It happened to me recently that I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father and how it had changed my views of the current US president. The person I was talking to agreed with me that it was, in his words, “a wonderfully written book”. However, he then proceeded to talk about Mr. Obama in a way that suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that he is not the only one. Clearly two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t. In the World Book Day survey, Dreams from My Father is at number 9. The survey lists top ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading. As I’m not one to lie too often, I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire ten books. But I am pleased to say that I have read the book at number one, George Orwell’s 1984. I think it’s absolutely outstanding.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to impress someone they were speaking to. This could be difficult if the conversation became more in depth!
The World Book Day survey also has some other interesting information in it. It shows that many people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens and so on. But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, they named J.K. Rowling, Jilly Cooper, and Stephen King (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-one percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story.
So which books have you lied about reading — if any — and which is your favourite?
1．The main reason why people lie about reading is to _________.
A. make fun of the listener B. impress the listener
C. please the listener D. interest the listener
2．The underlined word “proceeded” in the passage probably means “_________”.
A. wanted B. happened C. continued D. stopped
3．What does the World Book Day survey show?
A. Nearly half of the people surveyed didn’t read through a whole classical book.
B. People don’t like Dreams from My Father and George Orwell’s 1984.
C. Few people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen.
D. People usually enjoy reading books by Charles Dickens.
4．What is the best title for the passage?
A. Are You a Book Liar? B. Readers Are All Liars
C. World Book Day D. Dreams from My Father
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入的最佳选项。
It was a cold winter morning. Half asleep at the train station, I stared into the distance, 31 for the train to take me to my 32 in Boston. The world was quiet. The very few people on the street kept to themselves, 33 their steaming cups of coffee.
Reaching into my pocket as the 34 was approaching, my numb hand searched for the $ 20 bill to pay my fare. The pocket was 35 ! I searched through my bag and then I felt 36 . Unless the money dropped from the sky, I’d be 37 there.
“What’s the matter?” A short, elderly man stood before me.
“Oh, nothing…Well, I 38 my money and now I can’t pay for the ticket. I’m going to 39 my math class and the train is leaving.”
“Here, use this.”
The man held a $ 20 bill. I looked up, 40 . People just didn’t do that any more. Everyone worried about their own 41 , rarely stopping to think about others, especially teenage strangers.
“Thank you, but no, I can’t.”
“ 42 it—go!” The man pushed me 43 the train. I bought a round-trip ticket, and he refused the change I 44 to give him back. I did not know what to say — a million thoughts raced through my mind, yet I stood 45 .
For the train ride I was silent. I began to see the world through 46 eyes. That man made a difference with such a simple 47 .
A week later I was at the train station again, with an extra $20 48 I saw the man. And there he was.
“Excuse me, sir, I believe I owe you this.” I 49 the money into his hand.
Failing to refuse, he said, “Just remember to do the same for someone in your shoes some day.” I smiled, 50 .
The elderly man is my hero. For many, heroes are famous, but my hero is a giving stranger who taught me a lesson in life. I will never forget his kindness.
1.A. watching B. looking C. reaching D. arranging
2.A. home B. class C. office D. factory
3.A. serving B. carrying C. minding D. making
4.A. chance B. crowd C. driver D. train
5.A. deep B. empty C. messy D. tight
6.A. hopeless B. useless C. relieved D. dissatisfied
7.A. blocked B. drawn C. stuck D. tied
8.A. wasted B. counted C. spent D. lost
9.A. miss B. skip C. fail D. stop
10.A. frightened B. disturbed C. surprised D. concerned
11.A. problems B. complaints C. positions D. challenges
12.A. Seize B. Get C. Catch D. Take
13.A. in B. beyond C. toward D. on
14.A. offered B. managed C. happened D. attempted
15.A. unconsciously B. silently C. seriously D. uncomfortably
16.A. curious B. changed C. bright D. widened
17.A. task B. act C. example D. performance
18.A. so that B. even if C. now that D. in case
19.A. dropped B. pushed C. pressed D. placed
20.A. content B. scared C. annoyed D. numb
The disaster-stricken village was inaccessible ___________ by helicopter, and the storm added to the rescuers’ difficulty.
A. instead of B. other than C. rather than D. regardless of
My parents always remind me to make sure the electricity is turned off while I am having a bath, which would _____________ cause danger, leading to a dreadful consequence.
A. somehow B. meanwhile C. otherwise D. furthermore
According to the rules，all drivers ________ this traffic accident are to be taken to the police station to make their statements.
A. sensitive to B. relevant to C. accessible to D. due to
While the government says there is a(n) ________supply of houses，prices of apartments have been going up these years.
A. parallel B. absent C. abundant D. short
