Once there was a piano player in a bar. People came just to hear him play. But one night, a lady asked him to sing a song.
I don’t sing, “said the man.
But the lady told the waiter, “ I’m tired of listening to the piano. I want the player to sing! “
The waiter shouted across the room,” Hey,friend! If you want to get paid,sing a song!” So he did. He had never sung in public before. Now he was singing for the very first time! Nobody had ever heard the song Mona Lisa sung so beautifully!
He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no - name piano player in a no - name bar. But once he found, by accident，that he could sing well,he. went on working hard and became one of the best - known singers in the US. His name was Nat King Cole.
You,too,have skills and abilities. You may not feel that your talent is great,but it may be better than you think. With hard work, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may have no success at all if you just sit on your talent.
1.Nat King Cole succeeded because .
A.the lady helped him a lot B.he caught the chance
C.he continued to play in the bar D.he played the piano well
2.The words” sit on” in the passage probably mean” “.
A.fail to realize B.forget to use
C.try to develop D.manage to show
3.From the story we know if you have some talent,you should .
A.hide it and wait B.ask others for help
C.pay no attention to it D.work hard to improve yourself
4.Which could be the best title for the passage?
A.Sing in the Bar B.Achieve Success in Life
C.Never Lose Heart D.Find Your Hidden Talent.
Alida Monaco doesn’t spend her summers doing the usual teenage work, like working at the mall. Instead，she ‘ s studying.
It used to be that a summer job was considered a teenage thing. Today, Monaco ,who has never had a summer job, is part of growing trend (趋势)teenagers focusing on their studies, even during the summer. That’s down from 72% of Americans aged 16 to 19 who worked in July of 1978, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Fierce (激烈的)competition, older workers returning to the workforce and weak economic growth are all adding to the decrease of teenagers in the workforce. But as schoolwork grows increasingly heavy and homework eats up more time, data suggest the biggest reason why some teens won’t be working this summer is that they simply don’t1 have time.
For college - bound teens, some teachers even advise students not to waste time on a summer job. “ Some of my students only have about six weeks off in the summer,” said Shannon Reed, a lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh and a former high school English teacher.” I could never advise that they get jobs during that short break. ”
Young people who don’t work may miss out on valuable skills that they’11 need control and help people learn to deal with adult situations. But Monaco, who plans to attend Harvard, isn’t fazed by her lack(缺乏)of work experience. “Maybe I have missed out on a couple of life skills, “she said. “ But I don’t think it will harm me in way .”
1.What is the trend of American teenagers?
A.They are becoming lazy.
B.They are fond of doing holiday jobs.
C.They are focusing more on studies than on jobs.
D.They are becoming particular about (挑剔)holiday jobs
2.What is the third paragraph mainly about?
A.The reasons for teenagers giving up work.
B.The fierce competition teenagers face.
C.The structure (结构)of America’s workforce.
D.The effects of America9 s weak economy.
3.What’s Shannon Reed’s attitude towards the new trend?
A.uncaring. B.favorable(支持的). C.worried. D.doubtful.
4.What does the underlined word “fazed” in the last paragraph mean?
A.supported. B.helped. C.upset. D.confused.
To see the world is one thing. To have someone to share it with is another. Indeed the travel becomes more interesting when you have a travel partner. A travel partner can be a close friend, a family member, a pal you’ve met online, or a business
You can have someone to talk to
Traveling alone is fun，but wouldn’t you feel lonely? Having a travel partner can remove the feeling of loneliness. This is especially true if you can get a travel companion who is very familiar with the place you, re traveling to. You don’ t have to ask any information from the locals, and you can increase the time you spend in the country.
One of the major headaches in traveling is the costs involved. You can’t simply ignore the rising price of hotels or plane tickets. You should also think about your daily needs, such as your food. Of course, you can’t simply go back without bringing any souvenirs (纪念品)to your friends and family. All these can ruin your budg- et(预算).However, when you have a travel friend, you can have someone to share the expenses with.
You can meet a good friend
Having a travel mate is a good way of meeting a new friend or even a lifelong partner. You can never count the number of couples who actually found their way into each other’s heart while traveling together in another country.
You can have someone to watch out for you
When you’re in a foreign land, you’ll never be really safe. You don’t know the rules as well as the culture of the people. A travel mate will be perfect to remind you of your duties in the country and to watch your back just in case you get lost. So why don’t you find a travel companion now?
Let’s find out how ...
1.What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A.To introduce a travel company.
B.To encourage us to have a travel partner.
C.To explain how to be a perfect travel partner.
D.To tell an interesting experience with a travel partner.
2.What’s the best title for the 3rd paragraph?
A.You can have someone to share the expenses with.
B.You can know the local culture well.
C.You can enjoy food with your partner.
D.You can save money by bargaining together.
3.Which of the following statements agrees with the author’s opinion?
A.Traveling alone is not fun.
B.Buying souvenirs isn’t necessary.
C.Many people fall in love when traveling.
D.It’s better to choose a stranger as a travel partner.
4.The following paragraph will probably talk about .
A.how to get along with a travel partner
B.how travel can benefit people
C.what we can learn from travel
D.how to find a travel partner
Summer is the most popular season to visit Texas since there is so much to see and to do. While visiting the Lone Star State this summer, don’t miss visiting some of these attractions and taking part in some of Texas’ best summer vacation activities.
Visit SeaWorld
There are sea life shows，adventure camps，thrilling rides and a water park. A great many activities are waiting for you at SeaWorld.
Windsurf at South Padre
With miles of shallow (浅的)，calm water in the Lower Laguna Madre and strong winds conning off the Gulf of Mexico，South Padre Island is a windsurfer’s dream.
Swim at Barton Springs
Barton Springs is in the famous Zilker Park. It was formed when Barton Greek was built. Since its opening, Barton Springs has become one of the most popular swimming pools in the state.
Take part in an outdoor adventure
In the scenic Texas Hill Country, Lake Buchanan Adventures offers different kinds of activities, including boating, hiking, camping and more.
Camp and hike in Big Bend Park
Big Bend offers a great number of outdoor activities in an old way. Backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, hiking, nature watching and camping - you name it. If it can be done outdoors, it can be done in Big Bend.
Enjoy saltwater fishing
Saltwater fishing in Texas is as good as anywhere else in the USA. More and more fishermen have been discovering this in recent years and packing their bags and rods (鱼竿)to make good use of Texas, world - class saltwater fishery.
1.The underlined phrase “the Lone Star State” in Paragraph 1 is another name for .
A.Texas B.San Antonio C.South Padre D.Gulf of Mexico
2.When you visit SeaWorld, you can enjoy the following EXCEPT .
A.sea life shows B.adventure camps
C.climbing D.exciting rides
3.Where can you go if you want your windsurfing dream to come true?
A.San Antonio. B.South Padre.
C.Barton Springs. D.Texas Hill Country.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What is the program mainly about?
A.College courses (课程).
B.Firefighter training.
C.Emergency escape(紧急逃生).
2.Where will people practice?
A.On trains. B.In tall buildings. C.In a college.
3.What is the requirement(要求)of applying for(申请)this course?
A.Being over 16 years old.
B.Sacrificing(牺牲)some free time.
C.Having leadership skills.
4.What information does the speaker offer?
A.Her office address. B.Her phone number. C.Her e - mail address.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where are the speakers?
A.In Britain. B.In Germany. C.In France.
2.What does the woman do in most working hours?
A.She handles daily affairs (事务).
B.She deals with e-mails.
C.She manages the telephones.
3.When does the woman usually get off work?
A.At 5:15 pm. B.At 4:30 pm. C.At 4:15 pm.
4.What is the woman?
A.A secretary. B.A director. C.An engineer.
