1 . In what has become an annual tradition, the staff of National Public Radio bring you a mighty year-end guide of Books We Love. Here are a handful of the most interesting picks. We hope you enjoy the selections and take time to look through for a while!
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Michelle Zauner lays out the complexity and the ongoing sorrow of losing a parent in her 20s, just as her own life is about to start. Zauner writes about how she turned to Korean food to process her sadness when her mother, her only tie to Korean culture, died of cancer. The book reflects on how cooking and eating the food that her mom once prepared gives her a way to connect to her identity.
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
Crystal Maldonado creates a much-needed believable character with teenage and adult readers. Charlie Vega is fat and wears glasses, with a diet-pushing mother and a beautiful, athletic best friend. When her classmate Brian pursues a romantic relationship, Charlie is bothered with self doubt. The book, which tells a well-observed story of fat teenage life, is developed by internal (内在的) and external (外在的) conflicts.
The Most Fun Thing: Dispatches (快讯) from a Skateboard Life by Kyle Beachy
The year 2021 was the year of skateboarding, which has been transformed into an Olympic sport. And many have picked up skateboards for the first time, so The Most Fun Thing couldn’t have come at a better time. Kyle Beachy, a longtime skater and writing professor, is devoted to exploring the meaning of skateboarding based on related essays of a decade.
The Secret History of Home Economics by Danielle Dreilinger
It’s generally thought that home economics is just a class taken at school, which is appropriately named Mrs Housekeeper. But in reading this book, you can discover that in the early 20th century, the field provided jobs for women in science, companies and governments. Danielle Dreilinger also makes the case that cooking and managing a budget are invaluable lessons for all children and should still be school courses.
1. What is Charlie Vega like?| A．Romantic. | B．Unconfident. | C．Smart. | D．Dishonest. |
| A．Michelle Zauner. | B．Crystal Maldonado. | C．Kyle Beachy. | D．Danielle Dreilinger. |
| A．They both involve the topic of cookery. |
| B．They both mention the bond with parents. |
| C．They both state how to survive economic hardship. |
| D．They both stress the necessity of ensuring women’s rights. |
2 . You may read the questions first:
Amazon is presenting to you our bargains for the year! | |
 Steve Jobs | In Steve Jobs, based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years — as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, competitors, and colleagues — Walter Isaacson has pictured an appealing up-and-down life and strong personality of a creative man whose passion for perfection revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. |
 Living History | Hillary Rodham Clinton is known to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Yet few beyond her close friends and family have ever heard her account of her extraordinary journey. She writes with humor and passion about her upbringing in suburban and her transformation from Goldwater Girl to controversial First Lady. |
 Thinking, Fast and Slow | In the highly anticipated Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, and emotional; System 2 is slower, and more logical. In the book, Kahneman also shows the extraordinary abilities — and the faults and errors — of thinking, and reveals the influence of personal impressions on our thoughts and behavior. |
 Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the main suspect. But the crazy thing is, he has done nothing wrong. The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise storm hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holiday? |
| A．The main contents of the book are mainly based on various interviews. |
| B．The book is written by Steve Jobs. |
| C．Steve Jobs has experienced both successful and difficult periods in his lifetime. |
| D．Steve Jobs has totally changed six different industries. |
| A．Two thinking types and thinking-related facts. |
| B．Difference between two thinking systems. |
| C．How to think fast and logically at the same time. |
| D．The great power of personal impression on thinking system. |
| A．Greg was caught damaging the school property |
| B．Greg knew who really damaged the school property |
| C．it was hot during the holiday |
| D．Greg had a poor relationship with his family |
3 . Novels written and read on mobile telephones have been in fashion in Japan for six years now. Most of these stories deal with romance and are especially trendy among high school girls. But people who harbor the stereotype that love stories belong to the feminine realm might be surprised to hear that the first mobile romance, Deep Love, was written by a man who goes by the pen name “Yoshi”. In 2001, Yoshi distributed leaflets advertising his debut in Shibuya, Tokyo’s entertainment district, and a trend was born.
The typical mobile novel is 200 to 500 pages long and can be downloaded for about $ 10. Each website—like page contains about 500 Japanese characters. Recently, mobile novelists have been trying to reach a wider audience by venturing into other genres such as horror and science fiction. But perhaps the feature that appeals the most to young fans is the interactive nature of the mobile novels. Readers can send feedback and participate in shaping the story. Even teachers and parents are enthusiastic about this new trend that encourages kids to read.
There is considerable disagreement amongst officials in the publishing industry whether these novels are here to stay or just a passing trend. Some critics of the novels say they reach a small minority of readers who likely do not read much anyway.
1. What does the underlined word “harbor” mean in the first paragraph?| A．abandon | B．hold |
| C．change | D．criticize |
| A．It was written by a female. |
| B．It first appeared in print. |
| C．It stared the trend of mobile novels. |
| D．It was based on a true story. |
| A．They vary in length. | B．They are free to download. |
| C．Teachers push them to read. | D．Readers can help in creation. |
| A．Promising. | B．Uncertain. |
| C．Unfavourable. | D．Hopeless. |
