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Welcome to my Message Board! |
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Subject: Slimming down classics? |
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Mr. Handsome 2007-5-12 6: 34 AM |
Orion Books, which decides there is a market in creating cut-down classics (经典著作), is slimming down some novels by such great writers as L. Tolstoy, M. Mitchell and C. Bronte. Now, each of them has been whittled down to about 400 pages by cutting 30 to 40 pages percent of original, with words, sentences, paragraphs and, in a few cases, chapters removed. The first six shortened editions, all priced at ￡6.99 and advertised as great reads “in half the time”, will go on sale next month, with plans for 50 to 100 more to follow. The publishing house believes that modern readers will welcome the shorter versions. |
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Mr. Edwards 2007-5-12 9: 40 AM |
Well, I’m publisher of Orion Group. Thanks for your attention, Mr. Handsome. I must say, the idea developed from a game of “shame” in my office. Each of us was required to confess (承认) to the most embarrassing blanks in his or her reading. I admitted that I had never read Anna Karenina and tried but failed to get through Gone with the Wind several times. One of my colleagues acknowledged skipping (跳读) Jane Eyre. We realized that life is too short to read all the books you want to and we never were going to read these ones. As a leading publishing house, we are trying to make classics convenient for readers but it’s not as if we’re withdrawing the original versions. They are still there if you want to read them. |
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Ms. Weir 2007-5-12 11:35 AM |
I’m director of the online book club www.lovereading.co.uk. Mr. Edwards, I think your shortened edition is a breath of fresh air. I’m guilty of never having read Anna Karenina, because it’s just so long. I’d much rather read two 300-page books than one 600-page book. I am looking forward to more shortened classics! |
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Mr. Crockatt 2007-5-12 4:38 PM |
I’m from the London independent bookshop Corckatt & Powell. In my opinion, the practice is completely ridiculous. How can you edit the classics? I’m afraid reading some of these books is hard work, and that is why you have to develop as a reader. If people don’t have time to read Anna Karenina, then fine. But don’t read a shortened version and kid yourself it’s the real thing. |
1.According to the message board, Orion Books ____________ .
A. opposes the reading of original classics B. is embarrassed for cutting down classics
C. thinks cut-down classics have a bright future D. is cautious in its decision to cut down classics
2.In Mr. Edwards’ opinion, Orion Group is shortening classics to ____________.
A. make them easier to read B. meet a large demand in the market
C. increase the sales of literary books D. compete with their original versions
3.By describing the shortened classics as “a breath of fresh air”, Ms. Weir____________.
A. speaks highly of the cut-down classics B. shows her love for original classics
C. feels guilty of not reading the classics D. disapprove of shortening the classics
4.Mr. Crockatt seems to imply that ____________.
A. reading the classic works is a confusing attempt
B. shortening the classics does harm to the original
C. publishing the cut-down classics is a difficult job
D. editing the classic works satisfies children’s needs
5.How many classics are involved in the massage board?
A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five.
Free and secure accommodation, no bills and even the odd home-cooked meal. It sounds like the perfect living arrangement for cash-strapped(缺乏现金的) students.
Two mothers believe they have devised a way for struggling students to save on accommodation costs when they leave home to study at university.
Kate Barnham and Amanda Flude have launched Student Swaps, an online accommodation forum (论坛) for parents and students, in advance of the introduction in September of ￡3,000 higher education top-up fees.
Their website says, “The principle behind Student Swaps is to enable students to literally swap (交换) family homes.” The website will hold a database of students who would like to swap and link them with suitable matches. So those from one town / city could swap with those from a different town / city.
The site describes itself as offering a “cost-free accommodation alternative… at a time of growing student debt”. There is no charge for the service at the moment but Ms Barnham and Ms Flude intend to introduce a ￡10 annual fee if it becomes established.
However, the National Union of Students (NUS) has warned that, while the scheme may sound appealing to struggling freshers, it lacks any formal regulation.
Veronica King, NUS vice-president of welfare, said, “The fact that this scheme has even been suggested is evidence to the high levels of debt students now face on graduation.” Recent research has shown that students are more likely to live at home in coming years, in a bid to cut down on the cost of a degree.
“This is worrying, as it may mean that students choose their university on the basis of where it is, rather than because it offers the best course for them. It also means students will miss out on what is for some a key part of the student experience-living away from home.”
1.A “cash-strapped” student means one who __________.
A. lacks money B. prefers to stay at home
C. is careful with money D. wants to change cash
2.What is Kate Barnham and Amanda Flude’s purpose of launching Student Swaps?
A. To provide cheaper accommodation for students.
B. To let students stay close to their universities.
C. To help students spend less on accommodation costs.
D. To let students exchange ideas freely online.
3.What can students do on Student Swaps?
A. They can find students to exchange homes with.
B. They can make friends with students from a different city.
C. They can borrow money to pay for their higher education.
D. They can voice their opinions against the rising cost of a degree.
4.Now many students would prefer a university _________.
A. which can give them free accommodation B. which is not far away from their homes
C. which offers the best courses D. which can offer home-cooked meals
5.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. High Cost Troubles University Students in UK.
B. Students Swaps is Welcomed by Students in UK.
C. Two Mothers’ Good Intention to Help Students in UK.
D. Website Helps Students Live at Someone Else’s Home.
Most people want to know how things are made. They honestly admit, however, that they hardly know a thing when it comes to understanding how a piece of music is made. Where a composer begins, how he manages to keep going – in fact, how and when he learns his trade – all are covered in complete darkness. The composer, in short, is a man of mystery.
One of the first things the common man wants to know about is the part inspiration（灵感）plays in a composer’s work. He finds it difficult to believe that composers are not much interested in that question. Writing music is as natural for the composer as eating or sleeping for all. Music is something that the composer happens to have been born for.
The composer, therefore, does not say to himself: “Do I feel inspired?” He says to himself: “Do I feel like working today?” And if he feels like working, he does. It is more or less like saying to himself: “Do I feel sleepy?” if you feel sleepy, you go to sleep. If you don’t feel sleepy, you stay up. If the composer doesn’t feel like working, he doesn’t work. It’s as simple as that.
1.What would be the best title for the text?
A. Composer: a man of mystery B. Practice makes good music
C. Relation between sleeping and music D. Music: product of nature
2.The words “covered in complete darkness” underlined in paragraph 1 most probably mean .
A. difficult to be made B. without any light C. black in color D. not known
3.Most people seem to think that a composer .
A. finds it difficult to write music B. considers it important to have a good rest
C. should like to talk about inspiration D. never asks himself very simple questions
4.The author will most probably agree that composers .
A. are born with a gift for music B. are people full of mystery
C. work late at night for their music D. know a lot about eating and sleeping
5.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. How the music produces.
B. How secret the composer’s work.
C. Why the composer is so popular with people.
D. What the composer often thinks about.
阅读下面短文, 按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空, 并将答案填写在答题纸标号为的相应位置上。
Do you know parents of high school students who come to the rescue whenever their son or daughter is ____1.____ a tough situation? Have they tried to negotiate with the school for a different teacher or a better grade?
If so, they may be helicopter parents, ____2.____are always prepared to rush to schools to rescue their children from any adversity(逆境). College admissions office began using this nickname a few years ago ___3.____they noticed that parents were becoming___4.___（increase）involved in the daily lives of their college-age children.
Actually, helicopter parents cause many problems__5.__different stages of development. For example, __6.___ can hinder(妨碍;阻碍) a child’s ability to develop his or her own motivation, self-confidence or sense of responsibility. ___7.___should Johnny make the effort to remember his violin if he knows that Dad will bring it to school? Moreover, students who haven’t had the opportunity to smooth away their own obstacles（障碍）----whether social or academic----emerge(出现) from adolescence poorly___8.__（equip）to handle the demands of college and adulthood.
___9.__, I think it is wise to be mindful of the importance of teaching self-reliance and responsibility, and that requires letting children experience the life lessons and ___10.___（consequent）of their actions.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，
选出最佳选项。
It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas, but I had to stay to tidy the office. The only thing that _1_ my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a _2_ sent to me by a fellow I was dating—a dozen long-stemmed red roses.
Suddenly, our receptionist came and said there was a lady outside that urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young _3_ woman with a baby in her arms standing there. 4_ , she explained that her husband—a prisoner in a nearby prison—was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and _5_ he had never seen his son. So she _6_ me to let her wait here ahead of time. I agreed. After all , it was Christmas Eve.
A short time later, her husband arrived—with chains on his feet, cuffs on his hands, and two armed guards _7_ him. The woman’s tired face _8_ when her husband took a seat beside her. I watched them laugh, cry, and share their _9_ . He seemed like a gentle and honest man.
At the end of the _10_ , the man had to go back and I wished him a Merry Christmas. He smiled and thanked me and said he felt saddened by the fact that he hadn’t been able to get his wife _11_ for Christmas. On hearing this, I was _12_ with a wonderful idea.
I’ll never forget the _13_ on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed red roses. I’m not sure who _14_ the most joy—the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this _15_ moment.
1.A. enjoyed B. brightened C. relaxed D. presented
2.A. gift B. regards C. message D. package
3.A. ordinary-looking B. good-looking C. tired-looking D. frightened-looking
4.A. Happily B. Quietly C. Excitedly D. Nervously
5.A. why B. how C. that D. when
6.A. persuaded B. demanded C. begged D. pleased
7.A. near B. around C. behind D. before
8.A. turned pale B. went red C. lit up D. turned away
9.A. child B. tears C. joy D. sorrows
10.A. meeting B. appointment C. discussion D. conversation
11.A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything
12.A. encouraged B. struck C. provided D. inspired
13.A. sadness B. happiness C. look D. smiles
14.A. experienced B. received C. gave D. accepted
15.A. unforgettable B. sad C. happy D. special
I really appreciate ____to relax with you on this nice island.
A．to have had time B. having time C. to have time D.to having time
