在高中英语教学活动中，主要的教学方式就是阅读教学活动，阅读文学名著不但深化了学生进行英语阅读，更提升了学生自身的文学素养，有助于学生综合能力的提升与发展。
普通高中英语课程语篇类型内容要求， 必修部分的记叙文包括：短片小说； 选修部分的记叙文包括：小说，科幻故事等。《普通高中英语课程标准（2017版）》p17表三
应注意 文学性和 非文学性语篇的合理比例，在确保选择一定比例的文学性语篇的同时，注意为学生提供体验 非连续性文本的机会，提高他们对 非连续性文本的解读能力。《普通高中英语课程标准（2017版）》P18
为了达到这一要求，教师有必要引导学生开展英语文学名著阅读。近几年全国各地的高考试卷中的阅读理解，完型填空经常节选自名著名篇。2012年福建高考阅读题中也出现名著节选。
外研版高中英语教材必修五第三模块reading and vocabulary部分的阅读材料The Steamboat,节选自Mark Twain笔下的《Huckleberry Finn》的一小段历险记;选修六第二模块reading and vocabulary 部分的阅读材料The Cat That Vanished,节选自《His Dark Materials》;选修七第三模块reading and vocabulary部分的阅读材料Oliver Asks for More，是根据英国大文豪狄更斯所著的长篇小说《Oliver Twist》中的一个片段改写而成的一篇短文。
《Oliver Twist》是狄更斯早期的一部作品，在阅读中很受我们学生喜爱，它不仅体现了那个时代的民族文化，各阶层人的心理特点，而且对学生心理素质和人生涵养的培养起到了很好的导向作用。简易小说就是一部历史画卷，历经风雨和时代变迁，依然熠熠生辉，展现给学生的是可以模仿的优美语言，严谨的结构和只可体悟的人文内涵。
太原市2018—2019学年高二年级第一学期期中考试的阅读理解C篇就节选了Mark Twain的小说《The Adventures of Tom Sawyer》其中的一个片段。
When Tom and Huck reached the abandoned house there was something so strange and frightening about the dead silence in the air and something so depressing about the loneliness and emptiness o f the place, that they were afraid, for a moment, to step in.
Then they came to the door and took a trembling look into the house. They saw a weedgrown, floorless room, and ancient fireplace, some broken windows and stairs; and here, there, and everywhere hung old and abandoned spider’s webs. They entered softly, talking in whispers, their hearts racing, ears open to catch the slightest sound, muscles ready to run out any second.
In a little while, fright gave away to curiosity and they gave the place an interested examination. Next they wanted to look upstairs. This was something like cutting off the possibility of escaping, but they made their way up.
Up there were the same signs of decay(衰败)。 In one corner they found a closet(密室) that promised mystery, but the promise turned out to be a disappointment--there was nothing in it. Their courage was up now and well in hand. They were about to go down and leave when----
“Sh!”said Tom.
“What is it?”whispered Huck with fright.
“Sh!...There!...Hear it?”
“Yes!...Oh, my goodness!Let’s run!”
“Keep still!Don’t ! They’re coming right toward the door.”
The boys got down to the floor and lay waiting in fear.
Two men entered. When they came in, one was talking in a low voice; they sat down on the ground, facing the door, with their backs to the wall, and the speaker continued;
“No.”said one man,”It’s not a good idea to stay here. It’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous!”shouted the other-- to the surprise of the boys.”What’s more dangerous than taking $6000 in broad daylight?”
21. What is the right order of the following events?
a. Two men entered.
b The boys entered the house.
c The boys heard people coming.
d Huck suggested running.
A. acbd B. bcad C. bcda D. adbc
22. What was the boys’ first impression of the house?
A. Peaceful B. Tidy C. Scary D. Comfortable
23. What can we infer from paragraph 2?
A. The house made strange noises.
B. The house was in good condition.
C. The house was ruined in a fire.
D. The house had been empty for long.
24. Who noticed the sound of people coming towards the house first?
A. Huck B. Tom C. Two boys D. Two men
25. What are the two men probably？
A. Tourists. B. Explorers C. Policemen D. Robbers.
我个人认为，阅读材料中第二段的一些形容词用的非常好，trembling,weed-grown, floorless,ancient, broken, abandoned, 让人脑中不自觉的构建起一幅破败不堪的场景和画面。They entered softly, talking in whispers, their hearts racing, ears open to catch the slightest sound, muscles ready to run out a any second.动词描写的也很形象生动。
由此可见，文化的学习，才是语言学习的主体，高中阶段加强文化阅读教学一定会为大大提高学生的人格修养和审美情趣，相应口语能力写作水平和语感都会获得整体提高。教师应鼓励学生走出书本，要求他们每两周阅读一本简易小说，也可根据小说内容，排演课本剧等。