Public schools in Washington, D.C. provide students with musical instruments for free. When something goes wrong with an instrument, Charles West and Larry Jernigan do the repairs. Both men approach their work with a passion(激情). For them, it’s important that students have a joyful experience with music.
The two have worked together for almost 20 years. This year alone, they’ve fixed about 450 instruments. Both men are musicians and music lovers, so learning to do repairs came naturally.
“I have been a musician all my life.” says West. “I played in an orchestra here in the city. I majored in music in college. I played in an army band.”
Jernigan’s musical interests are varied. “I was formerly trained in the piano and guitar. The alto sax, and the flute, I picked up while working here.”
In addition to fixing instruments, the two also go to schools to instruct teachers and students on how to make minor repairs on their own.
West believes if children start early and stay involved with music, it enriches other areas of their lives. “I see that in other kids. I see it in myself. I have seen it hundreds of times and it works,” he says. “They learn teamwork. They learn patience and respect.
But West has concerns about the future of music in the electronic age.
“This instant age has taken away from the sit-down, the patience. And to learn to play an instrument, it takes patience, it takes diligence, it takes time.”
Being able to enjoy music on the job is one of the benefits of the job. Both men agree their best rewards are the students’ performances.
1. What’s the job of West and Jernigan at school?
A. Teaching music.
B. Writing music.
C. Making musical instruments.
D. Repairing musical instruments.
2.They love the job because they can .
A. earn more money B. learn repair skills
C. enjoy music D. watch performances
3. Which of the following is true of the two men?
A. They have fixed 450 instruments in the past 20 years.
B. They can play and repair musical instruments.
C. Jernigan used to play in an army band.
D. West was trained to play the piano.
4. According to West, what can people learn from music?
A. Teamwork and patience. B. The value of time.
C. The truth of society. D. Diligence and confidence.
5. What is mainly talked about in the text?
A. How to repair musical instruments.
B. Learning experiences of two repairmen.
C. How to prepare a musical performance.
D. The enjoyable job of two music lovers.
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从下列各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight 36 .
I worked in a 37 doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run 38 than usual. It seemed I was going to be late 39 home and my husband, being the 40 person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe 41 I hurried, I could still make it home.
I was heading inside to 42 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for 43 to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just 44 a few minutes ago.
The young man at the counter was trying to be 45 in explaining how to get there, with two other people making 46 . One of them was 47 trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the 48 ?”
A look of 49 crossed the woman’s face.
“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a(an) 50 since I had just made up my mind to do 51 that.
I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right 52 me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to 53 . I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.
Later, as I arrived home, my husband 54 , “So you aren’t ever late any more.”
I said, “Sometimes it’s 55 to be late.”
1. A. break B. fever C. cold D. headache
2.A. foreign B. common C. busy D. noisy
3. A. earlier B. later C. easier D. simpler
4. A. getting B. cooking C. calling D. working
5. A. tough B. punctual C. generous D. careful
6. A. as B. since C. while D. if
7. A. pay B. change C. wait D. search
8. A. opinions B. trouble C. directions D. money
9. A. reached B. visited C. called D. left
10. A. skilled B. helpful C. experienced D. active
11.A. comments B. promises C. jokes D. offers
12. A. only B. still C. even D. ever
13. A. station B. office C. hospital D. hotel
14. A. panic B. relief C. sadness D. peace
15. A. duty B. fact C. reason D. lie
16. A. partly B. properly C. exactly D. perfectly
17.A. across B. before C. beside D. behind
18. A. go up B. die down C. speed up D. turn down
19. A. teased B. shouted C. burst D. laughed
20. A. possible B. special C. good D. safe
If people eat natural poisons by mistake, they ________ go to hospital without delay.
A. would B. can C. may D. must
Before us lies the biggest room, ________with things like guns, dolls and old clothes.
A. filling B. filled
C. being filled D. having been filled
The invention of artificial hearts marked a turning point in the battle heart disease.
A. among B. for C. against D. between
—Thank you for your coffee.
—But you________ it.
A. didn’t drink B. aren’t drinking
C. don’t drink D. hadn’t drunk
