It all starts with a tree.In fact, it starts with several trees.Since the first modern guitars were made in northern Spain over 150 years ago, crafts persons have known the wood to be used is important in making a guitar.
Every guitar is made of several different kinds of wood.Each piece is carefully chosen and then cut to fit the part of the guitar for which it is designed.The most important part of a guitar is the soundboard--the piece of wood with a large hole that lies under the strings(弦,线).Guitar makers are careful to make the soundboard just the right shape and thickness.Then they fix stripes(长条)of wood across the inside in a special pattern, which helps strengthen the soundboard and improves the tone of the guitar.
Wood for the curvy (弯曲的) sides of the guitar must be soaked (浸湿) in water and bent over a hot iron pipe.When all the pieces of the guitar are ready, they are carefully stuck together with glue.Special woodworking tools are used to shape and smooth the neck of the guitar.The craftsperson must make sure that the neck is perfectly centered over the soundboard.
Then it is time to use varnish(亮光漆).This brings out the beauty of the wood.Varnish also improves the sound of the guitar but too much varnish makes the guitar sound flat and dull.
Finally guitar strings are attached and tightened to make just the right musical tones.Then it’s time to play a song.(273 words)The best title for this passage may be _____.
A.How to Make a Guitar | B.What a Guitar Is Made of |
C.How to Play the Guitar | D.Where to Find the Best Guitar |
In order to make the soundboard strong, _____.
A.people tie strings to the top of it |
B.stripes are stuck across the inside of wood |
C.a large hole is made in it |
D.several pieces of wood are glued together |
Which of the following doesn’t affect the sound of a guitar?
A.Soundboard | B.strings | C.neck | D.color |
What will happen to the guitar if too much varnish is used to the wood?
A.The beauty of the wood can’t be seen clearly. |
B.The sound of the guitar will be flat and dull. |
C.The tone of the guitar will be improved |
D.A guitar will become thin |
Where can you find a nice place to relax on holiday for both you and your children? Well, I suggest you try the beautiful and green Isle of Wight (IOW). The Isle of Wight is one of the main tourist attractions. Here is some information on a few of the attractions on the IOW.
Dinosaur Isle
It is located in Sandown, a seaside town on the southeast coast. It's a large, lovely museum, both fun and educational. Here you can see a large fossil collection of all kinds of dinosaurs, as well as a gift shop. You can walk into the past and then the future, learning about the history and the development of the civilization of dinosaurs(恐龙)that lived 120 million years ago.
Robin Hill Country Park
The park is in the beautiful countryside, and is suitable for children's parties and games. It has five new gardens, and offers great opportunities to see and take pictures of the rare red squirrels.
The West of the Wight
Here we have the Marine Aquarium, the Archaeology Exhibition and the Model Railway. They offer another opportunity to combine entertainment(娱乐) with learning. This is a great place to see ancient boats crossing the narrow strait between the island and the mainland.
The Wight Bus Museum
This museum is run completely by unpaid volunteers. It has a bus collection stored in what was once a warehouse (仓库) . Most of the buses in the museum date back to around the 1910's.
With all of these choices, what are you waiting for? IOW Tourism welcomes you!Where can you visit the dinosaur museum?
A.In a seaside town. |
B.In the west of the isle. |
C.In the beautiful countryside. |
D.On the northeast coast. |
Where can you learn something as well as have a good time?
A.Dinosaur Isle and Robin Hill Country Park. |
B.The Wight Bus Museum and Robin Hill Country Park. |
C.Dinosaur Isle and the West of the Wight. |
D.The Wight Bus Museum and the West of the Wight. |
It can be learned from the passage that ____.
A.on Dinosaur Isle we can learn about all kinds of animals |
B.those running the Wight Bus Museum work for free |
C.there are five new gardens on Dinosaur Isle |
D.the Wight Bus Museum can be visited free of charge |
The purpose of this passage is to ____.
A.advise readers how to relax on holidays |
B.show the development of tourism on the IOW |
C.attract readers to come to the IOW |
D.tell readers what is worth visiting |
You can read this article in a ______.
A.film advertisement | B.science journal |
C.book review | D.travel magazine |
I really love my job because I enjoy working with small children and like the challenges and awards from the job. I also think my work is important. There was a time when I thought I would never have that sort of career.
I wasn’t an excellent student because I didn’t do much schoolwork. In my final term I started thinking what I might do and found I didn’t have much to offer. I just accepted that I wasn’t the type to have a career.
I then found myself a job, looking after two little girls. It wasn’t too bad at first. But the problems began when I agreed to live in, so that I would be there if my boss had to go out for business in the evening. We agreed that if I had to work extra hours one week, she’d give me time off the next. But unfortunately, it didn’t often work out. I was getting extremely tired and fed up, because I had too many late nights and early mornings with the children.
One Sunday, I was in the park with the children, and met Megan who used to go to school with me. I told her about my situation. She suggested that I should do a course and get a qualification(资格证书) if I wanted to work with children. I didn’t think I would be accepted because I didn’t take many exams in school. She persuaded me to phone the local college and they were really helpful. My experience counted for a lot and I got on a part-time course.
I had to leave my job with the family, and got work helping out at a kindergarten.
Now I’ve got a full-time job there. I shall always be thankful to Megan. I wish I had known earlier that you could have a career, even if you aren’t top of the class at school.What is the author’s present job?
A.Working part-time in a college. |
B.Taking care of children for a family. |
C.Helping children with their schoolwork. |
D.Looking after children at a kindergarten. |
When staying with the two girls’ family, the author ________.
A.was paid for extra work |
B.often worked long hours |
C.got much help from her boss |
D.took a day off every other week |
Why did the author leave her first job?
A.She found a full-time job. |
B.She was fed up with children. |
C.She decided to attend a part-time course. |
D.She needed a rest after working extra hours. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “fed up”?
A.Troublesome. | B.Loving. |
C.Excited. | D.Great. |
What has the author learned from her own experiences?
A.Less successful students can still have a career. |
B.Qualifications are necessary for a career. |
C.Hard work makes an excellent student. |
D.One must choose the job she likes. |
People living in the country enjoy several advantages that people living in the city cannot enjoy. They are in closely contact with nature. They make friends with trees and stones. They can own dogs. They breathe fresh air. They fight with strong winds. They listen to the songs of birds.
This contact with nature is good for health. There are many diseases that are common in the city. but are not to be found in the country. For example, near-sightedness is almost unknown to country people.
Because of the absence of cars, one can walk more freely in the country than in the city. There are no rules of the road nor traffic signs to obey.
People living in the country can easily get fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and fresh milk. And they get them at lower prices than in the city.
Country life is economical in other ways, too. There are practically no temptations (诱惑)to waste money.
Country people are mostly honest. They say what they mean, and make and keep promises with sincerity (诚意). They do not put on air. They do not pretend to have those ridiculous (荒谬的) manners which are necessary in what we call polite society.What can’t country people often enjoy ?
A.Musical concerts. |
B.Fresh air. |
C.Song of birds. |
D.Close contact with nature. |
What is probably more expensive in country than in the city ?
A.Vegetables. | B.Beer. |
C.Milk. | D.Fruit. |
What is NOT true of country life ?
A.The traffic accident rate is very high in the country. |
B.Living in the country saves one a lot of money. |
C.Country people enjoy better health than the city people. |
D.Country people are honest. |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage ?
A.People living in the country enjoy no advantages. |
B.People living in the city are in close contact with nature. |
C.People living in the country suffer from more diseases than those living in the city. |
D.The prices of farm products are lower in the country than in the city. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage ?
A.The Disadvantages of Living in the Country. |
B.The Expenses of Living in the Country. |
C.Country Life. |
D.Healthy Country People. |
Situated along Wangfujing Avenue, the Wangfujing Grand Hotel enjoys a prime location with easy access to many tourist attractions such as the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square and Beihai Park.
Each luxurious room at the Wangfujing Grand is elegantly furnished and comes equipped with modern amenities including satellite TV, internet access and attached bathroom. Most rooms overlook the Forbidden City or Wangfujing Avenue, providing stunning views.
Hotel guests can swim in the indoor pool or workout at the fitness centre while a sauna and spa lets visitor relax and unwind. Other hotel facilities include a beauty salon, gift shop and travel and tickets service.
The Regent Beijing
Surrounded by the modern business district and the ancient streets of old Beijing, Regent Hotel is truly the place to enjoy a world of luxury at a good value.
Situated within walking distance of the main commercial district, Regent Beijing is very close to shops, entertainment outlets, eateries and nightlife. Major attractions like Forbidden Palace and Tiananmen Square are just a 5-minute drive away.
The world-class Regent Beijing not only offers excellent facilities for leisure and business, it also provides personalized and thoughtful service.
Pamper yourself with a treatment in one of the spa’s private rooms or relax in the elegant indoor pool. Energize in the large fitness centre or enjoy some retail shopping at the luxury boutiques.
Raffles Beijing Hotel
Raffles Beijing Hotel is in the heart of the prestigious business and commercial districts and a few minutes from the mystical Forbidden from the mystical Forbidden City, historical Tian’anmen Square, the Silk Market and other famous sights. It is also a short 15 minutes walk from Beijing railway station and less than 5 minutes from Wangfujing subway station, and approximately 40 minutes by car from Beijing Capital International Airport.
Raffles Beijing Hotel was built in the 1900s, now already as an icon of Beijing’s historical heritage. It is ideally situated at the crossroads of famous Chang An Avenue and the district of Wangfujing.The underlined word “anmenities”, as used in the passage, can best be defined as “”.
A.comfortable accommodation. |
B.convenient transportation. |
C.nutritious food. |
D.amusing toys. |
If you choose to stay in Wangfujing Grand Hotel, you can do the following except .
A.doing some swimming in the pool. |
B.doing physical exercise at the fitness centre. |
C.going to Forbidden Palace without leaving the hotel. |
D.buying souvenirs in the gift shop. |
We can learn from the passage that .
A.Regent Beijing is very close to Beijing railway station. |
B.Regent Beijing is a world-class hotel with excellent facilities. |
C.Only in the Regent Beijing can you enjoy some retail shopping. |
D.Regent Beijing is now an icon of Beijing’s historical heritage. |
Which of the following is closest to Raffles Beijing Hotel ?
A.Beijing railway station. |
B.Wangfujing subway station. |
C.Wangfujing Grand Hotel. |
D.Beijing Capital International Airport. |
The passage is written for .
A.students. | B.passengers. |
C.tourists. | D.businessmen. |
Dealing with a difficult roommate can be both annoying and challenging. However, by becoming aware of the context of the situation, steps can be taken in order to improve the circumstance.
Identify the source of the problem. Sometimes, when someone is annoying, it is difficult to tell exactly which aspect of the situation is causing the anger. Therefore, it is important to find the one element that caused your anger to begin with.
Evaluate the source of the conflict. Is the conflict trivial, or is it serious ? Sometimes, people can become angry over things that seem like a big deal at the time, but when contemplated (深思), are really unimportant. Nevertheless, before any problem is dealt with, it is necessary to determine how serious it is.
Talk to the roommate about what is bothering you. Communication is very important when dealing with problems. The problems will only become worse if measures are taken without telling one another what is even wrong to begin with.
Listen to the explanation that the roommate has to over. Listening is also important when dealing with conflicts. Hearing each side of the story will make it easier to arrive at a possible solution.
Compromise with one another in order to form a solution. Sometimes, conflicts can be resolved simply by changing small occurrences.The main idea of the passage is .
A.how to identify the source of the problem. |
B.how to evaluate the source of the conflict. |
C.how to contend with a difficult roommate. |
D.how to communicate with your roommate. |
In the third paragraph, “trivial” is closest in meaning to “”.
A.unconsidered. | B.unconscious. |
C.unusual. | D.unacceptable. |
The author thinks that all of the following are important to deal with conflicts except .
A.communicating. | B.listening. |
C.compromising. | D.challenging. |
How many tips does the writer offer to deal with a difficult roommate ?
A.Three. | B.Four. | C.Five. | D.Six. |
We can find the text in the section of a newspaper.
A.science. | B.relationship. |
C.recreation. | D.education. |