Mini Book Excerpts(节选)
Biography
When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle-aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it… The townspeople never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor.
J. D. Salinger:A Life by Kenneth Slawenski(Random House,$27)Mystery(疑案小说)
“You’re a smart boy. Benny’s death was no accident, and you’re the only who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it?”The boy was starting stubbornly at his lap again.
A thought suddenly occurred to Annika,“Did you …You recognized the man in the car, didn’t you?”
The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers,“Maybe,”he said quietly.
Red Wolf by Liza Marklund(Atria Books, $25. 99)
Short stories
She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class. Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don’t want to be. Some mothers suffer so their daughters won’t. Some mothers love so their daughters won’t.
You Are Free by DAnzy Senna (Riverhead Books, $15)
Humor
Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Times! “amusement cycling”is the most fun you can have, legally, in the United States right now. Why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half to that within a day’s drive lf most cities?
Happy and Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle(Ecco,$14. 99)If the readers want to know about the title of Salinger, they should buy the book published by
.
A.Ecco | B.Atria Books |
C.Riverhead Books | D.Random House |
The book Happy and Other Bad Thoughts is intended for .
A.young children | B.Disney World workers |
C.middle school teachers | D.parents with young children |
Which book describes women with characters of their own?
A. Happy And Other Bad Thoughts
B. J. D. Salinger: A Life
C. You Are Free
D. Red WolfAfter finishing the book Red Wolf, the readers would learn that .
A.the boy helped arrest the murderer |
B.Benny died of an accident |
C.the murderer got away with the crime |
D.Annika carried out the crime |
The world of the science-fiction 3-D film Avatar is so perfect that the line between fact and fiction has become somewhat blurred (模糊).
Movie-goers have admitted being annoyed by depression at not being able to visit the planet Pandora.Set in the future when Earth's resources have been used up, director James Cameron's film tells the story of a company trying to exploit a rare mineral on a new planet.The humans clash with the natives — a peace-loving race of 7-foot-tall, blue-skinned creatures called the Na'vi, who exist in perfect harmony with nature.
Fans have flooded the Internet with their confused feelings.On the site Avatar Forums (论坛), the topic "Ways to deal with the depression of the dream of Pandora not being able to come true" has more than 1,000 posts.In a similar forum, Louis, one user, wrote: "When I woke up this morning after watching Avatar for the first time yesterday, the world seemed grey.It just seems so meaningless.I still don't really see any reason to keep doing things at all.I live in a dying world." On the Avatar site Naviblue, a fan calling himself Jorba has even asked others to join him in starting a real Na'vi tribe.
This fantasy world, with its wonderful plants and animal life, is brought to life by using impressive special effects.Many people believe that 2010 is the breakthrough year for the technology helped by 3-D movies such as Avatar."It has taken the best of our technology to create this virtual world and real life will never be as perfect as it seems on screen.It makes real life seem more imperfect."What is the best title of the text?
A.A blockbuster movie: Avatar |
B.The Avatar effect: movie-goers feel dep![]() |
C.2010: a breakthrough year for.3-D movies |
D.Pandora: a perfect world |
We can infer that Louis after watching the film Avatar.
A.will cherish his present life more |
B.feel![]() |
C.will intend to create a real Na'vi tribe |
D.is proud of living on the earth |
Thanks to the success of Av'atar, .
A.3-D technology will probably develop quickly in 2010 |
B.most people look forward to living on another planet |
C.many more science-fiction films will be made in the coming years |
D.people have become more realistic about life |
The underlined word "virtual" probably means .
A.unreal | B.true | C.perfect | D.practical |
According to the passage the natives on the planet are .
A.not harmony with the nature | B.blue-haired race |
C.peace-loving creatures | D.fond of fighting with human race |
"A survey was conducted in Shanghai where interviewees were asked if they wanted to be a factory worker.One percent of all people interviewed said “YES," Wang Hongjun, a technician, said, raising his voice for dramatic effect."But I can tell you, only a small part of that 1 percent are telling the truth."
I've met colorful people like Wang all over China.They are cynical(玩世不恭的) yet warmhearted, plain spoken but smart.And many of them are confined(局限于)to work in factories.
Wang is a top technician but also represents manual factory workers, who are China's most important natural resource.Their energy is powering China's economic boom, and their muscle is turning the wheel of the world's factory.
But does their unskilled labor give their life meaning? At school, did they tell their friends: "When I grow up I want to work in a factory making socks?" Did you?
Factory work has always been a stepping-stone from farm life to the city and a modern life.It's been happening for centuries, but today, with our space-age technology, it's outdated.Earning 1,200 yuan ($169) per month working in a factory is better than that on a farm, but as Wang points out, it's not a dream career.There should be better ways to earn your rice.
Many modern factories no longer have production line workers.Robots do the assembly(装配).People just do the monitoring.In this age of technology, in which China is now working smarter and not just harder, why are people still standing in production lines?
But life is cheap in China.So why not continue to exploit the low-cost labor situation and keep the economy growing fast, some entrepreneurs may ask.How many people surveyed really like to be factory workers?
A.One percent |
B.Only a![]() |
C.Only a small part of that one percent |
D.The writer didn’t mention it. |
Which is NOT the writer's opinion of factory workers?
A.cynical | B.unimportant |
C.warmhearted | D.plain spoken |
Wang Hongjun is a person who is .
A.difficult to get along with |
B.humorous but serious |
C.cynical but warmhearted, plain spoken but smart |
D.full of energy but doesn't want to work hard |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Factory workers make contributions to China's economic boom. |
B.Working in a factory is better than that on a farm. |
C.Factory workers are satisfied with their living conditions. |
D.Some entrepreneurs exploited the low-cost labor situation. |
The writer uses to begin the passage.
A.a lot of figures | B.many examples |
C.some dialogue | D.the result of a survey |
TIJUANA, Mexico – A powerful earthquake swayed (摇动) buildings from Los Angeles to Tijuana, killing two people in Mexico, blacking out cities and forcing the evacuation (疏散) of hospitals and nursing homes.One California city closed off its downtown due to unstable buildings.
The 7.2-magnitude quake centered just south of the US border near Mexicali was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit region in decades.
"It sounds like it's felt by at least 20 million people," USGS seismologist Lucy Jones said."Most of Southern California felt this earthquake."
Sunday afternoon's earthquake hit hardest in Mexicali, a commerce center along Mexico's border with California, where authorities said the quake was followed by at least 20 smaller aftershocks, including ones of magnitudes 5.1, 4.5 and 4.3.
"It has not stopped trembling in Mexicali," said Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo on Monday.
Escobedo said one man was killed when his home collapsed just outside of Mexicali and another died when he rushed into the street in panic and was struck by a car.At least 100 people were injured in the city, most of them struck by falling objects.Power was out in virtually the entire city.
Susan Warmbier was putting away groceries in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista when her husband asked, "Is the house moving?"
Elsewhere in San Diego, there were reports of shattered windows, broken pipes and water main breaks in private buildings, but no reports of injuries, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque said.Coronado Bridge over San Diego Bay was briefly closed as a precaution.
Across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, the quake caused buildings to sway and knocked out power in some areas.No tsunami warning was issued, but hundreds of people on Tijuana's crowded beach feared the worst and fled when they felt the ground shake.What's the best title of the passage?
A.A strong quake in Mexico, but no tsunami |
B.A strong quake kills 2 in Mexico, frightens US states |
C.A strong quake, downtowns closed off |
D.A strong quake, buildings collapses |
The 7.2-magnitude quake .
A.centered just south of the Mexico |
B.was felt by 20 million people in Mexico |
C.was felt by most of Southern California |
D.was the strongest earthquakes to hit region in centuries |
Which is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Some cities had power failure after the quake. |
B.One of the cities closed off its downtown because of the swaying buildings. |
C.Many smaller quakes happened after the 7.2-magnitude one. |
D.Hundreds of people on the beach died because of the tsunami. |
People got injured mostly .
A.because they were in panic |
B.because the power was out in the whole city |
C.because of the falling objects |
D.because they were buried under the falling objects |
Coronado Bridge over San Diego Bay was briefly closed .
A.to avoid further dangers |
B.by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department |
C.as a reminding of the quake |
D.to prevent the bridge from destroying |
阅读下面的短文,并根据短文后的要求答题。(请注意问题后的字数要求)
A little old couple walked slowly into McDonald's one cold winter evening. They took a table near the back wall, and then the little old man walked to the cash register(收银台) to order. After a short while he got the food back and they began to unwrap it.
There was one hamburger, one order of French fries and one drink. The little old man carefully cut the hamburger in half and divided the French fries in two piles. Then he neatly placed the half of the food in front o
f his wife.
He took a sip(啜) of the drink and his wife took a sip. “What a poor old couple!” The crowd thought.
As the man began to eat his hamburger and his French fries, his wife sat there watching him and took turns to drink. A young man came over to the old couple. He. But they refused politely and said that they got used to sharing everything.
Then a young lady asked a question of the little old lady. “Madam, why aren't you eating? You said that you share everything. What is it that you are waiting for? ”
“The teeth,” she answered.
61. What's the best title of the passage?(Please answer within 10 words.)
62. Which sentence in the passage can be replaced by the following one?
Both the old man and his wife drank a little of the drink.
63. Please fill in the blank in the fourth paragraph with proper words or phrases to complete the sentence. (Please answer within 10 words.)
64. What do you think the couple also share besides the food and drink? (Please answer within 5 words.)
65. Translate the underlined sentence in the first paragraph into Chinese.
14 days for just £2090 pp
Fully inclusive from the UK
Price covers:International airfares,departure taxes,fuel charges,local transportation,accommodation,all meals,entrance fees,guides,daily tours and visas for UK citizens.
◆Days 1-3:UK—Shanghai
Fly to the great city of Shanghai and in the evening, sample traditional Shanghai food. Visit the beautiful Yu Gardens,Old Town,Shanghai Museum,cross the Great Nanpu Bridge and tour the Pudong area .Also explore Xintiandi with its 1920's style Shikumen buildings and end your stay in Shanghai with an amazing Huangpu River evening tour.
◆Days 4-7:Shanghai—Yangtze River Tour
Fly to Yichang and change (approx.one hour)to board your Yangtze River ship for the next four nights. Enjoy a tour of the Three Gorges Dam(三峡大坝)before sailing on the grand Yangtze River,passing through the impressive Three Gorges. We take a side trip to the Lesser Three Gorges or travel up the Shennong Stream in a peapod boat and enjoy various shore trips along the way.
◆Day 8:Chongqing—Chengdu
Get off in Chongqing and drive to Chengdu for an overnight stay.
◆Days 9-10:Chengdu—Xi'an
Visit the famous Panda Reserve to see the lovely animals. We then fly to the historic city of Xi'an for two nights' stay and enjoy traditional Shuijiao. Next day explore one of the most important discoveries of the 20th Century—the Terracotta Warriors(兵马俑),followed by the ancient City Wall and a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.
◆Days 11-13:Xi'an—Beijing
Visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda and see the ancient objects at the well-known Shaanxi Provincial Museum before walking through the lively Muslim Quarter to see the Great Mosque. Later fly to Beijing for three nights' stay and try Peking Duck.During our stay in Beijing,we stroll through Tian'anmen Square to the Forbidden City,the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China,and visit the Summer Palace. Next day we take a walk on the Great Wall,tour the unique Temple of Heaven and enjoy an attractive Chinese Acrobatic Show.(杂技)
◆Day 14:Beijing—UK
Fly back to the UK,arriving home later the same day filled with happy memories.
The underlined word “sample” in the passage probably means “______”.
A.buy | B.reserve | C.taste | D.make |
The first and last scenic spots to be visited in Xi'an are______.
A.the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Mosque |
B.the Terracotta Warriors and Shaanxi Provincial Museum |
C.Little Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque |
D.Little Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the ad?
A.The tourists will have to pay extra for fuel and meals. |
B.The tourists will visit the 1920's Shikumen buildings in Beijing. |
C.The tourists will take a side trip to the Three Gorges Dam during the tour. |
D.The tourists will stay in Beijing for three nights before leaving for the UK. |
The ad is mainly intended to______.
A.encourage the British to travel in China |
B.attract the British to traditional Chinese food |
C.offer services of booking air tickets to tourists |
D.provide the British with a better understanding of China |