George Gershwin,born in 1898,was one of America’s greatest composers.He published his first song when he was eighteen years olD. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.
Many of Gershwin’s songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City.These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s.Many of his songs have remained popular as ever.Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way—from jazz to country.
In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz musiC. Could jazz,some people asked,be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious musiC. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it.And in that short time,he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue.Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert.The audience were thrilled when they heard his musiC. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.
In 1928,Gershwin went to Paris.He applied to study composition(作曲)with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger,but she rejected him.She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style.While there,Gershwin wrote An American in Paris.When it was first performed,critics(评论家)were divided over the musiC. Some called it happy and full of life,to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States.It still remains one of his most famous works.
George Gershwin died in 1937,just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer.He was only thirty-nine years olD. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages.People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.
Many of Gershwin’s musical works were .
A.written about New Yorkers |
B.composed for Paul Whiteman |
C.played mainly in the countryside |
D.performed in various ways |
What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?
A.He created one of his best works. |
B.He studied with Nadia Boulanger. |
C.He argued with French critics. |
D.He changed his music style. |
What do we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Many of Gershwin’s works were lost.
B. The death of Gershwin was widely reporteD.
C. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.
D. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin’s death.
Which of the following best describes Gershwin?
A.Talented and productive. |
B.Serious and boring. |
C.Popular and unhappy. |
D.Friendly and honest. |
四、阅读理解(本题有18小题,共25分)
第一节:阅读下列短文并做每篇后面的题目。从A,B,C,D四个选项中,选出能回答所提问题或完成所给句子的最佳答案。(本节有14小题,每小题1.5分,共21分)
Early rising is helpful in more than one way. First, it helps us to have good health. We all need fresh air. It makes our health better to take morning exercises. The air is never so fresh as early in the morning. Early rising helps us in our studies. In the morning we learn more quickly and find it easy to learn something by heart.
Early rising makes people able to plan the work for the day. We can’t work well without a good plan. Just as the plan for the year should be made in the spring, the plan for a day should be made in the morning. Early rising gives us enough time to get ready for our work, such as to wash our hands and eat our breakfast. So the popular saying says, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
51. What does “early rising” mean in the passage?
A. waking up B. getting up C. have breakfast D. making a day’s plan
52. Why does the passage advise us to take exercises early in the morning?
A. Because we can save much time. B. Because we are not busy in the morning.
C. Because air in the morning is very fresh. D. Because we don’t need to prepare for breakfast.
53. We can work well with _____.
A. enough time B. a good reading C. clean hands D. a good plan
After years of hearing drivers complain about scratches (划痕) on their cars, Japan’s Nissan Motor Company has officially announced the next big thing-a paint that not only resists scratches and scrapes, but actually repairs itself within a few days.
The new material, developed by Nippon Paint Company, contains an elastic rubbery-like resin (弹性树脂) that is able to heal minor (较小的) marks caused by car wash equipment, parking lot encounters, road debris (石头碎片) or even on-purpose destruction.
The automaker admits its results vary depending on the temperature and the depth of the damage, but adds this is the only paint like it in the world, and tests prove it works.
Minor scratches, the most common type, are said to slowly fade over about a week. And once they’re gone, there is no trace (痕迹) that they were ever there.
The special paint is said to last for at least three years after it is first applied, but there is no word yet on whether more can be added after that period.
Nissan claims car washes are the worst offenders for this type of damage, accounting for at least 80 percent of all incidents.
But the complete auto-healing won’t come without scratching your wallet. The vehicle maker notes the special paint adds about $100 US to the price of a car.
It plans to use its new chemical mixture only on its X-Trail SUVs in Japan for now, as it looks for a more widespread presentation. And while plans to offer the feature overseas haven’t been made yet, if it’s a hit there, you can be almost sure market forces will drive it to these shores, as well.
73.From the article, we can find that _________.
A. the paint has already been used on cars by now
B. it beats other products of its kind in its lengthy effect
C. car damage is mainly caused by scratches and scrapes
D. marketing this paint in Europe is not under way
74.The paint used on cars can _________.
A .last 3 years before it is re-applied again
B .fade only in a few days
C. help to protect cars from minor paint damage
D. reduce car scrape incidents to 20 percent
75.What does the underlined part refer to?
A. certain models of Nissan B. name for one kind of paint
C. somewhere in Japan D. a word standing for a car-dealer store
Thousands of people came to Pennsylvania from other states. They just wanted to buy lottery tickets (彩票). The tickets cost only $ 0.9 each. But that small spending could bring them a reward of $ 90 million .That was the second largest lottery jackpot (积累奖金) in history .
More than 87 million tickets were bought for the Pennsylvania lottery drawing. Those who bought tickets had to choose seven numbers from 1 to 80.The chance of winning was one in 9.6 million, but that little chance certainly didn’t affect ticket sales. In the last few days before the drawing , tickets were selling at the unbelievable rate of 500 per second .
Experts say many people buy lottery tickets because they just want to have a piece of the action . Others say the lottery is a stock market for poor people. It allows them to dream about wealth they’ll probably never have.
But many people believe lotteries are no better than legalized (合法化的) gambling . Some critics note that most people who play are poor and may not be able to afford the tickets. There are also many addicts who take the game seriously. They may pour their life savings into lottery tickets. Some clubs have been formed to help them kick the habit.
Politicians like lotteries because they provide money that would otherwise have to come from new taxes. The profits from lotteries are usually used to pay for education or programs for senior citizens. But critics say this arrangement just allows states to legalize vice (恶习), under the name of social progress . No matter whether you regard state lotteries right or not, you cannot refuse to accept their extreme popularity with many Americans.
65.They main idea of the passage is that __________.
A.lotteries are of great benefit to everyone who buys them
B.playing a lottery is just like investing in the stock market
C.lotteries are nothing but legalized vice
D.many people buy lottery tickets , but lotteries cause disagreement
66.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Politicians like lotteries because they don’t have to pay extra taxes.
B.The popularity of lotteries in America actually is social progress.
C.Some critics don’t like lotteries because many poor people waste money on them.
D.People love the lottery because it is a stock market.
67.In just one hour in the last few days, the Pennsylvania lottery sold tickets totaling_______.
A.$ 1.62 million B.$ 1.82 million C.$ 9.6 million D.$ 87 million
68.People who are addicted to playing lotteries should __________.
A.join a support group B.kick the habit
C.win the lottery D.save every cent
The porter brings your bags to your room and helpfully explains all you want to know.Then he points to the phone and says:“If there’s anything else you need, just can.”All this time you have been thinking of one thing:“How much should I tip(付小费)him?”To make your next trip a little easier, here’s guide to tipping across some Asian countries.
Bangkok
In general, the more westernized the place is, the more likely you will be expected to leave a tip.Some top-end restaurants will add a 10% service charge to the bill.If not, waiters will appreciate your tacking on(附加)the 10% yourself.However, if you’re eating at a lower-end restaurant, a tip is not necessary.If you’re staying at one of Bangkok’s many five-star hotels, expect to tip the porter 20 to 50 baht(泰国货币单位),depending on how many bags you have.Taxis are now metered in Bangkok.Local custom is to round up(凑整数)the fare to the nearest five baht.
Hong Kong
Tipping is customary in this money-mad metropolis(大都市).Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, but the extra money often ends up in the pocket of the owner. If the service is good, add another 10% to the bill, up to HKMYMl00 in an especially nice restaurant.For HK MYM10 hotel porters should do it at all but the nicest hotels where a new HKMYM20 bill may be more acceptable.When in a taxi, round up to the nearest dollar.
Kuala Lumpur
Tipping in Malaysia is limited to the expensive westernized hotels, which often add a 10% service charge to your meal or hotel room.If you are at a hotel restaurant, expect a 10% service charge.
But at local restaurants, there’s no need to add a tip. At five-star hotels, one or two ringgit(马来西亚货币单位)will satisfy a porter. At lower-end buildings don’t feel you have to tip Like Bangkok, many taxis are now metered so you can just round up to the nearest ringgit.
Seoul
Tipping is not part of Korean culture, although it has become a matter of course in international hotels where a 10% service charge is often added.If you’re at a Korean barbecue joint(烧烤处),there’s no need to add anything extra.But a nice Italian restaurant may require a 10% contribution.
If you’re at a top-end hotel, so expect to pay 500~l,000 won per bag.Taxi drivers don’t accept a tip.Keep the change for yourself.
( )57.Which of the following is NOT the unit of money?.
A.Charge B.Baht C.Won D.Ringgit
( )58.In which of the following cities is it unnecessary to tip the taxi-drivers?
A.Bangkok B.Hongkong C.Kuala Lumpur D.Seoul
( )59.If you stay at a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, how much will you pay the porter at least?
A.10% of service charge B.Two ringgit C.Half a ringgit D.One ringgit
( )60.The writer seems.
A.to tell the readers how to travel
B.to give the readers some advice on how to tip
C.to ask the readers to go on a travel to Asian cities
D.to make the trip more pleasant
Heading out for some exercise? You’ll take your shoes, socks, and a towel.You might take a music headset.But you’ll also need a bottle of water.Here is why.When you exercise, you sweat. Sweating is your body’s way of cooling down.The more you sweat, the more water your body loses.However, exercise also reduces thirst If you’re not thirsty, you may not drink enough water.You could lose too much water and become dehydrated(脱水).A water loss of 10 percent can make you sick.A loss of 20 percent can kill you. So you need to be careful.
Here’s how to keep your body hydrated.About two hours before you exercise, drink one 500millilitre(1/2litre)bottle of water.Then drink another half bottle right before you begin.Drink water every 20 minutes as you exercise.You’ll need water long before you’re thirsty.
You need water even when you’re not exercising.You should drink about five bottles of water each day.Why so much? Your body cells are mostly water.So is your blood. Water helps your body to digest(消化)food and remove wastes.But your body loses water as you breathe, sweat, and urinate(排尿).It loses about 2.5 liters (2,500 milliliters)of water each day.
You must replace the water your body loses.You can get water from many sources.Drinking water is the best source.Food and other fluids are good too, All food has some water in it.Fruit and vegetables are high in water Milk, juices, and other drinks also contain water.So take your pick.And remember to drink more water when you exercise.A happy body is a hydrated body.
( )53.The passage suggests that each day you should drink .
A.about 2,500 milliliters of waterB.about 500 milliliters of water
C.as much water as you can D.only when you get thirsty
( )54.What are some ways to replace water your body has lost?
A.Taking baths and eating eggs.
B.Drinking juice and eating vegetables
C.Digesting food and removing wastes.
D.Eating many kinds of food and exercising.
( )55.After reading the whole passage, we learn it is mainly about.
A.the results of research on dehydration
B.water being important when we exercise
C.the importance of having enough water
D.how much water our bodies lose ever day
( )56.The author explains how to keep your body hydrated during exercise by presenting .
A.some related numbers B.the reasons why we need water
C.a series of steps you can follow D.the results of experiments