Darrius was born with three fingers on his right hand and one on his left hand. He had to work hard to do things that were easy for others. Every time his classmates tried to help, he would say, “Thanks, but I can do it myself.” He learned to use the four fingers to do different things.

When Darrius was 10, he told his father that he liked piano(钢琴) music very much. “It's too bad you can't play,” his father said. But the boy took that as a challenge(挑战).“I will show people that I can,” he said to himself.

Months later, a neighbour gave him an old piano when she moved away. He taught himself to play the piano and practised for hours a day.

Darrius's favourite piano music is River Flows in You by Yiruma, a Korean musician. It took Darrius a year to learn it. “I have to come up with my own way with only 4 fingers,” he said. When he succeeded, he felt so proud. Later he was lucky enough to play the music together with Yiruma at a famous concert hall! Yiruma encouraged Darrius to follow his dream of playing his own music. Darrius has made it. And his music is popular today.

“I may have a disability,” he says, “ but I don’t let it hold me back from anything.”

1.What did Darrius take as a challenge at the age of 10?

A.Writing his music. B.Playing the piano. C.Giving a concert. D.Visiting a hall.

2.How long did it take Darrius to learn to play River Flows in You?

A.A year. B.A month. C.A day. D.An hour.

3.Who encouraged Darrius to follow his dream?

A.His classmate. B.His father. C.A neighbour. D.A musician.

4.What can we learn about Darrius from the text?

A.He has a strong will. B.He bought himself a piano.

C.He gave up his dream. D.He only plays others’ music.

What Will You Do with A Dollar？

■ I will hide the dollar in the most beautiful place that I can find, and then create a map to the dollar. I hope someone will discover this map years later and have a magic travel to go on.

Philip Stockton

■ I will buy a cup of coffee for the most successful person in New York and ask for his/her secret of success.

Patrick Martine

■ A single dollar gets me almost nothing, so I will get my friends together and ask each of them to give a dollar. We will give an open-air concert in our town. I hope the show can brighten the day of the town.

David Andrew

■ In my travels, I find people need clean drinking water most. I once saw in Africa 40 to 50 people travel 25 miles for water. So I will use the dollar to provide free drinking water for people in need.

Ben Harrison

Follow us on https://justforfun.com/art of living for more.

1.What will Patrick Martine do with a dollar?

A.To create a tourist map. B.To go on a magic trip.

C.To ask for the secret of success. D.To give an open-air concert.

2.Who wants to help people in need of free drinking water?

A.Philip Stockton. B.Patrick Martine.

C.David Andrew. D.Ben Harrison

3.Where does the text probably come from?

A.A film magazine. B.A science report.

C.A website. D.A travel guide.

Linda: Good morning. Moonlight Middle School.

Susan: This is Susan Lee, 1.

Linda: I'm sorry, but he isn't in the office now.

Susan: 2.

Linda: No, he won't, He is away for the rest of the day.

Susan:3.

Linda: I'm afraid not.4. Can I take a message.

Susan: OK, thanks. I have a meeting with him next Monday, but I can’t make it.

Linda: I see, 5.

Susan: Thank you very much.

A.Will he be back soon?

B.Who is calling, please?

C.I’d like to speak to Mr. Thomas.

D.I'll tell him when he comes back.

E.When will Mr. Thomas come back?

F.Is there any other way I can reach him?

G.He has gone out of the town on business.

    In recent years, with more and more cars on the road, flying robots are used to deliver(递送) mails. Flying robots can ___mails to people's houses without having to deal with heavy_____.But they will spend too much time in returning. A research center is trying to improve its flying robots with the____of homing pigeons(信鸽).

Homing pigeons are pigeons that are____trained to fly home from somewhere else. In tests, researchers____that homing pigeons were____efficient(高效的) than flying robots at returning to their home. So the research center is trying to use a flying robot, together with a____, to deliver mails. After the robot finishes its tasks, it can____the pigeon back in the shortest possible time.

Although it will cost more money to____pigeons, the research center says that it can____time. And the time it saves will make up for the cost.

1.A.invite B.carry C.blow D.kick

2.A.traffic B.rain C.fire D.pollution

3.A.help B.luck C.treat D.interest

4.A.poorly B.carelessly C.specially D.musically

5.A.promised B.joked C.planned D.found

6.A.less B.more C.little D.much

7.A.homing pigeon B.big house C.leading person D.heavy car

8.A.train B.knock C.follow D.steal

9.A.dress B.paint C.clean D.raise

10.A.expect B.show C.kill D.save

    When I was 12 years old, my mother sent me to a Chinese school in California. I ____ spending my Saturdays in a three-hour Chinese class. I thought it was difficult and boring.

However, my mum thought that I should develop and improve(提高) my Chinese ____ skills. I seemed to know it would do me good in future, but at that time I couldn't realize the____of learning a second language.

Many years later, I had a____to work in Asia. I chose China mainly because I learned Chinese when I was____.However, I still wondered if I could____street signs, buy food and talk to people there.

Shortly after I arrived in China, my Chinese language____came back soon and improved____. A long time ago, I wanted to give up____Chinese. Luckily, my mum encouraged me and stopped that from happening. I’m____that the Chinese language has helped me a lot in different ways. My life is getting more and more colourful.

1.A.hated B.advised C.enjoyed D.forgot

2.A.business B.music C.language D.cooking

3.A.mistakes B.excuses C.fears D.advantages

4.A.habit B.chance C.skill D.suggestion

5.A.busy B.young C.successful D.experienced

6.A.read B.touch C.afford D.move

7.A.tool B.ability C.point D.difficulty

8.A.safely B.politely C.quickly D.privately

9.A.changing B.sharing C.learning D.protecting

10.A.sorry B.worried C.angry D.glad

We are supposed to         smart phones and take more exercise instead.

A.take up B.put away C.look into D.give out

— Could you tell me         we can start a conversation with a foreigner?

—Talking about weather is a good choice.

A.how B.why C.where D.when

Our English teacher is nice and patient         she is very strict with us.

A.if B.as C.unless D.though

— The air here is much fresher than before.

—Exactly! We         a lot of trees in the past few years.

A.planted B.were planting C.have planted D.will plant

— Hi, Jill. I'd like to share with you the latest news about the height of Qomolangma.

—Really? Make sure the news is true before you         it.

A.receive B.spread C.cancel D.hear