1 . Despite demonstrating a love of the written word, many readers tend to devote most of their time to consuming books in one or two specific genres (体裁). Of course, you want to read books that bring you joy, but it’s well worth adding some variety to your reading list.     1    

You can improve your vocabulary.

When you read a wide variety of books, it’s not uncommon to come across unfamiliar words and phrases. Sometimes you can get enough con text from the sentence to understand the meaning; other times you’ll need to consult a dictionary for clarification.     2    

You can discover a new favorite genre.

You undoubtedly have a favorite genre or two now, but what if you’re missing out on others because you’re not adding any variety to your reading list?     3     However, by varying your reading material, you could end up enjoying a particular type of book just as much as others you read on a regular basis.

    4    

When you add a wide selection of titles to your reading list, you can start to see people, places, and historical events in a new perspective. For example, reading a nonfiction book about a group of people in another country can have a greater understanding of cultures unlike your own.

You can get inspiration from surprising places.

It’s amazing how expanding your reading list can provide you with inspiration when you need it most. Of course, some genres are meant to provide encouragement, motivation, and support, such as self-help books and Memoirs (回忆录).     5     They’re able to do so nevertheless. By picking up a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read, you may be motivated to finally write your own novel, travel to a faraway place, or even just take up a new hobby.

A．You can know many new people.

B．You can develop a broader outlook.

C．There are many benefits of reading different genres.

D．Having a comprehensive vocabulary serves you well.

E．Others, however, aren’t designed specifically to inspire readers.

F．Either way, you’re able to store the definition in your mind for later use.

G．Sure, you’ll likely find that not every genre is your cup of tea-and that’s okay.

3 . In the house where I grew up, we had a room we called the library. It wasn’t a real library, of course, it was just a small room dominated by a television set. But there were bookshelves built into all four walls, and hundreds of book — hardback books of many colors — surrounded us in that room. The books, collected by my parents and grandparents throughout their lifetimes, were a part of my childhood.

But in the 1970s, I’m noticing a worrying trend: a move away from books. American homes might soon lack dedicated spaces for libraries, and hardcover books, once symbols of enduring thought and wisdom, may become endangered.

A friend who owns a bookstore in a college town tells me he struggles to sell hardback books; paperbacks, though easier to sell, still disappoint him. Students, once seen with books, now carry music records. Reading seems to be giving way to listening. Recent observations support this shift: the University of Illinois reported that a significant portion of freshmen have reading skills no better than an average eighth grader, with many of these students having been top performers in high school.

University professors note that even college graduates struggle with reading and writing. The cultural impact of this change is evident. A successful fiction book might sell a mere 3,000 copies, while a music album by a new band, Boston, has sold millions. This reflects our passive consumption era, where listening to music or watching shows requires little active engagement, unlike reading a book, which demands effort and intent.

In the past, reading was a fundamental part of life, but now, in the era of fast information access, books are losing their significant place. Today’s young Americans are more likely to read a disposable paperback than to cherish and reread a hardcover. In a society that values speed and convenience, the book for keeping and rereading is a weighty dinosaur.

1. What trend in the 1970s does the author find concerning?

A．The rise of paperback books.	B．The increase in television watching.
C．The struggle to sell hardback books.	D．The decline in book reading and interest in libraries.

2. What impact does the shift away from books have on college students?

A．They may have difficulty in reading and writing.	B．They read more hardbacks than paperbacks.
C．They are buying more books than music records.	D．They are more likely to engage in demanding work.

3. According to the author, what is the book for keeping and rereading viewed as today?

A．A valuable resource.	B．A popular trend.
C．An outdated relic.	D．A new innovation.

4. What can be the suitable title for the passage?

A．Library: A Valuable Place	B．Books: An Endangered Species?
C．Reading Makes People Wise	D．Hardcovers Are Symbols of Wisdom

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What do the speakers agree on heroes?

A．They are like Superman in films.

B．They achieve great success in their work.

C．They are common people making important contributions.

2. Who is the man’s hero?

A．His grandfather.

B．Great writers.

C．Superman.

3. What does the woman think of story books without heroes?

A．Unusual.

B．Realistic.

C．Dull.

4. What does the man mean in the end?

A．It’s hard to find great books.

B．It’s great to do some reading.

C．It’s good to help some people.

7 . It’s said that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at what’s on their bookshelves. What do my bookshelves say about me? Well, I’d always thought of myself as a cultured person, but my bookshelves told a rather different story.

So, in October 2011, I registered my blog, ayearofreadingtheworld.com, and posted a short appeal online. I explained how narrow my reading had been and asked anyone who cared to suggest what I read from other parts of the planet. I had no idea whether anyone would be interested, but within a few hours, people started to get in touch.

Books came from surprising sources. My Panamanian read, for example, came through a conversation I had with the Panama Canal on Twitter, which advised I try the work of the Panamanian author Juan David Morgan. I found Morgan’s website and sent him a message, asking if any of his Spanish-language novels had been translated into English. And he said nothing had been published, but he did have an unpublished translation of his novel “The Golden Horse”, and he emailed it to me.

Morgan was by no means the only wordsmith to share his work with me in this way. From Sweden to Palau, writers and translators sent me self-published books and unpublished manuscripts (手稿) of books that hadn’t been picked up by Anglophone publishers or that were no longer available, giving me privileged glimpses (初步的感受) of some remarkable imaginary worlds.

The books I read that year have opened my eyes to many things. That can be an uncomfortable experience, particularly when I’m reading a book from a culture that may have quite different values to my own. But it can also be really enlightening. Wrestling with unfamiliar ideas can help clarify my own thinking and show up blind spots in the way I might have been looking at the world.

When I looked back at much of the English-language literature I’d grown up with, I began to see how narrow a lot of it was, compared to the richness that the world has to offer. Little by little, that long list of countries that I’d started the year with changed from a rather dry, academic register of place names into living, breathing entities.

1. Why did the author create the blog “A Year of Reading the World”?

A．To learn from others’ bookshelves.

B．To broaden her cultural horizons.

C．To get recommendations from readers.

D．To find out the literary works she lacked.

2. What did the author think of the responses from writers and translators?

A．They presented a challenge to the author.

B．They blocked the author’s reading journey.

C．They offered unique access to literary worlds.

D．They inspired confidence in the author’s project.

3. How does reading diverse cultural books benefit the author?

A．Provide her with unfamiliar topics.

B．Make her absorbed in other cultures.

C．Show fields she needs to learn more about.

D．Reveal areas she lacks insight in her worldview.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Exploring the Global Literary Landscape

B．The Challenge of Reading the World

C．Uncovering Stories from Every Country

D．The Impact of Culture on the Worldview

8 . How to Host a Book Swap

If you love the written word, you probably have a pile of books somewhere in your home.     1    If you’re becoming alarmed at the price of new books, hold a book swap. The idea is pretty simple Guests bring books to share, and the accumulated books are then redistributed to new owners. If you’ve never held a book swap before, here are a few tips.

Send out invitations. A formal invitation should include the address, date and duration. A 2 to 3 hour party gives everyone a chance to enjoy the time and leave happy.     2    Three books is pretty standard. If you want extras around, don’t set a maximum.

Provide enough space. Some people use one large dining table and start piling up books when they run out of space.     3    They can offer people a chance to consider their selections without having to juggle piles of books while they’re doing it.

    4    To make sure guests can find what interests them, the easiest way to do this is to mart sections on the table for specific types of books. When people arrive, hand out a brief set of instructions, asking them to place their books in the right category.

Make it a party. When you’re in the planning stages, think party and you’ll be one step ahead of the game.     5    Create some good interactions with a little background music. Have an area set aside for coats and bags. Remember, you are hosting a party!

A．Organize books by types.

B．Prepare different kinds of books.

C．Offer food that’s easy to eat in a bite or two

D．However, the area around the book table may be small.

E．But there’s always a new book around that interests you.

F．Actually, a couple of tables can take care of the problem.

G．It’s also a good idea to limit the number of books guests bring