In his lowest days when few people bought his records, Taiwan singer Steve Chou (周传雄) lived alone in Canada and did little. One day, he passed by a local CD store and accidentally heard a song that greatly enchanted (迷住) him. His passion for music was suddenly rekindled (重新点燃).
“My heart tells me that music is the thing I truly want to do, not for fame or money,” Chou told Teens. “So I asked myself, ‘why not start all over again?’”
That's how we luckily regained this music genius, who has since then composed lots of hits for the pop music charts (排行榜). His emotional voice is enthralling (迷人的). "Sometimes we need to get close to nature to look deeply into our souls and see what we genuinely (真正地) want to follow," he said.
Following the success of Turkey in Blue, he has recently released his latest work Lovers Genesis. In this album he explores human relationships in the Internet age. This time, he takes the role of a calm observer rather than a struggling insider. "Technology itself is a good thing, but it depends on how you're going to use it," is Chou's advice to teenagers. Chou often gets his music ideas from trips. He has traveled to many places around the world and believes that learning a country's language is the fastest way of experiencing the culture behind it.How was Steve Zhou’s passion for music rekindled?
| A．He was encouraged by his friends. |
| B．When he passed by a store and heard a song that enchanted him. |
| C．He decided to rebuild his reputation. |
| D．A good idea suddenly occurred to him. |
Which of the following songs belongs to Steve Zhou ?
| A．Heal the world | B．I swear | C．Lovers Genesis | D．Lemon tree |
How does Zhou get his music idea ?
| A．From his work life | B．From his trips | C．From his friends | D．From musical books |
What does the underlined sentence mean?
| A．Technology is always a good thing. |
| B．Technology by no means is a good thing. |
| C．If you use it properly, it will be helpful to your life. |
| D．We should not believe technology too much. |
Tang Dynasty poets sang for about three centuries in different tones. There were many famous poets living in the Tang period, such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi and Li Shangyin. Poems of the Tang Dynasty edited in the Qing Dynasty is a collection of more than 48,900 poems that were written by over 2,200 poets. But it didn’t cover all the poems of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Tang Dynasty, poems were recited when lovers walked under the moonlight. Poems were also recited when soldiers fought on the battlefield. People recited them in the open air or at temple fairs.
Tang Dynasty poets wrote poems to win fame and also to develop their temperament(性情). They poured our deep feelings for their friends and criticized injustice in the world through poems.
In the Tang Dynasty scholars had to be poets. Their readers were not only people of high social position but also common people. Poets recited poems, women singers sang poems and other ranks of people, including old women and children, read Tang poems. This atmosphere affected foreigners who visited the country at that time. As a result, Tang poetry was introduced to some adjacent countries, like Japan and Vietnam.
Tang poetry is a most brilliant page in the history of ancient Chinese literature. It’s a miracle(奇迹) in the cultural history of mankind. The Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire with a vast territory. It inherited(继承) Chinese civilization that went back to ancient times, was combined with the best of other cultures and adopted the benefits of other nations in the world. Tang poetry wasn’t the only spiritual wealth created by the Tang Dynasty people. Philosophy and religion, handwriting and painting, and music and dance all gained new peaks of development. Tang poetry, however, was the jewel in the crown and its greatest achievement.We can conclude form the passage that ___ .
| A．only people in the Tang Dynasty created poems |
| B．in total there was four famous poets in the Tang Dynasty |
| C．the Tang Dynasty probably existed for about three centuries |
| D．in the Tang Dynasty most common people were poets |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Why the poets created poems? |
| B．Some other kinds of spiritual wealth in the Tang Dynasty. |
| C．The significance and influence if the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．The editors of Poems of the Tang Dynasty. |
The underlined word “adjacent” probably means ___.
| A．strong |
| B．neighboring |
| C．poor |
| D．rich |
What does the author really want to tell us in Paragraph 4?
| A．Tang Dynasty poems were quite popular. |
| B．In the Tang Dynasty all scholars were poets. |
| C．Many foreigners came to our country during the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．in the Tang Dynasty many poems were sung by women singers. |
Computers are very important to modern life. Many people think that in the future computers will be used in lots of everyday life. It is thought that we won’t have to go shopping because we will be able to get most things which are sold in shops on the Internet. There will be no more books because we will be able to get all texts from computers. The Internet will be used to play games, see films and buy food. Most telephone calls will be made by computers, too.
Some people are glad about these new ways of shopping and communicating. Others do not think that computers will replace our old ways.
Let’s look at books, for example. Some people think that one day we will not read books made of paper. Instead, we will buy and read books using computers. We will read texts on small pocket computers. The computers will keep many different books in them at the same time. We won’t need to turn lots of pages and paper will be saved. Computerized(计算机化) books will be used more and more.
Is Internet shopping such a pleasure as going to the shop? Many people say it is not. It is a pleasure to go into shops and look at things you want to buy. It is also unlikely that many people will want to read large texts on our computers. Because paper books will perhaps be more friendly. Maybe computers won’t change these two habits.In paragraph 1 it is thought people will use computers for ___.
| A．playing games, shopping and making telephone calls |
| B．making telephone calls, having meals and seeing films |
| C．seeing films, buying food, and going for holidays |
| D．playing games, making telephone calls and seeing the doctor |
Which reason for using computerizes books is NOT said in the passage?
| A．Computerized books won’t be very expensive. |
| B．Computers can keep many different books in them. |
| C．We won’t have lots of pages. |
| D．We won’t need any paper. |
Paragraph 4 tells ___.
| A．about the old and new ways of shopping and communicating |
| B．if the Internet will change our habits |
| C．about computerized books |
| D．about future uses of computers |
The title for this passage is ___ .
| A．Computers will replace shops and books |
| B．Computers are the future |
| C．Computers will do everything for man |
| D．How computers change our habits |
Do you spirits soar (猛增) on a sunny day? Do you relax at the sound of flowing water?
Some scientists suggest that these contacts with nature are good for your health. In one study, hospital patients with a view of trees had shorter hospital stays and less need for pain medications. Another study indicated that prisoners with a view of the outdoors had fewer doctor visits.
“Why the desire for nature? Maybe we’re programmed to need it, since our ancestors’ survival was so dependent on their connection with nature,” suggests biologist E.O.Wilson.
Want to find out if contact with nature improves your outlook on life? Try a few of these ideas.
Hang out a bird feeder and watch the birds that visit it.
Sit down in the backyard or a nearby park. Close your eyes. What do you hear? Birds singing? The wind in the trees? Crickets(蟋蟀) chirping?
Find an anthill. Sit down and watch the ants work.
Take a walk right after a rainstorm. What looks different? Smells different?
Go barefoot on a sandy beach.
Open the curtains and the window, if the weather allows it.
On a windy day, watch the trees.
Go to a creek, river or park fountain. Listen to the sound of water in motion.
Camp out in the backyard or at a nearby state park. Use a tent or sleep on the ground.
Find a wide-open space to study the stars. Learn about the different constellations(星座).
Raise a garden. Or plant some seeds in a flowerpot.
Go hiking with your family. Talk about all of the colors you see in nature.
Take a camera and capture your nature experience.From Paragraph 2 we can learn that ___ .
| A．prisoners don’t like to go to the doctor when ill |
| B．trees can be used as pain medications |
| C．prisoners should often get out of prison to some into contact with nature |
| D．contacts with nature are very helpful for hospital patients |
According to E. O. Wilson, we desire nature probably because ___ .
| A．it can help us feel relaxed |
| B．we have inherited from our ancestors who were dependent on nature |
| C．people have lived with nature for thousands of years |
| D．contacts with nature can improve a person’s outlook on life |
The author gives us many ideas in order to let us ___.
| A．find out if contacts with nature improve our outlook on life |
| B．hear birds sing and watch ants work |
| C．talk about the colors we see in nature |
| D．capture our experience in nature |
From the passage, we can learn that ___。
| A．studying the constellations is important to everyone |
| B．you can know all the colors only by going hiking |
| C．nature is quite important to us |
| D．walking in a rain storm can be very helpful |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．Go Hiking With Your Family |
| B．Let Nature Nurture You |
| C．Visit Your Doctor Less |
| D．Watch the Tree More Often |
What is a flood and where does it happen?
A flood occurs when water pours over dry land. Floods can cause big damage when they happen unexpectedly.
Heavy rain can cause floods. If a lot of rain falls quickly, the earth is unable to soak it up, and the water builds up on the ground. When it runs off into the rivers, the rivers overflow their banks.
The worst floods happen on land that is flat and low-lying. These areas of land are known as flood plains. Mud, earth, and large objects, like cars, can be carried long distances by flood water. Then, disease spreads quickly because the flood water is polluted.
What should I know if I live on a flood plain?
Stay away from flood water. It may be polluted.
Do not walk through moving water. It can knock you off your feet. If you must walk through water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to test the ground in front of you.
Stay away from power lines that are on the ground. You could be electrocuted(电死)。
If you are scared, share your fears with an adult. Floods can be terrible, but remember-the water ALWAYS goes away!
What dangers does a flood lead to?
Electrocution from power lines
Dangerous animals coming out
Drowning
What should I do if a flood happens?
Get to the meeting place of your family.
Try to get to higher ground.
Listen to your family and follow all instructions carefully. Which of the following are related to a flood according to the passage?
a. heavy rain
b. global warming
c. low-lying land
d. the change of the river course
e. flat land
| A．a,b,e |
| B．c,d,e |
| C．a,c,e |
| D．b,d,e |
You are advised not to walk in the moving water because ___.
| A．it may make you fall over |
| B．you may step fish and kill them |
| C．you may drink polluted water |
| D．you may lose your shoes |
By saying “the water ALWAYS goes away”, the author means ___ .
| A．water can’t be stopped from flowing |
| B．you needn’t be afraid of floods |
| C．you should pay close attention to floods |
| D．it is common for floods to happen |
We can infer from the passage that during a flood ___.
| A．people are more likely to be attacked by animals |
| B．running away is a good way to save yourself |
| C．gas should be cut off |
| D．adults should persuade children to keep silent |
Strange stones of Costa Rica
One of the strangest mysteries in archaeology was discovered in the Diquis River Delta, in southern Costa Rica. Since the 1930s, hundreds of stone balls have been found. They range in size from a few centimeters to over two meters in diameter.
Who made these perfect spheres(球体) and how they made them remains a mystery. Some researchers believe the stones were made by extreme heating followed by cooling. People could have polished the spheres with sand or leather. The ancient Costa Ricans had no written language so there is no written record of just how they made the spheres.
Almost all are made of granite (花岗岩), a hard stone created by volcanoes. The granite quarries(采石场) were 25 to 30 miles away from the largest stones, which weigh more than 10 tons each. Nobody knows how people moved them.
Many of the stones have been found near the remains of houses or graves. Some believed that the stones contained hidden treasures and a few have been smashed but nothing has been found inside. Despite these losses, the National Museum of Costa Rica has recorded 130 spheres. However, many stones are not included because they have been removed from their original sites and used as ornaments(装饰) in homes, gardens and churches. Clearly, there are also many stones that lie undiscovered.The stones were discovered ___ .
| A．near the volcanoes |
| B．in southern Costa Rica |
| C．in a grave |
| D．in churches |
The writer ___ in the passage.
| A．admires the spheres very much |
| B．doesn’t believe the spheres were once made by humans |
| C．tells us a discovery |
| D．thinks highly of the spheres |
The underlined word “polished” refers to “___”.
| A．buried |
| B．wrapped |
| C．made shining |
| D．made big |
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
| A．The stone balls found in the Diquis River Delta are all very huge. |
| B．The stone balls were unearthed from the graves. |
| C．The local people show great interest in the stone balls. |
| D．There are a lot of treasures in the stone balls. |
The passage mainly tells us ___ .
| A．the stones are of great value. |
| B．the stones proved to be made by non-humans. |
| C．the stones are mystery. |
| D．the stone are ornaments. |