I knew I could sing but I had to prove it. I don’t care what life gives me; I’ll it. It was my ninth time in front of a music executive to try to get a record deal. The first eight interviews had cold refusals.
When I found out the was at 6 a.m., I went a little crazy, for I had to get up very early in order to get to the audition (试唱) room on time. This audition was at the office of Sony Music’s president, John Grady. to sing songs for a man behind a desk, I was . It’s very hard to let someone whether you’re worthy of a commercial career in 10 minutes. But, in this business, it was something I had to do.
I grew up in a rural area. farming, there wasn’t much of a local economy. If one wanted new horizons, he had to learn a(n) that could take him out of there. That’s how I my singing. I took up singing at an early age. When I was 15, I made money from singing. That was a huge for me.
It was in the middle of my singing that John Grady didn’t appear at all. About halfway through, I saw him write something down. From where I stood, I could see him write the letter 'n’, by the letter 'o’. I guessed he didn’t me.
As we said good-bye, Grady gave me a . Though my hands were , I found the to read the note. It didn’t say, "No." It said, "Now." Just then, I knew that my of becoming a professional musician was starting to come true.
A．handle B．operate C．encounter D．recall
A．recognizing B．accessing C．appearing D．Approaching
A．resulted from B．ended with C．turned down D．made up
A．appointment B．information C．reply D．competition
A．particular B．simple C．regretful D．amusing
A．Permitting B．Failing C．Welcoming D．Waiting
A．excited B．nervous C．hopeful D．helpless
A．finish B．judge C．solve D．persuade
A．Apart from B．Free from C．Absent from D．Far from
A．experience B．profession C．skill D．trick
A．viewed B．questioned C．required D．practiced
A．progress B．process C．stop D．step
A．interested B．embarrassed C．amazed D．puzzled
A．angrily B．clearly C．straightly D．hardly
A．proved B．supported C．hidden D．followed
A．appreciate B．understand C．trust D．refuse
A．record B．note C．chance D．promise
A．waving B．removing C．shaking D．Moving
A．courage B．patience C．imagination D．determination
A．plan B．dream C．preference D．tendency
One day I was doing a big clean-up when I a knotted handkerchief with an old dark brown coin inside. I took one look and immediately an unforgettable time.
In 1991, I spent five months in Niger, with sandstorms and great heat. Its and beggars were my biggest and most constant complaint. Street beggars would continually reach out their hands, shouting “Gift! Gift!”
One day, I for neighboring Burking to work in a health clinic.
Arriving by taxi at our destination in Burkina, we began to . In darkness, a motorbike with two men approached slowly. Without any , one of them grabbed my pack as the motorbike swept close by. Within seconds, the two were out of sight, up by the night.
The bag had my passport, money, traveler’s cheques, a camera, an airline ticket and other things to me. I was in deep trouble.
In the weeks that followed, I guarded the rest of my valuables and regarded all with suspicion. All I wanted was to leave this place.
Then, walking through Burkina’s streets, I met with an old woman. “Gift! Gift!” she cried. I’d had enough. I was of the country: its poverty(贫困), its thieves, the heat, and the dust. I told her angrily, “A thief stole all my money and now I can’t out of your country. I cannot give you anything.”
The woman beggar listened attentively and my words. Then she reached the folds of her dress.
“Then I will give you a gift,” she announced. Kindly, she placed an old, dark brown coin in my hand. I looked at it in . It was a very small amount of money, but for this woman, the coin a meal. At that moment, I felt a shame. In spit of her , she was able to give me something priceless.
I saw then the beauty of the people of Burkina, and appreciated deeply the quiet of the poor. With the old woman’s gift, I hope never to part with the coin she gave me. With one small coin, she my concept completely.
A．cared about B．came across C．looked for D．focused upon
A．presented B．gave C．recalled D．reminded
A．traffic B．dust C．noise D．climate
A．headed B．struggled C．stood D．came
A．move B．unload C．hide D．pass
A．warning B．planning C．thinking D．arranging
A．hung B．put C．swallowed D．cleared
A．obvious B．expensive C．familiar D．precious
A．elegantly B．cautiously C．dependently D．frequently
A．locals B．thieves C．beggars D．men
A．proud B．conscious C．sick D．aware
A．get B．run C．come D．rush
A．attended to B．looked up C．thought about D．wrote down
A．for B．into C．out D．at
A．order B．vain C．serve D．shock
A．meant B．made C．deserved D．suggested
A．dirtiness B．poverty C．kindness D．safety
A．updated B．unfolded C．broken D．unexpected
A．moment B．action C．dignity（尊严） D．life
A．changed B．damaged C．found D．accepted
It is the season of weddings for Hindu families. Also, because the demand is so great, it is likely that several weddings take place in the same temple. So perfect timing is stuck to there is no confusion; but , as I found out, there is.
When I Kalyani's invitation to her wedding, I made a note of it in my diary. She had been my schoolmate and we had got along well, so I was happy to attend her wedding. l decided to for it and borrowed an Indian style shirt. On the day of the wedding, I arrived at the temple in good time and started to anyone I knew. I saw no one and went to sit cross-legged quietly in a corner, waiting. Kalyani was escorted (簇拥) in. From where I was sitting, I could not see but I thought she had a little since she left school. She looked a little fat now and wore glasses. I my head. Anyway I down to wait for the long ritual. As soon as the wedding was over, a line formed to the couple and I joined in. When I arrived and handed her the , she looked up and a beautiful smile and only then did I realize that the was entirely mine: it was not Kalyani at all. I had just attended the wedding. To my shock, I smiled broadly. , I was treated like a guest: the couple each have thought I was the other's guest.
Then I went to look for the correct wedding party in the area. Sure enough there stood Kalyani. As I was walking up to her, I realized I was in deep : I had just given the present meant for her to a complete stranger.
A．in case B．even if C．so that D．as if
A．fortunately B．frequently C．impossibly D．hardly
A．kept B．took C．expected D．received
A．finally B．immediately C．suddenly D．naturally
A．pay B．call C．dress D．wait
A．talk to B．look for C．say hello to D．shake hands with
A．carefully B．clearly C．completely D．easily
A．experienced B．learned C．suffered D．changed
A．shook B．nodded C．bent D．covered
A．slowed B．looked C．calmed D．settled
A．watch B．meet C．welcome D．congratulate
A．note B．invitation C．present D．diary
A．flashed B．forced C．wore D．pretended
A．regret B．Happiness C．pleasure D．surprise
A．noisy B．wrong C．strange D．splendid
A．get B．hide C．prove D．stop
A．Otherwise B．Moreover C．Therefore D．Anyway
A．should B．must C．could D．need
A．waiting B．standing C．open D．quiet
A．thought B．trouble C．sorrow D．doubt
A Leap（跳跃）to Honor
Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.
That’s especially impressive. she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t _ how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom that even though she couldn’t see , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her stop her from doing anything that she wants to. She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go.” says Lola.
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision . She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her attitude.
Lola never thinks about . She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids she grew up.
Lola is of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her for others is “just believe yourself”.
A．runs B．teaches C．trains D．dances
A．since B．unless C．after D．though
A．tell B．guess C．assume D．predict
A．suspected B．remembered C．imagined D．noticed
A．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．difficult D．unsatisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．program
A．examine B．express C．open D．trust
A．fearful B．harmful C．unfair D．inconvenient
A．to B．on C．off D．against
A．greeted B．treated C．served D．paid
A．pains B．stresses C．injuries D．problems
A．positive B．friendly C．flexible D．caution
A．defending B．quitting C．winning D．bargaining
A．standard B．range C．view D．goal
A．until B．as C．when D．before
A．proud B．tired C．ashamed D．confident
A．plan B．advice C．reward D．responsibility
That Christmas Eve, the streets of Boston were crowded with people dressed in wool and flannel(法兰绒). “Jingle Bells” was playing in stores. Everyone, it seemed, was _____ by someone else smiling or ____ I was alone.
The eldest of a Puerto Rican family of 11 children growing up in one of New York’s _____ apartment. I’d spent much of my life _____ solitude(独处). Now, _____, at 27, was enduring the last break-up of a seven-year relationship. Every part of me wanted to be _____, but not at Christmas.
My family had returned to Puerto Rico, and my _____ were involved in their own lives. Dusk was falling, and the unavoidable return to my ____apartment brought tears to my eyes.
I stopped at the local market, feeling even more______ when I saw all the people there filling their baskets with gifts. I _____ my family, my friends and the noisy parties at home, filled with laughter and dancing. I wanted to cry for having wanted to be alone and for having _____ it.
In front of the church down the street, a manger(马槽) had been set up, with Mary, Joseph, and the barn animals in ______ the arrival of baby Jesus. As I walked home, I _____ that the story of Joseph and Mary wandering from door to door seeking shelter was much like my own. Leaving Puerto Rico was still a _____in my soul and I was struggling with whom I had become in my 15 years in the United States. I’d mourned my losses, _____for the first time, I recognized what I’d gained. I was _____, and educated and healthy. My life was still before me, full of ______.Sometimes the best ____ is the one you give yourself. That Christmas, I gave myself credit ____ I’d accomplished so far and permission to go ______ unafraid. It was the best gift I’ve ever received, the one that I most treasure.
A．chosen B．bothered C．allowed D．accompanied
A．working B．laughing C．studying D．thinking
A．crowded B．expensive C．cheerful D．large
A．looking for B．looking at C．looking through D．looking over
A．finally B．easily C．quickly D．likely
A．patient B．strict C．alone D．private
A．friends B．dreams C．guests D．customers
A．beautiful B．interesting C．clean D．empty
A．pleased B．upset C．surprised D．curious
A．hated B．loved C．missed D．forgot
A．achieved B．refused C．preferred D．offered
A．search B．expectation C．position D．control
A．imagined B．sighed C．realized D．expressed
A．effort B．belief C．wound D．wish
A．but B．so C．because D．though
A．excited B．independent C．ordinary D．worthless
A．desires B．possibilities C．ideals D．advantages
A．gift B．lesson C．purpose D．memory
A．on B．in C．at D．for
A．upward B．down C．around D．Forward
Dramatic performing is an excellent method of building confidence in children and adults alike. Learning drama allows students to their creativity and have fun while leaving their _____ and worries behind. Drama also works by supporting the growth of imagination and other skills.
Entertainment has become rather passive with , television and computer games becoming more popular. These screen-based methods have had a effect on communication. They prevent children communicating with others. , drama puts the children enthusiastic about communication back into entertainment. Children have the opportunity to with others in a more meaningful way drama encourages speech development , awareness of body language and allows children to become more aware.
Play and drama are closely linked. When children play a game, they are using their and moving away from reality to their own story. Drama is a vehicle which children can express themselves more freely to make education fun.
Children gain by understanding that there is no final answer in drama and that their opinion and contribution are valued. They are able to to many issues and situations such as poverty, recycling and global warming. Drama and have a strong link as drama can children to take an active interest in other subjects such as geography, history and English and so they can a more rounded education.
As a drama teacher, I have witnessed a child at his first class holding onto his parent’s arm---- to let go. Then to see the same child running into my class with a smile is an sight. Drama installs confidence in children by allowing them to improvise(即兴创作) and excitement. Everyone is given the opportunity to shine drama. Besides learning the history of the theatre, drama dance ,music, and directing, etc. These classes are especially designed to be of great fun.
A．explore B．express C．expose D．experience
A．sadness B．excitement C．happiness D．shyness
A．drama B．movies C．radio D．media
A．subjective B．positive C．negative D．sensitive
A．Meanwhile B．However C．Besides D．Therefore
A．compete B．compare C．discuss D．connect
A．before B．though C．as D．if
A．socially B．mentally C．physically D．emotionally
A．imagination B．determination C．consideration D．communication
A．believing B．creating C．telling D．reading
A．for B．through C．beyond D．across
A．confidence B．success C．hope D．admiration
A．reply B．stick C．turn D．respond
A．entertainmen t B．language C．education D．play
A．train B．persuade C．require D．encourage
A．give B．have C．continue D．provide
A．pleased B．tired C．unwilling D．sorry
A．imaginary B．ordinary C．excellent D．odd
A．within B．over C．above D．after
A．links B．possesses C．applies D．covers
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