“It was cool，because I got a chance to be in a studio and see how a record is made，”says 14-year-old Javon Martin，who joined the music clubhouse 3 years ago.“It has impacted my life in a big way. People are actually starting to see me as an artist.”Ten-year-old Akheylah Hunter didn’t play an instrument when she became a club member last year. Now，she plays piano and sings with the band. What she likes best，she says，is performing.“We performed in different places，”she says.“We go on trips and it is fun.”
Since the Music Clubhouse opened three years ago，it’s served almost 500 kids.Aggeler says performing in front of different audiences helps the young musicians build self-esteem.Coming to the club to prepare for those performances helps them learn how to deal with their personal problems and concerns.
“I can see what it does for them and it just develops confidence，”he explains.“It’s also an escape from the big problems we have in the neighborhood. So whether they feel embarrassed about a zit on their face，or they feel embarrassed because they’re not as tall as somebody，they can rap about it and let it out a little bit.”
To expand the club and help more kids learn music，Aggeler sought the support of the community. The Berklee College of Music and local music stores have provided free equipment. The club has also gotten support from the Music and Youth Initiative，a nonprofit that develops after school music education programs in underserved communities in Massachusetts. All these have made it possible to provide kids who may not have the means to get private music lessons the opportunity to still learn music and get all the benefits that music education brings.”
【小题1】Why does the writer mention the two children in the first paragraph？

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B. Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

C. Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

D. Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

2. What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A. annoyed                          B. made less angry

C. convinced                       D. got over

3.What was the mother’s attitude toward Alfred?

A. She felt disappointed with him.

B. She was very strict with him.

C. She was supportive of him.

D. She was afraid of him.

4.What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ________.

A. how angry she was

B. that she didn’t cry

C. that she was able to save him

D. how effectively she handled Mr. Carr

5. From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ________.

A. was no longer a youth

B. felt proud of his mother

C. wanted his mother to be happy

D. felt guilty and regretful for his deed

I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard a young voice. “Mom, come here! There’s this lady near my size!” The mother rushed to her son; then she turned to me to apologize. I smiled and told her, “It’s okay.” Then talked to the boy, “Hi, I’m Darry Kramer. How are you?” He studied me from head to toe, and asked, “Are you a little mommy?” “Yes, I have a son,” I answered. “Why are you so little?” he asked. “It’s the way I was born,” I said. “Some people are little. Some are tall. I’m just not going to grow any bigger.” After I answered his other questions, I shook the boy’s hand and left.

My life as a little person is filled with stories like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents.

It takes only one glance to see my uniqueness. I stand three feet nine inches tall. I was born an achondroplasia dwarf (侏儒). Despite this, I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up.

I didn’t realize how short I was until I started school. Some kids joked on me, calling me names. Then I knew. I began to hate the first day of school each year. New students would always stare at me as I struggled to climb the school bus stairs.

But I learned to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. I decided to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. What I lacked in height, I made up for in personality.

I’m 47 now, and the stares have not diminished as I’ve grown older. People are amazed when they see me driving. I try to keep a good attitude. When people are rude, I remind myself, “Look what else I have – a great family, nice friends.”

It’s the children’s questions that make my life special. I enjoy answering their questions. My hope is that I will encourage them to accept their peers (a person of the same age, class, position, etc.), whatever size and shape they come in, and treat them with respect.

1.

Why did the mother apologize to the author?

A. Because the boy ran into the author.

B. Because the boy laughed at the author.

C. Because they boy said the author was fatter than him.

D. Because the mother thought the boy’s words had hurt the author.

2.

When did the author realize that she was too short?

A. When she grew up.

B. When she was 47 years old.  

C. When she began to go to school.

D. When she met the boy in the supermarket.

3.

Which of the following word can best replace the underlined word “diminished”?

A. doubted        B. increased        C. decreased        D. improved

4.

.How does the author feel about people’s stares now?

A. Angry       B. Calm      C. Painful     D. Discouraged

I first met Sean one summer day. He carried a bag    36 with four clubs(球杆)  and some balls. He was a lot   37  than other kids of his age. I heard he was   38   from cancer. Still , he always seemed to be smiling whenever I would see him with his friends, trying to  39  as far as he did.

A year or so passed and I hadn’t   40  Sean .I had heard that his cancer was   41      him. Still, his friends said he was going to come here before long.

  42  enough , he was there the following week. I   43  that one of his friends was carrying Sean’s bag. I saw Sean was having a(n)  44  time trying to drive the ball. Sean hit his last ball as hard as his fragile body would   45  .It flew up to the green and was out of sight. One of his friends   46  Sean walk up to the green. It was a(n)  47 walk because the green was higher than the tee(发球区).

Suddenly I saw one boy pick up Sean’s ball and    48  it in the hole. Then he ran and   49  to look for his own ball.

When Sean finally got to the green, he looked   50  because he thought he hit it over .

Then he glanced in the hole. A smile   51  his face! The boys looked at each other and said , “You can’t tell me it’s a hole-in-one!”

“No, really ! Look !” he said . They all acted    52  and as I watched , I thought Sean looked like the   53   guy I had ever seen. I never saw Sean or his friends after that day.   54   it was then that I learned just what golf should be .

It’s not about what   55  you get or how far you drive. It is about caring for the friends you play with and enjoying the time you have with them.

1.                A．covered        B．filled           C．equipped D．connected

2.                A．smaller         B．taller           C．stronger  D．cleverer

3.                A．recovering      B．suffering        C．benefiting D．curing

4.                A．send           B．play            C．hit   D．walk

5.                A．promised       B．cared          C．heard    D．seen

6.                                  A．getting the best of    B．losing control of

C．taking advantage of                 D．getting rid of

7.                A．Effective        B．Active          C．Sure D．Lucky

8.                A．guessed        B．learned         C．hoped    D．noticed

9.                A．weak          B．awful           C．meaningful    D．comfortable

10.               A．allow          B．provide        C．bear  D．control

11.               A．let            B．suggested       C．helped    D．ordered

12.               A．quick          B．tough          C．energetic  D．unwise

13.               A．break          B．lift            C．move D．drop

14.               A．pretended      B．forgot          C．tried  D．disliked

15.               A．calm           B．astonished      C．disappointed   D．excited

16.               A．got on         B．came out       C．took on   D．lit up

17.               A．doubtful        B．surprised       C．curious    D．delighted

18.               A．happiest        B．busiest         C．coolest    D．funniest

19.               A．And           B．Or            C．But   D．So

20.               A．ball            B．disease         C．friendship D．score