Most schools offer different kinds of subjects and activities for students, but some schools offer additional training in certain areas, such as the performing and arts. In this way, schools can help students develop their artistic talents from an early age and have greater success in their future profession.
THE ROYAL BALLET（芭蕾舞）SCHOOL
For ballet dancers, one of the best training centres in the world is the Royal Ballet School, in London, England. The school only accepts the most talented dancers, who must complete eight years of full-time training. There are 225 students, aged 11—19, and most of them live together in boarding houses.
THE IDYLLWILD ARTS ACADEMY
Located in the mountains about 100 miles from Los Angeles, the Idyllwild Arts Academy is a boarding school for young artists. It offers training in arts, like drawing, painting, photography and cinema, along with programmes for the performing arts. The school’s quiet, rural location also makes it a very peaceful and beautiful place to learn.
THE NATIONAL CIRCUS（杂技）SCHOOL
If you’d like to join the circus, you should come to the National Circus School in Montreal, Canada. The school has offered training in theatre, dance and other circus arts. After finishing the programme, many students find work in circus companies such as the Cirque du Soleil. That’s the dream of every circus artist!
THE ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY（AAU）
Located in San Francisco, AAU（Academy of Art University）provides high school students with the Pre-College Art Experience（PCAE）a tuition-free art and design education programme. It’s a great opportunity to jump—start your art in San Francisco or online in advance. Students there will be trained strictly and only 60 percent students could graduate.
(1). Which of the following requires eight years of full-time training?
| A． |
The Royal Ballet School. |
B． |
The Idyllwild Arts Academy. |
| C． |
The National Circus School. |
D． |
The Academy of Art University. |
(2). What is special about the Academy of Art University?
| A． |
It offers training in arts. |
B． |
It is a boarding school. |
C． |
|
| D． |
It only accepts the most talented dancers. |
E． |
It provides high school students with PCA |
F． |
(3). What do the listed schools have in common?
| A． |
They are located in peaceful places. |
| B． |
They help students develop their artistic talents. |
| C． |
Few students could graduate from these schools. |
| D． |
They provide good work chances for all their students. |
Americans love cars．They go everywhere in them．8 5％of people in the US go to and from work by car. And most adults have driving licenses．Why does this car culture exist?
How it started
America’s love of cars started after the war(战争)when soldiers returned home from World War II to rebuild their lives．They borrowed money from the government to buy houses and cars which became the symbols of status(地位)．The more money they had，the bigger their cars were．
Making of roads
During the war，President Eisenhower noticed what good roads Germany had．He decided to build new four-lane(四车道)roads in America．He said if something happened suddenly，the two-lane roads wouldn’t be able to carry all the cars that would suddenly leave the cities．Car and oil companies liked his idea and building started．
Car lover
Not just teenagers are crazy about cars．Some Americans love their cars so much that they paint their cars beautifully .These are called Art Cars．Every April there is an activity in Houston，Texas，where they show their cars．
Pollution
Cars have polluted the environment．American President Bush refused a worldwide law that is against pollution．Many countries were angry about it．Bush said he had to think of the American economy(经济)and all the American people that make money from cars．Factories say they want to make cars that pollute less．But others say making cars that pollute less will never be as good as having fewer cars．When did Americans begin to love cars?
| A．Before the new two-lane roads were built． |
| B．After World War II． |
| C．During World War II． |
| D．Before World War II． |
New four-1ane roads were build _______.
| A．in Germany | B．by car and oil companies |
| C．in America | D．when something suddenly happened |
The underlined word “building” here means “the building of _______”．
| A．companies | B．soldiers’ lives | C．houses | D．roads |
What were other countries’ feelings about Bush’s decision?
| A．They agreed with him． | B．They showed anger to it． |
| C．They paid no attention to it. | D．The passage doesn’t tell us. |
What does the last sentence mean?
| A．It’s better to have fewer cars． |
| B．It’s better to make cars that pollute less． |
| C．It’s easier to make cars that pollute less． |
| D．It’s easier to make people have fewer cars． |
Steven Jobs, the designer of Apple Computer, was not clever when he was in school. At that time, he was not a good student and he always made troubles with his schoolmates. When he went into college, he didn’t change a lot. Then he dropped out（退学）. But he was full of new ideas.
After he left college, Steven Jobs worked as a video game designer. He worked there for only several months and then he went to India. He hoped that the trip would give him some new ideas and give him a change in his life.
Steven Jobs lived on a farm in California for a year after he returned from India.
In 1975, he began to make a new type of computer. He designed the Apple Computer with his friend in his garage. He chose the name “Apple” just because it could help him to remember a happy summer he once spent in an apple tree garden.
His Apple Computer was so successful that Steven Jobs soon became famous all over the world.
He often said, “I live in order to change the world, there aren’t any other reasons. The only way to have a great achievement is to love your own career. If you can’t find your favorite career ,go on looking for it and never give up.”
This is Steven Jobs, though he is dead, his spirit and achievements still influence our lives.Steven Jobs was not a good student in school because he ________.
| A．never did his lessons |
| B．dropped out |
| C．always made troubles with his schoolmates |
| D．he was full of new ideas |
Why did Steven Jobs go to India?
| A．Because he wanted to be a video game designer. |
| B．Because he wanted to get some new ideas. |
| C．Because he wanted to make a new type of computer. |
| D．Because he wanted to have a happy summer. |
Steven Jobs was famous for his ________ all over the world.
| A．new ideas | B．Apple Computer | C．video games | D．saying |
From this passage we know Steven Jobs ________.
| A．didn’t finish his studies in the college because he hated his schoolmates |
| B．liked traveling in India and California |
| C．liked trying new things and making his new ideas come true |
| D．thought he had many reasons to live in the world |
Which of the following sentences is NOT true according to this passage?
| A．The only way to have a great achievement is to love your career. |
| B．The name “Apple” helped Jobs to remember a happy summer in an apple tree garden. |
| C．If you can’t find the career you love, give it up and try another one. |
| D．People remember Jobs because of his achievements. |
| Zhang Lili, a young teacher from Heilongjiang, has been given the honor “the most beautiful teacher”. She risked her life to save 2 students from a high-speed bus in May.2012. She was badly injured in the accident. Her good deed(事迹) and brave acts have won great admiration from across the country. Many people have sent best wishes to her and donated a lot of money for her treatment(治疗). |
| Zhu Zhiwen was born in Shandong in 1969. A year ago, he was an unknown farmer. But now he is very famous because of his great voice. He won the first prize in the program of “I’m a Big Star”. That day, he won an old green overcoat, so people called him “Overcoat Brother”. He studied singing by listening to the radio. And he keeps practicing singing every morning for nearly 30 years. |
| Lin Shuhao is known to people because of his high skill of playing basketball. Since February 4, 2011, he has led his team to win many games. Now he is so popular on the Internet that the videos about him are being crazy spread. |
Zhang Lili has been given the honor “the most beautiful teacher” because__________.
| A．she was badly injured |
| B．she risked her life to save two students |
| C．she has a lot of money |
| D．She was good at teaching. |
What’s the meaning of the word “admiration” in the passage?
| A．敬佩 | B．同情 | C．讨厌 | D．感激 |
Where is Zhu Zhiwen from?
| A．Heilongjiang | B．California | C．Shandong | D．Da Lian |
Lin Shuhao is _______.
| A．an America teacher | B．a farmer singer | C．a basketball player | D．a runner |
From the passage we can know _______.
| A．people have donated a lot of money for two students’ treatment |
| B．Zhu Zhiwen studied singing by professional training |
| C．Lin Shuhao was born in China |
| D．Lin Shuhao is known to people because he is good at playing basketball. |
| Mike’s plan for next week |
Mary’s plan for next week |
|
| Monday |
Study group meeting 3:00 p.m. |
Go to the cinema with Alice 7:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday |
Basketball match 4:30 p.m. |
See a doctor 11:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday |
Go to see some friends 2:00 p.m. |
Study for an exam ---evening |
| Thursday |
Art class 7:30-8:30 p.m. |
Concert 8:30 p.m. |
| Friday |
volunteer (志愿者) work at student center 2:00-4:00 p.m. |
Help Uncle Smith in the restaurant ---afternoon |
| Saturday |
Shopping 10:00 a.m. |
Art class 7:00-8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday |
Basketball team party 8:00 p.m. |
Supper with Ann 7:30 p.m. |
Mary is going to the cinema at seven on ________________.
| A．Monday evening | B．Wednesday evening |
| C．Friday evening | D．Sunday evening |
On Wednesday afternoon Mike is going to ___________
| A．enjoy the concert | B．see some friends |
| C．see a doctor | D．have an art class |
Mary is going to ______________ on Wednesday evening.
| A．have supper with Ann | B．have a basketball party |
| C．study for an exam | D．watch a basketball match |
Mike’s basketball team party starts at __________on Sunday
| A．8:00a.m. | B． 8:00 p.m. | C． 8:30 a.m. | D．9:00 p.m. |
From Mike’s and Mary’s plans we know that they both like ________.
| A．shopping | B． concerts | C． art | D．music |
There are 365 days in a year. We sleep 8 hours a day, so we have 122 days for sleeping. Then our work time has 243 days left. But there are 52 weekends in a year. Each weekend is two days. We lose another 104 days a year for work. It takes us about one hour to have breakfast and supper. This comes to 15 days over a year. But we can’t work all that time-we need a holiday. Let’s say we have three weeks’ holiday. We don’t work all day. Four free hours each evening takes up 61 days. We have to remember that we get 2 days’ holiday at Easter, 3 at Christmas and 1 at the New Year. There are also 4 Bank holidays. Take those 10 days away and we have 32 days for work. But then we have one and a half hours’ lunch every day, and half an hour’s coffee break. That comes to 30 days a year. This means that we have only a few days left for work every year!How many days do we sleep in a year? ___days.
| A．365 | B．122 | C．8 | D．52 |
We spend 15 days on __________.
| A．rest | B．coffee break | C．lunch | D．breakfast and supper |
Which of the following is true? __________
| A．Each weekend is one day. | B．We have 61 days for free time. |
| C．We get 3 days’ holiday at Easter | D．Coffee break takes us one hour. |
According to the passage, we know that we don’t have ______ time to work every year.
| A．much too | B．so many | C．too much | D．too many |
The writer means __________.
| A．we should know the numbers | B．a few days for work is enough |
| C．we need more holidays | D．time is important and we’d better not waste(浪费) it |