While everyone enjoys listening to good music, not many of us are what the world calls "musician" —the ones with the ability to play a musical instrument. This could be due to not having the chance to learn as kids or simply due to lack of proper instruction. 1. And here are four good reasons as to why everyone should learn to play a musical instrument.

It teaches patience. 2. It is the daily efforts of everyday practice that can help a musician learn how to play without mistakes. Most musicians go through years of regular practice that may include doing daily musical exercises and dealing with progressively difficult musical pieces, which in turn help them acquire the virtue of patience.

It promotes a sense of achievement. The process of learning how to play an instrument can be both time consuming and tiring. 3. The more time and effort you put into mastering an instrument, the greater your sense of achievement will be.

 4. Playing a musical instrument can bring the joy factor into your life. Music has the special ability to bring joy, peace peace and fulfillment that help lift the spirit and make life enjoyable for everyone involved.

It regulates mood. Research shows that creating music reduces stress. Playing music can also act as an emotional way to express your feelings. 5.

A.It brings pleasure.

B.It improves listening skills.

C.However, music is something that is never too late to learn.

D.Overcoming this directly results in a sense of achievement and pride.

E.Playing an instrument is not something that can be learned overnight.

F.Regularly playing any instrument is a great form of exercise for the brain.

G.Creating your own music can change your sadness or joy into a real work of art.

    Severe heat waves have killed more than 100 people in India this summer and are predicted to worsen in coming years, creating a possible crisis as large parts of the country potentially become too hot to be inhabitable (适宜居住的).

Heat waves in India usually take place between March and July and abate (减弱) once the rains arrive. But in recent years these hot waves have become more severe, more frequent and longer.

India is among the countries expected to be worst affected by severe heat, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say that even if the world succeeds in limiting the rise in average global temperatures, parts of India will become extremely hot.

Last year, there were over 480 official heat waves across India. During that period, more than 5,000 people died. This June, temperatures of 48 degrees Celsius hit Delhi. Churu nearly broke the country's heat record with a high of 50.6 degree Celsius. Bihar closed all schools, colleges and coaching centers for five days after severe heat killed more than 100 people. The closures were accompanied by warnings to stay indoors during the hottest time of the day.

India is trying to develop a heat action plan. The city of Ahmedabad, in Gujarat introduced the country's first action plan in 2013, and its text messages, extra drinking stations and advice to keep out of the sun are credited with saving more than 2,000 lives.

At the same time, India is seeking long term solution The country has planned to cut its carbon emissions (排放) by 33% to 35% in 2030.

1.What's the possible crisis for India?

A.It will rain less and less.

B.Drinking water will run out.

C.Some places will be too hot to be livable.

D.More people will be killed in coming years.

2.What dos paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A.The heat record was broken. B.People are warned to stay indoors.

C.More heat waves hit India this year. D.The heat waves brought great loss.

3.Which of the following are the measures India has taken to fight severe heat?

①Avoiding carbon emissions.

②Building more drinking stations.

③Sending messages about severe heat.

④Giving advice to stay away from severe heat.

A.①②③ B.②③④ C.①②④ D.①③④

4.What is the suitable title for the text?

A.Heat Waves Hit India B.India Suffered a Lot

C.Global Warming Affected India D.A Plan to Fight Severe Heat

    The first graffiti was probably drawings on walls appearing in caves thousands of years ago. Later the Ancient Romans and Greeks wrote their names and poems on buildings. Modern graffiti seems to have appeared in Philadelphia in the early 1960s, and by the late sixties it had reached New York. The new art form rally took off in the 1970s, when people began writing their names, or "tags", on buildings all over the city. In the mid-seventies it was sometimes hard to see out of a subway car window, because the trains were completely covered in spray paintings known as "masterpieces".

The term "graffiti" was first used by The New York Times and the novelist Norman Mailer. Art galleries in New York began buying graffiti in the early seventies. But at the same time that it began to be regarded as an art form, John Lindsay, the then mayor of New York, declared the first war on graffiti. By the 1980s it became much harder to write on subway trains without being caught, and instead many of the more established graffiti artists began using roofs of buildings or canvases (油画布).

The debate over whether graffiti is art or vandalism (破坏公物) is still going on. Peter Vallone, on the New York City Committee, thinks that graffiti done with permission can be art, but if it is on someone else's property it becomes a crime. On the other hand, Felix, a member of the Berlin based group Reclaim Your City, says that artists are trying to get it back from advertisers, and that graffiti represents freedom and makes cities more lively.

The Frenchman Blek le Rat and the British artist Banksy have become world-famous by producing graffiti works. Works by Banksy have been sold for over f 10000. Graffiti is now sometimes big business.

1.What might have happened to the subway car window?

A.It was dirty with paint.

B.It was covered by graffiti.

C.It was broken by some children.

D.It was marked with people's names,

2.What do we know about graffiti?

A.Modern graffiti probably started in New York.

B.Art galleries in New York first used the term "graffiti".

C.The mayor of New York considered graffiti as an art form.

D.Graffiti artists were not allowed to paint on subway trains in the 1980s.

3.What is Felix's attitude towards graffiti?

A.Approving. B.Critical. C.Neutral. D.Indifferent.

4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A.Graffiti is developing very fast.

B.All graffiti artists can make a big fortune.

C.Graffiti has earned international fame for some artists.

D.Some graffiti artists produce works to earn much money.

    In my opinion, classical music is a bit like mushrooms! You don't see the link? Let me explain. When I was a young girl, I didn't like mushrooms. They had a horrible texture and no taste at all, and I used to pick them out of every dish in which my mum tried to hide them. But gradually, as I got older, my view changed. I started to enjoy mushroom-flavoured things like soups and sauces, and eventually I found I could eat mushrooms without grimacing. And now I even quite enjoy them! So my mum's prediction that I would "grow into them" has proved quite correct.

Similarly, I always thought of classical music as a boring genre that only grown-ups liked. Whenever my parents played it in the car, I would count down the minutes until we could change it to my preferred genre: pop. But while at university, I found that calming orchestral music was just the thing for library revision playlists—it had no lyrics (歌词) to distract me, and the pieces tended to be very long: perfect for long work sessions!

Recently, my developing relationship with classical music reached a new level when I voluntarily chose to go to a ballet. Admittedly it was the dancing that originally attracted me, but once there I thoroughly enjoyed the music too. It was The Nutcracker, and I was surprised by just how much of the music I recognised! The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, The Russian Dance, The Waltz of the Flowers—they all sounded familiar. I didn't know how I knew them, I just knew that I did! And I loved them. My parents would be proud.

1.Why does the author think classical music is a bit like mushrooms?

A.Because they are both boring.

B.Because they both interest grown-ups.

C.Because they are both great.

D.Because they both take time to get used to.

2.What does the underlined word "grimacing" in paragraph 1 mean?

A.Using hands. B.Changing facial expression.

C.Taking care. D.Feeling extremely embarrassed.

3.What did the author think of classical music while at university?

A.It was too long. B.It was very popular.

C.It was great background music. D.It was perfect for relaxation.

4.What do we know about the author in paragraph 3?

A.She was familiar with the dance.

B.She became a fan of classical music.

C.Classical music became her favorite.

D.Her parents were unhappy with her change.

    Are you looking for somewhere special to go this weekend? Do you want to try something new? Check out one of these hot new restaurants.

Your Local Caff

Remember when cafes served full English breakfasts sausages, beans, fried bread, bacon and eggs—with a strong cup of tea? Well, this place sill does and you can have your breakfast at any time you like during the day while you listen to your favourite tunes from the 1980s.

A Taste of Tuscany

Whether you'd like a great value-for money lunch or a relaxed evening meal in stylish surroundings, this is the place for you. The chefs have all been trained in Italy and they make both traditional and contemporary dishes. We recommend the pasta and seafood.

Cheesy Bites

A restaurant that only serves cheese, but hundreds of cheeses from many countries and in lots of different forms. They serve reasonably priced lunches but dinner can be expensive. Lovely food and a very elegant dining room, looking onto an amazing flower garden.

The Chocolate Box

The owner of this small cafe used to cook all kinds of food, but then she realised she preferred desserts to anything else. If you want meat or fish, don't come here. They only do desserts! Lots of different sweets. Chocolate lovers will be excited by the range of chocolate cakes.

Last Days of the Raj

A centrally located Indian restaurant, perfect for eating before or after the cinema or a show. In summer enjoy your meal in the beautiful garden. The most popular dishes are lamb and chicken cooked with mild, medium or hot spices. For brave customers there is extra hot!

1.Who might be interested in A Taste of Tuscany?

A.A bacon lover. B.A music lover.

C.A seafood lover. D.A chocolate lover.

2.What is special about Cheesy Bites and The Chocolate Box?

A.The food is cheap.

B.Strong tea is served.

C.The dining room is lovely.

D.Only one kind of food is served.

3.Which restaurant will you go to if you want to have spicy food?

A.Last Days of the Raj. B.A Taste of Tuscany.

C.Your Local Caff. D.Cheesy Bites.

假定你是李华，你的英国朋友Scott下周五将来重庆旅游。而你因为参加一个重要的演讲比赛而无法按原来的约定前去机场接他。请写一封邮件给他，内容如下：

（1）表达歉意；

（2）解释原因；

（3）已经拜托好友张明去接他并简要介绍张明特征。

注意：

（1）词数100词左右；

（2）文章的开头和结尾已经给出，不计入总词数；

（3）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Scott,

I'm writing to extend my sincere apology to you.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Looking forward to your reply.

Yours truly,

Li Hua

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Every time my birthday comes, I am very exciting, because I can receive many different kind of presents from my family and friends. Last week, I spend a happy weekend with my parents. We took a train to another city and went on a short tour as his birthday present. On the train, we listened to music and we all felt very happily. And my parents told me a lot of stories what happened in my childhood. Sometimes they also told me stories about themselves, too. When we arrived in the city, we visited many famous buildings or learned about their history. How a wonderful time! This trip was best present for me, and I will never forget it.

    The other day we went on a trip to our community’s new fountain(喷泉). My oldest daughter, Tea, was super _______ and eagerly explored the attractions. There I was happy to see Lily, who was of Tea’s age. They didn’t know each other well,  _______ they had met at gymnastics before. I was  _______ that Tea would have someone to enjoy the  _______ with. However, my daughter was about to  _______ an important social lesson.

I watched Tea run  _______ after Lily and her other friends. I was saying something to my husband when I heard a loud “No!” I turned to see Tea’s face full of _______  and shock as Lily _______. I went over to see what had happened and Tea said Lily didn’t want to  _______ with her. Thinking that there must be a(an)  __________, I told Tea that she should just ask Lily  __________ if she could play with her. Generally speaking, this would __________. But Tea’s quiet request to play was shot down by another loud “No!”

I gave her a(an)  __________ and told her it was __________,and that Mommy, Daddy and her little sister would play with her. Later that day as I was talking about the fun we’d had, she asked me  __________Lily didn’t play with her.

I said not everyone wanted to play with us and that if one person didn’t want to be __________ you, that didn’t mean you were not  __________  or important to others. I thought I had __________  it clearly. She didn’t mention it any more and I haven’t seen my lasting side effects. However, I can’t  __________  it. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of the memory of her  __________ at that moment. My heart has been forever wounded on her behalf.

1.A.shocked B.worried C.excited D.moved

2.A.but B.so C.if D.because

3.A.curious B.glad C.proud D.afraid

4.A.water B.meal C.toy D.trip

5.A.give B.show C.review D.learn

6.A.early B.badly C.happily D.safely

7.A.sympathy B.smile C.fear D.disappointment

8.A.ran off B.sat down C.broke in D.looked around

9.A.share B.play C.discuss D.meet

10.A.decision B.interest C.misunderstanding D.congratulation

11.A.quickly B.constantly C.shyly D.nicely

12.A.advance B.come C.work D.start

13.A.hug B.award C.letter D.ticket

14.A.suitable B.okay C.obvious D.lucky

15.A.where B.when C.how D.why

16.A.against B.beyond C.around D.behind

17.A.loved B.praised C.doubted D.ignored

18.A.reported B.explained C.prepared D.proved

19.A.observe B.believe C.change D.forget

20.A.quarrel B.face C.illness D.mistake

    Forgiveness

To forgive is a virtue, but no one has ever said it is easy. When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your hate. However, forgiveness is possible, and it can be surprisingly beneficial to your physical and mental health. People who forgive show less sadness, anger and stress and more hopefulness, according to a recent research.

1. Try the following steps：

Calm yourself. 2. You can take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, or someone you love.

Don’t wait for an apology. Many times the person who hurt you does not intend to apologize. They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don’t see things the same way. 3.  Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean becoming friends again with the person who upset you.

Take the control away from your offender (冒犯者). Rethinking about your hurt gives power to the person who caused you pain. Instead of focusing on your wounded feelings, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you.

4. If you understand your offender, you may realize that he or she was acting out of unawareness, fear, and even love. You may want to write a letter to yourself from your offender’s point of view.

Don’t forget to forgive yourself. 5.  But it can rob you of your self­confidence if you don’t do it.

A.Why should you forgive?

B.How should you start to forgive?

C.Recognize the benefits of forgiveness.

D.Try to see things from your offender’s angle.

E.For some people, forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge.

F.To make your anger die away, try a simple stress­management technique.

G.If you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting an awfully long time.

    September is an exciting month in every college freshman's life. For many, it's the first time that they've left home to live in a new environment. But after the hustle and bustle of a few weeks, excitement gives way to a less enjoyable emotion—homesickness.

Homesickness manifests itself in many ways. You may miss mum's cooking, your pets, or even your old bed. All this becomes a fond memory of the past. Homesickness can be a bitter feeling for many students, especially when faced with the challenges of settling into an unfamiliar environment.

But remember, you're not alone. According to a recent BBC article, 70 percent of British college students experience homesickness. In this increasingly globalized world in which people migrate to faraway places for a relationship, education or work, homesickness is a feeling shared by many adults.

Homesickness can have similar symptoms to depression and in extreme cases it can develop into a panic attack. As for the term, homesickness or nostalgia wasn't invented until the 17th century. It was considered a disorder by a Swiss physician, who attributed soldiers' mental and physical discomfort to their longing to return home, "nostos" from Greek, and the accompanying pain, "algos".

Studies in recent years, however, have shown that nostalgia may have some benefits to our mental health. After a decade of surveys and researches, Constantine Sedikides, a US social psychologist, found that nostalgia is what makes us human. He explains that nostalgia can resist loneliness, boredom and anxiety. Therefore, it's necessary for college students to learn some ways to overcome the uncomfortable feeling.

1.From the first two paragraphs, we can infer that ________.

A.homesickness means a fond memory of the past

B.only a few students will experience homesickness

C.homesickness is an enjoyable emotion among freshmen

D.college freshmen usually suffer from homesickness after weeks

2.According to the passage, we can know that ________.

A.homesickness may cause mental diseases

B.homesickness is a feeling only shared by adults

C.homesickness won't do any good to our health

D.homesickness is also called nostalgia in Switzerland

3.What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A.some benefits about homesickness B.other problems in college freshmen's life

C.how to make campus life more meaningful D.some tips on how to cope with homesickness

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Let's embrace homesickness B.How to fit into the college life

C.A harmful emotion—homesickness D.The disadvantages of homesickness