1 . 阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入适当的内容 (一个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式.

A Journey to the Center of the Earth is an 1864 science fiction novel by rules verge. The scientific knowledge in the book is old, but this has nothing to do with the     1     (popular) of the book.

There are three main     2     (character) in the book: axes, the narrator of the story; his uncle, Professor Lidenbrock, the scientist of geology, and Hans, their     3     (faith) Iceland guide.

The Professor was     4     impatient person, but he insisted on continuing the journey, and finally     5     (manage) it. Hans was silent and incredibly calm. As long as the Professor was hiring him and paid his wage     6     (regular), he could do anything for him, despite the seemingly hopeless situation. His faith, courage and excellent skills saved the other two companions for several times.

One day, the Professor found a book,     7     described the way down to the center of the Earth. He and his companions got equipped immediately,     8     (start) their adventurous journey. What was waiting for them? Well, we can only figure this out by reading the book.

The book is a short one. Some words in it may be difficult     9     (understand). But don't worry! Not knowing these words will not stop us understanding the plot. And the rest are easy. Therefore, it should be a suitable book     10     high school students and the fans of science fiction.

2 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is ONE WORD MORE than you need.

A. potential              B. accesses              C. touching              D. promotes              E. easily              F. means G. presents              H. responsible        I. standing              J. exposure              K. given

Why is Art so Powerful?

Perhaps the simplest answer to this question is that art touches us emotionally.

Art is powerful because it can potentially influence our culture, politics, and even the economy. When we see a powerful work of art, you feel it     1    deep within your core, giving us the power to make real-life changes.

It has the power to educate people about almost anything. It creates awareness and     2    information in a way that could be absorbed by many     3    . In a world where there are those who don’t even have access to good education; art makes education an even greater equalizer of society.

It breaks cultural, social, and economic barriers. While art hardly really solves poverty or     4    social justice on its own, it can be used as a leveled playing field for discourse and expression. The reason why everyone can relate to art is that everyone has emotions and personal experiences. Therefore, anyone can learn to appreciate art regardless of their social background, economic     5    , or political affiliation.

It     6    higher orders of thinking. Art doesn’t just make you absorb information. Rather, it makes you think about current ideas and inspire you to make your own. This is why creativity is a form of intelligence — it is a special ability that unlocks the     7    of the human mind. In fact, studies have shown that     8    to art can make you better in other fields of knowledge.

The truth is that people have recognized how powerful art can be. Many times in history have we heard of people being criticized, threatened, censored, and even killed because of their artwork. Those     9    for these reactions, may it be an aggressive government or a dissident group, take these measures against artists knowing how much their works can affect the politics in a     10    area. In the hands of good people, however, art can be used to give back hope or instill courage in a society that’s undergoing a lot of hardships.

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 . 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。

Chinese Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan opened a WeChat public account, reaching hundreds of thousands of followers.

The account named “Mo Yan”     1     （update）every week. On Monday night, Mo     2     （thank）his readers and followers in a video to celebrate the 100th day. When     3     （ask）how he felt communicating with young people, Mo said that his heart was filled with young people's     4     （view）on life, the world and history. “To my delight, I've become     5     （young）in spirit than before.” Mo said.

The articles published on the account cover many topics, some of     6     talk about literature and how to overcome difficulties in life, while others touch more ordinary subjects like pets and his personal experiences.

Writing has often been mentioned in articles. Many people asked Mo about his methods and suggestions on writing. Mo told them not to be worried and that writing is     7     lifetime job. They can take writing novels like writing letters to their families at the beginning.

Most of his followers consider that the writer is     8     （humor）and easy-going. “He did give me many useful suggestions on     9     （get）along with parents and even my choice of life. I am longing to make friends with him as I feel he is so close     10     us,” one netizen surnamed Yu told the Global Times on Tuesday.

5 . “In time, we will put our eyes to this light and see that these people are the peers of nature. And forgivingly, when they appear we will lift up our song and sing, and say we cannot praise too much of any single thing.” It may read like poetry, but these lines weren’t composed by a poet — they were written by an artificial intelligence (AI).

It appeared in early December on the face of the UK Pavilion (展馆) at Expo 2020 in Dubai, and it was created from a single word chosen by a visitor to the pavilion, which was then fed to an AI that had previously been trained with millions of lines of poetry. The result forms part of a “Collective Message” — a continuous poetry shown on the bar screens arranged in a circle at one end of the cone-shaped (锥形) pavilion, which was designed by Es Devlin, a British artist whose previous works includes stage sets for the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony. She is the first female designer of a UK pavilion since the Expo started in 1851.

Devlin’s inspiration to create Collective Message came from famed scientist Stephen Hawking. In 2015, three years before his death, he approved a competition in which people were invited to submit a potential message for an advanced alien civilization, with the goal of meaningfully representing mankind and our planet.

In a similar way, visitors to the pavilion are encouraged to send a message to the AI and acknowledge the role that AI plays in our lives. “We don’t want this thing just to be like a museum with lots of different exhibits, and we really want something that visitors could engage with,” says Stuart Bradbury of creative agency Avantgarde, “The AI was created specifically for this project, many AI experts and social organizations, including the Poetry Archive, the Poetry Society and the Scottish Poetry Library, worked with developers to train and improve AI output over six months, and we think we’ve created something really special.”

1. Who is the designer of the Collective Message?

A．Stephen Hawking.	B．Stuart Bradbury.
C．Es Devlin.	D．Poetry Archive.

2. Why is Stephen Hawking mentioned in the third paragraph?

A．To introduce the theme of the Expo 2020.

B．To popularize the world-famous scientist.

C．To state the source of inspiration for this project.

D．To increase the authority of the design of the pavilion.

3. Which statement is right according to the article?

A．Es Devlin is the first female artist in British history.

B．Es Devlin is as well known as Stephen Hawking.

C．All visitors acknowledged the role that AI plays in their lives.

D．The AI had been previously trained with millions of lines of poetry.

4. Which is the suitable title for the article?

A．Creative inspiration is everywhere.

B．Visitors are encouraged to compose poems.

C．Poems written by a computer light up the UK Pavilion at Expo Dubai.

D．An AI that can write poems was created successfully.

6 . If you’ve found yourself stuck in reading burnout lately, you are not alone. Thankfully, a short reading book may be a good solution to this. Here are four books under 250 pages that are certainly worth your attention.

Assembly by Natasha Brown

With her unique narrative voice, Brown covers everything from the workplace to the British colonialism. In just the 100-page fiction, Brown manages to cover more fertile ground than many of the celebrated books six times its size.

Intimations by Zadie Smith

There are few writers who could excite us with the concept of an essay collection focusing on the experience of living in the disease lockdown, but an exception must always be made for Smith. Written before 2020 was even half-way through. Intimations is a window into the authors’ reflection on the special time we have lived through.

We Live in Water by Jess Walter

It is the first collection of short fiction from the bestselling author. Walter’s slim collection of short stories offers the same observation you can find in his novel, The Financial Lives of the Poets. As for Walter’s nonfiction, you will fall in love with it again each time you read one of his novels.

The Poetry Pharmacy by William Sieghart

Sometimes, only poetry will do. Offering a cure for any spiritual pain, these poetic wise words of advice offer comfort, delight and inspiration for all. From everyday worries to finding the strength to deal with life’s great difficulty, this is the perfect volume to have by your side.

1. How is Intimations different from the other three books?

A．It is a bestseller.

B．It is a short reading book.

C．It is related to the disease lockdown.

D．It is about famous British workplaces.

2. Which of the following are short fiction?

A．Assembly and Intimations.

B．Assembly and We Live in Water.

C．Intimations and The Poetry Pharmacy.

D．We Live in Water and The Poetry Pharmacy.

3. Which author wants to heal people through poems?

A．Natasha Brown.	B．Zadie Smith.
C．Jess Walter.	D．William Sieghart.

7 . What is the book mainly about?

A．A little girl's school life.

B．A special teacher's life

C．Two close friends

8 . 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.

2. Who is a sports lover?

A．Michelle Zauner.

B．Crystal Maldonado.

C．Kyle Beachy.

D．Danielle Dreilinger.

3. What do Crying in H Mart and The Secret History of Home Economics have in common?

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.

9 . It's the most wonderful time of the year! The winter holidays are the perfect chance to get comfortable with a good book, and luckily we have some best sellers right now. We're sure you'll find what you're looking for.

Sunday Funday by Katherine Hallgan

Hardback, $20 (10 percent off with membership)

A great book full of seasonal activities that families and friends can enjoy together. From gardening projects to creative hand-made things and warming winter recipes (食谱), there's something for everyone, whatever the weather.

The History of the World in 100 Animals by Simon Barnes

Hardback, $16.99

This beautifully pictured book explores the good relationship between humans and animals, from bees to chimpanzees (黑猩猩) who share more than 90% of our DNA. If you are crazy about animals, this is the book for you.

Accidentally Famous by David Baddiel

Paperback, $12.99

Nothing amazing ever happens to Billy Smith but when TV workers visit his school he becomes popular, but as everyone knows, being famous comes with a price. David Baddiel's laugh-out-loud book asks what life would be like if everyone suddenly knew your name.

Eddie Albert and the Animal Gang by Paul O'Grady

Paperback, $15

This action-filled adventure from TV favourite Paul O'Grady follows a young boy with a very special gift—he can talk to animals! On a trip to Amsterdam, Eddie meets a monkey in danger and rescues the young creature with the help of his animal friends.

1. What is the member price for Sunday Funday?

A．$20.

B．$19.

C．$18.

D．$10.

2. Which book is about the price of being famous?

A．Sunday Funday.	B．Eddie Albert and the Animal Cang.
C．Accidentally Famous.	D．The History of the World in 100 Animals.

3. What do the books by Simon Barnes and Paul O'Grady have in common?

A．They are published in hardback.	B．They stress harmony with animals.
C．They are full of beautiful pictures.	D．They speak of famous TV persons.

10 . Writing a news article is different from writing other articles or informative pieces.     1     It’s important to be able to convey all the relevant information in a limited word count and give the facts to your target audience. Knowing how to plan a news article can help develop your writing skills and help you convey information clearly and briefly.

Gather all your facts. Before you write a news article, make a list or an outline of all the connected facts and information that need to be included in the article. This list will help prevent you from leaving out any relevant information about the topic or story.    2    

Create an article outline. Your outline, and subsequently your article, should be structured like an inverted pyramid.     3     You should not make your readers read several paragraphs before they get to the point of your article.

    4    . Your audience will influence the voice and tone of your article and help you to know what you should include. Once you know who you are writing for, you can format an outline that will get the best information to the right audience as quickly as possible.

Find an angle.     5     These questions will help you to make your news article unique and something that only you could write. Even if you are covering a popular story or topic that others are writing about, look for an angle that will make this one yours.

A．Know your audience.

B．Include all the important details.

C．It will also help you write a clean, brief article.

D．Why is this article unique to you? What is your voice?

E．Unlike other articles, it presents information in a specific way.

F．Be as specific as possible when writing down all of these facts.

G．It allows you to build your story so that the most important information is at the top.