英语听力精选进阶版 6450

Are you a bookworm? Is your head permanently¹ stuck in a book? If so, that's a good thing. There are many benefits to reading. Getting into a good novel improves our literacy. But who or what encourages us to pick up a book and start reading?

Of course, when we are young, our parents and teachers inspire us by introducing us to characters that we love - or love to hate. And there are the authors – the people who invent and write about these characters. Good writing can really capture our imagination.

As a child, I loved books written by Roald Dahl, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Twits. These fictional² stories were funny, twisted and slightly sinister³. These books are popular with children even today, despite competition from contemporary authors.

One modern-day children's author is J.K. Rowling, who's known for her books about the wizard, Harry⁴ Potter. Last year she was named as a 'literacy hero' for her part in improving people's love of reading. The UK's National Literacy Trust awarded her the title for "turning a generation of children into readers."

The Trust also honoured schoolchildren, a librarian and teachers for their effort in trying to get people to read. The actor, Henry Winkler, who has dyslexia, was also named for the books he has written about a boy with learning difficulties.

Reading books is more than an enjoyable pastime; it can also help people in difficult circumstances. The author Pat Winslow worked as a writer in prisons and found reading and discussing stories helped prisoners reflect on their patterns of behaviour. She says "Very often we would have discussions about the moral compass of a character, what was the motivation of somebody, why did they behave that way?"

Today I like to read factual books such as biographies, where you get an insight into the lives of important and well-known people. I also enjoy looking at travel books and learning about journeys and new destinations. It's a good substitute if you can't visit in person.

But the main benefit of reading is the improvement it brings to our literacy. The more we do it, the better we get and who knows - one day you may become the next Tolstoy, Jackie Collins or even William Shakespeare. Who are your favourite authors – and which are your favourite books?

Quiz 测验

1. True or false? A fictional story is one that is not true.

True.

2. Name a children's author mentioned in this article.

Roald Dahl or J.K. Rowling.

3. What do you call a medical condition affecting the brain that makes it difficult for someone to read and spell words correctly?

Dyslexia.

4. Why was the author J.K. Rowling called a 'literacy hero'?

For turning a generation of children into readers.

5. True or false? A biography is a book about a person who is not alive any more.

False. It is the life story of a person written by someone else.

Glossary 词汇表

bookworm 书呆子，书虫子

novel 小说儿

literacy 读写能力

characters 人物

authors 作者

capture our imagination 捕捉想象力

fictional 虚构的

sinister 阴险的，凶兆的

literacy hero 文坛英雄

librarian 图书馆员

dyslexia 阅读障碍

the moral compass 道德指南针

motivation 动力

factual 纪实性真实的、与事实有关的

biographies 传记

1 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

2 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

3 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

4 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。