When 16-year-old Ella Fitzgerald stepped onto the stage to perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in 1934, she had no idea that her life was about to change. Her childhood had been 36 . After the death of her parents, Fitzgerald had been placed in a boarding school. 37 , the teachers at the school mistreated her, 38 she ran away. Homeless and orphaned, Fitzgerald was trying her best to 39 on the streets of New York City when she won a contest to perform during an amateur night at the Apollo. She had 40 planned to dance, but at the last second, she decided to sing her mother’s favorite song 41 . Her performance earned her 42 from several well-known musicians. Ella Fitzgerald went on to become a 43 jazz singer.
During a musical career that spanned six decades, Fitzgerald 44 more than 200 albums. She won 13 Grammy Awards, the last of which she received in 1990. She worked with some of the greatest American singers of the twentieth century, including Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Dizzy Gillespie. Her talent and charm 45 a wide range of listeners around the world. The worldwide 46 of Ella Fitzgerald helped make jazz a more popular genre.
Until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the United States 47 African American citizens the same treatment 48 white citizens received. Fitzgerald’s manager and her band 49 to perform at places where discrimination was practiced. They also decided not to perform unless they were paid the same 50 as white singers and musicians. Ella’s fight for 51 received support from numerous celebrity admirers, including Marilyn Monroe. Fitzgerald never took her good fortune for granted. She gave money to charities and organizations that contributed to 52 disadvantages children. For her many civic contributions, in 1992 President George Bush 53 her the Presidential Medal of Honor, one of the highest honors 54 to civilians.
In 1991, Fitzgerald gave her 55 performance in New York’s Carnegie Hall. Although Ella Fitzgerald died in 1996, the American “First Lady of Song” continues to live in the hearts and ears of music lovers worldwide.
1.A. rich B. rough C. tiresome D. happy
2.A. Importantly B. Unforgettably C. Naturally D. Unfortunately
3.A. therefore B. but C. so D. then
4.A. survive B. experience C. learn D. stand
5.A. strangely B. blindly C. originally D. probably
6.A. in spite B. instead C. in place D. though
7.A. jealousy B. recognition C. reputation D. gratitude
8.A. creative B. dependent C. undiscovered D. distinguished
9.A. released B. sold C. copied D. showed
10.A. compared with B. appealed to C. composed of D. depended on
11.A. celebration B. admiration C. relaxation D. indication
12.A. denied B. supported C. offered D. hated
13.A. which B. what C. that D. like
14.A. decided B. refused C. started D. afforded
15.A. number B. quantity C. amount D. lots
16.A. wealth B. future C. equality D. agreement
17.A. caring for B. playing with C. preferring to D. taking after
18.A. rewarded B. awarded C. paid D. presented
19.A. accessible B. inadequate C. available D. official
20.A. best B. vivid C. open D. final
—How about going out for a break?
— . We've been working for three hours.
A. Take your time B. It's my pleasure
C. Come on D. I totally agree
It was announced that only when the terrible disease was under control _____ to return to their homes.
A. the residents would decide B. would the residents decide
C. would the residents be decided D. the residents would be decided
Spelling Bee is a contest _____ competitors, usually children, are asked to spell as many words as possible.
A. which B. where C. what D. when
When asked to explain _____ he did to make his students so fascinated with his lessons, the teacher paused and thought deeply.
A. what was it that B. that what it was
C. what it was that D. what was it
The subway was crowded with passengers going home from market, most of _____ carrying heavy bags and baskets full of fruit and vegetables they had bought there.
A. whom B. them C. who D. which
