As darkness fell, hundreds of people in the Swiss village left their houses. They were staring(凝视)1 at the mountain top in the distance. It was covered with 2一beautiful and dangerous.
The huge mountain is called Matterhorn Mountain climbers had 3 the top, using the southern route. But no one had ever dared(敢)to try a winter climbing up the 4 side. But now one man was daring to try the 5 route. He was Walter Bonatti, a great mountain climber from Italy.
For two days he had climbed. The village people had watched him anxiously(焦急地). Now they were waiting to see his signal(信号). If he planned to 6 the next day, he would light a green signal. A red light would mean that he was turning back.
A tiny green light 7 high on the mountain side. Bonatti was not giving up! The people 8.
The next day he continued his way upward. He was so lonely and so9! But he would not give up. Again that night he lit the 10light.
In the morning, Bonatti 11. He couldn't see the top, but he knew he was 12 there. Though the climb was painful, he moved up.
Bonatti had spent months 13 for the climb. Was the training enough? Did he have the strength and skill to climb to the top?
He was finally at the top! News about his 14 was radioed to the world.
The trip down the southern route was easy. He was warmly welcomed in the village. He had done the “15” and would be well remembered as a climber of all time.
阅读理解
Bookstores are second homes for readers. Although many people can now buy books online, many readers still like the feeling in bookstores. They can touch(触摸) the books and smell the print.
In China, there are many special bookstores. Sanlian Taofen Bookstore became the first 24-hour bookstore in Beijing at the beginning of April. Popular Holdings in Shanghai is a film-themed bookstore. It has film books and posters. Eslite Bookstore in Taiwan often has activities like talks with famous writers.
At the same time, bookstores outside China can be very colorful, too. Scarthin Books is a small bookstore in the UK. It sells new and second-hand books. There are more than 100,000 books lying on the shelves of the store's 12 rooms. Bart's Books in the US is a good place to enjoy the sunshine(阳光) while reading books. It's an outdoor bookstore. Bookshelves are on the street. When the store is closed, people can still buy books. They just put money into the door's coin box. Where can you find a cafe bar and bookstore in just one place? The answer is probably El Pendulo in Mexico. Books line(排列成行) the walls of the store. On the second floor, visitors can order everyday meals in the cafe and drinks from the bar. In order to keep cool, there are green plants and trees inside. Does it look like a park?
You eat to stay fit and keep your body working, right? Then reading is food for your mind and soul. Reading informs you of what's happening around. Reading encourages you to think and imagine, think out of the box and imagine the impossible.
In the past, people just read books, only books. Today, we have books online, which makes reading easy. The web, our new storehouse of information, is just a click away. But this is in no way has stolen the magic of reading books, the sound of their pages fluttering(翻页)and the smells of___You can lie in bed with a book, but with a computer you possibly can't. No matter how you read, reading is important.
Remember those bedtime stories? We read fun facts about animals, plants and the universe. We ask “why” and “how”. In books, we find the answers. Children who are introduced to reading at an early age seem to have a better understanding of phonics(语音学).They master language skills easily, have a richer vocabulary and have greater reading abilities. Children, who grow up reading good books, mostly stand out. The way they think and act is very different from those who have never been introduced to reading. Reading not only adds to their knowledge but also shape their personalities.
The more you read, the more creative you will become. Reading develops vocabulary, improves language skills and sharpens(使敏捷)your problem-solving abilities. Reading gives you knowledge and makes you more confident. The more you read about others' life experiences, the better decision-maker you will become.
Reading about the importance of reading can lead you to read more and more. So choose a book you like and don't stop reading until you reach the end. And even after that read as much as you can.
