George Washington: He was the first president in American history. Born on 22 February 1732, he learned to be an American gentleman. On April 30, 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States after a long independent war. Eight years later, he retired. After another two years, he died peacefully in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

John Kennedy: He is one of the most outstanding presidents in America. John Kennedy was the thirty-fifth president of America from 1961 to 1963. He was born on 29 May 1917 in Massachusetts and died on 22 November 1963. Kennedy was the youngest man elected president and he was also the youngest to die.

George Bush: He is the second president whose son also became president. At Yale University, he excelled(擅长) both in sports and in his studies. He was the 41st president of America from 1989 to 1993. Coming from a family with a tradition of public service, George Bush felt the responsibility to make his contribution both in time of war and in peace.

Bill Clinton: He was born on 19 August 1946 in Arkansas. When he was young, he excelled as a saxophone(萨克斯管) player and once considered becoming a professional musician. Clinton graduated from Georgetown University. He was the 42nd president from 1993 to 2001.

1.From the passage we can know the George Washington was born in _______.

A. 1789 B. 1961 C. 1732

2.Who was the 41st president of the United States?

A. George Washington B. Bush Washington C. George Bush

3.Which statement is true according to the passage?

A. John Kennedy is the most outstanding president in America

B. Bill Clinton was good at playing saxophone

C. George Washington was the second president whose son also became president.

4.Which one is the president of America in the year 1994?

A. Bill Clinton B. John Kennedy C. George Bush

5.The best title for the passage may be_____.

A. Stories about American Presidents

B. George Washington, the First American President

C. Do You Want to Be a President?

Kwame Alexander is an American writer of children's fiction. His novel The Crossover was written in poetic (诗歌的) form and won several awards in 2015. Alexander's most recent novel Booked is about a middle school student Nick Hall, whose love for soccer helps him deal with the challenges of growing up. Recently, a reporter had an interview with Alexander about his books.

(R=Reporter, A= Alexander)

R: 1.

A: It has to do with my love of sports. As a kid, I loved to play sports. I was a tennis player. I love to watch sports and to get excited about what happens on the field. Why not use sports as a way to tell these stories? I know kids are going to get into it. What kid doesn't love tennis or swimming or soccer?

R: 2.

A: I've always been interested in the power of poetry. I've been trying to write my feelings and ideas about the world we live in and poetry allows me to talk about some heavy and deep things in a pleasant way. I love poetry and for me, it's so cool.

R: 3.

A: Video games and television mostly offer fantasy (幻想). They offer interesting and unrealistic fantasy. Literature (文学) opens up a world of possibility to readers. As a writer for kids, I want to help readers imagine what's possible in the world — how to make it better and how to make themselves better in it.

R: 4.

A: Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, E. E. Cummings — those are the main ones. It's the things they wrote about, the way they played with language and held the readers' attention.

R: Are you planning a new novel?  5. 

A: It will be. I'm writing a prequel (前传) to The Crossover. It's about the father, Chuck Bell, when he was 12 years old.

A. Will it be in poetic form?

B. What can literature offer young people that video games and television cannot?

C. Why are both of your recent novels about sports?

D. Do you write from your experience or imagination?

E. Why did you write these two novels in poetic form? 

F. Which writers have had the greatest influence on your writing?

A. Will it be in poetic form?

B. What can literature offer young people that video games and television cannot?

C. Why are both of your recent novels about sports?

D. Do you write from your experience or imagination?

E. Why did you write these two novels in poetic form? 

F. Which writers have had the greatest influence on your writing?

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