Welcome to my Message Board!

Subject: Slimming down classics?

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.

11. 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 cautions in its decision to cut down classics

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. How many classics are involved in the massage board?

A. Two.          B. Three.               C. Four.         D. Five.


Try this little test. A man dressed completely in black is sitting at a bar in a country pub. He is drinking one whisky after another. After three hours, the man in black leaves the pub and walks drunkenly down a small country road. There are no lights, and there is no moon. A car without headlights approaches. The driver notices the man, however, and is able to brake in time to avoid an accident. How could the driver see the man in black? Think about this.
The reason we can get stuck with this – and other problems in life—is that we make assumptions. If we assume that the man in black is out for an evening drink, then the problem is a hard one to solve.
The dictionary describes an assumption as something we take for granted or suppose to be true. Assumptions are essential to logical thinking and decision-making, but what happens if they are false?
Sometimes false assumptions can lead to disaster. On 8 January 1989, a British Midland Airways Boeing took off from Heathrow for Belfast. The number-two (right) engine, which had caused trouble on the previous flight, had been cleared. Twenty minutes after take-off, the plane began to shake violently. The flight recorder later showed what had happened. The captain asked the co-pilot what the problem was. “It’s the f-ing right engine again!” he replied. The captain ordered no.2 engine to be shut down, and the lefthand (no.1) engine to be turned on for an emergency landing. The 737 crashed on the edge of the M1 motorway. The cause of the crash? The captain and copilot made a false assumption and shut down the wrong engine. Of the 118 passengers, 39 died and 74 suffered serious injury.
The more risky or the more expensive the decision, the more important it is to check assumptions. There is a nice way to remember the importance of assumption checking. Look at the letters in the word ASSUME, and note that taking things for granted can make an ASS(傻瓜) of U and ME.
1. What purpose does Paragraph 1 serve in the passage?
A. To provide background information of the topic.
B. To attract readers attention to the topic.
C. To use an example to support the topic.
D. To offer basic knowledge of the topic.
2. The main purpose of the passage is to remind the readers _________.
A. of the importance of making assumptions
B. of the danger of making assumptions
C. to make assumptions before dealing with problems
D. to check assumptions before dealing with problems
3. The best title for this passage may probably be __________.
A. Assumptions Lead To Disaster
B. Ways of Avoiding False Assumption
C. When Things Are Not as They First Seem
D. Assumptions and Decision-making
4. The most probable reason that the driver can see the man in black is that       .
A. there were bright stars in the sky when the accident happened.
B. the driver had very good eyesight.
C. the accident happened where the lights were bright.
D. the accident happened during the afternoon, in daylight.

You wake up in the morning,the day is beautiful and the plans for the day are what you have been looking forward to for a long time. Then the telephone rings,you say hello, and the drama starts.The person on the other end has a depressing tone in his voice as he starts to tell you how terrible his morning is and that there is nothing to look forward to.You are still in a wonderful mood? Impossible!

Communicating with negative people can wash out your happiness.It may not change what you think,but communicating long enough with them will make you feel depressed for a moment or a long time.

Life brings ups and downs,but some people are stuck in the wrong idea that life has no happiness to offer.They only feel glad when they make others feel bad.No wonder they can hardly win others’ pity or respect.

When you communicate with positive people,your spirit stays happy and therefore more positive things are attracted.When the dagger(匕首) of a negative person is put in you,you feel the heavy feeling that all in all,brings you down.

Sometimes we have no choice but to communicate with negative people.This could be a co-worker,or a relative.In this case,say what needs to be said as little as possible. Sometimes it feels good to let out your anger back to the negative person,but all this does is to lower you to that same negative level and they won’t feel ashamed of themselves about that.

Negativity often affects happiness without even being realized.The negative words of another at the start of the day can cling to(附着) you throughout the rest of your day,which makes you feel bad and steals your happiness.Life is too short to feel negative.Stay positive and avoid negativity as much as possible.

1.The purpose of the first paragraph is to ___________.

A.make a comparison                      B.offer an evidence

C.introduce a topic                        D.describe a daily scene

2.How can negative people have effect on us?

A.By influencing our emotion.

B.By telling us the nature of life.

C.By changing our ways of thinking.

D.By comparing their attitudes to life with ours.

3.Some negative people base their happiness on _____________.

A.other people’s pity for them              B.making other people unhappy

C.building up a positive attitude              D.other people’s respect for them

4.According to the passage, to reduce negative people’s influence on us,we are advised to _____.

A.change negative people’s attitudes to life

B.show our dissatisfaction to negative people

C.make negative people feel ashamed of themselves

D.communicate with negative people as little as possible

5.What is the author’s attitude towards negative people?

A.Favorable.       B.Critical.           C.Indifferent.        D.Supportive.

 

We have all heard the old phrase “attitude is everything”, and that phrase is certainly true.Your attitude can have a great impact on your personal motivation, so it is important to keep a positive attitude no matter what challenges you face.

As a matter of fact, keeping your attitude positive in the face of difficulties is the motivation tip that most successful business owners will tell you.The most successful business owners, from Sam Walton to Bill Gates, have all been able to triumph in the face of unpleasant situations.It is those successful business owners who tell you that attitude is everything.But how you deal with that knowledge will determine your level of success.

One of the most important ways to carry out “attitude is everything” is to observe who you associate with and who you surround yourself with.That is because when you surround yourself with negative people, their negative attitudes will infect you.So keeping your associates, colleagues, co-workers and friends as positive as possible is a great way to put the phrase “attitude is everything” into practice.

Whatever you decide to do in life, your attitude will have a great effect on the success you achieve.Success , whether in the world of business or in your personal life, is directly related to your attitude, and the attitude you bring to your work.A positive attitude will help you achieve greater success in your job, no matter what your current level of employment.

1.According to the text, Sam Walton __________.

     A.is more successful than Bill Gates

         B.has given readers some tips about success

         C.has never dealt with unpleasant situations

         D.is one of the most successful businessmen

2.One useful way of carrying out “attitude is everything” is__________.

     A.not letting others affect your decisions

     B.not making friends with people who are unsuccessful

     C.keeping the people who surround you positive

     D.getting some advice from successful business owners

3.What’s the best title for the text ?

     A.Attitude Determines Your Success

     B.Motivation Tips From Successful People

     C.Ways To Deal With Unpleasant Situations

     D.Making Friends With Positive People

 

 

Welcome to my Message Board!

Subject: Slimming down classics?

 

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 per cent 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 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

2007-5-12

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 book 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.

1.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 cautions in its decision to cut down classics

2.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

3.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

4.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

5.How many classics are involved in the massage board?

    A.Two. B.Three.   C.Four.    D.Five

 

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