Hi, Dave Gieber here. Are you seriously thinking about starting a comic book(连环漫画册)collection yourself? Then “Comic Book Collecting, a Starting Point” was written just for you. This book was designed to help you jump-start your collection using Internet resources!

See what others are saying!

Dave,

As a layperson totally green about comic book collecting, the information provided in your book would allow someone like me to basically start a collection from the very beginning. The steps defined on what to look for and where to look when starting a collection are invaluable to a beginner. In addition, you provide information that not only appeals to those starting out but for those collecting for a long time as well. Great job.

Lorraine Cote

Dave,

I'm thinking it's a little long on history, but I am so impressed by all it presents. Wow! Quite an interesting read. I found the pieces on the Artists particularly interesting.

This is a great piece of work! I love artwork, and did a lot of watercolor work myself and was often fantasizing about comic book penciling myself someday.

If I have one negative thing to say about it…It has to be that I wish I had written it! Congratulations. Dave. This is a real winner.

James D. Tyler

Dear Dave,

Congratulations on a fine book. It is essential reading for people who want to turn their hobby into a money-making venture. I Only wish that I had had this information 40 years ago when I took 6 empty pop(汽水)bottles into the corner store and purchased my first comic book.

I'm amazed at the fact that 40 years ago 10 cents could buy a loaf of bread or the very first issue of The Fantastic Four. Today, 10 cents cannot buy you anything, but a near mint(未损坏的)copy of that comic book could bring you up to$35,000! Thanks for the good read.

Ian McBride

1.What do we know about Lorraine Cote?

A.She is inexperienced in comic book collecting.

B.She has been collecting comic books for years.

C.She asks for information about comic book collecting.

D.She knows nothing about comic book collecting.

2.What is the main reason James D. Tyler writes to Dave?

A.He enjoys reading. B.He wishes to write a book.

C.He is interested in history. D.He is interested in artwork.

3.What can be inferred about Ian McBride's first comic book he bought 40 years ago?

A.He bought it with the money for pop. B.He bought it after he got six bottles of pop.

C.He made a lot of money by selling it later D.He didn't realize its economic potential then.

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。

Toward midnight, the rain almost stopped, but the strong wind began to blow. Gilbert could only rely on Roger’ sense of direction. Roger’s feet began to be in constantly deepening water.

It was the Brandywine ford (浅滩), no more than eighteen meters across. The stream had overflowed its broad grassland bottom, and was running high and fierce beyond its main river-way. The flood reached his horse’s body. He thought Roger could swim that distance. But soon Gilbert noticed he seemed wrong.

What was that? A strange sound, which was shaking and thundering, even in the breath of the hurrying wind! Roger stood still and shook slightly in every leg. The sound came swiftly nearer, and became a wild roar, filling the whole valley.

“Dam! Dam!” cried Gilbert, “the dam has fallen down!” He turned Roger’s head and the brave horse struggled through the unstoppable flood, but the wave already touched his side.

Roger was still swimming with the wave, desperately throwing up his head from time to time. All at once reaching out his hand, Gilbert felt the rough surface of a tree and drew himself from the saddle (马鞍), while Roger was freed from his burden, struggled into the rapids and instantly disappeared .

At last, though still half drowned in the water, he found himself safe for a time, yet far from a final rescue.

About one hour later Gilbert raised his head, and the moon was low in the west. Above the noise of the water and the whistle of the wind, he heard a familiar sound - the high, sharp neigh (嘶鸣) of a horse. It was Roger that he heard!

He looked around and saw that a man on horseback in the flooded grassland drew nearer, with Roger aside. He cried aloud ― a strange, unnatural cry. The horseman heard it, and soon came to his rescue. However, Gilbert was too exhausted to thank him, or ask how he had found him and where they were going.

Paragraph 1:

“Here’s your savior (救星)!” said the man, patting Roger’s shoulder.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

Hearing these words, Gilbert did not speak but two large tears slowly rolled down his cheeks.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假定你是李华，在新冠疫情期间，你的美国网友Leslie 一直在关心你，并帮助你学习英语。 请给他写一封电子邮件，内容包括：

1.表示感谢；2.回顾Leslie对你的帮助；3.表达祝愿。

参考词汇：新型冠状病毒疫情novel coronavirus outbreak

注意：1. 词数80左右；

2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 开头结尾已写好，不计入总词数。

Dear Leslie,

How is everything going?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Soon the fire was burning bright, and everyone’s spirits lifted. The kids _________ when Dad handed them each a piece of candy, and Mrs. Clark looked on with a(n) _________ that probably hadn’t crossed her face since her husband died last year.

“God bless you,” she said. Dad _________ that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was _________ when they all fit, and I wondered _________ he had known what sizes to get. Dad _________ each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They became attached to(依恋)him and didn’t want us to _________.

At the door, Dad invited Mrs. Clark and the children _________ for Christmas dinner the next day. With a look of deep _________, Mrs. Clark nodded.

On the way back home, Dad explained that he and Mom had ____________ money here and there all year long to buy me a dress for Christmas. But yesterday, when he had seen little Jake with his feet ____________ in gunnysacks(黄麻袋),Dad knew what he had to do. “I ____________ that money on some shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand,” he said.

I understood very ____________. My father had given me a gift much ____________ than a dress. He gave me the look on Mrs. Clark’s face, the smiles of her three children, and the best Christmas ____________ of my life.

1.A.cheered B.hid C.quarrelled D.stared

2.A.tear B.smile C.expression D.behavior

3.A.agreed B.threatened C.insisted D.opposed

4.A.amazed B.satisfied C.afraid D.anxious

5.A.whether B.that C.where D.how

6.A.kissed B.took C.shook D.helped

7.A.stand B.stay C.leave D.visit

8.A.through B.across C.over D.in

9.A.misunderstanding B.seriousness C.admiration D.gratefulness

10.A.found B.borrowed C.paid D.saved

11.A.packed B.wrapped C.cleaned D.protected

12.A.invested B.earned C.spent D.wasted

13.A.well B.little C.poorly D.differently

14.A.less B.cheaper C.prettier D.greater

15.A.intention B.memory C.promise D.journey

How to deal with small fish when catching

Learning how to fish involves more than catching and storing fish. It is often necessary to release a fish, that is, set it free after catching, because it is too small, or you just don’t want to take it home to eat. In some cases, releasing fish is a good measure to keep fish variety and build their population size. 1.

When catching a small fish, do not land it, or pull it out of water. 2.

Hold the fish gently. Do not put your fingers in its eyes. 3. It might cause it to develop a disease and reduce its chance of survival.

4. If the hook (鱼钩) is too deep or hooked in the stomach, cut the line and leave the hook in. The hook left inside will cause no serious problem to the fish.

Take good care of the fish by moving it gently in water. Release the fish when it begins to struggle and is able to swim.

Do not hold fish in a bucket (水桶) or some other containers and later decide to release it. 5.

With a little care and by following the suggestions given above, you can give the released fish a better chance of survival.

A.Pull the fish up quickly.

B.Remove your hook quickly.

C.Use a fishing tool if necessary.

D.Do not wipe the scales (鱼鳞) off the fish.

E.Keep the fish in the water as much as possible.

F.If you are going to release a fish, do so right away.

G.The tips below will make sure the released fish survives.

    It is a sad truth that any health crisis (危机) will lead to a large outbreak of misinformation.

In the 80s, 90s, and 2000s we saw the spread of dangerous lies about AIDS - from the belief that the HIV virus was created by a government laboratory to the idea that it could be treated with goat’s milk. These claims increased risky behaviour and worsened the crisis.

Now, we are surrounded with unreal news - this time around Covid-19 (新冠肺炎). The Economist in March 2020 found 13% of Americans believed Covid-19 was a trick while 49% believed the virus might be man-made. While you might hope that greater brainpower or education would help us to tell facts from lies, it is easy to find examples of many educated people falling for false information. Kelly Brogan, who has a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has refused clear evidence of the virus’s danger in countries like China and Italy and even questioned the health officials.

Part of the problem arises from the nature of the messages themselves. As BBC Future has described in the past, suppliers of false news can make their message feel “truthy” through a few simple tricks, which discourages us from using our critical thinking skills.

For example, a simple image alongside a statement increases our trust in its accuracy (准确)---even if it is only partly related to the statement. Moreover, even the simple repetition of a statement can increase the “truthiness” by increasing feelings of familiarity.

These tricks have long been known by peddlers (传播者) of misinformation, but today’s social media make the spread more easily. Recent evidence shows that many people share information on the Internet without even thinking about its truthfulness and ignoring the obvious question: is it true?

1.How does the author support his ideas in the text?

A.By giving examples. B.By making comparisons.

C.By doing scientific research. D.By explaining statistical data.

2.The author mentions Kelly Brogan in paragraph 3 to prove that ________.

A.Covid-19 is not real but may be man-made

B.plenty of false news crowds into people’s daily life

C.even well-educated people may not tell facts from lies

D.countries like China and Italy have suffered greatly these days

3.People are most likely to believe the false news when ________.

A.it’s unfamiliar to them B.it’s attached with clear evidences

C.it carries several messages at a time D.it includes pictures and repeated statements

4.What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A.Many people share false information to attract more followers.

B.Fake news peddlers have long tricked people into ignoring truth.

C.Some tricks prevent people from applying critical thinking skills.

D.It’s today’s social media that speed up the spread of misinformation.

    National lawmakers are calling for more effective environmental protection of the Qilian Mountains, a vast natural habitat in western China.

The mountains stand across the border between Gansu and Qinghai provinces. The nature reserve became a national protected site in 1988, but hundreds of mines in the area and various construction projects took a toll on the environment.

Thanks to the recovery of the mountains’ environment and greater efforts to protect wildlife, many protected and rare wild animals have been sighted very often in recent years.

The city has also moved away all farmers, herdsmen and one-third of its people who were living in the mountains to a new zone and helped them find jobs in an effort to reduce the pressure on the environment.

Scientific research and advanced technology are key to the restoration (重建) of the mountains’ ecology (生态), said Wang Tao, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources.

Wang said a research center led by the institute was set up last year to focus on ecosystem recovery and the ecological management of the mountains under the influence of global climate change.

The center has begun research to carry out environmental observation and assessment (评估), providing support for the creation of a Qilian Mountains national park, he added.

To better protect the mountains, Wang said, it’s necessary to promote large-scale, rapid observation approach and build a great ecological assessment system in the reserve.

A data-sharing (数据共享) management system should be pushed forward to create a database (数据库) of the mountains, environment, which would support its protection in a scientific way, he added.

1.What does the underlined phrase “took a toll” in the second paragraph mean?

A.protected B.ignored C.harmed D.controlled

2.What’s the purpose of moving away people working and living in the mountains?

A.To create a national park

B.To found a research center.

C.To increase the number of wildlife.

D.To reduce the pressure on the environment.

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A.Rare wild animals can be seen everywhere in the reserve.

B.A research center was established for ecosystem restoration.

C.Since 1988, the Qilian Mountains have been well protected.

D.Many effective laws have been made to protect the environment.

4.What do Wang Tao’s words suggest?

A.An ecological assessment system should be set up.

B.Scientific research plays the biggest part in restoring ecology.

C.Global climate change influences the research on ecological assessment.

D.A data-sharing management system has been widely applied in the reserve.

    Tapping on the windshield (挡风玻璃) to get his attention, I asked, “Is your taxi available?”

He looked up at me, nodding, “I’m sorry. I was reading a letter.”

“I’m in no hurry,” I told him. “Go ahead and finish your letter.”

He shook his head, “I’ve read it several times.”

“Letters from home always mean a lot.” I said.

“This isn’t family.” he replied, “Old Ed was my oldest friend. He was a nice guy.”

“You said ‘was’. Does that mean—?”

He nodded, “Died a few weeks ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

After a brief silence, I heard him repeat: “I should have kept in touch. But things come up and we just don’t seem to find the time.”

“We used to find the time,” he handed the letter over to me. “Take a look.”

The letter began with “Old Friend,” and then referred to the good times they had had together.

“For the last 30 years it’s been mostly just Christmas cards. Never a real letter. I’m not good at writing.” He added.

“It must have made you feel good, didn’t it?” I said.

The driver said something I couldn’t understand. As we were getting close to our destination, I skipped to the last paragraph. It was signed, Your Old Friend, Tom.

“Your friend’s name was Ed. Why did he sign it Tom?”

“I’m Tom,” he explained, looking as if he were trying to see something in the distance.

When I got to my hotel room I didn’t unpack right away. First I had to write a letter and mail it.

1.What can we learn about the driver from the passage?

A.He lost his oldest friend.

B.He never got in touch with his old friend.

C.He thought nothing matters more than friendship.

D.He was so focused on writing a letter in the beginning.

2.What does the underlined “It” refer to?

A.A Christmas card. B.The time spent with Old Ed.

C.The letter the writer was reading. D.The friendship between the driver and his friend.

3.Why did the writer decide to write a letter and mail it right away?

A.Because he missed his friends very much.

B.Because he formed the habit of writing letters.

C.Because he happened to have time to write a letter.

D.Because he didn’t want to have the same regret as the driver.

4.What could be the best title of the passage?

A.A sincere heart. B.A letter never sent.

C.Memories of an old friend. D.All good things must come to an end.

Three-day Tour Arrangement to Cambodia（柬埔寨）

Day 1

Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival, our professional guide and driver will greet you at the airport, and take you to check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city.

Meals: No meals, advice freely available

Accommodation: Tara Angkor (吴哥窟) Hotel

Day 2

Angkor Thom (大吴哥窟) is regarded as the heart of Angkorian relics of Cambodia. After breakfast, we will head for this ancient capital to enjoy the wonderful carvings and sculptures (雕塑) at the south gate.

After that, follow our guide to tour Angkor Wat (小吴哥窟). It is the best-preserved Angkorian relic in the entire country. It is famous for its large number of excellent reliefs (浮雕). Later, we will hike up a mountain to enjoy the sunset view at the Bakheng Temple. A beautiful Apsara Dinner Show awaits you in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

The fantastic sunrise over Angkor Wat should not be missed. Please get up early and have your camera ready to capture the great scenes. After that, we will set out for a private ride to the Banteay Srei Temple. Magical reliefs on its red walls gain the greatest admiration. After visiting a few local villages, we will head back downtown to stop by other sites, Preah Khan Temple, Ta Prohm Temple and Ta Keo Temple.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

1.Which is considered the center of Angkorian relics of Cambodia?

A.Angkor Wat. B.Angkor Thom.

C.Preah Khan Temple. D.Banteay Srei Temple.

2.What can visitors do when touring Angkor Wat?

A.Drive to a private place. B.Admire the ancient Angkorian relic.

C.Host a beautiful Apsara Dinner Show. D.Visit some local villages.

3.What’s the most attractive part in the Banteay Srei Temple?

A.A private ride. B.The hiking in a mountain.

C.The magical reliefs. D.The fantastic sunrise.

假定你是李华，你班的外籍同学Steven将参加学校举行的教师节庆祝活动。希望你能为他推荐一首同学们比较熟悉的英文歌曲。

请你给他写封邮件，内容包括：

1.推荐歌曲；

2.推荐理由(如曲调优美,歌词易懂等)；

3.表达祝愿。

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：曲调melody  歌词lyric

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________