We know many musical instruments well, such as pianos, violins, drums and so on. What about the erhu? The erhu is a traditional Chinese instrument. It is the most popular of the huqin family, and it has a long history.
The modern erhu developed from the xiqin, which was played by many ethnic minorities (少数民族) during the Tang Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, musicians began to use the erhu to perform different kinds of music, and it became quite a popular instrument. With the rise of some forms of folk art, the art of the erhu developed quickly during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It became an important accompanying (伴奏) instrument in different folk music. At present, it is used in both traditional and modern music, such as in pop, rock and jazz. It has even become a solo (独奏) instrument. One of the most famous musical pieces played on the erhu is ErquanYingyue.
As the erhu was mainly played by common people and the playing skills were passed down orally (口头地), there are few written records about the erhu that can be found. To study the history and the development of the erhu, historians (历史学者) usually turn to ancient paintings. The earliest pictures of this instrument were found in Yulin Caves and Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves in Gansu Province, where five erhu pictures were discovered on murals (壁画).
（1）When did the erhu become a popular instrument?
| A． |
In the Tang Dynasty. |
B． |
In the Song Dynasty. |
| C． |
In the Ming Dynasty. |
D． |
In recent years. |
（2）To study the history of the erhu, historians usually ________.
| A． |
play the most famous erhu pieces |
B． |
listen to different kinds of folk music |
| C． |
get help from ancient paintings |
D． |
read some books about ethnic minorities |
（3）Which is TRUE according to the passage?
| A． |
The huqin belongs to the erhu family. |
| B． |
Folk art stops the development of the erhu. |
| C． |
People can find plenty of written records about the erhu. |
| D． |
The erhu is used in both traditional and modern music now. |
（4）You may read the passage in the ________ section of a newspaper.
| A． |
culture |
B． |
business |
C． |
health |
D． |
nature |
（5）The passage mainly talks about ________.
| A． |
the forms of folk music |
B． |
the history of the erhu |
| C． |
the rise of different dynasties |
D． |
the development of Chinese instruments |
In 1816, there were no schools for the deaf in America. Several people started a few schools, but in the end all of the schools closed. There were too many problems. The first people to succeed were Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. They opened their school in 1817, and the school did not close. At that time it was the only school for deaf children in America!
Clerc and Gallaudet did not know what would happen after they opened their school. They worked very hard. The school grew, and many more students went to this school. These new students were from all over the country. People thought the school would be big enough for all of the deaf children in America. The school is still open today, but the name was changed. Today it is called the American School for the Deaf. It is in West Hartford, Connecticut.
After Clerc and Gallaudet established their school, many other schools for the deaf were opened as well. Before Gallaudet’s death in 1851, 15 other schools for deaf children were built! Many of the teachers at those 15 schools used Gallaudet’s teaching methods. Many had even studied with Gallaudet and were deaf themselves!Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet were the first people who .
| A．wanted to build a school for the deaf in the USA |
| B．succeeded in making the deaf speak as ordinary people |
| C．succeeded in opening their school for the deaf in America |
| D．succeeded in opening their school for the deaf all over the world |
The underlined word “establish” in the passage means in Chinese.
| A．出版 | B．发明 |
| C．建立 | D．离开 |
Which of the following is TRUE about Clerc and Gallaudet’s school?
A. Its students were from all over the USA.
B. Its students were from all over the world.
C. All deaf children in America were their students.
D. Its students were only from Connecticut, the USAWhat is the school known as now?
| A．The passage doesn’t tell us. |
| B．The American School for the Deaf. |
| C．The Connecticut School for the Deaf. |
| D．The West Hartford School for the Deaf. |
The Save the Children Fund is known as Save the Children. It is an internationally organization that protects children’s rights and helps support children in developing countries. It was set up in the United Kingdom in 1919 in order to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic chances, it also provides food and water for the children in natural disasters, war, and other serious situations.
Except for the UK organization, there are 30 other national Save the Children organizations who are members of Save the Children International, a global network of charity organizations supporting local partners in over 120 countries around the world.
Save the Children helps the local government change so that it can help young people get more rights, it works very well, especially with the support from the UN. Save the Children joins all the members’ efforts to protect children from the effects of war. Which charity is Save the Children like?
| A．Oxfam | B．ORBIS |
| C．UNICEF | D．Spring Bud Project |
Which of the following is NOT the aim of Save the Children.
| A．To protect children’s rights. |
| B．To help children’s parents get more jobs. |
| C．To support children in developing countries. |
| D．To improve the lives of children in poor countries. |
How many Save the Children organizations all over the world?
| A．30 | B．31 |
| C．120 | D．121 |
A teacher stood in front of his history class of twenty students just before handing out(分发) the final exam. His students sat quietly and waited for him to speak. “It’s been a pleasure teaching you this term,” he said. “You’ve all worked very hard, so I have a pleasant surprise for you. Everyone who chooses not to take the final exam will get a “B” for the course.” Most of the students jumped out of their seats. They thanked the teacher happily, and walked out of the classroom. Only a few students stayed. The teacher looked at them. “This is your last chance,” he said. “Does anyone else want to leave?” All the students there stayed in their seats and took out their pencils. The teacher smiled. “Congratulations (祝贺),” he said. “I’m glad to see you believe in yourselves. You all get ‘A’s.” This story most probably took place .
| A．at the end of the term |
| B．in the middle of the term |
| C．at the beginning of the term |
| D．at the beginning of the school year |
Why did some students stay in their seats?
| A．Because they were afraid to leave. |
| B．Because they wanted to take the exam. |
| C．Because they didn’t have anything to do. |
| D．Because the teacher told them to stay in their class. |
The teacher gave the students who stayed in the classroom “A”s because .
| A．they studied hard |
| B．the teacher liked them |
| C．they believed in themselves |
| D．they were cleverer than the other students |
If cars had wings, they could fly and that just might happen, beginning in 2011.The company Terrafugia, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, says it plans to make such a car-plane called “Transition”, to customers(顾客) by the end of 2012. “It’s the next ‘wow’ vehicle,”said Terrafugia vice president Richard Gersh. “Anybody can buy a Ferrari, but as we say, Ferraris don’t fly.”
The car-plane has wings that unfold for flying—a process the company says takes one minute-and fold back up for driving. A runway is still needed to take off and land.
The Transition is being marketed more as a plane that drives than a car that flies, although it is both. The company has been working with FAA to meet aircraft regulations, and with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to meet vehicle safety regulations.
The company is aiming to sell the Transition to private pilots as an easier and cheaper way to fly.They say it saves you the trouble from trying to find another mode of transportation to get to and from airports: You drive the car to the airport and then you’re good to go.When you land, you fold up the wings and hit the road. There are no expensive parking fees because you don’t have to store it at an airport—you leave it in the car park at home.
The car-plane is designed to fly under 10,000 feet. It has a maximum take-off weight of 1,430 pounds, including fuel and passengers.
The Transition’s price tag: $194,000, But there may be something else you need to pay, like a radio, transponder or GPS and so on.
So far, the company has more than 70 orders. “We’re working very closely with them, but there are still some remaining steps,” Brown said.
| A．car-planes will be popular in 2012 |
| B．people might drive a car-plane in 2012 |
| C．both Transition and Ferrari can take off and land |
| D．Richard Gersh is the vice president of Massachusetts |
| A．The car-plane needs a runway to take off and land. |
| B．A car-plane with radio and GPS will cost $194,000 |
| C．The car-plane may fly at 8,000 feet |
| D．People can park the car-plane in the car park at their home. |
| A．start | B．spread |
| C．cover | D．travel |
| A．Cars With Wings May come true soon |
| B．A Ferrari or a Car Plane |
| C．A Easier and Cheaper Way to Fly |
| D．Cars With Wings Can Fly as Fast as Planes |
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived there, I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice(临终医院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter(计价器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a special building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
In the early morning, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I pay you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I gave her a hug(拥抱). She held on me and said, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
| A．show she was familiar with the city |
| B．see some places for the last time |
| C．let the driver earn more money |
| D．reach the destination on time |
| A．wanted to give her a hand |
| B．shut off the meter by mistake |
| C．had received her payment already |
| D．was in a hurry to take other passengers |
| A．No pains, no gains. |
| B．People should respect(尊重) each other. |
| C．An act of kindness can bring people great joy. |
| D．People should learn to enjoy our life. |