Wearing a big hat and playing a guitar, a country music singer is using his rising and falling voice to tell the audience about his love, hope and loss. Few people could avoid getting caught up in his feelings.

This is the appeal(魅力)of country music, which speaks to the basic emotions of human life. Throughout the 20th century, it has grown into one of the most original and lasting American musical forms.

Country music's roots are in the songs of the American South, brought over by early immigrants(移民) from England. Those songs expressed the hardships of rural life and deep religious beliefs. In the 1920s, country music came into being as its first recordings were made. Early stars like Jimmy Rodger, known as "The Father of Country Music", and the Carter Family established its strong traditions - good song-writing, singing and playing.

Much of this music was written for and brought to the American public through the cowboy films of the 1930s and 1940s. It was widely popular then and many singers turned up on stage wearing Western fringe and cowboy hats.  

In the 1950s, the country music recording industry was set up in Nashville and moved away from its rough roots. But singers like John Denver, with his hit track "Take Me Home, Country Roads", insisted on the originality and emotions of "real" country music.

Younger artists in the 1990s turned to older country styles and mixed t3vhem with elements of rock 'n' roll. Steve Earle, with his song "The Devil's Right Hand", is typical of this so-called "another country music".

Country music continues to speak to Americans of all ages and backgrounds. And it gives the nation an identity(独特性).

Unlike pop music, country music was American, and only American. During its development, it continued to emphasize that "American" element and sounded completely different from its English ancestors. It may even be said that its sound and story tell the history of the United States.

Which of the following is the typical image(形象) when a country music singer performs?

A. Wearing a big hat and playing a guitar.

B. Using the rising and falling voice.

C. Telling about his love, hope and loss.

D. Singing for those working in the fields.

Which of the following statements about country music is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Country music was created by immigrants from England.

B. Country music comes from South American songs.

C. John Denver was known as "The Father of Country Music"

D. Country music that belongs to pop music was American, and only American.

The underlined expression “getting caught up in” probably means_________.

A. become interested or involved in

 B. becoming fashionable or popular in

 C. become caught in

 D. breaking away from

The author mentioned Jimmy Rodger, John Denver and Steve Earle to    __.

A. tell us the stage singing style of country music

B. show the process of the development of country music

C. attract the audience's attention to country music

D. introduce some famous stars to readers

When did Country music begin to turn into a stage art?

A. In the 1920s   B. In the 1940s    C. in the 1950s    D. in the 1990s

John Steinbeck once said, “All Americans believe they are born fishermen. For a man to admit to a distaste in fishing would be like denouncing (公开指责) mother – love or hating moonlight.”

I can’t say that I’m the biggest John Steinbeck fan. Actually, the only thing I can ever remember reading by him was “The pearl” when I was in middle school, but I couldn’t agree more with the man when it comes to fishing. Whether I am on a boat in the middle of the Lay Lake, fishing off the shores of the Florida Keys for tarpon or catching rainbow trout in the Shoshone River of Wyoming, fishing is my life.

According to the American Sports Fishing Association, the fishing industry brings in more than $ 116 billion per year from fishermen across the country.

Though a beautiful picture to imagine, fishing is much more than that. Fishing is a way of life for many people and a way to escape everyday stress. Being a fisherman makes me a member of a wonderful group of people extending to all walks of life. Even President Obama can be found fishing on his farm in Texas with his good friend Roland Martin when the job gets too stressful.

I can remember fishing with my grandfather when I was 5 years old on his boat at Lake Mitchell. Although I didn’t understand what I was doing, I did know that my grandfather was happy and that made me happy. Since then I’ve spent the past 16 years on the rivers and lakes of Alabama.

After days of practice, before and after work, I slowly developed an understanding of fishing. My boss, Ric Horst, took me back to the Shoshone, and I managed to bring in a 19–inch cutthroat trout. Fishing with Ric was a life–changing experience for me. He not only showed me how to fish correctly, but also told me how fishing could be a way to escape your problems.

Since then, prime–time season seems to take forever to arrive.

Now, with the ending of February and beginning of March in sight, the excitement of heading out Lake Tuscaloosa or Lake Lurleen before classes and catching something has finally returned.

1.What John Steinbeck said in the first paragraph implies that ______________.

         A.Americans are believed to be the offspring of fishermen

         B.it is unthinkable for an American to admit his dislike of fishing

         C.all Americans are expert at fishing

         D.those who dislike fishing would not love their mother

2..The writer came to understand the real meaning of fishing ______________.

         A.when he was reading “The pearl” by John Steinbeck

         B.when he went fishing with his grandfather at Lake Mitchell

         C.after he had spent 16 years on the rivers and lakes of Alabama

         D.after he went fishing with his boss, Ric Horst on the Shoshone

3.What can be inferred from the text?

         A.The author is at most 21 years old.

         B.The author regards fishing as a very important part in his life.

         C.The author agreed with John Steinbeck the most when he was in middle school.

         D.President Obama often goes fishing in public in order to collect idea for his job.

4..According to the author, __________________.

         A.people can get to know VIPs when fishing.

         B.people can smooth away all the troubles by fishing

         C.Fishing is a way of communication

         D.Fishing is a way to make a living for most American people

5..What is the purpose of the writing?

         A.To describe the writer’s experience and understanding of fishing.

         B.To explain the reason why so many Americans like fishing.

         C.To make others understand the industry of fishing.

         D.To express his opinions about fishing in different time of the year.

 

The Pacific island nation of Nauru used to be a beautiful place.Now it is an ecological disaster area.Nauru's heartbreaking story could have one good consequence-other countries might learn from its mistakes.

For thousands of years,Polynesian people lived in the remote island of Nauru,far from western civilization.The first European to arrive was John Fearn in 1798.He was the British captain of the Hunter, a whaling ship.He called the island Pleasant Island.

However, because it was very remote, Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first.The whaling ships and other traders began to visit,bringing guns and alcohol.These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island.A ten-year civil war started,which reduced the population from 1,400 to 900.

Nauru's real troubles began in 1899 when a British mining company discovered phosphate(磷酸盐)on the island.In fact,it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate,which was a very important fertilizer for farming.The company began mining the phosphate.

A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground;it is a strip mine.When a company strip-mines,it removes the to player of soil.Then it takes away the material it wants.Strip mining totally destroys the land.Gradually, the lovely island or Nauru started to look like the moon.

In 1968,Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world.Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate.

Unfortunately, the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars.In addition,they used millions more dollars for personal expenses.Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem—their phosphate was running out.Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing.By 2000,Nauru was financially ruined.Experts say that it would take approximately$433,600,000 and more than 20 years to repair the island.This will probably never happen.

1.What might be the author's purpose in writing the text?

A.To seek help for Nauru's problems.

B.To tell a heartbreaking story of a war.

C.To show the importance of money

D.To give a warning to other countries

2.What was Nauru like before the Europeans came?

APeaceful and attractive             B.Modern and open

C.Rich and powerful                       D.Greedy and aggressive

3.The ecological disaster in Nauru resulted from

A.soil pollution

B.phosphate overmining

C.farming activity

D.whale hunting

4.Which of the following was a cause of Nauru's financial problem?

A.Its phosphate mining cost much money

B.It spent too much repairing the island

C.Its leaders misused the money

D.It lost millions of dollars in the civil war.

5.What can we learn about Nauru from me last paragraph?

A.The leaders will take the experts' words seriously

B.The ecological damage is difficult to repair.

C.The island was abandoned by the Nauruans

D.The phosphate mines were destroyed

 

阅读下列应用文及相关信息,并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。(若选择E,请涂AB;若选择F,请涂CD)。

 

请阅读某书店各书架的相关信息:

A. Section One: Education---Has a huge range of textbooks and supplementary material covering all the major high school and university subjects. Buyers showing their student cards receive a 15% discount on all purchases from this section.

B. Section Three: Humor Section --- A great selection of joke books, funny stories and wonderful real life adventures that are sure to keep the reader laughing for days.

C. Section Five: Biography --- Find out about the lives of your favorite sports stars, singers, actors and other famous people from today and the past. Learn what they had to go through to become successful and the effect it had on their lives.

D. Section One: Do-It-Yourself Section -- On these shelves customers can find the latest manuals on how to do everything from building a computer to constructing your own home.

E. Section Two: Sports & Leisure Section --- Stocks a large range of the latest books on your favorite sporting teams and events. Pick up the perfect Father's Day present here.

F. Section Four: Business & Finance --- Students, business people or anyone interested in the world of commerce are certain to find the book they are after here. We have special subsection for international trade and e-commerce.

 

阅读下列关于各书籍的信息,匹配书籍与其所应放置的书架:

1.The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron --- by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind --- As the title suggests the authors cover the rise of the American electricity company to become one of the 10 richest companies in the world and its spectacular fall into dishonor and bankruptcy. A perfect guide on what not to do in business.

2.The Delighted Eye --- by Prof. John Nash --- The 1994 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics, whose ideas have influenced a generation of the world's greatest economic minds, tells his life story: growing up in a small town in America, becoming one of America's most influential mathematicians and his battles with mental illness.

3.Ready Made--- How to Make (Almost) Everything --- by Shoshanna Berger and Grace Hawthorne --- beautifully written with great factual information. The theme behind this book is re-use, re-claim, re-cycle and there are many detailed easy-to-do projects for the reader to try such as making a photo frame from a book cover or a pot for your plants from plastic shopping bags.

4.Mother Tongue: The English Language --- by Bill Bryson --- Bryson's book is a journey through the history and different aspects of the English language, one that is both informative and hugely entertaining. As with most of Bryson's books, fun comes before facts and readers will be left with a smile on their faces.

5.Into Thin Air --- by John Krakauer --- is a riveting first-hand account of a disastrous race to the top of Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and experienced climber John Krakauer to join the team led by the famous Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of the race eight people were dead.

 

 

The True Story of Treasure Island

It was always thought that Treasure Island was the product of Robert Louis Stevenson’s imagination.     1, recent research has found the true story of this exciting work.

Stevenson, a Scotsman, had lived     2for many years. In 1881 he returned to Scotland for a     3. With him were his American wife Fanny and his son     4.

Each morning Stevenson would take them out for a long     5over the hills. They had been     6this for several days before the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse. Kept indoors the heavy rain, Lloyd felt the days     7. To keep the boy happy, Robert asked the boy to do some    8.

One morning, the boy came to Robert with a beautiful map of an island. Robert     9that the boy had drawn a large cross in the middle of     10. “What’s that?” he asked. “That’s the    11treasure,” said the boy. Robert suddenly    12something of an adventure story in the boy’s   13.While the rain was pouring, Robert sat down by the fire to write a story. He would make the   14a twelve-year-old boy, just like Lloyd. But who would be the pirate (海盗)?

Robert had a good friend named Henley, who walked around with the   15of a wooden leg. Robert had always wanted to    16such a man in a story.   17Long John Silver, the pirate with a wooden leg, was     18.

So, thanks to a    19September in Scotland, a friend with a wooden leg, and the imagination of a twelve-year-old boy, we have one of the greatest     20stories in the English language.

1.A. However         B. Therefore       C. Besides       D. Finally

2.A. alone            B. next door       C. at home       D. abroad

3.A. meeting          B. story           C. holiday       D. job

4.A. Lloyd           B. Robert          C. Henley        D. John

5.A. talk             B. rest            C. walk          D. game

6.A. attempting       B. missing         C. planning       D. enjoying

7.A. quiet            B. dull            C. busy          D. cold

8.A. cleaning         B. writing        C. drawing         D. exercising

9.A. doubted         B. noticed        C. decided          D. recognized

10.A. the sea          B. the house      C. Scotland          D. the island

11.A. forgotten        B. buried         C. discovered        D. unexpected

12.A. saw            B. drew          C. made             D. learned

13.A. book           B. reply          C. picture            D. mind

14.A. star            B. hero           C. writer            D. child

15.A. help           B. problem        C. use              D. bottom

16.A. praise          B. produce       C. include           D. accept

17.A. Yet            B. Also          C. But              D. Thus

18.A. read           B. born          C. hired             D. written

19.A. rainy          B. sunny         C. cool              D. windy

20.A. news          B. love          C. real-life           D. adventure

 

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