Twenty-four

Twenty-four

I often played a kind of two people game named Twenty-four using a pack of playing cards when I was a child (about ten to twelve years old). Its rule is very simple, which is just that the cards 2 to 10 stand for themselves; A, K, Q, J, Queen and King all stand for 1; everyone takes half of cards and turns three cards in the same time; the person will win this round who figures up faster Twenty-four while applying add, subtract, multiply, and divided rules. The winner will put the six cards (including the opposite’s three cards) into other cards of his own, who owning most of the cards will win the final. If nobody can figure out 24 with those six cards, they will be put on one side, and then the gamers go on playing next round.

For example, 3, 5, 7, 10, 2and J six cards will have a few answers. The first is 3×(7+J)+10-5×2=24.The second is (3+J)×｛7-10÷(5×2)｝=24.The third is 5×7-10-3÷(2+J)=24.The fourth is (10+2)×(3+5+J-7)=24,and so on. It is obvious that the random six cards may have a kinds of ways, but which is the fastest? It is difficult to say because everyone’s degree of the arithmetic proficiency is different. However, there are also some knacks. For instance, we should use multiplication as much as possible, and it is better to use 3×8 or 4×6 computing method in the end step. The game can help teenage children to neatly apply arithmetic and improve their intelligence. Sometimes I still play the game with my daughter until now, who will rise into the junior high school this year and shows great interest in it. She could win me every time. Of course, if I really want to win…

The Interpreter

The Interpreter

I have already read The Interpreter twice. Every Chapter left a deep impression on me, so to speak, which had a lot of suspense. And these attracted me to continue to read the following Chapter, especially the Chapter 8 and the Chapter 13 which made me very nervous and excited. Therefore, I like the novel very much.

However, I also have a lot of questions without understanding, in other words, I felt puzzled. The first is that Why Silvia put the new notebooks inside a large envelope which was written an address (Chapter 3, page 11); what secret there was in the new notebooks. The second is that How Silvia knew it was the death list that was written on the photo back (Chapter 5, page 15); didn’t Tobin know? The third is that why Jamal took the risk of stealing the African mask; what important meaning it had in the novel; was it necessary to call Silvia after he walked off with it (Chapter 5, page 16)? The fourth is that how Silvia recognized King’s car; was it a real coincidence when Silvia met Kuman on the bus (the two points made me felt that she had ever undergone special training)? Did Kuman die in the bomb (Chapter 5m, page 25,27and 30)? The fifth is that how Silvia entered the heavily guarded safe room where Zuwanie stayed (Chapter 14, page 43).

All these were not clearly written by the author, which were probably left out. Maybe the author left a few of suspense on purpose. All in all, I think Silvia still is a mysterious or dangerous woman because she looked like very bridle-wise. I always feel an organization supporting her, and there are still lots of secrets in the U.N. building.

What would she do when she went back to Africa? What would happen to Silvia and Tobin finally? I recommend the author to go on writing and uncover those mysteries.