Gaokao Express: 180 High School English Reading Comprehension Passages

Author: Zhou Wenlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-09-01
Features: This book was compiled with consideration given to the increased volume and difficulty of reading in the current college entrance examination (Gaokao), as well as the rising importance of reading scores and the poor reading abilities of middle school students, who often lack targeted reading training. It is a reading training book designed for high school students. The features of the book are as follows:
1. Diverse genres and extensive material selection. Looking at the Gaokao reading passages from 2000, we see one news article, one non-narrative prose piece, and three social or scientific expository or argumentative essays. It is evident that reading is no longer just about understanding literary stories but has become a comprehensive article combining knowledge and perspectives. This book includes a large number of expository essays, social science articles, news, advertisements, health and wellness content, cultural and geographical knowledge from around the world, human and natural geography, animal and plant knowledge, stories, biographies, historical accounts, and charts. The majority of the content is expository essays, providing readers with comprehensive training and improvement.
2. High interest and knowledge value. The selected texts emphasize knowledge and modernity, enabling readers to gain diverse knowledge while moving away from the mechanical reading approach of solely focusing on test-taking.
3. Flexible and structured for phased, all-around training for students and teachers. The book is adaptable in its organization. The articles are generally arranged in units of 7–10 pieces each, covering various genres and types of texts. They progress gradually from easier to more challenging, making them suitable for students and teachers to flexibly manage the learning pace.