There are different ways of telling a story. It can be told in words. It can be told in pictures. It can be told in music. It can be acted out. Or it can be told by still another way--by dancing. Dancing that tells a story is called ballet.

　　The dancing in a ballet is done to music, but the story is told by the movements of the dancers. There is no singing or speaking.

　　The dancers in the picture are telling the story of Steeping Beauty. The music for this famous ballet was written by the Russian composer Tschaikowsky. The movements of its dancers were worked out by the French ballet master Petipa.

　　A ballet is a work (of art) just as a beautiful picture is. The person who plans a ballet is an artist. So is each dancer.

　　Sometimes ballet is called toe dancing. It is true that in some ballets the dancers do dance on their toes. But a great deal of the dancing in ballets is not toe dancing. Toe dancing is used to give the idea of lightness and airiness. It is never put into a ballet unless it fits the story.

　　Back in the days of ancient Greece and Rome there were dances that told stories of the gods. Even longer ago in Egypt there were dances that told stories of the planets.But the ballet of today had its beginnings about 600 years ago. It began as a kind of entertainment in the courts of the rulers of Italy. Two hundred years later ballet was popular in the French court. The French king Louis X IV founded a ballet school.

　　On a ballet program today there are often some French words. The names of many ballets are French. But there may be other French words, too. A part of a ballet that is danced by just two people is called a pas de deux. Such French words remind us that France was once the leader in ballet.

　　Today there are many ballet companies. All opera companies, too, have ballet dancers, for ballets are a part of many operas. No one country now leads in ballet.

　　Later the rulers of Russia became interested in ballet. They offered a great deal of money to the best ballet masters and dancers of France. They founded a ballet school. Soon Russia was the leader in ballet.

　　Ballet is not easy to learn. A boy or a girl who wishes to be a ballet dancer has to begin going to a ballet school very early. Some begin when they are only three or four. All the parts in a ballet used to be danced by men. But now a girl has as good a chance as a boy of being a famous ballet dancer.

(1)There are ______ ways of telling a story accordingto the passage.

[　　]

(2)Ballet is called toe dancing because _____.

[　　]

A．there is a great deal of toe dancing in every ballet

B．in some ballets toe dancing is used to fit the story

C．it always tells a story by toe move-ments

D．the word ballet means “toe” in French

(3)Ballet of today can date back as early as ___.

[　　]

A．the days of ancient Greece and Rome

B．days before ancient Greece and Rome

C．about 600 years ago

D．the time when Louis X IV was in power

(4)_______ never acted as the leader in the history of ballet.

[　　]

(5)Which of the following is true?

[　　]

A．Boys are more likely to be successful in ballet than girls.

B．Ballet dances also play parts in many operas beside ballets.

C．Petipa was a Russian ballet master.

阅读下面短文, 掌握其大意, 然后从1-20各题所给的四个选项中, 选出一　　 个最佳答案。

    Drawing a picture is 1 way of putting an idea down on paper. That　　 is 2 men first began to write, six thousand years ago or 3. The　　 alphabet 4 we now use 5 down to us over a long period of time. It was　　 6 from the picture-writing of ancient Egypt.

    Picture writing was useful in many 7. It could be used to express　　 ideas as well as 8. For example, a drawing of a 9 meant the object　　 "man". But a drawing of a man 10 on the ground with a spear in him　　 meant "11".

　　    　　 12 the Egyptians, the Chinese and the American Indians also　　 developed ways 13 writing in pictures. But only 14 much could be said　　 15. Thousands of pictures 16 to express all ideas that people might　　 have. It would 17 many thousands more to express all the objects 18 to　　 man. No one could draw so many pictures in a lifetime, 19 could anyone　　 learn the meaning of all 20 drawings in a lifetime.

(1) A the simple    B. the simplest    C. more simple     D. simpler

[    ]

(2) A. when    B. because    C. where    D. how

[    ]

(3) A. over    B. more    C. else    D. later

[    ]

(4) A. when    B. how    C. which    D. what

[    ]

(5) A. went    B. showed    C. appeared     D. came

[    ]

(6) A. developed    B. discovered    C. increased    D. grown

[    ]

(7) A. sides    B. colors    C. ways    D. meanings

[    ]

(8) A. stories    B. animals    C. objects    D. subjects

[    ]

(9) A. creature     B. being    C. women    D. man

[    ]

(10) A. lies    B. lying    C. laying     D. lain

[    ]

(11) A. die     B. death    C. sleep    D. down

[    ]

(12) A. Besides    B. Except    C. Beside     D. Except for

[    ]

(13) A. to    B. of    C. on    D. off

[    ]

(14) A. not     B. very    C. so    D. too

[    ]

(15) A. as follows    B. this way    C. that much    D. at least

[    ]

(16) A. will need    B. will be needed   

C. would need    D. would have been needed

[    ]

(17) A. taken    B. have been taken

C. be taken     D. have taken

[    ]

(18) A. known    B. with    C. called     D. in

[    ]

(19) A. either     B. so    C. nor     D. also

[    ]

(20) A. many    B. some    C. that    D. such

[    ]

短文改错

When I was young, I really doubted whether there was love between my parents. Every day they were busy earning money so that they could   41  the high tuition my brother and I needed. They didn’t   42  in the romantic ways that I read in books or saw on TV.

One day, Mom was sewing a quilt（被子）. I  43 sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a  44  here,” I said after a while. “Is there love between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very　45 voice.

Mom stopped her work and raised her head with   46  in her eyes. She didn’t answer immediately. She bent her head and continued to sew the quilt. I was   47  if I had hurt her. I was in great embarrassment and I was at a loss what to do. But at last she said, very   48  , “Susan, look at this   49 . Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt strong and lasting. If   50  is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen, but it’s really there.   51  is inside.”

I listened carefully but I couldn’t understand her until years later.

One day, Dad accidentally got　  52  while on duty. Ever since then he could no longer　  53　properly. Every morning and dusk Mom would help Dad walk slowly on the country road. Along the country road, there were beautiful flowers, green grass and trees. The leaves were gently glistening（发光）   54  the sun shining upon them. All of these made up the most beautiful   55  in the world.

“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day. “Susan, don’t worry about me,” he said gently. “I just like walking with your mom. I like this kind of life.” Looking into his eyes, I  56　what they meant.

The doctor had said Dad would   57 in two months. But that day never came. He   58 away in peace.

59 I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. But from this   60 , I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life, which makes life strong and warm…

1.                A．afford          B．cost            C．spend    D．offer

2.                A．go             B．live            C．act  D．walk

3.                A．happily         B．silently         C．secretly  D．nervously

4.                A．request        B．problem        C．message  D．question

5.                A．loud           B．light           C．low  D．clear

6.                A．surprise        B．anger          C．stress    D．horror

7.                A．amazed         B．confused        C．shocked  D．ashamed

8.                A．quickly         B．excitedly        C．bitterly   D．gently

9.                A．quilt           B．needle         C．thread   D．sewing

10.               A．belief          B．work           C．experience D．life

11.               A．Warmth        B．Thread         C．Cotton    D．Love

12.               A．tired           B．drunk          C．ill    D．injured

13.               A．talk            B．walk           C．work D．think

14.               A．with           B．as             C．for   D．by

15.               A．signs           B．symbols        C．pictures   D．reflections

16.               A．read           B．doubted        C．translated  D．recognized

17.               A．retire          B．recover        C．regain D．remove

18.               A．passed         B．escaped        C．faded D．turned

19.               A．Again          B．Once          C．Then D．Later

20.               A．word          B．account        C．experience D．accident

Dear Betty,

My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.

    Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?

Yours,

Knowing Nothing

Dear Knowing Nothing,

It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.

    You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.

    Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.

     If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.

Yours,

Betty

1.Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.

A. tell Betty some good news          B. ask for some advice

C. answer some questions                      D. invite her to dinner

2.According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.

A. can only bring some flowers

B. can’t bring wine

C. should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late

D. should arrive twenty minutes late

3.Betty does NOT advise Knowing Nothing to _____.

A. relax at the dinner table                B. watch the other guests

C. ask the person beside him              D. keep silent at table