题目内容
Her unhappy childhood was the _________(起源) of her problems later in life.
origin
Billie Holiday was one of the greatest jazz(爵士音乐) singers in America. Her life was just a mixture of success and tragedy. Her singing expressed her experiences and feelings.
Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan in 1915 in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were Sadie Fagan and Clarence Holiday. They were young when their daughter was born. Their marriage failed because Clarence Holiday was often out. He traveled as a musician with some of the earliest jazz bands and inspired his daughter.
Sadie Fagan cleaned people’s houses to make a living. But she could not support her family with the money she earned. So she moved to New York City where the pay was higher. She left her daughter in Baltimore with one of her distant relatives.
The young girl Eleanora Fagan changed her name to Billie, because she liked a movie star, Billie Dove. The talented Billie Holiday loved singing. She sang and listened to music whenever she could. In one place near her home there was a machine that played records. The building was a theater where many famous singers also performed their newly-made songs for free.
Billie cleaned floors and did other jobs for the theater so that she could listen to the records. It was there that young Billie first heard the records of some famous black American blues artists of the 1920s. she heard Bessie Smith sing the blues. And she heard Louis Armstrong play the horn. Both musicians had a great influence on her.
Billie Holiday once said, “I do not think I’m singing. I feel like I am playing a horn. What comes out is what I feel. I hate straight singing. I have to change a tune to my own way of doing it. That is all I know.”
【小题1】Billie Holiday’s parents divorced because _______.
| A.Sadie Fagan wanted to move to New York City |
| B.the family couldn’t support itself |
| C.Clarence Holiday spent too much time in working |
| D.Clerence Holiday was a strange person |
| A.Sadie Fagan | B.Clerence Holiday. | C.Bessie Smith. | D.Louis Armstrong |
| A.Sadie Fagan was fond of living in New York |
| B.Clerence Holiday didn’t love his wife at all |
| C.Billie lived a happy childhood |
| D.Billie had a gift for music |
| A.Billie Holiday doesn’t like to sing for others |
| B.Billie Holiday’s songs reflect her unhappy childhood |
| C.Billie Holiday is fond of the songs written for herself |
| D.Billie Holiday’s music is greatly determined by her emotions |
| A.cleaned floors for the theater | B.changed her name |
| C.moved to New York | D.separated from her parents |
Cloze (15分)
Directions: for each blank in the following passages there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C, and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
If you travel around the world, you will be surprised to find just how different the foreign customs can be __50__ your own.
A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there __51__ it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be __52__for washing yourself. Also in India, you might __53__a man obviously shaking his head at another and assume that he is disagreeing. But in many __54__ of India a shake of the head is a gesture that shows agreement or acceptance. Nodding your head when you are offered a __55__ in Bulgaria is likely to leave your thirsty. In that country you shake your head to indicate “yes”—a nod indicates “no”. The Arabs are __56__ for their hospitality (好客). At a meal in the Arabic countries, you will find that drinking vessel (器皿) is filled again __57__again as soon as you drain it. The way to __58__ that you have had enough is to take the cup or glass in your hand and give it a little shake from side to side or place your hand over the top.
In Europe it is quite usual to __59__ your legs when sitting talking to someone, even at an important meeting. Doing this when meeting an important person in Thailand, however, could __60__ him or her unhappy. It is considered too informal an attitude __61__ such an occasion. Also when in Thailand you are __62__ supposed to touch the head of an adult – it’s just not done. In Japan, it is quite usual for __63__ to plan evening entertainment for themselves and leave their wives at home. In Europe such attitudes are disappearing.
Customs vary from country to __64__. Visitors may be at a loss as to what to do in a foreign environment. In such circumstances, the rule is: When in Rome, do as Romans do.
|
( )50. A. from |
B. away |
C. within |
D. in |
|
( )51. A. achieve |
B. consider |
C. test |
D. help |
|
( )52. A. noticed |
B. used |
C. bought |
D. caused |
|
( )53. A. hear |
B. hope |
C. miss |
D. see |
|
( )54. A. countries |
B. people |
C. parts |
D. hills |
|
( )55. A. drink |
B. pen |
C. hat |
D. hand |
|
( )56. A. interested |
B. terrible |
C. careful |
D. famous |
|
( )57. A. and |
B. till |
C. also |
D. still |
|
( )58. A. discuss |
B. turn |
C. indicate |
D. forget |
|
( )59. A. cross |
B. put |
C. take |
D. hurt |
|
( )60. A. pay |
B. stop |
C. make |
D. point |
|
( )61.A. outside |
B. below |
C. along |
D. for |
|
( )62. A. not |
B. nor |
C. none |
D. no |
|
( )63. A. men |
B. women |
C. boys |
D. girls |
|
( )64. A. area |
B. place |
C. country |
D. space |