请认真阅读下列短文,从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
The 65-year-old Steve Goodwin was found suffering from early Alzheimer's (阿尔楚海默症). He was losing his memory.
A software engineer by profession, Steve was a keen lover of the piano, and the only musician in his family. Music was his true passion, though he had never performed outside the family.
Melissa, his daughter, felt it more than worthwhile to save his music, to which she fell asleep catch night when she was young. She thought about hiring a professional pianist to work with her father.
Naomi, Melissa's best friend and a talented pianist, got to know about this and showed willingness to help.
"Why do this?" Steve wondered.
"Because she cares." Melissa said.
Steve nodded, tears in eye.
Naomi drove to the Goodwin home. She told Steve she'd love to hear him play. Steve moved to the piano and sat at the bench, hands trembling as he gently placed his fingers on the keys.
Naomi put a small recorder near the piano, Starts and stops and mistakes. Long pauses, heart sinking. But Steve pressed on, playing for the first time in his life for a stranger.
"It was beautiful." Naomi said after listening to the recording. "The music was worth saving."
Her responsibility, her privilege, would be to rescue it. The music was sill in Steve Goodwin. It was bidden in rooms with doors about to be locked.
Naomi and Steve met every other week and spent hours together. He'd move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she'd take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head. He stood by the piano, eyes closed, listening for the first time to his own work being played by someone else.
Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it. He just couldn't play it.
Working with Naomi did wonders for Steve. It had excited within him the belief he could write one last song. One day, Naomi received an email. Attached was a recording, a recording of loss and love, of the fight. Steve called it "Melancholy Flower".
Naomi heard multiple stops and starts, Steve struggling, searching while his wife Joni called him "honey" and encouraged him. The task was so hard, and Steve, angry and upset, said he was quitting. Joni praised him, telling her husband this could be his signature piece.
Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve's favorite, and most personal songs. With Naomi's help, the Goodwin family found a sound engineer to record Naomi playing Steve's songs. Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn't.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert, Naomi told the director she had a special one in mind: "Melancholy Flower"
She told the director about her project with Steve. The director agreed to add it to the playing list. But Naomi would have to ask Steve's permission. He considered it an honor.
After the concert, Naomi told the family that Steve's music was beautiful and professional. It needed to be shared in public.
The family rented a former church in downtown Portland and scheduled a concert. By the day of the show, more than 300 people had said they would attend.
By then, Steve was having a hard time remembering the names of some of his friends. He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.
Steve arrived and sat in the front row, surrounded by his family. The house lights faded. Naomi took the stage. Her fingers. His heart.
(1)Why did Melissa want to save her father's music?
A. |
His music could stop his disease from worsening. |
B. |
She wanted to please her dying old father. |
C. |
His music deserved to be preserved in the family. |
D. |
She wanted to make her father a professional. |
(2)After hearing Steve's playing, Naomi ________.
A. |
refused to make a comment on it |
B. |
was deeply impressed by his music |
C. |
decided to free Steve from suffering |
D. |
regretted offering help to her friend |
(3)How can the process of Steve's recording be described?
A. |
It was slow but productive. |
B. |
It was beneficial to his health. |
C. |
It was tiresome for Naomi. |
D. |
It was vital for Naomi's career. |
(4)Before Steve finished "Melancholy Flower," his wife Joni ________.
A. |
thought the music talent of Steve was exhausted |
B. |
didn't expect the damage the disease brought about |
C. |
didn't fully realize the value of her husband's music |
D. |
brought her husband's music career to perfection |
(5)How did Steve feel at the concert held in downtown Portland?
A. |
He felt concerned about his illness. |
B. |
He sensed a responsibility for music. |
C. |
He regained his faith in music. |
D. |
He got into a state of quiet. |
(6)What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A. |
The Kindness of Friends |
B. |
The Power of Music |
C. |
The Making of a Musician |
D. |
The Value of Determination |
第三部分:阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The storage of classified (分类的) research at all 24 labs run by the US Department of Energy was shut down this week after officials decided that the security (安全) problems recently found at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico might also exist elsewhere.
Several computer disks went missing at Los Alamos earlier this month, forcing Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to stop all work at the lab until the problems are found out. As of 26 July, two missing disks had still not been found, and 15 employees had been suspended in connection with the disappearance.
Now all energy labs will stop doing classified research that involves(需要) removable storage devices --- such as computer disks --- until all the devices are given explanation for and new procedures are in place for monitoring their handling by laboratory employees.
"While we have no evidence that the problems being investigated are present elsewhere, we have a responsibility to take all necessary action to prevent such problems,"Abraham said on 23 July.
The shut-down isn't quite as dramatic(惊人的)as it sounds, experts say. Only two labs will be seriously affected: Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Together with Los Alamos, these two labs conduct the most part of the country's nuclearweapon programmes. At Livermore, 876 employees will be suspended during the storage of some 12,000 items of classified removable
material.
At other labs, far fewer people will be affected. "The impact (影响) should be the smallest,"says Martha Krebs, former director of the energy department's science office.
56. Why was the storage of classified research at all 24 labs shut down?
A. Because the security problems might be present elsewhere.
B. Because the security problems existed elsewhere.
C. Because two missing computer disks had still not be found.
D. Because officials decided to stop doing such research.
57. How many labs conduct the country's nuclear weapon programmes according to the text?
A. About 24. B. Only 2. C. More than 2. D. Over 15.
58. The underlined word "suspended"in the second paragraph probably means "______”.
A. hung from above B. stopped from holding a position C. doubted D. fired
59. It can be inferred from the text that _____.
A. the computer disks must have been stolen by terrorists
B. the people living in the United States have little security
C. the United States is a country whose security is very bad
D. the missing of the computer disks caused great fear among Americans
It was a dark and cold night. The car driver didn’t have even one passenger all day. When he went by the railway station, he saw a young man coming out with two bags in his hands. So he quickly opened the door of the car and asked, “Where do you want to go, sir?”
“To the Star Hotel,” the young man answered. When the car driver heard that, he didn’t feel happy. The young man would give him only three dollars because the hotel was not far from the railway station. But suddenly, he had an idea. He took the passenger through many streets of the big city.
After a long time, the car finally arrived at the hotel. “You should pay me fifteen dollars,” the car driver said to the young man. “What! Fifteen dollars? Do you think I’m a fool? Only last week I took a car from the railway station to this same hotel and I only gave the driver thirteen dollars. I know how much I have to pay for the trip. I won’t pay you one dollar more than I paid to the other car driver last week. ”
73. Which of the following is true?____________
A. The young man went past the railway station.
B. The young man was working in the railway station
C. The young man had just got off a train.
D. The young man was waiting for his friend there.
74. The driver felt very _________ when he saw the young man coming out of the railway station.
A. sad B. sorry C. happy D. worried
75. The driver took the passenger through many streets so as to_________.
A. make the young man happy
B. let the young man think it was very far from the station to the hotel.
C. Let the young man have a good look at the city.
D. Get more than twenty dollars.
For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He flunked physics in high school, getting a grade of zero. Sparky also flunked Latin, algebra and English. He didn't do much better in sports. Although he did manage to make the school's golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the season. There was a consolation(安慰) match; he lost that, too.
Throughout his youth Sparky was awkward socially. He was not actually disliked by the other students; no one cared that much. He was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside of school hours. There's no way to tell how he might have done at dating. Sparky never once asked a girl to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being turned down.
Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates...everyone knew it. So he rolled with it. Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out, they would. Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity(平凡).
However, one thing was important to Sparky - drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the editors of the Yearbook. Although the cartoons were turned down., Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become an artist.
After completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork, and the subject for a cartoon was suggested. Sparky spent a great deal of time o it. Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He had been rejected once again. Anther loss for the loser.
So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography(自传) in cartoons. He described his childhood - a little boy loser and chronic underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky, the boy who had such a lack of success in school and whose work was rejected again and again, was Charles Schultz. He created the Peanuts comic strip(连环漫画) and the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who never succeeded in kicking a football--Charlie Brown.
68.From the first paragraph we can see that Sparky was in high school.
A.a failure B.an artist C.a good player D.a top student
69.Sparky never asked a classmate to go out with him because he was afraid of .
A.making mistakes B.making friends
C.being refused D.being invited
70.In his senior year, Sparky felt confident that he had ability to .
A.play golf B.draw cartoons C.learn English D.write novels
71.His only success mentioned in this passage is .
A.his golf match in high school B.his artwork sent to the Yearbook
C.his subjects in the senior year D.his autobiography in cartoons
72.From the passage we can infer that Sparky is a person.
A.weak B.proud C.disabled D.determined
If you are a parent, grandparent, guardian, or anyone involved in bringing up a child, choosing the right school can be a hard decision. Your choice of school must be made carefully in order to provide the best education for your child.
If you are living overseas and are interested in a school over here, then please visit our International Zone. Similarly, if you are looking for an independent school abroad, you will also find useful information in our International Zone.
There are many things to consider. Boarding (寄宿) school or day school? Senior, junior, or both? Single-sex or coeducational? Your child may have specific religious needs, a particular talent or a special educational need. How much does an independent education cost? Is help available if I can' t afford the fees? How do I apply for a place?
The ISC information & advice service is a free information service, established by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) to give advice on reliable independent schools in the UK and Ireland. A national information team working for the ISC information & advice service deals with thousands of enquiries (询问). In addition to our easy-to-use online School Search, we offer help, replies to enquiries, and a wealth of information about choosing and applying to an independent school.
You can get the ISC information & advice service in the following ways;
● Call 0845 SCHOOLS (7246657), our national helpline, which is continually manned from 9 am to 5 pm, five days a week.
●Send an email to information@ isc. co. uk
Email enquiries are replied to within one working day.
64. You can most probably find the above information __
A. on the Intemet B. in the textbook C. from a novel D. in a guide book 65.The ISC information & advice service mainly gives information on __
A. language study B. boarding schools
C. British and Irish independent schools D. British culture
66. Someone abroad can get quicker replies at 4:30 pm on Friday by __
A. emailing to information@ isc. co. uk
B. calling 0845 SCHOOLS (7246657)
C. going to the website of ISC information & advice service
D. visiting the website of International Zone
67. An independent school can admit the following as students EXCEPT
A. grown-ups B. only girls C. both boys and girls D. only boys
"Wanted by the FBI." To the murderer, or the bank robber, these are the most frightening words in the world. When the criminal hears them, he knows that six thousand trained persons are after him.
Why should he be so afraid? There are thousands of cities and villages where he can hide, and forests and deserts ,as well. Besides, he's usually rich with stolen money.
Money can make it easier to hide. With money, the criminal can even pay a doctor to operate on his face and make him hard to recognize. But the criminals know that as public enemies, they can be found by the FBI no matter where they hide.
They know every trick the criminal knows and many more. If he makes just one mistake, they' Il get him. That' s why the man who is wanted can' t sleep. That' s why he becomes nervous, an d why he jumps at every- sound.
The FBI began on May 10th, 1924. General Harlan Stone chose Edgar Hoover, a young lawyer, to head the new agency (机构). "What we need is a wholly new kind of police force," he said. "Criminals today are smart. They use stolen cars and even planes to make their gateways. They have learned to open any lock, using advanced technology. We can' t beat them with old methods. We have to train officers to work scientifically."
Edgar Hoover quietly went ahead with his plans. He picked his men carefully. They had to be between the ages of 25 and 35. He wanted only men with good manners and good character. When working as his officers, they would have to meet all kinds of people. Hoover wanted men who could handle a teacup as well as a gun. But the FBI cannot help in every police problem. It can look into only certain crimes against the government. Solving all other crimes is the duty of local police forces.
60. The FBI makes it almost impossible for a wanted man to ____.
A. be operated on his face B. hide in forests or deserts
C. escape being caught D. break the law
61. Edgar Hoover was a ____ before he worked with the FBI.
A. policeman B. doctor C. lawyer D. officer
62. The FBI was set up in order to ____.
A. help solve every police problem B. stop crimes against the government
C. reduce the work by local police forces D. fight crimes scientifically
63. The underlined phrase "handle a teacup" probably means ___.
A. have good manners B. serve tea to customers
C. play tricks with teacupsD. hold teacups firmly