Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London. Both his father and mother were entertainers and although not of big names, they were doing very well. While the family was by no means rich, the music hall provided the Chaplins with a comfortable living. Unfortunately happy life didn’t last long. Father’s alcoholism was slowly, but surely destroying his marriage. Finally it ended in divorce. His mother managed to keep Charlie and his brother Syney clean and warm, clothed and fed. She would sit at the window watching the passers-by and guess at their characters from the way they looked and behaved, making up tales to delight Charlie and Syney. Charlie took in her skills and went on using them all his life.
Charlie had always believed, even in the worst times, that he had something special locked away inside him. He took his courage and went to one of the top theater agents. With no experience at all, he was offered a plum part (意外得到的好角色) in a new production of “Sherlock Holmes”, which opened on July 27, 1903 at the famous “Pavilion Theatre”. Charlie seemed to change overnight. It was as if he had found the thing he was meant to do. By 1910, Charlie had become “one of the best pantomime (哑剧) artists ever seen ”.
Cinema was born in the same year as Charlie thought people still believed it was a passing fashion, and would never replace live shows. But after using several weeks to watch and to learn, he was determined to master this new medium. It offered him the chance of money and success—and it would set him free from the unpredictability of live audience.
Charlie’s first film, released in February 1914, was called “Making a living”. After that he made another ten. The public loved him and producers were demanding more and more Chaplin films. In an incredibly short time, Charlie had become a very important man in motion picture.
1.Which of the following is NOT true about Charlie Chaplin?
A. Mother had much influence on Charlie Chaplin’s career.
B. “Sherlock Holmes” made Charlie rise to fame overnight.
C. Charlie had been famous when the cinema became a fashion.
D. Charlie’s work in both the theater and the cinema was welcomed.
2.What can you infer from the passage?
A. Charlie Chaplin’s belief in his potential led to his success.
B. Charlie Chaplin got his first role in a film at 14.
C. Cinema was a form of art showing live performance.
D. Motion picture was a passing fashion lasting a short time.
3.The underlined word “unpredictability” in Paragraph 3 means____________.
A. low spirits B. opposing attitude
C. successful performance D. changing state
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Charlie Chaplin made the cinema industry popular.
B. Charlie Chaplin’s early success in his career.
C. Charlie Chaplin was a best pantomime artist.
D. Charlie Chaplin’s determination to do what he liked.
Salem, the “City of Peace”, is a small city with a big history. It is the second established city in Massachusetts and the second oldest settlement in New England. While Salem has been long known as the “Witch City” due to the notable witch trials of 1692, Salem also played an important part in Revolutionary times and was an active leader of several Massachusetts’ industries, which is why you will find mansions (宅邸) of the country’s first millionaires there.
Salem is located approximately 16 miles (30 minutes) north of Boston and is bordered by Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Marblehead, Peabody, Swampscott and the Atlantic Ocean. Boston & Maine Railroad serves Salem with transport service, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority maintains a rail stop and bus service. Air service is available from Beverly Airport (5 miles away) and Logan International Airport (16 miles away). Access is also available on a ferry from Boston.
Salem has various restaurants including outdoor cafes, various restaurants and fine dining establishments. For shoppers there are malls and department stores, an open market, a waterfront village, as well as a downtown shopping district.
There are many local artists and musicians who have shops along the city streets. On a nightly basis, one can stop in a local restaurant or nightspot and listen to some of the most creative music. World famous artwork is displayed at the Peabody Essex Museum and the work of local artists can be found displayed in many downtown shops including Artist Row.
The City of Salem has long had a commitment to the promotion of art and culture. The Salem Cultural Council is a local agency of Salem residents that supports public programs and educational activities in the arts, sciences and humanities. Local artists and theaters, such as CinemaSalem, the Salem Theatre Company, the Salem State College Center for the Arts, the Griffen Theater and the Rebel Shakespeare Company provide entertainment and learning opportunities to residents and visitors alike. The Salem Arts Association, Inc. is an entirely volunteer-run nonprofit arts organization. The SAA seeks to bring art, in all its forms, to the community and bring the community, in all its diversity, to the arts in Salem, Massachusetts.
1.What would be the best title of this passage?
A. Salem, the Industry City
B. Salem, the Witch City
C. Salem, the City with a Big History
D. Salem, the City of Peace
2.Which of the following statements is NOT true about Salem?
A. It is the second established city in Massachusetts with Boston to the north.
B. It was developed in several of Massachusetts’ industries.
C. Every night local restaurants there entertain visitors with some music.
D. Salem is accessible by train, bus, plane and ferry.
3.Visitors to Salem have a secure chance to appreciate first-class works of art in ____________.
A. Artist Row B. Peabody Essex Museum
C. the MBTA D. the Salem Cultural Council
4.After reading the passage, we may decide that ____________.
A. Salem is a preferred city for millionaires now
B. the promotion of art and culture in Salem is totally government action
C. once an important industrial city, now Salem has a strong cultural atmosphere
D. visitors to Salem will find few choices in dining and shopping
Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I’d be twins!” He was a natural motivator.
One day I went up to Michael and asked him, “I don’t get it. You can’t be positive all the time. How do you do it?”
Michael replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself ‘Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood.’ I choose the first. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.” Michael continued, “Life is all about choices. The bottom line is: It’s your choice how you live life.”
Several years later, Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling off 60 feet from a communications tower. I saw him about six months after the accident. I asked him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
He said, “I first thought of my soon-to-born daughter and then remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live. I knew I needed to take action. So when a nurse kept shouting questions at me asking if I was allergic to anything, I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Gravity’. Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I’m choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead’.”
Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.
1.Which of the following statements is true?
A. Michael is a person whom people don’t like very much.
B. Michael knows how to learn from bad things in life.
C. Doctors thought Michael was dead.
D. The author didn’t think Michael was a happy person.
2.According to Michael, when someone complains to you, you should ____________.
A. share your own experiences with him
B. just listen to what the person says and feel sorry for him
C. tell the person to look at the happy side of life instead of just listening
D. discuss with the person and tell him to reflect on the complaints
3.The author quotes Michael’s words “If I were any better, I’d be twins!” to tell us ____________.
A. Michael wants to have a twin brother
B. Michael is not satisfied with his present life
C. Michael is always optimistic
D. Michael likes to change his mood
4.Which of the following best summarizes the main idea?
A. Accidents will happen.
B. When God shuts a door, he opens another.
C. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
D. Attitude is everything.
Knowing how much her own children loved presents at Christmas, Ann Sutton, a social worker, always tried to seek help for one or two poor families. This year, Kinzie, Ann’s seven-year-old daughter, was 31 that Santa Claus would make a special visit to a young mother named Ashley who worked in a factory and was 32 her 12-month-old son, Evan, and her 12-year-old brother, Kenny, by herself.
At a 33 dinner, the phone rang. A representative from a local charity was calling to say that the 34 Ann had requested for Ashley had been cancelled. No Santa Claus, no presents, nothing. Ann saw the cheer fade away from her children's faces at the news. Without a word, she 35 down from her chair and ran from the room. Now, it didn't feel much 36 Christmas anymore. Kinzie returned, her face set with determination. She had opened up her piggy 37 , and now she counted out the coins and broken dollar 38 , one by one, onto the dining table: $3.30. Everything she had.
“Mom,” she told Ann, “I know it's not much. 39 maybe this will buy a present for the baby.”
Then 40 everyone was reaching into pockets and purses. Adding to Kinzie's gift became a game, with everyone 41 for loose change. By the time the search ended, there was a small mountain of bills and a neat pile of coins. The 42 : $130, plenty for a Christmas for three. “God multiplied your gift,” Ann said to Kinzie.
That evening, Kinzie went with her mother and sister to 43 the money.
On Christmas Eve, Ann 44 through the pouring rain to the small cottage where the family lived. When Ashley opened the door, Ann stood under her umbrella and 45 the astonished woman a merry Christmas. Then she began to 46 the gifts from the car, handing them to Ashley one by one. Ashley laughed in disbelief, and still the presents came. Ann abandoned the umbrella, and the young woman joined her in the rain, passing gifts 47 to Kenny. “Please, can I open up just one tonight?” he begged. Soon both women were 48 to the skin, and surprise had turned to something 49 , the kind of joy that brought them close to tears.
Reflecting on a little girl's generosity, Ashley says she hopes she'll one day be able to do something similar for someone else in 50 . “Kinzie could have used that money for herself, but she gave it away,” Ashley says. “She's the type of kid I'd like my son to grow up to be.”
1.A. disappointed B. pleased C. surprised D. puzzled
2.A. raising B. teaching C. helping D. protecting
3.A. sorrowful B. joyful C. pitiful D. grateful
4.A. reward B. job C. aid D. prize
5.A. knelt B. fell C. rolled D. slipped
6.A. like B. at C. over D. for
7.A. pocket B. case C. basket D. bank
8.A. checks B. bills C. receipts D. signs
9.A. So B. And C. But D. or
10.A. hopefully B. luckily C. obviously D. suddenly
11.A. hunting B. struggling C. rushing D. trading
12.A. goal B. budget C. total D. maximum
13.A. spend B. save C. distribute D. collect
14.A. looked B. drove C. wandered D. walked
15.A. owed B. offered C. brought D. wished
16.A. unload B. separate C. divide D. choose
17.A. out B. inside C. down D. up
18.A. wet B. excited C. close D. familiar
19.A. sadder B. heavier C. wilder D. deeper
20.A. vain B. store C. need D. touch
If the students who killed themselves had only been more confident, their deaths ________.
A. need have been avoided B. must have been avoided
C. might have been avoided D. will have been avoided
It doesn’t matter what you wear—just ________ you come.
A. as long as B. as far as C. as early as D. as soon as
