| 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 per cent 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 bookclub www.lovereading.co.uk Mr. Edwards, I think your shortened editions 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 t  he classics? I’m afraid reading some of these book 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. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
How many classics are involved in the massage board?
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five |
| Acorn Bank Garden & water mill A delightful walled garden with old varieties of fruit trees and flower borders, set against the backdrop of a 17th-century red sandstone house overlooking the Eden Valley. Herb garden planted with over 200 medicinal and culinary herbs. Dogs on leads are welcome on woodland walks. Children’s activity sheet available. Temple Soverby, Near Penrich, CA 10 lsp Tel: 017683 61893 Open: 19 March—30 October, daily except Monday and Tuesday, 10 am—5pm Tearoom open from 11am—4. 30 pm, Shop 10am—5pm Price: Adult ￡3, Child ￡1.5, Family ￡7.5 |
| The Beatrix Potter Gallery Original sketches and watercolors by Beatrix Potter for her children’s tales. 2005 exhibition will feature. The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and The Tale of the Pie and The Patty-Pan. Also on display in this atmospheric 17t h-century building is information on Beatrix Potter’s life. Beatrix Potter Gallery, Hawkshead, LA22 ONS Tel: 015394 36355 Open: 19 March—30 October, 10am—4. 30 pm, daily except Thursday and Friday. Also open 12—20 February, 2 & 3 June and 27 & 28 October. Price: Adult ￡3.50, Child ￡1.70, Family ￡8.70 |
| Hill Top Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated many of the famous children’s stories in this 17th-century farmhouse which she bought 100 years ago. Today you can view her personal treasures and step into the garden which is planted with flowers and vegetables, just as it would have been in Beatrix Potter’s time. Please note that this is a small and popular house, which gets very busy especially in school holidays. At peak times there are queues and by the end of the day not all visitors may be able to visit the house (we apologize for this). Please collect a timed ticket (including NT members) from the ticket office in the car park on your arrival. Hill Top, Near Sawrey, La22 OLF Tel: 015394 36269 Open: 19 March—30 October, 10: 30 am—4. 30 pm, daily except Thursday and Friday. Also open Thursday in August and 2 & 3 June and 27 & 28 October. Shop and Garden open Thursday and Friday, 10:am—5 pm. Ring for winter opening. Price: Adult ￡5, Child ￡2, Family ￡12 |
. From the ads mentioned above, we can learn _______.
| A．visitors can admire the scene of the Beatrix Potter’s time in Hill Top |
| B．visitors can admire the beautiful natural in both the Beatrix Gallery and Hill Top |
| C．the Beatrix Potter Gallery is more popular with children than Hill Top |
| D．Beatrix Gallery neighbors Hill Top |
If the Smiths and their 2 children visit the 3 sites, they will have to pay _______.
| A．￡28.2 | B．￡23.4 | C．￡28 | D．￡33 |
If you have the tickets, you must be able to _______.
| A．visit Hill Top at opening time |
| B．visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery on Friday |
| C．visit Acorn Bank at opening time |
| D．visit the three sites at any time |
We can learn from the ads that _______.
| A．you can enjoy yourself with a dog as you like at Acorn Bank |
| B．it is convenient for you to get a timed ticket for Hill Top |
| C．children who have passed a quiz will be admitted to the Beatrix Potter Gallery |
| D．you can book the tickets for Hill Top through the telephone number 015394 36355 |
When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying: “We have to go to work now,” you’re left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage schools, and that the “work” they go off to is to go on the stage in a theatre.
Stage schools often act as agencies（代理机构）to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the name “stage school” are those few places where children attend full time, with a training for the theatre and a general education.
A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn’t settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?
Then of course there are times for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those under 13 are limited to 40 days in the year; those over 13 to 80 days.
The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don’t make it? While all the leading schools say they place great importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case.
People would stop feeling uneasy when realizing that the children they’re talking to________.
| A．attend a stage school | B．are going to the theatre |
C．have got some work to do | D．love singing and dancing |
In the writer’s opinion, a good stage school should ________.
| A．produce star performers |
B．help pupils improve their study skills |
C．train pupils in language and performing arts |
D．provide a general education and stage training. |
“Professional work” as used in the text means ________.
| A．ordinary school work | B．money-making performances |
C．stage training at school | D．acting, singing or dancing after class |
Which of the following best describes how the writer feels about stage schools?
| A．He thinks highly of what they have to offer. |
B．He favours an early start in the training of performing arts. |
C．He feels uncomfortable about children putting on night shows. |
D．He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached. |
Maybe ten-year-old Elizabeth put it best when she said to her father, "But, Dad, you can't be healthy if you're dead."
Dad, in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run, had forgotten to wear his safety belt-- a mistake 75% of US population make every day. The big question is why.
There have been many myths about safety belt ever since their first appearance in cars some forty years ago. The following are three of the most common.
Myth the Number One: It's best to be "thrown clear" of a serious accident.
Truth: Sorry, but any accident serious enough to "throw you clear" is able going to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing. And chances are you'll have traveled through a windshield (挡风玻璃)or door to do it. Studies show that chances of dying after a car accident are twenty-five times in cases where people are "thrown clear".
Myth Number Two: Safety-bets "trap" people in cars that are burning or sinking in water.
Truth: Sorry again, but studies show that people knocked unconscious (昏迷) due to not wearing safety belts have a greater chance of dying in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having a clear head to free themselves from such dangerous situation, not to be trapped in them.
Myth Number Three: Safety belts aren't needed at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour (mph).
Truth: When two cars traveling at 30 mph hit each other, an unbelted driver would meet the windshield with a force equal to diving headfirst into the ground from a height of 10 metres. Why did Elizabeth say to her father, "But, Dad, you can't be healthy if you're dead"?
| A．He was driving at great speed. |
| B．He was running across the street. |
| C．He didn't have his safety belt on. |
| D．He didn't take his medicine on time. |
The reason father was in a hurry to get home was that he __________.
| A．wasn't feeling very well | B．hated to drive in the dark |
| C．wanted to take some exercise | D．didn't want to be caught by the people |
According to the text, to be "thrown clear" of a serious accident is very dangerous because you ________.
| A．may be knocked down by other cars. |
| B．may get serious hurt thrown out of the car |
| C．may find it impossible to get away from the seat |
| D．may get caught in the car door |
Some people prefer to drive without wearing a safety belt because they believe _______.
| A．the belt prevents them from escaping in an accident |
| B．they will be unable to think clearly in an accident |
| C．they will be caught when help comes |
| D．cars catch fire easily |
What is the advice given in the test?
| A．Never drive faster than 30 miles an hour. |
| B．Try your best to save yourself in a car accident. |
| C．Never forget to wear the safety belt while driving. |
| D．Drive slowly while you're not wearing a safety belt. |
For thousands of years, man has enjoyed the taste of apples. Apples, which are about 85 percent water, grow almost everywhere in the world but the hottest and coldest areas (地区). Among the leading countries in apple production are China, France and the United States.
There are various kinds of apples, but a very few make up the majority of those grown for sale. The three most common kinds grown in the United States are Delicious, golden Delicious, and McIntosh.
Apples are different in colour, size, and taste. The colour of the skin may be red, green, or yellow. They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest. The taste may be sweet or tart (酸的). Generally, sweet apples are eaten fresh while tart apples are used to make applesauce (苹果酱).
Apple trees may grow as tall as twelve metres. They do best in areas that have very cold winters. Although no fruit is yielded during the winter, this cold period is good for the tree. It can be learned from the text that Delicious apples are _______________
| A．grown in France. | B．sold everywhere. |
| C．very big. | D．quite sweet. |
Cold winter weather is good for _______________
| A．the growth of apple trees. |
| B．producing large apples. |
| C．improving the taste of apples. |
| D．the increase of water in apples. |
China, France and the United States are considered to _______________
| A．be large producers of apples. |
| B．be large producers of applesauce. |
| C．have the longest history in apple production. |
| D．have the coldest winter among apple producing countries. |
The word yielded in the last sentence means _______________
| A．improved. | B．increased. |
| C．produced. | D．sold. |
Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about_________.
| A．a strange man |
B．an unusual party |
C．how roller skating began |
D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he________.
| A．often gave others surprises | B．was a gifted musician |
C．invented the roller skates | D．was full of imagination |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to_______.
| A．impress the party guests | B．arrive at the party sooner |
C．test his invention | D．show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
| A．The roller skates needed further improvement. |
B．The party guests took Merlin for a fool. |
C．Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |
D．Merlin got himself into trouble. |