1 . Books in the Past Reconsidered
The Bright Ages
Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry ($30)
You’ve probably heard it said that the Middle Ages were horrible, yet “ nothing could be further from the truth, ” said Eleanor Janega in Slate. Finally, two historians have produced a brief account about the era’s complexity and the history that almost anyone can enjoy reading.
Learwife
J.R. Thorp ($26)
You know King Lear’s story, but what about his wife’s? said Angela Lashbrook in The New York Times. In this novel, J.R. Thorp imagines that the queen was forced into an abbey 15 years earlier and later learned her husband and three daughters had died. While deep in grief, she stirs up chaos around her, and the resulting drama, is “ popular with cruelty, betrayal, andpassion. ”
Powers and Thrones
Dan Jones ($35)
Dan Jones’ longer new history of the Middle Ages focuses more on political and military events and trends, said Emily Michelson in The Washington Post. Jones’ version can be criticized for paying too little attention to ordinary people, but also “ gives us a complex Middle Ages where East and West are deeply connected. ”
The Last King of America
Andrew Roberts ($40)
Britain’s King George III is widely remembered as the mad emperor who lost the American colonies, said William Anthony Hay in The Wall Street Journal. King George did have failures and suffered from depression. Still, we misunderstand him if we fail to recognize that he put Parliament’s will above his own.
1. Which book is about the life of a queen?| A．The Bright Ages. | B．Learwife. |
| C．Powers and Thrones. | D．The Last King of America. |
| A．Dan Jones. | B．David M. Perry. |
| C．Andrew Roberts. | D．Emily Michelson. |
| A．$56. | B．$ 61. | C．$65. | D．$ 66. |
2 . A common theme running in fiction and mythology is the idea of orphan (孤儿) heroes and superheroes. Fairytales introduce us to children of absent fathers and cruel caretakers, like Cinderella and Snow White. Fiction makes much of the parentage of David Copperfield and Jane Eyre. Comic books offer orphaned heroes like Batman, Spiderman, or you’ll notice characters in more modern fiction from films and books like Harry Potter and Leia Skywalker.
Why are so many heroes and superheroes orphans?
Lacking parents, orphan heroes and superheroes are considered “children of the world”. Having raised themselves, and having been freed from much of the complex relationship of child to parent, ophan heroes and superheroes are at much greater liberty to interact with the world, and they may look at the world as parent and all its inhabitants as family.
Some orphans seek only a home and a family. David Copperfield finds this with his aunt. Cinderella and Snow White escape evil stepmothers by marrying. Others, especially of the superhero “cast” are never really given family in the traditional sense. In fact, though they may have strong bonds with friends, or with caretakers, they are constantly attempting to prove worthiness to the world, and are desperate to save the people they do care about.
You can also evaluate orphan heroes and superheroes as a means by which anxiety, loneliness, and independence are emphasized. The comic book type superhero is usually one who suffers always, or at least most of the time. Loss of even one parent can be intensely upsetting and forever change a child’s life, and superheroes may do all in their power to prevent this fate for other children. Empathy for suffering and a desire to end or prevent it for others are increased.
It’s a good idea to consider why we see this theme expressed so commonly. Perhaps we ⅵew these orphans or poorly parented children as ultimately our own. They may not just be children of the world, but may belong to each reader.
1. Why does the author mention some famous characters in Paragraph 1?| A．To clarify the writing purpose. | B．To advertise classic fiction. |
| C．To support a statement. | D．To make an overall outline. |
| A．Intention to escape a family. | B．Desire to prove their value to the world. |
| C．Strong bonds with their family. | D．Wishes for freedom to explore the world. |
| A．Childish. | B．Dependent. | C．Cheerful. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．Ophans’ ultimte fate is pitiful |
| B．Readers have a preference for tragedies. |
| C．Orphan characters are reflections of the readers. |
| D．Readers may regard orphan characters as their own kids. |
3 . 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. |
4 . 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. |
5 . 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. |
How to Work Out Your Worries by Writing
An extensive body of research shows benefits to writing about a traumatic experience or difficult situation in a manner that psychologists refer to as “expressive writing.” People who do this, recording their deepest thoughts and feelings, often show improved mental and physical health.
Expressive writing is different from writing in a journal. The idea is to reflect honestly and thoughtfully on a particular trauma or challenge. Recognizing that something is bothering you is an important first step. Translating that experience into language forces you to organize your thoughts. And creating a story or explanation gives you a sense of control.
But there are a few limitations. For psychiatrists, expressive writing isn’t a magical cure-all, so it shouldn’t be used as a replacement for other treatments. And people coping with a severe trauma or depression may not find it useful to do on their own, without therapy. Yet it can be a powerful coping tool for many, in large part because it helps combat the feelings that people often keep as secret about a trauma, as well as their reluctance to face emotions. “The more you avoid a problem, the more trouble you will have with it, because you create a circle of anxiety and worries, and increasing negative emotions,” says Brian Marx, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Why write? Thinking or talking about an event can lead to reflecting, where you become lost in your emotions. But writing forces you to slow down. The mere act of labeling a feeling— of putting words to an emotion—can reduce the neural activity in the threat area of the brain, says Annette Stanton, PhD, distinguished professor and chair of the department of psychology at UCLA. Stanton’s research suggests that expressive writing can lead to lower depressive symptoms, greater positive mood, and an enhanced appreciation for life. “Writing can increase someone’s acceptance of their experience, and acceptance is calming,” she says.
What if you don’t consider yourself “a writer”? Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, and don’t share your writing with anyone. But do dig deep into your thoughts and feelings. The goal of the exercise is to find meaning in an unsettling event.
1. How is expressive writing different from writing in a journal?2. What are the limitations of expressive writing?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶ Expressive writing has a calming effect because it can help people to get rid of depression, appreciate life more and accept their experience.
4. What is your own way to work out your worries? And why？ (In about 40 words)
7 . Stories are loved by people of all ages. Stories for kids play a major role in shaping their personalities. Below is a list of some of the best short stories for kids that we’re sure that your child would enjoy reading:
Panchatantra Stories in English
Most children stories significantly focus on teaching morals to kids. Panchatantra stories for kids are designed with the same motive. These are the oldest short moral stories for kids. These amazing small stories for kids in English from Panchatantra have reached an audience worldwide. To attract your kids with exciting stories, we provide you with our versions of some of the most famous and loved Panchatantra Stories for kids.
Fairy Tales Stories
Fairy Tales stories are loved by kids. The world of fantasy attracts everyone. These children stories give them a chance to leap into a world full of possibilities and imagination as well as moral lessons. They build their own versions of the fairies. Thus, such short stories for kids in English can build better creativity in children.
Moral Stories for Kids in English
Moral stories for children are those stories that convey moral values, which are crucial during their upbringing. Usually, moral stories for kids convey principles such as love, respect, honesty, virtues, etc. to their readers. Short moral stories for kids fill kids with a better understanding of what is considered good and what is termed as bad.
Akbar Birbal Stories
For generations, Akbar Birbal Stories have been enjoyed thoroughly by every kid. Akbar and Birbal Stories are a great combination of fun, wit, humour and moral values. These English stories for kids entertain, bring smiles and teach life lessons in effortless ways.
1. Who is the text intended for?| A．Kids. | B．Teachers. | C．Parents. | D．Storywriters. |
| A．Fairy Tales Stories. |
| B．Akbar Birbal Stories. |
| C．Panchatantra Stories in English. |
| D．Moral Stories for Kids in English. |
| A．They convey moral values. |
| B．They are humorous and amusing. |
| C．Some versions are written by kids. |
| D．They are stories for people of all ages. |
8 . Here come four new books with great poetry, from which the novices are to get inspired by the imaginative and celebratory poems when they start to take an eager look at this new and unknown field.
Cloud Soup
Bake a weird cake, pay a visit to the deep and take a closer look at the clouds in this fun collection of poems by Kate Wakeling, with unusual illustrations by Elina Braslina. Their previous collection, Moon Juice, won the CLiPPA Best Children’s Poetry Award, and this sequel is just as funny and imaginative.
Shaping the World: 40 Historical Heroes in Verse
This collection, chosen by Liz Brownlee, brings together 40 brilliant “shape poems” inspired by some of the remarkable people who have shaped our world. Inside, you’ll find poems about Greta Thunberg, Rosa Parks and Albert Einstein—each with a biography, a quote and a fascinating fact.
Take Off Your Brave
Be surprised and inspired by this book of poems written by four-year-old Nadim, with artwork by Yasmeen Ismall. Taking you inside a child’s world of glitter, magic boxes and rainbows, this book proves that poetry is for everyone and might inspire you to try writing some poems yourself!
My Sneezes Are Perfect
This thought- provoking collection of poems was written by Rakhshan RizWan with Yusuf Samee, a mother-and-son team and illustrated by Benjamin Philips. Bringing together observations, meditations and memories, it explores sorts of things, including animals, family, food and what it’s like moving to a new country.
1. Who has ever won a prize for writing poetry?| A．Kate Wakeling. | B．Liz Brownlee. |
| C．Nadim. | D．Rakhshan RizWan. |
| A．The life of celebrities. | B．The making of a great poet. |
| C．The migration to a new country. | D．The exploration to the deep ocean. |
| A．Poetry beginners. | B．Ambitious parents. |
| C．History lovers. | D．School teachers. |
9 . The Last Greatest Magician in the World
In this book, we can learn about the wonderworker Howard Thurston. During his life, Thurston successfully made changes in entertainment. His magic show is regarded as the one that inspires our memories.
Author: Jim Stein Meyer Length: 384 pages Publication Date: Feb. 3, 2011
Beholders: A World Without Heroes
Jason Walker lives a peaceful life until one day he falls through a hole and ends up in a new foreign world. In Lydian, the people dress and behave differently, living in fear of their Emperor Surratt. But during Jason’s search for a way home, he learns of a magical word that could kill Surratt and becomes the hero he has never imagined.
Author: Brandon Mull Length: 464 pages Publication Date: Feb. 15, 2011
Life
With his honesty, Keith Richards brings us the story of a life we all have longed to know more of. Its hard to imagine a famous persons biography is as easy to drink in as Keith Richards life. The books content agrees with the rhythm of his voice so much that reading his tale is like sharing a cup of beer with an old friend.
Author: Keith Richards Length: 576 pages Publication Date: Oct. 26, 2010
The Monkey and the Monk
The famous translation of The Journey to the West is popular with English-speaking audiences. The book shows the novels most exciting and meaningful parts without taking anything away from their true spirit. Moreover, with a new form, this translation is sure to attract more fans.
Author: Anthony C. Yu Length: 528 pages Publication Date: Nov. 15, 2006
1. What kind of book is Beholders: A World Without Heroes？| A．A life guide. | B．A biography. |
| C．An adventure novel. | D．An educational book. |
| A．Honest. | B．Simple. |
| C．Hardworking. | D．Generous. |
| A．The Last Greatest Magician in the World. |
| B．Beholders: A World Without Heroes. |
| C．Life. |
| D．The Monkey and the Monk. |
10 . Beverly Cleary, the celebrated children’s author whose memories of her Oregon childhood were shared with millions through the likes of Ramona and Beezus Quimby and Henry Huggins, has died. She was 104.
Trained as a librarian, Cleary didn’t start writing books until her early 30s, when she wrote Henry Huggins, published in 1950. Children worldwide came to love the adventures of Huggins and his neighbours Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, Beezus Quimby and her younger sister, Ramona. They live in a real street in Portland, Oregon, the city where Cleary spent much of her youth.
Ramona, perhaps her best-known character, first appeared in Henry Huggins with only a brief mention. “All the children appeared to be only children, so I threw in a little sister and she didn’t go away. She kept appearing in other books,” Cleary said.
Cleary herself was an only child and said the character wasn’t a mirror. “I was a well-behaved little girl, not that I wanted to be,” she said. “At the age of Ramona, in those days, children played outside. We played hopscotch(跳房子) and jump rope and I loved them and always had wounded knees.”
Cleary stopped writing recently, because she said she felt it was important for writers to know when to quit. “I even got rid of my typewriter. It was a nice one but I hate to type. When I started writing I found that I was thinking more about my typing than what I was going to say,” she said in 2016. Although she put away her pen, Cleary re-released three of her most treasured books with three famous fans writing forewords for the new editions.
Cleary’s books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and inspired many programmes, such as a 10-part PBS series, Ramona and the 2010 film Ramona and Beezus. Cleary was asked once what her favourite character was. “Does your mother have a favourite child?” she responded.
1. What do we know about Cleary?| A．She was a late starter as an author. |
| B．She wrote true stories in her books. |
| C．She published her first book in the 1930s. |
| D．She drew writing inspiration from her neighbours. |
| A．She was a well-behaved little girl. | B．She was an only child of her family. |
| C．She had an impressive first appearance. | D．She played an increasingly bigger role. |
| A．Clever. | B．Active. | C．Lonely. | D．Quiet. |
| A．She added her fans’ words to her books. |
| B．She learned to type quickly and correctly. |
| C．She translated her books into other languages. |
| D．She made TV programmes based on her books. |
