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| Subject Slimming down classics? |
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| Mr. Handsome  2007-5-12&24 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 per cent of the 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 realised 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 bookclub www.lovereading.co.uk. Mr.Edwards,I think your shortened editions 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  2007-5-124:38 PM |
I’m from the London independent bookshop Crockatt & 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. |
According to the message board,Orinon 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 cautious in its decision to cut down classics |
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 |
By describing the shortened classics as “a breath of fresh air”,Ms.Weir_______.
| A．speaks highly of the cut-down classics |
| B．shows gailty of the original classics |
| C．feels guilty of not reading the classics |
| D．disapproves of shortening the classics |
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 cub-down classics is a difficult job |
| D．editing the classic works satisfies children’s needs |
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and loved the boy very much. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.
The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband.
When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words. The husband just said ‘I am with you, Darling’. The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he have taken time to keep the bottle away, this will not have happened. No point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.
If everyone can look at life with this kind of viewpoint, there would be much fewer problems in the world. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think. Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this way we miss out some warmth in human relationship.
1. The uncapped medical bottle was not put back into the cupboard because .
A. the husband was careless B. the husband was busy
C. the wife wasn’t informed of the matter D. the wife ignored the matter
2. What do we know about the bottle? .
A. It contained poison only for adults B. It appeared like a nice drink
C. It was broken by the child D. It was kept in the kitchen
3. The husband’s attitude towards his wife can be described as .
A. optimistic B. confident C. considerate D. generous
4. What did the writer intend to tell us about life? .
A. Let go the negative side and we can enjoy life.
B. It is always useless finding who is responsible
C. Think of nothing and life will be easy D. Life should give way to responsibility
Jack lay, quiet and unmoving for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed (刺) him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo (纹身). His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.
The desire to be accepted by one’s friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person’s friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tattoos－people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colourful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.
Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings－in other words, to show their individuality. A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person's life.
As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group's uniform, a sign of fashion or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.
1. Jack has got tattoos in order to .
A. show his great bravery B. gain a special experience
C. make himself more healthy D. be different from others
2. According to the passage, media images are linked to .
A. traditional lifestyle B. social position C. cultural background D. public interest
3. We can infer from the passage that .
A. some people get tattoos out of pressure B. tattoo is related to religious belief
C. getting tattoos costs a lot of money D. most people with tattoos are artists
4 Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
CP: Central Point P: Point Sp: Sub-point C: Conclusion
Here is how your health risks increase at different BMIs(体重指数) if your waist circumference（腰围）is higher than 40 inches（102 cm） in men and 35 inches （88 cm） in women:
☆If your BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range, or “Normal”, then a larger waist that is near or greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women can indicate that you are at “increased” risk.
☆If your BMI is in the 25 to 29.9 range, or “Overweight”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “increased” risk. Above these sizes, the risk is considered “high”.
☆If your BMI is in the 30 to 34.9 range, or “Obese I”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “high” risk. Above these sizes, the risk is considered “very high.”
☆If your BMI is in the 35 to 39.9 range, or “Obese II”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “very high” risk. Above these sizes, the risk is still considered “very high”.
☆If your BMI is or in the 40 + range, or “Obese III”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “extremely high” risk. Above these sizes, the risk is still considered “extremely high”.
1. People’s BMIs fall into ______ ranges.
A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6
2. How can we judge a man’s health risk according to the passage?
A. By his BMI. B. By his waist circumference.
C. From neither his BMI nor his waist circumference.
D. From both his BMI and his waist circumference.
3. If a woman’s BMI is 35 and her waist is 34, we can consider her health risk is _____.
A. normal B. high C. very high D. extremely high
4. The best title for this passage might be _____.
A. What Having a Bigger Belly Means. B. High Risks.
C. Measuring Belly Fat. D. Are You at High Risk?
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C和D中，选出最佳选项，并将答案标在答题卡上。
The U.N. Climate Change conference opened in Copenhagen, Denmark on Dec.7th with some 15,000 delegates and observers from nearly 200 countries attending what is called the last best chance for an agreement to combat(与......战斗) global warming.
Their aim is to find common ground, including on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promotion and transfer of new more eco-friendly technology and the necessary funding to make this possible, especially for the less developed and poorer nations. It also means coming up with long term vision and cooperation for the future.
Most scientists believe the warming trend is mainly caused by human activity, especially the use of fossil fuels and the cutting down of forests. Skeptics say global warming is part of a natural cycle of climate change.
In Copenhagen, experts and officials alike are putting the emphasis on what people and governments can do to cut the emission of greenhouse gasses.
Scientists say a 25 to 40 percent cut in carbon-dioxide emissions is needed to control global warming. The European Union, China, and India have already pledged(保证) reductions. The United States is waiting for Congressional approval for a proposal put forward by the Obama administration.
Barack Obama, President of the United States said, “Each of us must do what we can when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet -- and we must all do it together. We must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change.”
Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of South Africa said, “Worldwide, we have the chance to start turning the tide of climate change, but only if all governments commit themselves to a fair, binding(有约束力的) and sustainable climate agreement in Copenhagen.”
1. From the first paragraph we can infer that___________.
people think that this conference is of no use
this conference is the last one to be held about the climate change
before this conference some countries fight against each other.
people expect a final agreement will be achieved
2. Which is NOT included in the aim of this conference?
A. To reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases.
B. To develop the agriculture and industry of the developed countries.
C. To cooperate with each other for the future.
D. To transfer new more eco-friendly technology.
3. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The United States refuses to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
B. The European Union is waiting for a proposal put forward by Obama.
C. China and India have already agreed to cut carbon-dioxide emissions.
D. South Africa doesn’t think much of this conference.
4. What is Obama’s attitude according to his words?
A. Doubtful. B. Positive. C. Negative. D. Regretful.
While I was having dinner with a well-known author and lecturer, our conversation drifted to money．“I have enough money,” he told me casually．“I don’t need any more money．”
“Of course you can say that,” I thought to myself．“You get fifteen thousand dollars for a lecture．”
Then I caught my thought process, and pondered（仔细考虑）more deeply on his statement．Is he satisfied because he has a lot of money, or does he have a lot of money because he chooses to be satisfied?
I know people with more money than this man, and they still don’t have enough．And I know people with very little money, and they always have enough．So is enoughness something that happens to us when we reach a certain level, or is it an experience we can choose and celebrate at any time?
My friends Adrian and Carey live in a humble cottage in the rainforest．They have quite a modest income, no telephone, and they walk around naked most of the time．I think they are the happiest people I know．They wake up with the sun, love each other very much, and welcome guests with a full and open heart．They appreciate every moment of their lives, have no distraction games going, and are not waiting for the big break around the corner．When I am with them, the predominant（主要的）feeling I have is, “It’s all right here—why would anyone want anything more?”
Ram Dass used to say, “There are three kinds of people in the world: those who say, ‘Too much!’; those who say, ‘Not enough!’; and those who say, “Ah, just right!’”; Since “too much” of one thing implies “not enough” of another, there are really only two approaches to life: lack or contentment．
1．From the first paragraph, we can infer that the lecturer ___________．
A．was living a happy life B．was careless about his money
C．was satisfied with his life D．was rich enough to live a happy life
2．We learn from the underlined part that ____________．
A．it’s money that is of importance B．it’s not money but the attitude that matters
C．we don’t have to have much money D．we won’t have enough money in life
3．What does the author think of Adrian and Carey’s life?
A．They have no guests．
B．They have all they want．
C．They live a very hard life．
D．They live a very happy life．
4．Which of the following best suits the passage?
A．Nothing is better than a contented mind．
B．Where there is a will, there is a way．
C．Practice makes perfect．
D．Better late than never．
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