Writing a Short Story
Stephen King said, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time to write.” That means, if you’ve never read a short story, it will be difficult to write one. Writing a short story is a popular hobby for a lot of people. 1.Writing a good story is not easy, but it is certainly worth doing it. How to write a short story? Here are some steps you should take to write a good story.
Step 1
Every story starts with an idea. Start by thinking about the things that you enjoy. 2.Other ideas can come from thinking about subjects that you’d like to know more about.
Step 2
Once you have an idea, you can then decide who your main characters are going to be. Consider having both a hero and villain (恶棍) in your story. This will help to keep your readers interested.
Step 3
3.Most writers plan their stories by creating an outline. It should describe the main events that happen. This will help anyone who reads the story to follow its events.
Step 4
Now that you have your outline, it is time to start writing. Follow your outline and write your short story. At this point, your story does not have to be perfect.4.Then you can make some more detail information, this will help you understand what your story is about.
Step 5
The story you have written is your first draft(草稿), the next step is to read though it and revise (修改). After your self-revision, it’s time to get some advice about your story.5.Finally，you should now have a well-written story.
A．You will go back and improve it later.
B．Before you start, you need to plan your story.
C．It is also an excellent way to express creative idea.
D．These activities are very good subjects to base your stories on.
E．Have others read your story so they can make suggestions for you to improve your story.
Boston
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
“Chairs”
February 11--May 8, 2017
Italian furniture expert Fausto Calderai and Indian photographer Dayanita Singh present an exhibition of chairs from the museum’s collection and “chair photographs” from around the world presented in a Venetian-style hall housing world-famous masterpieces.
For more information: www.gardnermuseum.org
New York
The Noguchi Museum
“Noguchi and Graham”
December 1, 2016--May 1, 2017
Noguchi’s long-term collaboration with dancer Martha Graham is regarded by many as a high point in the history of both modern dance and art. The exhibition highlights nine of the sets created through this collaboration.
For more information: www.noguchi.org
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
“In Full View: American Painting(1720--2017)”
January 11--April 10, 2017
Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy has been home to America’s artists for 200 years. The Academy collects and exhibits the works of famous American artists, and is well-known for training fine artists. It is the largest exhibition of Academy’s distinguished American collection in the institution’s history.
For more information: www.pafA.org
Seattle
Seattle Museum of Glass
“Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection”
November 7, 2017
This exhibition includes over 200 pieces of beautiful glass from Murano, the island of glassblowers near Venice, Italy. Watch live glass-blowing shows in the Hot Shop and see other modern glass exhibitions.
For more information: www.museumofglass.org
1.Which of the following websites offers information about the furniture show?
A. www. pafA. org B. www. museumofglass.org
C. www. noguchi.org D. www. gardnermuseum.org
2.We learn from the text that Martha Graham is _____.
A. a dancer B. a glassblower
C. a painter D. a photographer
3.If you want to know the history of American painting, you may visit _____.
A. the Noguchi Museum B. Seattle Museum of Glass
C. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum D. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
4.If you want to watch live glass-blowing shows, you can go to _____.
A. Philadelphia B. Boston C. Seattle D. New York
5.We can go to the museums of the 4 cities above except ______.
A. February 15, 2017 B. May 10, 2017
C. December 10, 2016 D. April 8, 2017
The baby is just one day old and has not left hospital yet. She is quiet but alert（警觉）. The researchers have placed a white card with two black spots on it twenty centimeters from her face. She stares at it carefully.
A researcher removes the card and replaces it by another one, this time with the spots differently spaced. As the cards change from one to the other, her gaze（凝视）starts to lose its focus until a third card is presented. The third card has three black spots on it. Her gaze returns: she looks at it for twice as long as she did at the previous card. Can she tell that the number two is different from three, just 24 hours after coming into the world? Or do newborns simply prefer more to fewer?
The same experiment, but with three spots shown before two, shows the same return of interest when the number of spots changes. Perhaps it is just the newness? When a little older babies were shown cards with pictures of objects (a comb, a key, an orange and so on), changing the number of objects had an effect separate from changing the objects themselves. Could it be the pattern that two things make, as opposed to three? No again.
Babies paid more attention to squares moving randomly on a screen when their number changed from two to three, or three to two. The effect even crosses between senses. Babies who were repeatedly shown two spots became more excited when they then heard three drumbeats （鼓声）than when they heard just two; likewise（同样地）when the researchers started with drumbeats and moved to spots.
1.The experiment described in Paragraph 1 is mainly about the baby’s ______.
A. sense of hearing B. sense of sight C. sense of touch D. sense of smell
2.What does the underlined word it in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. the card B. the baby C. the comb D. the key
3.According to the passage, babies have a strong sense of changing in ______.
A. the size of cards B. the colour of pictures C. the shape of patterns
D. the number of objects
4.Why did the researchers test the babies with drumbeats?
A. To reduce the difficulty of the experiment.
B. To see how babies recognize sounds.
C. To carry their experiment further.
D. To keep the babies’ interest.
5.Where does this passage probably come from?
A. Science fiction. B. Children’s literature.
C. An advertisement. D. A science report
It was on her 14th birthday that her first book, In the Forests of the Night, was put into publication （出版）. At 16, her second book, Demon in My View, also reached the bookstore. Several books later, the teenage writer still works away in her room, in which were shelves full of dark stories about vampires （吸血鬼）and witches （巫婆）. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes is seen as America’s finest teen writer and was named one of Teen People’s “20 Teens Who will Change the World”.
Born in 1984, she began making up stories when she was three years old. Amelia said: “I love stories and can make up stories before I was told enough to know how to write them down.”
In her family, reading was great fun. “My parents encouraged me to read and to read anything I wanted, so long as I was reading,” she said. “They never stop what I read and never make me read the books I don’t enjoy. Later, when I started writing, they never told me that I was ‘too young to do that’. They never said it was impossible for me to get what I want. ”
In her short but successful career, Amelia has tried different stories. But vampires were the first characters to really come alive in her work. From then on, she has developed a whole world, one which she always enjoys learning more about.
Amelia’s advice to the teen writers is: just do it! “I believe anything is possible. Don’t give up on your dreams. Getting a book published is difficult but if I can do it, others can do it too. ”
1.When can readers find the book, Demon in My View, in the bookstore？
A. In 1984. B. In 1987. C. In 1998. D. In 2000.
2.Why did Amelia begin to write stories?
A. Her parents told her to do so.
B. She was a born writer.
C. She wanted to get the name “20 Teens Who will Change the World”.
D. She wanted to start a successful career.
3.Why are the shelves of books in her room important in her life?
A. She needs books to fill her room.
B. She liked to copy these wonderful books.
C. Books can give her new ideas for her own stories.
D. Books are interesting and enjoyable.
4.Which is the meaning of the underlined sentence?
A. I love stories but don’t have enough stories to write down.
B. I write stories and tell my stories to other people.
C. I write my own stories before I learn how to do it in school.
D. I wrote my stories first, my parents told me to do it second.
5.Which is Amelia’s parents’ attitude (态度)?
A. They are at her back and help her a lot.
B. They encourage her and help her write some stories.
C. They buy enough books for her and read these books for her.
D. They never tell her that she is too young to read.
One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the poor to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elder, short man, whose hair was disorder. He was wearing an old hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We carefully began a conversation and spoke about a lot of things. We never introduced ourselves. I thought that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee. I asked, “May I get you something?”
“A coffee would be nice.”
Then I bought him a cup of coffee, we talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee. Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and went to the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,
“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”
“Who?”
“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”
I could hardly believe it. I was talking, buying coffee, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world's richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.
1.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 1 “disorder” mean?
A. unfriendly B. untidy C. gentle D. kind
2.The author bought coffee for the old man because ______.
A. he thought the old man was poor B. he wanted to start a conversation
C. he wanted to show his politeness D. he would like to thank the old man
3.How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?
A. Proud. B. Excited. C. Surprised. D. Angry.
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The writer entered the restaurant to have lunch.
B. The old man was one of the world's richest and most powerful men.
C. The writer and the old man introduced themselves.
D. The old man had no money and couldn’t afford something to eat.
5.What is the best title for the passage?
A. To see is to believe B. Success doesn't come easy
C. A wise head makes a close mouth D. Don’t judge a person by his appearance
A rabbit named Bunny lived in a village near a forest. He was very clever and he never gave up _______. He chose a dead tree and made a home in the roots. People _______him singing in the morning every day. As soon as the sun shone on his door, he left his home and went across a bridge to the_______. He looked for some food there.
One morning, while he was getting ready to sing as usual, a big storm began. It rained_______. What was worse, the bridge was_______. Bunny was very hungry, but there was no food in his home. He needed to ______ to find some food. He couldn’t swim, so how could he find food in such a storm?
After thinking for a long time, he finally came up with a good idea. He thought he would solve the_______ successfully. He decided to ________a boat with some lotus leaves. Here is his plan:
l.First: Search for some lotus leaves by the pond. If necessary, ask the frogs to help him.
l Second: Tie the lotus leaves together to make a little boat.
l At last: Get into the boat. Be careful in the storm and don’t be afraid at all.
So, Bunny, the wise rabbit,________the river in the boat carefully. His plan was so _______that he arrived at the forest after only an hour. There he found some food and then he went home happily. He had a big meal and began to sing as usual.
1.A. hardly B. really C. slowly D. easily
2.A. tasted B. smelt C. heard D. felt
3.A. forest B. farm C. garden D. park
4.A. quickly B. heavily C. badly D. greatly
5.A. opened B. stolen C. broken D. lost
6.A. go out B. come back C. get off D. give away
7.A. danger B. accident C. problem D. question
8.A. buy B. borrow C. bring D. make
9.A. ran B. walked C. climbed D. crossed
10.A. funny B. successful C. convenient D. different
