In the old days of publishing, getting your manuscript into the hands of an editor often meant mailing the unsolicited finished product to the offices of literary agents or editors, where it would receive a cursory look from an editorial assistant — or none at all.
A modern version of the slush pile is the online “writing community,” a Web site where aspiring novelists can post their ideas, writing samples or manuscripts and open them to comments and reviews from strangers. On Tuesday Penguin Group USA, the publisher of Tom Clancy, Kathryn Stockett and Nora Roberts, will unveil its own venture, Book Country, a Web site for writers of genre fiction. In its initial phase Book Country will allow writers to post their own work — whether it’s an o
pening chapter or a full manuscript — and receive critiques from other users, who can comment on points like character development, pacing and dialogue. Later this summer the site will generate revenue by allowing users to self-publish their books for a fee by ordering printed copies. (The books will bear the stamp of Book Country
, not Penguin, and the site is considered a separate operation from Penguin.) The site will also explain the business of finding an agent, marketing and promoting a book, using social media and handling digital and subsidiary rights.
Penguin hopes the site will attract agents, editors and publishers scouting for new talent, and allow writers to produce work with more polish and direction than they could otherwise. The project has been spearheaded by Molly Barton, the director of business development for Penguin and the president of Book Country. “One of the things I remember really clearly from my early editorial experiences was this feeling of guilt,” Ms. Barton said in an interview. “I would read submissions and not be able to help the writer because we couldn’t find a place for them on the list that I was acquiring for. And I kept feeling that there was something we could do on the Internet to really help writers each other.” How did an author send unsolicited finished products to editors in the old days of publishing? _______________________________________________
The online “writing community” is where aspiring novelists post their ideas and ___________________________________________________________________________
The site uses social media and
digital and subsidiary rights to _______________________.[来What’s the real purpose of Penguin creating the web site? _______________________________________________
第二节语法填空(共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为3l~40的相应位置上。
The long history of the Chinese Knot dates back to ancient times and 31 people first used knots for fastening, wrapping, hunting and fishing. The knot was developed and 32 an art from during the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties and later popularized in the Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368-1911 AD).
One major characteristic of decorative knot work is and 33 all the knots are tied using one thread, when and 34 (finish), the knot looks identical from both the front and back. They can come in a variety of colours such as: gold, green, blue or black. and 35 , the most commonly used colour is red. This is because 36 symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
Crafting the Chinese knot is and 37 three-step process, which involves tying, tightening and adding. There are many different shapes of Chinese knots, and 38 (offer) blessings of happiness, love and good luck.
In Chinese, “knot” means reunion, friendliness, and 39 (warm), love, etc. Up to now, the art of the Chinese Knot and 40 (use) in necklaces, buttons and even hangings for cars or mobile phones.
（二）短文语法填空（1分/题，共分10分）
In Mount Berry, Georgia, people find a group of schools built specially for mountain children. The schools, as well as the mountain itself, are named ___66___ Martha Berry.
Martha Berry was born in 1866. Luckier ___67___ most Georgian mountain children, she received education. But she never forgot other children of the mountains __68____ parents couldn’t afford to send them to school. In 1902 Martha Betty started a school with only five pupils. Now, ninety years later, ___69___ are a number of Betty schools in the area, with ___70___ total of over one thousand students and about five thousand students ___71___ (wait) for their opportunities.
Martha Betty in her later years received many medals and honors for what she ___72___ (do) for the poor mountain children of Georgia, and in 1931 she was named one of the most important ___73___ (woman) in the United States. She never stopped ___74___ (work) for the mountain children ___75___ her death in 1942.
五.语法填空 (20分)
Dear Mr. Costa,
I’m sorry it has taken me so long to write. I’ve been very busy with work and school, but I’ve thought about you often.
How have you been (1) (late)? Did you have a good Christmas and New Year’s? Mac says you’ve been working hard at (2) restaurant and that business is very good. What else have you been doing?
I had a short (3) good vacation. Mac and I went to Chicago for a few days before Christmas, but I had to come back and work (4) Christmas and New Year’s, (5) (include) Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve! Every time something like that (6) (happen), I wonder (7) I really want to work in the hotel business.
The other day I was thinking about the fun (8) we used to have in our English class. I haven’t seen many of our classmates (9) the course was over. In fact, the only one I see very often is Tomiko. I’d really like to get in touch with Franco. Does he ever write to you? If so, could you please send me his address?
Well, Mac and I are going skating and he is waiting for (10) , so I guess I’d better say goodbye now. Write as soon as you can.
Yours ever
B
I am going to tell you an unbelievable story. This afternoon a __41___(poor) dressed gentleman came into my restaurant. Nobody knew who he was and __42___he came from. After __43___(sit) down, he ordered a lot of food. He stared at it and then _44___ (eat) it up very quickly.
To be_45___, we doubted whether the man was able to pay for the food. When he was asked to pay the bill, the gentleman asked if we would mind__46__ (wait) just a few minutes. Then we were _47___ (shock) to see that he took a million pound bank note. __48__(fortunate), we could not change the bank note as it was too large. So I gave this strange but very rich man a _49__ dinner, in the hope__50__he might come to our restaurant again.
第三部分：语法填空（共两节，满分20分，每小题1分）
根据文段内容或提示，填写正确的单词，每空只能填写一个单词。
A
No one knows exactly __31___ the earth began, as it happened so long ago. However, according to a __32___ (wide) accepted theory, the universe began ___33___ a “Big Bang” that threw matter in all directions…..What it was to become was __34___(certain) until between 4.5 and 3.8 billion years ago __35___ the dust settled into a solid globe. The earth became so violent __36___ it was not clear whether the shape would last or not…….People are__37__ (put) too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which prevents heat from __38____(escape) from the earth into space. As a result of this, many scientists believe the earth may become too hot to live on. So __39____life will continue on the earth for millions of years to come will depend on whether this problem can be __40___(solve).