When I was four years old, I wanted nothing more in life than to play the piano. My best friend Betty had a piano. But Betty hardly played it at all. She would rather play hide-and-seek. It didn’t seem fair.
One day my mother came to pick me up from Betty’s house. “Watch this!” I told her. Then I ran to play a song I had learned that morning. I was so proud of what I’d learned. “That’s nice, Jenny,” she said. “But we can’t afford a piano.”
When I turned six, my mother bought me a recorder(直笛). The problem was that I didn’t love the recorder. When I played the recorder, I didn’t feel anything special inside. I asked my mother if we could have a piano. “We still can’t afford one,” she said. “One day, I promise.”
In the sixth grade, my mother traded in the recorder for a real clarinet(黑管). I like the clarinet more, but it still wasn’t a piano. It wasn’t the music that was inside of me.
One day, when I was in the seventh grade, my mother cut an ad out of the newspaper. We drove to a stranger’s home in Providence, Rhode Island. The woman had a beautiful, dark wood piano from Russia. It was called an upright piano because it was tall. It was so shiny that it looked like it was wet. “We’ll take it,” my mother said. “It has a nice sound.”
After that, I played the piano every single day.When I left for school in the morning, I would leave the sheet music open on the piano. When I got home, I would walk straight to the piano and sit down and start playing the sheet music. I even played if I stayed home sick. I had finally found the music inside of me.
Do you struggle with music? Have you been given an instrument to play, but you just can’t play it? Maybe you think you’re just no good or that you don’t have any musical talent. Don’t get discouraged. It’s not true! We all have music inside of us, even if it’s just what we listen to. Now it’s up to you to find the right way to set that music free.
1.What did Jenny get when she was six?
A.A clarinet.
B.A recorder.
C.A violin.
D.A guitar.
2.How did Jenny get her piano?
A.Betty gave it to her.
B.She traded in the clarinet for it.
C.She got it from her uncle.
D.Her mother bought it from a stranger.
3.Which of the following is TRUE?
A.Betty was more interested in playing the piano.
B.An old woman sent Jenny a clarinet from Russia.
C.Jenny enjoyed playing music with the right instrument.
D.Jenny’s mother borrowed a recorder in her seventh grade.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.How Jenny found the music inside of her.
B.What benefits Jenny got from making music.
C.How Jenny learned to play musical instruments.
D.What trouble Jenny had taking up music as a hobby.
What do you want to do later in life? Here are 4 teenagers talking about their hometowns and their dreams.
Albert, age 11, Ontario
I come from Ontario.I love how different each season is. In winter, I go skiing with my family and cousins.
I’ve played soccer since I was three. I’ve made great friends and learned a lot of new skills. When I’m a professional soccer player, I want to work with kids, helping and encouraging them.
Sara, age 12, Washington
I live in Washington. It’s so pretty and green. I can go camping and hunting, and we have the best rivers to fish in.
I want to make a difference in the world. I’ve started making a change by leading my school’s Drug Abuse Prevention Club. I’ve also helped raise money for children who live with wars.
Madison, age 10, Maine
I live in Maine.I like living in a small townbecause it’s easy to get outside with friends.
I’m not sure what I am planning for my future, but I have lots of ideas! I like to think outside of the box and experience new things, so as I go through life I’m sure I’ll have even more ideas!
Brittany, age 11, New Jersey
I live in New Jersey. I love going to Six Flags Great Adventure and playing with my dad.
I have been a member of a public speaking organizationsince I was seven. I really enjoy going to my speaking classes and competing against other teams. My dream is to be a lawyer.
1.Who is going to be a soccer player?
A.Albert.
B.Sara.
C.Madison.
D.Brittany.
2.How did Sara help the children who live with wars?
A.By encouraging them.
B.By raising money.
C.By planning for their future.
D.By giving speeches.
3.Madison likes living in a small townin Maine because ______.
A.each season isdifferent there
B.he can go camping and hunting
C.it’s easy to get outside with friends
D.it’s fun to go to Six Flags Great Adventure
完形填空
Ever since I was very young, I have looked to my parents and grandparents, friends and teachers for guidance. I ask them for answersto everything. Afraid to make a , I’ve asked countless times, “What should I do?”
Maybe I was to take my first baby step on my own. I decided I only wanted to do things the “right” way, even if it meant not doing something.
Sometime during my high school years, I . Maybe it was when I decided to try for the lead in “Beauty and the Beast”. Never mind that I would have to memorize lines and movements, I would take the chance that I might fail. The day of tryouts my heart was beating wildly. My hands were badly when I got up to sing.
But something happened. When I opened my mouth to sing, the sound was loud, powerful and sweet. I reached for the high notes that sometimes were beyond my reach. With no break in my voice, I was trying to do my best even though I might . But I didn’t. I realized that if I wanted to live life to the fullest, I had to take chances.
Now, I do take these chances with baby steps every day, my opinions in class discussions or debates, performing in other school plays.
I have finally learned to myself. I’m taking a tough science course right now. Some of my friends are talking about auditing(旁听)the class so a low grade won’t affect their opportunities for college. I’m taking the chance that if I try enough, I’ll get a good grade so that it won’t lower my strong grades in other subjects.
I have come to realize that even though my parents and grandparents, friends and teachers don’t always have the to “What should I do?”, they will be there to support me when I try.
“Life is learning to deal with Plan B,” my mother told me. But I now know that the Plan A I make for my life will become easier with every I take.
1.A.wish B.mistake C.noise D.promise
2.A.afraid B.ready C.happy D.lazy
3.A.travelled B.regretted C.changed D.waited
4.A.knocking B.moving C.aching D.shaking
5.A.miss B.doubt C.turn D.fail
6.A.hiding B.voicing C.choosing D.guessing
7.A.comfort B.excuse C.push D.enjoy
8.A.fast B.hard C.early D.well
9.A.answer B.plan C.letter D.hope
10.A.break B.minute C.chance D.class
—Do you know______?
—It’s Lucy’s.
A.whose bag is it B.whose bag it is
C.whose bag was it D.whose bag it was
Last month, food and tents______to Nepal after the earthquake happened.
A.send B.sent
C.are sent D.were sent
Henry______in a bank for four years since he left school.
A.worksB.worked
C.has workedD.is working