This year I tried to pick a few more things that are on the lighter side. Each of these books made me think or laugh or, in some cases, do both. I hope you find something to your liking here.
If you want to buy some, please contact me as you like.
Telephone number: 010-8568758
E-mail: favouritebook@163.com
Hyperbole and a Half, by Allie Brosh.
The book, based on Brosh’s wildly popular website, contains simple vignettes and comic drawings about her young life. The adventures she describes are mostly inside her head, where we hear and see her deep thoughts most of us are too shy to let out in public.
You will finish reading it in three hours, tops. But you’ll wish it went on longer, because it’s so funny and smart.
The Magic of Reality, by Richard Dawkins.
Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist at Oxford, has a gift for making science enjoyable. This book is as accessible as the TV series Cosmos is for younger audiences—and as relevant for older audiences. It’s an interesting, well-illustrated(图文并茂) science textbook offering attractive answers to big questions, like “How did the universe form?” and “What causes earthquakes?”
What If ? ,by Randall Munroe.
The subtitle of the book is “Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions,” and that’s exactly what it is. People write Munroe with questions that cover all fields of science: physics, chemistry, biology, etc.
Munroe’s explanations are funny, but the science supporting his answers is very accurate(精确的). It’s an entertaining read, and you’ll also learn a bit about things like ballistics, DNA, the oceans, and the atmosphere.
1.What does the writer think of Brosh’s book?
A.Interesting. B.Strange.
C.Priceless. D.Boring.
2.What is Dawkins good at as an evolutionary biologist at Oxford?
A.Making TV series. B.Drawing pictures.
C.Answering big questions. D.Making science attractive.
3.What kind of questions do people mainly like to ask Randall Munroe?
A.Funny questions in daily life. B.Scientific questions.
C.Serious entertaining questions. D.Questions hard to answer.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I’d been at Camp Eggleton for only two days before I got my nickname(绰号) ,Screaming Toad(尖叫的蛤蟆).
When we were on our first nature walk, a tree frog dropped onto my shirt from the branches above. I screamed. I didn't even know I could make a sound like that. Most kids laughed it off and forgot about it. But Stan wouldn’t let it go.
Three days later, Mr. Matt told us we would play a game. The two-person team to find the most treasures hidden in the woods gets something cold. Thoughts of ice cream froze on our brains.
Mr. Matt started reading off pairs of names. My nerves(神经) got completely fried when he said, “And finally, Jay and Stan.”
“If the mosquitoes(蚊子) are biting you, just ask Screaming Toad to eat them for you.” Stan called to the group. One kid laughed, but most of them were already concentrating on looking for treasures.
Then I had an idea,“You know, Stan, if we split up, we’ll have a better chance of finding stuff.” Stan shrugged (耸肩)and walked down the path alone.
Ten minutes later, I heard something that reminded me of myself a few days ago. I ran toward the sound. Stan was jumping around like a monkey, screaming and yelling: “Ants! Ants!”
I led him into a mud puddle(泥坑). He was surprised at first, then he must have realized why I was doing it. The itch(痒) was going away and so were the ants.
“I guess you’re going to have a pretty good story for everyone later.”Stan said worriedly.
“Yeah, I guess so. You’ll probably be known as Dancing Ant from now on.”
That night, we all sat around the campfire. I could see Stan’s worry as clear as daylight. He was waiting for it. But I never said anything. I knew how it felt to be laughed at.
The next day was Game Day. When I was picked for a basketball team, someone called, “No fair! Screaming Toad’s a natural Jumper!”
Stan yelled out, “Knock it off. His name is Jay.”
1.Why did Joy get his nicknames？
A.He signed up for Camp Eggleton.
B.He shouted loudly when the frog fell on his clothes.
C.Stan gave him the nicknames because of his bravery.
D.The other boys thought it cool to be called like that.
2.Which word can replace the underlined phrase “split up” in Paragraph 6?
A.United. B.Separated.
C.Apologised. D.Shared.
3.Why did Jay bring Stan to the mud puddle?
A.To make Stan calm down. B.To give him a chance to say sorry.
C.To drive away the ants and the itch. D.To prevent Stan from hurting himself.
4.What can we learn from the story?
A.Actions speak louder than words.
B.Everyone’s efforts are very important.
C.A good beginning makes a good ending.
D.Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to yourself.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
There is nothing more important than the safety of our children. Did you know that unintentional injury(意外伤害) is the leading cause of death in children under 14 years old with a third of them happening in the home? One of the top reasons a child under the age of three will visit an emergency room is because of household injuries and sadly, 70% of children who die from unintentional injuries are under the age of four. Every room in the home will have its own set of child safety problems. Two of the main danger zones are the kitchen and the bathroom.
Before I became a young mother, I crawled (爬)around the house on my hands and knees to see things from a child’s perspective(视角). You would be amazed at what you can discover by doing something so simple. We didn’t have toilet covers. A child is top heavy because their heads are bigger than their bodies and can easily fall into the toilet.
You might be surprised with the number of children falling out of windows every year, especially during the summer months. Something as simple as a child leaning against a window screen can result in a serious injury. The best way to prevent this type of injury is by setting up a child safety window guard.
As parents, we do the best we can by providing as much protection as possible to make sure of the safety of children. And as there are so many products out there to help us do this, there is nothing like good old-fashioned supervision(监护). So, use common sense and products that help to keep your child safe, and you will have provided a safe environment for your children.
1.What’s the main reason for death in children under 14 according to paragraph one?
A.Age problems. B.No sense of safety.
C.Danger areas. D.Unexpected injuries.
2.Why did the writer crawl around the house on the hands and knees?
A.To cover the toilet. B.To protect her child.
C.To look for something. D.To discover dangers from a child’s point.
3.What should we do to protect children from falling out of windows?
A.Keep away from a window. B.Place a safety window guard.
C.Move away the window screen. D.Lean against the window firmly.
4.What’s the last paragraph mainly about?
A.Tips on keeping children safe. B.Products for children.
C.Growth speed of children. D.Ways to look after children.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Brooke wanted a dollhouse and some sugar cookies. So the 6-year-old asked Alexa to get them. Alexa wasn't her mom or babysitter. It was a voice-activated(声控的) home assistant powered by artificial intelligence(AI). Alexa comes with the Amazon Echo device(回波装置). And it made Brooke's wishes come true. After being reported on TV, Alexa devices in many listeners' homes woke up and tried to order dollhouses!
Alexa isn't the only AI willing to order up treats for you. Apple Homepod has Siri, Google Home has its Assistant, and the upcoming Galaxy Home device will have Bixby. People who own these devices use them mainly for listening to music, checking the weather, and setting timers. According to a report from The Information, people don't often do voice shopping. They do it mainly to order simple things like paper towels. But many experts predict a boom(繁荣) in voice shopping in the near future.
Convenience is the main benefit of voice shopping. You can shout out an order as soon as you think of it, even if you're cooking or driving. Besides, people who are unable to use a keyboard or mouse can shop without assistance.
But voice shopping has its downsides. Unwanted things aren’t the biggest problem. It's usually very easy to cancel an order or return items. The surprising thing is that these assistants are always listening. They have to be able to respond when you want them. So they listen for ''Alexa'' or ''OK Google'' or another command. When they hear it, they start recording the conversation. Some have worried about what happens to these recordings. Should companies be allowed to use them to learn about people's shopping habits? What if someone hacks(非法侵入) the device? What if someone hacks smart TVs to turn them into spies that listen all the time?
1.What is Alexa?
A.A TV reporter. B.A friend of Brooke.
C.A voice-activated device. D.A cookie maker.
2.What can you learn from paragraph2?
A.Alexa is the best AI device.
B.People buy various things through voice shopping.
C.People use Bixby mainly for listening to music.
D.Voice shopping may have a bright future.
3.What is the author's attitude towards Alexa devices?
A.Optimistic. B.Doubtful.
C.Objective. D.Negative.
4.What's the best title of the text?
A.How did Brooke' wishes come true? B.The voice-activated home assistant-Alexa
C.How can we start voice shopping? D.What convenience do Alexa devices bring?
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Many students want to know the best ways to improve their learning. Here are a few useful methods.
Focus
One of the best ways to organize your study session is to use the Pomodoro Technique. 1. The idea is to use a timer. Let's say, you set the timer for 20 minutes, and focus only on your studies during that time. You cannot check email, or do anything aside from your task. When the timer goes off, you can reward yourself by listening to some music or having a drink of tea.
Test yourself
When you are studying, you should test yourself often. 2. You can also find all kinds of online tests for many subjects.
Interleaving
3. For example, in one study period you might spend time testing yourself on vocabulary words and then test yourself on grammar. Or, if studying math, you could mix multiplication(乘法) and division(除法）problems. It may be better for long-term learning.
Teaching
Teaching is also a powerful way to learn. 4. Some did not expect to have to teach information, while others did. When they actually teach a lesson, they develop a deeper understanding of the material.
Closing thoughts
You can create your own plan based on what you need to learn. You might organize your study periods with the Pomodoro technique. Then, you can test yourself and interleave different topics. There are many choices. 5.
A.Researchers compared different groups of students.
B.In other words, they only study one topic at a time.
C.This method is a technique that means you mix different topics.
D.All of these techniques can be put together to make a powerful study plan.
E.It is a powerful, but simple method that helps people focus on a task.
F.When you focus and do tasks that are at the right difficulty level, your brain will become tired.
G.If you are using a textbook, then you can do practice questions from the end of each chapter.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I’d never been to a Day of the Dead festival before. As my dad and I looked around for seats, I _______ Marco, my best friend, hurrying toward us. “Hi, Mr. O’kane,” he _______ my dad. Then he turned to me. “Nate! Will you help me?"
“Whatever you need,” I said.
Marco threw me parts of a _______ : Mexican sandals（凉鞋）, a straw hat, a cane(手杖), a gray wig, and an“ old man” mask（面具）. “My cousin couldn’t_______ !” Marco’s voice rang with worry.
“It’s part of a traditional dance” he said.
“You expect me to dance? ” I _______ . “I don’t dance!”
Marco smiled. “It’ll be fun. And hurry! We’re _______ late.”
“ We’re going to do a lot of stomping(跺脚). Slow at first. Keep one hand _______ on your back, like an old man with an ache.” added Marco.
The speakers _______ : “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for The Dance of the Little Old Men!”
“Be quick,” Marco _______ to me to follow his lead.
We all began stomping slowly to music. I could only see ________ the small holes of the mask. I continued to stomp, trying to ________ what to do. I leaned on my cane and kept a hand low on my back. After a few minutes of dancing like that, my back ________ started to ache.
The music ________ . And we stomped quickly. Performing with Mexican sandals was ________ . People laughed as we hopped and kicked, but after a moment the laughter turned into cheers.
Marco gave me a thumbs-up. As the audience clapped for our group, I said to him happily, “You were right. That was ________ .”
1.A.watched B.spotted C.monitored D.observed
2.A.satisfied B.ignored C.contacted D.greeted
3.A.suit B.chain C.decoration D.costume
4.A.make it B.get it C.focus on D.go through
5.A.chatted B.despaired C.hesitated D.replied
6.A.staying B.running C.working D.changing
7.A.up B.high C.low D.down
8.A.shouted B.announced C.defined D.issued
9.A.signaled B.pointed C.moved D.complained
10.A.through B.in C.over D.under
11.A.bring about B.carry on C.figure out D.put out
12.A.extremely B.possibly C.truly D.finally
13.A.disappeared B.sped up C.started D.faded away
14.A.typical B.brief C.tough D.flexible
15.A.significant B.creative C.beneficial D.fun
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
The harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important1. (agriculture) festival takes place after all the crops2.(gather) in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful3. the year's supply of food. Today in European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together4. (celebrate) over a meal. During the Mid-autumn Festival in China, families usually gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.
With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may die out and others may be established. In order to avoid air 5. (pollute), many big cities have given up 6. custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits during the typical Chinese Spring festival.
Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with business7. (take)advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much8.(easy) for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones.9. some believe festivals should not be commercialized, others believe the increase in spending 10.(be) good for the economy and public happiness.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据汉语或首字母提示，写出单词的正确形式，每空只填一词。
1.The moonlight was quiet and __________(反射) off the surface of the lake.
2.No __________(证据) could prove that he was the thief.
3.Buck never allowed himself to do anything that went against his __________(原则).
4.She __________(承认) that she had made a mistake.
5.He is in the library gathering __________(材料) for what he is writing.
6.Man is still far more __________(有智慧的) than the cleverest robot.
7.The exams have been __________(延期) until next month.
8.Keep trying and you’ll find a job e__________(最后).
9.Did you have s__________(充足的) time to do the work?
10.I’m a lot happier than I was in my __________(先前的) job.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华,你所在学校要举办英语戏剧节(TheEnglishDramaFestival)。你们想邀请外教John参加。请你给他写一封信,要点如下:
1.介绍活动内容;
2.邀请他表演节目;
3.请他提出活动建议。
注意：1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear John,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sincerely yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
My crippled(瘸腿) grandmother was dancing. I stood in the living room doorway, absolutely shocked. I heard her sing when I opened the door but did not want to interrupt her by shouting I had arrived. She was wearing beautiful dancing shoes and her legs obeyed her perfectly. As long as I could remember, she was once the pet of the dancing world. But it was all over after a sudden accident. She had always limped(一瘸一拐地走)，helped with a cane(拐杖).
She turned around and saw me standing in the doorway. Her song ended, and her beautiful movements with it. Grandma turned towards the kitchen. She was walking with no difficulties in her beautiful shoes. I followed her, not believing my eyes.
“So…” I asked surprisedly but happily, “How did your leg heal（康复）?”
“To tell you the truth—my legs have been well all my life,” she said.
“But I don’t understand!” I said, “ I mean… You pretended all these years?
“Very much so,” Grandmother closed her eyes, “And for a very good reason.”
“What reason?”
“Your grandfather.”
“You mean he told you not to dance?”
“No, this was my choice. I am sure I would have lost him if I had continued dancing. I weighed fame（名声）and love against each other and love won.”
“We were talking about engagement（订婚）when your grandfather had to go to war. It was the most terrible day of my life when he left. I was so afraid of losing him, the only way I could stay peaceful was to dance. And then one day a letter came. There were only three sentences:‘I have lost my leg. I am no longer a whole man and now give you back your freedom. It is best you forget about me.’”
Grandma continued to tell me that Grandfather was in hospital and she made her decision not to give him up. She took her leave, and traveled away from the city.
Several weeks later, she returned.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
She took a deep breath, leaned on her cane and limped to Grandfather.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
难度: 困难查看答案及解析