题目内容
I often write about the bad state of television these days, but recently my mom told me about a story she saw on 60 Minutes that was inspiring, educational, and entertaining for the whole family. I went to the show’s website to see for myself. My mom was right. At a time when even Barbara Walters says she’s really bored with celebrities interviews, this one will not disappoint.
It’s the story of Derek Paravicini, a 30-year-old who was born three months early, physically disabled (he can’t button his own shirt), blind, and severely autistic(自闭的).
Yet, through total luck and coincidence, his family discovered that Derek had a remarkable musical talent when he was three.
Derek can hear any musical composition one time and play it perfectly on the piano.
That’s right. He only has to hear it once.
Even more unbelievable, his brain, like a computer, can keep many songs that he can immediately repeat when asked. But his talent isn’t limited to just learning things by heart. Derek is a true musical genius and artist who plays beautifully in a wide range of styles and can make his own music.
With his talent, Derek has raised millions of dollars putting on charity concerts. He also donates his time to senior centers where he acts as a human jukebox (自动唱机) machine, taking requests from senior citizens who haven’t heard their favorite songs for decades.
As it turns out, Derek loves people and his extraordinary talent has been the key to unlocking his personality and social development.
If you want to inspire your family, pop some popcorn and sit everyone down to watch this excellent piece of journalism. If your kids are like mine, it will cause a great family discussion about the definition of “disability” and the extraordinary ability of the human brain and spirit. It may even give you the perfect answer the next time your child says he or she “can’t” do something. Now that’s priceless.
Who says there’s nothing good on TV?
1. From the first paragraph, we know that 60 minutes is a TV program on .
A. interviewing celebrities
B. interviewing the disabled
C. the latest news round the world
D. stating the positive influence of TV
2. How does Derek help the elderly?
A. By buying them a jukebox machine.
B. By building senior centers for them.
C. By singing the old songs they ask for.
D. By playing the piano to raise money for them.
3. In the opinion of the author, Derek can .
A. attract the whole family to watch TV together
B. cause family members to help the disabled
C. help kids understand the ability of their brains
D. encourage kids to accept challenges in life
4.The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to .
A. prove that there is something good on TV
B. introduce a disabled but gifted musician
C. call on people to show more love to the disabled
D. express personal admiration for Derek Paravicini
ACDA
【解析】略
用方框中所给短语的适当形式填空(每个短语只能用一次,其中有两个短语
多余的)(共10小题,每小题1分,满分10分)
to some extent draw upon be identical to knock out knock over on behalf of break down lose interest in all at once go through be dying to be allergic to |
1. This is the hottest handbag design and every woman __________ get one.
2. ____________, the architecture of Kyoto(京都) is a mirror of the fascinating culture of ancient China.
3. Some bacteria are capable of _________ the human waste into natural gas and different
chemicals.
4. Older people are better at solving problems, because they have more life experience
___________than younger people do.
5. My cap _________ John's, so I often take his by mistake.
6. Storms ___________ power, but haven’t cooled off southern Asia.
7. So many thoughts of the past were now crowded into her mind___________.
8. I could see his discouragement and feared he ___________learning.
9. We spent several days ____________ all the related reference materials.
10. I'm writing _____________ my mother to express her thanks for your gift.
请认真阅读下面短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。
注意:每空一词。
Most people who travel from China to the US find that,despite having studied English for years,they have to “re—learn” it upon arriving.
Words that we learned in English classes are not pronounced the same way here.To truly be part of the “melting pot”,fluency(流利)in English is not enough.You need an accent to stand out.
When I first came to the US for graduate school,1 was a nervous foreigner.I felt so out of place that I wanted to hide everything about me that was “different”.To talk like an American became one of my goals.
During my first term as a teaching assistant(TA),my students complained(抱怨) they could not understand me.I learned later from a study that this complaint was common among US students with an international TA.It is called the “Oh, no!” syndrome (情绪、举动):“Oh,no! Not another international TA,and not that accent again!’’
So I imitated(模仿)the way native speakers talk and,over time,I made such good progress that American friends started to praise my English as having “almost no accent’’.I took this as a sign of my success.Ever since.people have often mistaken me for someone from many places:the Midwest,the West Coast,China,Japan,South Korea.Most frequently,people think I am from California.
Suddenly,conformity (一致) was no longer a praise:If I talk like an American,am I still Chinese? If I lose my Chinese accent,do I also lose my cultural identity? Am I denying(否认)my past by being absorbed into(沉浸于)a new culture?
Now I realize that a person’s accent is a permanent(永久的)record of their past cultural experience and it is a mark of one’s experience and exposure to different cultures.
As a fourth-year student in the US,I am no longer a nervous foreigner.My nervousness has been replaced by a desire to hold on to my cultural origins.Now I consciously(有意识地)add some Chinese “accent” when I speak.I do not wish to speak “perfect” English because I am proud of who I am.
My Feeling of Speaking English in America |
|
Time |
Supporting details |
At the (71) ______ |
I have to relearn English (72) ______ arriving there, for my pronunciations of words are (73) ______ from native speakers. |
My students complained that I couldn’t make myself (74)______. |
|
During my stay |
I made great (75) ______ in spoken English by imitating the (76) ______ native speakers talk. |
People often (77) ______ me for someone from the Midwest,the West Coast,China, California and so on. |
|
Now |
I think it necessary to keep my (78) ______ origins. |
I often add some Chinese “accent” consciously when (79) ______ English because I am (80) ______ of being a Chinese. |