Tens of thousands of theatre tickets will be given away to young people next year as part of a government campaign to inspire a lifelong love for theatre.

The plan to offer free seats to people aged between 18 to 26―funded with £2.5 million of taxpayers’ money―was announced yesterday by Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary. It received a cautious welcome from some in the arts world, who expressed concern that the tickets may not reach the most underprivileged.

The plan comes as West End theatres are enjoying record audiences, thanks largely to musicals teaming up with television talent shows. Attendances reached. 13.6 million in 2007, up 10 percent on 2006, itself a record year. Total sales were up 18 percent on 2006 to almost £470 million.

One theatre source criticised the Government’s priorities(优先考虑的事) in funding free tickets when pensioners were struggling to buy food and fuel, saying: “I don’t know why the Government’s wasting money on this. The Yong Vic, as The Times reported today, offers excellent performances at cheap prices.”

There was praise for the Government’s plan from Dominic Cooke of the Royal Court Theatre, who said: “I support any move to get young people into theatre, and especially one that aims to do it all over England, not just in London.”

Ninety-five publicly funded theatres could apply for funding under the two-year plan. In return, they will offer free tickets on at least one day each week to 18 to 26-year-olds, first-come, first-served. It is likely to be on Mondays, traditionally a quiet night for the theatre.

Mr. Burnham said: “A young person attending the theatre can find it an exciting experience, and be inspired to explore a new world. But sometimes people miss out on it because they fear it’s ‘not for them’. It’s time to change this perception.”

Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said: “The real issue is not getting enthusiastic children into the theatre, but improving arts education so that more young people want to go in the first place. For too many children theatres are a no-go area.”

46. Critics of the plan argued that ______.

    A. the theatres would be overcrowded

    B. it would be a waste of money

    C. pensioners wouldn’t get free tickets

    D. the government wouldn’t be able to afford it

47. According to the supporters, the plan should ______.

    A. benefit the television industry

    B. focus on producing better plays

    C. help increase the sales of tickets

    D. involve all the young people in England

48. Which of the following is TRUE about the plan?

    A. Ninety-five theatres have received funding.

    B. Everyone will get at least one free ticket.

    C. It may not benefit all the young people.

    D. Free tickets are offered once every day.

49. We can infer from the passage that in England ______.

    A. many plays are not for young people

    B. many young people don’t like theatre

    C. people know little about the plan

    D. children used to receive good arts education

50. According to the passage, the issue to offer free tickets to young people seems ______.

    A. controversial

    B. inspiring

    C. exciting

    D. unreasonable

Terry was a middle-aged leather trader whose repeated failure in career made him a depressed man, often __36__ that he had been cheated by others. One day he told his wife he was so __37__ with the city that he had to leave.
So his family moved to another city. It was the evening of a weekend. When Terry and his wife were busily __38__ up their new home, the light suddenly __39__. Terry was regretful to have forgotten to bring along __40__ and had to wait __41__ in a low mood. Just then he heard light, hesitant __42__ on his door that were clearly audible (听到) in the __43__ night.
“Who’s it?” he wondered, since Terry was a __44__ to this city. And this was the moment he especially hated to be __45__, so he went to the door and opened it __46__. At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have candles? I’m your neighbor. ”“No,” answered Terry in anger and shut the door __47__.“What a nuisance!” He complained over it with his wife. “No sooner had we settled down than the neighbor came to __48__ things.”
After a while, the door was knocked again. He opened it and found the same girl outside. __49__ this time she was __50__ two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles. She __51__ me here to give you these.” Terry was very __52__ by what he saw.
At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his __53__ in life. It was his __54__ and harshness (刻薄) with other people. The person who had cheated him in life was __55__ nobody else but himself, for his eyes had been blurred (蒙蔽) by his unsympathetic mind.

In the very early 　1800’　s, a young boy about 14 years old named John lived in an orphanage (孤儿院) in Old England along with several other children. Orphan meant unwanted and unloved.

Christmas was the one day of the year when the children didn’t work and received a gift, an orange. Usually they tried to taste and preserve it for so long that it often rotted before they ever peeled(剥开)it to enjoy the sweet juice. Many thought were expressed as Christmas time approached. The children would say, “I will keep mine the longest.” John usually slept with his next to his pillow. This year John was overjoyed by the Christmas season. He was becoming a man and stronger and soon he would be old enough to leave. He would save his orange until his birthday in July.

Christmas day finally came. The children were so excited as they entered the big dining hall. Immediately the master shouted, “John, leave the hall and there will be no orange for you this year.” John’s heart broke violently wide open. He turned and went swiftly back to the cold room. Then he heard the door open and each of the children entered. Little Elizabeth with her hair falling over her shoulders, a smile on her face, and tears in her eyes held out a piece of rag to John. “Here John,” she said, “this is for you.” As he lifted back the edges of the rag he saw a big juicy orange all peeled and quartered and then he realized what they had done.

John never forgot the sharing, love and personal sacrifice his friends had shown him that Christmas day. In memory of that day every year he would send oranges all over the world to children everywhere.

1. The first paragraph is mainly to tell us that ______.

   A. John lived in the early 　1800’　s          B. John’s parents had died

   C. John lived a hard life in an orphanage   D. John lived with several other children　　

2. These children would be happiest when ______.

   A. they got the special gift                 B. they preserved it very long

   C. they finally enjoyed the sweet juice       D. they entered the dining hall

3. What would overjoy John most the next year according to the second paragraph?

   A. He placed his orange next to his pillow.

   B. He would eat his orange on his birthday.

   C. He wouldn’t get his special gift.

   D. He would stay in the orphanage for another year

4. According to the text, where did John’s orange come from this year?

   A. It was made up of what these children donated.

   B. His master gave him a whole one again.

   C. These children bought him one.

   D. Little Elizabeth donated hers to John.

5. What can be inferred from the text?

   A. John had expected he wouldn’t get the gift this year.

   B. John knew why he didn’t get the gift this year.

   C. John felt ashamed for not getting the special gift.

   D. The story teaches us to learn to share with others.

    The first time I remember noticing the crossing guard was when he waved to me as I drove my son to school. He 16 me with a puzzle ---- all because he waved to me like someone does 17 seeing a close friend. A big, 18 smile accompanied his wave. For the next few days I tried to 19 his face to see if I knew him. I didn’t. Perhaps he had 20 me for someone else. By the time I contented myself with the 21 that he and I were strangers, we were greeting each other warmly every morning like old friends.

    Then one day the 22 was solved. As I 23 the school he was standing in the middle of the road 24 his stop sign. I was in live behind four cars. 25 the kids had reached the safety of the sidewalk, he lowered his sign and let the cars 26. To the first he waved and 27 in just the same way he had done to me over the last few days. The kids already had the window down and were happily waving their reply. The second car got the same 28 from the crossing guard, and the driver, a stiff-looking(表情刻板的) businessman, gave a brief, almost 29 wave back. Each following car of kids on their way to school 30 more heartily.

    Every morning I continued to watch the man with 31. So far I haven’t seen anyone 32 to wave back. I find it interesting that one person can make such a(n) 33 to so many people’s lives by doing one simple thing like waving and smiling warmly. His 34 armed the start of my day. With a friendly wave and smiling face he had changed the 35 of the whole neighbourhood.

“My name’s Jim Shelley and I’m an addict(有瘾的人)…”
With these words I began to 36  the problem, the problem of my telephone addiction. I used to call people  37 , from the moment I woke up to the time I went to sleep. I 38  to be phoned, I wanted to phone. Just one more call.
It started socially-a few calls each day. It seemed 39 , just a quick chat. Gradually though, the 40   got worse. Soon it was 41  use, until, finally, addiction.  And it began to affect(影响) my 42 . During the day I would disappear for 43  call. If I couldn’t make a call, I spent the whole time waiting for the phone to ring. Getting more and more 44 , in the end, I would ring someone, then someone else, 45 myself just one more call.
I was phoning people and 46 messages to make sure 47 calls would see me through the day. I used to arrive at friends’ homes and before the door was closed, go straight for the phone with the 48“Is it OK if I just use the phone…?” At work, I became 49  when my fellow workers tried to 50  me from using the phone. And one day I hit my boss (with the phone). Finally, the police caught me 51  a phone box that had taken my last one pound coin, and I was 52 to see a psychiatrist(心理医生).
I haven’t 53  a phone in the house for three weeks now, and it’s several days 54  I used a phone box. I try not to watch TV because there are 55 people on it making phone calls. My name is Jim Shelley and I am an addict.