Old Cremona Violins
Most musicians(音乐家) agree that the best violins(小提琴) were first made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any others. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments(乐器) like the Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Musicians still prefer the old ones.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But not all old violins sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special(特殊的). So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood must be from certain kinds of trees.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape(形状). The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians. Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood.
Size and shape may not be the answer, either. Scientists can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish. Varnish is what covers the wood of the violin. It makes the wood look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish.The passage is about .
| A．making violins | B．musical instruments |
| C．scientific ideas | D．the old Italian violins |
Other people think the Italian violin makers .
| A．did not know much about violins | B．were lucky |
| C．used many kinds of wood | D．knew something special |
Violins made today .
| A．have the same size and shape as the old ones |
| B．sound the same as the old ones |
| C．are better than the old ones |
| D．have the same varnish as the old ones |
Some scientists believe that the secret of the old violins was .
| A．their sound | B．their colour | C．their varnish | D．the music |
Reporter: How long have you been a firefighter?
Wilson: For eight years.
Reporter: How did you get started?
Wilson: First, I had to take a lot of tests in two weeks. Then, I went to the firefighter school for four months. I learned how to put out fires and how to use equipment. I also had a full-time training every day!
Reporter: How do you stay safe on the job?
Wilson: I wear special clothing. It helps me protect(保护) from fire. I also carry an oxygen tank(氧气瓶) and a mask(面具). They help me to breathe(呼吸) in a smoke-filled building.
Reporter: Are there any new tools that firefighters use?
Wilson: We have a special camera that can exactly tell the place of a fire.
Reporter: Do you save animals?
Wilson: Just three days ago, I helped save some cats. They were hiding under the beds. Animals usually hide(躲藏) during a fire because they are afraid of danger.
Reporter: Do you ever get afraid?
Wilson: No. There is no time to be afraid. I just think about what to do to put out the fire safely.
Reporter: What do you like best about being a firefighter?
Wilson: Helping people!
Kate Wilson has done her job for_______.
| A．2 weeks | B．3 days |
| C．4 months | D．8 years |
To become a firefighter, Kate Wilson _______ at first.
| A．took a lot of tests |
| B．learned to stay safe |
| C．saved some animals |
| D．used fire equipment |
Kate Wilson says she does not get afraid because _______.
| A．She has an oxygen tank |
| B．she knows how to fight fires |
| C．she enjoys finding heat |
| D．she is too busy putting out the fires |
What did the reporter make this interview for?
| A．To tell people what a firefighter does. |
| B．To teach people how to prevent fires. |
| C．To make people want to be firefighters. |
| D．To show people how a firefighter is trained. |
A young man went to a car shop. He was wearing rubber boots(橡胶靴子) and a dirty jacket. He needed a haircut(理发) very much. The young man looked at an expensive car carefully and then asked the shop owner(店主), “How much is this car?” “Nine thousand two hundred and eighteen,” the owner answered. “I want sixteen of them,” the young man said. The shop owner smiled coldly. He showed the door to the young man.
In another shop on the other side of the street the business was done(生意做成了). The young man took money out of his pocket and paid for the cars. He said the cars were for himself and his friends were. Each of them wanted to get one. He said that he and his friends were working on a fishing-boat. “We have got much money this season,” the young man said, “and we want to buy cars. ”The shop owner showed the young man the door means _______.
| A．to ask him to go away |
| B．to ask him to look at the door of the car |
| C．to tell him where the door of the shop was |
| D．to let him enjoy the beautiful door of the car |
How many cars did the young man want to buy for his friends?
| A．18. | B．17. | C．16. | D．15. |
How much did the young man pay for the cars?
| A．9218. | B．92180. |
| C．147488. | D．138270. |
The story tries to tell us _______.
| A．we can’t tell if a man is rich by his clothes |
| B．cars are expensive |
| C．people wearing rubber boots are rich |
| D．we can’t show the door to others |
| Hi, I’m Nina, I’m a businesswoman. I take a ship from the island to the city every day. The ship leaves every 20 minutes and it takes about 35 minutes to get to the city. Then I have a short walk to my office. There’s another ship on the the other side of the island and it is faster. It takes only 15 minutes , but I have to walk a long way. So I usually take the first ship. |
| Hello, I’m maria and I’m a college student. I live on campus(校园). The campus is quite big, and sometimes it takes 15 minutes to get from one building to the next. When I want to go off campus to go out with my friends, I take the bus. There are big buses and minibuses. Big buses are cheaper but slower. Minibuses come frequently(频繁地) and are a little more expensive. |
| My name is Sarah and I’m a teacher. I take the train to school every day. The train is fast and cheap. It only takes 20 minutes from my home to school. At rush hour in the morning and in the evening, the train gets very crowded. But there are hardly ever any delays(延误), and I always arrive on time. |
How long does it usually take Nina to get to the city in the first ship?
| A．35 minutes. | B．25 minutes. |
| C．15 minutes. | D．10 minutes. |
How often does the ship leave?
| A．Every 15 minutes. | B．Every 5 minutes. |
| C．Every 20 minutes. | D．Every 10 minutes. |
How long does it sometimes take Maria to get from on building to the next?
| A．10 minutes. | B．15 minutes. |
| C．5 minutes. | D．8 minutes. |
How does Sarah go to school every day?
| A．By bike. | B．On foot. |
| C．By bus. | D．By train. |
| Film in Grand Movie Theater This Week |
|
| HARRY POTTER (III) American film Director(导演): Alfonso Cuaron Stars: Daniel Redcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Waston Time: From Monday to Wednesday, at 6:00 p.m. Ticket Price: ＄4.5 |
KUNGFU HUSTLE Chinese Hong Kong film Director: Zhou Xingchi Stars: Zhou Xingchi, Yuan Hua, Liang Xiaolong Time: From Wednesday to Friday, at 9:00 p.m. Ticket Price: ＄5 |
| A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES Chinese film Director: Feng Xiaogang Stars: Liu Dehua, Liu Ruoying, Li Bingbing Time: From Friday to Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. Ticket Price: ＄6 (Half on Sunday for children) |
TROY American film Director: Wolfgang Peterson Stars: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Marops Time: From Tuesday to Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. Ticket Price: ＄5.5 |
If a man with his child goes to Grand Movie Theater on Sunday, they will pay _____ for the film.
| A．＄ 12 | B．＄ 9 | C．＄ 6 | D．＄ 5 |
You can see three films either on ______ or on _______.
| A．Wednesday; Friday | B．Tuesday; Wednesday |
| C．Thursday; Friday | D．Saturday; Sunday |
From the poster, we know ______ is a director and actor in the film.
| A．Alfonso Cuaron | B．Feng Xiaogang |
| C．Wolfgang Peterson | D．Zhou Xingchi |
任务型阅读。
阅读下面的文章，并根据文章内容完成下面的四个句子。
Jogging(慢跑) is good for us and helps us live longer and healthier lives. It’s easy to do and free. You do not have to spend money jogging. You can do it in a park or even in your home. But many people find it boring after jogging for a while. Then how can we keep jogging fun? Here are some ideas to make your jogging more interesting.
First, you should choose to wear your favourite sports clothes and shoes when you jog. They make you more comfortable and more likely to run.
Always jog outdoors (户外). By changing your route and choose another street, you will always have something interesting to enjoy while you jog.
Take along your MP3 player and listen to your favourite songs when you jog. The music can make you exciting and run further without feeling bored.
It’s always more enjoyable with a friend. Make friends while jogging. Join a running club, find a new running partner, or invite an old friend to go jogging. It’s better to find a friend who runs a little faster than you. Then you can try to catch up him or her.When you jog, you should wear sports ________ and _______.
If you want to have ______________ to enjoy while you jog, you’d better choose jog outdoors.
When you jog, _________ can make you exciting and run faster without feeling bored.
Jog with a friend is more__________.