| Welcome to my Message Board! |
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| Subject: Slimming down classics? |
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| Mr.Handsome 2007-5-12 6: 34 AM |
Orion Books, which decides there is a market in creating cut-down classics (经典著作), is slimming down some novels by such great writers as L. Tolstoy, M. Mitchell and C. Bronte. Now, each of them has been whittled down to about 400 pages by cutting 30 to 40 pages percent of original, with words, sentences, paragraphs and, in a few cases, chapters removed. The first six shortened editions, all priced at ￡6.99 and advertised as great reads “in half the time”, will go on sale next month, with plans for 50 to 100 more to follow. The publishing house believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions. |
| Mr.Edwards 2007-5-12 9: 40 AM |
Well, I’m publisher of Orion Group. Thanks for your attention, Mr. Handsome. I must say, the idea developed from a game of “shame” in my office. Each of us was required to confess (承认) to the most embarrassing blanks in his or her reading. I admitted that I had never read Anna Karenina and tried but failed to get through Gone with the Wind several times. One of my colleagues acknowledged skipping (跳读) Jane Eyre. We realized that life is too short to read all the books you want to and we never were going to read these ones. As a leading publishing house, we are trying to make classics convenient for readers but it’s not as if we’re withdrawing the original versions. They are still there if you want to read them. |
| Ms. Weir 2007-5-12 11:35 AM |
I’m director of the online book club www.lovereading.co.uk Mr. Edwards, I think your shortened edition is a breath of fresh air. I’m guilty of never having read Anna Karenina, because it’s just so long. I’d much rather read two 300-page books than one 600-page book. I am looking forward to more shortened classics! |
| Mr.Crockatt 2007-5-12 4:38 PM |
I’m from the London independent bookshop Corckatt & Powell. In my opinion, the practice is completely ridiculous. How can you edit the classics? I’m afraid reading some of these books is hard work, and that is why you have to develop as a reader. If people don’t have time to read Anna Karenina, then fine. But don’t read a shortened version and kid yourself it’s the real thing. |
11. According to the message board, Orion Books .
A. opposes the reading of original classics
B. is embarrassed for cutting down classics
C. thinks cut-down classics have a bright future
D. is cautions in its decision to cut down classics
12. In Mr. Edwards’ opinion, Orion Group is shortening classics to .
A. make them easier to read B. meet a large demand in the market
C. increase the sales of literary books D. compete with their original versions
13. By describing the shortened classics as “a breath of fresh air”, Ms. Weir .
A. speaks highly of the cut-down classics
B. shows her love for original classics
C. feels guilty of not reading the classics
D. disapprove of shortening the classics
14. Mr. Crockatt seems to imply that .
A. reading the classic works is a confusing attempt
B. shortening the classics does harm to the original
C. publishing the cut-down classics is a difficult job
D. editing the classic works satisfies children’s needs
15. How many classics are involved in the massage board?
A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five.
Do you always understand the directions on a bottle of medicine? Do you know what is meant by “Take only as directed”? Read the following directions and see if you understand them.
To reduce pain, take two tablets with water, followed by one tablet every eight hours, as required. For night time and early morning relief take two tablets at bedtime. Do not take more than six tablets in twenty-four hours.
For children six to twelve years old, give half the amount. For children under six years old, ask your doctor’s advice.
Reduce the amount if you suffer from restlessness or sleeplessness after taking the medicine. How many tablets at most can a person over 12 have in 24 hours?
| A．Three | B．Four | C．Six | D．Eight |
How many tablets should a nine-year-old child normally take in 24 hours?
| A．Half a tablet | B．One tablet | C．Two tablets | D．Four tablets |
What is the advice for one who can not sleep well after taking the medicine?
| A．Stop taking the medicine at bedtime | B．Continue to take the normal amount |
| C．Take more than the normal amount | D．Take less than the normal amount |
It can be inferred from the directions that this medicine ___________ .
| A．helps you to fall asleep quickly | B．may be dangerous to small children |
| C．cannot be taken if one feels sleepy | D．should not be taken by children under six |
This text is most probably taken from a _____________ .
| A．textbook | B．newsreel | C．doctor’s notebook | D．bottle of medicine |
Mr. Jackson was tired of living in his old house in the countryside and wanted to sell it and buy a better one. He tried to sell it for a long time, but was not successful, so at last he decided to go to an estate agent.
The agent advertised(登广告) the house straight away, and a few days later, the owner saw a very beautiful photograph of his house, with a wonderful description of his garden in an expensive magazine.
Having read the advertisement through, the house owner hurried to phone the estate agent, saying, “I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, but I've decided not to sell my house after all.” “Why?” the agent asked in a surprised voice. “Because from the advertisement in that magazine I can see it's just the kind of house I've wanted to live in all my life.” Mr. Jackson wanted to sell his house because _____.
| A．he needed some money to support his family |
| B．his house was too old to live in |
| C．he wanted some money to buy a new one |
| D．he didn't want to live in the house any longer |
The reason why Mr. Jackson went to the estate agent was _____.
| A．he had failed in selling his house by himself |
| B．he wanted the estate agent to help him to get a good price |
| C．he was sure that the estate agent could help him |
| D．he wanted the estate to advertise his house in the magazine |
At last Mr. Jones _____.
| A．was successful in selling the house |
| B．felt sorry to have lost a sale by his doing too good a job |
| C．was satisfied with what he had done in the advertisement |
| D．didn’t understand why Mr. Jackson had changed his mind |
What do you think of the advertisement in magazines?
| A．They are worth reading. |
| B．They usually make things far better than they really are. |
| C．They are a great help to those who want to buy something. |
| D．They describe things as they really are. |
What’s the meaning of “an estate agent” in paragraph one?
| A．a person who has a house to sell |
| B．a person who helps others to advertise houses in magazines |
| C．a person whose work is to sell houses for others |
| D．a person who likes beautiful houses |
My house is made out of wood, glass and stone. It is also made out of software.
If you come to visit, you’ll probably be surprised when you come in. Someone will give you an electronic PIN （个人身份号码）to wear. This PIN tells the house who and where you are. The house uses this information to give you what you need. When it’s dark outside, the PIN turns on the lights nearest you, and then turns them off as you walk away from them. Music moves with you too. If the house knows your favorite music, it plays it. The music seems to be everywhere, but in fact other people in the house hear different music or no music. If you get a telephone call, only the nearest telephone rings.
Of course, you are also able to tell the house if you want something. There is a home control console (控制台), a small machine that turns things on and off around you.
The PIN and the console are new ideas, but they are in fact like many things we have today. If you want to go to a movie, you need a ticket. If I give you my car keys, you can use my car. The car works for you because you have the keys. My house works for you because you wear the PIN or hold the console.
I believe that ten years from now, most new homes will have the systems that I’ve put in my house. The systems will probably be even bigger and better than the ones I’ve put in today.
I like to try new ideas. I know that some of my ideas will work better than others. But I hope that one day I will stop thinking of these systems as new, and ask myself instead, “How will I live without them?” What does the passage mainly discuss?
| A．How to develop a new system. | B．The function of the PIN. |
| C．A home for the future. | D．Easy life in the future. |
What’s the purpose when the writer wrote the fourth paragraph?
| A．To let readers know why his ideas are new. |
| B．To let readers know how special his house is. |
| C．To explain the importance of the PIN and the console. |
| D．To explain more easily what the functions of the PIN and the console are. |
The writer’s new house is different from ordinary ones mainly because _____.
| A．it has been controlled by computers |
| B．you can make a telephone call anywhere |
| C．it has your favorite music following you |
| D．the writer is able to change his new idea into practice |
What is the writer most likely to be according to the passage?
| A．An IT expert. | B．A famous doctor. |
| C．An idealist | D．An experienced teacher. |
What can’t be done in the writer’s new house?
| A．turns on the lights | B．play music |
| C．get a telephone call | D．go swimming |
We know that many animals do not stay in one place. Birds, fish and other animals move from one place to another at a certain time. They move for different reasons most of them move to find food more easily, but others move to get away from places that are too crowded. When cold weather comes, many birds move to warmer places to find food. Some fishes give birth in warm water and move to cold water to feed. The most famous migration（迁移）is probably the migration of the fish, which is called “salmon”. This fish is born in fresh water but it travels many miles to salt water. There it spends its life. When it is old, it returns to its birthplace in fresh water. Then it gives birth and dies there. In northern Europe, there is a kind of mice. They leave their mountain homes when they become too crowded. They move down to the low land. Sometimes they move all the way to the seaside, and many of them are killed when they fall into the sea.
Recently, scientists have studied the migration of a kind of lobsters（龙虾）. Every year, when the season of bad weather arrives, the lobsters get into a long line and start to walk across the floor of the ocean. Nobody knows why they do this, and nobody knows where they go. So, sometimes we know why humans and animals move from one place to another, but at other times we don’t. Maybe living things just like to travel.Most animals move from one place to another at a certain time to __________ .
| A．give birth | B．enjoy warmer weather |
| C．find food more easily | D．find beautiful places |
The fish called “salmon” spends a long life in __________ .
| A．salt water | B．rivers | C．fresh water | D．its birthplace |
The mice in northern Europe move when __________ .
| A．they give birth | B．the weather is bad |
| C．the place gets too crowded | D．they haven’t enough food |
The lobsters move __________ .
| A．to the fresh water | B．to the sea floor |
| C．at a certain time | D．to find more food |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Animals move in order to find food more easily. |
| B．The migration of the fish called “salmon” is the most famous migration. |
| C．Living things move from one place to another because they like to travel. |
| D．Sometimes we know why and how living things move from one place to another, but sometimes we don’t. |
Today almost everyone knows computers and the Internet. If I ask you “What is the most important in your life?”, maybe you will say “Computers and the Internet.”
The first computer was made in 1946. It was very big but it worked slowly. Today computers are getting smaller and smaller. But they work faster and faster. What can computers do? A writer has said, “People can’t live without computers today.”
The Internet came a little later than computers. It is about twenty-five years later than computers. But now it can be found almost everywhere. We can use it to read books, write letters, do shopping, play games or make friends.
Many students like the Internet very much. They often go into the Internet as soon as they are free. They make friends on the Internet and maybe they have never seen these friends. They don’t know their real names, ages, and even sex (性别). They are so interested in making the “unreal friends” that they can’t put their heart into study. Many of them can’t catch up with others on many subjects because of that.
We can use computers and the Internet to learn more about the world. But at the same time, we should remember that not all the things can be done by computers and the Internet.The Internet cannot be used for __________．
| A．studying | B．shopping | C．thinking | D．playing |
When the computer was invented, it was__________．
| A．large and worked quickly | B．small and worked slowly |
| C．large but worked slowly | D．small but worked quickly |
The Internet was born in about __________．
| A．1960 | B．1970 | C．1980 | D．1985 |
Which of the following is true?
| A．Few students like going into the Internet. |
| B．Students use the Internet to make “unreal friends”. |
| C．These “unreal friends” often meet each other. |
| D．Students know the friends on the Internet very well. |
What does the writer think of the Internet?
| A．It is wonderful. | B．It can make students study harder. |
| C．It is not good for students. | D．It is helpful, but we can’t do everything on it. |