A few years ago, pop poets such as Murray Lachlan Young began to set poetry to rock music with some surprising results. People thought that poetry was the new rock ‘n’ roll. However, despite the brief popularity of a few pop poets, poetry and pop music didn’t seem to mix. But are they really so different?
If you look back at the origins of poetry, there is a strong connection between poems and popular music. In Greek mythology, for example, the muse (女神) Erato is pictured with a lyre (里拉琴) in her hand, and looks just like the ancestor of the modern rock star with his electric guitar. In addition, the poets Shelley and Byron were as famous in the nineteenth century as the pop stars of today.
But despite their common origins, there are many differences between poetry and pop music. Pop songs are always written for a public performance, whereas poetry often isn’t. And the lyrics in pop songs sometimes have less rhythm than those in poetry. This is because the music provides the rhythm rather than the words. Pop lyrics are also simpler and often keep on saying the same thing. This repetition works well in a performance and means that pop songs are easier for people to sing and learn by heart.
Both songs and poems tell a story or talk about feelings. Songs in particular deal with the different stages in a relationship, such as falling in love or breaking up. The words and ideas in songs are usually easier to understand than those in “serious” poetry. However, talented performers like Paul McCartney, or newer stars like Robbe Williams, often give simple songs more expression when they perform them. And some of the best lines from pop lyrics are as beautiful as poetry.
So although pop music and poetry have many differences, they do have one important thing in common: the power to make us think about how we feel.What did Murray Lachlan Young do a few years ago?
A.He had poems and rock music combined. |
B.He surprised people with his beautiful style of writing. |
C.He wrote beautiful music for some famous poems. |
D.He invented a new kind of poem for his fans. |
According to the article, the difference between poetry and pop songs is that _______.
A.there is more rhythm in pop songs than poetry |
B.pop songs are more difficult to understand than poetry |
C.some words in pop songs are repeated over and over again |
D.pop songs are not always performed before audience |
According to Paragraph 4, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Songs and poems are equally beautiful. |
B.The main theme of songs is about relationship. |
C.Songs tell stories but poems tell about feelings. |
D.Songs and poems express a similar message. |
What does the writer say about talented performers today?
A.They look at poetry to find ideas for their songs. |
B.They think their songs are more serious than poetry. |
C.They give songs more meaning when they sing them. |
D.They consider themselves to be more popular than poets. |
237 West Palmdale Boulevard
Fresno, California 93706
AmToy Corporation
Suite 15
TransAm Building
San Francisco, California 94115
November 20,2010
Dear Sirs,
As a concerned parent, I am writing to protest your recent advertisement for Electro-Robo seen in local media in California. Specifically, I am referring to newspaper and magazine ads (attached to this letter) published the week of November 15.
Children respond to your type of advertising in an immature way; that is, they are unable to understand how expensive some toys are for middle class parents. Further, your product is violent in nature. Your advertisement gives children the impression that it’s fine to have “two guns and laser eyes.” You also suggest that children need your toy to protect them “when you go outside.” This is not a healthy attitude for children to have.
I hope you will stop advertising your product in such a way that may harm our children.
Sincerely yours,
(Mrs.) Alma Hernandez
President, Parents for Non violent Toys
Enclosed Advertisement:
It’s Here! Ready for You, Now! It’s Electro Robo! Every boy dreams of being in control of a robot, and AmToy can make your dream come true! Electro-Robo is the world’s first fully automatic robot with radio control. Standing 80 centimeters tall, Electro-Robo is like a friend at home. He can walk, talk, and even shake your hand! He has two guns and laser eyes to help you defend yourself when you go outside with him. Every boy needs Electro-Robo! Ask your Mom and Dad to buy Electro-Robo for your birthday or for Christmas, which is coming up soon. Imagine that you are in control of your friend for life, Electro- Robo! Available at all toy stores and department stores NOW! |
What is the purpose of the letter?
A.To complain about a broken toy. | B.To order a gift for Christmas. |
C.To oppose the advertising. | D.To apply for a job in a toy company. |
Why does the writer of the letter feel that Electro-Robo is violent?
A.It bears arms. | B.It is expensive to buy. |
C.It is 80 centimeters tall. | D.It is controlled by radio waves. |
Electro-Robo can do all the following EXCEPT________.
A.shaking hands | B.sitting down | C.talking | D.walking |
I was waiting for a phone call from my agent. He had left a message the night before, telling me that my show was to be canceled. I called him several times, but each time his secretary told me that he was in a meeting and that he would call me later. So I waited and waited, but there was still no call. Three hours passing by, I became more and more impatient. I was certain that my agent didn’t care about my work, and he didn’t care about me. I was overcome with that thought. I started to shout at the phone,“ Let me wait, will you? Who do you think you are?”
At that time I didn’t realize my wife was looking on. Without showing her surprise, she rushed in, seized the phone, tore off the wires, and shouted at the phone, “Yeah! Who do you think you are? Bad telephone! Bad telephone!” And she swept it into the wastebasket.
I stood watching her, speechless. What on earth?
She stepped to the doorway and shouted at the rest of the house, “Now hear this! All objects in this room — if you do anything to upset my husband, out you go!”
Then she turned to me, kissed me, and said calmly, “Honey, you just have to learn how to take control. ” With that, she left the room.
After watching a crazy woman rushing in and out, shouting at everything in sight, I noticed that something in my mood had changed. I was laughing. How could I have trouble with that phone? Her antics helped me realize I had been driven crazy by small things. Twenty minutes later my agent did call. I was able to listen to him and talk to him calmly. Why did the author shout at the telephone?
A.He was mad at the telephone. | B.He was angry with his agent. |
C.He was anxious about his wife. | D.He was impatient with the secretary. |
What did the author’s wife do after she heard his shouting?
A.She threw the phone away. | B.She shouted at him. |
C.She called the agent. | D.She said nothing. |
What made the author laugh?
A.His changeable feelings. | B.His wife’s suggestion. |
C.His own behavior. | D.His wife’s sweet kiss. |
What does the underlined word “antics” refer to?
A.Smart words. | B.Anxious feelings. |
C.Surprising looks. | D.Unusual actions. |
After moving to the United States , immigrant groups trying to fit in tend to choose high calorie fatty foods in an attempt to appear more American , a new study finds . That’s one reason why immigrants approach US levels of obesity within 15 years of moving to America.
The researchers also did an experiment that measured whether or not the threat of appearing un-American influenced respondents’ food choices . After being questioned about their ability to speak English , 75 percent of Asian-Americans identified a typical American food as their favorite. Only 25 percent of Asian-Americans who had not been asked if they spoke English did the same.
When their American identiy was called into question during a follow-up study, Asian-American participants also tended to choose typical American dishes , such as hamburgers and cheese sand wiches In that experiment , 55 Asian-Americans were asked to choose a meal from a local Asian or American restaurant . Some participants were told that only Americans could participate in the study. Those who chose the more typical American fare ended up consuming an extra 182 calories , including 12grams of fat and 7 grams of saturated fat(饱和脂肪).
“People who feel like they need to prove they belong to a culture will change their habits in an attempt to fit in , ”said Sauna Cheryan ,an anthor of the study and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Washington.” If immigrants and their children choose unhealthy American foods over healthier traditional foods across their lives , this process of fitting in could lead to poorer health .Cheryan added.
Social pressures , the study concluded , are at the heart of the problem. “In American society today , being American is associated with being white . Americans , who don’t fit this image even if they were born here and speak English , feel that pressure to prove that they’re American,” said Cheryan.The author wants to show that.
A.more and more Asians enjoy high-calorie snacks |
B.immigrants tend to eat American junk food to fit in |
C.most Americans are at the risk of heart disease |
D.all the American people have a bad eating habit |
According to the survey,.
A.Asian-Americans care less about their health |
B.25 percent of Americans like junk food |
C.choosing food is related to Asian-American’s situation |
D.immigrants are forced to eat junk food |
The underlined word “fare” in Paragraph 4 most probably means “”.
A.food offered as a meal | B.a person taking a taxi |
C.money spent on food | D.an arranged thing to do |
According to Sauna Cheryan,.
A.what immigrants have done is ridiculous |
B.American traditional foods are healthier |
C.immigrants risk their health in order to fit in |
D.American culture affects immigrants deeply |
Which of the following should take the blame for the bad eating habit?
A.The situation of employment. | B.The traditional culture. |
C.The American government. | D.The pressures from society. |
Efforts to reduce the damage from the huge oil spill(漏油)in the Gulf of Mexico are under way . How can you help ?A number of organizations are recruiting(招聘)volunteers.
The Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected . Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteers in the affected areas , call 1-866-448-5816.
The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife , and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana. You can text the word “NWF” to 20222. That’ss donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation through your phone bill.
United Way has launched the Gulf Recovery Fund . which is providing emergency assistance and long-term recovery support for the communities affected by this oil spill . Those who need help or want to volunteer can dial 2-1-1.You can donate to this fund by going to liveunited . org/gulfrecovery.or text the word “United” to 50555 to donate $10 from your mobile phone.
The First Response Team of America is working with the National Guard in Southern Louisiana to build dams to hold back the oil from the fragile coastal habitats . Their founder , Tad Agoglia —who was named a CNN Hero in 2008—has made their work on the oil . spill their top Priority(首位)until the disaster is contained.They are looking for volunteers . Call 941-388-3010.
AmenCares is providing medical care and supplies to oilspill victims along the Gulf , and is funding and assisting mental health assessments and counseling needs for the immediate and long-term health and mental health issues affecting children as a result of this disaster . Mental health experts are in great demand . The Children’s Health Fund can be reached at 1-800-535-7418.If you see an oiled bird in the Gulf of Mexico . you are supposed to .
A.catch it | B.raise it at home |
C.call 1-866-557-1401 | D.shoot at it |
.If you text the word . “NWF”to 20222 with your cellphone , you will.
A.donate$10 to the Nationas Wildlife Federation |
B.get a free gift |
C.donate$10 to United Way |
D.have a chance of winning a trip to France |
Which of the following organizations are providing medical care?
A.United Way and AmenCares. |
B.The Deep Water Horizon and The National Wildlife Federation. |
C.The National Wildlife Federation and The Children’s Health Fund. |
D.AmeriCares and The Children’s Health Fund. |
We can infer that Tad Agoglia.
A.is a person with the social responsibility |
B.is an engineer on dam –building |
C.is the founder of AmeriCares |
D.should be responsible for the oil spill |
If you are good at treating mental health problems and willing to volunteer ,you can dial the telephone number.
A.1-800-486-4357 | B.1-800-535-744 |
C.1-866-448-5816 | D.941-388-3010 |
At 20 year of age F.W. Woolworth found work in exchange for room and board at a local dry goods store , and after his employers held a successful clearance sale he saw the possibilities of a discount store. His key improvements were having the goods on open display instead of behind the counter , and having prices plainly marked instead of bargaining.
With borrowed funds he opened his first F.W. Woolworth store in the suburb of Utica, New York in 1879, but the store closed the following year . Deciding that his problem had been a poor location. He opened a new store in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylyania in 1881. Within months he was opening multiple stores in business partnerships with local retailers,and within a few years Woolworth was a millionaire. In 1909 he opened his first store in England, and in 1913 the company opened its new headquarters in New York’s Woolworth Building—then the tallest building in the world.
Woolworth had a deep fear of dentists , allowing his teeth to rot ,and died of a dental(牙齿)lunch counters in many stores , Woolworth was America’s largest restaurant chain through the 1940s. The company peaked as the world’s largest department store chain in the late 1970s, with more than 4 . 000 stores. By the late 1990s business was sputtering (喷溅), and the company closed all of its American department stores,renamed itself Venator, and sold the Woolworth Building . In 2003 Venator renamed itself after the company’s most successful division, Foot Locker, Inc . Under separate ownership , Woolworth stores are still operated in Austria , Germany , Mexico, South Africa , and the United Kingdom.The first F. W. Woolworth store failed mainly because.
A.it was located too far away from the city center |
B.it was a new brand for customers |
C.its goods are much too expensive |
D.it was inconvenient for customers to choose goods |
A clearance sale offers customers a good chance.
A.to make a purchase on cash |
B.to buy something in a very low price |
C.to bargain with the sellers |
D.to pick up what you like for free |
Which is the right order of events that happened in this passage?
a.Woolworth became a millionaire
b.first F. W. Woolworth store opened
c.F.W. Woolworth found work at a local dry goods store
d.The company peaked as the world’s largest department store chain
e.Woolworth died of a dental infection
A.d-b-c-e-a | B.a-c-b-d-e | C.c-b-a-e-d | D.a-d-e-c-b |
We know from this passage that.
A.Woolworth built the tallest building in the world in 1913. |
B.the number of Woolworth reached its peak before the death of F.W. Woolworth |
C.offering free lunch is one of the characters of Woolworth store store chain |
D.Woolworth had no chain stores in America for about 20 years |
.F.W.Woolworth’s success mainly owes to .
A.his hard working and diligent efforts |
B.his gifted talent in selling |
C.his new market concept and sales model |
D.his rich experience in the dry goods store |