A
To develop one’s taste in English, the most effective way is to read English books extensively. Yet one may be at a loss to choose the appropriate books, especially as a beginner. As a native Spanish, I would like to share some of my experience.
My first English novel was Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, recommended by many English teachers and professors as an ideal book for English learners. But my experience was somewhat disastrous. I had great difficulty in understanding the novel, let alone enjoying it. It’s not the vocabulary that troubled me, but rather the way Austen constructs sentences, and her way of thinking, which seemed too remote to me at that time. My fading enthusiasm was much recovered after reading Hemingway’s novel A Farewell to Arms. No long and complicated sentences. And I particularly liked his brief and straightforward (简洁的) style. So my first suggestion is, as a beginner, you’d better choose contemporary novels instead of classical ones.
However, if you restrict yourself to novels you will miss a lot of treasures. English essays can at once inform you, entertain you, and improve your taste in English. The best example is Bertrand Russell’s work. Its language is plain, yet you cannot help feeling the elegance and the peculiar sense of humor. His simple language enables his philosophy within the reach of ordinary people. Here comes my second suggestion-essays are indispensable.
Never follow others’ recommendations and opinions blindly, however famous or influential(有很大影响的) the person might be. We should be open to various ideas, but always think and determine for ourselves. As a saying goes, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. With that in mind, we are bound to find out our favorite writers through reading and develop our fine taste in English.
21. What made the first English novel that the author read hard to understand?
A. Complicated conversations. B. The old-fashioned vocabulary.
C. Not knowing the social background. D. Sentences and Austen’s thinking pattern.
22. Which can best replace the underlined word “indispensable”?
A. Necessary. B. Challenging. C. Relevant. D. Inspirational.
23. What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?
A. Give comments on literature works.
B. Tell beginners how to choose English books.
C. Encourage people to read more English books.
D. Recommend first class books to English learners.
