Any introduction to Peking Opera would not be complete without telling of Mei Lanfang. During his stage life, he combined the traditions of the past with his own creations, shaping a style of his own and giving birth to “The Mei Lanfang School”. He was also the first artist to introduce Peking Opera to an overseas audience, making it popular to the world.
Mei Lanfang began his stage life at the age of 8. His teacher said he showed little hope because of his boring eyes. To improve this, he exercised them day after day. Thanks to his efforts, he managed to change his dull eyes into a pair of bright and expressive eyes and win national fame before the age of 20.
In over 50 years on the stage, Mei Lanfang played no less than 100 different characters in the performance. He also wrote many new plays, designing the dances himself. The many dances he created form part of the great treasure that he left to Peking Opera.
In 1930, Mei Lanfang started on a successful US tour. There his brilliant performances impressed the audience, making them realize that Peking Opera was a theatrical form of great value.
1.Mei Lanfang was the first artist to introduce Peking Opera to ________.
A. China B. audience
C. the world D. schools
2.How long did it take Mei Lanfang to exercise his eyes into bright and expressive?
A. About 8 years. B. About 10 years.
C. About 12 years. D. About 14 years.
3.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The history of Peking Opera.
B. Mei Lanfang’s early stage life.
C. The performance of Peking Opera by Mei Lanfang.
D. Mei Lanfang’s great contributions to Peking Opera.
“Kevin, we are getting a divorce,” said my mother. My heart plunged (急降). I was 9 years old and I thought that my life was going to ________. My brother and I were going to move with my mother to southern California. My dad was to ______ in New Jersey because of work. My family was splitting apart.
Now that my mom is a ________ parent, I do my own laundry, make dinner and do extra chores around the house. _______ it was hard at first, I now recognize the positive ________ that this responsibility had on me. My mother gave me these _______ and duties so that I would learn to become self-disciplined (自律的) and trustworthy.
I strive to show these ______ in my life, and have seen the benefits. When I was only 11 years old, my ______ told me that he was selecting me as soccer team captain because of my determination and ability to get my teammates to ________ themselves. We _________the championship, but I won the fair play award for keeping my team together.
I am always determined to be an individual and not participate in anything that I feel is ________. I am, for example, extremely _______ of my decision not to drink alcohol. Personally, I don’t feel the need to drink to have fun, and I stand by my decision even when others try to ________ me.
My mom and dad both found new _______ and happily remarried. I am ______ close to my father, even though he lives 4,800 km away. I thought my parents’ divorce was going to be the worst thing that _______ happened to me. Ironically (讽刺的是), it turned out to be the ______. I wasn’t willing to let it _______ my life without putting up a fight, and neither was my family.
At age 9, I fought with the confusion and ________ of divorce. Today, at age 16, I understand that _______ can bring opportunity and success, and that hard work, determination and self-discipline can turn your worst time into your best time.
1.A. fall apart B. stand out C. carry on D. come true
2.A. fight B. remainC. accompany D. practice
3.A. careless B. cruel C. nice D. single
4.A. Although B. Because C. If D. Since
5.A. attitude B. experienceC. effect D. situation
6.A. achievements B. abilities C. chores D. disadvantages
7.A. chores B. difficulties C. feelings D. qualities
8.A. father B. headmaster C. brotherD. coach
9.A. enjoy B. teach C. help D. push
10.A. won B. lost C. had D. achieved
11.A. wrong B. abnormal C. dynamic D. violent
12.A. afraid B. tiredC. proudD. fond
13.A. cheat B. persuade C. pleaseD. cheat
14.A. families B. jobs C. kids D. partners
15.A. still B. not C. rarely D. less
16.A. never B. evenC. ever D. almost
17.A. best B. worst C. busiestD. first
18.A. challenge B. protectC. beatD. ruin
19.A. pain B. memory C. importance D. celebration
20.A. obstacles B. families C. parents D. divorce
— Do you enjoy watching stand-up comedy?
— . I prefer to watch science fiction movies.
A. Thank you B. Yes, I do
C. Go ahead D. Not really
You are _________ to have such a good teacher.
A. fortune B. fortunate
C. fortunately D. unfortunately
His computer, which cost him a sum of money several weeks ago, is out of order and wants _______, though it looks very new.
A. to be repairingB. repaired
C. repairingD. to repair
The poor man, ______, ran out of the dark cave.
A. trembling and frightenedB. trembled and frightening
C. trembled and frightenedD. trembling and frightening
