When The New Republic magazine predicted who would win the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature on Oct 6, it said: “Not Bob Dylan. That’s for sure.”

But the award came as a surprise to many. On Oct 13, the famous US musician was named the Nobel laureate by the Swedish Academy. He has “created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition", according to the organization.

Although Dylan, 75, is not really thought to be a literary(文学的) writer, he has given the world a lot of creative work over 50 years, especially when it comes to his folk songs.

In his 1985 album Biograph, Dylan wrote about the appeal(魅力) of folk music to him. Rock songs “weren’t serious enough or didn’t reflect(反映) life in a realistic way", according to Dylan. But folk, was “a more serious type of thing. The songs are filled with more sadness; more joy …much deeper feelings".

Dylan’s music and lyrics spoke to many people during the 1960s. His lyrics were often about great political issues, such as the civil rights movement. The 1960s were a time of change when the young were making sure that their voices were heard. The idea is most famously expressed in Dylan's The Times They Are a -Changing (1964), which warns the world, “You better start swimming or you'll sink(下沉) like a stone. For the times they are a-changing!”

There were complaints that a literary prize had been given to a singer. But ancient “Greek poets Homer and Sappho wrote poetic works that were meant to be listened to, that were meant to be performed, often with instruments — and it’s the same way with Dylan", the Swedish Academy’s permanent secretary Sara Danius told CNN.

It could even be said that giving the important prize to Dylan has brought back an old literary tradition. The millions whose lives Dylan’s words and music have changed will surely welcome the award.

1.Dylan found folk music attractive because ________.

A. it brought joy to people

B. it reflected life on a much deeper level

C. it could be used to express feelings freely

D. it needed more creativity than other types of music

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE about Dylan according to the article?

A. He never thought that he would win the Nobel Prize.

B. All of his influential works were created in the 1960s.

C. His songs expressed people’s feelings well during the 1960s.

D. His fans were mostly young people who were active in political movements.

3.According to the last two paragraphs, ________.

A. lyrics can be seen as a literary form

B. a literary prize should not be given to a singer

C. Dylan’s works were inspired by Greek poets

D. Dylan won the award because he influenced many song-writers

4.What’s the author’s attitude toward giving Bob Dylan the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature?

A. Unconcerned. B. Objective. C. Doubtful. D. Supportive.

Many of you are studying hard because you have to compete with many others in the upcoming national college entrance exam. But it may not occur to you that one of your competitors is a robot. An artificial intelligence(AI) robot will take part in the 2017 National College Entrance Exam, reported China Daily.

“The robot will sit three exams: math, Chinese, and a comprehensive test of liberal arts (文科), which includes history, politics and geography,” Lin Hui, CEO of an AI company in Chengdu. Like the others who take the exam, the robot will have to finish the tests in the given time. But instead of taking exams together with other students, the robot will take its exams in a closed room without anyone else present, except for proctors(监考人) and a notary(公证人). It is expected to be totally disconnected from the Internet and solve the problems with its AI program.

It’s believed that Chinese and the test of its liberal arts skills, rather than its math skills, will give the robot its biggest challenges. Questions in math are objective with specific answers, while in the other test subjects there are some subjective questions that test skills such as reading comprehension and essay writing.

The robot aims to be enrolled in one of the first-class Chinese universities in 2017, and then try to get into the more famous universities of Tsinghua or Peking University in 2020.

1.The author wrote the passage in order to ________.

A. lay more burden on Grade 3 students

B. inform readers of the explosive news

C. introduce the function of the robot

D. predict what robots will do in the future

2.What’s the main idea of the second paragraph?

A. The differences between the robot and other candidates.

B. The specific information about how the robot will take the exam.

C. The ideal universities of the robot.

D. The advantages the robot has.

3.Which is one of the biggest challenges for the robot candidate?

A. Math calculating B. Objective questions

C. Liberal arts skills D. Physics questions

4.Choose the correct one according to the passage.

A. The robot candidate will have its separate proctors

B. The robot will participate in Chinese, English, math and science

C. The robot is not designed to be admitted to universities

D. The robot connected from the Internet will sit for the college entrance exam

Bookstores are a traveller’s best friend:they provide convenient shelter in bad weather,and they often host readings and other cultural events.Here is a look at world’s six greatest bookstores.

Adrian Harrington—since 1971.Rare books:rare first editions;leather bound sets and general antiquarian(古玩).Address:64a Kensington Church Street,Kensington,London,England,U.K.

Another Country—Kreuzberg,Berlin,Germany.Another Country is an English Language second-hand bookshop which is mostly used as a library.They have about 20,000 books that you can buy or borrow.Some regular events are held at the shop,such as readings,cultural events,social evenings and film nights.

Atlantis Books—Oia,Santorini,Greece.Atlantis Books is an independent bookshop on the island of Santorini,Greece,founded in 2004 by a group of friends from Cyprus,England,and the United States.Throughout the year it has hosted literary festivals,film screenings,book readings,and good old fashioned dance parties.

Bart’s Books—Ojai,California,U.S.A.“The World’s Greatest Outdoor Bookstore”,a bookstore founded by Richard Bartinsdale in 1964.Shelves of books face the street,and regular customers are asked to drop coins into the door’s coin box to pay for any books they take whenever the store is closed.

Corso Como Bookshop—Milan,Italy.Extensive selection of publication on art,architecture,design,graphics and fashion,along with a strong emphasis on photography.It was founded in 1990 in Milan,Italy,by Carla Sozzani.

The Bookworm—Beijing,China.A bookshop,library,bar,restaurant and event space,now with four divisions in three cities—Beijing,Suzhou and Chengdu.The interconnecting rooms with floor-to-ceiling books on every wall are light and airy in summer,yet warm and comfortable in winter.

1.Which of the following bookstores has the longest history?

A. Adrian Harrington. B. Atlantis Books.

C. Bart’s Books. D. Corso Como Bookshop.

2.What can you do in Atlantis Books?

A. Attend a festival. B. Learn photography.

C. Enjoy rare books. D. Buy books anytime.

3.How is The Bookworm different from the other bookstores?

A. It is used as a library. B. It hosts all sorts of activities.

C. It focuses on photography. D. It has branches in different cities.

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