I have been dancing since I was 14 years old, when my best friend dragged me to an after-school dance class. I enjoyed that dance class so much that have been dancing ever since. After every dance class, however, I always have to stretch out my legs and back, as dancing can be quite a tough workout! It feels like as much exercise as a contact sport or going to the gym—but dancing is not widely considered to be a sport. Does the fact that dancing is expressive and artistic mean that it is not a sport?
Many dancers would argue that dancing is a sport, as it requires great physical stamina (耐力), strong muscles and impressive flexibility. No matter what style of dance you are participating in, you will always be using all of your muscles while dancing and this can often be for several hours day. Additionally, in the more traditional dance styles (such as ballet and contemporary dance), men often lift their female dance partners way up in the air. The strength that dancers need means that they are often just as athletic as footballers, runners or swimmers.
On the other hand, many people argue that dance is an art form. Dances often show emotion, portray characters and tell stories. Dancing to music is creative and visually appealing to the eyes and ears, just like watching a play or a professional orchestra. The glittery costumes, the stage make-up and the big hairstyles are artistic and imaginative. It is easy to see why many people consider dance to be an art form.
I personally believe that dance is both a sport and an art. I believe that a great dancer will be a mixture of an athlete and an artist. You could have the strongest muscles in the world but not necessarily be a great dancer. Likewise, you could be a great actress who can portray emotions easily but you still might not be able to dance.
However, whether you consider dance to be an art or a sport, the important thing is to enjoy it! Dancing is great way to make new friends and it’s a really fun way to exercise!
1.Many people think dance is an art because a dancer ________.
A.acts like in a play while they dance
B.should be as strong as a runner
C.doesn’t show a traditional style
D.usually performs on a prepared stage
2.What’s the fourth paragraph mainly about?
A.Why the writer thinks dance is both a sport and an art.
B.What a great dancer does before success.
C.How you can become a famous actress.
D.What the writer experiences before she becomes a mixture.
3.The writer wants to _________ by the text.
A.make sure which dance is, a sport or an art
B.ask us to enjoy dancing no matter what it is
C.tell the difference between a sport and an art
D.make more friends when we dance
The Boy Made It!
One Sunday, Nicholas, teenager, went skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. In the early afternoon, when he was planning to go home, a heavy snowstorm swept over the area. Unable to see far, he turned off the path. Before he knew it, Nicholas was lost, all alone! He didn’t have food, water, a phone, or other supplies He was getting colder by the minute.
Nicholas had no idea where he was. He tried not to panic (惊慌). He thought about all of the survival shows he had watched on TV. It was time to put the tips he had learned to use.
He decided to stop skiing. There was a better chance of someone finding him if he stayed put. The first thing he did was to find shelter (躲避) from the freezing wind and snow. If he didn’t, his body temperature would get very low which could quickly kill him.
Using his skis, Nicholas built a snow cave. He gathered a huge mass of snow and dug out a hole in the middle. Then he piled branches on top of himself, like a blanket, to stay as warm as he could.
By that evening, Nicholas was really hungry. He ate snow and drank water from a nearby stream so that his body wouldn’t lose too much water. Not knowing how much longer he could last, Nicholas did the only thing he could-he huddled (蜷缩) in his cave and slept.
The next day, Nicholas went out to look for help, but he couldn’t find anyone. He followed his tracks and returned to the snow cave, because without shelter, he could die that night. On Tuesday, Nicholas went out again to find help. He had walked for about a mile when a volunteer searcher found him. After two days stuck in the snow, Nicholas was saved.
Nicholas survived this snowstorm because of a TV show. He had often watched Grylls’ survival show Man vs. Wild. That’s where he learned the tips that saved his life. In each programme of Man vs. Wild, Grylls is left in a wild area and has to find his way out.
When Grylls heard about Nicholas’ amazing deeds, he was super impressed that Nicholas had made it since he knew better than anyone how hard Nicholas had to work to stay alive.
1.What happened to Nicholas one Sunday afternoon?
A.He got lost. B.He broke his skis.
C.He hurt his eyes. D.He caught cold.
2.How did Nicholas keep himself warm?
A.He found a shelter. B.He lighted some branches.
C.He kept on skiing. D.He built a snow cave.
3.What saved Nicholas at last?
A.His tracks. B.The snow cave he built.
C.A nearby stream. D.The tips he learned.
Meet My Hobby | |
| Hello, I’m Joshua. I collect lots of things. I have stamps, postcards, tickets and banknotes in my collection. They come from all over the world. I first grew interested in stamps, but when people gave me postcards with stamps on them, I started collecting them, too. It is easy to go from stamps to banknotes. Of course, they are only the smallest notes or my hobby would cost too much! I also keep bus, train and air tickets. Most of them are from China. I keep my collections in special books. As a result of my hobby, I know a lot about geography and foreign countries. |
| Hi, my name is Ray. My hobby is badminton. Of course, I enjoy playing the game very much. I developed my interest when I was only six. Now I have a lot of skill and am a very successful teenage player. I think the game is very relaxing and when you play well, it can be very creative. I am a fan of the game as well as a player. I collect books and magazines about the sport. I visit badminton websites and travel a long way to watch a good game. I love my hobby. |
| Hello, nice to meet you. I am May. My hobby is very creative. I am an artist. I collect all sorts of things — stones, pieces of cloth, coloured paper, cinema tickets -anything -and then make interesting pictures out of them. My mother likes my work too, but she says I am too untidy and she is always clearing up after me. I think work better when I have lots of things around me on the floor, bed and table. That’s what artists are like. |
1.What does Joshua collect?
A.Coloured paper. B.Books and magazines.
C.Pieces of cloth. D.Stamps and postcards.
2.Why does Ray like badminton?
A.Because it is low-cost.
B.Because it is relaxing and creative.
C.Because he can know a lot about foreign countries.
D.Because he can make interesting pictures out of them.
3.What’s May’s hobby?
A.Collecting stamps. B.Playing badminton.
C.Drawing creatively. D.Travelling around the world.
Standing in front of the bike shop, Dave stared at the shiny red bicycle in the window. He could picture himself riding the bike in Saturday’s race and winning the first-place medal and prize money. “With that bike, I could even beat Adam,” Dave thought.
He rode on and stopped at Pecks clothing store. The coat he ________ to buy his mother for her birthday was still on sale. Dave knew she would never buy it for herself. She worked hard just to make ends meet. But the prize money would be enough for him to buy that coat and surprise her.
Dave looked at his old bike. Two years ago, he found some old bicycles at the junkyard and used the parts to make one bike. He called it his recycled bike. “I’ll never ________ the race on this old bike,” Dave sighed (叹息).
As Dave passed the junkyard, he noticed a newer-looking bike tire. He started going through the huge junk pile. Finally, he found what he was looking for. “These two tires and the handgrips are just ________ for my bike.”
Arriving home, Dave put the used tires and the handgrips on his recycled bike, and oiled the chain. He stood back and admired the ________ he had made. “I might win that race after all,” he said to himself.
The next morning, when Dave and his mom got to the park, about thirty kids had already ________. Dave headed for the start line while mom found a seat at the finish line.
Bang! The riders rushed off. Dave concentrated on Adam, who was in the lead. He ________ to pass one rider after another and was approaching Adam. Leaning forward, Dave pedaled (蹬踏) harder and faster. ________ he sped by Adam and crossed the finish line.
As the announcer awarded Dave the medal and the check for fifty dollars, he asked, “What are you going to do with the prize money, Dave?”
“It’s a ________.” Dave said and waved to his mom.
1.A.agreed B.ordered C.advised D.planned
2.A.enter B.lose C.miss D.win
3.A.right B.helpful C.simple D.strange
4.A.decisions B.changes C.preparations D.discoveries
5.A.started B.separated C.gathered D.followed
6.A.prepared B.arranged C.offered D.managed
7.A.Suddenly B.Finally C.Recently D.Usually
8.A.praise B.promise C.surprise D.choice
—Excuse me, can you tell me ________?
—She lives in Beijing.
A.where Mary lives B.where does Mary live
C.where did Mary lived D.where did Mary live
Lots of rubbish ________ by volunteers every day.
A.divides B.is divided C.will divide D.was divided
