His talent and charm have made him the No.1Chinese classical artist in the world. And he played in the grand Beijing Olympic opening ceremony in 2008, watched by a TV audience of 5 billion.
Lang Lang, 26, is the first Chinese pianist to play with the world's top orchestras (管弦乐队），making his first appearance at the Carnegie Hall in New York at 18, while still a student.
Lang's charm and fondness make him a natural fit to represent China's new international image. According to the British newspaper the Times, "The Lang Lang effect" drives 36 million Chinese children to learn the piano.
Now in China, children are learning Chopin and Western orchestras are playing sold-out tours across Chinese cities. But can China ever introduce its own music to the West? Lang is trying. His cooperation（合作） with the London Symphony Orchestra this month includes a performance of Dragon Songs, an album of traditional Chinese classics.
Behind the success , however, is a surprising story of a gifted child. Lang grew up with his father's own musical ambition(抱负) and high expectations. It is not hard to imagine how boring it must be to practice the piano every day. Lang said that he once hated his hands and the piano. He got his right hand hurt six years ago and had to rest. "That was the best month," he says.What is the main reason why Lang Lang is the No.1 Chinese classical artist in the world?
| A．He played in the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony in 2008. |
| B．He usually plays with the world's top orchestras. |
| C．He tries to introduce Chinese music to Western countries. |
| D．He plays the piano so well and has a good international image. |
Lang Lang is trying his best to ______ now.
| A．introduce China's own music to the West |
| B．play sold-out tours across Chinese cities |
| C．encourage children to learn the piano |
| D．prepare for a performance of Dragon songs |
Which of the following about Lang Lang is true?
| A．He didn't like music at all. |
| B．He had a good rest and enjoyed himself because he got his right hand hurt. . |
| C．He has had a great musical ambition since his childhood. |
| D．He first appeared in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. |
From the last paragraph we can learn ______.
| A．Lang didn't like playing the piano at all as a child |
| B．He was happy to practice the piano every day |
| C．His father's wish and expectations played an important role in his childhood |
| D．He hurt his hands six years ago |
Three students are talking about the New Year tradition of their own country.
A．Christina from Spain
On the last day of the year, the 31st of December, people wait till 12 p．m.Everybody must have 12 grapes to eat at midnight.At each sound of the clock, we must eat a grape.But we can't ever finish eating the grapes on time! Usually when people still have some grapes in their mouths, they look at each other and start to laugh.This tradition started in Spain long ago.One year, when there were a lot of grapes, the king of Spain decided to give grapes to everybody to eat on New Year's Eve.
B．Cordon from Britain
On New Year's Day in Britain, people have parties.At 12 o'clock, the music stops, and we listen to the radio.On the radio we hear Big Ben, the famous clock in London.Then everybody sings a song about friendship and kisses their friends.We say “Happy New Year” to each other.It's lucky if a tall man with dark hair is the first person to come to the house in the New Year.So I go and visit as many friends as I can.They all give me a drink.
C．Angela from Brazil
In all cities in Brazil, we have a big party on New Year's Eve, especially in Rio de Janeiro.People in this city go to the beaches to watch fireworks (焰火)．We put flowers in the sea and think about things we want for ourselves or others.We usually wear white clothes for good luck during the New Year.
| A．Have 12 grapes to eat. |
| B．Give flowers to others. |
| C．Have parties. |
| D．Watch fireworks. |
A．People in Spain.
B．People in Britain.
C．People in Brazil
D．Both B and C.
| A．Cordon can't drink much |
| B．people sing a song about good luck |
| C．people hear Big Ben on the radio |
| D．everybody in Britain goes to watch fireworks |
| A．they think that they look beautiful in white |
| B．that reminds them of their happy life |
| C．they hope that can bring them good luck |
| D．that's what they have to do during the New Year |
| A．what people in different countries do on New Year's Day |
| B．when and where people have New Year parties |
| C．what people in Britain do on New Year's Day |
| D．why people around the world like the New Year |
The purpose of students who come to school is to study. But studying needs right ways, or we would waste the time or the money.The followings are ways for studying.The best time for reading is morning.Because in the morning, the air is fresh and our minds are clear.For that reason, we can get good results.When we study we must be patient.If we don't understand a text well, we must read it again.We should not read the next until we have learned the first one well.When we are studying, we must put our hearts into the book.We cannot read absent¬mindedly (心不在焉地), or we could get nothing from the book while we are reading.We must always ask “why”．If we can't understand well, write it down and ask our teachers or parents, brothers or friends, in any possible ways.We must know it completely and then our knowledge can be used well.Though there are many ways for studying, however, the above mentioned (提到的) will be helpful if we can keep them in heart.
| A．we can be more patient |
| B．we can have a good time |
| C．we can relax ourselves |
| D．the air is fresh and our minds are clear |
| A．we must chat with friends on the phone |
| B．we'd better listen to pop music |
| C．we should put our hearts into the book |
| D．we have to eat something |
| A．we should read it again till understand it |
| B．we should copy others' answers |
| C．we don't do it any more |
| D．we should give it up and read the next one |
| A．The purpose of students who come to school is to study. |
| B．When we are studying，we can't be absent¬minded. |
| C．We don't have to ask “why” when we can't understand well. |
| D．We should know knowledge completely and use it well. |
| A．Don't Waste Time |
| B．Right Ways of Studying |
| C．Be Patient |
| D．Learn to Ask “Why” |
Look around and you’ll see people busy on their smartphones. Smartphones do make our lives easier. But have you ever thought about what they mean to your eyes?
According to a study, half of British people own smartphones and they spend an average(平均) of two hours a day using them. There has been a 35% increase in the number of people in the UK who suffer from shortsightedness(近视) since smartphones were introduced there in 1997.
Staring(盯) at smartphones for long time gives you dry eyes. When looking at something in the distance, your eyes automatically blink(自动眨眼) a certain number of times. However, when you look at things closer to your face, the blinking slows down. This reduces the amount of tears and causes discomfort in your eyes. Another bad habit is using smartphones in dark rooms before going to sleep. If you look at a bright screen while your pupils(瞳孔) become larger, too much light enters your eyes. This can do harm to the eyes and cause a disease called glaucoma(青光眼).
While you’re probably not going to stop using to your smartphone, there are a few things you can do to protect your eyes. Hold your phone at least 30 centimetres away from your eyes when using it. Take a break every hour and try the following: look at something at least five meters from you and then focus on the tip of your nose. Repeat this several times. It should reduce the discomfort in your eyes.
The article is mainly about ________.
| A．the harm that smartphones do to users’ eyes |
| B．the rules to obey when using smartphones |
| C．the reason why teenagers get shortsightedness |
| D．advantages and disadvantages of smartphones |
From Paragraph 2, we learn that _______.
| A．half of the British people began to smartphones 17years ago |
| B．each of the British people spends two hours a day on smartphones |
| C．more British people have got shortsightedness since 1997 |
| D．the number of British people who own smartphones increases by 35% |
According to Paragragh 3 , using smartphone improperly may cause ____
| A．too many blinks | B．dry eyes and glaucoma |
| C．smaller pupils | D．more tears in the eyes |
Which is the follow ing is duggested by the writer?
| A．Don't use the phone for over an hour without a break |
| B．Hold the phone at least half an meter away from the eyes |
| C．Turn off your phone for a couple of hours every day |
| D．Look at the tip of your nose for several minutes. |
This article is written to advise people ____
| A．not to buy smartphone |
| B．to stop using smartphone |
| C．to make full use of smartphone |
| D．to use smartphone properly |
I had hidden the long black bag in the garage for the past two days. Tonight, in the dark, I would finally take it away. If everything went OK, it would be done by morning. But I had to be sure no one, not even my wife, saw me.
It was more difficult to get away from the party than I expected. I said that the children were tired and needed to get to bed. It was partly true. But the main reason for leaving was that I wanted to complete my plan.
First I had to get the kids to sleep. That was never easy at any time and tonight it was even more difficult. The eldest one wanted to know why we left the party early. I told him 10:30 pm was not early. As usual, I read them a bed time story, but I had to stop myself reading too quickly or they would learn my secret.
Silence finally came, and feeling like a thief in the night, I went out of the house and into the garage. Taking one end, I dragged(拖拽) the bag out from its hiding place and took it into the garden. I was worried that my neighbours might see me and call the police.
It was already eleven o'clock. By the light of the moon I started working, trying to make as little noise as possible. And that was not easy with a saw (锯子) and a hammer.
After much effort, my work was finally completed. I looked down at my watch. It was exactly 4:00 am. Then I went inside to have a shower and get a few hours of sleep. It wouldn't be long now before the kids would rush into my room and wake me up to tell me about the new tree-house Father Christmas had brought them this year. Why did the man feel nervous?
| A．He left the party too late. |
| B．He was afraid of the darkness. |
| C．He worried that others would discover his secret. |
| D．He didn’t know where the black bag was. |
The underlined word “they” in Paragraph 3 refers to __________.
| A．thieves | B．parents |
| C．children | D．neighbours |
In what order did the man do the following?
a. Read the kids a story.
b. Had a shower.
c. Worked in the moonlight.
d. Dragged the bag from the garage.
e. Went to a party.
| A．e-a-d-c-b | B．e-d-a-b-c |
| C．a-b-e-d-c | D．a-e-d-c-b |
How long did the man spend completing his work?
| A．Three hours. | B．Four hours. |
| C．Five hours. | D．Six hours. |
How would the children feel when they saw the man’s work?
| A．Sleepy. | B．Angry. |
| C．Tired. | D．Excited. |
On the first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. “Hi, girl! My name is Rose, I’m 87 years old.”
“Why are you in college at such a young age?” I asked jokingly.
“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she replied.
Rose became a college symbol this year and she easily made friends with other students.
At the end of the term we invited Rose to speak at our football party. I’ll never forget what she taught us.
“We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only two secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die!” she said.
“There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do anything, you will turn 20 years older. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. But every minute counts for young men,” she added.
She ended her speech by singing The Song of Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics(歌词) and live then out in our daily lives.
At the end of the year, Rose finished the college education she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Rose went to college because she _____________.
| A．wanted to live longer |
| B．loved to stay with the young |
| C．wanted to realize her dream |
| D．planned to enjoy her life there |
From the story we can see that Rose was ___________ during her stay in college.
| A．lively and popular |
| B．brave and hard-working |
| C．honest and energetic |
| D．calm and creative |
Which of the following is included in Rose’s speech?
| A．People won’t grow old if they stop playing. |
| B．Time is especially important for young people. |
| C．The more you laugh, the younger you will be. |
| D．People easily become old if they do more things. |