The other morning on the subway I sat next to an attractive young blonde woman who was reading something on her iPad. She was very well-dressed, carrying a Prada bag with tastefully applied make-up indeed, she had an unmistakable air of wealth, material success and even authority. I suspected she worked as a highly-paid Wall Street lawyer or stockbroker or something of that sort. So, I was curious to see what she was so focused on. The Wall Street Journal perhaps? The Economist?
Quite the contrary; rather, she was concentrating on a romance novel. Then I realized that I have known many women who love romance novels—smart, attractive, successful, “liberated,” modern females who nonetheless find some kind of deep satisfaction and thrill from those hyper-romantic, artificial and extremely unrealistic tales of handsome, manly heroes falling in love with virginal women, enduring a series of adventures, then no doubt having a happy ending.
These romance stories are to literature what hot dogs are to fine food. Yet, the genre(体裁) remains enormously popular. Consider some of these surprising statistics from the good folks at the Romance Writers of America (RWA):
*More than 9,000 romance titles were released last year, with sales of about $1.44 billion (more than triple the taxes produced by classic literary fiction).
*More than 90 percent of the market are women (okay, that’s not at all surprising).
* Readers are typically women between the ages 30 and 54 who are themselves involved in a romantic relationship (betraying the stereotype that only lonely women long for these tales of love and adventure).
*Almost 40 percent of romance book consumers have an annual income of between $50,000 and $99,900 (placing them firmly in the middle class).
I had thought that romance novels accounted for a very small share of the literary market, so I was quite surprised that this part has such enormous popularity. But I must wonder why so many women—forty years after the women’s liberation movement—continue to enjoy themselves in the fanciful tales?
I’m not sure if it represents a kind of “rejection” of the women’s liberation movement, but clearly something is missing in the lives of contemporary ladies. A romance author named Donna Hatch who focuses on the Regency period (early 19th century Britain) explained the appeal of such books this way: “Regency men were civilized and treated women with courtesy. When a lady entered the room, gentlemen stood, doffed their hats, offered an arm, bowed, and a hundred other little things I wish men still did today. But they were also very athletic; they hunted, raced, boxed, rode horses. They were manly. Strong. Noble. Honorable. And that is why I love them!”
Mrs. Hatch may have expressed the secret desires and attitudes of untold millions of her peers—that is, in the early 21st century, have women grown tired of the burdens and expectations that the “freedoms” they have gained give them? Is this a rejection of modern feminism? Do women long for days of old when men were masculine gentlemen and women were feminine and protected as precious treasures and regarded as possessions?
Perhaps most women (even the ones who get lost in romance novels) do not want to go all the way back but it is obvious,______.
1.What is the function of the opening paragraph?
A. To summarize the whole passage. B. To prove the author’s argument.
C. To lead in the main topic of the passage. D. To raise problems that will be solved later.
2.What does the underlined sentence in the third paragraph imply?
A. Romance novels are satisfying and thrilling.
B. Romance novels are not of much “nutrition”.
C. Romance novels are as popular as hot dogs.
D. Romance novels are an essential part of contemporary life.
3.In the author’s opinion, what is missing in the lives of contemporary women?
A. Authority. B. Dignity. C. Liberty. D. Care.
4.Which sentence can be put in the blank in the last paragraph?
A. they prefer tales of innocent romance to classics
B. they are unhappy with how the world has turned out
C. true love described in romance novels does exist in reality
D. romance novels provide them with an access to society
科目:高中英语 来源:狂刷01 Unit 1 Warming Up 题型:单项填空
(2015 • 浙江卷)Most people work because it’s unavoidable. , there are some people who actually enjoy work.
A. As a result B. In addition
C. By contrast D. In conclusion
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科目:高中英语 来源:精做01 细节理解题 真题精做 题型:阅读理解
Passage2(2017·全国新课标II,A)
体裁 | 话题 | 词数 | 难度 | 建议时间 |
应用文 | 友爱 | 273 | ★★☆☆☆ | 6分钟 |
In the coming months, we are bringing together artists from all over the globe, to enjoy speaking Shakespeare’s plays in their own language, in our globe, within the architecture Shakespeare wrote for. please come and join us.
National Theatre Of China Beijing|Chinese
This great occasion(盛会) will be the national Theatre of China’s first visit to the UK. The company’s productions show the new face of 21st century Chinese theatre. This production of Shakespeare’s Richard III will be directed by the National’s Associate Director, Wang Xiaoying.
Date &Time: Saturday 28 April,2.30pm&Sunday 29 April,1.30pm&6.30pm
Marjanishvili Theatre Tbilisi |Georgian
One of the most famous theatres in Georgia, the Marjanishvili, founded in 1928,appears regularly at theatre festivals all over the world. This new production of As You Like It is helmed(指导)by the company’s Artistic Director Levan Tsuladze.
Date & Time : Friday 18May,2.30pm&Saturday 19May,7.30pm
Deafinitely Theatre London | British Sign Language (BSL)
By translating the rich and humourous text of Love’s Labour’s Lost into the physical language of BSL, Deafinitely Theatre creates a new interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedy and aims to build a bridge between deaf and hearing worlds by performing to both groups as one audience.
Date&Time: Tueaday 22 May,2.30pm&Wednesday 23 May,7.30pm
Habima National Theatre Tel Aviv| Hebrew
The Habima is the centre of Hebrew-language theatre worldwide, Founded in Moscow after the 1905 revolution, the company eventually settled in Tel Aviv in the late 1920s,Since 1958,they have been recognized as the national theatre of Israel. This production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice marks their first visit to the UK.
Date &Time: Monday 28May,7.30&Tuesday 29 May,7.30pm
1.which play will be performed by the National Theatre of China?
A. Richard Ⅲ. B. Lover’s Labour’s Lost.
C.As You Like It. D. The merchant of Venice.
2.What is special about Deafinnitely Theatre?
A. It has two groups of actors.
B. It is the leading theatre in London.
C. It performs plays in BSL.
D. It is good at producing comedies.
3.When can you see a play in Hebrew?
A. On Saturday 28Apil. B. On Sunday 29 April.
C. On Tuesday 22 May. D. On Tuesday 29 May.
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科目:高中英语 来源:河南省林州市2018届高三7月调研考试英语试卷 题型:短文填空
While I was in Ojai this past weekend, I came across a man 1. (sit) at a bench by himself. I smiled and said hello to him. As I passed, he yelled to me 2. (come) back. The man said that I was the only one of the 3. (passer-by) who had treated him in such a kind way. He said he was a reverend (牧市) and asked 4. I was from; I said England. At that point, most people would say something like, near London. 5., his response was Birmingham. As 6. matter of fact, Birmingham is the largest city near my rural hometown. We carried on a 7. (friend) conversation and in the conversation, I 8. (inform) that he needed some money to go back home. Not knowing how much money I had, I told him I’d give him whatever was in my purse. He said he prayed that I’d have $47. Then I opened the wallet in my purse and counted out the money. That was 9. (exact) $47. I offered the man all of my money. I felt really good for giving help to someone, 10. was in trouble.
Today I share this story with you, because I want to spread as much kindness in the world as I can.
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科目:高中英语 来源:辽宁省2017届高三第五次模拟考试英语试卷 题型:书面表达
假设你是育才学校的学生会主席李华,从新闻得知2016年诺贝尔文学奖得主Bob Dylan要来中国。你们学校准备在2017年3月6日下午1:00—3:00在学校会议厅举办一次主题为“音乐与文学”的英语演讲比赛,来自各个年级的十位优秀学生将会参赛。请你代表学校学生会写一封电子邮件,邀请他来做评委。
注意:1.文章开头已给出,不计入总词数。
2. 可适当增加细节,使文章内容充实、连贯。
3. 词数:100词左右。
提示词:诺贝尔文学奖 Nobel Prize in Literature 会议厅 conference room
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科目:高中英语 来源:江西省2016-2017学年高二下学期第一次月考(3月)英语试卷 题型:短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同学之间交换修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏词符号(/\),并在该句下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2. 只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Not only do our parents give us life, but they also give us endless love and support, always share our happiness and sorrow. I’m very grateful to my parents. They give me so many love and spare no efforts to support me. I still remembered once I was seriously ill, they were so worried and almost kept my company a whole night. Now I’m in Senior 2. Lucky, my parents can understand my stressful condition and often communicate me with encouraging word. Furthermore, they give me enough personal space, that I appreciate so much. What I should do now is to study hardly. When I grow up, I’ll try my best to make my parents to live a happy life.
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科目:高中英语 来源:江西省2016-2017学年高二下学期第一次月考(3月)英语试卷 题型:阅读理解
Creative Writing Summer School
2-15 August 2015
Study at one of the world's leading universities
About the Creative Writing Summer School
This programme is for those wishing to develop their existing creative writing skills, either for eventual professional use, or out of personal interest.Workshop courses take place twice a day.In a series of plenary(全体出席的)lectures (each morning, and on some evenings), novelists, poets and writers of creative non-fiction discuss their own work and the art of writing.Plenary lectures are designed to expand students' understanding of their own creative options.Students will expected to complete daily writing tasks outside classroom hours; the resulting work will form the primary focus of the workshops.
What will I be studying?
Workshop courses focus on practical writing skills and critical reflection; there are specialist options in fiction; creative non-fiction and poetry, and writing for stage and screen, as well as a more broadly-based writing course.
Who can apply?
The programme is open to university students, literature teachers, professionals and those with other life experience; gap-year students preparing for university may also apply (students must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian if under 18 when the programme starts).Participants must also meet the language requirements specific to this programme and will be asked to provide a 300-400 word piece explaining their reasons for applying.
Who will be teaching me?
Courses are taught by a combination of published writers associated with the School of Continuing Education, Peking University and by guest subject specialists from beyond the university.
Where will I stay?
Participants can stay in the School of Continuing Education, Peking University, close to the teaching sites and city Coventry.
How do I apply?
You can download an application form or apply online.
Find out more: www.sce.pku.edu.cn
1.Participants are supposed to finish their writing tasks______.
A. in the morning B. in the evening
C. after class D. during plenary lectures
2.The writing courses_____·
A. focus on practical writing skills
B. cover various kinds of writing
C. don't include writing for stage and screen
D. are mainly about creative non-fiction
3.Applicants need to write an essay to_______.
A. introduce themselves
B. show their writing skills
C. state their language learning experiences
D. explain why they want to attend the programme
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科目:高中英语 来源:河南省南阳市2018届高三第一次考试(8月)英语试卷 题型:完形填空
Our family’s first hosting experience began in January of 2015 with our Italian daughter Victoria. We had so much fun with her that we could not___________to experience a new, different country, so we__________to host another World Heritage Exchange Student.
As soon as we saw Merna’s information, we knew she was_________,a YES Scholarship student, and Egyptian. We began to fall in love with our Egyptain__________right away. We Skyped, and emailed for five months________she arrived in the US. When she__________got off the plane, it was as if we were finally a(n)________family again.
My husband and I grew up believing that other cultures_______us, and hosting a foreign Exchange Student just seems so_________for us. We felt it would be a__________experience for our children to grow up seeing other cultures and learning to love others as a(n)_________. Our small children are enjoying the experience vastly, learning a new language________, and realizing that the other side of the world is not all that________our country.
Merna is small, loving, helpful, charming, caring and a real__________to our lives. She has ________us all so much. We cannot__________our lives without our Italian and Egyptain daughters. We do plan to travel to________countries because of them, and we will be sending our children as exchange students to live with our new_________families.
I want to thank World Heritage for_________a chance for our family to grow from four children to six children all in one year. We are all excited at this experience of a lifetime and will forever________it.
1.A. help B. choose C. wait D. intend
2.A. applied B. afforded C. managed D. remembered
3.A. brilliant B. ambitious C. cute D. loyal
4.A. friend B. student C. daughter D. relative
5.A. once B. after C. since D. before
6.A. even B. already C. just D. ever
7.A. big B. foreign C. free D. whole
8.A. appeal to B. stick to C. belong to D. take to
9.A. common B. natural C. apparent D. simple
10.A. normal B. personal C. promising D. rewarding
11.A. companion B. reminder C. equal D. individual
12.A. little by little B. few by few C. one by one D. side by side
13.A. amongst B. unlike C. opposite D. about
14.A. guest B. heroine C. believer D. blessing
15.A. offered B. warned C. taught D. left
16.A. live B. enjoy C. imagine D. continue
17.A. other B. another C. all D. both
18.A. extended B. increased C. formed D. loved
19.A. having B. providing C. getting D. allowing
20.A. conduct B. appreciate C. desire D. adore
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科目:高中英语 来源:山西省太原市2016-2017学年高一5月月考英语试卷 题型:七选五
Compliments can be sent in all shapes and sizes. They can range from congratulating co-workers on their hard work to telling someone how good that shirt looks on him or her. 1. In other words, compliments, no matter how small or great they are, can make anyone feel good. Next time, if you want to give someone some compliments, keep these tips in mind.
• Perfect your compliments. People feel much more appreciated when you say exactly why you think that person deserves some praise. That’s to say, back your compliments up with examples of why you think that person did a good job. 2.
• Don’t put it off. Too many people wait until what they think is the perfect moment to send a compliment. 3. What you have in your head as a perfect moment may never happen. If you feel that a compliment is appropriate, the best time is now.
• 4. Don’t ever tell someone that something he or she has done is great and then point out what he or she was doing beforehand wasn’t so great. Compliments are meant to make people feel good, and that’s it. Don’t bring other things into them because comparing the present and the past can just make someone feel bad about themselves.
• Be selfless. 5. Not only is this very selfish, but it destroys all of the sincerity right out of the compliments. If you think someone’s hair looks nice, say so — but don’t do it just because you’re having a new hairstyle and want some validation (确认) for your own look.
A. Give a 100% compliment.
B. Don’t be one of those people!
C. It’s always a nice idea to give a compliment with a smile.
D. The best compliment leaves no room for any misunderstanding.
E. Your sincere compliments can make someone’s entire day better.
F. Never compliment someone because you want a compliment back.
G. Adding examples makes your compliments more sincere and effective.
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