Music education hasn’t changed much since the 1970s. Students are still taught to read notation(乐谱) so they can recite compositions that they would never listen to on their MP3 players or play with friends. Playing music enriches life. The question is： Why do schools teach music in a way that turns off so many young people rather than catch their imagination? Can we do a better job of using the power of music to get kids excited about school?
The experience of an organization called Little Kids Rock suggests the answer is yes — if we change the way music is taught. Little Kids Rock has helped music programs in over a thousand public schools and served 150，000 children. The organization has given 30，000 free instruments out， mainly guitars， and trained 1，500 teachers to run music classes in which students quickly experience the joys of playing their favorite songs， performing in bands(乐队)， and writing their own music.
The key to Little Kids Rock is that it teaches children to play music the way many musicians learn to play it — not by notation， but by listening， imitation(模仿) and meaningful experimentation. “The knowledge you need to get started playing rock music is very limited，” explains Dave Wish， the founder of Little Kids Rock. “In high school， my friend Paul taught me a couple of chords(和弦) and my life was changed forever. On the first day of class， Little Kids Rock teachers place guitars in the hands of their students and get them practicing chords that will enable them to play thousands of songs. The kids decide what songs they want to learn and the class is off and running. Their progress is surprising. Within a year， eight and nine-year-olds are playing musical instruments， and giving concerts， even performing their own songs.
One of the biggest advantages that music offers is the ability to encourage students who are otherwise bored by school. “I’ve had students start coming back to school because of this program，” said Adkison Thomas， who heads up music for the Dallas Independent School District. He added， “One of the best things is that the teachers discover a new side of their students. They see kids become successful who weren’t before.”
The expression “turn off” in Paragraph 1 means “______”.
| A．make kids feel cool |
| B．make kids feel bored |
| C．make kids feel confident |
| D．make kids feel nervous |
How did Little Kids Rock help the school?
| A．By writing music for kids. |
| B．By playing kids’ favorite songs. |
| C．By making instruments for school. |
| D．By training teachers for music classes. |
Little Kids Rock is successful because ______.
| A．it encourages kids to experience music |
| B．it helps kids learn from great musicians |
| C．it allows kids to decide how to learn music |
| D．it offers musical programs all over the country |
What does the writer want to tell us?
| A．Learning music is a good way to become successful. |
| B．Teaching in a proper way benefits students’ development. |
| C．It’s necessary for students to practice a lot in learning music. |
| D．It’s important for teachers to discover the new sides of students. |
Legend has it that an apple which fell from its branches was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity(引力). But now history’s famous fruit tree is paying the price of fame.
The thousands of visitors drawn to Sir Isaac’s childhood home each year could be damaging the tree. A willow barrier(围栏)has been put around the tree. It means visitors to the 17th century Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, will no longer be able to sit under its branches as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when “the notion of gravitation came to mind.”
The National Trust, which owns the small manor(庄园)where Newton was born in 1642, said the 2ft-high barrier was designed to preserve the tree. Official Ann Moynihan said there had been no damage so far but warned that there could soon be a problem.“Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 percent, to 33,000 a year in three years. The more people who visit, the more the earth will become compacted(压实) around the tree and over the roots. We just want to preserve the tree for another 400 years if we can.”She said visitors will still be able to take apples from the tree.
Visitor Chris Gwyther,37,said,“I suppose it is a pity that you can’t sit under the tree like Newton. But you can still see it and the tree is 400 years old, it needs saving for the future.”
Newton left no information saying he had been inspired by a falling apple. The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727, the year Newton died at the age of
| A．Because of the story about the apple tree. |
| B．Because of the long history of the apple tree. |
| C．Because of the sweetness of the apple. |
| D．Because of the unusual flower of the apple tree. |
| A．The manor is too crowded to sit around. |
| B．Their heads will be hit by the apples. |
| C．A willow barrier has been put around the tree. |
| D．There is something wrong with the apple tree. |
| A．keep something safe | B．make something grow |
| C．leave something as it is | D．let something be |
| A．In 1642. | B．In 1665. |
| C．In 1820. | D．In 1727. |
| A．Newton himself wrote a letter about the story of the apple tree. |
| B．Newton’s family owes Woolsthorpe Manor and tells the story. |
| C．Visitor numbers have gone up to 32,000 every year. |
| D．A French philosopher wrote the apple tree story in a book. |
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At present, more and more people like travelling. They travel to see more of the world. They can also go shopping, meet people from other countries, and learn about their cultures as well as customs.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 1.138 billion people travelled to other countries in 2014. In 2014, Chinese people travelled abroad 11.2% more than 2013. The growing of tourism can benefit (使……受益) not only China but also other countries.
Chinese people usually join large tourist groups and visit several countries in one trip. They don’t just travel for sightseeing. They like shopping and spend much money while travelling, especially during festivals. Europe and the United States are popular places among Chinese travelers.
In December, China is the cold winter. Many people like to go to some countries in Southeast Asia because the weather there is quite pleasant.
Now more and more Chinese can travel abroad. But some of them don’t have a good sense of public manners. A western report in 2012 said Chinese were the world’s second worst tourists. Even now the world still doesn’t like Chinese tourists.
If we Chinese want to have a change, remember not to do these: throwing rubbish everywhere, talking loudly, smoking in non-smoking areas, spitting, line-jumping, taking off shoes in public, snatching bus seats… Besides, we should learn some necessary manners of foreign countries.
根据短文内容，选择最佳的答案，并将其字母标号在答题上涂黑。（5小题，每小题2分，共10分）Chinese people travel abroad not to _____________.
A. go shopping B. make money C. go sightseeingAccording to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), ________.
A. more than 1 billion people travelled abroad in 2014
B. more than 1 billion Chinese people travelled abroad in 2013
C. 11.2% of Chinese people travelled abroad in 2014Which of the following is NOT true about Chinese people?
A. Chinese people like joining large tourist groups.
B. Chinese are the worst tourists in the world.
C. Many Chinese like to go to Southeast Asia in winter.As a good tourist, you should _______________.
A. throw rubbish everywhere
B. speak loudly and smoke as you like
C. learn some necessary manners of foreign countriesWhat’s the best title(标题) of the passage?
A. Travelling
B. Travelling abroad
C. Chinese people like travelling
Thankful Thursday is a special day in our family. It’s a weekly tradition that my two little girls and I began two years ago. We go out to do charity(慈善) work.
Last Thursday we drove along a busy Houston street to give out lunch for the poor people in the street. After we ate, I ordered 15 more lunches from McDonald’s and began to give them out. We noticed a poor, old woman standing on the side of the road, asking for something to eat. We handed her our final lunch bag. Just as we got into the car she walked quickly closer to us. “Thank you very much. No one has ever done anything like this for me before,” she said with a big smile. “Well, I’m glad that we were the first,” I replied. “So, when will you eat your lunch?” I asked. She looked at me with her huge, tired brown eyes and said, “Oh honey, I’m not going to eat this. I have a little girl of my own. She loves McDonald’s, but I don’t have the money. You see, tonight she will be happy!”
I don’t know if the kids saw the tears(眼泪) in my eyes. I have asked myself many times whether our acts of kindness were too small to really change anything. But at that moment, I understood the kind lady Mother Teresa’s words: “We cannot do great things—only small things with great love.”
根据短文内容，选择最佳的答案，并将其字母标号在答题上涂黑。（5小题，每小题1分，共5分）On Thankful Thursday, the writer went with her two daughters _____________.
A. to have lunch at school
B. to visit their friends
C. to help people who are in needThe poor, old woman wanted to _____________.
A. give the lunch bag to her daughter
B. sell the lunch bag to the kids
C. keep the lunch bag for herselfThe old woman’s daughter may feel __________ that night.
A. unhappy B. bored C. pleased“Mother Teresa” probably is ________.
A. the poor, old woman
B. the writer’s mother
C. a kind-hearted womanFrom the story we know the writer wants to tell us _______.
A. a small act of kindness means a lot
B. parents should be kind to their kids
C. it’s difficult to help everyone in need
| We’ve moved! Please come to the party in our new house. 8:00 pm on May 30. Betty and Peter. Address: 44 North Street. Tel: 5552981. E-mail: betty@email.net |
Must Sell $275 Best washing machine ONLY 6 months old Owner moving to another city Call Mike Green. Address: 6 King Street. Tel: 5553956. E-mail: mike@hotmail.com |
Smith’s Book Club New and old books Over 1000 kinds Good coffee and tea. Open every day 10:00-22:00 Address: Apple Square Tel: 5552125 E-mail: smith@yahoo.com |
根据表格信息，选择最佳的答案，并将其字母标号在答题卡上涂黑。（5小题，每小题1分，共5分）If you want to go to Betty and Peter’s party , you can call_____.
A. 5552891 B.5553956C. 5552981Mike Green has to sell his washing machine because_____.
A. he wants to repair it
B. he will move to another city
C. he wants to buy a new one onlineSmith’s Book Club is open_____ hours a day.
A. 8 B. 10C. 12If you want to read books , you can go to _____.
A. 44 North StreetB. 6 King Street C. Apple SquareYou can use the e-mail : mike@hotmail.com if you want to _____.
A. buy a washing machine
B. visit a new house
C. drink coffee and tea
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