It’s that unbelievable fantasy that all of us in the music business are pursuing. While we think that few of us will ever win the “ jackpot”(最高奖赏)of music fame and fortune, emotionally we still hope that one day we will be included in that small group.
As long as the music business has existed, people have been trying to discover the basic ingredients for success. Opinions range from having post-graduate degrees in composition on the one hand, to having an uncle who drives the bus for Reba McIntype, a famous country music singer, on the other hand. (Probably both would be helpful!) In my opinion, however, there are two doors that are absolutely essential in order to enter credibility. They are available to anyone, but they do require a key, and the key to both of them is perseverance.
There is nothing that can replace excellence! It is the first door we must open in order to have any hope of achieving our musical goals. And, unfortunately, there is no shortcut to excellence. The only way to achieve it is through dedication, discipline and lots of blood, sweat and tears… in other words, perseverance.
Every day I received emails from promising songwriters and musicians all around the world who mistakenly think that natural talent is the magic ingredient for success. While talent is certainly a plus, it is by no means the miraculous elixir(神奇的灵丹妙药)that will turn you into a famous person. Think about it for a moment: How many very talented people do you know personally who are much better songwriters and musicians than those you hear on TV and on the radio? I’ll bet you can say that you know quite a few. And yet, most of these gifted artists will never be known outside their own family or community. Why? Because natural talent—by itself—is not enough.
Next time we will e
xplore the other door to the world of music achievement—the door of credibility—and how the perseverance key works to unlock it as well.
68. In the author’s opinion, the key to success in music achievement is __________.
A. talent B. dedication C. perseverance D. discipline
69. Which paragraph will end with “Whether you’re very talented, or just average, perseverance in practicing makes a difference in your music career.”?
A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four
70. What is the author most probably?
A. A psychologist B. A teacher C.A well-known musician D. A talented writer
71. From the passage, the author wants to tell us_________.
A. difficulties in the music business
B. the key to success in the music field
C. the jackpot of music fame and fortune
D. the basic ingredients for success
It’s really true what people say about English politeness: it’s everywhere. When squeezing (挤过去) past someone in a narrow passage, people say “sorry”. When getting off a bus, English passengers say “thank you” rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable, and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles, and here are some more polite ways of interacting (交往) with people in UK.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customer and shop assistant in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, as opposite to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize (批评) others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers emphasized several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism. It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable. This also is showed in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted.What is the author’s attitude towards English politeness?
| A．He thinks it is unnecessary. | B．He thinks little of it. |
| C．He appreciates it very much. | D．He thinks it goes too far. |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．German men never treat a woman to dinner. |
| B．The author think it’s unnecessary to say “thank you” to the bus driver. |
| C．In Germany, employers often say “thank you” to employees for their job. |
| D．Germans think it is unnecessary to thank workers because payment is enough. |
We can learn from the last paragraph that Scottish men ______.
| A．like to fight with each other |
| B．treat women in a polite way |
| C．are as generous as English men |
| D．are unwilling to spend money for women |
The author develops the text through the method of ______.
| A．making comparisons | B．telling stories |
| C．giving reasons | D．giving examples |
The Pacific island nation of Nauru used to be a beautiful place．Now it is an ecological disaster area．Nauru's heartbreaking story could have one good consequence-other countries might learn from its mistakes．
For thousands of years，Polynesian people lived in the remote island of Nauru，far from western civilization．The first European to arrive was John Fearn in 1798．He was the British captain of the Hunter, a whaling ship．He called the island Pleasant Island．
However, because it was very remote, Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first．The whaling ships and other traders began to visit，bringing guns and alcohol．These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island．A ten-year civil war started，which reduced the population from 1,400 to 900.
Nauru's real troubles began in 1899 when a British mining company discovered phosphate(磷酸盐)on the island．In fact，it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate，which was a very important fertilizer for farming．The company began mining the phosphate．
A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground；it is a strip mine．When a company strip-mines，it removes the to player of soil．Then it takes away the material it wants．Strip mining totally destroys the land．Gradually, the lovely island or Nauru started to look like the moon．
In 1968，Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world．Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate．
Unfortunately, the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars．In addition，they used millions more dollars for personal expenses．Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem—their phosphate was running out．Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing．By 2000，Nauru was financially ruined．Experts say that it would take approximately$433，600，000 and more than 20 years to repair the island．This will probably never happen．What might be the author's purpose in writing the text?
| A．To seek help for Nauru's problems． |
| B．To tell a heartbreaking story of a war． |
| C．To show the importance of money |
| D．To give a warning to other countries |
What was Nauru like before the Europeans came?
APeaceful and attractive B．Modern and open
C．Rich and powerful D．Greedy and aggressiveThe ecological disaster in Nauru resulted from
| A．soil pollution | B．phosphate overmining |
| C．farming activity | D．whale hunting |
Which of the following was a cause of Nauru's financial problem?
| A．Its phosphate mining cost much money |
| B．It spent too much repairing the island |
| C．Its leaders misused the money |
| D．It lost millions of dollars in the civil war. |
What can we learn about Nauru from me last paragraph?
| A．The leaders will take the experts' words seriously |
| B．The ecological damage is difficult to repair. |
| C．The island was abandoned by the Nauruans |
| D．The phosphate mines were destroyed |
Like distance runners on a measured course，all of us will move through time in a roughly predictable pattern．
In the first stage of our lives，we develop and grow, reaching toward the top of physical vitality(活力)．
After we grow up，however, the body begins a process of gradually wearing out．
A new awareness of physical fitness may help lengthen our years of health and vitality，yet nothing we do will work to stop the unavoidable force of aging．
Most of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body．The lungs become less able to take in oxygen．Powerful muscles gradually lose their strength．The heart loses power and pumps less blood．Bones grow easier to break．
Finally, we meet a stress，a stress that is greater than our physical resistance．Often，it is only a minor accident or chance infection(a disease caused by virus)，but this time，it brings life to an end．
In 1932，a classic experiment nearly doubled the lifetime of rats，simply by cutting back the calories in their diet The reason for the effect was then unknown．
Today, at the University of California at Berkley, Dr．Paul Seagle has also greatly lengthened the normal lifetime of rats．The result was achieved through a special protein limited diet，which had a great effect on the chemistry of the brain．Seagle showed that within the brain，specific chemicals control many of the signals that influence aging．By changing that chemical balance，the clock of aging can be reset．
For the first time, the mystery of why we age is being seriously challenged．Scientists in many fields are now making striking and far-reaching discoveries．
An average lifetime lasts 75 years，yet in each of us lies a potential for a longer life．If we could keep the vitality and resistance to disease that we have at age twenty, we would live for 800 years．What does the underlined word “it” refer to?
| A．Physical vitality． | B．Stress． | C．Aging． | D．Physical resistance． |
Which of the following is not a change of aging?
| A．People gradually lose their muscle strength． |
| B．Bones tend to break more easily． |
| C．The heart loses power and pumps less blood． |
| D．The lungs become unable to take in oxygen． |
The author believes the following except that．
| A．human's life pattern is predictable |
| B．physical fitness can't stop the force of aging |
| C．human's lifetime will last longer than 75 years |
| D．all of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body |
How did Dr．Paul Seagle lengthen the lifetime of rats in his experiment?
| A．By keeping their physical fitness． | B．By cutting the calories in their diet． |
| C．By resetting their clock of aging． | D．By limiting the protein in their diet． |
What is probably the best title for the article?
| A．Two Great Experiments |
| B．The Mystery of Human Life |
| C．The Breakthrough in the Study of Aging |
| D．Ways to lengthen Human Life |
Mary Buendia once spent a day in an airplane, looking for a cat. She didn't find it that day. The plane flew around all over the world for three weeks with the cat on board. She finally found it in the cargo hold and sent it home first-class. Another time ,she found two suitcases full of birds from Turkey. But her strangest experience was when she pulled a snake out of a man's pants.
Mary Buendia is an animal health inspector at JFK Airport in New York. She takes care of all the animals that pass through the airport and checks that they are healthy. In the Animal Health Center, there are areas for dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, and fish. There is also an area for very big animals. The biggest they ever had was a black rhino. "It was no problem." she says.
At the center, they receive all types of animals monkeys, wild cats, poisonous spiders. It's impossible for one person to know about all of these, but there are 20 people working with Mary. Among them, they understand how to take care of the animals. She recently had to feed a group of toucans, which are rare birds. "luckily," she says, "there is a supermarket nearby which is open 24 hours. I had to go at 2 a.m to buy bananas.
Mary often works at night. "It's quiet between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m." she says, "because we don't have night flights. We try to give the animals a quiet night." Mary clearly loves her job. "You never know what the day will bring,"she says, and goes off to feed the birds.The best title of the passage will probably be _____.
| A．JKF Airport in New York | B．Airport Health Inspector |
| C．Mary Buendia | D．Animal Health Center |
Form the first paragraph, we can know that _____.
| A．working as an Airport Health Inspector, Mary Buendea has various experiences |
| B．after the cat was found, it was sent home to New York |
| C．Mary got frightened when she pulled a snake out of a man's pants |
| D．Mary was tired of dealing with animals at the airport |
We can infer from the passage that _____.
| A．Mary often works at night during flights |
| B．it took Mary a whole day to find a lost cat in an airplane |
| C．only healthy animals can be permitted to go aboard the airplane |
| D．Mary knows everything about the animals by working with 20 other people |
Elite Lessons
Experienced music performer is offering one-on-one drum lesson. As the winner of the Drummer Contest, the largest drummer contest in Canada, I can teach you secret techniques that only an elite group knows, but the group doesn't share them with the public. The result is instant improvement in your speed and ability to play the drum. Lessons are taught in French or English, $25 an hour. Call at 514-585-5054 if you want to know more information.
Private Tutoring
Professional French tutor is offering French tutoring, $15 an hour. I possess a BA in translation from Concordia University and have over 5 years' teaching experience. The course consists of conversational French, grammar, reading comprehension ,etc. Courses are given in the downtown area. For more information please call at 514-835-1834.
Customized Tutoring
Hello, my name is Christopher Marion. I am a graduate students at Concordia University, 21 years of age. I was born and lived in France for 17 years. I will be happy to provide customized help in French writing or speaking. The lesson's style can be whatever suits your needs. I am charging $19 an hour. I live in downtown Montreal. Feel free to contact me at 514-785-5654.
Basic Lessons for Beginners
Always wanted to learn the guitar? This is your chance and it only costs $14 an hour. I can teach you to play any style of music you like in a fun and relaxed way. I start from the basics, showing you how to play the songs you love, and improving your technique as we go along. If you don't already have a guitar, that's not a problem. Please call at 514-880-8872 or email to tarungeo@gmail.com if interested. Thanks!.From "Elite Lessons" you can learn _____.
| A．how to teach lessons in French or English |
| B．what the largest guitar contest in Canada is |
| C．more information about the Drummer Contest |
| D．skill in drumming that only a few people possess |
Since James is weak in French reading comprehension he may choose _____.
| A．elite Lessons | B．private Tutoring |
| C．customized Tutoring | D．basic Lessons for Beginners |
How much shall you pay for a basic guitar lesson?
| A．$14 an hour | B．$15 an hour | C．$19 an hour | D．$25 an hour |
The article can be found in _____.
| A．daily news | B．education reports |
| C．telephone directories | D．classified advertisements |