I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child. Stories were like air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties, I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.
My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old .It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.
As I grew older and became a mother, the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life. I had several children and books were our main source(来源) of entertainment. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library, where my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.
I always read ,using different voices ,as though I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it !It was a special time to bond with my children and it filled them with the wonderment of books .
Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on form generation to generation.
As a novelist, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book. I see libraries as a safe haven(避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book. Libraries, in their own way, help fight book piracy(盗版行为) and 1 think all writers should support libraries in a significant way when they can. Encourage readers to use the library. Share library announcements on your social media. Frequent them and talk about them when you can.
1.Which word best describes the author’s relationship with books as a child?
A.Cooperative. B.Uneasy. C.Inseparable. D.Casual.
2.What does the underlined phrase “an added meaning” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.Pleasure from working in the library.
B.Joy of reading passed on in the family.
C.Wonderment from acting out the stories.
D.A closer bond developed with the readers.
3.What does the author call on other writers to do?
A.Sponsor book fairs. B.Write for social media.
C.Support libraries. D.Purchase her novels.
4.Which can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Reading: A Source of Knowledge
B.My Idea about writing
C.Library: A Haven for the Young
D.My Love of the Library
When you were trying to figure out what to buy for the environmentalist on your holiday list, fur probably didn’t cross your mind. But some ecologists and fashion (时装)enthusiasts are trying to bring back the market for fur made from nutria(海狸鼠).
Unusual fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn have(showcased)nutria fur made into clothes in different styles. “It sounds crazy to talk about guilt-free fur-unless you understand that the nutria are destroying vast wetlands every year”, says Cree McCree, project director of Righteous Fur.
Scientists in Louisiana were so concerned that they decided to pay hunters $5 a tail. Some of the fur ends up in the fashion shows like the one in Brooklyn last month.
Nutria were brought there from Argentina by fur farmers and let go into the wild. “The ecosystem down there can’t handle this non-native species(物种).It’s destroying the environment. It’s them or us.” says Michael Massimi, an expert in this field.
The fur trade kept nutria check for decades，but when the market for nutria collapsed in the late 1980s，the cat-sized animals multiplied like crazy.
Biologist Edmond Mouton runs the nutria control program for Louisiana. He says it’s not easy to convince people that nutria fur is green, but he has no doubt about it. Hunters bring in more than 300,000 nutria tails a year, so part of Mouton’s job these days is trying to promote fur.
Then there’s Righteous Fur and its unusual fashion. Model Paige Morgan says，”To give people a guilt-free option that they can wear without someone throwing paint on them-1 think that’s going to be a massive thing, at least here in New York.” Designer Jennifer Anderson admits it took her a while to come around to the opinion that using nutria fur for her creations is morally acceptable. She trying to come up with a lable to attach to nutria fashions to show it is eco-friendly.
1.What is the purpose of the fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn?
A.To promote guilt-free fur.
B.To expand the fashion market.
C.To introduce a new brand.
D.To celebrate a winter holiday.
2.Why are scientists concerned about nutria?
A.Nutria damage the ecosystem seriously.
B.Nutria are an endangered species.
C.Nutria hurt local cat-sized animals.
D.Nutria are illegally hunted.
3.What does the underlined word “collapsed” in paragraph 5 probably mean?
A.Boomed. B.Became mature. C.Remained stable. D.Crashed.
4.What can we infer abouf wearing fur in New York according to Morgan?
A.It’s formal. B.It’s risky. C.It’s harmful. D.It’s traditional.
Some parents will buy any high-tech toy if they think it will help their child, but researchers said puzzles help children with math-related skills.
Psychologist Susan Levine, an expert on mathematics development in young children the University of Chicago, found children who play with puzzles between ages 2 and 4 later develop better spatial skills. Puzzle play was found to be a significant predictor of cognition(认知) after controlling for differences in parents’ income, education and the amount of parent talk, Levine said.
The researchers analyzed video recordings of 53 child-parent pairs during everyday activities at home and found children who play with puzzles between 26 and 46 months of age have better spatial skills when assessed at 54 months of age.
“The children who played with puzzles performed better than those who did not, on tasks that assessed their ability to rotate(旋转)and translate shapes,” Levine said in a statement.
The parents were asked to interact with their children as they normally would, and about half of children in the study played with puzzles at one time. Higher-income parents tended to have children play with puzzles more frequently, and both boys and girls who played with puzzles had better spatial skills. However, boys tended to play with more complex puzzles than girls, and the parents of boys provided more spatial language and were more active during puzzle play than parents of girls.
The findings were published in the journal Developmental Science.
1.In which aspect do children benefit from puzzle play?
A.Building confidence. B.Developing spatial skills.
C.Learning self-control. D.Gaining high-tech knowledge.
2.What did Levine take into consideration when designing her experiment？
A.Parents’ age. B.Children’s imagination.
C.Parents’ education. D.Child-parent relationship.
3.How do boy differ from girls in puzzle play?
A.They play with puzzles more often.
B.They tend to talk less during the game.
C.They prefer to use more spatial language.
D.They are likely to play with tougher puzzles.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.A mathematical method. B.A scientific study.
C.A woman psychologist D.A teaching program.
The Lake District Attractions Guide
Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens
History, Culture & Landscape(景观). Discover and enjoy 4 centuries of history, 5 acres of celebrated and award-winning gardens with parkland walk. Owned by the Hasell family since 1679, home to the International Marmalade Festival. Gifts and antiques, plant sales, museums & Mediaeval Hall Tearoom.
Open:29 Mar-29 Oct，Sun to Thurs.
Tearoom，Gardens & Gift Shop:10.30-17.00(16.00 in Oct).
House:11.15-16.00(15.00 in Oct)
Town: Pooley Bridge & Penrith
Abbot Hall art Gallery & Museum
Those viewing the quality of Abbot Hall’s temporary exhibitions may be forgiven for thinking they are in a city gallery. The impressive permanent collection includes Turners and Romneys and the temporary exhibition programme has Canaletto and the artists from St Ives.
Open: Mon to Sat and Summer Sundays. 10.30 -17.00 Sumner.10.30 -16.00 Winter.
Town:Kendal
Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery
Discover, explore and enjoy award-winning Tullie House, where historic collections, contemporary art and family fun are brought together in one impressive museum and art gallery. There are four fantastic galleries to visit from fine art to interactive fun, so there’s something for everyone!
Open: High Season 1 Apr – 31 Oct: Mon to Sat 10.00 – 17.00, Sun 11.00 – 17.00.
Low Season 1 Nov – 31 Mar: Mon to Sat 10.00 – 16.30, Sun 12.00 – 16.30.
Town: Carlisle
Dove Cottage & The wordsworth Museum
Discover William Wordsworth’s inspirational home. Take a tour of his Lakeland cottage, walk through his hillside garden and explore the riches of the collection in the Museum. Visit the shop and relax in the café. Exhibitions, events and family activities throughout the year.
Open: Daily, 09.30 – 17.30 (last admission 17.00).
Town: Grasmere
1.When is the House at Dalemain Mansion & Historic Gardens open on Sundays in July?
A.09.30-17.30. B.10.30-16.00. C.11.15-16.00. D.12.00-16.30
2.What can visitors do at Abbot Hall Art Gallery & Museum?
A.Enjoy Ronney’s works.
B.Have some interactive fun.
C.Attend a famous festival.
D.Learn the history of a family
3.Where should visitors go if they want to explore Wordsworth’s life?
A.Penrith. B.Kendal. C.Carlisle. D.Grasmere.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Who would like to make small talk according to the speaker?
A.Relatives.
B.Strangers.
C.Visitors.
2.Why do people have small talk?
A.To express opinions.
B.To avoid arguments.
C.To show friendliness.
3.Which of the following is a frequent topic in small talk?
A.Politics.
B.Movies.
C.Salaries.
4.What does the speaker recommend at the end of his lecture?
A.Asking open-ended questions.
B.Feeling free to change topics.
C.Making small talk interesting.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Who is Clifford?
A.A little girl.
B.The man’s pet.
C.A fictional character.
2.Who suggested that Norman paint for children’s books?
A.His wife.
B.Elizabeth.
C.A publisher.
3.What is Norman’s story based on?
A.A book.
B.A painting.
C.A young woman.
4.What is it that shocked Norman?
A.His unexpected success.
B.His efforts made in vain.
C.His editor’s disagreement.
