Welcome to my Message Board! | |
Subject: Slimming down classics? | |
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. |
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. |
Ms. Weir 2007-5-12 11:35 AM | I’m director of the online book club. 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! |
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 cautions 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.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
Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture（针灸） | ||
Author: Angela Hicks, John Hicks, Peter Mole | ||
Item | Regular Price | AAMA Practice Member Price |
95—53 | $69．95 | $59．45 |
Description: This exciting textbook gives a clear, detailed, and presentation of the main features of constitutional five element acupuncture treatment. It covers the context and history of this form of acupuncture, as well as the relevant Chinese medicine theory. After examining ★A clear and trustworthy exploration of five element constitutional acupuncture． ★A description of the major aspects of diagnosis within this system, solving inconsistencies(前后矛盾) often present in discussions of these aspects． ★An encouragement of a particular style and approach in acupuncture, of interest to all schools of thought in Chinese medicine． ★Overall revisions keep the material in this book up-to-date． ★New information on calculation of sample size and effect size features material of increasing importance in the field． ★Updating of all references keep the reader current with the latest real-work in the field． ★Additional student activities within the text offer the reader even more help in learning new material or brushing up on the latest． ★New appendix features an exceptional critique(书评) of a published research paper． ★Two-color format makes the text visually appealing． |
1.The above table and passage is mainly_______．
A. an advertisement to persuade people to buy the book
B. a comparison between the five elements and TCM
C. an introduction to the author writing this book
D. an introduction to the book on five elements
2.People who read the book may find it visually appealing in that_______．
A. it is published in traditional Chinese
B. the book has the advantage of two colors in printing
C. overall revisions keep the material in this book up-to-date
D. Practice Member Price is lower than Regular Price
3.Supposing Jack is an AAMA Practice Member and he has bought ten books, how much has he saved compared with Regular Price?
A. 215 dollars B. 105 dollars
C. 195 dollars D. 150 dollars
FOUR BOOKS YOU SHOULD READ | |
Cruel Beautiful World | At age 16 Lucy is a lonely orphan living with older sister Charlotte and devoted aunt Iris in Waltham, Massachusetts. On the last day of school, she runs away with her 30-year-old teacher, William, and settles in a hillside shack in rural Pennsylvania, near his new teaching job. Though Lucy feels increasingly isolated, William won’t allow her any outlet. Leavitt draws upon a real-life crime that involved a girl she knew in high school. She tells her story from multiple viewpoints, building tension and empathy for Lucy and Charlotte as tragedy swallows them. |
Steven Price By Gaslight | Price, an award-winning Canadian poet, achieves an extraordinary achievement of Dickensian storytelling in his weighty second novel. His hero is William Pinkerton, son of the founder of the legendary detective agency, who finds clues in his late father’s safe to the case of William Shade. This mythic thief had disturbed and upset his father. William tracks a Shade accomplice（共犯）, Charlotte Reckitt, to London, only to find she’s been found dead in the Thames. Also on the scene is Adam Foole, who is obsessed with Charlotte, who he met while stealing De Beers diamonds from a South African mine. Price ably arranges dozens of interlinking plotlines as he spans three continents and several decades, from American Civil War battlefields to Scotland Yard at the end of the 19th Century. |
GeFei The Invisibility Cloak | Beijing-based GeFei (pen name for Liu Yong) won the 2015 Mao Dun Literature Prize for fiction “describing the changing spirit of Chinese society” over the past century. The Invisibility Cloak, his first English publication, revolves around Cui, a divorced man who creates customized hi-fi speakers for Beijing’s newly wealthy and a few intellectuals. Beijing’s rapid expansion has left Cui longing for an invisible life away from the city. His chance comes when he agrees to build a world-class sound system for a gangster（黑社会老大）. GeFei’s nice irony, translated from the Chinese by Canaan Morse, should find many fans. |
Tim Harford Messy | The temptation to be neat and tidy may be powerful, but “we would be better served by embracing a degree of mess,” Harford argues. His defense of the creative potential of the imperfect, crude, random, vague, difficult, diverse and even dirty is refreshing. Reaching into the arts, politics, business, science and technology, Harford makes a compelling case for opening up to disorder and luck.
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1.Which author does NOT tell a story in his / her work listed above?
A. Caroline Leavitt B. Steven Price
C. GeFei D. Tim Harford
2.Jack is an American who would like everything to be neat and tidy. He loves reading novels with ironic humor and detective stories. He is going to work and live in Beijing for the next three years, and he is very curious about the place he is soon heading to. Which book will he most likely choose to read now?
A. Cruel Beautiful World B. By Gaslight
C. The Invisibility Cloak D. Messy
3.This page is intended for people who want to ______.
A. buy newly-published books at a discount
B. recommend books to friends and family
C. know what books are worthwhile to read
D. understand the current trend in literature
Suppose you’re in a rush, feeling tired, not paying attention to your screen, and you send an email that could get you in trouble. Realisation will probably set in seconds after you’ve clicked “send”. You freeze in horrors and burn with shame. What to do? Here are four common email accidents, and how to recover.
Clicking “send” too soon
Don’t waste your time trying to find out if the receivers has read it yet. Write another email as swiftly as you can and send it with a brief explaining that this is the correct version and the previous version should be ignored.
Writing the wrong time
The sooner you notice, the better. Respond quickly and briefly, apologizing for your mistake. Keep the tone measured: don’t handle it too lightly, as people can be offended, especially if your error suggests a misunderstanding of their culture(i.e. incorrect ordering of Chinese names).
Clicking “reply all” unintentionally
You accidentally reveal (透露) to entire company what menu choices you would prefer at the staff Christmas dinner, or what holiday you’d like to take. In this instance, the best solution is to send a quick, light-hearted apology to explain your awkwardness. But it can quickly rise to something worse, when everyone starts hitting “reply all” to join in a long and unpleasant conversation. In this instance, step away from your keyboard to allow everyone to calm down.
Sending an offensive message to its subject
The most awkward email mistake is usually committed in anger. You write an unkind message about someone, intending to send it to a friend, but accidentally send it to the person you’re discussing. In that case, ask to speak in person as soon as possible and say sorry. Explain your frustrations calmly and sensibly—see it as an opportunity to clear up any difficulties you may have with this person.
1.If you have written the wrong name in an email, it is best to _______.
A. apologise in a serious manner B. tell the receiver to ignore the error
C. learn to write the name correctly D. send a short notice to everyone
2.What should you do when an unpleasant conversation is started by your “reply all” email?
A. Try offering other choices. B. Avoid further involvement.
C. Meet other staff members. D. Make a light-hearted apology.
3.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Defining email errors. B. Reducing email mistakes.
C. Handling email accidents. D. Improving email writing.
Making these easy tasks part of your morning schedule will improve your nutrition， energy， and mood today﹣and beyond．
6：00 a．m．
STRETCH IN BED
Try this even before you open your eyes． Lift one arm and begin by stretching each finger， then your hand， then your wrist， and then your whole arm． Move on to the other arm． Then stretch your toes， feet，ankles， and legs． Finally， end with a neck and back stretch that propels you out of bed． You've just limbered up your muscles and joints and enhanced blood flow throughout your body， providing a shot of oxygen to all your tissues． Take up the entire length of the bed when you stretch． According to Harvard University psychologist Amy Cuddy， this display of power is typical of a bold person， making you feel more confident all day long．
7：00 a．m．
EXERCISE A BIT﹣ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
Working out before you eat， researchers say， encourages your body to burn more fat for energy rather than relying on carbohydrates from food． In a Journal of Physiology study， participants who exercised after breakfast still gained weight （as did a control group who didn't exercise）， but those who exercised on an empty stomach did not． Moreover， research from the University of Vermont shows that the mood﹣enhancing benefits of a 20﹣minute workout can last for 12 hours， a boost you'll want to enjoy all day long．
BREAK YOUR FAST TWICE
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day， so why not have two？ A study published in the journal Pediatric Obesity tracked the weight and breakfast﹣eating patterns of 584 students over two years． They found that frequent breakfast skippers showed increased odds of becoming overweight or obese compared with those who ate two breakfasts （one at home and one at school）． The sensible takeaway： If you eat more in the morning， you'll be less likely to snack at night， when it's harder to burn off calories．
8：00 a．m．
SEEK OUT GOOD NEWS
In a 2015 study， researchers asked one group of participants to watch just three minutes of positive，solutions﹣focused news （such as a video of a 70﹣year﹣old man who got his graduation certificate after failing the test dozens of times）． These participants were 27 percent more likely to report a few hours later that their day had been "happy" than people who watched negative news in the morning． Study author Gielan also cited substantial evidence that negative moods affect workplace performance．
Voila! You've improved your state of mind， your health， and your productivity﹣all before the weekday has even begun． Now you're ready to conquer your to﹣do list for today and every day．
1.The article is written to ．
A. give professional guidance on keeping fit
B. reveal some research results about health
C. put forward several suggestions for morning routines
D. offer some tips on how to improve workplace performance
2.It is suggested that you should occupy the entire bed when you stretch because it especially ．
A. increases your confidence
B. helps you out of bed easily
C. stimulates your blood circulation
D. has an effect on your overall health
3.Who is least likely to gain weight according to the article？
A. Those who skip breakfasts frequently．
B. Those who do morning stretching in bed．
C. Those who have double breakfasts in the morning．
D. Those who have their breakfast before morning exercise．
Kettlebells do not hurt people. People do. A kettlebell will get your respect – the easy way or the hard way. Here is the easy way.
1. Get a medical clearance.
Get clearance, especially from an orthopedist and a cardiologist. The latter is no joking matter, since kettlebell training can be extremely intense.
2. Always be aware of your surroundings.
Find a training area with a non-slippery surface on which you are not afraid to drop a kettlebell.
The area must be clear of objects you might trip over – including other kettlebells – or that you might hit with a kettlebell. There should be no people or animals in a radius where you could injure them.
3. Train barefoot or wear shoes with a flat, thin sole and room for the toes to spread.
Training barefoot is superior for health and performance reasons. If you must wear shoes, wear Converse Chuck Taylors, Vibram Five Fingers, or similar shoes that have thin soles and do not pinch the toes together. You have sensory receptors on the bottoms of your feet that make you stronger and improve balance and coordination. Wearing traditional shoes diminishes the ability of these receptors to work properly, and therefore inhibits performance and can increase the risk of injury. Go native.
4. Never contest for space with a kettlebell.
Do not try to save a rep that has gone wrong. Guide the kettlebell to fall harmlessly, and move out of the way if necessary. And remember, quick feet are happy feet.
5. Practice all safety measures at all times.
Respect every kettlebell, even the lightest one. Always use perfect form picking up and setting down a kettlebell. The set is not over until the bell is safely parked.
6. Keep moving once your heart rate is high.
After a hard set, keep moving by walking, shadow boxing, or moving your arms to help your heart pump the blood. Stop only when your heart rate is halfway down to normal. Consider getting a heart rate monitor.
7. Don’t put your spine into flexion during or after training.
Forward-bending stretches and slouching after training, harmless as these seem, could injure your back.
Unless counter-indicated, back-bending stretches are recommended following training.
8. Focus on quality, not quantity.
Gray Cook, physical therapist extraordinaire, points out that motor control goes south with fatigue and “the body will always sacrifice quality for quantity.” When you are no longer able to continue with perfect technique, the gig is up.
Instruction cannot cover all possible scenarios and there is no substitute for good judgement. Be a responsible adult, not a victim.
1.What is probably a kettlebell?
A. A domestic appliance. B. An exercise tool.
C. A medical device. D. An offensive weapon.
2.Which of the following is recommended in the passage?
A. Getting the assent of doctors before using a kettlebell.
B. Using a kettlebell when no one is in sight.
C. Persisting until exhaustion when using a kettlebell.
D. Bending your back forward after using a kettlebell.
3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The passage advises caution.
B. A kettlebell comes with a heart rate monitor.
C. It is undesirable to stop immediately after you use a kettlebell.
D. Going barefoot is better than wearing boots when you use a kettlebell.
