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Your 2019 Reading List, Provided by Bill Gates
Do you want to be a billionnaire? Most of us can’t live like billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, but we can read like him. Gates recommended four books in 2019—though some were published earlier.
Leonardo da Vinci, by Walter Isaacson (2018)
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 (2018)
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 describes 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 technology will play in preventing the worst effects of climate change,” said Gates.
1. Which books refer to the field of science?
A. Leonardo da Vinci and The Best We Could Do
B. Lincoln in the Bardo and Origin Story
C. Origin Story and Leonardo da Vinci
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. David Christian D. George Saunders
3. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?
A. The Best We Could Do left Gates unfavourable impressions.
B. Leonardo da Vinci only made contributions to art.
C. David Christian talks much about technology.
D. Lincoln in the Bardo has been warmly received.
【答案】1. C 2. D 3. D
【解析】
【分析】
本文是一篇应用文。主要讲述盖茨在2019年推荐了四本书给读者， 文章介绍了四本书的作者和主要意义。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。”Leonardo da Vinci”中提到 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. 艾萨克森为史蒂夫·乔布斯和阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦写的传记曾登上畅销书榜。艾萨克森笔下的达芬奇不仅在艺术方面卓有建树，而且在科学技术和发明创造领域也有着卓越的贡献。”Origin Story”中提到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. 这本新书是由Big History的作者所著，Big History是一个免费的在线社会研究课程。它以广泛而广泛的运动来追溯历史，从大爆炸开始，它实际上提供了一门现代科学的短期课程。所以这两本书中都提到了科学，故选C。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章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. 桑德斯是一位资深短篇小说作家，他的这部小说赢得了很高的评价。 这本书虚构了萦绕在威利·林肯墓穴周围的鬼魂。在真实生活中，亚伯拉罕·林肯的儿子威利·林肯于11岁去世。由此可知这部小说是惊悚小说，如果你对惊悚小说感兴趣，应该选择George Saunders，故选D。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。关于“The Best We Could Do”，Gates calls this graphic novel “really impressive”盖茨称这本漫画小说“真的令人印象深刻”， A选项错误；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.艾萨克森为史蒂夫·乔布斯和阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦写的传记曾登上畅销书榜。艾萨克森笔下的达芬奇不仅在艺术方面卓有建树，而且在科学技术和发明创造领域也有着卓越的贡献，B选项错误；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. 这本新书是由Big History的作者所著，Big History是一个免费的在线社会研究课程。它以广泛而广泛的运动来追溯历史，从大爆炸开始，它实际上提供了一门现代科学的短期课程，查选项错误；Saunders, a long-time short story writer, won high praise for this novel.桑德斯是一位资深短篇小说作家，他的这部小说赢得了很高的评价，由此判断出，Lincoln in the Bardo很受欢迎。D选项正确，故选D。
【点睛】应用文多是细节理解题。一般定位关键词适用于解答细节理解题。通过定位关键词解题，考生在阅读题干时，把题干中有标记意义的词或词组划记出来，或者选项中的关键词，然后用这个词回到原文当中定位。如小题1题干中的science，再如小题2中的各个选项，定位回到原文中去，可以帮助快速找出答案。
