1. What will Adam do in the next two months?
| A．Perform some shows. | B．Write a new book. | C．Share stories with fans. |
| A．It tells stories in the 1990s. |
| B．It is mainly in a funny style. |
| C．It becomes a best-seller in 2021. |
| A．From 1991 to 1994. | B．From 1994 to 1996. | C．From 1996 to 2001. |
| A．At Paris College. | B．At Oxford University. | C．At Westminster School. |
2 . If you’ve ever needed an excuse to bury yourself in a really good book, now is the time, 2021 is filled with page-turners, must-reads and novels with beautiful sentences. That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite stories of the new year. If it’s out now, get your copy; if not, get ready to pre-order.
Outlawed
Price: $26. 00, $18. 18 (30%off)
Welcome to the new feminist (女权主义) world. Anna North’s western novel follows Ada, a 17-year-old who has to run away from her town after she’s unable to get pregnant (怀孕) a year into marriage. It features everything you have ever wanted in a read: strange cowgirls, a group of feminist outlaws and more.
The Push
Price: $26. 00, $16. 16 (38%off)
Nothing like a psychological thriller to kick off a new year that is hopefully not as psychologically disturbing as last year. In Aslhley Audrain’s fiction, a new mother begins to doubt not all is right with her baby.
The Wife Upstairs
Price: $27. 99, $19. 09 (32%off)
This modern adaptation of Jane Eyre trades in Gothic mystery for southern secrecy. In Rachel Hawkins’ latest page turner, expect the romance you love in the original tale with all the modern features.
Aftershocks
Price: $26. 00, $16. 86 (35% off)
This one is actually not a fiction book, but we couldn’t not include—it’s that good. Nadia Owusu’s powerful memoir (回忆录) tells her childhood and perhaps an even more meaningful journey, the one to self-discovery.
1. Which of the following books is the cheapest after the discount?| A．Aftershocks. | B．Outlawed. |
| C．The Push. | D．The Wife Upstairs. |
| A．Nadia Owusu. | B．Rachel Hawkins. |
| C．Anna North. | D．Ashley Audrain. |
| A．It is adapted from Jane Eyre. |
| B．It is a thriller about a mother and her baby. |
| C．It is a western novel about a feminist. |
| D．It tells a writer’s self-discovery journey. |
3 . Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden is a fantastic novel that is about seven teenagers who go on a hike for a week to a remote wilderness called Hell. When the group return home,they discover that their country has been invaded. Their families have been taken prisoner and their town is in a mess. After a series of terrifying adventures, they move back to Hell for safety reasons. While there, the group work out their choices. They decide that they will make their base in Hell but that they will not just hide. They will try to do something for their country and fight against the enemy.
The story is told from the point of view of Ellie, one of the teenagers. She has been chosen by the group as the one who should record what has happened. Ellie’s description of the story shows how seven normal teenagers can change from being innocent high school students to courageous heroes fighting for their country. Desperate and extraordinary events are described one minute and normal teenage worries and emotions the next. For example, Ellie is thinking about happy things at the same time as she is concerned about whether her parents are alive and working out ways to survive.
The main characters are Ellie, Lee, Fi, Corrie, Kevin, Robyn and Homer, and a boy named Chris who they find in hiding later on in their adventures. At the end of the book,great changes occur. The teenage characters have all grown in each other’s eyes and learned a great deal about war, about life and death, and about themselves.
Tomorrow, When the War Began is a realistic story with nervousness, excitement and fear. I found it “spellbinding” — in fact, I can’t wait to read it in one day. I think it’s worth reading for everyone.
1. What happens during the teenagers’ first stay in Hell?| A．Their country is at war. | B．They get separated. |
| C．They find prisoners there. | D．Their nation gives up their land. |
| A．It is highly praised by critics. | B．It is written in the first person. |
| C．It features the struggle of teenagers at school. | D．It encourages people to get on with each other. |
| A．The plot. | B．The setting. | C．The ending. | D．The characters. |
| A．Realistic. | B．Ridiculous. | C．Interesting. | D．Historical. |
4 . This Mother’s Day we asked a handful of children’s book experts and writers which stories and characters come to mind when they think about motherhood.
Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Wise Brown
Since it was first published in 1942, Brown’s Runaway Bunny has never gone out of print. It is pretty much a work of genius! Brown opened the door for parents to feel like they’re reading a story about love and caring about their children while the children are exploring their own individual identity and how close they are or separated they are from the adults in their lives.
Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse
by Walter Dean Myers
It is a collection of photographs Myers collected over the years. Myers writes, “Seeing their faces scrubbed and beaming and them dressed in their Sunday best makes me think about the hardworking parents and grandparents who have taken time to take care of their children.”
Mommy’s Hometown
by Hope Lim
This story is about a boy and his mother’s trip to her childhood home in Korea. The boy discovers the town is not how he imagined it would be. Mommy’s Hometown starts from the specific lens (镜头) of Korean culture, but has the universal feature of memory and perception.
Happy Dreams, Little Bunny
written and illustrated by Leah Hong
Happy Dreams, Little Bunny is ”a next-generation Runaway Bunny.“ Through a gentle dialogue, it guides us to find peace in our imagination and to grow in autonomy and independence.
1. Which statement of Runaway Bunny is NOT correct?| A．It has been published for 80 years. |
| B．It is appreciated widely. |
| C．It will separate adults and children. |
| D．It can help kids to find their individuality. |
| A．Margaret Wise Brown. | B．Walter Dean Myers. |
| C．Leah Hong. | D．Hope Lim. |
| A．They all have no pictures. |
| B．They are all about Korean culture. |
| C．They all have gentle dialogues. |
| D．They are all suitable for moms and kids. |
5 . Pick Up Something You Can’t Put Down
| How to Help Yourself to Be Who You Want to Be —A Simple Guide for Those Who Are Ready to Take Charge of and Redirect Their Lives. By Pam Grewall This self-improvement book offers a simple handbook to help readers recognize their strengths and weaknesses and to understand how to take control of their own destiny. www. iuniverse. com Publication Date: 10/13/2020 Page Count: 172 Hardback │ Paperback │ E-book │ Audio $23.99 │ $13.99 │ $3.99 │ $9.99 |
| Johnny Catching Fire By Aaron Allen God gave Johnny the strength of Samson. Now he must decide whether lo use his power for good or to get even with those who bullied him. www. xlibris. com Publication Date: 10/29/2020 Page Count:56 Hardback │ Paperback │ E-book $22.99 │ $16.99 │ $3.99 |
| Quotes from the Quiver By Dante P. Galiber, MD, FACC Inspired by time, space and human interaction, this collection offers a series of original and thought-provoking ideas and quotations（引言）designed to uplift and enlighten the readers. www. authorhouse. com Publication Date: 11/17/2019 Page Count: 80 Hardback│Paperback│E-book $43.99 │ $22.99 │ $3.99 |
| Ting Ting, the Girl Who Saved. China By Ryan O’Connor The book provides insight into China’s biggest holiday. It gives a sense of its culture and shows that girls are just as strong and brave as boys are. www. xlibris. com Publication Date: 1/28/2021 Page Count: 48 Hardback│Paperback│E-book $22.99│ $16.99 │ $3.99 |
| A．It has an audio version. | B．It was published in 2020. |
| C．It is designed for children. | D．It is a novel about self-improvement. |
| A．They are both about school life. |
| B．They both have 48 pages in total. |
| C．They are both about Chinese culture. |
| D．They are available on the same website. |
| A．Johnny Catching Fire |
| B．Quotes from the Quiver |
| C．Ting Ting, the Girl Who Saved China |
| D．How to Help Yourself to Be Who You Want to Be |
6 . If you want to improve your English through reading original English works, here are some recommendations.
Charlotte’s Web
By E. B White
This is a lovely novel that all age groups can understand. Aimed at native English speaking children, there are many adults who still say this famous book is their favorite. This is part of the national curriculum in many schools around the world, so it’s quite possible this book will also come up in conversation. You can almost guarantee that the majority of native English speakers have read this book at least once.
The Outsiders
By S. E. Hinton
This short novel is perfect for EFI learners. It has modern themes and typical teenage issues that people around the world have experienced. There are very few cultural notes in this, which means you don’t need much background information. The sentences are short and easy to understand. The vocabulary is also very easy. You should be able to read this book without difficulty.
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
This is a realistic novel. It is based on history. Unlike other historical literature, it’s easy to understand. If you already know a lot of information about World War II, this might be an interesting book for you. It’s not recommended if you don’t know too much about the World Wars. In this case, you will be focusing on trying to understand the facts too much so you will not enjoy the book as much.
Thirteen Reasons Why
By Jay Asher
This story take place in the present, which means the writer writes using simple grammar. ”All sentences are short and the vocabulary is relatively easy. The interesting grammar and short paragraphs make this a quick and easy book for ESI learners. This is an award-winning book and on New York Times best book list, so it is worth a read.
1. Which book had you better avoid reading if you don’t know too much about history?| A．Charlotte’s Web. | B．The Outsiders. | C．Number the Stars. | D．Thirteen Reasons Why. |
| A．Charlotte’s Web and The Outsiders. | B．The Outsiders and Thirteen Reasons Why. |
| C．Thirteen Reasons Why and Number the Stars. | D．Charlotte’s Web and Number the Stars. |
| A．All of them are designed for children. | B．All of them are easy to understand. |
| C．All of them are award-winning books. | D．All of them have modern themes. |
1. Why do lights grow closer to the little house?
| A．The city is becoming larger. |
| B．Villagers use better lamps. |
| C．People come to visit the village. |
| A．The natural scenery. | B．The life in a big city. | C．The visitors to the village. |
| A．Having a tour. | B．Giving a lecture. | C．Selling a book. |
8 . The Nobel Literature Prizes are awarded to the persons who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction. The followings are some famous female winners in recent years.
Louise Glück
The Nobel Prize winner in Literature 2020. Childhood, family life, relationships and death are frequent themes in her collections. Gluck seeks out the universal. The rich English-language poetry tradition is her primary literary source of inspiration. Glück’s language is free of poetic formalities and she often uses daily spoken language.
Alice Munro
The Nobel Prize winner in Literature 2013. Alice Munro has devoted her literary career mostly to short stories. The underlying themes of her work are often relationship problems and moral conflicts. The relationship between memory and reality is another frequent theme she uses to create tension. She is able to demonstrate the impact that seemingly small events can have on a person’s life.
Herta Müller
The Nobel Prize winner in Literature 2009. Her works are rooted in her experiences as one of Romania’s German-speaking racial minority. Müller describes how dictatorship (独裁) causes a fear and sense of distance that stays in an individual’s mind. With precise language, she recalls images from the past.
Svetlana Alexievich
She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2015. Svetlana Alexievich represents life during and after the Soviet Union through the experience of individuals. Personal experiences have been an important part for her works. She uses interviews to create a picture of a wide range of voices. With her “ documentary novels ” , Alexievich moves in the boundary between reporting and fiction.
1. Whose works does a student loving poems probably read?| A．Louise Glück. | B．Alice Munro. |
| C．Herta Müller. | D．Svetlana Alexievich. |
| A．Writing short stories. | B．Describing significant events. |
| C．Balancing memory and reality. | D．Dealing with relationship problems. |
| A．The language style is precise. |
| B．They have similar backgrounds. |
| C．They are rooted in people’s real life experiences. |
| D．The focus is the relationship between individuals. |
9 . Erica James is the author of 23 best-selling novels. Now, the romance novelist shares the books that shaped her career.
Three Men in a Boat
Jerome K Jerome
This was the initial book that made me laugh out loud. Anything I’d read previously had been school texts. Reading them was like watching paint dry, but suddenly here was something exciting which clearly shows a great many features of human behaviour. From then on, I fell in love with reading.
A Woman of Substance
Barbara Taylor Bradford
I was a mother when I read this novel and was thoroughly swept up in the rags to riches story of Emma Harte. Barbara created a strong sense of family and it sowed a tiny seed within me that I might create my own word though putting pen to paper.
Saint Maybe
Anne Tyler
Saint Maybe is a sad example of how one small mistake can result in tragedy for a family. As always with Anne Tyler, there’s sadness and humor within the pages, but the true strength of this novel lies in the author’s ability to write with sympathy
The Marriage Pact
Michelle Richmond
The Marriage Pact is a psychological thriller, making me be a nicer wife. Jake and Alice are invited to join an exclusive organization called The Pact, which promises to help them have a lasting marriage. I wanted to write a story like it: Great love for life.
1. Which book first made Erica James interested in reading?| A．Three Men in a Boat | B．A Woman of Substance |
| C．Saint Maybe | D．The Marriage Pact |
| A．It is her first book. | B．It makes her more hopeful. |
| C．It inspires Erica to be a writer. | D．It helps her manage job challenges. |
| A．They share a sad tone. | B．They go against textbooks. |
| C．They are focused on family problems. | D．They are good influences on Erica’s life. |
10 . Discover mind - blowing details and improve your knowledge with this factual selection.
Everything Under the Sun
by Molly Oldfield
( Puffin Books )
Find the answers to 366 questions asked by young people in this fun illustrated (有插图的) book. Which was the biggest dinosaur? How much bamboo can a giant panda eat ? Do aliens (外星人) exist ? Experts including famous, award-winning chefs and staff at the Natural History Museum provide the information.
On This Day : A History of the World in 366 Days
( Dorling Kindersley )
This book takes you on a journey through history, one day at a time. You’ll learn about events that took place on each day of the year --- whether they were important historical moments or strange happenings --- and discover which historical characters share your birthday.
Stuff
by Maddie Moate
Illustrated by Paul Boston
( Puffin Books )
Explore the hidden stories behind everyday objects with Maddie Moate, presenter of CBBC’s Do You Know. Learn about ink made from soot（烟灰）, shoes made from old tyres（轮胎）, and paper made from elephant poo --- as well as many other ways people throughout history have used and reused things around them.
A History of the World in 25 Cities
by Tracey Turner and Andrew Donkin
Illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg
( Nosy Crow )
Visit wonder-filled cities around the world and throughout history with this beautiful book of illustrated maps, put together by experts from the British Museum. Explore Athens in ancient Greece, China ’ s long-lost city of Xianyang and modern-day Tokyo --- one of the world ' s most densely（密集地）populated cities.
1. Which book provides answers to 366 questions?| A．Stuff. |
| B．Everything Under the Sun. |
| C．A History of the World in 25 Cities. |
| D．On This Day : A History of the World in 366 Days. |
| A．Molly Oldfield’ s. | B．Maddie Moate’ s. |
| C．Libby VanderPloeg’s. | D．Tracey Turner and Andrew Donkin’ s. |
| A．They are full of facts. | B．They are history-related. |
| C．They are award-winning books. | D．They are produced by Puffin Books. |
