Vijay Gupta is known to classical music lovers across the United States. He serves as first violinist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In that job, he often plays to large crowds, including many very rich people. When he is not performing, he organizes concerts for homeless people. “They have reminded me why I became a musician,” he said.
Last week, Gupta was recognized for being a founder and the artistic director of Street Symphony. The group has performed at homeless shelters, jails and halfway houses for about eight years. Gupta is among the 25 winners of the 2018 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius grant.” Each winner will receive $625,000 over five years to use as they wish. The money is coming from a private group, the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It awards grants (补助金)to people whose work it considers exceptional and that “inspires hope in us all.” Gupta said he got the idea for Street Symphony while teaching Nathaniel Ayers, a trained musician whose mental illness led to homelessness.
Another winner is Rebecca Sandefur, an associate professor of sociology and law in the University of Illinois. The Associated Press says her research actively supports new ways to involve poor communities in the U.S. justice system.
47-year-old Sandefur created the first national mapping of civil legal aid providers. It shows which states had the financial resources to provide such aid and which did not. She also found that the cost of legal services is only one of the things preventing poor people from getting lawyers. Among the others are fears about unfairness in the legal system. Sandefur noted that a lot of attention has been paid to problems with the criminal justice system, but more attention must be paid to the civil side of the law, which also affects millions of people.
1.Why did Gupta win the award?
A.For his achievements in classical music.
B.For performing for large crowds.
C.For organizing a group playing for the homeless.
D.For the friendship with Nathaniel Ayers.
2.What do we know about MacArthur Fellowship?
A.It is founded by the government.
B.It offers $625,000 to 25 winners in 2018.
C.It allows the winners to use the money freely.
D.It awards people who make great contributions to society.
3.What was the extraordinary thing that Sandefur did?
A.She offered legal aids to the poor freely.
B.She made the legal system fairer.
C.She paid more attention to the criminal justice system.
D.She made it easier to get legal help for the poor.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A.Grants winners, inspiring the poor.
B.The city homeless, in need of help.
C.Vijay Gupta, an extraordinary violinist.
D.MacArthur Foundation, awarding exceptional work.
The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and most beloved science museums in the U.S.
Why Visit
In 1824, the Franklin Institute opened in Independence Hall in memory of Benjamin Franklin and his scientific achievements. In 1934, with the construction of the current building and the nearby Fels Planetarium, it became a hands-on science museum.
Today, it holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania’s most visited museum. In the museum’s rotunda (圆形厅), a 20-foot-tall marble statue pay respect to the Founding Father and famous scientist.
Must-See
While the entire museum offers interactive fun, highlights include the high-tech Your Brain exhibit which offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the human brain; Sports Zone, which focuses on the scientific aspects of sports; Two Escape Rooms, where participants solve puzzles and riddles before time runs out; and the on-sile Virtual Reality Demonstration Space.
Pricing
General Admission to the Franklin Institute includes access to three floors of hands-on science exhibits including permanent interactive exhibits, Live Science programs, the Joel N. Bloom Observatory and one show in the Fels Planetarium. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.
To purchase tickets, please click the ticket price to be directed to our online ticketing page where all the ticket prices are available. If you prefer to order tickets over the phone, please call 215 -448 -1200(9:00 am-5:00 pm).
Member Tickets
Members of the Franklin Institute receive exclusive (独有的) ticketing benefits, including discounted prices and no service fees. Please select your Membership level before purchasing member tickets.
1.What is the original purpose of the Franklin Institute?
A.To show respect to the Founding Father.
B.To honor Franklin and his achievements.
C.To attract more visitors and make profits.
D.To remind visitors of the famous scientist.
2.What can be inferred from Pricing?
A.Tickets for science exhibits are sold out.
B.Interactive exhibits are strongly recommended.
C.Discounts are available for most visitors.
D.The ticket prices are listed on the website.
3.What type of writing is this text?
A.A museum guide. B.A science show review.
C.A brief announcement. D.A scientific report.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What goods should be mainly sold next week?
A.Skirts. B.T-shirts. C.Pants.
2.Who is giving away a free pair of shoes to the top salesperson?
A.Adidas. B.Under Armour. C.Nike.
3.Who will be the new assistant manager?
A.Tim Golding. B.Jane Lewis. C.Dianne Greenberg.
4.When should staff members finish counting their items?
A.By Friday. B.By Wednesday. C.By Monday.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What will Henry do at the beach?
A.Go swimming. B.Go walking. C.Go biking.
2.What is the relationship between the speakers?
A.Classmates. B.Colleagues. C.Manager and customer.
3.Why won’t Kelly go to the beach tomorrow?
A.It will rain. B.She has to work.
C.She is sensitive to the sun.
4.Who will drive the car today?
A.Ryan. B.Henry. C.Kelly.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are experts predicting about robots within 10 years?
A.They will completely replace humans.
B.They will take over the top 10% of jobs.
C.They will take over 30% of all jobs.
2.According to the man, what difficult jobs are robots doing now?
A.Data analysis. B.Acting. C.Writing documents.
3.What do the speakers think people should do?
A.Drive less. B.Let robots do more dangerous jobs.
C.Learn new skills and work with robots.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How long did Marco Polo travel?
A.For 13 years. B.For 17 years. C.For 24 years.
2.What does the man suggest the woman do at the end?
A.Read a storybook about Xuanzang.
B.Write an essay about Marco Polo.
C.Imagine the life in ancient times.
