For some people, music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes (音调). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.
As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music set them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify识别 with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation隔离. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.
Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn’t involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.
Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed (诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say, ‘No thanks, I’m amusic,’” says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”
1.Which of the following is true of amusics?
A．Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them.
B．They love places where they are likely to hear music.
C．They can easily tell two different songs apart.
D．Their situation is well understood by musicians.
2.According to paragraph 3, a person with “defective hearing” is probably one who __________.
A．dislikes listening to speeches
B．can hear anything nonmusical
C．has a hearing problem
D．lacks a complex hearing system
3. In the last paragraph, Margaret expressed her wish that __________.
A．her problem with music had been diagnosed earlier
B．she were seventeen years old rather than seventy
C．her problem could be easily explained
D．she were able to meet other amusics
4.What is the passage mainly concerned with?
A．Amusics’ strange behaviours.
B．Some people’s inability to enjoy music.
C．Musical talent and brain structure.
D．Identification and treatment of amusics.
The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching，and I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt：“The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view？”I shook my head stubbornly－and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday，but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book，but no one could see me immediately. Finally，at about lunchtime，I got lucky.
“If you come by right now，”the receptionist said，“the dentist will fit you in.”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice？Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office，I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my icecold one.
When I told her my fears，she laughed and said，“Don’t worry. The dentist is very good.”
“How long do I have to wait for him？”I asked impatiently.
“Come on，he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork，”the assistant said.
“The artwork？”I was puzzled.
The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture，right where I could enjoy it：on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was！At that moment，I began to understand what my friend meant by her words. What a relief!
1.Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?
A．Cheerful. B．Nervous.
C．Satisfied. D．Upset.
2.What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?
A．The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice.
B．The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists.
C．The surroundings of the dentist’s office.
D．The laughing assistant of the dentist.
3.What did the author learn from her experience most probably?
A．Strike while the iron is hot.
B．Have a good word for one’s friend.
C．Put oneself in others’ shoes.
D．A friend in need is a friend indeed.
书面表达
近段时间你发现校园内浪费现象严重，请你在班会上发表演讲，谈谈你所看到的浪费现象及危害，并就这一现象发表个人见解。
浪费现象 | 1. 不关水、不关教室的电灯 2. 食堂里的桌子上丢满食物 3. 校园里乱丢纸张、书本 |
造成危害 | 1. 浪费资源 2. 形成坏习惯，不利于品德养成 3. 浪费金钱，增加父母经济负担 |
个人认识 | 适当发挥 |
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 演讲的开头和结尾已写好，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：食堂canteen 给某人增加经济负担 add financial burden to sb
Dear friends,
May I have your attention, please? Now I’d like to make a speech here.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
That’s all. Thank you!
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。
文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一个横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
People often come up across the word “SOHO” in the newspaper or magazine. But not everyone knows how it means. As the matter of fact, “SOHO” means “Small Office/ Home Office”. Now many people use computer, so it is possible for you to work at their homes. They needn’t go to offices. They can usually work fast and better at home. By work at home, they save a lot of time and energy. They needn’t spend time on the road but they won’t feel tired or angry because the bad traffic. Maybe in the future, more and more people would be “SOHO” workers.
单词拼写
1.She looks very ________ (熟悉), but I can't remember her name.
2.He has fully ________ (恢复)from his illness.
3.This question is ________ (频繁) asked.
4.You have passed the test. _________! (祝贺)
5.The room is ________ (装饰) with paintings for the New Year’s party.
6.At last I ________ (成功) in getting my car moving slowly just now.
7.He was well __________ (教育) when he was young.
8.These toys are a real ________ (便宜货) at such low prices.
9.He was _________ (慷慨) to everybody with money.
10.She shows a very positive________ (态度) to her work.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（仅限一个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Good morning, everyone. I am Li Hua from Xinhua Middle School. The topic of my speech today is “Let’s Ride Bicycles”.
1. is known to us all, 2. the development of society, cars have become 3. popular means of transport, 4. brings great convenience (便捷) to our life. 5. (lucky), they have also caused some problems such as air pollution and traffic jams.
6. can we solve the problems ? As far as I 7. (concern), riding bicycles is a good solution 8. them. For one thing, bicycles don’t need any petrol(汽油) and they are energy-saving. For another, bicycles are environmentally friendly 9. they won’t give off waste gases. What’s more, riding bicycles is a good way of exercising and it is good to our health.
Therefore, it is worth 10. (try). Let’s take the responsibility to build up a beautiful city by riding bicycles. Come on and join us.
That’s all. Thank you!
