阅读下列材料,从每题所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。
The Four Seasons, written by the Italian musician Antonio Vivaldi, was first played about 300 years ago. Since then, it has enjoyed worldwide popularity.
The great musical work includes four parts: “Spring”, “Summer”, “Autumn” and ‘‘Winter”. Each part brings to mind the season it is meant to describe. “Summer”, for example, begins slowly. Listeners can easily picture a hot, lazy summer day when nobody wants to move. When you listen to “Autumn”, a harvest(收获)celebration will readily come to mind.
But now, Hache Costa, a music director in Spain, has decided to give the old work a fresh feel. He says the climate(气候)today is very different from what it was in the 1700s. The Four Seasons would be “a lot dirtier” if it were written now.
Costa has “updated” the musical work to make it match the realities of the modern world. The ‘“updated” musical work has been played in Madrid, Spain. The performance takes place in front of a screen. As the musicians play, a video shows the effects(影响)of climate change, such as forest fires and unusually dry weather.
After enjoying it, people find the new “Summer” now sounds noisier and more powerful. Because of global warming(全球变暖), the other three seasons have become shorter. Costa says he expects people to feel “really sad” after listening to the new Four Seasons.
“I really want more people to become truly aware of(意识到)what is happening to our planet,” says Costa. “And I believe Vivaldi would not be angry with my changes.”
(1)What do we know about The Four Seasons?
A. |
It is still unpopular now. |
B. |
It was written by Hache Costa. |
C. |
It was first played about 300 years ago. |
(2)What will come to mind when we listen to the old “Autumn” according to the passage?
A. |
Forest fires and dry weather. |
B. |
A harvest celebration. |
C. |
A hot lazy day. |
(3)Which is close to the underlined word “updated” in meaning in Paragraph 4?
A. |
提上日程 |
B. |
追根溯源 |
C. |
赋予新意 |
(4)Why did Hache Costa give the old work a fresh feel?
A. |
To call on more people to love music. |
B. |
To raise public awareness of climate change. |
C. |
To present the story of Antonio Vivaldi’s colorful life. |
Afternoon Tea
The warm weather outside may look perfect for outdoor exercise. But for those who are not that sporty, what could be nicer than having a relaxing afternoon tea with a few good friends and taking a break from studying?
The concept (概念) of "afternoon tea" first appeared in the UK in the mid﹣19th century. It was introduced in England by Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. The evening meal in her household was normally served fashionably late at 8 p.m., but she felt hungry at 4 p.m. every day, so she started asking for a tea tray with butter, bread and cakes at that time. Several days later, she found her new habit difficult to break and soon invited her friends to join her. This pause (间歇) for tea quickly became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s,upper class and society women would even change into long dress, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea.
Traditional afternoon tea is a small meal which is normally served from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. once a day. It uses a three﹣tiered serving tray. The trays carry a variety of foods, such as finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones served with cream and fruit jam, cakes and pastries. Of course, tea or coffee, served with milk and sugar, is also provided.
Traditional afternoon tea is a dainty (讲究的) meal. Therefore, the order of enjoying the food is from the bottom to the top and from salty to sweet. Sandwiches are eaten first, followed by scones, then the sweet snacks like cakes and pastries. When drinking the tea, they taste slowly rather than "glugging" it down. It's also a social activity. As you can see the scene in the TV play "Downton Abbey", ladies wear pretty clothing, men are dressed neatly and the waiters are well trained and polite.
Nowadays, you can enjoy a traditional fancy afternoon tea in many restaurants and hotels. It is also enjoyed to celebrate a special event such as a birthday, a pre﹣ wedding or baby shower party with a group of friends. So far, afternoon tea activities have become far beyond friends getting together and eating. It has been a part of the traditional culture as well as a fashion for British.
(1)Who introduced "afternoon tea" in England?
(2)What did the upper class ladies wear during the 1880s?
(3)When is traditional afternoon tea served?
(4)What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?
(5)Why is afternoon tea popular for British all the time?
School homework and use of electronic devices(电子仪器)are main causes, a report says. More than 60% of children and teens do not get adequatesleep, which can put their health at risk, according to a report that came out on Sunday by the Chinese Sleep Research Society. The report was from a survey at the end of last year and in January. It covered nearly 70,000 children and teens aged 6 to 17 across the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
The report found that the heavy school homework load(负荷)and the popularization of electronic devices were the two top causes for the inadequate sleep. From Monday to Thursday, 8. 4% of the group would still be busy with their homework after 11 p. m. More than 41% of children and teenagers who sleep too little use electronic devices, and children whose parents use smartphones in front of them are more probably to have less sleep. Other reasons, such as noise and light pollution, made the problem happen, the report said. The survey also showed that good sleep results in higher efficiency(效率)in study.
Gao Xuemei,vice﹣president of the society, said studies have shown that decreasing(减少)sleeping time for children and teenagers has been a global trend(全球趋势)in the past 10 years,but the problem appears to be worse in East Asia, including China, largely because of a heavier load of school homework.
"Lack(缺失)of sleep among children and teenagers is worth paying high attention to,because it can seriously affect their health and growth," she said. "Such a group should sleep at least eight hours a day," she added. "Sleep develops growth, protects the brain and improves the immune system(免疫系统)," she said. "Long﹣term lack of sleep will bring risks of diseases(疾病)and conditions such as dementia(痴呆)and cause lasting health harm."
(1)The word "adequate" in Paragraph 1 probably means " ".
A. |
enough |
B. |
much |
C. |
necessary |
D. |
helpful |
(2)The two top causes for the inadequate sleep are .
A. |
noise and the heavy school homework |
B. |
light pollution and the heavy school homework |
C. |
the heavy school homework and electronic devices |
D. |
Delectronic devices and noise |
(3)From the passage we can learn .
A. |
the more children sleep,the higher their grades are |
B. |
parents influence their children less if they use smartphones |
C. |
noise and light pollution play an important role in the sleeping problem |
D. |
children in East Asia may lack more sleep than those in other parts of the world |
(4)Sleep helps us a lot EXCEPT .
A. |
developing growth |
B. |
protecting the brain |
C. |
improving the immune system |
D. |
bringing risks of diseases |
(5)The writer wants by the passage.
A. |
to find out the reasons for children's inadequate sleep |
B. |
to stop children and teenagers using electronic devices |
C. |
us to pay high attention to lack of sleep among children and teenagers |
D. |
us to cut down children and teenagers′ heavy school homework |
Grand Opening of The Book Nook
Saturday, June 8:10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
You will not want to miss this celebration for the opening of a new neighborhood bookstore! Built at 2289 Main Street, The Book Nook is close to schools and many homes and businesses. Come and check out The Book Nook on Saturday!
Festivities will include:
● Free food and drinks
●Live music by local musicians
●One Book-of-the-Month Club membership giveaway
Wide Choice
The Book Nook has three floors filled with books of all kinds. If we do not have the book you are looking for, we can specially order it for you. You will have it in your hands in two days!
Book Events
The Book Nook will hold monthly book signings by different writers, giving you a chance to meet and speak with well-known writers. Do not miss the unforgettable experience of hearing famous writers read their own books aloud! We also have summer reading programs for children of all ages. These programs are a great way to meet other children and share ideas about your favorite books.
The Book-of-the-Month Club
As a member of our Book-of-the-Month Club, you can choose one new book each month. The membership fee(会员费)is $120. That is a great price for 12 books a year!
So please join us on Saturday and learn about all that The Book Nook offers. You can come anytime between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.- the celebration lasts all day long!
1.The Book Nook is not far from .
A. |
schools and many homes |
B. |
many homes and businesses |
C. |
schools, businesses and few homes |
D. |
schools, many homes and businesses |
2.At the opening,The Book Nook will .
A. |
offer free food and drinks |
B. |
give away free books |
C. |
invite children to play music |
D. |
provide free special orders |
3.At the monthly book signings,you can .
A. |
read books aloud to famous writers |
B. |
meet and speak with famous writers |
C. |
hear famous writers read your favorite books |
D. |
talk about your favorite books with famous writers |
4.The Book Nook also has summer reading programs for .
A. |
doctors |
B. |
police |
C. |
children |
D. |
managers |
5.The price of the Book-of-the-Month Club membership is .
A. |
$12 a year |
B. |
$120 a year |
C. |
$12 a month |
D. |
$ 120 a month |
Once upon a time, there was a king. He only had one leg and one eye,but he was very smart and kind. Everyone lived a happy and healthy life because of the king. One day, the king was walking through the palace hallway and saw the paintings of his ancestors(祖先).He thought that one day his children would also walk in the same hallway and remember all the ancestors through these paintings.He wanted his children to remember him,too.So he invited many famous artists
to his palace.
All of the artists began to think about the king's physical disabilities(生理缺陷). How could his painting be made very beautiful?It was not possible.They weren't sure what his painting would be like.So one by one, they all started to politely refuse to make a painting of the king.
But suddenly one artist raised his hand and said he would make a very nice painting of the king. The king became happy hearing that. Then the artist started painting. After a long time, the painting was ready.
When the artist showed the painting, everyone was shocked. In the painting, the king was sitting on a horse, on the one﹣leg side, holding his bow (弓箭) and aiming (瞄准) something with his one eye closed. The king was very happy and gave him lots of money.
As we all know, no one is perfect. So we should try to focus on (关注) others' advantages instead of their disadvantages. Just take an optimistic view (乐观的观点) of the event. Everyone can do a good job.
(1)What did the king see in the palace hallway?
(2)Why did the king invite artists to draw a painting of him?
(3)Was it an easy job or a hard job to draw a painting of the king.
(4)How did the king like the painting?
(5)What can we learn from the artist?
Do you think laughter can help you deal with pain? Scientists from Britain did two experiments(实验). The first was done in a lab. People wore special wristbands(腕带). Some of them were asked to watch comedies while others watched serious programs. Then the scientists tightened(勒紧)the wristbands to see how much pain the people could feel.
The other test was done at an art festival. Some people watched a comedy show and others watched a drama(戏剧). At the same time, they had to put their backs against the wall and keep their legs bent(弯曲的)just like sitting on a chair. They did this before and after the show.
Scientists found that just 15 minutes of laughter improves people's ability to stand pain by 10%.However, the serious programs and the drama didn't make a difference to pain at all.
The study found that the magic power of laughter comes from endorphins(内啡肽). These are chemicals(化学物质). They are produced by the human body. They make you feel less pain and can make people feel happier. Exercise can produce endorphins.Your muscles(肌肉)move in and out when you are laughing.Scientists believe that this makes your muscles tiring,so we start to produce endorphins.
Scientists also found that the only real and relaxing laughter works not just polite laughter.
Next time you have a headache,get together with a group of Mends,watch a funny movie and laugh.You will soon feel a lot better because laughter is the best medicine.
(1)Scientists knew how much pain the people felt by in the first experiment.
A. |
eating delicious dishes |
B. |
putting backs against walls |
C. |
tightening special wristbands |
D. |
sitting on comfortable seats. |
(2)The other test was finished .
A. |
on a chair |
B. |
in a lab |
C. |
on Sports Day |
D. |
at an art festival |
(3)Endorphins can help human body .
A. |
keep better build |
B. |
feel less pain |
C. |
get more muscles |
D. |
produce worse results |
(4)According to the passage, we can infer that .
A. |
running can produce endorphins |
B. |
watching TV programs can stand pain |
C. |
different kinds of laughter earl treat illness |
D. |
muscles can improve people's ability to laugh. |
(5)We can probably find this passage in a .
A. |
guide book |
B. |
movie poster |
C. |
travel diary |
D. |
medical magazine |