FixitonyourownDidyouknowthatab-优题课

IV. Reading(30)
A
Mathematical ability and musical ability may not seem on the surface to be connected, but people who have researched the subject -- and studied the brain—say that they are. Three quarters of the bright but speech-delayed children in the group I studied had a close relative who was an engineer, mathematician or scientist, and four fifths had a close relative who played a musical instrument. The children themselves usually took readily to math and other analytical subjects and to music.
Black, white and Asian children in this group show the same patterns. However, it is clear that blacks have been greatly overrepresented in the development of American popular music and greatly underrepresented in such fields as mathematics, science and engineering.
If the abilities required in analytical fields and in music are so closely related, how can there be this great discrepancy? One reason is that the development of mathematical and other such abilities requires years of formal schooling, while certain musical talents can be developed with little or no formal training, as has happened with a number of well-known black musicians.
It is precisely in those kinds of music where one can acquire great skill without formal training that blacks have excelled popular music rather than classical music, piano rather than violin, blues rather than opera. This is readily understandable, given that most blacks, for most of American history, have not had either the money or the leisure for long years of formal study in music.
Blacks have not merely held their own in American popular music. They have played a large role in the development of jazz, both traditional and modern. A long string of names comes to mind—W.C. Handy, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker…and so on.
None of this presupposes(假设，意味着) any special innate（先天的）ability of blacks in music. On the contrary, it is perfectly consistent with blacks having no more such inborn ability than anyone else, but being limited to being able to express such ability in narrower channels than others who have had the money, the time and the formal education to spread out over a wider range of music, as well as into mathematics, science and engineering.
36. what is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. Mathematical ability and musical ability are connected.
B. Mathematical ability has more to do with the brain than musical ability.
C. More people are good at music than math.
D. More research should be done into the relationship between mathematical ability and math ability.
37. The word “discrepancy” (Para. 3) most probably means ____.
A. difference B. excellence C. inborn ability D. inability
(38. What can be inferred about opera?
A. It requires formal training.
B. It is often enjoyed by those with strong analytical ability.
C. It is disliked by blacks.
D. It is more difficult to learn than classical music.
39. Which of the following statements is true according to the last paragraph?
A. Blacks have special innate ability in music.
B. Unlike others, blacks do not have innate ability in music.
C. Jazz is one of the narrow channels through which blacks express their ability in music.
D. Those who have money and time choose mathematics over music.
40. which of the following questions does the passage mainly concern?
A. Are musical ability and mathematical ability connected?
B. Why have blacks been greatly over represented in the development of American popular misic?
C. What kinds of music require formal training?
D. What are the contributions made by black musicians?

When the six very best students from different cities in Guangdong Province all together chose universities in Hong Kong; when the very best students of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Beijing or Qinghua University; when the highest enrollment(录取) rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it’s the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is.
Years ago, the answer certainly would be “Beijing or Qinghua University”. But now no one could give the exact reaction without hesitation. The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students.
It’s no doubt to call this HK craze (狂热), which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves.
How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Beijing and Qinghua and attract so many mainland students?
First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive the sum scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it’s easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great.
Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual (双语) education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students.
Furthermore, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students.
Can mainland top universities like Beijing or Qinghua University be calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it.
The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action-taking of mainland universities, they can perform better together with HK universities.
At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees (学费) are among students’ top concern when they are choosing universities. It’s time to move.
What is the passage mainly talking about?

A．Some thoughts brought by the enrollment of HK universities.

B．Higher education in Hong Kong.

C．The competition between HK University and Beijing University.

D．The fall of mainland universities.

Top students from mainland apply for HK universities because________.

A．many students now would love to study abroad to get a better experience

B．they concern only about the tuition fees when choosing universities

C．HK Universities offer higher scholarship, better environment and more opportunities for their further study

D．Beijing University has lost its worldwide reputation

What is the author’s attitude toward the competition brought by HK universities?

A．The government should take relevant measures to stop this unfair competition.

B．Mainland universities had better lower their tuition fees and win back the top students.

C．Universities both in mainland and in HK would get an entire improvement during the competition.

D．It may probably cause a complete loss to both sides in the end.

From the passage we can see HK universities________.

A．didn’t mean to enroll top students from mainland

B．didn’t expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular

C．have strict enrollment rules and only 1out of 48 students can get the chance to study there

D．are proud of their teaching staff and facilities

The Los Angeles Zoo has many public programs that aim to teach the public about animals and natural protection.
Safari shuttle(旅游电车)
While you’re here, take the Safari shuttle for a quick trip from one end of the Zoo to the other.
All day long, seven days a week (from 10 am to 5 pm), the Safari Shuttle picks up passengers, circles the Zoo, and returns to the main flamingo (火烈鸟) exhibit near the front entrance. You can get on and off the shuttle as often as you like.
Food
Safari Café (at the Zoo entrance) offers Starbucks coffee, fresh-baked cookies, and ice cream. Gorilla Grill is the spot for toasted food, kids’ meals, snacks, and ice cream. La Casita serves a variety of Mexican food and refreshments（甜点）. Silverback’s Cafe offers sandwiches, salads, bread bowls, cold beer, and refreshments.
Hour
The Zoo is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day of the year except Christmas Day. Special summer long hours are until 6 pm. from July 1 to September 7. Please remember, the Zoo starts putting animals in for the night at 4 pm during regular hours, and at 5 pm. during summer hours.
Admission Prices(票价)
Adults (aged 13 and above): $ 9
Seniors (aged 62 and above): $ 6
Children (aged 2 to 12): $ 4
Children (under 2): free
Items Not Allowed on Zoo Grounds
Alcohol, Glass bottles, Pets, Bicycles, Skateboards, and In-line skate.
If you are planning a picnic while visiting the Zoo, please do not bring any glass items or other things that are easy to break. Also for the safety of the animals, no plastic bags are allowed within the Zoo.
Which of the following provides kids’ meals?

A．Safari Café.

B．Gorilla Grill.

C．La Casita.

D．Silverback’s Café.

People can see all the animals at the Los Angeles Zoo at ______.

A．11 am. on Christmas Day	B．4:30 pm. on May 5
C．3 pm. on March 5	D．6 pm. on September 7

How much does it cost if a couple with their one-year-old twins visit the Los Angeles Zoo?

A．$18.

B．$26.

C．$22.

D．$17.

When visiting the Los Angeles Zoo, people can______.

A．ride a bike through the Zoo	B．have a picnic on the Zoo grounds
C．take food with plastic bags	D．take their pets along

Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth’s surface. Earthquakes happen along “fault lines” in the earth’s crust. Earthquakes can be felt over large areas although they usually last less than one minute. Earthquakes cannot be predicted —— although scientists are working on it!
Most of the time, you will notice an earthquake by the gentle shaking of the ground. You may notice hanging plants swaying or objects wobbling on shelves. Sometimes you may hear a low rumbling noise or feel a sharp jolt. A survivor of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco said the sensation was like riding a bicycle down a long flight of stairs.
The intensity（强度）of an earthquake can be measured. One measurement is called the Richter scale. Earthquakes below 4.0 on the Richter scale usually do not cause damage, and earthquakes below 2.0 usually can’t be felt. Earthquakes over 5.0 on the scale can cause damage. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake is considered strong and a magnitude 7.0 is a major earthquake. The Wenchuan Earthquake, which hit Sichuan Province in 2008, was magnitude 7.8.
Earthquakes are sometimes called temblors, quakes, shakers or seismic activity. The most important thing to remember during an earthquake is to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. So remember to DROP to the floor and get under something for COVER and HOLD ON during the shaking.
Which statement about earthquakes is Not correct?

A．Earthquakes are the result of the sudden shock of the earth’s surface.

B．Earthquakesusually can be felt because they can last for a long time.

C．There are usually some signs for people to notice an earthquake.

D．People can feel an earthquake over 6.0 because it is very strong.

According to the passage, when the earthquake happened, a survivor of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco_______.

A．was riding a bicycle	B．was just climbing the stairs
C．heard a low rumbling noise	D．felt like riding a bicycle

What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Most of the time, people can not feel or predict the earthquakes.

B．Earthquakes are sometimes called temblors, quakes shakers or seismic activity.

C．The Wenchuan Earthquake, which hit Sichuan Province in 2008 caused serious damage.

D．When an earthquake happens, it is important to drop on the floor immediately.

The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single-engined aeroplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather. To make things worse, her altimeter (高度表) failed and she didn’t know how high she was flying. At night, and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged (冲) into the sea.
Just before dawn, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames (火焰) coming from the engine. Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except keep going and hope.
In the end, Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly welcomed in England and Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart was famous.
What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean alone, and she had set a record of fourteen hours and fifty-six minutes.
In the years that followed, Amelia Earhart made several flights across the United States, and on each occasion she set a new record for flying time. Amelia Earhart made these flights to show that women had a place in aviation (航空) and that air travel was useful.
Which of the following statements is NOT the difficulty which Amelia Earhart met in her flight from north America to England?

A．She was caught in a storm.	B．The altimeter went out of order.
C．Her engine went wrong.	D．She lost her direction.

When Amelia Earhart saw flames coming from the engine, what did she do?

A．She did nothing but pray for herself.

B．She changed her direction and landed in Ireland.

C．She continued flying.

D．She lost hope of reaching land.

According to the passage, what was Amelia Earhart’s reason for making her flights?

A．To set a new record for flying time.

B．To be the first woman to fly around the world.

C．To show that aviation was not just for men.

D．To become famous in the world.

Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Amelia Earhart—First Across the Atlantic.

B．Amelia Earhart—Pioneer in Women’s Aviation.

C．A New Record for Flying Time.

D．A Dangerous Flight from North America to England.

A．Life	B．Entertainment
C．Finance	D．Culture

A．personal opinions	B．professional guides
C．necessary warnings	D．practical tips