I've been writing detective stories since I was a teenager. Some people think it's a strange job for a woman, but I think crime fiction is for everyone. I've started giving writing classes and the most common question people ask is, "Where do you start?" It's impossible to give fixed rules, but there are some general tips that people often find useful.
Before you start writing, choose a time period and place that sound realistic(现实的). A useful tip is to write about what you know. If you were born in Paris or London, it might make sense to set your story in a European country. Of course, you can write about any century, but you'll have to do a lot more research to make your story believable.
The character of your detective is very important. He or she must have qualities that help them solve the crime, but they also need characteristics that make them an individual(个人). He or she must also fit in the time and place of your story. Readers are very knowledgeable, and they may notice if you get any details wrong about the time period.
Every detective story needs a crime, of course. You need to explain what happens before the crime, the crime itself and what happens next. Remember that you don't always have to write about a murder. Some readers don't enjoy stories filled with guns and blood. So, why not write about a theft, kidnapping, or something different like an environmental crime?
Clues are important to keep the readers' interest. They must be interesting, but not too difficult or repetitive(重复的). The readers also need to know who the suspects are and whether they can prove that they were somewhere else when a crime was committed. Readers love a "twist" at the end of the story—a surprise or a new fact that brings the action to its conclusion.
1. The writer of the passage is ______.
A. a detective
B. a woman
C. a teenager
D. a reader
2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. You won't have to do so much research if you write about any century.
B. The readers may know whether the writer makes a mistake about the time period.
C. The clues in the detective story must be interesting, difficult or repetitive.
D. The readers enjoy stories like a murder because they are filled with guns and blood.
3. What does the underlined word "twist" in the last paragraph mean?
A. 重复
B. 结论
C. 转折
D. 冲突
4. 中考新考法 推断作者写作意图 Why did the writer write this passage?
A. To keep the readers' interest.
B. To tell a real detective story.
C. To describe the life of a story writer.
D. To give advice on writing a detective story.
任务2 阅读表达
中考新考法 开放式评价侦探故事写作技巧 Do you think the tips in the passage useful? Why?
______

任务1:[文章大意]本文主要是一位写侦探故事的作者给出了几个关于如何写侦探故事的方法。
1.B [解析]细节理解题。根据第一段中的“Some people think it's a strange job for a woman, but I think crime fiction is for everyone.”可知,本文的作者是一名女性。故选B。
2.B [解析]细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Readers are very knowledgeable, and they may notice if you get any details wrong about the time period.”可知,作者对选择的时代要非常了解,因为读者可能会注意到任何关于时代的细节错误。故选B。
3.C [解析]词义猜测题。根据空后的“a surprise or a new fact that brings the action to its conclusion”可知,读者喜欢在故事结尾有转折,即一个惊喜或新的事实。由此可知,twist意为“转折”。故选C。
4.D [解析]主旨大意题。根据第一段中的“It's impossible to give fixed rules, but there are some general tips that people often find useful.”可知,作者写本文的目的是给出几个关于如何写侦探故事的方法。故选D。
任务2:Yes. Because they give me some ideas when I read detective stories.(开放性试题,答案不唯一,符合情理即可。)