Once there was a piano player in a bar(酒吧). People came just to hear him play. But one night, a lady asked him to sing a song.
"I don't sing," said the man.
But the lady told the waiter, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want the player to sing!
The waiter shouted across the room, "Hey, friend! If you want to get paid, sing a song!'
So he did. He had never sung in public before. Now he was singing for the very first time! Nobody had ever heard the song Mona Lisa sung so beautifully!
He had talent(天赋) he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar. But once he found, by accident, that he could sing well, he went on working hard and became one of the best-known singers in the US. His name was Nat King Cole.
You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel that your talent is great, but it may be better than you think. With hard work, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may have no success at all if you just sit on your talent.
. The lady asked the player to sing a song because _____.
A.she had paid him for this | B.she knew him very well |
C.she wanted to have a change | D.she enjoyed his singing |
Nat King Cole succeeded because _____.
A.the lady helped him a lot |
B.he caught the chance |
C.he continued to play in the bar |
D.he stopped playing the piano |
. The words "sit on" in the passage probably mean
A.fail to realize | B.forget to use |
C.try to develop | D.manage to show |
From the story we know if you have some talent, you should _____.
A.hide it and wait |
B.ask others for help |
C.pay no attention to it |
D.work hard to improve yourself |
. Which could be the best title (标题) for the passage?
A.Sing in the Bar | B.Achieve Success in Life |
C.Never Lose Heart | D.Find Your Hidden Talent |
Soon computers and other machines will be able to remember you by looking at your eyes! The programme works because everyone’s eyes are different. So in the future you won’t have to remember a number when you want to use a machine or take money out of a bank. You’ll just have to look at the machine and it will be able to tell who you are.
The eye-recognition(识别)programme is already being tested in shops and banks in the USA, Britain, Spain, Italy and Turkey. Soon, this technology will take the place of all other ways of finding out who people are.
However, scientists are working on other systems. Machines will soon be able to know you from the shape of your face or hand or even your smell! We already have machines that can tell who you are from your voice or the mark made by your finger.
Eye-recognition is better than other kinds because your eyes don’t change as you get older, or get dirty like hands or fingers. And even twins have different eyes, so the programme can be up to 94% correct, depending on how good the technology is. Some programmes may only be right 51% of the time. In Britain, it was found that 91% of people who had tried it said that they liked the idea of eye-recognition. In the future your computer will be looking at you in the eye. So smile!How does the eye-recognition programme work?
A.You write your number. |
B.You show your ID card. |
C.You look at the machine. |
D.You say your name. |
Why can the programme be up to 94% correct?
A.Because eyes never change. |
B.Because hands or fingers can get dirty. |
C.Because people like the idea of the programme. |
D.Because the programme is widely used around the world. |
Which of the following is true?
A.The programme is being tested in Japan. |
B.Machines with other systems can also tell who you are. |
C.91% of people like the idea of the programme. |
D.Computers can remember you by looking at your clothes. |
What does this passage mainly talk about?
A.Introduction to some kinds of programmes. |
B.Introduction to the eye-recognition programme. |
C.The way how the eye-recognition programme works. |
D.The places where the eye-recognition programme is tested. |
I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard a young voice.“Mom,come here!There's this lady here my size!”
The mother rushed to her son;then she turned to me to say sorry to me.
I smiled and told her,“It's OK.”Then I talked to the boy,“Hi,I'm Dory Kramer. How are you?”
He studied me from head to toe,and asked,“Are you a little mommy?”
“Yes,I have a son,” I answered.
“Why are you so little?”he asked.
“It's the way I was born,” I said.“Some people are little. Some are tall. I'm just not going to grow any bigger.”After I answered his other questions,I shook the boy's hand and left.
My life as a little person is filled with stories like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents.
It takes only one glance( 一瞥) to see I’m different. I stand three feet nine inches tall(="1.14" metres).I was born a dwarf.In spite of this,I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up.
I didn't realize how short I was until I started school. Some kids called me names (辱骂).Then I knew. I began to hate the first day of school each year.
But I learned to smile and face the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. What I lacked in height,I made up for in personality. When people are rude,I remind myself,“Look what else I have-a great family,nice friends.”Why did the mother say sorry to Dory Kramer?
A.Because the boy ran into the author. |
B.Because the boy hit the author. |
C.Because the boy said the author was fatter than him. |
D.Because the mother thought the boy's words had hurt the author. |
What does a dwarf look like?
A.Of medium height. | B.Very tall. |
C.Very short. | D.Very thin. |
When did the author realize that she was too short?
A.When she grew up. |
B.When she was 47 years old. |
C.When she began to go to school. |
D.When she met the boy in the supermarket. |
What does the sentence “What I lacked in height,I made up for in personality”mean?
A.Although I am not tall, I often dress up to make myself different. |
B.Although I am not tall, I can make myself tall by dressing up. |
C.Although I am not tall, I try to keep it as my personal secrets. |
D.Although I am not tall, I can make myself good with good personal qualities. |
Guitar Lessons for Guitar Players
Playing the same things over and over again when you pick up the guitar? Teaching yourself for years but you hit a wall? Whether you’re a total beginner, or an old guitar player, we’ll get you working on something that is helpful. I’m a professional teacher, with over 30 students at my studio in downtown Berkeley and several music schools in San Francisco.
No matter what style you’re into, I’m sure there are songs by your favorite bands that you could learn.
Call at 510-333-9091 or e-mail at bluescho0147@gmail.com
Dance Classes
Motion Dance Center in Martinez is now getting registration (注册) for all fall dance classes. There are classes offered in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Contemporary and Cheerleading. Classes run like the school year Sept through June. Prices are very reasonable at only $45 a month. This studio is known for their younger child program.
If you want more information, call Deena at 925-229-5678.
Qi Gong with Angie
Qi Gong is the perfect activity for anyone, at any age. It contains gentle movement and meditation (冥想), breathing and relaxation. The exercises are designed to reduce stress and anxiety and improve blood and energy circulation (循环) throughout the body, therefore improving energy levels and sleep.
Thousands of Qi Gong lovers around the world have experienced the extraordinary benefits(益处)and are healthier and happier for it. Join us to experience the benefits for yourself!
WHEN: Tuesdays from noon ~ 1 p.m.
WHERE: Halanda Studio 1062 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125
COST: $12 per class drop-in (即到即学的) or $45 for a pre-paid set of 4 classes
CONTACT: Angie at angie@lokahiacupuncture.com, 408-887-6000The purpose of the first advertisement is to __________.
A.build a bridge between guitar players |
B.look for teachers for several music schools |
C.attract guitar players to attend music classes |
D.help guitar beginners to improve their skills |
Who will probably contact 925-229-5678?
A.A sports lover. | B.A Hip-Hop lover. |
C.A guitar lover. | D.A Qi Gong lover. |
How much can you save if you pay for eight classes at one time before you join Halanda Studio?
A.$3. | B.$6. | C.$8. | D.$12. |
阅读短文,回答问题。
Bill is only fifteen years old, but he’s already very rich. Two years ago, Bill began a football website(网站) for young people. “I became interested in computers when I was 8 because my father’s job is with computers. As a little boy, I also loved football and so I decided to make a website, especially for people of my age.”
Bill started the “Football OK!” website two years ago, and now more than 20,000 people visit it every day.
Bill is a schoolboy and a businessman as well. He usually gets up at six o’clock and looks at his e-mails. Then he goes to school from nine to four. In the evenings, he always works for about four hours on his website.
Bill’s next plan is a new website:“At the moment I am thinking about a new website on American football, maybe for next year.”
And is Bill the same person that he was three years ago? “No, I am very different now. I have met a lot of interesting people on the website and I have traveled all over the world.” Bill doesn’t know about the future. “Maybe I will sell the websites. I really don’t know. I’ll just wait and see.”
根据短文内容,回答下列问题。How old was Bill when he became interested in computers?
What’s the name of Bill’s website?
When does he usually get up?
Is Bill the same person that he was three years ago?
What is Bill’s next plan?
阅读下面材料,从所给的五个选项中,选择正确的选项填空,使短文通顺、内容完整。
When America was young, the city of Washington, D.C. had been built. 1 .Trees were cut down and the Great Capitol(美国国会大厦) was built. A house was built. The President of the United States would live in this house. 2
At that time there was a park near the President’s house. 3 Today in that same park there are no horses or cows, sheep or pigs. 4
This is a city of many monuments(纪念碑). The highest of all is the George Washington Monument. This monument helps all of us remember George Washington, the first President of the United States. Inside the monument is an elevator. People from all over the country ride in the elevator to the top. Inside the monument are many steps.5 .
When they get to the top, they see the United States Capitol building with its white dome(圆顶) and many monuments. They look over this beautiful city, Washington, D.C.—the capital of the United States.
A. People may climb these steps to the tops.
B. And people let their horses and cows, sheep and pigs eat grass in the park.
C. It is now called the White House.
D. It was built in a forest, near two beautiful rivers.
E. It is a beautiful park for all people to see.
F. It’s near the river.