Bobby Moresco grew up in New York's Hell's Kitchen, a tough working-class neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side. But Hell's Kitchen lies right next door to Broadway, and the bright lights attracted Bobby from the time he was a teen. Being stage-struck was hardly what a street kid could admit to his partners. Fearing their ridicule, he told no one, not even his girlfriend, when he started taking acting lessons at age 17. If you were a kid from the neighborhood, you became a cop, construction worker, longshoreman or criminal. Not an actor.
Moresco struggled to make that long walk a few blocks east. He studied acting, turned out for all the cattle calls -- and during the decade of the 1970s made a total of $2,000. "I wasn't a good actor, but I had a driving need to do something different with my life," he says.
He moved to Hollywood, where he drove a cab and worked as a bartender. "My father said, 'Stop this craziness and get a job; you have a wife and daughter.' “But Moresco kept working at his chosen craft.
Then in 1983 his younger brother Thomas was murdered in a mob-linked killing. Moresco moved back to his old neighborhood and started writing as a way to explore the pain and the patrimony of Hell's Kitchen. Half-Deserted Streets, based on his brother's killing, opened at a small Off-Broadway theater in 1988. A Hollywood producer saw it and asked him to work on a screenplay.
His reputation grew, and he got enough assignments to move back to Hollywood. By 2003, he was again out of work and out of cash when he got a call from Paul Haggis, a director who had befriended him. Haggis wanted help writing a film about the country after September 11. The two worked on the writing, but every studio in town turned it down. They kept pitching it. Studio executives, however, thought no one wanted to see a severe, honest vision of race and fear and lives in collision in modern America.
Moresco believed so strongly in the script that he borrowed money, sold his house. He and Haggis kept pushing. At last the writers found an independent film producer who would take a chance, but the upfront money was too little, Moresco delayed his salary.
Crash slipped into the theaters in May 2005, and quietly became both a hit and a critical success. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three -- Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Paul Haggis and the kid from Hell's Kitchen.
At age 54, Bobby Moresco became an overnight success. "If you have something you want to do in life, don't think about the problems," he says, "think about other ways to get it done."
1. Rearrange the following statements in term of time order:
a. His work Half-Deserted Streets drew attention as it opened at a small Off-Broadway theater
b. Unexpectedly Crash became both a hit and a huge success.
c. He moved to Hollywood to be a taxi driver and a waiter.
d. He started learn acting in spite of hardness with the belief of doing something diiferent.
e. His younger brother Thomas was killed in conflict among bullies.
A. d; c; e; a; b B. d; e; c; b; a C. c; d; e; a; b D. c; e; d; b; a
2. Why Bobby Moresco did not tell anyone that he started taking lessons at age 17?
A. He wnted to give his girlfriend a surprise.
B. His girlfriend did not allow him to do this.
C. He was afraid of being laughed at.
D. He had no talent for acting.
3. Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
A. His father did not support his work as a bartender.
B. Before he became an overnight success, his life experienced ups and downs.
C. His brother’s death inspired his writing Half-Deserted Streets.
D. Moresco grew up in New York's Hell's Kitchen which is a few blocks east of Broadway.
4.The Studio executives turned the script Crash down because ______________.
A. they thought the script would not be popular.
B. the script was not well written.
C. they had no money to make the film based on the script.
D. they thought Moresco was not famous.
5.What’s the best title of the article?
A. The Road to Success B. Try It a Different Way
C. A Talented man—Moresco D. Moresco’s Perseverance
6. Which of the following can best describe Bobby Moresco?
A. initiative and persistent B. shy but hardworking
C. caring and brave D. aggressive and modest
A new factory that turns used wine bottles into green sand could revolutionize the recycling industry and help to filter（过滤）the nation's drinking water.
For the last 100 years special high grade white sand quarried（开采）at Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire has been used to filter tap water to remove bacteria and impurities—but this may no longer be necessary.
The green sand has already been successfully tested by water companies and is being used in 50 swimming pools in Scotland to keep the water clean.
Backed by one million pounds from the European Union and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(Defar),a company based in Scotland is building a factory to turn beverage bottles back into the sand from which they were made.
The idea is not only to avoid using up increasingly scarce sand in Scotland and avoid any further quarrying but also to solve a crisis in the recycles only 750 000 tones of it.
Howard Dryden, the scientist and managing director of the company has spent six years working on what he calls Active Filtration Meadia, or AFM, the recycled glass. He says he needs bottles that have already contained drinkable liquids to be sure that drinking water would not be polluted.
"The fact is that tests show that AFM does the job better than glass, it is easier to clean and reuse and has all sorts of properties that make it ideal for other applications, "he claimed. He also thinks the market will be able to take 250 000 tones of green sand a year. The plan is to build five or six factories in cites in UK where the bottles come from to cut down on transport.
The factory will be completed this month and is expected to go into full production on January 14 next year. Once it is providing a "regular" product, the government's drinking water inspectorate will be asked to perform tests and approve it for general use by water companies.
1.It may no longer be necessary to use high-grade white sand to keep water clean because_____.
A.there is no need to keep water clean
B.A new factory has been set up
C.The green sand has been used to keep the water clean
D.White sand is being use up
2.According to the passage ,the new idea can do the following except_____.
A. avoiding using up increasingly scarce sand
B. avoiding further quarrying of white sand
C. solving the crisis in the recycling industry
D. cutting down the cost on transport
3.Tests show that ______ in keeping the water clean.
A .AFM is more efficient than white sand
B.AFM is more efficient than glass
C. glass is more efficient than AFM
D. white sand is more efficient than green sand
4.The underlined word "Backed" in the third paragraph can best be replaced by"_____".
A. Allowed B. Opposed
C. Supported D. Forbidden
5.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Revolution in the Recycling for the Industry.
B. Modern Technology an New Markets.
C. Revolution in Environmental Protection.
D. Unlocking the Benefits of Green Sand.
You never see him, but they're with you every time you fly. They record where you are going, how fast you're traveling and whether everything on your airplane is functioning normally. Their ability to withstand almost any disaster makes them seem like something out of a comic book. They're known as the black box.
When planes fall from the sky, as a Yemeni airliner did on its way to Comoros Islands in the India ocean June 30, 2009, the black box is the best bet for identifying what went wrong. So when a French submarine (潜水艇) detected the device's homing signal five days later, the discovery marked a huge step toward determining the cause of a tragedy in which 152 passengers were killed.
In 1958, Australian scientist David Warren developed a flight-memory recorder that would track basic information like altitude and direction. That was the first mode for a black box, which became a requirement on all U.S. commercial flights by 1960. Early models often failed to withstand crashes, however, so in 1965 the device was completely redesigned and moved to the back of the plane – the area least subject to impact – from its original position in the landing wells (起落架舱). The same year, the Federal Aviation Authority required that the boxes, which were never actually black, be painted orange or yellow to aid visibility.
Modern airplanes have two black boxes: a voice recorder, which tracks pilots' conversations, and a flight-data recorder, which monitors fuel levels, engine noises and other operating functions that help investigators reconstruct the aircraft's final moments. Placed in an insulated (隔绝的) case and surrounded by a quarter-inch-thick panels of stainless steel, the boxes can resist massive force and temperatures up to 2,000℉. When submerged, they're also able to emit signals from depths of 20,000 ft. Experts believe the boxes from Air France Flight 447, which crashed near Brazil on June 1,2009, are in water nearly that deep, but statistics say they're still likely to turn up. In the approximately 20 deep-sea crashes over the past 30 years, only one plane's black boxes were never recovered.
1.What does the author say about the black box?
A. It ensures the normal functioning of an airplane.
B. The idea for its design comes from a comic book.
C. Its ability to resist disasters is incredible.
D. It is an indispensable device on an airplane.
2. What information could be found from the black box on the Yemeni airliner?
A. Data for analyzing the cause of the crash.
B. The total number of passengers on board.
C. The scene of the crash and extent of the damage.
D. Homing signals sent by the pilot before the crash.
3.Why was the black box redesigned in 1965?
A. New materials became available by that time.
B. Too much space was needed for its installation.
C. The early models often got damaged in the crash.
D. The early models didn't provide the needed data.
4. Why did the Federal Aviation Authority require the black boxes be painted orange or yellow?
A. To distinguish them from the colour of the plane.
B. To caution people to handle them with care.
C. To make them easily identifiable.
D. To conform to international standards.
5.What do we know about the black boxes from Air France Flight 447?
A. There is still a good chance of their being recovered.
B. There is an urgent need for them to be reconstructed.
C. They have stopped sending homing signals.
D. They were destroyed somewhere near Brazil.
TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TEENSGIVING?
TEENSGIVING is an exciting event where hundreds of New York City teens gather together annually for a remarkable day of community service. This year, TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010 participants will once again better New York City and impact thousands of lives!
When is TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010?
SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010
Where is TEENSGIVING?
All over New York City. Everyone will meet at the 92nd Street Y (92nd and Lexington) at 9:00 AM for the event kick-off. Then, all TEENSGIVING volunteers will disperse across the city to work with our partnering agencies where they will make a HUGE difference (and have fun!).
Who participates in TEENSGIVING?
Hundreds of teenagers from around the city. Teens come from the 92nd Street Y, various city schools, youth groups, and organizations in the area. In addition, many adult volunteers (ages 21 and older) will donate their time to TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010.
What projects do participants do at the agencies?
Sample projects include painting park benches, planting gardens, visiting and playing with underprivileged children, assembling craft kits for children in hospitals, assisting at animal shelters, working at soup kitchens, delivering meals and celebrating with families at homeless shelters.
Do I get anything for participating in TEENSGIVING?
Yes! Everybody benefits! Teen volunteers will receive *6 hours* of community service credit, good towards honor society, high school graduation and college application requirements. Adult volunteers will be “thanked” with a light breakfast, a gift certificate for their troubles, and the satisfaction of helping our city’s youth contribute to their community. In addition, all teen and adult volunteers will receive a cool TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010 T-shirt.
This sounds awesome! How do I register for TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010?
Interested teens and/or adults should e-mail the TEENSGIVING Coordinator Josh Hyman at jhyman@92Y.org (subject: TEENSGIVING) to receive more information and to register for this fantastic event!
**Teens can also contact their school’s Community Service Advisor
TEENSGIVING is sponsored by the 92nd Street Y.
1. TEENSGIVING is an event held ____________.
A. from time to time B. every year C. every two years D. twice a year
2.Teenagers may do the following in the event EXCEPT ____________.
A. watering flowers B. cooking C. cleaning streets D. taking care of animals
3. An adult volunteer may get ______ for his time devoted to TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010.
A. community service credit and a T-shirt
B. a high school certificate, a T-shirt and a light breakfast
C. a T-shirt, a light breakfast and a gift certificate
D. a gift certificate and community service credit
4. The writer’s purpose in writing the passage is to __________.
A. inform readers of some frequently asked questions
B. introduce TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010 to readers
C. encourage readers to ask more questions about TEENSGIVING
D. call on readers to participate in TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010
完形填空（共20小题；每题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods from door to door found that he only had one dime left. He was hungry so he decided to 21 for a meal at the next house.
However, he lost his nerve 22 a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked 23 so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it 24 , and then hesitatingly asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she 25 . “Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a __26 .” He said, “Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger 27 , but it also increased his faith in God and human race. He was about to give up and quit before this point.
Years later the young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where specialists can be called 28 to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly, now 29 , was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light 30 his eyes. Immediately, he 31 and went down through the hospital hall into her room.
32 in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He 33 her at once. He went back to the consultation room and 34 to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave 35__attention to her case.
After a long 36 the battle was won. Dr. Kelly 37 the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to her room. She was afraid to open it because she was 38 that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill caught her 39 . She read these words…
“Paid in full with a glass of milk.”
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she 40 silently. “Thank you, God. Your love has spread through human hearts and hands.”
1.A．call B．make C．beg D．prepare
2.A．while B．when C．though D．unless
3.．A．thirsty B．lazy C．tired D．hungry
4.A．slowly B．unexpectedly C．steadily D．hurriedly
5.A．announced B．shook C．replied D．doubted
6.A．reward B．kindness C．hand D．value
7.A．physically B．mentally C．normally D．properly
8.A．up B．for C．on D．in
9.A．rich B．famous C．observant D．vivid
10.A．fixed B．consulted C．filled D．concentrated
11.A．rose B．raised C．got D．left
12.A．Worn B．Having C．putting D．Dressed
13.A．recognized B．knew C．spared D．regained
14.A．desired B．declared C．determined D．declined
15.A．special B．ordinary C．normal D．no
16.A．decision B．preparation C．struggle D．debate
17.A．ordered B．requested C．confused D．compressed
18.A．negative B．uncertain C．positive D．obvious
19.A．presentation B．preference C．attention D．arrangement
20.A．praised B．pretended C．pressed D．prayed
There was only one ____ of transportation in this mountainous area five years ago.
A. mean B. means C. meaning D. way
