JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has signed a deal with Little, Brown and Company, to publish her first ever novel for adults, which is set to become one of the most anticipated (期望的) book in years.
The deal means that Rowling’s long-standing relationship with Bloomsbury, the London-based publisher that launched (发行) the Harry Potter books, has come to an end, at least in terms of new works by the author.
Rowling is keeping her fans guessing about the characters and plot of her new book. She only said that the new novel will be nothing like the Harry Potter series, which was sold over 30 million copies in the UK alone. She thought that with the move from children’s to adult fiction, a switch to a new publisher seemed like a natural and reasonable step.
She said, "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, this book will be very different from the Harry Potter series. The freedom to explore a new field is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me."
Ian Rankin, the Edinburgh-based author whose highly-successful detective novels are also set in the city, suggested Rowling’s book will be a crime novel.
"Wouldn’t it be funny if JK Rowling’s first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in Edinburgh?" he said.
Industry insiders guessed that the deal is worth more than ￡5 million and the new book is expected to come out later this year.
A spokesman said, "JK Rowling’s audience is vast and her position is unique. Harry Potter books were a global success and her fans are very loyal. Children that were eight, nine, or ten when the books first came out in the 1990s are now in their 20s. Plenty of adults, loved the books regardless of whether they had children, so the potential market for her is huge."
1.What does the text mainly tell us?
A. JK Rowling has signed a deal with a new publisher.
B. JK Rowling's new book will be more successful than her Harry Potter series.
C. JK Rowling’s first book for adults will be published later this year.
D. JK Rowling has to switch to a new publisher in order to publish her new book.
2.JK Rowling’s new book for adults .
A. has been sold 30 million copies in the UK alone
B. is poorly thought of by the London-based publisher Bloomsbury
C. has nothing in common with the Harry Potter series
D. is expected to bring her more money than the Harry Potter series
3.The author used Ian Rankin’s words in order to .
A. tell us that some famous novelists offer to give Rowling some advice
B. show that many readers are curious about Rowling’s new book
C. tell us that many readers prefer to read detective or crime novels
D. prove that a crime story set in Edinburgh is sure to be successful
4.We can learn from the text that .
A. Little, Brown and Company is specialized in publishing adult books
B. the author has no doubt about the success of Rowling’s new book
C. JK Rowling will be a crime novelist as good as Ian Rankin
D. it was in Edinburgh that Ian Rankin got to know JK Rowling
Spend a pound to win a penny
Some people were steaming peas under a tree in order to make a meal for their horses. Up in the branches sat a monkey, 36 what they were doing.
"Aha" thought the monkey. “I spot my 37 !” So when the men had finished steaming the peas and 38 for a moment to look after the horses, 39 ,the monkey let himself down from the tree. He snatched (抓) the peas and filled his 40 and both hands as full as they could 41 . Then he climbed up the tree and sat there, eating happily.
Suddenly one pea fell.
"Oh dear! Oh my pea!" cried the monkey. The other peas 42 to drop out of his mouth. He 43 his hands in despair(绝望地), and the peas fell out of his hands too, but he took no 44 . All he thought of was that one pea was gone,__45__ he climbed down the trunk to hunt for his lost pea on the ground. At this time, the men came back. When they saw a monkey 46 with their pots, they all 47 their arms and shouted, "Shoo! Shoo!" Then they picked up stones and began to 48 the monkey with them. The monkey was so 49 that he gave one jump to the nearest 50 , and swung himself up to the top of the tree.
"After all," said he to himself, “it was 51 one pea.” But he ought to have thought of that 52 ,for now all the other peas had gone too.
That day the monkey had to content himself with the 53 of boiled peas for dinner, and I hope the 54 taught him not to be so 55 in future.
1.A. watching B. enjoying C. describing D. guessing
2.A. shelter B. neighbors C. dinner D. friends
3.A. turned up B. turned away C. gave up D. gave away
4.A. easily B. gently C. safely D. confidently
5.A. bowl B. pocket C. mouth D. bag
6.A. receive B. hold C. support D. put
7.A. seemed B. began C. hurried D. failed
8.A. crossed B. hid C. touched D. squeezed
9.A. interest B. time C. notice D. sign
10.A. so B. because C. although D. if
11.A. helping B. playing C. mixing D. dealing
12.A. carried B. broke C. waved D. bent
13.A. attack B. separate C. destroy D. bother
14.A puzzled B. disappointed C. terrified D. annoyed
15.A. branch B. stone C. pea D. horse
16.A. still B. even C. only D. almost
17.A. earlier B. sooner C. longer D. later
18.A. image B. smell C. dream D. taste
19.A. trick B. disaster C. loss D. process
20.A. curious B. ambitious C. proud D. greedy
, and we each can have one.
A. A few more books
B. Giving us a few more books
C. To give us a few more books
D. Given us a few more books
Is it, in your opinion, possible new measures will be taken to improve the terrible traffic?
A. whether B. that C. when D. what
She down beside me and soon got into sleep.
A. lied B. laid C. lay D. lain
Peter was so excited he received an invitation from his friend to visit Chongqing.
A. where B. that C. when D. why
