Chinese writer Mo Yan has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday. The win makes Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel in its 111-year history. Informed of his win today, the author, who was having dinner at home, was “overjoyed and scared”.

Born in 1955 to parents who were farmers, Mo Yan — a pen name for Guan Moye, grew up in Gaomi, Shandong province in eastern China. At the age of 12, he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory. In 1976 he joined the army and during this time began to study literature and writing.

He published his first book in 1981, but found literary success in 1987 with Hong Gaoliang Jiazu, which was successfully filmed in the same year, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth and his works show the life of Chinese people as well as the country’s unique culture and folk customs. Mo Yan is known as a productive writer. In addition to his novels, he has published many short stories and essays on various topics. Despite his social criticism, he is seen in his homeland as one of the most famous contemporary authors. Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and many other languages.

The awarding ceremony has been held on December 10. The winner has won a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of about $1 million.

1.How did Mo Yan feel when he was told about the news?

A. Excited and proud.                                   B. Worried and cautious

C. Uncertain and shocked.                            D. Happy and surprised

2.One of Mo Yan’s characteristics of writing is that he ________.

A. focuses on social problems in the country

B. writes about topics he is familiar with

C. describes his characters in a unique way

D. explains difficult matters in simple words

3.What’s the best title for this passage?    

A. Mo Yan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

B. An Introduction to Nobel Prize

C. How Mo Yan Gets Nobel Prize

D. A World Famous Writer, Mo Yan

Mo Yan, a Chinese writer has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday. The win makes Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel in its history. Informed of his win today, the author, who was having dinner at home, was “overjoyed and scared”.
Born in 1955 to parents who were farmers, Mo Yan--a pen name for Guan Moye, grew up in Gaomi in shandong province in eastern China. At the age of 12, he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory, In 1976 he joined the army and during this time began to study literature and writing.
He published his first book in 1981, but found literary success in 1987 with Hong Gaoliang Jiazu, which was successfully filmed in the stone year, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth and his works show the life of Chinese people as well as the country’s unique culture and folk customs. Mo Yan is known as a prolific （多产的）writer. In addition to his novels, he has published many short stories and essays on various topics. Despite his social criticism, be is seen in his homeland as one of the most famous contemporary authors. Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and many other languages.
The awarding ceremony was held on December 10. Mo Yan won a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of about $1 million

1. 1.

   How did Mo Yan feel when he was told about the news?

   1. A.
      Excited and proud
   2. B.
      Worried and cautious
   3. C.
      Uncertain and shocked
   4. D.
      Happy and surprised
2. 2.

   Mo Yan developed his ability for writing when he was ________

   1. A.
      on a farm
   2. B.
      in a factory
   3. C.
      in the army
   4. D.
      in a school
3. 3.

   One of Mo Yan’s characteristics of writing is that he _________

   1. A.
      explains difficult matters in simple words
   2. B.
      focuses on social problems in the country
   3. C.
      writes about topics he is familiar with
   4. D.
      describes his characters in a unique way
4. 4.

   What’s the best title for this passage?

   1. A.
      Mo Yan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature
   2. B.
      An Introduction to Nobel Prize
   3. C.
      How Mo Yan Gets Nobel Prize
   4. D.
      A World Famous Writer, Mo Yan

Mo Yan, a Chinese writer has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday. The win makes Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel in its history. Informed of his win today, the author, who was having dinner at home, was “overjoyed and scared”.

Born in 1955 to parents who were farmers, Mo Yan--a pen name for Guan Moye, grew up in Gaomi in Shandong province in eastern China. At the age of 12, he left school to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory, In 1976 he joined the army and during this time began to study literature and writing.

He published his first book in 1981, but found literary success in 1987 with Hong Gaoliang Jiazu, which was successfully filmed in the stone year, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In his writing, Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth and his works show the life of Chinese people as well as the country’s unique culture and folk customs. Mo Yan is known as a prolific （多产的）writer. In addition to his novels, he has published many short stories and essays on various topics. Despite his social criticism, he is seen in his homeland as one of the most famous contemporary authors. Dozens of his works have been translated into English, French, Japanese and many other languages.

The awarding ceremony was held on December 10. Mo Yan won a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of about $1 million.

46. How did Mo Yan feel when he was told about the news?

A. Excited and proud.              B. Worried and cautious.

    C. Uncertain and shocked           D. Happy and surprised..

47. Mo Yan developed his ability for writing when he was ________.

    A. in the army                   B. in a factory

    C. on a farm                   D. in a school

48. One of Mo Yan’s characteristics of writing is that he _________.

    A. explains difficult matters in simple words

    B. writes about topics he is familiar with

    C. focuses on social problems in the country

    D. describes his characters in a unique way

49. What’s the best title for this passage?

    A. Mo Yan Wins Nobel Prize in Literature  B. An Introduction to Nobel Prize

    C. How Mo Yan Gets Nobel Prize        D. A World Famous Writer, Mo Yan

The Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday named Mo Yan winner of the Twenty-Twelve Nobel Prize in Literature.
The academy praised the Chinese writer for what it called his “hallucinatoty realism (魔幻现实主义)”. It noted his ability to combine folk stories, history and modern events in his works.
An academy official said Mister Mo was “overjoyed and sacred” when he learnt he had won the award. He will receive his Nobel diploma, a medal and more than one million dollars at the ceremony in Stockholm in December.
Mo Yan is a leading author of modern Chinese novels. He often writes from memories of his youth. He also sets many of his stories in the area where he was born—Shandong Province in northeastern China.
Mister Mo’s 1987 book Red Sorghum is an example. It is about the extreme violence in rural eastern China during the Communist Revolution in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The story describes the criminal culture of the time, Japan’s occupation and the terrible conditions faced by farm workers. Red Sorghum was later made into a movie.
Mo Yan’s other major works include Big Breasts and Wide Hips, Republic of Wine and Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out.
The Royal Swedish Academy compared him to two 20th century writers: American William Faulkner and Colombia Gabriel Marquez.
Mo Yan’s real name is Guan Moye. Mo Yan means “Don’t speak.” The writer said he chose the name to remember to stop his tongue from getting him in trouble.
China is celebrating the victory of his native son. Minutes after the award was announced, millions of Chinese expressed pleasure and pride for Mo Yan on social media websites

1. 1.

   How many books of Mo Yan are mentioned in this passage?

   1. A.
      Three
   2. B.
      Four
   3. C.
      Five
   4. D.
      Six
2. 2.

   It can be inferred from the passage that _____

   1. A.
      many people in China showed their respect for Mo Yan by letters
   2. B.
      Mo Yan is just a pen name
   3. C.
      he was very glad to win the Nobel Prize
   4. D.
      Red Sorghum was once made into a film
3. 3.

   Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

   1. A.
      Mo Yan, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
   2. B.
      The origin of Mo Yan’s work
   3. C.
      The true meaning of Mo Yan
   4. D.
      Bookstore created by Mo Yan

Why texting harms your IQ

The regular use of text messages and e-mails can lower the IQ more than twice as much as smoking marijuana (大麻). That is the statement of researchers who have found that tapping away on a mobile phone or computer keypad or checking for electronic messages temporarily knocks up to 10 points off the user’s IQ. This rate of decline in intelligence compares unfavorably with the four-point drop in IQ associated with smoking marijuana, according to British researchers, who have described the phenomenon of improved stupidity as “infomania”. The research conducted by Hewlett Packard, the technology company, has concluded that it is mainly a problem for adult workers, especially men.

It is concluded that too much use of modern technology can damage a person’s mind. It can cause a constant distraction of “always on” technology when employees should be concentrating on what they are paid to do. Infomania means that they lose concentration as their minds remain fixed in an almost permanent state of readiness to react to technology instead of focusing on the task in hand. The report also added that, in a long term, the brain will be considerably shaped by what we do to it and by the experience of daily life. At a microcellular level, the complex networks of nerve cells that make up parts of the brain actually change in response to certain experiences.

Too much use of modern technology can be damaging not only to a person’s mind, but to their social relationship. 1100 adults were interviewed during the research. More than 62 per cent of them admitted that they were addicted to checking their e-mails and text messages so often that they scrutinized work-related ones even when at home or on holiday. Half said that they always responded immediately to an email and will even interrupt a meeting to do so. It is concluded that infomania is increasing stress and anxiety and affecting one’s characteristics. Nine out of ten thought that colleagues who answered e-mails or messages during a face-to-face meeting were extremely rude.

The effects on IQ were studied by Dr Glenn Wilson, a psychologist at University of London. “This is a very real and widespread phenomenon,” he said. “We have found that infomania will damage a worker’s performance by reducing their mental sharpness and changing their social life. Companies should encourage a more balanced and appropriate way of working.”

1.We can learn from the passage that “infomania” ______.

A. has a positive influence on one’s IQ

B. results in the change of part of the brain

C. lies in the problem of lack of concentration

D. is caused by too much use of modern technology

2.The research mentioned in the passage is most probably about ______.

A. the important function of advanced technology

B. the damage to one’s brain done by unhealthy habits

C. the relevance between IQ and use of modern technology

D. the relationship between intelligence and working effectiveness

3.The underlined word “scrutinized” probably means “______”.

A. examined carefully  B. copied patiently

C. corrected quickly   D. admitted freely

4.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?

A．

B.

C．

D．

CP: Central Point   P: Point   Sp: Sub-point (次要点)   C: Conclusion