① On Friday, January 14, 2005, my cousin, Kara Rose, came into the world. ② She looked perfectly healthy from the outside, but on the inside, the doctors had failed to discover a serious problem. ③ She often had trouble breathing and then turned blue. ④ The doctors found that Kara had been born without part of her heart. ⑤ They didn’t think she would live long enough to leave the hospital. ⑥ When she was four days old, she had her first operation. ⑦ My family stayed together during this hard time, hoping everything would turn out for the best.
Kara’s strength and determination to live were strong. Eventually, she could go home. We all waited patiently for new technology that could give Kara a new heart. When she was eighteen months old, her parents took her to a famous surgeon who performed a series of operations. There was no guarantee she would make it through the operation, but she succeeded.
Kara grew stronger every day, and it was not long before she was well enough to be around people. She had an amazing character and always wore a sweet smile. When she fell asleep against my body, happy and content, I realized how valuable life really is. As I took her in my arms with her warm breath against my neck, I decided to live every day of my life to the fullest.
This child, who is 15 years younger than I, has gone through more suffering and pain than I ever have. I admire her strength and determination. Kara has taught me that no matter how bad things seem, they can work out in the end. Knowing this small, beautiful child has made me a stronger person, I now believe that difficulty can be beaten.
1.Kara often had trouble breathing because .
A. she didn’t stay long enough in the hospital
B. the doctors failed to discover the problem
C. she was born with an incomplete heart
D. her first operation was not successful
2.When did Kara have the first operation?
A. 15 years old. B. 4 years old.
C. 4 days old. D. 18 months old.
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Kara’s determination helped her get through.
B. Kara eventually recovered at the age of 15.
C. The new technology gave the family the hope to live on.
D. Doctors were confident in the success of her operation.
4.The writer wants to tell us that .
A. younger people often suffer more pain
B. strong wills can help beat difficulties
C. experienced doctors can make miracles
D. medical technology is developing fast
5.Where should the sentence in the box be added in Paragraph 1?
I was also anxiously hoping the doctors would be able to make her life longer.
A. After Sentence ①. B. After Sentence ③.
C. After Sentence ⑤. D. After Sentence ⑦.
Louis Armstrong had two famous nicknames(绰号). Some people called him Bagamo. They said his mouth looked like a large bag. Musicians often called him Pops, as a sign of respect for his influence(影响)on the world of music.
Born in 1901 in New Orleans, be grew up poor, but lived among great musicians. Jazz was invented in the city a few years before his birth. Armstrong often said, “Jazz and I grew up together.”
Armstrong showed a great talent for music when he was taught to play the cornet (短号) at a boy’s home. In his late teens, Armstrong began to live the life of a musician. He played in parades, clubs, and on the steamboats that traveled on the Mississippi River. At that time, New Orleans was famous for the new music of jazz and was home to many great musicians. Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became respected as their equal.
In 1922 he went to Chicago. There, the tale of Louis Armstrong begins. From then until the end of his life, Armstrong was celebrated and loved wherever he went. Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the American popular song.
His cornet playing had a deep humanity (仁爱) and warmth that caused many listeners to say, “Listening to Pops just makes you feel good all over. ”He was the father of the jazz style and also one of the best-known and most-admired people in the world. His death, on July 6, 1971, was headline news around the world.
1.Armstrong was called Pops because he .
A. looked like a musician
B. was a musician of much influence
C. showed an interest in music
D. traveled to play modern music
2.When Armstrong often said, “Jazz and I grew up together.” what did he mean?
A. He meant he had a brother named Jazz.
B. He meant he was very good at Jazz.
C. He meant he couldn’t afford to learn Jazz.
D. He meant he was very lucky to live among great musicians.
3.The third paragraph is developed .
A. by spaceB. by examplesC. by timeD. by comparison
4.Which statement about Armstrong is true?
A. His tale begins in New Orleans.
B. He was born before jazz was invented.
C. His music was popular with his listeners.
D. He learned popular music at a boy’s home.
5.Which would be the best title for the text?
A. The Invention of the Jazz Music
B. The Father of the Jazz Style
C. The Making of a Musician
D. The Spread of Popular Music
Lang Lang is a world-class young pianist who grew up in Shenyang. He went to a piano school in Beijing when he was just eight. “You need ,” his father said. “But if you don’t work hard, no fortune will come.”
What made him sad was his piano teacher in Beijing didn’t like him. “You have no talent(天赋). You will never be a pianist.” nine-year-old boy Lang Lang was badly . He decided that he didn’t want to be a any more. For the next two weeks he didn’t touch the piano. , his father didn’t push, but waited.
Luckily, the day came when his teacher asked him to some holiday songs. He didn’t want to, but as he placed his fingers on the piano key, he that he could show others that he had talent____.That day he told his father he had been waiting to hear— that he wanted to study with a new teacher. that point on, everything turned around.
He started competitions(比赛). In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition, when it was that Lang Lang had won, he was too to hold back his tears. Soon was clear that he couldn’t stay in China forever—he had to play on the world’s big . In 1997 Lang Lang again, this time to Philadelphia, U.S. There he spent two years practicing, and by 1999 he had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. After his performance at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, gigs(特邀演出 ) in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall started . Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spots(发现) him, and lets him .
1.A. exercise B. fortune C. knowledge D. wealth
2.A. whether B. why C. when D. that
3.A. Like B. With C. To D. As
4.A. hurt B. weakened C. ruined D. frightened
5.A. singer B. pianist C. conductor D. player
6.A. Hopefully B. Patiently C. Wisely D. Painfully
7.A. play B. sing C. write D. study
8.A. seemed B. admitted C. noticed D. realized
9.A. in all B. above all C. after all D. at all
10.A. that B. what C. which D. when
11.A. From B. At C. Since D. After
12.A. receiving B. accepting C. winning D. beating
13.A. told B. mentioned C. announced D. recognized
14.A. excited B. encouraged C. shocked D. satisfied
15.A. this B. it C. that D. what
16.A. concerts B. tours C. competitions D. stages
17.A. started B. left C. moved D. performed
18.A. successful B. cheerful C. respectful D. meaningful
19.A. pulling B. breaking C. falling D. pouring
20.A. brighten B. shine C. admire D. develop
Small _____ it is, the pen is a most useful tool.
A. because B. so C. if D. as
______ it is getting dark.，we’d better hurry
A. And B. But C. Since D. Unless
_____ she was very tired, she went on working.
A. As B. Although C. Even D. In spite of
