1 . Books on the History of Ukraine

The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine
By Serhii Plokhy
Basic Books; 395 pages; $29.99. Allen Lane; £25

The author is the most distinguished historian of Ukraine (乌克兰) writing in English. This book covers the many centuries in which Ukraine was attacked by powers from all points of the compass. Mr Plokhy shows how Ukrainian language, culture and identity boomed through hardships — which helps explain why Ukrainians are fighting heroically to defend themselves.

Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine
By Anna Reid
Basic Books; 368 pages; $18.99. Weidenfeld & Nicolson; £10.99

The author first published this mixture of memoir (回忆录), travelogue and history in 1997, but updated it in 2015. She introduces appealing Ukrainians, bygone and contemporary, including Taras Shevchenko, the national poet, etc. Ms Reid does not avoid the horrors of the country’s past; but she also finds room for hope.

The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution
By Marci Shore
Yale University Press; 320 pages; $26 and £25

The title comes from a poem by Vladimir Mayakovsky, and the book is an account of prodemocracy (支持民主) revolution in Ukraine in 2013-14. The author describes the feelings of people then — the sense of unity and the motivation of those who headed east to fight the Russian-backed enemies in the Donbas. She also describes the implications of Ukraine’s fate for the future of Europe.

Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine
By Anne Applebaum
Doubleday; 496 pages; $35. Allen Lane; £25

The starvation, known as the Holodomor, swept Ukraine in 1932-33, killing around 4 million people. Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer-prize winning author, convincingly argues that the starvation was awful, yet left psychological wealth for Ukrainians who bonded together to preserve their nationalism.

1. Where does the book The Ukrainian Night take its name from?

A．From a film.	B．From a poem.
C．From a magazine.	D．From a newspaper.

2. Which book is the cheapest in dollars?

A．Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine.

B．The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine.

C．Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine.

D．The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate History of Revolution.

3. What theme do the four books share?

A．They predict the future of Ukraine.	B．They face up to historical challenges.
C．They pity Ukrainians for their misfortune.	D．They admit the weaknesses of humans.

2 . Like so many young bookish kids I wrote poems and stories and filled pages of journals with dreams. But even though I adored writing, I still knew that being a real-life writer was a dream both great and impossible.

At different times I harboured the possibility that it might work. When I was seventeen, I wrote a story that was published in a collection. At college, I entered local writing competitions and had success. A couple of times, I wanted to register for a creating writing degree offered by Harvard University, but each time, the fear of failure held me back. Then I understood the dream was indeed impossible and I gave up writing setting out on the path to become a teacher.

Years later, after my daughter was born and deep in the intense world of a newborn, I felt urged to scribble (草草写下) madly. Then, two years later, late at night as I fed my second daughter. I read a book written by one of my teachers and it lit me up. I was hungry to make a reader feel something as intensely as she had made me feel.

I got in touch with my old teacher and with her encouragement, I finally registered for a creative writing degree and got actively involved in the writing events. At a literary event, I listened to a panel of writers and publishers talk about the need to be brave and take chances. At the end of the event, I took one of those chances, handing my as-yet-unfinished manuscript (手稿) to one of the panelists, who told me to send her the first three chapters via e-mail.

Six months later, I had my first publishing contract and felt like I’d won the lottery (彩票). There are a thousand different paths to publication, most of them with some rocky patches before the thrilling moment you hold your book in your hands.

1. Why did the author quit the idea of being a writer?

A．She had applied for a degree.	B．She lacked sufficient courage.
C．she became known for a story.	D．She wished to make a teacher.

2. What did the author decide to do after she read her teacher's book?

A．Realize the dream of being a writer.	B．Make readers interested in the book.
C．Tell us her feeling about the teacher.	D．Write about caring for young children.

3. What did the literary event bring to the author?

A．A certificate in writing.	B．A talk with good friends.
C．A platform for manuscripts.	D．A chance of publishing a book.

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

A．My Path to Publication.	B．My Views on Dreams.
C．My Talents for Writing.	D．My Conversation with Panelists.

3 . Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Harry Potter )

by Newt Scamander (Author), J. K. Rowling (Author), Olivia Lomenech Gill (Illustrator)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander's classic compendium (汇编) of magical creatures, has delighted generations of wizarding readers. With this beautiful, large-scale new edition illustrated in full color, muggles (麻瓜) too will have the chance to discover where the Runespoor lives, what the Puffskein eats, and why shiny objects should always be kept away from the Niffler. Profits from the sale of this book will go to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowlings international charity, Lumos, which will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard.

Product details

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; Reprint edition

Language: English

Hardcover: 160 pages

ISBN-10: 1338216791

ISBN-13: 978-13382 16790

Reading age: 8 years and up

Grade level: 3-6

Item Weight: 2.82 pounds

Dimensions: 9.8 x0.9x 11.5 inches

Benjamin Coleman

★★★★☆

This has to be my favorite of the illustrated editions

The “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” illustrated edition has to be opinion the most beautiful of all of the ones released so far. Each of the pages is illustrated beautifully for every fantastic creature you can possibly imagine in the Potter universe. My personal favorite was the dragon section which has beautiful illustrations of several different species of dragons. This book is a must buy for both new and older fans of the series and a great collection item for any Potter fan. So if you’re looking for a great present who loves Harry Potter, get these illustrated editions!

Michelle E Krupski

★☆☆☆☆

Disappointing book

1. The size of the book is inconsistent with the other HP illustrated series, which is disappointing.

2. The book does not have a dust jacket which is inconsistent with all of my other HP books and disappointing.

3. The illustrations lack depth. The majority of the book is just rough sketches with color. I can imagine that myself. What I was anticipating was amazing detail and a beautiful book. What I received looks like a rough draft. Not worth the price I paid.

1. What do we know about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?

A．It is intended for children aged 3-6.

B．Olivia Lomenech Gill is one of the authors.

C．Earnings from the Sale of this book will go to charity.

D．It is about the fight between muggles and the Runespoor.

2. According to Coleman, which section attracts him most ?

A．The dragon section.

B．The Niffler section.

C．The Runespoor section.

D．The section related to Harry Potter.

3. What does Krupski think of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?

A．The story in the book lacks depth.

B．The book is too big to be put on the shelf.

C．The illustrations don’t live up to her expectations.

D．The book arrived damaged with scratches on the covers.

4 . Do you like reading? What would you like to read? Here are four recommendations from trusted critics.

A Greenglass House Story Kate Milford, illustrated by Nicole Wong	Twelve guests, trapped at the Blue Vein Tavern by rising floodwaters, tell stories to pass the time. With tales that cross over between storytelling and reality, what starts as a series of unrelated tales weaves(编织）together into something smart and tight.A puzzle book that adults may enjoy just as much as its intended child audience. (For ages 4 to 8)
Someone Builds the Dream Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Loren Long	Someone Builds the Dream is a celebration of the cooperative spirit and a proof to what we can achieve if we work together.And after having the curtain pulled back like this, children (and probably many grown-ups) will look at the world around them with fresh eyes. (For ages 5 to 8)
The Boy and the Sea Camille Andros, illustrated by Amy Bates	Following a young boy over a lifetime,Camille Andros' story flows back with a comforting rhythm while Amy Bates' timeless artwork washes over you. As the boy grows older, he returns regularly to the sea looking for answers but discovers something more valuable: visual angle. (For ages 4 to 8)
Magic Candies Heena Baek, translated by Sophie Bowman	When Tong Tong purchases a bag of strange, round candies, he discovers that each one allows him to hear the hidden speech of someone, or something. Honestly, who wouldn't want to hear what the leaves have to say? You'll also be sure to treat your chair with greater kindness after a single read.(For ages 4 to 8)

1. What do the books by Kate Milford and Lisa Wheeler have in common?

A．They are both puzzle books.

B．They may attract adult readers.

C．They both focus on cooperation.

D．They are for children aged 4 to 8.

2. Which book best suits children who are curious about others' secrets?

A．A Greenglass House Story.

B．Someone Builds the Dream.

C．Magic Candies.

D．The Boy and the Sea.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In a history book.

B．In a travel brochure.

C．In a science fiction.

D．In a literature magazine.

5 . “A novel, like a letter should be loose, cover much ground, run swiftly, take risk of morality and decay,” Saul Bellow once wrote. Like many novelists, in his spare time the author of The Adventures of Augie March was also an enthusiastic letter writer.

A selection of Bellow’s huge correspondence, reproduced in a recent issue of the New Yorker, provides a fascinating insight into the writer’s character. Witty, often brief and almost always entertaining, Bellow’s letters are a reminder of why writers’ letters often prove so popular with readers. At their best, literary letters have something for everyone: general readers get a glimpse of how authors write when freed from the expectation to produce a work of conventional literary worth, and scholars get enough scholarly writings.

All this is well and good—except for one small problem: nobody writes letters anymore, at least not the kind of intellectual, humorous letters that distinguish great correspondence. As we are so often told, we live in the digital age. Like the rest of us, authors now largely correspond with their agents, friends, and occasionally, fans through email, not “snail mail”.   

As literary vehicles, emails are severely lacking. Digital messages tend to alternate between the deathly dull and formal and the casually daring complete with BTW, LOLs and unclear text—speak with little middle ground. Letters can be revealing, friendly, humorous; emails, even at their best, tend to exhibit only one of these characteristics of good writing.

Future literary archivists (档案管理员) will need to be digital experts, hacking through hard drives and email accounts, mobile phones, in their attempts to fully document the lives and thoughts of their subjects. But who among us has all their email correspondence from the past five years, let alone a lifetime? Hardware is disposed (废弃) of and forgotten about; mobile phones are replaced every few years. The idea that we can construct a complete record of a writer has always been unrealistic, but technological advances have made it physically impossible, too. With so much material digitalized, and often wiped, writers will no longer leave behind boxes suffered with letters, ripe for investigation and possible publication.

Back in 1898, the New York Times named the long-dead Lord Byron the greatest letter writer in the English language, celebrating his letters’ humor, the force and spirit of their substance, the grace and purity of their style. Saul Bellow’s letters might not be remembered quite so fondly 70 years from now, but chances are that, by then, the entire genre of collected writers’ letters will have disappeared completely—leaving readers significantly poorer for their loss.

1. Authors’ letters are often popular with readers probably because ______.

A．well-known magazines like New Yorker choose to publish them

B．authors write them with a specific audience in mind

C．not only are they scholarly, but they are also funny

D．readers can gain an insight into how the classics are created

2. According to paragraphs 3 and 4, one advantage of email over traditional letters is that _____.

A．email exhibits characteristics of good writing

B．email reaches its receivers much faster

C．email is full of variation alternating between “formal” and “casual”

D．email conveys clear messages with little ambiguous middle ground

3. Why does the author mention future archivists work?

A．To illustrate that technological advances can contribute to greater literary loss.

B．To arouse readers’ interest in how digital property will be treated in the future.

C．To point out that it is impossible to document the life experience of a writer.

D．To warn that there will be no writers’ letters left for research.

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

A．Exploring Literature through Letters.	B．Well-Written “Letters”: Saul Bellow Shows Us How
C．The Dying Art of Letter Writing	D．The Power of a Letter in the Digital Age

6 .

	Lord of the Flies An airplane evacuating schoolboys from Britain during World War II is shot down over a remote tropical area. Two boys, Ralph and Piggy find the other surviving boys and begin to organize the group. As time passes, rivalries are formed, rules are broken and civilized behavior has turned savage. Lord of the Flies is a classic study on human nature, adolescence, and competition by William Golding.
	The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer’s best friend, stakes out his own adventure in this classic coming-of-age tale. Tired of trying to be good and fearful of his drunken father, Huck Finn runs away and takes Jim, a man who has escaped enslavement, with him. Together they sail down the Mississippi River on a raft and experience dangerous as well as comical adventures along the way. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an enduring classic.
	A Separate Peace A friendship forms between two boys attending a New England boarding school during World War IL. Gene, smart and socially awkward, draws the attention of Phineas, a handsome, athletic and outgoing boy. The two become friends, but war and rivalry lead to a tragic accident. John Knowles is the author of A Separate Peace, a classic story about friendship and adolescence.
	Of Mice and Men Best friends Lennie and George travel from farm to farm in California looking for work while trying to avoid trouble. Although both men are good workers and have dreams of owning their own farm, they never stay at one job long because of Lennie. Lennie is a simple-minded gentle giant who doesn’t know his own strength and often gets into trouble. When tragedy strike, George must make am awful decision that will alter the plans he and Lennie have made for their future. Of Mice and Men is a classic John Steinbeck story about migrant workers and the downtrodden surviving the Great Depression.

1. Which pair of books covers the subjects of adolescence and competition?

A．Of Mice and Men and Lord of the Flies

B．Lord of the Flies and A Separate Peace

C．The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Lord of the Flies

D．A Separate Peace and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

2. What often upsets George’s plan for the future?

A．George’s tendency to get into trouble.	B．Lennie’s dependence on George.
C．Lennie’s inability to manage his own strength.	D．George’s identity as a migrant worker.

3. Which of the four books includes the element of humor?

A．Lord of the Flies	B．A Separate Peace
C．Of Mice and Men	D．The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

By 1972, Lonely Planet founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler     1     (complete) a life-changing journey from London to Australia, and written a booklet about a portion of it: Across Asia on the Cheap. As they sat in     2     Italian restaurant tasting a few glasses of wine, they tried to dream up the name for     3     (they) new publishing company.

“Once while travelling across the sky,” said Tony,     4     (repeat) the lyrics to the song Space Captain, as sung by Joe Cocker, “this lonely planet caught my eye.” The correct words were actually “lovely planet”,     5     somehow “lonely planet” stuck… and here we are today.

Our hippy-era name must never have sounded     6     (suitable) than it does right now, if your passion for travel     7     (contain) as you avoid mixing with others. I’m so glad we can deliver you some much-needed mental escapism with this issue: to transport you between the     8     (place) and people we hope you’ll soon be encountering in person again.

Let me finish my speech by saying thank you     9     my happy and highly creative team,     10     good humour and spirit of adventure I’ve so appreciated all these years.