A group of teenagers: they laugh and talk over each other, dance and make faces — you wouldn’t believe they had just played on the same stage as famous American singers Kid Cudi and Eminem.
These seven kids, all under the age of 20, are members of the band Kids These Days (KTD).
Fresh out of high school, the band already has done things that most teens couldn’t even imagine. They played at festivals including the recent SXSW in Austin and Lollapalooza in their hometown, Chicago, to crowds of loyal fans.
KTD uses a mix of hip-hop, jazz, blues and classic rock to make a sound of their own.
“KTD simply mixes most, if not all of my favourite music styles,” said Kamia Jones, as Chicago high school student.“I like that they aren’t afraid to be different and that their music is real and speaks to the soul.”
The band formed two years ago. Now, as well as local fans, they are becoming popular around the world. Their facebook page is filled with supportive posts from admirers from California to Tokyo.
“It’s really strange to me that people from London, Australia and Russia... They have heard
of us and they like our music because it’s really cool feeling,” says Marcie Stewart, who plays keyboard for the band.
Despite their recent fame, KTD is a group of normal teenagers and they remain very close to one another. While talking to the reporters, they dance and make fun of each other.
When asked what advice they would give to other teen musicians, Greg Landfair, KTD’s drummer, said, “Keep your heart in it. Never lose the music and what you are doing, because that’s what you’re here for. Let the music always be first.”KTD’s music is popular among teenagers mainly because ________.
| A．it is about the strange life of teenagers |
| B．it mixes many music styles teenagers love into their music |
| C．all the band members are young and handsome |
| D．the band members dance and make fun of each other |
What do we know about KTD?
| A．They are all of the same age. |
| B．They are as famous as Kid Cudi and Eminem. |
| C．There are five members in the band. |
| D．They have fans around the world. |
According to Greg, teen musicians should___________.
| A．make music close to their lives |
| B．always think of the needs of the fans |
| C．love the music they are playing |
| D．stay close to the group member |
The author wrote this article to___________.
| A．show the kind of music teenagers love |
| B．encourage young musicians to play music |
| C．describe a special music style |
| D．introduce a successful band of teenagers |
Counterfeit ( 假的) medicines are a widespread problem in developing countries. Like other counterfeits, they look like real products. But counterfeit drugs may contain too little or none of the active ingredients of the real thing.
People do not get the medicine they need. And in some cases counterfeits cause death. Twenty children in Bangladesh died last year after being given acetaminophen(醋氨酚). The medications contained ingredients that looked, smelled and tasted like the real thing. The medicine was produced by a local drug company that used a dangerous substitute to save money.
The problem of counterfeit medicines is especially serious in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The W.H.O. estimates that up to thirty percent of medicines on sale in many of those countries are counterfeit. The problem is less widespread among industrialized countries. The W.H.O. says counterfeits make up less than one percent of the illegal drug market in countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.
But the agency also says as much as fifty percent of the medicine sold on the Internet is counterfeit.
Much is being done to fight counterfeit drugs. Several companies are developing ways to make counterfeits easier to identify. And there are existing methods, like a machine that can quickly identify chemicals in pills to confirm if the pills are real. Other ideas include things like special tracking codes for drug packages. People could send a text message with the code and get a message back, which proves that what they bought is listed in a database. Some drug makers and other companies put three-dimensional images called holograms (全息图)on their products as a security device.Last year twenty children in Bangladesh died because of _____.
| A．online medicines | B．unreal drugs |
| C．acetaminophen | D．unclean water |
We can draw a conclusion from the passage that______.
| A．it is very cheap and convenient to buy medicines online. |
| B．medicine companies don’t pay much attention to counterfeit drugs. |
| C．more and more people will buy products online. |
| D．we had better not buy medicines online. |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．It reveals the reasons why counterfeit drugs are widespread. |
| B．Some measures are being taken to fight counterfeit drugs. |
| C．Special tracking codes for drug packages are used to identify counterfeits. |
| D．It shows the danger of counterfeit drugs. |
Which of the following country may have serious problems of counterfeit medicines?
| A．Canada. | B．Japan. | C．New Zealand. | D．India. |
Being that I worked in a grocery store for 7 years, I know quite a bit about impulsive purchases. In fact, I helped (sadly to say) push certain products by placing them in a certain fashion. Through said experience, I tend to know some of the best ways to counter the impulsive nature of buying things that are unnecessary.
The following is a 3- point list to counter the need to buy something shoved in your face…
Don't bring the kids.
You wouldn't believe (or maybe you parents would) how much more junk parents buy for their kids that is completely impulsive. Working as a checker at a grocery store, I quickly learned that most of the time kids were with their parents, the parents would buy something else within 10 feet of the check stand.
Bring exact cash.
I like to use my debit card because I am able to track every penny better, but holding and letting go of cash is much tougher for me personally. So, if I am going through a tough time budgeting properly, I will bring the allotted (限定的)amount of cash to the place of business and only allow that to be used.
Ignore salesman.
If you are at a department store and someone asks if you need help, try to ignore their push as much as possible. Sure, if you know nothing about laptops, get their advice, but even then I suggest doing your research pre-shop. Salesman could care less what you want. It's all about what their quota or commission is. Ignore them.Why does the author write the passage?
| A．To talk about her own shopping experiences. |
| B．To give readers some advice about resisting buying unnecessary things. |
| C．To complain about some bad experiences. |
| D．To tell us she has the habit of buying things that are unnecessary. |
Why does the author like to use debit card?
| A．Because her debit card is convenient. |
| B．Because she has not much cash. |
| C．Because she can know where every her penny goes. |
| D．Because she has many debit cards. |
Which statement about the passage is WRONG?
| A．Parents always bring something else for their children. |
| B．The author will bring the exact cash to buy things when going through a tough time. |
| C．Salesmen care much about what you want, so you can follow their advice. |
| D．The author worked in a grocery store for 7 years. |
Charlie Chaplin was one of the greatest and widely loved silent movie stars. From “Easy Street” (1917) to “Modern Times” (1936), he made many of the funniest and most popular films of his time. He was best known for his character, the naive and lovable Little Tramp. The Little Tramp, a well meaning man in a raggedy suit with cane, always found himself wobbling into awkward situations and strangely wobbling away. More than any other figure, it is this kind-hearted character that we associate with the time before the talkies (sound films).
Born in London in 1889, Chaplin first visited America with a theater company in 1907. Appearing as “Billy” in the play “Sherlock Holmes”, the young Chaplin toured the country twice. On his second tour, he met Mack Sennett and was signed to Keystone Studios to act in films. In 1914 Chaplin made his first one-reeler, “Making a Living”. That same year he made thirty-four more short films, including “Caught in a Cabaret”, “Caught in the Rain”, “The Face on the Bar-Room Floor”, and “His Trysting Place”. These early silent shorts allowed very little time for anything but physical comedy, and Chaplin was a master at it.
Though Chaplin is of the silent movie era, we see his achievements carried through in the films of today. With the appearance of the feature-length talkies, the need for more subtle acting became apparent. To maintain the audience’s attention throughout a six-reel film, an actor needed to move beyond constant comedy. Chaplin had demanded this depth long before anyone else. His strictness and concern for the processes of acting and directing made his films great and led the way to a new, more sophisticated, cinema.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．“The little Tramp” was the only character that Charlie Chaplin acted. |
| B．Charlie Chaplin signed to Keystone Studios in 1906. |
| C．Charlie Chaplin made five short films in 1914. |
| D．Charlie Chaplin has a great effect on today’s sound film. |
What is the right order according to the passage?
a. Charlie Chaplin made the film “ Easy Street”.
b. The film “Caught in the rain” was made.
c. Charlie Chaplin first visited America.
d. Charlie Chaplin met Mack Sennett.
e. “Modern Times” was made.
A. d, c, a, e, b B d, c, b, a, e C. c, d, b, a, e D. c, d, a, b, eWhich word can best describe Charlie Chaplin according to the passage?
| A．lovable | B．kind-hearted | C．strict | D．awkward |
What do you think is the passage about?
| A．Life of Chaplin | B．Works of Chaplin |
| C．Characters of Chaplin | D．An introduction of Chaplin |
Sometimes you may have a strong desire to do something strange or terrible. However, chances are that you don’t act on your impulse (冲动), but let it pass instead. You know that to take the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of taboo behavior is how it can change over the years, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time. Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting that it was a taboo to even talk about them. Now with the publication of important books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Say Goodbye, people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject.
One of the newest taboos is the topic of fat. Unlike many other taboos, fat is a topic that people talk about constantly. It’s not taboo to talk about fat; it’s taboo to be fat. The “in” look is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, slim manager to sell their image as well as their products to the public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person, on the other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline and self-respect. After all, how can people permit themselves to become fat? In an image-conscious society, thin is ‘‘in”, fat is “out”.
It’ s not surprising that millions of people have become obsessed (着迷) with staying slim and “in shape”. The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, the only reason for people’s obsession with diet and exercise. Recent research has shown the importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style of people has changed since last century. Modern machines do all the physical labor. Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point. As a result of inactivity and disuse, people’s bodies can easily become weak. In an effort to avoid such a fate , millions of people are spending more of their time exercising. Parks are filled with joggers and bicyclists, and many companies are providing special exercise equipment for their employees to use during the work day.What does the word “taboo’’ refer to in the passage?
| A．Behavior considered unacceptable to the society. |
| B．An unfavorable impression left on other people. |
| C．A strong desire to do something strange or terrible. |
| D．A crime committed on impulse. |
What does the underlined phrase “in” look probably mean?
| A．The hidden look. | B．The fashionable look. |
| C．The usual look. | D．The inside look. |
According to the passage, the common belief is that _________.
| A．fat people are full of energy | B．fat people prefer to have fat bosses |
| C．thin people are more successful | D．thin people are less image-conscious |
People pay more attention to diet and exercise because of _________.
| A．their need to kill time | B．their love for sports |
| C．their belief in hard work | D．their concern for health |
For many businessmen online education has been a dream. Now it has come true. The investment (投资) in higher education, whether financial or in terms of time, has long been impossible for many of them. But well-known educational institutions have chosen to deliver an internet-based program, and these barriers have been lifted.
That is good news for people eager to improve themselves and is more attractive to employers. It is also a benefit to industry with better qualified candidates applying for jobs at every level.
Having the benefits of a higher qualification without going to the university campus is attractive to many students. Campus study means greater cost, while online programs are flexible and save time, whether at home or at work. Students can achieve their degrees without causing too much disruption to their career or home life.
In addition to affordable, flexible classes and greater convenience, students also have access to the online learning resources of many of the world’s top educational institutions. They can also communicate with their tutors no matter what time it is or whether either party is away for any reason.
This has opened up the possibility of getting a qualification from a university or college that many students could only have dreamed of in the past. It also allows specialists to get the precise qualifications and focus on their studies. As well as seeing the increase of applicants from lower-incomes and housewives, studying online in the US is even becoming popular with younger people of college age.
Employers have become increasingly welcome and positive to online qualifications as more candidates earn them, especially if they’re properly approved by the US Department of Education.
US institutions have led the way in online education provision. Many top US colleges and universities offer a range of online programs that are highly respected and in every way perfectly fit for adults who need to combine their studies with a working life. According to Paragraph 1, many US colleges and universities.
| A．have begun to lift the barriers to financial investment |
| B．have had a dream of offering online education |
| C．have begun to run an internet-based program |
| D．have gained financial investment |
Why do people choose online education?
| A．They can find jobs more easily than on-campus graduates. |
| B．They can get qualifications from US Department of Education. |
| C．They can invest money in different courses provided online. |
| D．They can save money and arrange their time and courses freely. |
The underlined word “disruption’’ in the third paragraph probably mean.
| A．interruption | B．attention | C．attraction | D．dissatisfaction |
Which would be a good title for the passage?
| A．Adult Education Online |
| B．Top US Universities Offering Online Education |
| C．The Best of USA’s Online Education |
| D．Online Education Taking the Place of Campus Education |