D
I know what you’re thinking: pizza(比萨饼)? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night’s leftovers in the a.m. if you want to.
I know lots of women who skip breakfast(不吃早餐), and they have a ton of different excuses for doing it. Some say they don’t have time; others think they’re “saving” calories(卡路里);still others just don’t like breakfast food .
But the bottom line is that eating in the morning is very important when you’re trying to lose weight. “Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all,” says Katherine Brooking R.D., who developed the super-easy eating plan for this year’s “SELF CHALLENGE”. And even pizza can be healthy if it’s loaded with vegetables, and you stick to one small piece.
Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers at the University of Southern California found that breakfast skippers have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal.
So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night’s leftovers—it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, “You can always eat it tomorrow,” I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it. You may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects.
68. The word “leftovers” in Paragraph 1 probably means_______.
A. food remaining after a meal B. things left undone
C. meals made of vegetables D. pizza topped with fruit
69. What can we infer from the text?
A. Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry.
B. Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast.
C. There are some easy ways of cooking a meal.
D. Eating vegetables helps save energy.
70. According to the last paragraph, it is important to________.
A. eat something for breakfast B. be careful about what you eat
C. heat up food before eating it D. eat calorie-controlled food
71. The text is written mainly for those________.
A. who go to work early B. who want to lose weight
C. who stay up late D. who eat before sleep
E
Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.
The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.
In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money. At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance.
The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics. Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life.
Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.
Allowances give children a chance to experience the three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it.
Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future. Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance. A savings account is an excellent way to learn about the power of compound interest.
Compounding works by paying interest on interest. So, for example, one dollar invested at two percent interest for two years will earn two cents in the first year. The second year, the money will earn two percent of one dollar and two cents, and so on. That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up.
77.For children who receive allowances, they’d better not ________.
A. waste money to buy gifts for their parents or friends
B. buy their favorite clothing or electronics for themselves
C. save money like their parents or other adults
D. ask for the next allowance before the decided date.
78.Many parents give children an allowance regularly to ______.
A. meet children’s basic need for life
B. give control over their children
C. see whether they have financial mistakes
D. help children learn how to manage money
79.If children are required to save their allowance, they ______.
A. can experience three things related to money
B. can understand the relation between goals and sacrifice
C. will do more work around the house
D. help themselves found the basis for their future life
80. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Be Generous to Pay Your Children
B. Be Wise to Avoid Financial Mistakes
C. Saving Allowances Does Good to Children
D. Allowances Help Children Learn about Money
(D)
People living in the country enjoy several advantages that people living in the city cannot enjoy.
They are in close contact with nature. They make friends with trees and stones. They breathe fresh air. They fight with strong winds. They listen to the song of birds.
This contact with nature is good for health. There are many diseases that are common in the city, but are not to be found in the country, For example, near-sightedness is almost unknown to country people.
Because of the absence of cars, one can walk more freely in the country than in the city, There are no rules of the road nor traffic signs to obey.
People living in the country can easily get fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and fresh milk, Are they get them at lower prices than in the city.
Country life is economical in other ways, too. There are practically no temptations to waste money.
Country people are mostly honest. They say what they mean, and make and keep promises with sincerity. They do not put on air (摆架子). They do not pretend to have those ridiculous manners which are necessary in what we call polite society.
67. What CAN’T country people often enjoy?
A. Musical concerts. B. Fresh air.
C. Song of birds. D. Close contact with nature.
68. What is probably more expensive in the country than in the city?
A. Vegetables. B. Beer. C. Milk. D. Fruit.
69. What is NOT true of country life?
A. The traffic accident rate is very high in the country.
B. Living in the country saves one a lot of money.
C. Country people enjoy better health than the city people.
D. Country people are honest.
70. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. People living in the country enjoy no advantages.
B. People living in the city are in close contact with nature.
C. People living in the country suffer from more diseases than those living in
the city.
D. The prices of farm products are lower in the country than in the city.
71. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. The Disadvantages of Living in the Country.
B. The Expenses of Living in the Country.
C. Country Life.
D. Healthy Country People.
(C)
Driving a car at high speed along a highway seems to be fun. You need only to follow the bright traffic signs beside the highways and it will take you to where you wish.
But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job. A taxi driver has to have not only good driving skills but also a good knowledge of the city of a London, from the smallest lane to the most popular bar around. He has to be at the service of all kinds of passengers at all times.
A certain London taxi driver told of his job as follows.
During the night it is quite usual for him to stop two or three times for some refreshments (点心). He said. "I never drink when I'm working ---- I would lose my licence."
He normally goes home between 2 and 3 O'clock in the night, There are times he has to stay longer and try to make more runs. He said, "That's the worst thing about working for yourself. If you don't make the money, no one is going to give it to you."
London taxi drivers not only ‘take' but also ‘give' , Every summer hundreds of children from London will go for a day at the sea--- by taxi! Their rides are paid by the taxi drivers, and these fares all go to the ‘London Taxi Fund for Underprivileged Children.' At the sea. they are met by the mayor, and a lunch party is also held in honour of the taxi drivers and the children. After a happy day running around the sea beaches and visiting the market, the children go home again-- by taxi, and free of charge, of course!
62. To be a London driver is not easy because ______.
A. he has to follow the bright traffic signs
B. he has to have good driving skills and know all the places in the city
C. he has to serve all kinds of passengers at all times
D. both B. and C
63. The London taxi drivers _______.
A. work hard because on one would give them money for doing nothing
B. never stop driving in the city
C. only work between 2 and 3 o'clock in the night
D. are very rich
64. The author of the passage says that _______.
A. the taxi driver works longer than is necessary
B. the more runs the taxi driver makes, the more he gets
C. the taxi driver doesn't like to work for others
D. the taxi drivers in the city go to the seaside to attend a party every year.
65. London taxi driver _______.
A. take money because they have to pay for the children's ride
B. go to the sea for a day in the summer
C. pay the fares for the poor children to the sea for a day once every year
D. give the poor children a free ride for a day at the sea once every year
66. The underlined words Underprivileged Children mean children _______.
A. of low income families B. who like to travel in taxi
C. who wish to go to sea but have no money D. from London
The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single—engined aeroplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather. To make things worse, her altimeter (高度表) failed and she didn't know how high she was flying. At night, and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged (冲) into the sea.
Just before dawn, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames (火焰) coming from the engine. Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except to keep going and to hope.
In the end, Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly welcomed in England and Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart was famous.
What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean alone, and she had set a record of fourteen hours and fifty—six minutes.
In the years that followed, Amelia Earhart made several flights across the United States, and on each occasion (时刻) she set a new record for flying time. Amelia Earhart made these flights to show that women had a place in aviation (航空) and that air travel was useful.
71. Which of the following statements is NOT the difficulty which Amelia Earhart met in her flight from north America to England?
A. She was caught in a storm. B. The altimeter went out of order.
C. Her engine went wrong. D. She lost her direction.
72. When Amelia Earhart saw flames coming from the engine, what did she do?
A. She did nothing but pray for herself.
B. She changed her direction and landed in Ireland.
C. She continued flying.
D. She lost hope of reaching land.
73. According to the passage, what was Amelia Earhart’s reason for making her flights?
A. To set a new record for flying time.
B. To be the first woman to fly around the world.
C. To show that aviation was not just for men.
D. To become famous in the world.
74. Which of the following statements was NOT mentioned?
A. She was the first woman who succeeded in flying across the Atlantic Ocean alone.
B. She showed great courage in overcoming the difficulties during the flight.
C She was warmly welcomed in England, Europe and the United States.
D. She made plans to fly around the world.
75. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Amelia Earhart—First Across the Atlantic.
B. Amelia Earhart—Pioneer in Women’s Aviation.
C. A New Record for Flying Time.
D. A Dangerous Flight from North America to England.
B
Below is a table which shows the melting(液化)and boiling points of common substances.Study the table.Then do Numbers 4—7.
Substance |
Melting point(C) |
Boiling Point(C) |
Water Alcohol Nitrogen Oxygen |
0 –117 –210 -218 |
100 78 –196 –183 |
4.The underlined word‘substances'means‘a type of'_________.
A.matter B.liquid C.solid D.gas
5.Which of the four should be a liquid at-90 degrees?
A.water B.alcohol C.nitrogen D.oxygen
6.Mixing alcohol and water is often used to wash windscreens of cars during the wintertime because _________.
A.it is easier for alcohol to change into gas
B.alcohol is not easily separated from water
C.alcohol freezes at lower temperature than water
D.the mixture is not expensive
7.In order to change water from a solid to a liquid energy must be _________.
A.removed B.added C.created D.destroyed
六、Reading comprehension.(阅读理解)20分
A
Air is an odorless(that cannot be smelled;smelless),invisible(that cannot be seen)gas that surrounds the planet earth.It is everywhere on the planet.An “empty” drinking glass and an “empty” room,to give two examples,are not really empty.Each is filled with air.When the glass is filled with water,the water pushes the air out of the glass.
Air,as a gas,has no definite(fixed,particular)shape,but,because it is matter,it takes up space.It is easy to prove that air is something that takes up space.Stuff a dry handkerchief into the bottom of a glass so that it will not fall out when the glass is turned upside-down.Push the upside-down glass,hold it straight into a jar of water till the glass is completely covered.When the glass is taken out of water,the handkerchief will be dry.The air inside the glass took up space and kept the water from coming in.
1.“Stuff a dry handkerchief into…”.The underlined word means.
A.Press tightly B.Take out C.Put down D.Turn fully
2.The writer tells us that _________.
A.the experiment was done in the laboratory
B.the experiment was done outside the room
C.the experiment is easily done
D.the experiment is carried out indoors
3.Which of the following pictures gives us the correct result?
(W—water;A—air;H—handkerchief)
Nothing can spoil a vacation quicker than losing your money or credit cards. A few simple steps before you head out of the door can help protect your cash, card and personal information while you’re traveling.
Paul Stephens, a policy analyst San Diego, notes that people spend a lot of time planning their trips, from buying guidebooks to finding just the right beach outfits(装备).“But their eyes glaze(呆滞) over when the subject of keeping money safe comes up,” he said.
“Why not take a few minutes to do something that could probably save your vacation?” Stephens asked.“In most cases, they can go on your to-do list with‘ buy travel bags’ and everything else,” he added.
The top recommendation is to clean your wallet. Remove unnecessary credit cards and any other unneeded documents that could compromise(危及...的安全)your identity if lost or stolen while you’re on vocation.
Then make a photocopy of the cards you’ve decided to take along and keep it in a secure location with you(not in your wallet)or leave it with a trusted relative or friend back home. Then you will know who you need to contact and how to reach it if your wallet is missing.
“Travelers should never leave their wallets or any identifying documents in their hotel room when they’re not there,” he said.” Choose a hotel with a safe to keep your valuable things in. Or keep your wallet and documents with you at all times. ”
56.According to passage, _______can destroy one’s vacation the most quickly.
A.being lost on vacation B.losing money or credit cards
C.living in a bad hotel. D.losing contact with family
57.What does the underlined word stand for?
A.The people who are going traveling.
B.The outfits that are prepare4d for traveling.
C.The suggestions on what to buy when traveling.
D.The steps to avoid losing money or credit cards.
58.What should people do with their wallet before they go on vacation?
A.Take it with them all the time.
B.Put it in a safe place at the hotel
C.Remove unnecessary cards and documents.
D.Leave it with family or friend.
59.What is the topic of the passage?
A.How to prepare for travel.
B.How to be happy during your vacation.
C.How to keep cash and cards safe on vacation.
D.How to protect your luggage on vacation.
60.According to the passage, we know ______.
A.people don’t always know how to protect their money or credit cards
B.people should take a lot of money with them while traveling
C.people can leave their identifying documents in rooms, if the hotel is expensive
D.people can spend a few minutes preparing the luggage for travelling
第三部分:阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,扶每小题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Be sure to book a table if the restaurant you choose is all expensive or a popular one.You will feel embarrassed to show up without booking and having to wait for a table, leaving very bad impression on your friend,especially your girl friend.Also,be sure to check to see if you need to be properly dressed and tell your fi4end ahead of time what to wear.
When your food arrives,proper dining manners make you eat at a right pace so that you have time to talk.A good measure of how fast you should eat is to count 10 seconds between each mouthful and it’s bad manners if you eat too fast and then spend the rest of the time watching your friend eat.
Don’t make noise when having soup and chewing,or chew with your mouth open.
Your napkin(餐巾)should be placed on your lap at ail times.Don’t put it in any other place;It you have to get up,place it nearly on your seat.
When eating,put your fork straight in your mouth.Don’t place your fork in the side of your mouth as it increases the chances of dropping your food,which could be very embarrassing.If you get food stuck in your mouth,don’t pick it out with your fingers or fork at the table.Excuse yourself and go to the restroom and get it out with a toothpick.
When dining,keep your eyes on your friend at all times and try to smile between mouthfuls. Some-times,you should make an effort to show some interest and ask questions like,“How do you like the beef?”If she needs, you are the one who is supposed to flag down the waiter fly a gentle wave of the hand until someone notices you.
56.If you want to eat in a popular restaurant,the author of the passage suggests that .
A.you book a table beforehand
B.you book a table beforehand and check to be properly dressed
C.you go with a friend
D.you just show up any time you want
57.Good eating manners do NOT include .
A.eating at a proper pace
B.making sounds to show how much you enjoy food
C.showing some interest to your friend when dining
D.placing a napkin on your lap
58.We can infer from the passage for sure that .
A.the writer of the passage favors those dinning manners.
B.the writer of the passage is not a Chinese
C.toothpick is available in the restroom
D.toothpick is not to be found on a dinner table
59.The passage is mainly about .
A.dining manners B.an expensive restaurant
C.what to dress D.what to eat
第二部分:阅读理解(共20小题。每小题3分,共60分)阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。
A
We thought we had it all---a beautiful house, three healthy children and one more on the way,
two cars, a couple of four-wheelers for entertainment---and we loved it. Then, the market turned and my husband’s job at a construction company was gone. The company was closing down for good.
We both started looking for jobs right away, but there weren’t any to be found. With each passing day we were getting increasingly worried and we continued to work together in order to pull our family through. The more we pulled together, the closer we got. I felt feelings of admiration for my husband that I hadn’t felt in years.
That’s why it was so hard for me to watch him blame himself for our present situation. I continually asked him to stop, but he seemed to want to punish himself for not having a job.
Finally, one afternoon I pulled him aside and said, “We have four healthy children and each other. That’s what’s important. That makes you a rich man.”
“ But what if we lose the house? They’ll hate me—you’ll hate me,” he replied.
I smiled at him and put my hands on both sides of his face to make him look me in the eye. “No matter where we live I will be happy –as long as I have you.” I smiled again. In all the struggling together I had found that deep love for him that I had on the day we said “I do”.
I could see his shoulders and neck relaxed. He held me close and we were able to talk and plan and dream together in a way that we hadn’t for quite some time. It was a turning point for us as a couple and a family.
We are still struggling for out better life, but I consider us well-off because we have something that money can’t buy and no one can take away from us.
36.The underlined sentence in the second paragraph means that________.
A.they became closer as they struggled together
B.they hoped to find jobs in the same company
C.neither of them had the courage to ace difficulty
D.they were trying to make their relationship closer
37.We can learn from the passage that________.
A.they both found good jobs at last.
B.both of them were worried about joblessness.
C.her husband was to blame for the unemployment
D.they didn’t love each other when they got married
38.Which of the following can best describe their present life?
A.Bitter but easy. B.Comfortable and happy.
C.Hard but warm. D.Well-off and relaxing.
39.The best title of the passage might be________ .
A.We Have It All B.We Find It Again
C.A Perfect Couple D.A Hard Time
第二部分 阅读理解
(共25小题。第一节每小题2分,第二节每小题1分;满分45分)
第一节 阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
One night, Mrs. Riley, an elderly woman, was walking along a dark London street. She was carrying her handbag in one hand and a plastic carrier bag in the other. There was nobody else in the street except two youths. They were standing in a dark shop doorway. One of them was very tall with fail hair, the other was short and fat with a beard.
The youths waited for a few moments, and then ran quickly and quietly towards Mrs. Riley. The tall youth held her from behind while the other youth tried to seize her handbag.
Suddenly, Mrs. Riley threw the tall youth over her shoulder. He crashed into the other youth and they both landed on the ground. Without speaking, Mrs. Riley struck both of them on the head with her handbag and walked calmly away.
The two surprised youths were still sitting on the ground when Mrs. Riley crossed the street towards a door with a lighted sign above it. Mrs. Riley paused, turned round, smiled at the youths and walked into the South West London Judo(柔道)Club.
The two youths stood in a dark shop doorway because _____.
A.they had nothing to do |
B.they were homeless |
C.they meant to rob somebody |
D.they were guarding the shop |
What did Mrs. Riley do to the two youths?
A.She hurt them seriously. |
B.She taught them a lesson. |
C.She reported them to the police. |
D.She sent them to a judo club. |
The story tells about an elderly woman who _____.
A.often went shopping at night |
B.was brave and wise |
C.worked in a shopping center |
D.had a skill of self–defense |
Hidden in our subconsciousness (潜意识) is a perfect mental picture. We see ourselves on a long trip that goes across the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we think in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle feeding on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, or row upon row of corn and wheat, of flat lands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of city skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw(拼图玩具) puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles(通道), condemning the minutes for loitering --waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
“When we reach the station, that will be it!” we cry. “When I’m 38.” “When I buy a new 450SL Mercdes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college.” “When I have paid off the!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after! ”
Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
“Relish(appreciate) the moment” is a good motto, actually it isn’t the burdens of today that drive man mad. It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. Then the station will come soon enough.
Why does the author describe the mental picture?
A.To lead us into a perfect world. | B.To let people enjoy the scenery. |
C.To introduce an actual trip of his. | D.To compare it to our life’s journey. |
How do people feel when they’re on their trip?
A.Puzzled. | B.Happy. | C.Relaxed. | D.Impatient. |
What does the author mean by “Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today” in Line 2 Paragraph 5?
A.Regret and fear are responsible for the loss of today. |
B.We must be careful of the two thieves: regret and fear. |
C.regret and fear stop us from enjoying our present life. |
D.We’re frequently challenged by the two : regret and fear. |
Why does the author write the passage?
A.To teach us a good lesson. | B.To tell us the right attitude to life. |
C.To advice us to forget our worries. | D.To stop us wandering along the aisles. |
This is time of year when we think about giving and receiving presents. Can you find a little extra to give? On this page we suggest a few organizations you might like to help.
Littleton Children’s Home
We don’t want your money, but children’s toys, books and clothes in good condition would be very welcome.
Also—we are looking for friendly families who would take our children into their homes for a few hours or days as guests. You have so much—will you share it?
Phone Sister Thomas on 55671.
Children’s Hospice
We look after a small number of very sick children. This important work needs skill and love. We cannot continue without gifts of money to pay for more nursing staff. We also need story books and toys suitable for quiet games.
Please contact The Secretary, Little Children’s Hospice, Newby Road.
Street Food
In the winter weather, it’s no fun being homeless. It’s even worse if you’re hungry. We give hot food to at least fifty people every night. It’s hard work, but necessary. Can you come and help? If not, can you find a little money? We use a very old kitchen, and we urgently need some new saucepans. Money for new ones would be most welcome indeed.
Contact Street Food, c/o Mary’s House, Elming Way, Littleton. Phone 27713.
Littleton Youth Club
Have you got an unwanted chair?—a record player?—a pot of paint?
Because we can use them!
We want to get to work on our meeting room!
Please phone 66231 and we’ll be happy to collect anything you can give us.
Thank you!
The Night Shelter
We offer a warm bed for the night to anyone who has nowhere to go. We rent the former Commercial Hotel on Green Street. Although it is not expensive, we never seem to have quite enough money. Can you let us have a few pounds? Any amount, however small, will be such a help.
Send it to us at 15, Green St, Littleton. Please make check payable to Night Shelter.
Reading the passage, you might like to help these organizations which work for
A.homeless and sick children |
B.less fortunate members of our society |
C.hungry people who have no beds to sleep in |
D.friendly members of our society to help others |
If you like children and can offer a happy family to a homeless child, you may go to .
A.Street Food | B.Night Shelter | C.Children’s Home | D.Children’s Hospice |
We can infer that .
A.there are too many social problems in this country |
B.people are very poor during the time for giving presents |
C.warm-hearted people like to give away money |
D.this passage is taken from a local newspaper |
If your child has grown up, you may take the child’s things to .
A.Children’s Home and Children’s Hospice | B.Youth Club and Children’s Home |
C.Children’s Hospice and Night Shelter | D.Youth Club and Night Shelter |
Think of some of your favorite singers. When you listen, they can make you happy or sad, peaceful or angry. They can make you relax or want to get up and dance. Gifted singers have the power to affect us in many ways—emotionally, physically and mentally.
But becoming a great singer isn’t as easy as listening to one. It takes practice, devotion and strong lungs! Just ask the well-known American opera(歌剧)star Carol Vaness.
At the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where she often sings, Carol’s voice must be loud enough to be heard by four thousand people. It must reach every person in the theater, without a microphone, even when she’s singing softly. The reason Carol can project her voice that far is the way she breathes.
“When you breathe, it’s like a swimmer taking a deep breath before going underwater,” Carol explains. “You have to take a lot of air into your lungs.”
According to Carol, the main difference between pop singing and opera is “how you breathe, how much air you take in, and how you control it coming out. Regular singing is more like speaking, and it’s lot softer. When I sing for children, they’re often surprised by how the vibrations strike their ears—like waves on a beach, ”Carol says. “In opera, the air doesn’t just go out of your mouth—it vibrates in your chest,the way a guitar vibrates when it’s played.”
Ever since she started piano lessons at the age of ten, Carol has loved music. As she got older, she decided to become a music teacher. When she went to college, she took singing lessons as part of her studies. Her voice teacher discovered that nineteen-year-old Carol had an exceptionally beautiful soprano voice-the highest singing voice for women.
Carol decided to make opera her goal, not only because she loved to sing but also because she loved the drama. Opera is a play in which the characters sing the words instead of speaking them. The stories of opera can be tragic or comical. They can be personal stories about two people falling in love or grand stories about kings and queens who lived long ago. As the characters in an opera sing, the emotions(情感)expressed by words and music come to life.
Today, Carol performs throughout the United States and Europe and she has song for almost twenty years. But she has never forgotten where she started singing in the first palace.
“Put your heart into your singing and enjoy it,” says Carol, “because singing is a great joy. That’s why I sing. In fact, that’s why everybody sings.”
According to the passage, the Metropolitan Opera in New York City .
A.is a five-story building | B.can seat 4,000 people |
C.has no microphone in it | D.can project the singer’s voice |
What is the best title for this passage?
A.Opera Singing and Pop Singing | B.The Way an Opera Star Sings |
C.An Opera Star | D.Singing without a Microphone |
Which statement is true?
A.A pop singer’s lungs are usually stronger than those of an opera singer’s |
B.Opera singing is more like speaking. |
C.A pop singer takes in much more air than an opera singer when singing. |
D.An opera singer breathes differently from a pop singer when singing. |
From the passage you can conclude all the following EXCEPT that .
A.Carol once learned to play the piano |
B.Carol worked as a music teacher |
C.Carol has been singing opera for 20 years or so |
D.Carol is popular with Americans and Europeans |
E
Sweet potatoes are fat-free, high in fiber and full of the vitamins that research suggests reduce your risk of life-shortening diseases. To stay healthy, we must eat more fruits and vegetables, and sweet potatoes are a great source of beta carotene(胡萝卜素) and other carotenoids(which the body turns into vitamin A). According to a study of the diets of almost 90,000 nurses, eating about one cup a day of fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids can cut your risk of stroke in half and reduce your risk of heart disease by 22 percent. Other research suggests beta carotene protects against breast, lung and stomach cancers.
Beta carotene is the most famous member of the carotenoids family. In face, a medium-sized sweet potato contains nearly 12mg of beta carotene(anti-aging experts usually suggest 6 to 11 mg per day). Sweet potatoes are also a low-fat source of vitamin E. Research has linked high E diets with a lower risk of heart disease. This vitamin pill in an orange jacket also packs a vitamin C punchit which has more C than apricots (a kind of fruit). Research suggests that vitamin C protects against ailments (小疾) ranging from cataracts(an eye disease) to cancer. In addition, a UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) study linked high vitamin C diets with a longer life. Recent studies have showed that antioxidant Vitamins C, E and beta carotene fight a fierce battle against free radicals (自由基),which cause cell damage and lead to various illness. Therefore, to keep fit, eat more sweet potatoes.
72. According to the text, there exists a lot of ______in sweet potatoes.
A. fiber, beta carotene, other carotenoids, Vitamin E and C
B. beta carotene, other carotenoids, fiber, Vitamin A and E
C. Vitamin A, beta carotene, fiber, Vitamin E and C
D. beta carotene, other carotenoids, Vitamin A and E
73. This text as a whole suggests that eating sweet potatoes can help______.
A. cut your risk of stroke and heart disease
B. protect against breast, lung and stomach cancers
C. protect against ailments ranging from cataracts to cancers
D. you stay healthy and reduce your risk of life-shortening diseases
74. “ This vitamin pill in an orange jacket” in the passage refers to______.
A. sweet potato B. vitamin C pill
C. vitamin E pill D. beta carotene
75. The best title of this passage might be______.
A. On sweet potatoes B. The vitamin superstar
C. Beta carotene and vitamins D. Diet and disease