I started winning competitions. We still had very little money -- my father had to borrow $5,000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won -- earning enough money to pay back our loan.
It was soo n clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on the world's big stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for an apartment and even lent me a Steinway（斯坦威钢琴）.At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.
Now that I was in America, I spent two years practicing, and by 1999 I had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard me play and liked me, but orchestra schedules were set far in advance. I thought I might join them in a few years.
The next morning, I got a call. The great pianist Andre Watts, who was to play the "Gala Benefit Evening" at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, had become ill. I was asked to replace him. That performance was, for me, the moment. After violinist Isaac Stern introduced me, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. My father's mouth hung open throughout the entire song.
I played until 3:30 a.m. I felt something happening. Sure enough, it was a great success. Still, my father kept telling me, "You'd better practice!" But living in America with me was beginning to relax him. In Beijing I'd been fat -- he made sure I ate -- and he'd been skinny. Now I was getting thin. He wasn't.
My father and I had often practiced a piece called "Horses," a fun version for piano and erhu. One night in Carnegie Hall, after I played Chopin and Liszt, I brought Dad out on the stage, and we played our duet（二重奏）. People went crazy -- they loved it. My father couldn't sleep for days. He was too happy to sleep.
There have been lots of concerts in Carnegie Hall, but for me playing there was especially sweet when I remember the cold days in Beijing. Together, my father and I worked to reach the lucky place where fortune spots you, and lets you shine.In the first paragraph his father cried when it was announced that he'd won mainly because__________.
| A．his father was excited that his son succeeded at last. |
| B．his father was under too much pressure. |
| C．they could pay back the loan with the prize. |
| D．his father was proud of him. |
Tell the order of the events.
a. He and his father moved to Philadelphia.
b. He was asked to replace the great pianist Andre Watts.
c. He and his father played “Horses” together.
d.The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard his performance.
e. The Curtis Institute of Music lent him a Steinway
| A．a, e, c, b, d | B．b, e, a, d, c | C．d, a, e, b, c | D．a, e, d, b, c |
Which of the following statements agrees with the author?
| A．The writer’s father had been very fat before they went to America. |
| B．The writer thought he would be one of them soon when he knew the Chicago Symphony orchestra heard him play and liked him. |
| C．The Curtis Institute of Music finally eased their money worries. |
| D．One can achieve his dream if he is lucky enough. |
The underlined word there in the last paragraph refers to_________.
| A．America | B．Beijing. | C．Carnegie Hall | D．All the places he went to. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．I Took Off! | B．When Fortune Spots Me. |
| C．No Pain, No Gain. | D．My father and I |
I arrived late one night on a business trip, so I decided to have dinner in the hotel I stayed in. As I was finishing my meal, an elderly couple came in. They were holding hands and had lovely smiles on their faces. They sat three tables from me. I was amazed at the love they showed for each other. It stuck me because it was shortly after ending a 20-year marriage and I still had pain in my heart.
My waiter was also their waiter. As I paid my bill, I asked what their bill was. He told me, and I gave him $40 to pay their bill. He asked if I knew them and I told him “No, I just wanted to repay them for the love that they were showing to each other,” and then I left.
The next day I entered the restaurant again. After I had been seated, the waiter who served me the night before told me that the strangest thing happened after I left the restaurant. When the elderly couple went to pay for their meal, they were told that it had been paid. The waiter just told them what I said. They were amazed. They looked around, asked for the bill of two young couples who were seated together, paid their bill and left.
I smiled and ordered my meal. About 45 minutes later, I finished my meal and was about to head out, but my waiter was nowhere to be found. I explained to the hostess that I needed to pay for my meal and hurry to the airport. She smiled and explained that I would not have to pay, because she felt she should pay for my bill because of the joy brought to the faces of the elderly couple and the amazement of the young couples.
When I told her that they didn’t have to do that, she said with a smile “Love creates Love.”From the first paragraph we know the writer must feel __________.
| A．pleased | B．worried | C．sad | D．nervous |
The elderly couple paid the bill of the two young couples because they __________.
| A．knew the two young couples |
| B．were happy to pass the love they got |
| C．were always ready to help poor people |
| D．wanted to invite the young people to the meal |
The writer’s purpose of writing the passage is to __________.
| A．suggest true love never dies |
| B．share an interesting experience |
| C．encourage us to help people in need |
| D．prove a show of love really makes a difference |
"Hey, don't read in the hallway. Your eyesight will be damaged." You must have heard such warnings many times. “Don’t read in poor light!” This is one of the common beliefs that are supposed to help us live a healthy life. Such beliefs are, however, without scientific basis(根据), according to a paper published recently in the British Medical Journal.
Do you believe in the following sayings?
Reading in poor light ruins your eyesight.
In poor light, you might blink (眨眼) more, suffer from drying and have trouble focusing. But most of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any damage forever.
We must drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
In 1945, the Nutrition Council in US suggested that people need to drink 2.5 litres of water a day. But the water contained in food, particularly fruit and vegetables, as well as in milk, juice and soft drinks, also counts towards the total.
We only use 10 percent of our brains.
This idea appears as early as 1907. People have long argued about our power of self-improvement and our brains’ possible abilities. But X-rays show that no area of the brain is silent or inactive.
Shaving your legs causes hair to grow black faster and thicker.
This theory is also illusion. Studies say that shaving has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair growth. Just over time, the edge of hair gets worn away and thus the edge of long hair becomes finer (更细). What does the paper say about some common beliefs?
| A．They are useful knowledge in life. |
| B．They help us live in healthy ways. |
| C．They are well-known theories. |
| D．They do not have scientific basis. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ?
| A．People use 90 percent of their brains. |
| B．Shaving your legs will give you thicker hair. |
| C．Reading in poor light does harm to people’s eyes. |
| D．People need not less than eight glasses of water a day. |
The underlined word “illusion” in the last paragraph probably means “_________”.
| A．a wrong idea | B．a powerful evidence |
| C．an interesting story | D．a clear instruction |
This passage is most likely to be found in __________ .
| A．a newspaper | B．a guide book |
| C．a history textbook | D．an advertisement |
I was riding my special motorbike this past weekend and stopped at a store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.”
He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.
As we came back to the store she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.”Then she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things —and I will, too.” Her father hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer(祷告) just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer.How did the father feel at first when the author invited his daughter for a ride?
| A．Anxious. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Surprised. | D．Moved. |
What can we know about the author?
| A．He was a disabled man. | B．He usually drove too fast. |
| C．He worked in a store. | D．He often helped people in trouble. |
According to the passage, the girl _____.
| A．was not allowed to do some sports |
| B．used to be a completely healthy person |
| C．was unwillingly to communicate with a stranger |
| D．usually felt sad about life because of her disability |
What did the author’s gift refer to according to the girl’s father?
| A．The motorbike. | B．The wheelchair. | C．The ride. | D．The prayer. |
| HOLIDAY HOMES IN MALLORCA Sailing and fishing in summer season. Beautifully situated houses with sights of sea and mountains, yet near to shops and restaurants. Cars and bicycles for hire. Sailing and sports clubs nearby. |
| ITALY IN COMFORT Coach trips of Italy with 21 days to visit five Italian cities. Start from London 1st May, 1st September. The trips are guided by Professor Martin Davis, head of Italian Studies, London University. See the arts and culture of historic Italy. |
| KIBBUTZ HOLIDAYS IN ISRAEL Working holidays on a kibbutz (co-operative farm)in Israel. All nationalities welcome for one to three months, if prepared to work with kibbutz members. Rooms, food and trips to historic sights all provided free—you pay only for the special low-cost return flight. |
| TWO WEEKS ON A CARIBBEAN ISLAND Two-week holidays in the Hotel Splendid, on a lovely beach with golden sands, warm sunshine and deep-blue sea. Tennis, golf, sailing and all water sports, trips around the island. Near to town of Castries with lively evening entertainment—dancing. 1 st November—31 st March£720 per person 1 st April—30 th October£850 per person |
Jack and his wife Mary, who have recently retired, want to see places of cultural and historic interest abroad, but Mary hates flying.
Peter and Maria, university students, want to travel as far as possible on little money, and would like to get to know a country by working there for three months with other young people.
Michael, a young computer programmer, has been working hard and needs a holiday to relax in winter. He would like to go somewhere warmer and sunny, where he can swim in the sea, and he enjoys sports and dancing. The best holiday for Jack and Mary would be_________ .
| A．the 21-day coach trip of Italy |
| B．the 2- week stay in the Hotel Splendid |
| C．the 14-day trip around a Caribbean island |
| D．1-3months’ holidays on a kibbutz in Israel |
The most suitable place where Peter and Maria can enjoy their holiday would be_____.
| A．an Italian city | B．a kibbutz in Israel |
| C．a Caribbean island | D．a port in Mallorca |
Michael would most probably go to ________ for his holiday.
| A．Italy | B．Israel | C．Mallorca | D．a Caribbean island |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE ?
| A．In Italy, one can travel with a guide. |
| B．In Israel, one can work with others. |
| C．In Caribbean, one needs to pay £720 in summer. |
| D．In Mallorca , one can hire a car for sightseeing. |
Young people can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents and classmates.
Li Wen, a student from No.2 High School, could not follow his teachers in class and, therefore, was doing badly in his lessons. He was in such low spirits for a long time that he started to cut his finger with a knife.
Another student, 16-year-old Yang Fang from No.1 High School, was afraid of exams. Even though she was well prepared for an exam, when she looked at the exam paper, she couldn’t think of anything to write.
A recent survey from Jiefang Daily says about 18% of Shanghai teenagers have mental problems. Their troubles include being anxious and very unhappy, and having problems in learning and getting on with people.
Liang Yuezhu, an expert on teenagers from Beijing Friendship Hospital has the following advice for teenagers:
Talk to your parents or teachers often.
Take part in group activities and play sports.
Go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell.The students who often become worried or have trouble getting on with others may have ______.
| A．physical problems | B．mental problems |
| C．fights with their classmates | D．arguments with their parents |
Li Wen cut his finger with a knife because ______.
| A．he was afraid of his teacher |
| B．he was so worried about his studies |
| C．he wanted to frighten his parents |
| D．there was something wrong with his finger |
Liang Yuezhu’s advice tells us that ______.
| A．it’s necessary for the students to be with experts |
| B．only group activities and sports can help the students |
| C．it’s better for the students who have mental problems to join others |
| D．teachers and parents can’t do anything about the students’ mental problems |