Like most people, I have grown up hearing the story Cinderella, in which a young girl lived with her cruel stepmother and suddenly had her life changed by a kind fairy and a smart prince. So when to see Rodger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, which is now playing on Broadway, I was very excited, As soon as I sat down, I noticed the trees lining the stage ,which gave it a magical appearance. The orchestra started to play and the lights became dark as the show began.
I loved the entire performance. Everything and everyone on stage seemed like they had just jumped off the pages of the beloved story.
It turns out that the Broadway experts agree with me. The show has received nine Tony nominations(提名). Tony awards are the top prizes for Broadway shows. Laura Osnes, who plays the role of Cinderella, has been nominated for the Tony for best actress in a musical.
How similar is the show to the story of Cinderella you know? The answer, of course, depends on which version of the story you’ve seen or read. In an interview with TIME FOR Kids, Osnes pointed out that many people are familiar with the Disney movie version. There are some differences between that movie and the Broadway show. For one thing, the stepmother and the sisters are not as cruel in the show as in the movie. Also, in the Broadway version, when Cinderella escapes from the dancing party, she picks up her shoe after dropping it. So how does the prince find Cinderella again? You’ll have to see the show to find out!
I just think anyone would enjoy this play, including both kids and adults. The attention to detail is amazing. In my opinion, this play deserves a double thumbs-up!The author was excited because .
| A．he has grown up knowing the story of Cinderella |
| B．he could see Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on stage |
| C．the lights became dark and the orchestra started to play |
| D．the stage had a magical appearance with the tree on it |
Which of the following shows that the Broadway experts agree with the author?
| A．They all agree the musical is more beloved than the story. |
| B．They all agree the story is more complicated than the musical. |
| C．Broadway experts have given the show nine Tony nominations. |
| D．Laura Osnes has been nominated for the Tony for best actress. |
What is one of the differences between the Disney movie and the Broadway show according to the passage?
| A．Cinderella picks up her shoe after dropping it in the movie. |
| B．The stepmother and the sisters are crueler in the movie. |
| C．The prince doesn’t find Cinderella in the show. |
| D．Cinderella doesn’t escape from the dancing party in the show. |
According to the author, this show is suitable .
| A．only for grown-up |
| B．only for children. |
| C．for both grown-ups and children |
| D．for either grown-ups or children |
As the population of the planet increases, so does the number of homes, businesses, parking lots, schools, airports and roadways. All these structures use electricity and need to be lighted. Humans demand these lights. They want their homes more comfortable and they want their streets safe. The problem is that researchers are finding that all the light is having a negative effect on humans and wildlife as well.
Less than 10 years ago I drove to a thinly populated section of my town, lay down in the middle of the road and watched an attractive meteor shower (流星雨). The area was short of homes, street lights and traffic. If I did that today, I wouldn't be able to see the meteor shower as well. Due to the increase in street lights, I would surely be run over by a car.
Nowadays scientists are finding light pollution can be almost as bad as carbon dioxide pollution. If you've ever taken a flight at night, the view is beautiful, but you must remember that all the light you see wastes electricity. The crew of the space shuttles see an even bigger picture of how extensive the wasted electricity is worldwide.
One of the saddest parts of light pollution is that most of it is unnecessary and most of the outdoor light that we use is wasted. One only needs to look at a row of street lights to see how much of the light shines upwards and lights the sky; a total waste of electricity.
Additionally, somewhere electricity needs to be produced, and the production of electricity creates pollution by releasing greenhouse gases. This affects the air we breathe and our quality of life.
Scientists are also studying the effects of light pollution on wildlife. Thousands of birds die each year when they crash into highly lighted buildings, as they become puzzled by the light. It has been long known that tiny baby sea turtles become lost and follow lights on the shore instead of heading towards the sea.
Fortunately, light pollution is one of the easiest sources of pollution that can be corrected without a negative effect. Following some guidelines and a little searching on Google can give you many ideas on how to reduce your contribution to light pollution.It is implied in Paragraph 3 that the best way to deal with light pollution is ________.
| A．reducing the output of the lights |
| B．avoiding the use of unnecessary lighting |
| C．educating people about light pollution |
| D．inventing environmentally- friendly lights |
Which of the following is the effect of light pollution?
| A．Many animals species have died out. |
| B．More traffic accidents happen every day. |
| C．The air we breathe may be polluted. |
| D．It is much easier for us to watch meteor showers. |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．We are almost at a loss how to deal with light pollution. |
| B．Global warming results in light pollution in some way. |
| C．Astronauts can’t see clearly in space nowadays. |
| D．Some animals use natural light to direct their movements. |
What will probably be provided following the last paragraph?
| A．Helpful tips for surfing the Internet. |
| B．approaches to decreasing light pollution. |
| C．Benefits of searching on Google. |
| D．More bad effects of light pollution. |
Graham and his friends preferred to shoot up in their arms, necks and legs. A dealer once said Graham was the type who would never be able to turn back and that he expected him to die from the drug. Wendy feared the same, but didn’t know how to save her son. “ Once, after he’d disappeared for more than a month, I found him at a friend’s house with a bunch of other users,” she said, “I got down on my hands and knees, begging him to come home. He did, but the next morning he was gone. I don’t know what made him do it, but I drove 20 miles to the nearest train station. Graham was headed for Seattle, his pockets full of drugs. If I hadn’t gotten there in time, I would never have seen him alive again.”
The turning point came in 2007, after Graham was arrested yet again for possession. Wendy got a call from the Montana Drugs Project, which works with local law enforcement（强制执行） to keep track of youth-related crimes so it can help families in trouble. Following a counselor’s advice, Wendy hired two men to come to her home in the middle of the night, tie Graham and take him to a treatment program in Thompson Falls, Montana. “I was high when they came and really angry with my mom,” he said, “But if she hadn’t done that, drugs would have killed me.” After six months of treatment, Graham, now 19, came back to Kalispell, where he’s grown close to Wendy once again. “I still have the desires every day and attend support meetings every night,” he said, “But life is worth living again. My mom thinks that’s a miracle. I guess she is right.”The underlined phrase “shoot up” in paragraph 1 probably means_________.
| A．increase very quickly and suddenly |
| B．put illegal drugs into the body by using a needle |
| C．kill or injure someone by using a gun |
| D．try to achieve a particular aim |
When the two men came to their home in the middle of the night, Graham _______.
| A．had just taken drugs and was in the state of excitement. |
| B．was sleeping in a high bed above the ground. |
| C．had just taken drugs and was in the state of suffering. |
| D．was quarrelling with his mother. |
What conclusion can be drawn from the end of the passage?
| A．Graham is still using drugs now. |
| B．Graham hates his mother very much. |
| C．Graham thinks he can’t be saved. |
| D．Graham has come off drugs now. |
Want to live longer? Win an Oscar.
A new study says that actors who received the award earn more than larger paychecks.
So when 94-year-old Katharine Hepburn once remarked that she was respected internationally “like an old building”, she had no idea that her four Oscars directly influenced her longevity(长寿).
The study says winning actors will live 3.9 years longer than their losing counterparts (对手). Actors who have won more than once, like Hepburn, live up to six years longer than those who were nominated (提名) but never won.
“We found that they died from the same things we all die from—cancer, heart disease, but they fought them a bit longer and diseases came a bit later,” says Dr. Donald Redelmeier, the leading author of the study. Redelmeier says the sense of success and satisfaction makes one’s soul become more full of life.
“We are not saying that you will live longer if you win an Oscar,” explains Redelmeier, “or that people should go out and take acting courses. Our main conclusion is simply that social factors are important.” The study’s implied conclusion, he says, is that doctors should ask about their patients’ personal feelings because mental well-being is related to physical health.
Redelmeier says he got the idea for the study when he watched a glowing Gwyneth Paltrow win an Oscar in 1999 for her role in Shakespeare in Love. Redelmeier says, “She looked more full of life than anyone I had seen.”
“We found, too, those that had multi-nominations and no win had the same life expectancy as those with just a single nomination and no win,” Redelmeier adds. The longevity of Oscar winners mainly has something to do with___________.
| A．the big money that was awarded |
| B．mental factors |
| C．rich and colorful lives |
| D．respect from others and better treatment |
Tom had five Oscar nominations but win no Oscar and Peter had only one nomination and won no Oscar either. We can tell__________.
| A．Tom probably will have a longer life than Peter. |
| B．Peter probably will have a longer life than Tom |
| C．Both Tom and Peter probably will have the same life expectancy |
| D．Both Tom and Peter probably will have a long life. |
According to the passage, we know __________.
| A．When Katharine Hepburn was 94, she knew her long life had something to do with her 4 Oscar prizes |
| B．In general the number of Oscar prizes has nothing to do with a person’s life expectancy. |
| C．That Gwyneth Paltrow’s full of life made Redelmeier decide to do the study. |
| D．If you want to live a happy and long life, you should take acting courses and win Oscars. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Most Oscar Winners Live Longer Lives |
| B．How to Get a Long Life |
| C．A New Study about Long Lives |
| D．An Amazing Finding |
When people ask me what Down Syndrome(唐氏综合症) is, I tell them it’s an extra chromosome(染色体). A doctor would tell you the extra chromosome causes an intellectual disability that makes it harder for me to learn things.
Even though I have Down Syndrome, my life is a lot like yours. I read books and watch TV. I listen to music with my friends. I’m on the swim team and in chorus at school. I think about the future, and I like the one who I’ll marry. And I get along with my sisters---except when they take CDs without asking! I’m a hard worker, a good person, and I care about my friends.
Some of my classes are with typical kids, and some are with kids with learning disabilities. I have an aid who goes with me to my harder classes, like math and biology. She helps me take notes and gives me tips on how I should study for tests. It really helps, but I also challenge myself to do well. For instance, my goal was to be in a typical English class by 12th grade. That’s exactly what happened this year!
It’s true that I don’t learn some things as fast as other people do. But that won’t stop me from trying. I just know that if I work really hard and by myself I can do almost anything.
I can’t change the fact that I have Down Syndrome, but one thing I would change is what people think of me. I’d tell them, “Judge me as a whole person, not just the person you see. Treat me with respect, and accept me for who I am. The most important---just be my friend.”A person with Down Syndrome ____________according to the passage.
| A．can learn things almost as fast as normal people do |
| B．has one more chromosome than normal people |
| C．is hard to get along with |
| D．is easy to get along with |
The writer tries to picture himself as a __________teenager.
| A．normal | B．perfect | C．lovely | D．special |
The writer feels ________about his life.
| A．confused | B．hopeful | C．unhappy | D．curious |
What is the purpose of the passage?
| A．To prove people with Down Syndrome are a lot like healthy ones |
| B．To show the writer’s honesty and optimism |
| C．To change people’s attitude towards people with Down Syndrome |
| D．To describe the life of a student with learning disabilities |
Health & Social Care Teacher
Our client, an 11-18 mixed comprehensive school in Ealing, West London, is currently seeking a teacher for Health & Social Care. The position will be a full-time post until July 2014. We require an energetic teacher to develop the learning potential of students. We are seeking someone with excellent subject knowledge who can combine academic strictness and achievement with enjoyment of teaching Health & Social Care.
Receptionist Administration
Full Time
A receptionist is required from 1st June 2014 at Dartford Science & Technology College. The position is only from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Friday, with an hour’s break for lunch every day. The successful applicant must have a good telephone manner, good interpersonal skills and proficient IT skills.
Cleaner
Part Time, Term Time
We are seeking to appoint a hardworking person to join our cleaning team. Previous experience would be an advantage but it is not essential. 10 hours per week are required during term time and the extra 3 weeks are added in the summer holidays or as directed by the Business Manager to ensure the needs of the school are met.
Closing date: 12th May 2014, 12 noon. Please return the completed application forms to the school.
Science Technician
Term time plus 10 days, 37 hours per week
We are looking for a technician to provide a technical support service for science teaching staff. Applications are to be received no later than midnight on 10thJune 2014.
If you are keen to work, visit our website via the button below.A school in Ealing, West London is looking for _________.
| A．a full-time science teacher |
| B．a teacher with the ability to get along with people |
| C．a technician who can provide a technical support service |
| D．a teacher with excellent knowledge about Health & Social Care |
The receptionist to be employed will work ______________.
| A．10 hours a week | B．34.5 hour a week |
| C．39.5 hours a week | D．37 hours a week |
To work as a cleaner, you must___________.
| A．work full-time |
| B．have previous working experience |
| C．work the whole summer holidays |
| D．hand in the application form before 12 noon on May 12th 2014 |
The text is most likely to appear _________.
| A．in a novel | B．in a magazine |
| C．on the Internet | D．in a newspaper |