| Welcome to my Message Board! |
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| Subject: Slimming down classics? |
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| 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 www.lovereading.co.uk. 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. |
76. 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 cautious in its decision to cut down classics
77. 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
78. By describing the shortened classics as “a breath of fresh air”, Ms. Weir____________.
A. speaks highly of the cut-down classics B. shows her love for original classics
C. feels guilty of not reading the classics D. disapprove of shortening the classics
79. 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
80. How many classics are involved in the massage board?
A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five.
The Ocean Institute welcomes people to the City of Dana Point’s Festival of Whales celebration on both weekends．The event celebrates the migration(迁徙)of the whales off our coast．Respected ocean scientists of the ocean Institute introduce visitors to the world of whales．The speakers are arranged as the following．
Saturday，March 5，12：30 pm
Dr Gwen Goodmanlowe from Califomia State University is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Biology，and advises students working on degrees in marine(海洋的) biology．She received her doctorate in zoology from the University of Hawaii-Honolulu．
Sunday，March 6，12：30 pm
Matt Leslie，from Scripps Institute of Oceanography，has studied whales off the coast of Australia．Some of his current research projects include population structure analysis of whales using performance testing．He will lecture on guides for treatment of marine animals.
Saturday，March 12，12：30 pm
Dr Merkens，from Scripps Institute of Oceanography，will present her latest research on how sound or music can be used as a means to identify characteristics of whales and to find out how whales communicate with one another in the environment．
Sunday，March 13, 2 pm
Robert L. Pitman is a marine ecologist working for the National Marine Fishing Service．He began his career 35 years ago，studying seabirds and whales，and spends much of his time at sea on vessels at locations all over the world．His main interest is the ecology of the Antarctic killer whale．
The Festival will allow visitors to know about new discoveries in marine animal research and to explore a variety of information on whales．Visitors will have the opportunity to listen to underwater whale sounds，and enjoy hands-on activities．Guests will tour the tall ship Pilgrim．
Cost：$6.50 adults，$4.50 children(ages 4-12)．For more information, please visit www.ocean-institute.org or call(949) 496-2274．What do we know from the passage?
| A．A large number of scientists will attend the Festival of Whales celebration． |
| B．The Festival of Whales celebration will be held from March 5 to March 13． |
| C．The Ocean Institute will hold the City of Dana Point’s Festival of Whales． |
| D．Four ocean scientists will tell visitors some information about whales． |
What time should you attend the festival if you want to leam how to treat marine animals?
| A．At 12：30 pm on Saturday, March 5． |
| B．At 12：30 pm on Sunday, March 6． |
| C．At 12：30 pm on Saturday, March 12． |
D．At 2 pm on Sunday, March 1 3． |
If you only have time after l pm on weekends，you can listen to a lecture delivered by_________ ．
| A．Gwen Goodmanlowe | B．Mart Leslie | C．Merkens | D．Robert L.Pitman |
Which of the following things can NOT visitors do according to the passage?
| A．Have close contact with underwater whales． |
| B．Leam about new discoveries in marine animal research． |
| C．Explore some information on whales． |
| D．Tour the tall ship Pilgrim． |
If a couple and their 13-year-old child attend the event，they would need to pay_________．
| A．13 dollars | B．17.50 dollars | C．19.50 dollars | D．11 dollars |
The most frightening words in the English language are, “Our computer is down.” You hear it more and more when you are on business. The other day I was at the airport waiting for a ticket to Washington and the girl in the ticket office said, “I’m s
orry, I can’t sell you a ticket. Our computer is down.”
“If your computer is down, just write me out a ticket.”
“I can’t write you out a ticket. The computer is the only one allowed to do so.”
I looked down on the computer and every passenger was just standing there drinking coffee and staring at the black screen. Then I asked her, “What do all your people do?”
“We give the computer the information about your trip, and then it tells us whether you can fly with us or not.”
“So when it goes down, you go down with it.”
“That’s good, sir.”
“How long will the computer be down?” I wanted to know.
“I have no idea. Sometimes it’s down for 10 minutes, sometimes for two hours. There’s no way we can find out without asking the computer, and since it’s down it won’t answer us.”
After the girl told me they had no backup computer, I said. “Let’s forget the computer. What about your planes? They’re still flying, aren’t they?”
“I couldn’t tell without asking the computer.”
“Maybe I could just go to the gate and ask the pilot if he’s flying to Washington, ” I suggested.
“I wouldn’t know what gate to send you to. Even if the pilot was going to Washington, he couldn’t take you if you didn’t have a ticket.”
“Is there any other airline flying to Washington within the next few hours?”
“I wouldn’t know, ” she said, pointing at the dark screen. “Only ‘IT’ knows. ‘It’ can’t tell me.”
By this time there were quite a few people standing in line. The word soon spread to other travelers that the computer was down. Some people went white, some people started to cry and still others kicked their luggage.The best title for the article is _______.
| A．When the Computer Is Down | B．The Most Frightening Words |
| C．The Computer of the Airport | D．Asking the Computer |
What does the underlined words“ backup computer” probably mean?
| A．A computer that will be brought back soon. |
| B．A second-hand computer that is still in use. |
| C．An advanced computer that never breaks down.. |
| D．A computer ready for use when the main one does not work. |
The last paragraph implies that _______.
| A．a modern computer won’t be down. |
| B．computers can take the place of humans |
| C．sometimes a computer may bring suffering to people |
| D．there will be great changes in computers |
Good sportsmanship occurs when teammates, opponents（对手）, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. Kids learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially their parents and their coaches. Kids who see adults behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the real winners in sports are those who know how to keep on trying an
d to behave well - whether they win or lose a game.
Parents can help their kids understand that good sportsmanship includes both small gestures and heroic efforts. It starts with something as simple as shaking hands with opponents before a game and includes acknowledging good plays made by others and accepting bad calls gracefully. Showing good sportsmanship isn't always easy: It can be hard to congratulate the opposing team after losing a close or important game. But the kids who learn how to do it will benefit in many ways.
A child who bullies or laugh at others on the playing field isn't likely to change the behavior when in the classroom or in social situations. In the same way, a child who practices good sportsmanship is likely to carry the respect (尊重) and appreciation of other people into every other aspect of life
The best coaches - and parents - encourage their kids to play fair, to have fun, and to concentrate(专心于) on helping the team while improving their own skills.The most important feature of good sportsmanship is ______.
| A．respecting others. | B．concentrating on winning |
| C．improving one’s own skills. | D．beating the opposing team |
Which of the following is NOT the behavior of good sportsmanship?
| A．Shaking hands with opponents | B．Playing on the field like heroes. |
| C．Praising good playing of others | D．Accepting unfriendly viewers’ opinions |
As a child with good sportsmanship, he / she will ______.
| A．treat winning as the most important thing. |
| B．be proud of the success of his / her team |
| C．look down on others’ playing skills. |
| D．not get discouraged when defeated |
It can be inferred from the passage ______.
| A．a child who bullies others can’t play well on the field. |
| B．the real winners are those who play with best skills. |
| C．a child with good sportsmanship behaves well in society |
| D．it is simple and easy to show one’s good sportsmanship |
Ambassador Hotel：
Welcome to the Ambassador Hotel. To make your stay as enjoyable as possible, we hope you will use our facilities to the full.
Dining Room
Breakfast is served in the dining mom from 8 a. m. to 9: 30 a.m. Alternatively, the room staff will bring a breakfast tray to your room at any time after 7 a.m. In this case, please fill out a card and hang it outside your door when you go to bed.
Lunch: 12:00a.m. to2:30p.m.
Dinner: 7:30 p.
m. to 9:00 p.m.
Room Service
This operates 24 hours a day; phone the Reception Desk(前台), and your message will be passed on to the room staff.
Telephones
To make a phone call, dial 0 for Reception and ask to be connected. We apologize for delays in putti
ng calls through when the staffs are very busy. There are also public telephone booths near the Reception Desk. Early calls should be booked with Reception.
Laundry
We have a laundry in the hotel, and will wash iron and return your clothes within 24 hours. Ask the room staff to collect them.
Bar
The hotel bar is open from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.You would see this notice _________ .
| A．in a hotel bar |
| B．in a hotel dining room |
| C．in a bedroom of a large international hotel |
| D．at the entrance of a small family hotel |
What should you do if you have arrived to stay at the hotel at 2 a.m. and want something to eat?
| A．Go to the hotel shop. | B．Go to the hotel bar. |
| C．Hang a message outside your door. | D．Phone the Reception Desk. |
What should you do when you come back to the hotel to make an important call and see a lot of people around the Reception desk?
| A．Go to your room and phone from there. |
| B．Ask at the Reception Desk. |
| C．Use one of the telephones in the entrance hall. |
| D．Go out again and look for a public phone box |
What do you think a room staff’s last job is before he goes off duty at 6 p.m.?
| A．Lay the tables in the dining room. |
| B．Check the bedroom doors. |
| C．Start preparing the breakfast. |
| D．Wake any of the guests who have asked for early calls. |
Students who say they never or hardly ever used dictionaries may speak English well but usually write poorly, because they make many mistakes.
The students who use dict
ionaries most do not learn especially well either. The ones who look up every new word do not read fast. Therefore they do not have time to read much. Those who use small two-language dictionaries have the worst problems. Their dictionaries often give only one or two words as translations of English. But one English word often has many translations in a foreign language and one foreign word has many translations in English.
The most successful students are those who use large college edition dictionaries with about 100,000 words but do not use them too often. When they are reading, these students first try to get the general idea and understand new words from the context. Then they reread and use the dictionary to look up only key words that they still do not understand. They use dictionaries more for writing. If they are not sure how to spell a word, they always use a dictionary. Also, if they think a noun might have an unusual plural form, they check this in a dictionary.The writer thinks that .
| A．choose a good dictionary, and you’ll be successful in learning English |
| B．dictionaries are not necessary to the students who learn English |
| C．it is very important for students to use good dictionaries properly |
| D．using dictionaries very often can’t help to improve writing |
According to the passa
ge, which of the following is WRONG?
| A．Dictionaries have little effect on learning to speak English. |
| B．Whatever new words you meet while reading, never use dictionaries. |
C．Small two-language dicti onaries have serious shortcomings. |
| D．Reading something for the first time, you’d better not use dictionaries. |
When in the reading does the writer advise studen
ts to use a good dictionary?
| A．At the beginning of the reading |
| B．At the end of the reading |
| C．During the first reading |
| D．After the first reading |
This passage mainly tells us .
| A．that students shouldn’t use small two-language dictionaries |
| B．what were the shortcomings of small two-language dictionaries |
| C．why students should use large college edition dictionaries |
| D．what dictionary students should choose and how to use it |
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