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 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: Insider 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 ----- 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. Funny and touching. B. Ordinary and happy.
C. Exciting and complex. D. Boring and lonely.
2.Why did Rebecca Scott write In the Days of Rain?
A. To pass on her family traditions.
B. To share the life of fundamentalist Christians.
C. To help her father fulfill his last wish.
D. To introduce beliefs of the Exclusive Brethren.
3.For a young adventurous soul, which book seems more appealing?
A. The Explorer. B. Insider the Wave.
C. In the Days of Rain. D. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine .
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What does Carl think of his music life?
A. Interesting but busy. B. Helpful but boring. C. Worthwhile but tiring.
2.What is Carl’s problem at the moment?
A. Finding it hard to succeed.
B. Being tired of working early.
C. Lacking time to write songs.
3.Why would Carl go to a quiet place?
A. To be free from his work.
B. To locus on his songwriting.
C. To gain some life experience.
4.How would Carl probably enjoy himself if he had no work to do?
A. By going shopping. B. By talking with friends. C. By traveling around the world.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why does the woman come to Manchester?
A. To watch a concert. B. To visit a friend. C. To give a performance.
2.How did the woman feel when she first sang in public?
A. Nervous. B. Happy. C. Disappointed.
3.When will the woman go to clubs?
A. Tomorrow. B. This evening. C. This weekend.
4.Who is Dean?
A. The woman’s boyfriend. B. A club owner. C. A newspaper reporter.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How many showers has the man already taken today?
A. One. B. Two. C. Three.
2.What does the woman suggest the man do?
A. He should clean up the bathroom.
B. He should sweep the house.
C. He should take a quick shower.
3.What did Michael tell the woman?
A. Water supply in cities is endless.
B. Water shortages happen everywhere.
C. It’s no good taking more than one shower a day.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why is the man’s blue shirt no longer suitable for him?
A. He’s put on much weight. B. He thinks it’s too old. C. He’s grown taller.
2.What does the woman think of the man?
A. Lucky. B. Busy. C. Lazy.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What happened to the man?
A. He broke a machine.
B. He failed to ask the shop owner for help.
C. He couldn’t get the change back from the machine.
2.What does the woman suggest the man do?
A. Call the police. B. Rock the machine. C. Call the number on the machine.
