My violin is like a soul mate that whispers words of wisdom to me. Together, we’ve gone through both tears and happiness.
About 12 years ago, I made acquaintance with it following an order from my mom. Many hours of boredom were spent practicing it. And to make things worse, the disappointment in my teacher’s eyes as I played the wrong notes was like an invisible hammer, striking on my heart. One day, I finally decided: I hate it!
By chance, things changed when I was seven. I was at home lying on the sofa, wondering how those famous violinists dealt with this terrible dilemma. I searched online for the E-minor Concerto, a well-known violin work by German composer Felix Mendelssohn, and listened to it.
A beautiful and mysterious sound came from the violin as the bow moved across it. It was like the music slid over the flowers, rose up, and started to fill the air. The violin’s voice woke up the sun, made the trees green, and freshened the air. As the music changed, the sky turned back to gray. A gloomy shade covered the grass as all the sunshine disappeared. I could hear children crying and men shouting. It was like an invisible claw had grabbed my heart tightly, making it unable to beat.
That glorious day set off my passion and interest in violin — I grabbed mine and never let it go. Before the memories faded, I stared at my instrument. Without hesitating, I picked it up, rosined(用松香擦) the bow, and began to play. Peace filled my heart.
My violin has been by my side for 12 years. When I feel happy, an energetic tune makes it even better; when I’m deep in sorrow, a peaceful tune washes it away, when I’m walking on air, feeling especially pleased with my achievements, solemn(庄严的) tunes calm me down. Gradually, it has become a part of my life.
My violin, shall I compare you to a summer’s day?
1.What further contributed to the author’s dislike of violin-playing?
A.Orders from mum. B.Boredom of practice.
C.Loss of passion for violin. D.Disappointment in the teacher’s eyes.
2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?
A.The author’s feeling was continuously influenced by the music.
B.The weather actually changed because of the tune.
C.The sudden change made the author’s heart unable to beat.
D.The scenery outside the room was quite attractive.
3.Why did the author pick up the violin again?
A.The invisible hammer and claw are gone.
B.The beautiful imagination changed his attitude.
C.A famous tune aroused his interest and passion.
D.He was crazy about Felix Mendelssohn’s works.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.Deep love for music B.My dislike and like of violin
C.An inspiring story of violin D.Musical soul mate—violin
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How many books has the author of the series finished so far?
A.Three B.Five. C.Seven.
2.Why wasn’t the series turned into a movie?
A.The story was too complex. B.There was too much violence.
C.The author didn’t want it to be a film.
3.When was Game of Thrones first shown on television?
A.In 2006. B.In 2008. C.In 2011
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where might the apartment building located?
A.Near the ocean. B.In the bar district. C.In the countryside.
2.In addition to his rent, what will the man have to pay for?
A.All bills B.Cable TV. C.Heating and water.
3.What is the rent for the basement suite?
A.$3,000 per month. B.$2,000 per month. C.$1,400 per month.
4.What is the disadvantage of the studio?
A.It’s noisy at night. B.It’s too far from the city. C.It’s hard to move in the furniture.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where are the speakers?
A.In a hotel room. B.Just outside a hotel. C.At a hotel registration desk.
2.What might have happened, according to the woman?
A.Someone locked the door from inside. B.The man forgot where he put his passport.
C.Some animal came into the room through the window.
3.Where is the man’s wallet likely to be now?
A.By the tree. B.In the drawer. C.In the fruit bowl.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How does the woman feel about her job?
A.She dislikes the traveling part. B.She is thrilled by her responsibilities.
C.She is dissatisfied with her present role.
2.What is the man’s first suggestion to the woman?
A.Talking to her boss. B.Getting a graduate degree. C.Applying for a new position.
3.What does the woman plan to do?
A.Look for a new job. B.Take an online program. C.Move to Los Angeles.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why did the crowd get crazy, according to the man?
A.They felt they didn’t get their money’s worth. B.Europeans are just very aggressive fans.
C.The visiting team played terribly.
2.What is the woman’s attitude towards it?
A.The athletes are to blame. B.Fans shouldn’t take a game so seriously.
C.She can’t understand the crowd at all.
