MUMBAI, India —The children in their party clothes on the stage were very excited when they received the award. And the two of them said, "It’s unbelievable!"
Nine-year-old, Rubina Ali, and Azharuddin Ismail, 10, were living a very different life and obviously loving every minute of it. The two, some of the child stars of the Oscar-winning Slum dog Millionaire(《贫民窟的百万富翁》)movie, know the Indian slums very well. That was where they grew up, and it is where they will return at the end of their Hollywood dream trip.
But before going back home, there was an interview with the host, Ryan Seacrest. During the interview they smiled and repeated their disbelief in what was happening to them. To their surprise, their movie won first place in the Oscars. When the two received the award, it was late morning in the children’s home city of Mumbai, where family, friends and many fellow residents of the slums watched the result from Hollywood.
"I don’t really know what the Oscars are," Rubina’s mother said. "I’m just glad my daughter looks happy, though she told me she missed Indian food."
"Our children lead a dog’s life," Rubina’s mother said, pointing out the rubbish everywhere, the open drains (下水道) and the lack of education opportunities.
In a few days they will be back in Mumbai and back in the slums which are their home. Fortunately, according to media reports, the movie’s director, Danny Boyle, has promised to help the children chosen from the slum and make sure they will go to a proper school.
The two don’t need to worry about their daily lives because of the Oscar success of Slum dog Millionaire. But the poverty and lack of opportunity —the central theme of the movie—is always all around.Which of the following is NOT true about the two children?
| A.They were the only two child stars in the movie, Slum dog Millionaire. |
| B.They had been having a difficult life in India. |
| C.They were interviewed before they went back home. |
| D.They were both excited about receiving the award. |
What can we infer from the text?
| A.The two children have played in other movies before. |
| B.Rubina may not get used to the American food. |
| C.Rinoms’s mother also went to the Hollywood. |
| D.They will travel to other countries before returning home. |
What will happen to the two children after they return to India?
| A.They will go back to the miserable life. |
| B.They will play in movies as famous actors. |
| C.They will have a better education. |
| D.They will leave school to learn acting. |
According to the author, the value of the movie is that ________.
| A.it has been given an Oscar Award |
| B.it has made the two children famous |
| C.its central theme has become known to the public |
| D.it has become popular all over the world |
The famous director of a big and expensive movie planned to film a beautiful sunset over the ocean,so that the audiences could see his hero and heroine in front of it at the end of the film as they said goodbye to each other forever.He sent his camera crew out one evening to film the sunset for him.
The next morning he said to the men,“Have you provided me with that sunset?”
“No,sir,” the men answereD.
The director was angry.“Why not?” he askeD.
“Well,sir,” one of the men answered,“we’re on the east coast here,and the sun sets in the west.We can get you a sunrise over the sea,if necessary,but not a sunset.”
“But I want a sunset!” the director shouteD. “Go to the airport,take the next flight to the west coast,and get one.”
But then a young secretary had an ideA. “Why don’t you photograph a sunrise,” she suggested,“and then play it backwards? Then it’ll look like a sunset.”
“That’s a very good idea!” the director saiD. Then he turned to the camera crew and said,“Tomorrow morning I want you to get me a beautiful sunrise over the sea.”
The camera crew went out early the next morning and filmed a bright sunrise over the beach in the middle of a beautiful bay. Then at nine o’clock they took it to the director.“Here it is,sir,” they said,and gave it to him.He was very pleaseD.
They all went into the studio.“All right,” the director explained,“now our hero and heroine are going to say goodbye.Run the film backwards so that we can see the ‘sunset’ behind them.”
The “sunset” began,but after a quarter of a minute,the director suddenly put his face in his hands and shouted to the camera crew to stop.
The birds in the film were flying backwards,and the waves on the sea were going away from the beach.One evening,the director sent his camera crew out ________.
| A.to film a scene on the sea |
| B.to find an actor and an actress |
| C.to watch a beautiful sunset |
| D.to meet the audience |
Why did the director want to send his crew to the west coast?
| A.Because he changed his mind about getting a sunset. |
| B.Because he was angry with his crew. |
| C.Because he wanted to get a scene of sunset. |
| D.Because it was his secretary’s suggestion. |
The director wanted to film a sunset over the ocean because ________.
| A.it went well with the separation of the hero and heroine |
| B.when they arrived at the beach it was already in the evening |
| C.it was more moving than a sunrise |
| D.the ocean looked more beautiful at sunset |
After the “sunset” began,the director suddenly put his face in his hands ________.
| A.because he was moved to tears |
| B.as he saw everything in the film moving backwards |
| C.as the sunrise did not look as beautiful as he had imagined |
| D.because he was disappointed with the performance of the hero and heroine |
Summer Holiday Fun 2015!
The summer holidays are upon us again.Here is our guide to summer holiday fun in Peterborough!
Peterborough Museum
The Age of the Dinosaurs is the museum's main attraction this summer.Get up close to prehistoric creatures via some great hands-on exhibits!Watch out for monsters lurking around every ember!The museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday,and from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays in August.
Call 01733 864663 for details.
Saxon Youth Club
School holiday fun:Young people aged 13—19 will be able to produce their own music,compete in sports activities,or try their hand at cooking at Saxon Youth Club,Saxon Community Centre,Norman Road,Peterborough every Monday and Wednesday from 3:00 pm.PLUS an aero ball tournament will take place on Thursday,12th August between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
Call 01353 720274 for details.
Houghton Mill
Through the Looking Glass—a new production of the family favorite on Monday 30th,August.Bring rugs or chairs to sit on and a picnic if you wish to eat during the play.Gates open 5:30 pm,performance 6:30 pm—8:30 pm.Tea room will be open until the end of the interval.Adult £ 10 Child £7 Family £20.
Booking advisable on 0845 4505157.
Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
Farmland Games:From Wellie Wanging to Pretend Ploughing matches,come and join the Farmland Team.Collect your sporting stickers and create a colorful rosette that is fit for a winner!No need to book,just turn up between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Thursday,19th August.Suitable for children aged four and above,each child should be accompanied by an adult and all activities are included in the normal admission price.Tickets Cost:£ 7 per child.
For further information,call 01223 810080.If you are interested in cooking,you can go to ________.
| A.Peterborough Museum |
| B.Houghton Mill |
| C.Saxon Youth Club |
| D.Farmland Museum |
You want to watch the new play with your parents,so it will cost you ________.
| A.£7 |
| B.£17 |
| C.£27 |
| D.£20 |
Which of the following activities needs parents' company?
| A.Playing farmland games. |
| B.Watching the new play. |
| C.Competing in sports activities. |
| D.Visiting the dinosaur exhibition. |
Last night’s meteor(流星)shower left many people in the community dissatisfied and demanding answers.According to Gabe Rothschild,Emerald Valley’s mayor,people gathered in the suburbs of the city,carrying heavy telescopes,expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky.What they found instead was a sky so brightened by the city’s lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overheaD.
“My family was so frustrated,”admitted town resident Duane Cosby.“We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing,but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.”
Astronomers—scientists who study stars and planets—have been complaining about this problem for decades.They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past.They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.
There is yet a population besides professional and amateur star observers that suffers even more from light pollution.This population consists of birds,bats,frogs,snakes,etC. For example,outdoor lighting severely affects migrating birds.According to the International Dark-Sky Association.“100 million birds a year throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers.”
Countless more animal casualties(伤亡)result from the use of artificial lighting.Clearly,people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings,but some scientists think it can be harmful for humans,too.They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase a person’s chances of getting cancer.
Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution.For years,Flagstaff,Arizona,has enforced lighting regulations in its city in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory.Similar efforts have been made worldwide,and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them,so that other creatures can share the night.It happened last night that .
| A.the city’s lights affected the meteor watching |
| B.the meteors flew past before being noticed |
| C.the city light show attracted many people |
| D.the meteor watching ended up a social outing |
What do the astronomers complain about?
| A.Meteor showers occur less often than before. |
| B.Their observation equipment is in poor repair. |
| C.Light pollution has remained unsolved for years. |
| D.Their eyesight is falling due to artificial lighting. |
What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 4?
A. Birds may take other migration paths.
B. Animals’ living habits may change suddenly.
C. Varieties of animals will become sharply reduceD.
D. Animals’ survival is threatened by outdoor lighting.What message does the author most want to give us?
| A.Saving wildlife is saving ourselves. |
| B.Great efforts should be made to save energy. |
| C.Human activities should be environmentally friendly. |
| D.New equipment should be introduced for space study. |
Guide to Stockholm University Library
Our library offers different types of studying places and provides a good studying environment.
Zones
The library is divided into different zones.The upper floor is a quiet zone with over a thousand places for silent reading,and places where you can sit and work with your own computer.The reading places consist mostly of tables and chairs.The ground floor is the zone where you can talk.Here you can find sofas and armchairs for group work.
Computers
You can use your own computer to connect to the wi-fi specially prepared for notebook computers; you can also use library computers,which contain the most commonly used applications,such as Microsoft Office.They are situated in the area known as the Experimental Field on the ground floor.
Group-study Places
If you want to discuss freely without disturbing others,you can book a study room or sit at a table on the ground floor.Some study rooms are for 2-3 people and others can hold up to 6-8 people.All rooms are marked on the library maps.
There are 40 group-study rooms that must be booked via the website.To book,you need an active University account and a valid University carD. You can use a room three hours per day,nine hours at most per week.
Storage of Study Material
The library has lockers for students to store course literature.When you have obtained at least 40 credits,you may rent a locker and pay 400 SEK for a year’s rental perioD.
Rules to be Followed
Mobile phone conversations are not permitted anywhere in the library.Keep your phone on silent as if you were in a lecture and exit the library if you need to receive calls.
Please note that food and fruit are forbidden in the library,but you are allowed to have drinks and sweets with you.Library computers on the ground floor .
| A.help students with their field experiments |
| B.contain software essential for schoolwork |
| C.are for those who want to access the wi-fi |
| D.are mostly used for filling out application forms |
A student can rent a locker in the library if he .
| A.can afford the rental fee |
| B.attends certain courses |
| C.has nowhere to put his books |
| D.has earned the required credits |
What should NOT be brought into the library?
| A.Mobile phones. |
| B.Orange juice. |
| C.Candy. |
| D.Sandwiches. |
George Gershwin,born in 1898,was one of America’s greatest composers.He published his first song when he was eighteen years olD. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.
Many of Gershwin’s songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City.These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s.Many of his songs have remained popular as ever.Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way—from jazz to country.
In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz musiC. Could jazz,some people asked,be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious musiC. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it.And in that short time,he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue.Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert.The audience were thrilled when they heard his musiC. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.
In 1928,Gershwin went to Paris.He applied to study composition(作曲)with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger,but she rejected him.She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style.While there,Gershwin wrote An American in Paris.When it was first performed,critics(评论家)were divided over the musiC. Some called it happy and full of life,to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States.It still remains one of his most famous works.
George Gershwin died in 1937,just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer.He was only thirty-nine years olD. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages.People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.Many of Gershwin’s musical works were .
| A.written about New Yorkers |
| B.composed for Paul Whiteman |
| C.played mainly in the countryside |
| D.performed in various ways |
What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?
| A.He created one of his best works. |
| B.He studied with Nadia Boulanger. |
| C.He argued with French critics. |
| D.He changed his music style. |
What do we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Many of Gershwin’s works were lost.
B. The death of Gershwin was widely reporteD.
C. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.
D. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin’s death.Which of the following best describes Gershwin?
| A.Talented and productive. |
| B.Serious and boring. |
| C.Popular and unhappy. |
| D.Friendly and honest. |