I was wandering in the park when I spotted my friend, John,
2 . Books That Celebrate Diverse Holidays and Traditions
It’s important to remember there are a diverse set of holidays available to explore. Below are a few books that help introduce children to different holiday cultures and traditions.
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez
While helping her mother with Christmas celebration, Maria is tempted to try on her mother’s diamond ring. After getting caught up in the joy of the holiday and playing with her cousins, Maria realizes the ring is missing! That’s when she and her cousins come up with a plan to eat all of the tamales, in hopes of finding the ring.
Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger
This is a story about a little girl named Kayla who wants to see her older brother Khari come home so they can celebrate Kwanzaa together as a family. Khari is stuck at college when a snowstorm hits and his car breaks down. Will he make it home in time for Kwanzaa?
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
This book is a funny, nostalgic tale of Christmas Eve afternoon through Christmas night in Wales, and is full of unique imagery and poetic prose. It will arouse a sense of familiarity for some young readers while introducing them to different aspects of Christmas traditions.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
The word otsaliheliga is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. This is an amazing story that describes a journey through the seasons with a modern-day Cherokee family. Cherokee history and traditions are also woven into the story in a very kid-friendly way.
1. What makes it difficult for Khari to return home in time for Kwanzaa?| A．A car crash. | B．Delayed flights. | C．Extreme weather. | D．Academic pressure. |
| A．Traci Sorell. | B．Ed Martinez. | C．Dylan Thomas. | D．Trina Schart Hyman. |
| A．how to find hidden treasures at home | B．how to strengthen bonds with friends |
| C．the lifestyles of different ethnic groups | D．different holiday celebrations and customs |
3 . How to read more and learn more
These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone. It can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the textbooks, the more, the better.
Clear your purpose of reading.
Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book.
No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy what you read. Your friends read the books they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy.
Give up books that you don’t enjoy.
| A．I don’t need to return those books. |
| B．Read only what you are interested in. |
| C．Read the books borrowed from others. |
| D．Remember reading shouldn’t be a chore. |
| E．It can broaden my mind and improve my language skills. |
| F．We need to get the latest news and communicate with friends. |
| G．Most people read for two main reasons, pleasure or knowledge. |
4 . In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life and neglect the simple pleasures that bring us true
Reading is not only a source of entertainment but also a
Moreover, reading has the ability to spark our imagination and creativity. As we
In addition to its intellectual benefits, reading can also be a source of comfort and relaxation. Curling up with a good book after a long day can help to reduce stress and
By making reading a part of our daily routine, we can open ourselves up to new ideas, expand our knowledge base, and
| A．happiness | B．sadness | C．anger | D．loneliness |
| A．limited | B．countless | C．few | D．endless |
| A．useless | B．powerful | C．weak | D．small |
| A．knowledge | B．ignorance | C．rumors | D．news |
| A．losing | B．avoiding | C．gaining | D．missing |
| A．create | B．follow | C．write | D．ignore |
| A．solutions | B．stories | C．characters | D．plots |
| A．promote | B．increase | C．decrease | D．destroy |
| A．divide | B．focus | C．spread | D．lose |
| A．In summary | B．In detail | C．In contrast | D．In conclusion |
| A．disappearing | B．evolving | C．shrinking | D．expanding |
| A．waste | B．spend | C．make | D．save |
| A．stimulate | B．tire | C．confuse | D．narrow |
| A．boring | B．beneficial | C．challenging | D．frustrating |
| A．embrace | B．ignore | C．avoid | D．reject |
5 . I was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World. It was full of ideas that were new to me, so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book. It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy (哲学).
That love for philosophy lasted until I got to college. Nothing kills the love for philosophy faster than people who think they understand Foucault, Baudrillard, or Confucius better than you — and then try to explain them.
Eric Weiner’s The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers reawakened my love for philosophy. It is not an explanation, but an invitation to think and experience philosophy.
Weiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher’s work in the context (背景) of one thing they can help us do better. The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates, see like Thoreau, listen like Schopenhauer, and have no regrets like Nietzsche. This, more than a book about understanding philosophy, is a book about learning to use philosophy to improve a life.
He makes philosophical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences, and he does so with plenty of humor. Weiner enters into conversation with some of the most important philosophers in history, and he becomes part of that crowd in the process by decoding (解读) their messages and adding his own interpretation.
The Socrates Express is a fun, sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire, loneliness, and aging. The invitation is clear: Weiner wants you to pick up a coffee or tea and sit down with this book. I encourage you to take his offer. It’s worth your time, even if time is something we don’t have a lot of.
1. Who opened the door to philosophy for the author?| A．Foucault. | B．Eric Weiner. |
| C．Jostein Gaarder. | D．A college teacher. |
| A．To compare Weiner with them. |
| B．To give examples of great works. |
| C．To praise their writing skills. |
| D．To help readers understand Weiner’s book. |
| A．Its views on history are well-presented. |
| B．Its ideas can be applied to daily life. |
| C．It includes comments from readers. |
| D．It leaves an open ending. |
| A．Objective and plain. |
| B．Daring and ambitious. |
| C．Serious and hard to follow. |
| D．Humorous and straightforward. |
6 . Stories of immigrants attract me a lot, especially the life stories of Italians who have come to America since the 1700s. In each of these stories I see elements of my own story, that of leaving my birthplace and family and creating a new life in a different culture and in a different language.
The child of Italian immigrants and an award-winning scholar of Italian literature, in the book My Two Italies Joseph Luzzi struggled to create or find his own identity from an early age. Even more problematic for him was “which” Italy to “choose,” the one he inherited(继承) from his family, poor and linked to old traditions and customs he finds rude and somewhat cruel, or the one he finds in literature and art books that show him a country with a modern literary culture.
The choice becomes even sadder as in his professional life he becomes a scholar of Italian literature and culture. He describes episodes of his youth that show the clash between the first and the second generation immigrants that are both funny and tragicomic(悲喜剧式的). These episodes highlight the daily customs his parents brought from their hometown that are in conflict with Joseph’s desire to “fit in” the American culture. Joseph’s visits to Italy as a student and then as a scholar deepen the divide between his two Italies and highlight his quest for identity.
The author’s personal changes are full of quotes and comments on the cultural and political landscape of Italy. I find that his insights on contemporary Italian cultural and political phenomena are particularly interesting. In this book, Joseph touches or comments in depth about several issues concerning Italian life, such as the relationship between dialects(方言) and the official “Italian” language, and the Southern “question” or the uneasy interaction between Northern and Southern Italians.
I enjoyed reading this book. It is personal, moving, educational and entertaining. I hope you will enioy it too!
1. Why is the author interested in stories of immigrants?| A．He came to America in 1700. | B．He wants to live an Italian life. |
| C．He can see himself in these stories. | D．He likes to learn the Italian language. |
| A．Choosing right Italian identity. | B．Inheriting his parents’ wealth. |
| C．Bridging the generation gap. | D．Becoming a literary scholar. |
| A．Cooperation. | B．Distance. |
| C．Similarity. | D．Conflict. |
| A．A news report. | B．A book review. |
| C．A children’s story. | D．A diary entry. |
7 . Today, I’ve been recording an audiobook. I am excited that I have realized my life-long dream.
I will never forget at primary school I used to wait with breathless anticipation to take my turn reading out a paragraph of great works in front. At my secondary school, when students were encouraged to select and present a reading at “morning talk”, I often added my name to the list.
This was all handy background for my career in broadcasting. But, much as I enjoy hosting shows and interviewing people, I often find myself missing the simple pleasures of reading out loud. I’d thought about putting myself forward as a narrator(朗读者) for audiobooks. But I’m not an actor. I can’t do regional accents or play female voice. Non-fiction, then, seemed the obvious target, but I felt that such books were best read by their authors. If it were authors’ own voice, their stories would touch me.
Recently, delivering my son’s nightly bedtime story has reawakened my love for reading out loud—highlights so far have included Charlotte’s Web. But I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do it professionally.
Then, last month, I was contacted by James Plunkett, author of End State, a forthcoming book about political ideas. He had no desire to read his book out loud, but as a fan of my program, he thought I might do a reasonable job.
So, I’ve spent this week in a studio, simply reading stuff out loud. And I’m LOVING IT!
Mind you, it’s an entirely unexpected experience. It’s disheartening when the recording needs to be stopped because I’ve just carelessly skipped over a ‘ the’, or had to clear my throat, or catch my breath. I’ve also learned how many words I’ve been mispronouncing my entire life: behavioral is BE-HAYVE-YOU-RAL, not BE-HAYVE-EE-AH-RUL.
Though tackling this 339-page book doesn’t turn out to be that easy, I’ve found the whole process awesome, and hope this becomes the first of many.
1. What does the author want to show by mentioning his experiences at school?| A．The purpose of schooling. | B．His love for reading aloud. |
| C．The power of encouragement. | D．His talent for silent reading. |
| A．He regrets being a TV host. | B．He doesn’t like non-fiction at all. |
| C．He lacks working experience. | D．He is aware of his disadvantages. |
| A．Because he was specifically invited. | B．Because he applied for it in person. |
| C．Because he read many bedtime stories. | D．Because he had a big crowd of fans. |
| A．Frightening but profitable. | B．Rewarding but unsafe. |
| C．Demanding but enjoyable. | D．Promising but unstable. |
8 . Climate Science fiction (cli-fi) authors have been exploring the impact of weather-gone-wild for decades. Here are a few of them that still ring true today.
The Crystal World
J. G. Ballard is often considered the godfather of cli-fi. The famous British author’s novels of the 1960s, including The Burning World, The Drowned World and The Wind From Nowhere, imagine terrible climate-based disasters.
But they’re all too gentle in nature compared with his first truly mature work, The Crystal World. In a sense, The Crystal World is a horror novel-instead of the horror happening to a person, it’s happening to Earth.
Hothouse
Brian Aldiss’ Hothouse—a series of short stories published in 1962-remains one of the most extreme visions of climate change. In it, Earth of the furthest future has changed so completely that it’s nearly unrecognizable. Humans struggle to survive in this strange world of heat waves—which, admittedly, isn’t very scientifically possible but is all the more wonderful because of Aldiss’ unbound imagination.
The Ice Schooner
The climate change in Michael Moorcock’s 1969 novel The Ice Schooner is man-made in a different way: It’s caused by a long, extreme winter that settles around Earth following a nuclear war. The book presents a world where a new ice age has resulted in a frozen planet. There’s nothing scientific about Moorcock’s setting. But it does warn, in its own way, of the disastrous climate change that humanity can bring to the world.
Ice
Anna Kavan’s Ice, like Ballard’s The Crystal World, is filled with far more symbolism than the typical early cli-fi novel. In the freezing environment of Kavan’s 1967 book, a nuclear war has led to massive global climate change that has turned the world into another Siberia.
1. Which book contains the most frightening scenes?| A．The Burning World. | B．The Drowned World. |
| C．The Crystal World. | D．The Wind From Nowhere. |
| A．Anna Kavan. | B．Brian Aldiss. |
| C．J. G. Ballard. | D．Michael Moorcock. |
| A．They are based on scientific evidence. | B．They were published in the same year. |
| C．They are about heat waves in the world. | D．They imagine the results of a nuclear war. |
9 . Do you like to bury your head in a good book? Getting absorbed in a good story is a great way to relax. It improves your reading ability, and, according to some experts, it's good for your health as well. Studies show that it can increase our emotional intelligence as we understand a range of angles and motivations. But despite these benefits, does the way we consume a story make any difference?
For the purist (讲究规范的人), the only way to digest a good story is with a paperback or hardback book. But the traditional book has had a competitor in recent years from e-books, which are read on e-readers or tablets. An “electronic” book enables you to store hundreds of books in one place and allows you to download books directly.
The e-book has become popular in schools, too, and according to one school in London, it's encouraged more children to read. 11-year-old Summit told the BBC: “If you really want a book, you can just get it online. It's so easy, and it's made me read more. I probably read every day now.” For adults, e-books are certainly a lightweight way of accessing our favourite literature on the move.
The recent lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic have certainly given us all time to read more. Last year, some 202 million paperbacks and hardbacks were sold, and the publishing industry hopes this trend will continue now that people have got into the habit of reading more.
But for those who can't or don't want to look at the text in a book, there are audiobooks to listen to. Some authors are even skipping print and writing audio content only. No matter what your reading preference, there's no doubt we have too many choices in how we read a good story.
1. According to some studies, how can reading a book help us?| A．It can improve our understanding of angles and motivations. |
| B．It helps us bury our head in a good paperback or hardback book. |
| C．It can improve our emotional intelligence as well as reading ability |
| D．It helps us digest a good story better by reading hardback books |
| A．the only way to digest a good story is to read paper books |
| B．paper books have to compete for market shares with e-books |
| C．paper books are a lightweight way of accessing literary works |
| D．people have more time to read during the recent lockdowns |
| A．The publishing industry. | B．The purists. |
| C．Parents and educators. | D．E-readers and tablet producers. |
| A．explain the competition between paper books and e-books |
| B．introduce people's different preferences of reading |
| C．the impact of recent lockdowns on people's reading |
| D．show that people have too many choices in how to read a book |
10 . While poetry matters a lot in our house, I know that not everybody is as readily moved by words as I am. That said, I think kids benefit when parents and caregivers help them experience the world through poetry.
Poetry is important for a child's development, according to psychologist Dianne Jandrasits. Adults can create a secure attachment with kids by actively reading with them,especially between the ages of 0 and 5, and the sound of poetry can make the process fun. Poetry, Jandrasits says. can help a child learn to understand someone else 's feelings. “For a young child,” she says. "it all starts with someone understanding your feelings. And that's where parents and caregivers come in."
Dave Lucas, a lecturer at Case Western Reserve University, says, “Poetry is that place where language is pleasure and not just communication." It's pretty simple. Poetry is music. It's about playing with language and sound. And kids love to play. Lucas talked about sharing poems with kindergartners, and how much kids love it when you tell them to just make some rhymes and be silly. “The problem, though, is that as kids get older, they lose that interest in playing with words. Kids get to school and have some negative experience with poetry. Either because it's inaccessible or boring, or it's too artsy (装艺术的）.” Lucas says.
Gray-Kontar, like all the poets I spoke to, mentioned how important it is for caregivers to pay attention to what it is that their young person seems to like. whether it's a sport or some experience they're a part of, and then to select poems for them based on those interests. He suggests reaching out to a local librarian or looking up poetry readings online. The pandemic(大流行病） has been isolating for a lot of us, he says, but through poetry, we can connect with people we wouldn't necessarily meet.
1. In what way can poetry help kids according to Jandrasits?| A．It can help them become more active. |
| B．It can help them hold their feelings back. |
| C．It can help them be independent of others. |
| D．It can help them become more understanding. |
| A．Making it fun. | B．Reading it to music. |
| C．Explaining its rules. | D．Writing about silly things. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Dissatisfied. |
| A．Read kids poetry that's available online. |
| B．Develop kids' interest in different things. |
| C．Choose poetry that's in agreement with kids' hobbies. |
| D．Keep themselves informed of new poetry books. |
