Everyone knows the story of Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment.He was a man of many gifts and interests.His natural curiosity(好奇心)about things made him try to find ways to make them work better.Although he made important discoveries, Ben didn't“invent”electricity.He did, however, invent the lightning rod(避雷针)which protected buildings and ships from lightning damage.
In America, most people warmed their homes by building a fire in a fireplace even though it was kind of dangerous and used a lot of wood.Ben said that he had another better way.His invented an iron stove which allowed people to warm their home less dangerously and with less wood.The stove that he invented is called a Franklin stove.Ben also set up the first fire company and the first fire insurance company in order to help people live more safely.
As the postmaster, Ben had to find out the best way for delivering(发送)the mail.He went out riding in his carriage(马车)to measure(测量)the routes and needed a way to record the miles.He invented a simple odometer for it.
In his old age, Ben retired from business and public service and wanted to spend his time reading and studying.He found, however, that his old age had made it difficult for him to reach books from the high shelves.Even though he had many grandchildren to help him, he invented a tool called a long arm to reach the high books.The long arm was a long wooden pole with a grasping claw at the end.
Later, other famous inventors, like Thomas A.Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, would follow in Ben's footsteps by trying to find ways to help people live better.Today's curious thinkers are keeping Ben's traditions alive by inventing new and improved ways to make things work.
(1)
We can learn from the passage that Benjamin Franklin ________.
[ ]
A.
made his first invention using a kite
B.
made his living by delivering the mail
C.
set up some companies to help people to live better
D.
made a stove which used other fuels instead of wood
(2)
The underlined word“odometer”in Paragraph 3 refers to something that ________.
[ ]
A.
contains the mail
B.
tells the direction
C.
makes the carriage go fast
D.
records total miles covered
(3)
Benjamin Franklin invented a long arm in order to ________.
[ ]
A.
replace his disabled arm
B.
play games with his grandchildren
C.
get books from the bookshelf more easily
D.
clean and tidy his house and the bookshelf
(4)
The last paragraph mainly wants to tell us that ________.
The China National Opera(CNO)will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 7, 8
Location:Tianqiao Theatre
Tel:6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets:60-500 yuan(US $7.2-60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works.
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”.
Time/date:7∶30pm, September 13
Location:Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel:6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets:30-200 yuan(US$3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 21st
Location:Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel:6606-8888, 6606-9999
(1)
If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial _________.
[ ]
A.
6551-4787
B.
6848-5462
C.
8315-6170
D.
6606-9999
(2)
Which statement is right according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists.
B.
“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon.
C.
“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music.
D.
Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
(3)
“Madame Butterfly” is ________.
[ ]
A.
a Chinese opera
B.
a Western opera
C.
a piece of music
D.
a song
(4)
In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?