C Read the conversation about favourite poets. Rewrite the underlined sentences using if or unless.
Dan: So, who is your favourite poet?
Marsha: I really love the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore. (1) I read his Selected Poems every night. But not when I have homework.
Dan: Well, I’ve heard of him, but I haven’t read his poetry. What is it like?
Marsha: (2) Read his poems, and you will find they are often quite short and simple. They often deal with nature, love and the wonder of everyday life.
Dan: Can you give me any examples?
Marsha: Here are some of my favourite : “Life is given to us,/we earn it by giving it.” and “Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.”
Dan: (3) Think about those lines. You will find they are quite deep.
Marsha: Yes, his poems are full of wisdom. So, how about you?
Dan: My favourite poet is Li Qingzhao. I love her ci-style poetry and the way she doubles her words for feelings and effect. Her poems have such gentle language and deep feelings. (4) Read her poems aloud. If not, you won’t hear the music in them.
Marsha: She sounds wonderful. I will have to try reading her poems.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

A George is recommending a book for the school Book Club. Read his recommendation and learn how to write about a book you love.
Begin with a recommendation for the book.
When talking about the events in the story, use the present tense.
Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web is children’s classic that readers of all ages can enjoy. In this story, Wilbur is a young pig living
on a farm who will be killed and eaten. His best friend is Charlotte, a spider living above him. She saves Wilbur’s life by weaving the words “Some Pig!” into her web. When the people on the farm see those words, they begin to believe that Wilbur must be special.
Use a dash to add extra details or examples.
I love this book because the characters all seem real. It gives readers a real sense of what life on a farm is like—the sounds, the smells and the simple daily tasks. Although the story makes the animals seem like people, the feelings are honest and true. We can see ourselves in the characters. Charlotte is the real hero of this story, and even though she is a spider, she is full of wisdom and motherly warmth. She teaches us about friendship, life and death.
Use a natural ending phrase for recommending a book.
You should read this book because it is inspiring. It shows us that even the smallest creature can make a difference in this world. The story uses animals to show us how people behave, and in many ways, it is as wise as Charlotte. If you want a book that takes an honest look at life, this is a great choice.
◆ Structure of the article ◆
Beginning: Start by giving a brief introduction to the story. You can give a brief summary of the plot, but do not give away the ending.
Main body: Talk about what you love about the story. You can talk about the writing style, the plot and the characters. You can also talk about how the story makes you feel, or what the story makes you think about.
Ending: Close by talking about why people should read this book. You should explain what readers can learn from it.
B What book do you want to recommend? Think of the book you like best and write about it.