A
The critics’ top four books of 2018 are based on Christmas selections in national newspapers, the London Evening Standard, The TLS, The Spectator and the New Statesman.
Normal People by Sally Rooney Faber £14.99
Sally Rooney’s debut novel, Conversations with Friends, was one of last year’s most talked-about books. The response to the Irish writer’s follow-up has, if anything, been even more ecstatic. The 27-year-old was praised for her ability to convey subtle modulations of emotion. The novel was long listed for the Man Booker Prize — but many felt that it should have done better.
Vietnam by Max Hastings William Collins £30
This long-awaited historical blockbuster follows the Vietnam War over three decades,from the French “dirty war” of 1946—54 to America’s capitulation to the Vietcong in 1975. Hastings, who reported from the battlefield in Vietnam as a young British journalist, was praised for his encyclopedic knowledge of the conflict.
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker Hamish Hamilton £18.99
Pat Barker’s novel is a retelling of The lliad — but with women at the heart of the action. The central character is Briseis, who appears only glancingly in Homers original. Best-known for her First World War Set Regeneration trilogy (1997). Barker, in her fifties, again focuses on the traumas of war. Reviewers praised the novel’s subversive energy even if it was judged conventional in places.
A Certain Idea of France by Julian Jackson Allen Lane £35
This biography by British historian Julian Jackson — born in 1954 chronicles the life of Charles de Gaulle who is regarded as one of the greatest ever Frenchmen. While acknowledging that de Gaulle wasn’t very likeable, Jackson salutes his imagination and boldness- qualities that helped him steer France through its liberation from the Nazis and the war in Algeria. Critics suggested it would become the standard biography.
21. Which author of the four books is the youngest according to the text?
A. Sally Rooney B. Max Hastings C. Pat Barker D. Julian Jackson
22. Which book may people who are interested in a political leader’s life choose?
A. Normal People B. Vietnam
C. The Silence of the Girls D. A Certain Idea of France
23. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To remember the four great novelists. B. To promote the values of the four novelists
C. To encourage studies on the four novels D. To introduce the yearly top four novels.
【答案】21. A 22. D 23. D
【解析】
这是一篇应用文。短文介绍了2018年英国最畅销的四部小说。
【21题详解】
细节理解题。由Normal People中的“ The 27-year-old” Vietnam中的“from the French “dirty war” of 1946—54 to America’s capitulation to the Vietcong in 1975 .Hastings, who reported from the battlefield in Vietnam as a young British journalis”.The Silence of the Girls 中的“in her fifties”以及A Certain Idea of France 中的“......born in 1954”可知，通过对比四个作家的年龄，Sally Rooney是四个作家中最年轻的作家。故选A项。
【22题详解】
细节理解题。由A Certain Idea of France中的“This biography by British historian Julian Jackson ...chronicles the life of Charles de Gaulle who is regarded as one of the greatest ever Frenchmen”可知，这本由英国历史学家朱利安·杰克逊（Julian Jackson）撰写的传记记录了戴高乐（Charles de Gaulle）的一生，戴高乐被认为是有史以来最伟大的法国人之一。所以对政治领袖的生活感兴趣的人可以选择 A Certain Idea of France。故选D项。
【23题详解】
推理判断题。由第一段“The critics’ top four books of 2018 are based on Christmas selections in national newspapers, the London Evening Standard, The TLS, The Spectator and the New Statesman.”可知，评论家们评选出的2018年最受欢迎的四本书是基于英国全国性报纸《伦敦旗帜晚报》、《泰晤士报》、《观察家报》和《新政治家报》的圣诞精选。以及下文对这4本小说的具体介绍。可以判断出，作者写这篇文章的目的是介绍年度最畅销的四部小说。故选D项。
