Back in 2007, I rented(租) a room in Johor Bahru, Malaysia while studying for my Masters programmed(硕士课程) in Singapore. I travelled daily by   36   across the Johor- Singapore Causeway(穿越湿地的堤道) for my   37  , which were usually in the evening. It was quite   38 

by the time I got back to the bus station in Johor Bahru, and I would still need to take another bus home.

One night, I   39   the last bus and didn’t have enough money to take a taxi. With no other choice, I decided to    40   the two-kilometer journey home, which would have been fine    41 

I were not so tired that day. It also didn’t    42   that the route was pretty rough(凹凸不平的)and dark. But I walked forward with   43   , with the promise of a night’s rest    44   me on. After walking for a few minutes, a car   45   in front of me. The driver, who looked   46  , asked where I was headed. “Not many people walk through here,” he said, and   47    me a ride. He really    48   me up as he went out of his way to get me to my apartment.

What was more   49   , however, was the story behind it. During the ride, the driver told me that when he saw me walking, it made him think of his   50   who used to walk to work by the

  51   road and though he often saw his uncle on the way, he had    52   offered a ride as he was headed in a different direction.    53   his uncle passed away because of an illness, and until today he still feels   54   for not being kinder to his uncle. So when he    55   me walking that night, he just had to stop and help.

A.bus           B.bike            C.car           D.train

A.job           B.classes          C.tasks          D.home

A.early         B.late             C.cold            D.hot

A.caught       B.took            C.missed          D.left

A.drive         B.enjoy          C.run             D.walk

A.if             B.though       C.because          D.unless

A.suggest      B.help          C.say             D.mean

A.pleasure    B.hunger          C.fear            D.difficulty

A.pushing      B.turning         C.holding         D.putting

A.pulled             B.stopped         C.broke           D.went

A.concerned    B.disappointed  C.excited          D.worried

A.had          B.asked           C.offered          D.got

A.cheered       B.brought        C.gave            D.picked

A.worse        B.interesting     C.upset           D.meaningful

A.grandfather  B.uncle           C.father          D.mother

A.busy          B.new            C.main            D.same

A.sometimes  B.always           C.often           D.never

A.Sadly         B.Exactly         C.Gradually        D.Actually

A.puzzled       B.lucky           C.guilty           D.grateful

A.knew         B.saw             C.recognized      D.followed

   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.

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