There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama came from ritual (宗教仪式). The argument for this view goes as follows. In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world, even the seasonal changes, as unpredictable, and they sought through various means, to control these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed rituals. Eventually stories arose which explained the mysteries of the rites. As time passed some rituals were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths (神话), coutinued to exist and provided material for art and drama.
Those who believe that drama came from ritual also argue that those rites contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances and when the entire community did not participate, a clear division was usually made between the “acting area” and the “watching area.” In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in performing, religious leaders usually undertook that task. Wearing masks and costumes, they often imitated other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and used gestures about the desired effect, success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival (复活) of the Sun. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.
Another theory traces the theater’s origin from the human interest in storytelling. According to this view, tales about the hunt, war, or other feats are gradually added in detail, at first through imitation, action, and dialogue by a narrator and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely-related theory traces theater to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.What does the passage mainly discuss?
| A.The origins of theater. | B.The role of ritual in modern dance. |
| C.The importance of storytelling. | D.The variety of early religious activities. |
What aspect of drama does the author discuss in the first parapraph?
| A.The reason why drama is often unpredictable. | B.The seasons in which dramas were performed. |
| C.The connection between myths and dramatic plots. | D.The importance of costumes in early drama. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a common element of theater and ritual?
| A.Dance. | B.Costumes. | C.Music. | D.Magic. |
According to the passage, what is the main difference between ritual and drama?
| A.Ritual uses music whereas drama does not. | B.Ritual is shorter than drama. |
| C.Ritual requires fewer performers than drama. | D.Ritual has a religious purpose and drama does not. |
On October 12,1989,some British scientists were working at the computers to look for the information they needed.Suddenly they saw a lot of very bright points crossing the computer screens.At the same time the computers were working much slower.To find out what was happening they stopped their work to check some parts of the computers.To their horror,they found out that most of their stored information was got rid of by computer viruses(病毒)!Clearly all these computers had been infected by computer viruses.
It is said that the computer viruses were made by a group of young men fond of playing tricks.They all had excellent education.They created the viruses just to show their intelligence. These kinds of computer viruses are named Jerusalem Viruses.These viruses can stay in computers for a long time.When the time comes they will attack(袭击)the computers by lowering the functions,damaging their normal programs or even getting rid of all the information.
We now come to know that Jerusalem Viruses often attack computers on Friday and that they are spreading(传播)to a lot of computers.Among the countries that were attacked by computer viruses last year are Britain,Australia,Switzerland and the U.S.But till now,how to get rid of the terrible viruses remains a problem.When the viruses attack the computers,the computers will work________.
| A.normally | B.slowly | C.faster | D.well |
The group of young men created the viruses to________.
| A.damage the computers |
| B.test their ability |
| C.tell people that they were intelligent |
| D.play a trick on users of the computers |
According to the passage,computer viruses seem to ________.
| A.have been in nature for years |
| B.stay in any computers |
| C.be difficult to get rid of at present |
| D.be able to be got rid of in the near future |
According to the passage,which of the following is TRUE?
| A.Last year six countries found their computers were infected by viruses. |
| B.The viruses will come to a new computer after staying in the old one for some time. |
| C.Scientists are trying to find a way to get rid of the viruses. |
| D.The Jerusalem Viruses are dangerous to human health. |
Having finished her homework,Ma Li wants some music for relaxation(娱乐).As usual,she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.Come to download music files.But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs'copyright bursts onto the screen.The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright.Lawsuits(诉讼)have been filed against four websites offering free downloads.In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation(赔偿)for their losses.Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website.This caused a heated discussion on Internet file sharing.
“Baidu's defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying.Downloaders may face lawsuits or fines,”said an official.
Like many teens,Huang Ruoru,an 18yearold girl from Puning in Guangdong Province,doesn't think that getting music from websites is wrong.She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends.When told about the lawsuit,she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others' work without paying.
However,other teenagers have different ideas.Wang Yafei,a Senior 2 girl from Jinan,Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers.“If I download a song and really like it,I will buy the CD,”she said.“So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music,rather than pursuing(追赶,追击)filesharers.”Which of the following best describes the passage?
| A.Music on the Internet is of better quality. |
| B.Downloading material can be illegal. |
| C.It's good to get free music on the Internet. |
| D.Baidu is a popular Web company. |
The four Web companies were put to court because ________.
| A.they got copyrighted songs without paying |
| B.they downloaded copyrighted music for people |
| C.they make copyrighted files for free downloads |
| D.they offer free music on line |
How do some of the teenagers feel while downloading free music after the lawsuits?
| A.A bit guilty. | B.A little sad. |
| C.Extremely angry. | D.Awfully sorry. |
When first entered, Vanak Restaurant does not look like much of a restaurant, but once the pleasant smells of kabob (烤肉串)hit the senses, you are incapable of calling it anything less.
Owned by a local couple, this Persian restaurant has an inviting, homelike atmosphere that many restaurants lack.
The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but the environment is truly charming.
Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts all customer especially those experienced in the delights of Middle Eastern cooking.
A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the corner talking loudly about world topics, watching news events on TV, drinking a black tea known as Persian chai, an reading local Persian newspapers all the while trying to finish off their plates piled with food.
The variety of food at the restaurant is limited, but the amount of each dish is fairly large. Most of the meals can serve two people and are under $10, so not only is it affordably but practical as well.
The food, especially appeals to healthconscious eaters because each dish is very healthy, made with limited fat and oil and served straight off the grill(烤肉架).
The main dish that the restaurant is popular for is its kabobs, which are different style of grilled meat.
One delicious and extremely healthy dish is the Joojeh Kabob, which is made of grille chicken pieces served with either rice or bread. Another great kabob is the Chelo Kabob, kabob consisting of grilled beef.
Although the restaurant is small, the atmosphere and the food is delicious. It is a plan that should not be overlooked.When first entering the restaurant,one can find that it________.
| A.is splendidly decorated |
| B.has pleasant smells of kabobs |
| C.is crowded with dining table |
| D.looks like a common restaurant |
What activity is also mentioned apart from dining in the restaurant?
| A.Watching news events on TV. |
| B.Drinking a kind of black coffee. |
| C.Reading local English newspaper. |
| D.Discussing world topics in low voices. |
The food of the restaurant_________.
| A.is served in small amounts | B.is rather expensive |
| C.is rich in variety | D.is very healthy |
What is the dish Joojeh Kabob mainly made of?
| A.Rice. | B.Chicken. | C.Bread. | D.Beef. |
In the fall of 1985,I was a brighteyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twentyone years later I am later I am still a brighteyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopt and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To lay eyes on him was fantastic...and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy. Then followed son No. 3. In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8!Our home was a complete zoo...a joyous zoo. Not surprising, I never did make it back to college fulltime. But I never gave up on the dream either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant talking as few as one class each semester.
The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit.But I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree!
I am not special, just singleminded. It always struck me that when you're looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you're in the midst of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won't arrive in your life on one day. It's a process. Remember;little steps add up to big dreams.When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be ________.
| A.a writer | B.a teacher | C.a judge | D.a doctor |
Why did the author quit school in her second year of college?
| A.She wanted to study by herself. |
| B.She fell in love and got married. |
| C.She suffered from a serious illness. |
| D.She decided to look after her grandma. |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraphs 4 and 5?
| A.She was busy yet happy with her family life. |
| B.She ignored her guilty feeling for her sons. |
| C.She wanted to remain a fulltime housewife. |
| D.She was too confused to make a correct choice. |
What does the author mostly want to tell us in the last paragraph?
| A.Failure is the mother of success. |
| B.Little by little,one goes far. |
| C.Every coin has two sides. |
| D.Well begun, half done. |
The famous director of a big and expensive movie planned to film a beautiful sunset over the ocean , so that the audiences could see his hero and heroine in front of it at the end of the film as they said goodbye to each other for ever. He sent his camera crew (摄制组) out one evening to film the sunset for him.
The next morning he said to the men, “Have you provided me with that sunset?”
“No, sir,”the man answered.
The director was angry. “Why not?”he said.
“Well, sir,” one of the men answered, “We're on the east coast here, and the sun sets in the west. We can get you a sunrise over the sea, if necessary, but not a sunset.”
“But I want a sunset,”the director shouted. “Go to the airport, take the next flight to the west coast, and get one.”
But then a young secretary had an idea. “Why don't you photograph a sunrise, ” she suggested, “and then play it backwards? Then it'll look like a sunset.”
“That's a very good idea!” the director said. Then he turned to the camera crew and said,“Tomorrow morning I want you to get me a beautiful sunrise over the sea.”
The camera crew went out early the next morning and filmed a bright sunrise over the beach in the middle of a beautiful bay. Then at nine o'clock they took it to the director. “Here it is, sir,” they said, and gave it to him. He was very pleased.
They all went into the studio.“All right,”the director explained, “now our hero and heroine are going to say goodbye. Run the film backwards so that we can see the ‘sunset' behind them.”
The “sunset”began, but after a quarter of a minute, the director suddenly put his face in his hands and shouted to the camera crew to stop.
The birds in the film were flying backwards, and the waves on the sea were going away from the beach. Why did the director want to send his crew to the west coast?
| A.Because he changed his mind about getting a sunset. |
| B.Because he has angry with his crew. |
| C.Because it was his secretary's suggestion. |
| D.Because he wanted to get a scene of sunset. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A.The crew had to follow the secretary's advice. |
| B.If you want to see a sunrise, the east coast is the place to go to. |
| C.The camera crew wasn't able to film the scene the first day. |
| D.The director ordered his crew to stop filming the“sunset”. |
The director wanted to film a sunset over the ocean because________.
| A.it went well with the separation of the hero and the heroine |
| B.when they arrived at the beach it was already in the evening |
| C.it was more moving than a sunrise |
| D.the ocean looked more beautiful at sunset |
After the“sunset”began, the director suddenly put his face in his hands________.
| A.because he was moved to tears |
| B.as he saw everything in the film moving backwards |
| C.as the sunrise did not look as beautiful as he had imagined |
| D.because he was disappointed (失望的) with the performance of the hero and heroine |