The Costa Book Awards consistently pick winners that are both of the moment and subsequently endure. It's our pleasure to confirm this year’s Category Winners.
First Novel Award Winner
Book: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
Eleanor is 31 years old; work finishes on a Friday and begins again on a Monday. Between, her only company will be two bottles of vodka and her own solitary, unique wit (机智). It is contentment, of a kind, but an unexpected shared experience suddenly opens the door to possibility. Challenging reader expectations with a living, breathing character, Gail Honeyman’s debut (初次登台、开张)is a funny and moving diamond.
Biography Award Winner
Book: In the Days of Rain
Author: Rebecca Stott
The Exclusive Brethren were a closed community who believed the world is ruled by Satan. Into this is born Rebecca. Her father had been an influential Brethren Minister. As her father lay dying, he begged her to help him write the memoir. He wanted to tell the story of their family who for generations had all been members of a fundamentalist Christian sect.
Poetry Award Winner
Book: Inside the Wave
Author: Helen Dunmore
To be alive is to be inside the wave, always travelling until it breaks and is gone. These poems are concerned with the borderline between the living and the dead — the underworld and the human living world – and the acutely intense being of both.
Children's Award Winner
Book: The Explorer
Author: Katherine Rundell, Hannah Horn
Four children survive their aircraft plunging into the Amazon jungle, but for Fred and his friends it’s only the beginning of a cruel battle for survival. Brimming with adventure and a real command of character and incident, Rundell has few peers in superb children's fiction.
1.What kind of life does Eleanor lead?
A.boring and lonely. B.funny and touching.
C.exciting and complex. D.ordinary and happy.
2.Why did Rebecca Stott write In the Days of Rain?
A.To introduce beliefs of the Exclusive Brethren.
B.To help her father fulfill his last wish.
C.To share the life of fundamentalist Christians.
D.To pass on her family traditions.
3.For a young adventurous soul, which book seems more appealing?
A.Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine B.In the Days of Rain
C.Inside the Wave D.The Explorer
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I once met a well-known botanist at a dinner party. I had never talked with a botanist before, and I found him very interesting. I sat there absorbed and listened while he spoke of unusual plants and his experiments (he even told me astonishing facts about the simple potato). I had a small indoor garden of my own—and he was good enough to tell me how to solve some of my problems.
As I said, we were at a dinner party. There must have been a dozen other guests, but I broke an important rule of politeness. I ignored everyone else and talked for hours to the botanist.
Midnight came. I said good night to everyone and departed. The botanist then turned to our host and said many nice things about me, including that I was a “most interesting conversationalist”.
An interesting conversationalist? I had said hardly anything at all. I couldn’t have said anything if I had wanted to without changing the subject, for I didn’t know any more about plants than I knew about sharks.
But I had done this one thing; I had listened carefully. I listened because I was really interested. And he felt it. Naturally that pleased him. That kind of listening is one of the best ways to show respect to others, and it makes them feel great too. “Few human beings,” wrote Jack Woodford in Strangers in Love, “can resist the sweet effect of rapt attention.” I went even further than that. I was “sincere in my admiration and generous in my praise”. I told him that I had been hugely entertained and instructed. I told him I wished I had his knowledge. I told him that I should love to wander the fields with him. What’s more, it was all true.
And so I had him thinking of me as a good conversationalist when, in reality, I had only been a good listener and had encouraged him to talk.
1.From Paragraph 1, we can learn that the writer__________.
A.was deeply moved by the botanist’s talk
B.was amazed by what he was hearing
C.was not in a comfortable situation
D.behaved politely and properly
2.Which of the following does the writer describe as a rule of politeness at dinner parties?
A.Avoiding discussions about politics and religion.
B.Listening carefully to what another guest says.
C.Arriving and leaving at the appropriate time.
D.Giving attention to all those in attendance.
3.The underlined expression “rapt attention” in Paragraph 4 is closest in the meaning to__________.
A.full understanding B.strong interest
C.great uncertainty D.little curiosity
4.According to the writer, which of the following is an important characteristic of a good conversationalist?
A.Listening attentively and encouraging the other side to continue.
B.Encouraging the other side by sharing his/her own opinions.
C.Promising a future meeting for more communication.
D.Expressing respect by nodding his/her head.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Zoos have traditionally been built in a certain way: Animals on the inside, humans on the outside, peering in. This separation is good in theory—humans and animals need to be protected from one another—but terrible in practice, as animals end up living in an environment far from a natural habitat. A new plan for a Zoo in Denmark wants to reverse those roles, giving animals more freedom in captivity while effectively placing humans inside protective barriers.
Called Zootopia, the conceptual design has the goal of turning the safari(野外观兽旅行)style zoo into a place where animals determine interaction—not humans. “Try to imagine if you asked the animals what they would like. What would they decide?” says the director of the project. “They want their nature back, so to speak, and we are going to try to create that”.
In Zootopia, animals will wander free around the perimeter while humans observe, hidden away from view in underground passageways and naturalistic architecture structures. Visitors can watch lions through an underground enclosure disguised as a hill. They'll peek out at giraffes through windowed houses built into the side of a hilly plains. Outside of the main circular entrance, there will be no traditional buildings. “We want to take away human influence,” said Zootopia's designers.
The main challenge, of course, is to design the zoo in a way that the enclosure is still there but it's not visible. The two-phase plan, which will cost around $200 million, is still in the improving and approval phase; it'll be at least five years until we see any work finished on the park, and it's likely to take upwards of 10 years before it opens. Can the animals wait that long?
1.Why does a zoo in Denmark plan to create Zootopia?
A.to protect animals from humans.
B.to provide animals with a natural habitat.
C.to provide humans with more freedom in the zoo.
D.to protect humans and give animals enough freedom.
2.Different from traditional zoos, in Zootopia .
A.animals enjoy full freedom. B.there will be no conventional buildings.
C.humans watch animals without being noticed. D.humans can interact with animals at their will.
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.It’s tricky to design the enclosure.
B.Zootopia is now under construction.
C.There is a long way to go before Zootopia operates.
D.Zootopia arouses people’s concern about animals.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.the future of Zootopia B.the development of Zootopia
C.the fall of traditional zoos D.the concept of a cage-free zoo
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
One of the best uses of technology is to make life easier.
A new product from Microsoft Corporation can do just that for people who have trouble seeing. They may be blind or visually impaired. The product, an app, is currently available for free for Apple’s iPhone and iPad. The app is called Seeing AI. “AI” is short for artificial intelligence, a term for computers with an ability to think and learn like human beings.
Seeing AI uses both a camera and artificial intelligence to identify places, objects and people. The app then announces what the camera sees so users will know what is in front of them.
People can also use Seeing AI to learn words in English. With the app open, you can point your iPhone or iPad at any object and it will say what the object is. With Seeing AI, users can hear a description of not just objects, but other people. It can even tell you about their emotions. It will not just say that someone is smiling. The app will say that the person is happy. Or surprised. Or angry. People can use the app when going to a store or supermarket. It can read product bar codes so users will know whether a can is filled with fruit or dog food. Microsoft says Seeing AI will soon be able to identify banknotes so people know whether they are holding a bill that is worth $100 or $1.
At restaurants, diners can use the new app to hear a list of drinks and other menu offerings. It can recognize both food choices and prices. People can use the app to read signs and get directions, although Microsoft warns against using it for navigation（导航） purposes.
One of the more interesting tools of Seeing AI is its ability to read documents. The app can read documents aloud and even help a user position them on the center of the electronic device.
The app is currently available in just the US, Canada, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore---however, Microsoft says that the app will be available in other countries and districts soon.
1.Who is Seeing AI intended for?
A.people working at the restaurant
B.people having visual disabilities
C.people buying goods in the supermarket
D.people having difficulty in learning languages
2.Microsoft warns users not to use Seeing AI for___________.
A.describing a person B.navigating
C.reading documents D.reading product bar codes
3.What can we infer about Seeing AI?
A.It was developed by Apple B.It can be used on computers.
C.It identifies things only by the camera. D.It makes blind people’s life easier.
4.What will happen to Seeing AI?
A.It will soon be available on Android.
B.It will replace people’s eyes.
C.It will have more new functions
D.It will only be used in European countries.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
This summer, I, along with several other international students, traveled to the region of Berounka and found a lovely camping place beside the river. At night, I shared a tent with three girls from Brazil, the United States, and Belgium. 1. I didn’t know what to bring, just my sleeping bag and some warm clothes. And with the light of the campfire burning all night, I was unable to sleep until 1 o’clock.
Later that morning, when we were all on the raft and ready to leave, I was told to sit in the middle because I’d never used a paddle (桨)before. 2. Once we set off, my US friend showed me how to use a paddle. I found it wasn’t so hard---it just made my arms really tired. I listened carefully to what my friends were saying at the same time looking around at the beautiful scenery. 3.
Suddenly, the raft turned over and we all fell into the water. My friends managed to reach the other side of the river quickly, but they couldn’t catch me. I felt panicked but wanted to get out of the water as soon as I could. 4.
At last, I finally made it to a rock near the riverbank. I was so delighted and asked my friends to take a photo of me. 5.From then on, I tried rafting almost every summer. My experience taught me that we should try new things and get to know new people, even if it means facing danger.
A.I’d never camped outside before.
B.I heard my friends cheering me up loudly.
C.I shared what I brought with my three roommates.
D.So I grasped my paddle and swam stoutly(勇敢地，坚决地).
E.I held on tightly to my paddle, not daring to move one bit.
F.I had fallen into the river, but I fell in love with this sport too.
G.Tree-filled mountains, the clear blue sky, and wooden cottages surrounded me.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Dr. Lee was one of my favorite professors in college. He was ________because of a trick he employed at the beginning of his first class. “I will put a__________into each of my lectures. Your job is to try and_________me in the Lie of the Day.”
That was a _________way to focus our attention at the dry and ________subject---Capital Markets. On those days we actively ________Dr. Lee’s statements. Every once in a while, a lecture would end with _______seeing through the lie. Dr. Lee would say, “Ah ha! Each of you has a lie in your notes. _______among yourselves what it might be, and I will tell you next Monday.”
What made Dr. Lee’s teaching ________smart was that there was no lie during the most technically_________lecture. He offered the same challenge to___________ our lecture notes. On the following Monday, he would hear our ________for almost ten minutes before he finally said, “Do you_________the first lecture---how I said that every lecture has a lie?”
Tired from having our best theories shot down, we_________.
“Well, that was a lie. My previous lecture was completely true and_________. But I am glad you reviewed your notes _______ this weekend. Moving on …”
While my knowledge of the Capital Markets has_________over time, the lessons have stayed with me. “Experts” can be___________and say things that sound right---so build a habit of ________new information and check it against things you already accept as _________.
1.A.funny B.memorable C.careful D.upset
2.A.game B.puzzle C.joke D.lie
3.A.catch B.tell C.hear D.stop
4.A.simple B.common C.brilliant D.terrible
5.A.boring B.interesting C.meaningful D.guessed
6.A.asked B.read C.challenged D.guessed
7.A.anyone B.someone C.everybody D.nobody
8.A.Agree B.Discuss C.Find D.Perform
9.A.technique B.step C.problem D.subject
10.A.pretty B.difficult C.entertaining D.successful
11.A.carry out B.set down C.take over D.work through
12.A.suggestions B.theories C.plans D.hopes
13.A.like B.know C.remember D.preview
14.A.nodded B.waited C.paused D.sighed
15.A.easy B.decisive C.obvious D.reliable
16.A.happily B.carefully C.early D.secretly
17.A.come B.changed C.faded D.developed
18.A.wise B.powerful C.wrong D.confident
19.A.evaluating B.gaining C.forgetting D.seeking
20.A.advice B.evidence C.knowledge D.fact
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Chinese Herbal(草本的) Medicine
Genuine Chinese people have found thousands of plants and herbs associated with the 1.（treat）of diseases, so herbal medicine is really 2.large system. Doctors would analyze their nature or property such as “cold and hot” or “yin and yang”, use all sorts of raw 3.（material）, and mix them to cure disease. Thus it is also different from the western medicine.
About the classification, in the Compendium（纲）of Material Medical by Li Shizhen in the Tang Dynasty （618-907）, there are 1892 types 4.（record）. Today we can 5.（brief）divide them into roots, rhizome(根茎), leaf, flower, seeds, grass, vines（藤蔓）, and so on.
Of course these raw（生的） herbs cannot be eaten when put before you; they need your own hand to prepare. 6. patients take is decoction（煎汁）of the herbs.
The quality is concerned 7. the decocting jar, quantity of water, and the frequency of decoction. Doctors suggest that water amount 8.（control）according to the nature of absorbing. Because the herbs bought from the chemist’s are usually dry, most of 9. need to be immersed into the water for 1-3 hours before decocting. The effect after 2 or 3 times’ decoction is 10.（good） than once. The mount patients will take is about 200-300 mi for children and 400-600 ml for adults.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
One day, I was cooking in the kitchen when the telephone rings. I went to answer it immediately. She was my close friend, Lisa. When we were talking on phone, the fire alarm sounded. I ran back to the kitchen only to find the room full of smoke and the beef bad burnt. I quickly turned off the gas, opening all the windows, but then went out of the house. In my surprise, two fire engine were outside my house. I was quite worry. I told the firemen that it was my careless cooking that it caused the heavy smoke.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是育才中学的学生会主席李华。上周美国亚特兰大ELCA高中（Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy）学生会到你校开展友好访问，向你校图书馆捐赠了一批图书，请你给ELCA高中的学生会主席Peter写一封信，要点如下：
1. 感谢捐赠图书；
2. 希望今后更多地开展两校之间的交流活动；
3. 通过EMS寄去由同学们亲手编织的中国结(Chinese knot)。
注意：1．词数100左右，信的格式已为你写好。
2．可根据内容要点适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3．参考词汇：中国结（Chinese knot）
Dear Peter,
I’m Li Hua, President of the Student Union of Yucai High School._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析