(A)
Your 2018 Reading List, Provided by Bill Gates
Most of us can’t live like billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, but we can read like him. Gates recommended four books in 2018—though some were published earlier.
Leonardo da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson (2017)
The bestselling biographer of Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein researched deeply into da Vinci’s contributions beyond art, highlighting the breadth of his scientific, technological, and creative output. “Leonardo nearly understood almost all of what was known on the planet at the time. That’s mostly because of his curiosity about every area of natural science and the human experience,” said Gates.
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir, by Thi Bui (2017)
Gates calls this graphic novel “really impressive”. Bui is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who came to America after the fall of Saigon, and becoming a parent inspired her to look into her own parents’ miserable history. “I was struck by how the experiences Bui illustrates manage to be both universal and specific to their circumstances,” said Gates.
Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders (2018)
Saunders, a long-time short story writer, won high praise for this novel. The book imagines the ghosts that haunt (萦绕) the basement of Willie Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s son, who died at 11 in real life. “Willie’s death after the Civil War made the president have a new understanding of the grief he’s creating in other families by sending their sons off to die in battle,” said Gates.
Origin Story: A Big History of Everything, by David Christian (2018)
This new book is by the creator of Big History, a free, online social studies course. It traces history in wide, sweeping movements, starting with the Big Bang, and it provides, in effect, a short course in modern science. This is a brief history of the universe. “David gets a little stuck on the current economic and political problems in the West, and I wish he talked more about the role innovation will play in preventing the worst effects of climate change,” said Gates.
1. Which books refer to the field of science?
A. Origin Story and Leonardo da Vinci.
B. Lincoln in the Bardo and Origin Story.
C. Leonardo da Vinci and The Best We Could Do.
D. The Best We Could Do and Lincoln in the Bardo.
2. If you are interested in thrillers, whose book will you most probably choose?
A. Walter Isaacson. B. Thi Bui.
C. George Saunders. D. David Christian.
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The Best We Could Do is an autobiography.
B. Lincoln in the Bardo has been warmly received.
C. David Christian talks much about the part that innovation will play.
D. Readers can only read about Leonardo da Vinci’s contributions towards art.
【答案】1. A 2. C 3. B
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。本文介绍了由比尔盖茨在2018年推荐的四本书，这四本书包括：Leonardo da Vinci, The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir, Lincoln in the Bardo,以及Origin Story: A Big History of Everything。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。最后一段第二句“it provides, in effect, a short course in modern science.”可知Origin Story 这本书提供了一门现代科学的短期课程，涉及到了科学领域，故选A。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。倒数第二段的第二句“The book imagines the ghosts that haunt (萦绕) the basement of Willie Lincoln”可知Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders这本书是属于惊悚题材的，故对惊悚小说感兴趣可以读本书，可以去阅读George Saunders的书，故选C。
【3题详解】
判断推理题。根据倒数第二段第一句“Saunders, a long-time short story writer, won high praise for this novel.”可知Saunders凭借 Lincoln in the Bardo赢得了高度赞扬，可推理Lincoln in the Bardo这本书很受欢迎。故选B。
