If anyone knows what makes a great children's book，it must be Sussex author and illustrator（插图画家）Jane Hissey. Her "Old Bear" books have achieved classic status in a variety of formats.

I met Jane at her home in the East Sussex countryside and asked her what she thought the secret of a classic children's book was. "That's a difficult one, I suppose it has got to be related to children's stage of development-for young children, pictures on a page that are familiar; for older children, an experience. The book should be familiar, but hold some surprises too to keep the interest. It must inspire and delight them, but there are the things that happen every day."

After the birth of her first child, she gave up teaching and worked on her own artwork, drawing pictures of teddy bears. An editor from a publishing company saw her work and invited Jane to do a children's book. Over the years, from the first "Old Bear" book in 1986, her children have made a huge contribution-especially in terms of plots. She said, "I used to give my children the toys to play with-and they had tea parties and so on. One of my bear characters,' Little Bear', is the same age as Ralph, my youngest, who's seven now. All the children have joined in my work and, in years to come, they will realize how much."

"I hope I'll know when people are getting tired of the characters. If ever they did, I think I'd go on drawing them for fun," Jane continued. "My own children have been very useful to me in my work, but as they are older now, I' ll just have to hope that other people's children can inspire me."

【小题1】What is Jane's opinion about a successful children's book?

A．It contains something unexpected.

B．It offers an escape from everyday life.

C．It's more attractive as children get older.

D．It's set in a place known to its readers.

【小题2】Why did Jane take up writing books?

A．She got to know an editor.

B．She hoped to make classic children's books.

C．Her artwork attracted a professional.

D．She wrote stories for her own children.

【小题3】How did Jane's children assist her in her work?

A．By helping her concentrate on her work.

B．By telling her their own stories.

C．By suggesting characters for her stories.

D．By giving her ideas for her stories.

【小题4】What is Jane's attitude towards her future work？

A．Encouraged.	B．Uncertain.
C．Tired.	D．Disappointed.

Jane Austen ever popular

This summer, the UK will honor its favorite writer, Jane Austen (1775-1817), by making her face on the new £ 10 note. In the 200 years since her death, Austen’s fame has increased from the modest amount she enjoyed in her lifetime to the global fame she receives today.

And yet Austen’s work is so very English that it’s rather strange she should be so popular all over the world. Her novels are so of her time that it’s remarkable that she’s still appreciated in this very different age. Her most famous works — including Pride and Prejudice, the one for which she is most known — are set in the world of the English gentry (绅士阶层) in the 18th century.

Most of her fiction is about young women of that time. Women of the gentry could not work so their chances of happiness or even basic living depended upon finding a husband. This is a very serious subject, of course, but the joy of Austen’s stories is her ability to make wonderful, but also touching comedy out of something so serious.

Take Pride and Prejudice as an example. Elizabeth Bennet is one of five daughters in a countryside family that struggles because daughters can’t inherit (继承) the property. Her mother wants to marry off as many of them as possible. The pushy and annoying Mrs Bennet is one of the great comic characters in English literature.

The main plot of the novel is driven by the love-hate relationship between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, a wealthy noble. At first, they don’t get on. Elizabeth finds Darcy too proud; she feels he thinks he is better than everyone else in the countryside. She thinks that he looks down upon her family in particular. Darcy, while admiring Elizabeth, believes that she has treated him unfairly. The pleasure of the novel is reading how these obstacles (阻碍) are overcome and how the comical and unexpected ending is achieved.

If we think about this story, it’s obvious why Jane Austen is still popular 200 years after her death, and why readers can still identify with (与……产生共鸣) characters from the long dead world of the 18th century English gentry. Although there have been many changes since that time, it’s still the greatest challenge in life for men and women to find the partner of their dreams.

【小题1】What can we conclude from Paragraph 2?

A．The author believes Jane Austen’s works are ahead of her time.

B．The author thinks that everyone should read Jane Austen’s books.

C．The author has doubts about Jane Austen’s popularity all over the world.

D．The author is surprised that Jane Austen’s books are still so famous.

【小题2】According to the passage, Pride and Prejudice __________.

A．has a sad and unexpected ending

B．deals with a serious social issue in a lighthearted way

C．centers on countryside people’s struggles in the 18th century

D．tells readers that everyone can succeed through hard work

【小题3】According to the passage, why does Jane Austen remain popular today?

A．Because readers enjoy reading love stories about wealthy nobles.

B．Because readers are attracted by the way people deal with difficulties in the stories.

C．Because readers can always find something new from her novels.

D．Because her works deal with the problems many of today’s readers still face.

【小题4】What’s the main purpose of the passage?

A．To tell us why Jane Austen is chosen to be on the new £ 10 note.

B．To introduce the story of Pride and Prejudice.

C．To explain why Jane Austen is still popular today.

D．To introduce Jane Austen’s creative writing style.

   Saja Pahad, a small village in Chhattisgarh, India, has been dealing with severe water shortages for as long as anyone can remember. With only two wells available, locals were barely able to secure enough water to feed their cattle, let alone irrigate their crops. Villagers didn’t know what to do and the government ignored their difficult situation, but one “crazy” teenager took matters into his own hands.

Shyam Lal was only 15 when he took it upon himself to solve his village’s water problem. He identified a spot in a nearby forest and decided to dig a pond to collect rainfall that could then be used by the entire village. Lal shared his idea with the rest of Saja Pahad, but instead of volunteering to help, they just laughed at his crazy plan and called him a lunatic (疯子). But the young man didn’t let the people’s reaction get him down. Instead, he grabbed a spade (铁锹) and started digging the pond himself. He kept on digging for the next 27 years.

Now 43, Shyam Lal is considered a hero by his community. That small hole he started digging nearly three decades ago is now a one-acre, 15-feet-deep pond filled with precious water that serves the entire village.

“No one helped me in my work, neither the government nor the villagers,” Lal told the Hindustan Times. “It was my dream to secure enough water for the whole village and their cattle.”

The story of Shyam Lal’s determination recently went viral in the whole of India, and prompted authorities in Mahendragarh district to finally acknowledge his achievement. A member of the government recently visited Saja Pahad and offered Lal a $ 156 prize for his contribution to the village.

【小题1】Where is the pond Shyam Lal chose to dig?

A．Near his home.	B．In his field.
C．Near a river.	D．In a forest.

【小题2】How does Shyam Lal feel about his work?

A．Joyful.	B．Envious.
C．Ambitious.	D．Helpless.

【小题3】What does the underlined word “viral” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Widely.	B．Seriously.
C．Secretly.	D．Occasionally.

【小题4】What made the government admit Shyam Lal’s achievement?

A．He had been living badly.

B．His influence was great.

C．The appeal of the villagers was high.

D．The government wished people to follow the example of him.

语法填空

Sitting on the floor, Morteza Mehrzadselakjani’s raised arms stretch well over six feet. Standing up, the Iranian measures eight feet one inch, making him the 【小题1】（tall） athlete in the history of the Paralympics （残奧会）.

While his height has caused Mehrzadselakjani — known better as Mehrzad — to suffer in his entire life， on the sitting volleyball court it has made him a star. His 【小题2】（add） to the team that year helped Iran win the gold medal.

But Mehrzad’s 【小题3】（compete） advantage has come at a high cost. He suffers from acromegaly, 【小题4】 rare condition caused by the excess growth hormone.【小题5】 the age of 16, he already measured over six feet two inches. Several years earlier, a serious bicycle accident prevented his right leg from 【小题6】（grow） — it’s now six inches shorter than the left, making him difficult to walk. Mehrzad 【小题7】（normal） uses a wheelchair to get around.

Before finding sitting volleyball seven years ago, Mehrzad’s life 【小题8】（be） very different.

"I was alone and depressed," he said, " 【小题9】 my life has changed from playing sitting volleyball."

A coach saw Mehrzad on television and immediately discovered his potential. After training at regional Iranian clubs, he was selected for the national team and prepared for 【小题10】（he） Paralympic debut （首次登台） in Rio.

   36-year-old Victoria Murden McClure is a real adventurer. She has been on many mountaineering expeditions（探险）. She was also the youngest person in a team that skied 1，200 kilometers across Antarctica to the South Pole in 1989，and became one of only two women ever to travel to the Pole by land.

The journey across the Atlantic was her third attempt. The first time she failed because of illness，and during her second attempt，in 1998，she nearly died. She had rowed nearly 5，000 kilometers when her boat was hit by Hurricane Danielle. McClure was suddenly in the middle of 80 mph wind，and surrounded by waves that were 20 meters high.

Her little boat turned over five times. McClure was sure that she was going to die —she took the video recorder that she had brought with her and recorded a goodbye message to her family and friends. The hurricane continued into night，and The Pearl turned over five more times.

McClure was determined not to send a signal asking to be rescued-she didn't want other people to risk their lives. But after the eleventh capsizing（倾袭）of her boat，she finally sent it and a large ship came and found her. However，they couldn't get her boat out of the rough sea—it was found months later near the coast of Portugal.

Victoria Murden McClure had concussion（脑震荡）and a dislocated shoulder when she got home. Many people might have given up after an experience like this，but one year later，McClure was back in her repaired boat and tried again. This time she was successful，and although she again met a hurricane on the journey，which stopped her from breaking the record for the fastest transatlantic rowing crossing，she only overturned once！

【小题1】According to the first paragraph，we can know that in 1989 __________.

A．only two women landed on the South Pole

B．more than two people traveled to the South Pole

C．the journey to the Pole was McClure's first attempt

D．McClure was the only woman in the expedition team

【小题2】The reason why McClure nearly died on the journey across the Atlantic was that __________.

A．she was ill	B．she came across a strong wind
C．she lost her way	D．none came to her rescue

【小题3】What does the underlined words "The Pearl" refer to __________.

A．Hurricane Danielle	B．the rescue ship
C．McClure's boat	D．the expedition team

【小题4】What can we learn from the passage？

A．McClure didn't send any signal for rescue on the second journey across the Atlantic.

B．People didn't find her boat any more after the second journey across the Atlantic.

C．McClure was badly physically hurt on the second journey across the Atlantic.

D．McClure said goodbye to the transatlantic rowing crossing after the second journey across the Atlantic.