Kwame Alexander is a best-selling author of 24 books. His novel in verse (诗体) The Crossover won the Newbery Medal in 2015, and was followed by another verse novel in 2016, Booked. In the just-released The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life, Alexander aims to inspire readers to dream big and reach for their goals.
Time For Kids:
What can you tell us about The Playbook?
Kwame Alexander:
I wanted to write a book about how important it is to persevere (坚持) and accept the challenges that come, because they only make you stronger. And I wanted to do it in a really cool and fun way, using sports as a metaphor (隐喻), so students would be interested in reading a book that is telling them how to make their lives better.
TFK:
Where did you get the idea for the book?
Alexander:
In The Crossover, the father of the main characters, Josh and Jordan, gives them these rules for life, called Basketball Rules. Well, I was having breakfast with a friend of mine in New York City. He said, “Kwame, I love those Basketball Rules you have in The Crossover. You should think about writing a whole book on those.” That’s where it all began.
TFK:
Is it hard to mix sports and poetry (诗歌)?
Alexander:
I love sports, and I’ve been writing poetry since I was a kid. So those two things are as natural to me as breathing, laughing and walking.
TFK:
You’ve said teachers need to make learning poetry fun. Did you have a teacher like this as a kid?
Alexander:
My mom. She read poetry to my sisters and me when I was a kid, and she would make the words jump off the page!
TFK:
What advice would you give to young writers?
Alexander:
Read everything you can get your hands on. The best way to become a good writer is to read what other people have written.
1.What can we learn about The Playbook?
A.It is a historical novel.
B.It won the Newbery Medal.
C.It is actually about rules for life.
D.It is based on Alexander’s true life.
2.Who inspired Alexander to write The Playbook?
A.His mom who read poetry to him.
B.The teacher who taught him poetry.
C.His friend who read The Crossover.
D.The two characters in The Crossover.
3.When Alexander was a kid, how did he feel about poetry?
A.It was rather boring. B.It was quite difficult.
C.It was pretty mysterious. D.It was very interesting.
4.In Alexander’s mind, what’s important to become a good writer?
A.Always dream big.
B.Gladly accept challenges.
C.Read as much as possible.
D.Have a wide knowledge of poetry.
假如你是澳大利亚男孩 Tom, 你的朋友李华来信向你咨询如何才能学好英语。请根据下列要点给李华写封建议信。
1、参加英语课堂活动；
2、看英语书刊，看英语电视；
3、学唱英语歌曲；
4、交外国朋友，在网上和他们用英语聊天。
注意：1、词数不少于100。
2、可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Li Hua,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Tom
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Though Chinese is 1.(old) than English, English is spoken 2. many people around the world every day. English speakers are always 3.(make) new words and we should be able to know where most words come from.
Sometimes, however, no one may 4.(real) know where a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers are called hamburgers, especially when they are not made with ham? About a hundred years ago, some 5.(man) went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany 6.(call) Hamburg.
They did not speak good English, 7. they ate good food. When some Americans saw them 8.(eat) round pieces of beef, they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans did not understand the question and answered, ＂We came from Hamburg.＂ One of these Americans owned 9. restaurant, and had an idea. He cooked some round pieces of the beef like the man from Hamburg ate and 10.(sell) them in many countries around the world.
I will never forget the two impressive things that happened last winter. One of my classmates and I were_______ our project work late one night on my university’s campus far from home. Since there was_______ in the forecast, I had worn a winter_______ to school that day with a raincoat in my bag.
Throughout our work on the project, I could_______ that my friend was tired from a very long day working. As we stepped outside to begin the_______ walk home hand in hand, I_______ she was trembling(颤抖).The temperature had dropped to the low thirties(Fahrenheit) and she_______ had a sweater on. I_______ offered her my warm jacket. She accepted it and asked what I_______ wear then. I told her I had another one and pretended that my________ was a jacket. She said later that she________ the next morning and the first thing on her mind was feeling moved about my________ of the jacket.
Coincidentally (碰巧),the next day I went to an open-air play and I was freezing________ I didn’t expect it to be so________ A person who I hardly________ insisted that I wear his jacket. I was________ touched by this warm gesture. He was so matter-of-fact(不带感情的)about me________ his coat, too; he simply took it off and handed it to me saying that I should________ it. I used to think that this vast universe was a cold________ It turns out that even when the temperature drops low, the people never________ to warm each other’s hearts.
1.A.starting B.destroying C.showing D.doing
2.A.rain B.fog C.snow D.cloud
3.A.suit B.jacket C.cap D.mask
4.A.think B.guess C.see D.check
5.A.easy B.short C.safe D.long
6.A.heard B.believed C.noticed D.expected
7.A.bravely B.nearly C.only D.usually
8.A.suddenly B.immediately C.madly D.calmly
9.A.would B.could C.should D.might
10.A.blouse B.sweater C.dress D.raincoat
11.A.ran away B.woke up C.fell ill D.got hurt
12.A.sale B.size C.color D.offer
13.A.though B.until C.since D.if
14.A.warm B.cold C.sunny D.dark
15.A.knew B.mattered C.loved D.blamed
16.A.deeply B.wrongly C.finally D.firmly
17.A.envying B.watching C.holding D.wearing
18.A.keep B.buy C.borrow D.throw
19.A.environment B.place C.wind D.situation
20.A.allow B.help C.refuse D.stop
How to make friends at a new school
Starting with a new school can be difficult. Everything seems to be different, and you don’t even know where to go for your own classes. 1. However, if you use these skills, you can quickly turn some of those strangers into friends.
Be yourself.
2. If some people don’t accept you, they’re not the kind of friends you need. People often stay together because they have similar interests. For example, someone who does a lot of sport may make friends with those who also run or swim a lot.
3.
Remember to be nice to the people you meet at your new school. If you think that you will say something that may make them feel sad, do not say anything and just nod your head if they talk to you. Also, remember to be as helpful as possible!
Believe in yourself.
A smile goes a long way. When you walk in the halls, don’t keep your eyes on the floor. Raise your head and make eye contact(目光接触) with other people. 4. Introduce yourself. Tell them your name and where you’re from.
Remember people’s names.
You like it when people use your name, and so do other people. 5. Besides, ask them in a kind way if they have a nickname(昵称). You’d be surprised how often this might come in handy.
A. People may become angry if you just begin by saying “Hey” each time.
B. Be friendly to others.
C. Join afterschool activities you like.
D. Making new friends can be hard, too.
E. Don’t sit at the back of the classroom where other people don’t notice you!
F. If you see someone you know, smile or say “Hi”.
G. Never change who you are to try and fit in.
Most Chinese people these days know what it is like to have an "English teacher",since almost all pupils study English from their third year.Usually that first English teacher will be a young and lovely lady in primary school.But my first English teacher is no other than my father.Looking back,I can see that,when I was only a little girl,he created an English environment by providing me with flashcards（识字卡）,fun English-language toys and even dolls which can sing English songs!My interest in English had certainly been awakened（唤起）when I began to learn English at school.Just imagine,he went a step further and asked me to learn New Concept English by myself!I was confused（迷惑不解）and had much anger.I could not understand why a father could be so strict with his little girl.All the same,he never gave up and he gently insisted that I follow through with his ideas.At first,I read stories with tears in my eyes and I actually hated them because they were too difficult for me.In the end,I came.to love the funny stories and,to be honest,my father was always there with a helping hand.I am sure that my English would never have got so far without his support.And that's why my father is not only my first English teacher but also my lifelong teacher.He is the one who awoke my interest,who gave me confidence and who offered me much needed help.
1.Which of the following wasn't used by the father to create an English environment?
A.Flashcards. B.Fun English-language toys.
C.Dolls singing English songs. D.English books.
2.How did the author feel when she was asked to learn New Concept English?
A.Happy. B.Angry.
C.Excited. D.Amazed.
3.It can be known from the text that .
A.the author's father is an English teacher
B.the author was interested in English after she learned New Concept English
C.the author's English wouldn't be so good without her father's help
D.the author had no difficulty when she first learned New Concept English
4.What could be the best title for the text?
A.My First and Lifelong English Teacher B.Different Ways to Learn English
C.My Good English D.Learn English or Not?
