variety of activities for Kansans of all ages, including meet-the-author sessions, panel discussions, book signings and sales, and a special tent with projects for children. This event is free and open to the public.
Indie Book Fair, November 19, Orlando, FL. The Indie Book Fair’s mission is to create a space to allow independent authors to sell and showcase their work, build their readership and make everyone aware of their brand. The vision is through multiple book fair events that are FREE to the public and will include virtual buying for readers who cannot attend. The fair will be held 3 times a year.
1. What’s special about the event to be held in San Diego?| A．It lasts the longest. | B．It aims to entertain the volunteers. |
| C．It educates the public on publications. | D．It is intended to honor a well-known author. |
| A．Staying at a hotel for free. | B．Improving their writing skills. |
| C．Winning writing awards. | D．Meeting with independent authors. |
| A．In San Diego. | B．In Berea. | C．In Topeka. | D．In Orlando. |
(1) 活动目的；
(2) 调查结果；
(3) 你的建议。
注意：
(1) 写作词数应为80左右；
(2) 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Reading English Beyond the Classroom
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5 . The book Yes Means Yes, Everything Else Means No, explores the great philosophy (哲学) of simplicity and decision-making. Authored by an experienced decision maker, this book goes beyond self—help clichés (陈词滥调) and offers a true, actionable way to guide life choices.
At the center of human being lies the continuous process of decision—making. From the ordinary to the life—changing, our choices decide our paths. The book recognizes this basic aspect of our lives and stresses the key role decision—making plays in shaping our present and future.
The title, Yes Means Yes, Everything Else Means No, expresses a great principle. In a world where indecisiveness often leads to confusion and missed opportunities, the book’s philosophy tells between a loud “Yes” and a clear “No”. In nature, this title invites readers to grasp the power of this belief and the art of exact choices. The book advises us to put our energies into “Yes” and stop weakening our efforts with uncertain promises.
Simplicity in decision-making stresses clearness and effectiveness while making choices. When faced with difficult decisions, people often spend too much time processing data, but with no result. By accepting simplicity, decision-makers get the important information, focus on the most related points and avoid unnecessary troubles, enabling quicker judgments and conclusions.
Author Bruce Mulle’s journey began with a lesson passed by his brother. In nature, Yes Means Yes, Everything Else Means No is more than just a theoretical (理论的) exploration of simplicity; it’s a practical guide to improve decision-making skills. The author doesn’t only deliver the philosophy but equips readers with the tools they need to perform it effectively. From techniques to methods, the book offers a useful tool for simplifying the decision- making process.
1. What is the book aimed at?| A．Introducing important social skills. | B．Solving philosophical problems. |
| C．Recommending simple decision—making. | D．Stressing the importance of Yes. |
| A．Tell right from wrong. | B．Have strong beliefs. |
| C．Take good opportunities. | D．Make decisive choices. |
| A．Focusing on key information. | B．Jumping to conclusions. |
| C．Giving up unnecessary dreams. | D．Sticking to one’s own ideas. |
| A．Objective and serious. | B．Instructive and practical. |
| C．Comforting and meaningful. | D．Useful and subjective. |
1. Why do college students need to be efficient readers?
| A．Because they work full-time. |
| B．Because they have to do much reading. |
| C．Because they are asked to read three or four times. |
| A．Pay attention to small details while reading. |
| B．Read at least several chapters at one sitting. |
| C．Get key information by reading just once or twice. |
| A．By choosing one’s own system of marking. |
| B．By underlining the key words and phrases. |
| C．By highlighting details in a red color. |
| A．By reviewing only the marked parts. |
| B．By working with their partners, |
| C．By reading the textbooks carefully again. |
7 . Here are some books that are carefully picked for your kids.
Corduroy
It’s about a little bear, Corduroy, in a toy shop. He has lost one of his buttons. This makes him very sad because he wants to be taken home by a kid. So he decides to find a new button. Corduroy contains some hard words. So you’d better use a dictionary while reading it.
Price: $18; a 10% discount on Sunday
Curious George
Curious George, a monkey, is a little too interested in everything, which causes humans to bring him from the forest to a big city. However, there he calls the fire department, is sent to prison, escapes from prison and is carried into the sky by balloons. Though the book uses a lot of short and simple sentences, some of its words are not simple.
Price: $20; a 20% discount on Sunday
The Story of Ferdinand
Ferdinand, a bull, loves to smell the flowers in the grasslands. One day people come to pick a male cow for bullfights. Ferdinand doesn’t want to be chosen, but a bee stings (蜇) him. It causes him to jump around crazily, so he’s picked. In Ferdinand’s first fight, he lies down to smell the flowers instead of fighting. So he is sent back to the grassland. The book has many similar stories that bring laughter. And it has everything that makes a children’s book great for English learners—simple and hard words.
Price: $16; a 10% discount on Sunday
Green Eggs and Ham
In this book, a cat named Sam really likes green eggs and meat. So he offers them to a friend. Read the book to see if his friend likes the meal or not. This book is a poem. Despite the simple vocabulary, the words are used in a way that feels smart.
Price: $15; a 5% discount on Sunday
1. Which book is about a small toy bear?| A．Curious George. | B．Corduroy. |
| C．Green Eggs and Ham. | D．The Story of Ferdinand. |
| A．He lies to the audience. | B．He jumps around crazily. |
| C．He refuses to fight. | D．A bee stings him. |
| A．To help. | B．To advertise. | C．To comment. | D．To educate. |
8 . Emily Bhatnagar is a shy girl who has always loved reading. She says, “The books sort of became my best friends when I didn’t have one.”
When Bhatnagar was 16, her father was diagnosed (诊断) with cancer. The news was
Bhatnagar started a
Bhatnagar had no idea how much
Bhatnagar continues to run the book drive, with a little help from her parents. She hopes to expand the project to
| A．shameful | B．exciting | C．difficult | D．disappointing |
| A．tendency | B．proof | C．market | D．comfort |
| A．caught up with | B．came up with | C．got in touch with | D．joined in |
| A．create | B．gain | C．expose | D．support |
| A．sadness | B．shock | C．expectation | D．surprise |
| A．celebrating | B．fighting | C．enjoying | D．cheering |
| A．community hospital | B．family party | C．public library | D．book drive |
| A．rewarded | B．taught | C．treated | D．kept |
| A．sold | B．written | C．bought | D．collected |
| A．attention | B．money | C．cooperation | D．blame |
| A．questions | B．responses | C．conclusions | D．highlights |
| A．obviously | B．surely | C．usually | D．especially |
| A．move | B．reach | C．challenge | D．protect |
| A．shared | B．opened | C．received | D．examined |
| A．day | B．book | C．chance | D．business |
| A．The man needs to finish the book. |
| B．The book is boring. |
| C．The man should check with his professor. |
10 . I turned 8 years old the day I skipped school for the first time. It was easily done: Both my parents left for work before my school bus arrived on weekdays, so when it showed up at my house on that cold winter morning, I simply did not get on. The perfect crime!
And what did I do with myself on that glorious stolen day, with no adult in charge and no limits on my activities? Did I get high? Hit the mall for a shoplifting extravaganza (狂欢)?
Nope. I built a warm fire in the wood stove, prepared a bowl of popcorn, grabbed a blanket, and read. I was trilled and transported by a book — it was Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises — and I just needed to be alone with it for a little while. I ached to know what would happen to Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley and Robert Cohn. I couldn’t bear the thought of siting in a classroom taking another exam when I could be traveling through Spain in the 1920s with a bunch of expatriates (异乡客).
I spent that day lost in words. Time fell away, as the room around me turned to mist, and my role — as a daughter, sister, teenager, and student — in the world no longer had any meaning. I had accidentally come across the key to perfect happiness: I had become completely absorbed by something I loved.
Looking back on it now, I can see that some subtle things were happening to my mind and to my life while I was in that state of absorption. Hemingway’s language was quietly braiding itself into my imagination. I was downloading information about how to create simple and elegant sentences, a good and solid plot. In other words, I was learning how to write. Without realizing it, I was hot on the trail of my own fate. Writing now absorbs me the way reading once did and happiness is their generous side effect.
1. Why did the author skip school on that day?| A．Because she’s fascinated by a novel. | B．Because it’s a biting cold winter morning. |
| C．Because her parents left home early. | D．Because she’s anxious to take the exam. |
| A．Reading a fiction by the fire. | B．Travelling with a bunch of expatriates. |
| C．Being occupied by one’s passion. | D．Breaking the rules and regulations. |
| A．Mending. | B．Destroying. | C．Entering. | D．Blocking. |
| A．The author was tired of his roles in the real-life. |
| B．Becoming a writer is the author’s childhood dream. |
| C．The author skipped school when he was 8 years old. |
| D．Writing has a horrible effect on the author’s life now. |
