1 . Here are some of the best nonfiction books of 2021.
Somebody’s Daughter
$16 at Amazon
Ashley C. Ford talks about growing up as a black gird in Indiana, dealing with poverty, the complexities of adolescence, and a tense relationship with her mother. She often wished that she could express her feelings with her father, but failed for reasons she didn’t know. Until one day — after going through a heart-broken experience with a boy, which she kept from her family — her grandmother told her. And what she learned turned her entire world upside down.
Crazy Stories About Racism
$14 at Amazon
New York-based comedian Amber Ruffin, along with her sister Lacey Lamar, share their everyday experiences about their bad conditions. It gets especially bad for Lacey who still lives in their home state of Nebraska, and is a start for these ridiculous but all-too-real encounters (遭遇).
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
$25 at Amazon
If you want to get in touch with your creative side, this book might just be the trick. As the title suggests, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is a literary master class that takes readers into the mind of Booker Prize-winning author George Saunders. He discusses what makes great stories, how they work, and what they say about ourselves and today’s world.
All In
$21 at Amazon
Sports legend Billie Jean King writes a self-portrait that talks about the highs and lows of her amazing tennis career, her work in activism, and the ongoing fight for social justice and equality.
1. What is special about Somebody’s Daughter?| A．It tells a girl’s success. | B．It tells a confused girl. |
| C．It tells a girl’s education. | D．It describes a girl’s good luck. |
| A．Something about Ashley C. Ford. | B．A boy’s heart-broken experience. |
| C．The situations of the present society. | D．Experiences about a man of casual racism. |
| A．All In | B．Somebody’s Daughter |
| C．A Swim in a Pond in the Rain | D．Crazy Stories About Racism |
2 . From human bias (偏见) to the science of breathing, and the wonderful world of mushrooms, here are four page-turners for science lovers. The four books delve into a wonderfully wide range of topics, covering breathing, mystery illnesses, bias, and even the magical world of mushrooms. Read on to find out why they're four of the most interesting non-fiction books of the year 2021!
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
How conscious are you of your own breathing? Reading this could change that forever, offering facts on our breathing, and how even the smallest of changes can have great health benefits.
The End of Bias: How We Change Our Minds by Jessica Nordell
Journalist and author Jessica Nordell looks at unconscious bias, weaving fascinating stories and offering real-life solutions to some problems in our own society. From issues within the police force to how we teach children under five, this book will leave you with a whole new outlook on how to tackle the issue of bias.
The Sleeping Beauties: And Other Stories of Mystery Illness by Suzanne O' Sullivan
Two cases look at children who fall asleep for years at a time and many employees experiencing memory loss at the US Embassy in Cuba. O'Sullivan travels the world to get to the bottom of these strange incidents.
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds by Merlin Sheldrake
You've probably never given much thought to mushrooms, but biologist Merlin Sheldrake makes this exploration into the world of fungi feel like reading a science fiction novel. The book takes you on a literal deep dive under the Earth's surface, within our own bodies and even into outer space to discover a massively diverse kingdom of organisms, which sustain nearly all living things.
1. Which topic is mentioned in these books?| A．Common diseases. | B．The exploration of mushrooms. |
| C．Breathing illnesses. | D．Science and magics. |
| A．It is written by James Nestor. | B．It is related to conscious bias. |
| C．It tells us how to teach children under six. | D．It refers to how to deal with bias in our society. |
| A．To advertise these books. | B．To tell readers how to buy these books. |
| C．To tell readers how to read these books. | D．To give a brief introduction of these books. |
3 . If you’re a fan of art, you’ll be glad to know that the UK is home to some really awesome art galleries where you can enjoy top exhibitions you favor. We’ve put together a line-up of some of the best art galleries in the UK.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a must-see for any art lover. Run by the largest trust of independent museums in the UK, there is a massive variety of art-related things to see here, covering fine art, ceramics, jewellery, metalwork and even more.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
In the largest museum of art and design in the UK, you’ll be able to browse a massive collection of over four million objects which spans an impressive five thousand years. It’s also the perfect destination for those who love fashion, with the permanent fashion collection being the largest in the world.
National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
With over 95,000 different pieces on display in the permanent collection, the National Galleries of Scotland is one of the best destinations for any UK art lover to visit. With National, Modern and Portrait sections to browse through, this trio of galleries will definitely keep you busy for hours on end.
The Design Museum, London
The world’s top leading place for all things design, you’ll find exhibitions on architecture, fashion, product design and graphics along with much more at the Design Museum in London. The collection here is home to over three thousand objects.
No matter which type of art you like to browse, we’d love to hear your best recommendations – leave your response in the comments below!
1. What do the four galleries have in common?| A．Each museum has a long history. |
| B．They satisfy different artistic desires. |
| C．Classical shows are displayed regularly. |
| D．They are run by the UK government. |
| A．Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. |
| B．National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh. |
| C．Victoria and Albert Museum, London. |
| D．The Design Museum, London. |
| A．On a TV program. | B．In an art magazine. |
| C．On a web page. | D．In a textbook. |
4 . Here are some inspiring and thoughtful books that give you a real thirst for life.
My Family and Other Animals
This is the first book in a much-celebrated trilogy by naturalist Gerald Durrell. The story is about the writer’s childhood spent on the Greek island Corfu. Durrell smartly shares his memories of amazing animals and their curious habits with the reader. This book encourages readers to appreciate the world around them in all its beauty.
Frost and Fire
Extreme weather conditions cause people。age abnormally fast. They now have only 8 days to grow up and get old. These days should be used to learn, get married, and raise children. Through all of that, people manage to fight and be jealous—as if they have decades ahead. This short story teaches the reader that even during a small period of time, one can manage to do a lot …or you could give up and not take any chances.
You Changed My Life
This is a true story that lays at the heart of the French movie The Intouchables. A tale of an inspirational friendship between two people whose roads were never meant to cross-a disabled French aristocrat and an unemployed Algerian immigrant. But they met, and it changed their lives.
The Code of the Woosters
Anyone who enjoys easy and light reading would find books by P. G. Wodehouse a source of lasting amusement. Stories of Jeeves, Wooster, and all of the chaos around them are written with a brilliant sense of humor. These novels are capable of lining your spirits p from zero to limitlessness.
1. What can we know about Frost and Fire?| A．It is themed by friendship. | B．It is set in an unreal world. |
| C．It focuses on climate change. | D．It’s about the writer’s childhood. |
| A．My Family and Other Animals. | B．Frost and Fire. |
| C．You Changed My Lift. | D．The Code of the Woosters |
| A．Man and nature. | B．Health and sports. | C．Book reviews. | D．Amusement. |
5 . 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. |
6 . The long summer vacation is a perfect time for reading, and these are the books you'll want on your reading list. Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you have something through our links, we may cam a commission（佣金）.
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
If you or your children grew up watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, you'll want this 2018 book by Maxwell King to be at the top of your list. It is the first full-length biography of Mr. Rogers and gives readers a never-before inside look at the life and carcer of the beloved television icon.
The Darwin Affair
Billed as one of the most “inventive and entertaining novels of 20l9,” this Victorian-era thriller by writer Tim Mason is a perfect addition to your summer reading list. Set in London in 1860, it details the events that occur after an intruder（闯入者）tries to murder Queen Victoria, Fast-paced and lively, this page-turner would appeal to fans of Charles Dickens.
Becoming
In her New York Times Best Seller biography, former First Lady Michelle Obama gives readers a personal glimpse into her childhood, schooling, early career choices, marriage and life in the White House. Eye-opening and inspirational, Becoming gives us a fascinating look into the life of one of the most recognized women in America.
The Leon Sisters
This new novel by best-selling author novelist Jill Shalvis is sure to appeal to fans of her previous contemporary romance novels. It tells the story of Mindy Lemon, a mom of three, and her sister Brooke. If you're a fan of romance novels, you'll want to add it to your list.
1. How did Mr. Rogers gain his popularity?| A．Through his character on TV. | B．Through Maxwell King's book. |
| C．By watching neighborhood. | D．By writing biographies. |
| A．It is entertaining and relaxing. | B．It is published in London. |
| C．It tells a story in the 19th century. | D．It is written by Charles Dickens. |
| A．Maxwell King's. | B．Tim Mason's. | C．Michelle Obama's. | D．Jill Shalvis's. |
7 . The Future of Money is an overview of the current state of monetary systems and a review of how new financial technologies are interrupting as well as increasing the chances of changing current monetary architectures.
I just finished reading the Kindle version of this book, and found it to be exceptionally clear, well-written, and extremely thorough. I also loved The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson, Naked Money by Charles Wheelan … those are definitely equally good. What sets this book apart is that it starts with great explanations of the definition of money, the different types of money (eg. “outside money”, “inside money” etc.), then explains Bitcoin, the current crypto craze, central bank digital currencies and a lot more.
For most people, says Eswar Prasad, money still means physical cash printed by a sole, public authority. Yet that is a surprisingly modern case: only a century ago, private currencies competed with government-issued banknotes. It may be short-lived, too, as cash gives into the digitalization of finance and new means of payment take over. This big bang will have huge impacts on states, people and companies.
That cash is declining may not surprise readers. Many will bank from laptops and make payments on their phones. One of the first financial technology breakthroughs happened centuries ago, when China introduced paper currency to replace metal coins, which were heavy and scarce. Yet this time is different, Mr. Prasad insists. Previous changes improved existing systems, he notes. The end of cash—likely within a decade or two—is revolutionary.
Mr. Prasad gives us a vivid picture of the evolution of money. Anyone interested in an excellent review of the concept of money, the current trends and likely future direction should read this book. Kudos and thanks to Professor Prasad.
1. What makes this book different from others according to the author?| A．It’s clear, well-written, and extremely thorough. |
| B．It equips readers with the definitions of economics terms. |
| C．It offers an overview of the current state of monetary systems. |
| D．It’s full of interesting examples and stories and is clearly written. |
| A．The editor of The Ascent of Money. |
| B．The author of The Future of Money. |
| C．The Chief Financial Officer of Kindle. |
| D．The economics professor of the author. |
| A．Only the public authority has the right to print physical cash. |
| B．The majority of people cannot accept the fact that cash is declining. |
| C．China’s paper currency is heavy and scarce constrasted with metal coins. |
| D．Cash may be replaced by new means of payment within a decade or two. |
| A．A book review. | B．A history book. |
| C．A financial report. | D．A bank announcement. |
8 . Here are some of the science fiction books editors and readers have read and loved.
The Calculating Stars (By Mary Robinette Kowal)
What if space exploration isn’t a choice but a necessity, driven by the knowledge that Earth would soon become unfit to live?
That’s what novelist Mary Robinette Kowal explores in her Lady Astronaut of Mars series. The book follows the mathematician and pilot Elma York, who dreams of becoming an astronaut herself.
Red Moon (By Kim Stanley Robinson)
Red Moon instantly transports the readers to the moon. The book opens with the journeys of Fred Fredericks, an American physicist, and Ta Shu, a famous Chinese travel reporter to the moon to work. In the world of the book, China has become the first political entity by virtue of advanced technology to live on the moon in a serious, long-term way.
Before Mars (By Emma Newman)
Emma Newman’s science fiction sees a geologist arrives at a small Mars base after a lengthy journey, only to realize that things aren’t as they seem. The base’s AI is untrustworthy, and the main character finds a note by herself she has no memory of writing, which warns her not to trust the base psychologist. Can she trust the sights before her? Or has the long trip damaged her mind?
Artemis (By Andy Weir)
In his second novel Artemis, Andy Weir follows Jasmine Jazz Bashara, a porter on the moon who’s drawn into danger. Artemis is an entertaining read through an attractive future moon base, with plenty of one-sixth-gravity action and memorable twists. It’s well worth reading. Plus, there’s a talking book version read by Rosario Dawson.
1. Why do humans explore space in the Lady Astronaut of Mars series?| A．To find life forms in outer space. | B．To develop science and technology. |
| C．To deepen their knowledge of space. | D．To search for a new planet to live on. |
| A．People are transported to the moon. | B．China has been a technological superpower. |
| C．The main characters like travelling on the moon. | D．Conflicts take place among different countries. |
| A．The Calculating Stars. | B．Red Moon. | C．Artemis. | D．Before Mars. |
9 . The following is a list of museums that have new ways to develop creativity and spread knowledge.
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
The museum is one of Madrid’s “Big Three” cultural institutions. Home to the world’s second largest private collection of art, it owns famous works from almost every art movement. Users can take a virtual (虚拟的）tour of the entire building or a thematic (主题的）tour covering such topics as food and fashion.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Seoul
Since it opened its doors in 2013, MMCA has become a well-known cultural platform and leader in Korean art. With the help of Google Arts and Culture, MMCA is now offering a virtual tour of its collections. This experience takes visitors through six floors of modern and contemporary art from Korea and around the world.
The Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House, set up in 1957 in Amsterdam, tries to inform the public through educational programs and tours of the building where Anne and her family hid during World War II. To explore deeper into the story described in Anne9s diary, online visitors can watch videos about her life and look around the house where she lived before going into hiding.
The Vatican Museums
They are the public art and sculpture museums in the Vatican City. They exhibit works from the large collection collected by the Popes (教皇）throughout the centuries, including several of the most famous Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance (文艺复兴） art in the world. Virtual visitors can tour seven different sections of the complex, enjoying 360-degree views of the Sistine Chapel, perhaps best known for Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment fresco (壁画).
1. At which museum can visitors gain knowledge of art movements?| A．The Vatican Museums. |
| B．The Anne Frank House. |
| C．The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza |
| D．The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. |
| A．Works of famous Roman artists. |
| B．Modem and contemporary art. |
| C．Public educational programs. |
| D．Google Arts and Culture. |
| A．It was built during World War II. |
| B．It has the largest private collections. |
| C．It is the oldest museum about the war. |
| D．It tells the story of a World War II victim. |
| A．Learn to create sculptures. |
| B．Enjoy a specific thematic tour. |
| C．Watch videos about the Popes’ life. |
| D．Appreciate Michelangelo’s artworks. |
| A．To introduce museums with virtual tours. |
| B．To appeal to people to visit museums in the flesh. |
| C．To show people ways of appreciating works of art. |
| D．To advise museums to perfect visitors’ experience. |
10 . “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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
