1 . A common theme running in fiction and mythology is the idea of orphan (孤儿) heroes and superheroes. Fairytales introduce us to children of absent fathers and cruel caretakers, like Cinderella and Snow White. Fiction makes much of the parentage of David Copperfield and Jane Eyre. Comic books offer orphaned heroes like Batman, Spiderman, or you’ll notice characters in more modern fiction from films and books like Harry Potter and Leia Skywalker.
Why are so many heroes and superheroes orphans?
Lacking parents, orphan heroes and superheroes are considered “children of the world”. Having raised themselves, and having been freed from much of the complex relationship of child to parent, ophan heroes and superheroes are at much greater liberty to interact with the world, and they may look at the world as parent and all its inhabitants as family.
Some orphans seek only a home and a family. David Copperfield finds this with his aunt. Cinderella and Snow White escape evil stepmothers by marrying. Others, especially of the superhero “cast” are never really given family in the traditional sense. In fact, though they may have strong bonds with friends, or with caretakers, they are constantly attempting to prove worthiness to the world, and are desperate to save the people they do care about.
You can also evaluate orphan heroes and superheroes as a means by which anxiety, loneliness, and independence are emphasized. The comic book type superhero is usually one who suffers always, or at least most of the time. Loss of even one parent can be intensely upsetting and forever change a child’s life, and superheroes may do all in their power to prevent this fate for other children. Empathy for suffering and a desire to end or prevent it for others are increased.
It’s a good idea to consider why we see this theme expressed so commonly. Perhaps we ⅵew these orphans or poorly parented children as ultimately our own. They may not just be children of the world, but may belong to each reader.
1. Why does the author mention some famous characters in Paragraph 1?| A．To clarify the writing purpose. | B．To advertise classic fiction. |
| C．To support a statement. | D．To make an overall outline. |
| A．Intention to escape a family. | B．Desire to prove their value to the world. |
| C．Strong bonds with their family. | D．Wishes for freedom to explore the world. |
| A．Childish. | B．Dependent. | C．Cheerful. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．Ophans’ ultimte fate is pitiful |
| B．Readers have a preference for tragedies. |
| C．Orphan characters are reflections of the readers. |
| D．Readers may regard orphan characters as their own kids. |
2 . Stories are loved by people of all ages. Stories for kids play a major role in shaping their personalities. Below is a list of some of the best short stories for kids that we’re sure that your child would enjoy reading:
Panchatantra Stories in English
Most children stories significantly focus on teaching morals to kids. Panchatantra stories for kids are designed with the same motive. These are the oldest short moral stories for kids. These amazing small stories for kids in English from Panchatantra have reached an audience worldwide. To attract your kids with exciting stories, we provide you with our versions of some of the most famous and loved Panchatantra Stories for kids.
Fairy Tales Stories
Fairy Tales stories are loved by kids. The world of fantasy attracts everyone. These children stories give them a chance to leap into a world full of possibilities and imagination as well as moral lessons. They build their own versions of the fairies. Thus, such short stories for kids in English can build better creativity in children.
Moral Stories for Kids in English
Moral stories for children are those stories that convey moral values, which are crucial during their upbringing. Usually, moral stories for kids convey principles such as love, respect, honesty, virtues, etc. to their readers. Short moral stories for kids fill kids with a better understanding of what is considered good and what is termed as bad.
Akbar Birbal Stories
For generations, Akbar Birbal Stories have been enjoyed thoroughly by every kid. Akbar and Birbal Stories are a great combination of fun, wit, humour and moral values. These English stories for kids entertain, bring smiles and teach life lessons in effortless ways.
1. Who is the text intended for?| A．Kids. | B．Teachers. | C．Parents. | D．Storywriters. |
| A．Fairy Tales Stories. |
| B．Akbar Birbal Stories. |
| C．Panchatantra Stories in English. |
| D．Moral Stories for Kids in English. |
| A．They convey moral values. |
| B．They are humorous and amusing. |
| C．Some versions are written by kids. |
| D．They are stories for people of all ages. |
3 . Not all brilliant reads are behind the paywall, some classics are much more accessible—click and download.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Pride and Prejudice is a really, really good book. A little bit rigid, a little bit repressed, a little bit tender, and painfully class conscious, it’s the full English romance package. Now more than 200 years old, the novel has been retold time and again, finding new audiences each time. Still, there’s no substitute for the original.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
From the Cheshire Cat to Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Alice’s adventures are as strange and wonderful today as they were 150 years ago. Complete with Arthur Rackham’s wonderful illustrations there’s still nothing quite like it. Everyone should go down the rabbit hole at least once.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Perhaps no book does a better job of condensing Charles Dickens’ brilliance than his 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities. Taking place in London and Paris against the background of the French Revolution, the story has inspired countless projects since—even Christopher Nolan’s Batman films. And the best thing? If you like it, all Dickens’ other books are ready and waiting to be read too.
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
Although Mary Shelley’s central message of people being destroyed by the monsters they create has been largely ignored in the years since publication, the tale itself continues to be very popular indeed, and with good reason. The book’s masterful combination of horror, romanticism, and science fiction makes it as attractive today as it would have been in 1818. Just the thing for nighttime reading.
1. What can you read about in Pride and Prejudice?| A．Cute animals. | B．French Revolution. |
| C．Scientific discoveries. | D．Class consciousness |
| A．Frankenstein. |
| B．A Tale of Two Cities. |
| C．Pride and Prejudice. |
| D．Alice's Adventures in Wonderland |
| A．They are romantic novels. |
| B．They can be read for free. |
| C．They were created in the early 1900s. |
| D．They were ignored when first published. |
1. What is the man’s new book based on?
| A．His daily life in South Africa. |
| B．A news reporter’s experiences. |
| C．Some big events in South Africa. |
| A．To share his volunteer experience. |
| B．To tell people about South Africa. |
| C．To show his plan after graduation. |
5 . Joseph Conrad, a famous English novelist, said that his goal as a writer was “to make you hear, to make you feel, and above all, to make you see. That, and no more, is everything.”
In Hemingway’s story, The Old Man and the Sea, however, we must approach the content on another level.
Readers cannot appreciate a short story fully unless they react not only to what has been said but also to how it has been said.
| A．They must look for style and structure. |
| B．In complex stories, careful readers may not always agree with the author. |
| C．The impact on the reader comes from the sudden and unexpected response. |
| D．A good short story tries to give the reader a sense of the actual experience. |
| E．Finally, the reader should be able to explain the insights which the author has given into the theme. |
| F．The impact of the story comes from the insight it gives us into the needs and desires of youth and old age. |
| G．In order to read a short story with full understanding, the reader must approach the content on two levels. |
6 . The Harry Potter series is filled with magic and adventure. The novels are about a young boy who attends an academy for young wizards. Here are a few more books you may enjoy if you like the Harry Potter books.
A Wrinkle in Time
This is a fantasy novel by Madeleine L' Engle. The book is a mix of science fiction and fantasy, and the first in a series about Meg Murry and her extraordinary family. The novel explores individuality, the importance of language, and the pursuit for love across time and space.
The Enchanted Castle
This is a novel by Edith Nesbit published in 1907.In this book，three children—Jerry，Jimmy，and Kathleen—find a magical castle with an invisible princess. Nesbit explores themes of illusion（幻想）against reality，with a magic ring. a fake princess，and the Ugly Wuglies—who come alive. The Enchanted Castle is a classic full of magical mysteries.
The Hobbit
This is a novel by J. RR. Tolkien where you get a chance to meet Bilbo Baggins and follow him on his adventures in Middle-earth. He is a hobbit, comfortably staying at home in his hole until Gandalf calls him away to a great adventure. In his dangerous trip he encounters monsters and he discovers a great deal about himself. The hobbit undergoes great changes after seeing so much of the world and experiencing the dangers of Middle-earth.
1. What do we know about A Wrinkle in Time?
| A．It is Madeleine L' Engle's first work. |
| B．It praises Gandalf's spirit of adventure. |
| C．It is about personality, language and love. |
| D．It introduces a magical castle found by three children. |
| A．A detective story. | B．A fantasy novel. | C．A love story. | D．A biography. |
| A．Harry Potter | B．A Wrinkle in Time | C．The Enchanted Castle | D．The Hobbit. |
7 . Gold Fame Citrus
by Claire Vaye Watkins（$ 5.99）
With the flight of its characters through a landscape destroyed by climate crisis, this novel does not indicate much hopefulness for the future. Within it is a series of situations and consequences made more severe in a future California short of water. Across the desert. we follow Watkins' characters through a place so transformed that it needs its own field guide of animals newly adapted for strange survival.
The Ministry for the Future
by Kim Stanley Robinson（$ 18.1）
The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate will affect us all. Its setting is not a deserted world, but a future that is almost upon us. This extraordinary novel from the visionary science fiction writer will change the way you think about the climate crisis.
Breathing Fire
by Jaim Lowe（$ 27）
The front lines of the fight against climate change are peopled with those society has forgotten. Up to 30 percent of the firefighters battling wildfires in California each year are prisoners performing backbreaking labor while earning a 40th of what a civilian makes. This book follows six female prisoner firefighters and their worried families, looking into the human cost of environmental crisis.
Something Under the Sun
by Alexandra Kleeman（$ 28）
In Alexandra Kleeman's new novel, a novelist new to Los Angeles teams up with a former child actor to investigate a conspiracy（阴谋）. But this is L. A. , where wildfires burn all year long and the rich store water while the poor suffer from the consequence of climate crisis. Human weakness is pushing the city toward a disaster.
1. Which category does Breathing Fire fall into?| A．Science fiction. | B．Play. | C．Non-fiction. | D．Biography. |
| A．A novelist. | B．An actor. | C．A firefighter. | D．A minister. |
| A．They are on sale. | B．They show concern over climate. |
| C．They are intended for teenagers. | D．They are set in California. |
8 . Let's take a look at some popular children's books from USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list.
The Giving Tree
By Shel Silverstein
The Giving Tree is an American children's picture book. It was first published (出版) in 1964, and has become one of Silverstein's best-known titles. The tree in the book keeps giving the boy what he wants. So, if you're looking for a children's book that teaches kids to give some of what they have to others, The Giving Tree is a good choice.
Where the Wild Things Are
By Maurice Sendak
Where the Wild Things Are follows the adventures of a young boy named Max. Max enters the world of the Wild Things, and some strange and big animals gradually turn the young boy into their king. The book was first published in 1963. It won the Caldecott Medal. In 2009, the book was turned into a film.
The Polar Express
By Chris Van Allsburg
A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is invited to take a trip to the North Pole. Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a large area of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city, where the boy will make his Christmas wish. The author won the Caldecott Medal for this 1985 book. In the 1990s, the book was turned into a successful movie.
Love You Forever
By Robert Munsch
The mother sings to her sleeping baby：“I'll love you forever/I'll love you for always/As long as I'm living/My baby you'll be.” She still sings the same song when her baby has turned into a stubborn (固执的) 2-year-old, a lazy 9-year-old，and then a strong-minded teen ...Since publication in 1986，the story has touched the hearts of millions worldwide.
1. What can The Giving Tree teach kids?| A．To be honest. | B．To be brave. |
| C．To share. | D．To plant. |
| A．They were both made into films. |
| B．They are both about Christmas trips. |
| C．The films made from them both won prizes. |
| D．They both have a history of more than 60 years. |
| A．Shel Silverstein's. | B．Maurice Sendak's. |
| C．Chris Van Allsburg's. | D．Robert Munsch's. |
9 . If you are looking for recommendations on biographies(传记) that will educate you, comedies that will make your belly ache or stories that present the unique challenges women face every day, read on.
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
A classic that never gets old. Set in rural England in the early 19th century, this tale centers around the Bennet family, a family of five daughters and their two parents who are desperate to find at least one of the daughters a wealthy match. Austen’s story focuses on the tension between marrying for love instead of just for power and fame, and also the unique pressure on women to find financial security by way of marriage at the time.
“Women in Science:50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World” by Rachel Ignotofsky
It is a sweetly illustrated and educational book that highlights the contributions of 50 women in the fields of technology, science, engineering and mathematics, from present day all the way back to 360 AD.
“Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls” by Elena Favilli
It tells the stories of female heroes from years ago and present day. With color portraits and biographies that are short and sweet, this book is a page-turner for anyone wanting to learn about influential women in the past and present.
“Becoming”by Michelle Obama
We wouldn’t be able to write this list without including Michelle Obama’s memoir. “Becoming” has the former FLOTUS discussing her childhood, family, motherhood, her own FLOTUS impact, the pressures of being part of the first Black family in the White House and balancing her public life now. And of course she writes all about meeting her husband and the many unique challenges they faced too.
1. What did the Bennets intend to do?| A．To marry their daughters to rich men. |
| B．To lessen pressure on their daughters. |
| C．To help their daughters marry for true love. |
| D．To make their daughters financially independent. |
| A．Jane Austen’s. | B．Rachel Ignotofsky’s. |
| C．Elena Favilli’s. | D．Michelle Obama’s. |
| A．They are all classics. | B．They are all biographies. |
| C．They are all related to the female. | D．They are all about heroes. |
10 . Sophia Gholz is an award-winning children's book author, music lover. and magic seeker. Sophia enjoys writing fiction with humor and heart. When writing nonfiction, she pulls on her love of science and her family background in ecology.
Her book, The Boy Who Grew a Forest, shares the true story of Jadav Payeng, a man in India who single- bandedly planted an entire forest over the course of his lifetime. When he was younger, Jadav Payeng was shocked by the destruction of his island home. So he took matters into his own bands and began planting one seed at a time. Jadav's forest is now over 1300 acres and provides a home to many animals, some endangered. Jadav is still planting today and his hard work has now been celebrated around the world.
To write this story, Sophia got to know more about Jadav Payeng and his forest through a documentary film called Forest Man. Influenced by her father, a forest ecologist and a scientist, she grew up learning about the importance of trees and the natural world. When she heard about a man on a m1ssion to reforest an entire island on his own, she was drawn to this story.
As for research, most of her research was done online. She read every news article that she could find about Jadav and listened to every interview. Then she reached out to several people who had met or interviewed Jadav as well, including the producer of his short documentary film.
She hopes that The Boy Who Grew a Forest lights a spark in everyone who reads it to go out and care for our beautiful planet. She'd love young readers to be inspired to plant or to learn more about animal habitats, biodiversity and science in general.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．A story on how to plant trees. | B．Endangered animals in the forest. |
| C．Destruction of Jadav's island home. | D．A book introducing a tree- planting hero. |
| A．He has quit planting recently. | B．He is known to many people. . |
| C．He was an actor of Forest Man. | D．He planted trees with his family. |
| A．Humorous and skilled. | B．Creative and outgoing. |
| C．Determined and diligent. | D．Controversia1 and helpful. |
| A．To encourage research on wildlife. | B．To describe a boy's farming experience. |
| C．To stress the importance of planting trees. | D．To advocate the action to protect the earth. |
