Shane Thomas is a 10-year-old pianist from England. He’s being called the next Mozart because of his amazing abilities.
He has only been having piano lessons for four months, and practices four hours a week, but he has already played difficult classical pieces. He was just seven when he sat down at the piano, and could play at once. He also says he never gets nervous.
When Shane was three years old, he said that he could play the piano, but nobody took him seriously. At school, he could listen to the teacher and do his work while composing (作曲) in his head. Shame remembers all the melodies（旋律）,and when he gets home he plays them on the piano, while his father records them. Shane loves playing the piano, and when he grows up he wants to be a composer.
His tutor, Richard Goffin-Lecar, says he is like Amadeus Mozart, who lived during the 18th century in Salzburg, Austria, and was one of the most famous composers ever. Mr. Goffin-lecar says, “I don’t teach Shane very much. I just give him directions, then sit back and watch.”
His father, a single parent with two other children, says that although he has little money, he wants to send Shane to a good music school. “I’m a single father, but I have this gifted child. I don’t have much money, but I want to give him the best teachers, and also take him into a studio to record.”
1.When did Shane tell others that he could play the piano?
A. At age three. B. At age ten. C. At age seven. D. At age four.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about Shane?
A. He feels nervous while playing the piano
B. He can compose in his head while doing his work.
C. He wants to be a piano tutor when he grows up.
D. He doesn’t like to listen to the teacher at school.
3.What do we learn about Shane’s father?
A. He also plays the piano well.
B. He’s a single father with two children.
C. He believes in Shane’s talent for music and will support him.
D. Not having enough money, he will ask the teachers for help
My husband hasn’t stopped laughing about the thing that happened to me. It’s 1now but it wasn’t that time.
Last Friday, after doing all the family shopping in town, I 2a rest before catching the train, so I bought a 3and some chocolate and went to the station coffee shop that was a cheap, self-service place with long 4to sit at. I put my heavy bag down on the floor, put the newspaper and chocolate on the table to 5a place and went to get a cup of coffee.
When I came back with the coffee, there was someone in the 6seat. It was one of those 7young man, with dark glasses and torn clothes, and hair colored bright 8at the front, not so unusual these days. What did 9me was he’d started to eat my chocolate! Naturally, I was annoyed. However, to avoid trouble—then really I was rather uneasy about him—I just 10down at the front page of the newspaper, tasted my coffee, and took a bit of chocolate. The boy looked at me 11. then he took another piece of my chocolate. I could hardly 12it. Still I didn’t want to start an argument. When he took a 13piece , I felt more 14than annoyed. I thought, “ Well, I shall have the last piece.” And I 15it.
The boy gave me a 16look, and then stood up. As he left, he shouted out, “This woman is mad!” Everyone 17. That really made me feel silly, but it was 18when I finished my coffee and got ready to leave. My face went red—as red as his hair when I 19I’d made a mistake. It wasn’t my chocolate he’d been taking. There was mine, unopened, just under my 20.
1.A. serious B. wonderful C. funny D. exciting
2.A. enjoyed B. took C. had D. wanted
3.A. cake B. newspaper C. magazine D. bag
4.A. chairs B. tables C. benches D. beds
5.A. order B. find C. keep D. visit
6.A. very B. same C. free D. next
7.A. wild-looked B. wild-looking C. good-looking D. good-looked
8.A. red B. black C. brown D. white
9.A. interest B. surprise C. frighten D. hurt
10.A. looked B. lay C. sat D. put
11.A. eagerly B. friendly C. closely D. shyly
12.A. believe B. hear C. notice D. stop
13.A. last B. big C. single D. third
14.A. angry B. lucky C. happy D. curious
15.A. covered B. threw C. got D. wrapped
16.A. strange B. exhausting C. nervous D. pleasant
17.A. agreed B. promised C. stared D. followed
18.A. better B. worse C. later D. easier
19.A. wondered B. realized C. decided D. recognized
20.A. bags B. clothes C. book D. newspaper
______ you are alone at home, why don’t you go with us to the party?
A. Even though B. As though C. So that D. Now that
Can you ___me to call Mr. Smith this afternoon? You know how forgetful I am.
A. permit B. persuade C. remind D. allow
It was quite ___accident that I met him; he was homeless and ___rags at that time.
A. by; in B. on; in C. at; by D. in; in
You should pay a lot of attention to children’s ideas; sometimes they ___be really creative.
A. must B. can C. need D. should
