Singing had always been an important part of Gloria Estefan’s life. “Since I was three years old, I sang. I sang everything,” Gloria said. “Cubans,” she added, “are a musical people”.
Gloria was born in Cuba in 1957. Her family left the country just before Fidel Castro came to power. In Miami, where the family settled, many people did not accept Cuban immigrants. In first grade, she spoke little English, but she worked hard to learn the language. Six months after she entered school, she won an award for reading in English!
When Gloria was ten, her father returned from the Vietnam War. Soon, the family realized he wasn’t well. They soon found out that he was badly ill. Her mother went back to teaching at school to support the family. Gloria cared for her father and her younger sister.
She still made the honor roll, and she still had her music, but Gloria was lonely. However, when the band leader Emilio Estefan came to speak at her high school, Gloria sang for him. He asked her to join his band. It was the beginning of the Miami Sound Machine.
Within a few months, the Miami Sound Machine was the top band in Miami. In 1978 Gloria and Emilio married.
At first, the Miami Sound Machine was known only in Miami. Then the band signed with CBS Records. Estefan and his band became stars.
Since then, the Miami Sound Machine has sold millions of records. Gloria has done more than just singing when Hurricane Andrew hit central Florida in 1992. She used only two weeks to organize an all-star concert that raised $2 million for the people who suffered in the hurricane. “We needed a party after that disaster,” she said.
Gloria said, “You have to stay true to the music you really love to do. There will always be people who will tell you, ‘that won’t work.’ You’ve got to be firm in spite of difficulties. Stick to it—that’s the main thing.”
1.Gloria’s father was ill .
A. when they settled down in Miami.
B. before they left their home country
C. after he returned from Vietnam War
D. as soon as she finished high school
2.According to the passage, probably Gloria did the following except .
A. organizing an all-star concert for Hurricane victims
B. winning an award for reading in English
C. teaching at school to support the family
D. taking care of her father and sister
3.The underlined word “disaster” in this passage refers to .
A. the concert B. the celebration C. the victims D. the hurricane
4.This passage mainly tells about Gloria Estefan’s .
A. life story B. happy marriage C. music style D. Cuban background
Life is filled with challenges. As we get older we 26 realize that those challenges are the very things that 27 us and make us who we are, it is the same with the challenges that come with 28 .
When we are faced with a challenge, we usually have two 29 : we can try to 30 it off, or we can decide that the thing presenting the challenge isn’t worth the 31 and call it quits. Although there are 32 times when calling it quits is the right thing to do, in most 33 all that is needed is commitment and 34 .
When we are devoted to 35 , it means that no matter how 36 or how uncomfortable something is, we will always choose to 37 it instead of running away from it. Communication is making a 38 for discussion and talking about how you feel instead of just saying what the other person did wrong. 39 you can say to a friend, “I got my feelings hurt.” 40 “You hurt my feelings,” you are going to be able to solve the problem much faster.
In dealing with many challenges that friendship will bring to you, try to see them for 41 they are: small hurdles（障碍） you need to jump or 42 on your way through life. Nothing is so big that it is impossible to get over, and hurt only 43 to make us stronger. It’s all part of growing up, it happens to everyone, and some day you will 44 on all of this and say, “ 45 as it was, it made me who I am today. And that is a good thing.”
1.A. seem to B. come to C. hope to D. try to
2.A. design B. promote C. direct D. shape
3.A. success B. pressure C. friendship D. difficulty
4.A. opportunities B. expectations C. choices D. aspects
5.A. beat B. show C. take D .fall
6.A. comment B. loss C. trouble D. expense
7.A. hardly B. certainly C. consequently D. exactly
8.A. issues B. cases C. events D. affairs
9.A. communication B. confidence C. courage D. consideration
10.A. everything B. anything C. something D. nothing
11.A. doubtful B. shameful C. harmful D. painful
12.A. keep B. control C. face D. catch
13.A. chance B. plan C. topic D. room
14.A. If B. As C. While D. Unless
15.A. other than B. rather than C. or rather D. or else
16.A. what B. who C. where D. which
17.A. pass by B. come across C. get through D. run over
18.A. serves B. means C. aims D. attempts
19.A. look into B. look for C. look out D. look back
20.A. Interesting B. Surprising C. Complicated D. Hard
— Has Tom finished writing his essay today?
— I have no idea. He ______ it this morning.
A. wrote B. has written C. was writing D. had written
His play was popular and every time about it, he owed his success to the support of his friends.[��Դ:Zxxk.Com]
A. talking B. talked C. to talk D. when talking
_____ interesting the film is, I won’t waste any time on it.
A. No matter B. Whatever C. However D. Whichever
Upon arriving home, I was surprised to find the paper I had had _____ was missing.
A. to be prepared B. to prepare C. preparing D. prepared
