Filmmaker Jennifer Nelson had to pay $1,500 to have “Happy Birthday to You” sung in the movie she’s making. The money went to Warner Music Group, a company that claims to own the copyright on the song. A copyright is the legal right to use or sell a creative product such as a song, a TV show, a book, or a work of art. Warner has claimed the copyright for “Happy Birthday to You” since 1988.
“I never thought the song was owned by anyone,” Nelson said in an e-mail to The New York Times. “I thought it belonged to everyone.”
Nelson’s movie is a documentary — a film that uses pictures and/or interviews with people to create a factual report of real-life events — and is actually about the history of the “Happy Birthday” song itself.
Two sisters named Mildred and Patty Hill wrote a song called “Good Morning to All” in 1893. Over a short period of time, people began to sing the words “happy birthday to you” in place of the original lyrics to the tune of the Hill sisters’ song.
A number of history experts say that there is no record of who actually wrote the “Happy Birthday to You” lyrics. Historians also say there is no way to know when the general public began singing the “Happy Birthday” song, but they believe it was being sung by the public long before it was printed and owned by a company.
Nelson’s lawyers say this piece of music’s history proves that “Happy Birthday to You” belongs to everyone in the general public. That would mean Warner Music Group has no right to charge anyone a fee to sing the song in any setting.
Experts estimate that Warner/ Chappell, the publishing division of the Warner Music Group, has made about $2 million a year from licensing fees for “Happy Birthday to You.”
Nelson’s lawyers are asking a court in New York City to order Warner/Chappell to return fees they have collected over the past four years for use of the “Happy Birthday” song.
1.Jennifer Nelson had to pay Warner Music Group to ____________.
A. own the copyright on a song
B. have a song sung in her movie
C. have it play a song in her movie
D. have it write a song for her movie
2.The history experts’ statement can prove that the “Happy Birthday” song ____________.
A. has always been very popular
B. has more than 200 years’ history
C. does not belong to Warner Music Group
D. was initially owned by another company
3.According to Nelson’s lawyers, to sing the “Happy Birthday” song, people ____________.
A. should pay the Hill sisters
B. need not pay for any purpose
C. should pay Warner Music Group
D. need not pay except for commercial use
4. If the court supports Nelson’s lawyers’ claim, ____________.
A. Warner will return about $8 million
B. she can obtain the copyright on the song
C. Warner will have to pay her for her damages
D. she only needs to pay a little money to use the song
Thirty-two people watched Kitty Genovese being killed right beneath their windows. She was their neighbor. Yet none of the 32 helped her. Not one even called the police. Was this in gunman cruelty? Was it lack of feeling about one’s fellow man?
Not so, say scientists John Barley and Bib Fatane. These men went beyond the headlines to seek the reasons why people didn’t act. They found that a person has to go through two steps before he can help. First he has to notice that is an emergency.
Suppose you see a middle-aged man fall to the side-walk. Is he having a heart attack? Is he in a coma from diabetes(糖尿病)? Or is he about to sleep off a drunk?
Is the smoke coming into the room from a leak in the air conditioning? Is it steam pipes? Or is it really smoke from a fire? It’s not always easy to tell if you are faced with a real emergency.
Second, and more important, the person faced with an emergency must feel personally responsible. He must feel that he must help, or the person won’t get the help he needs.
The researchers found that a lot depends on how many people are around. They had college students in to be tested. Some came alone. Some came with one or two others. And some came in large groups. The receptionist started them off on the tests. Then she went into the next room. A curtain divided the testing room and the room into which she went. Soon the students heard a scream, the noise of file cabinets falling and a cry for help. All of this had been pre-recorded on a tape-recorder.
Eight out of ten of the students taking the test alone acted to help. Of the students in pairs, only two out of ten helped. Of the students in groups, none helped.
In other words, in a group, Americans often fail to act. They feel that others will act. They, themselves, needn’t. They do not feel any direct responsibility.
Are people bothered by situations where people are in trouble? Yes. Scientists found that the people were emotional, they sweated, they had trembling hands. They felt the other person’s trouble. But they did not act. They were in a group. Their actions were shaped by the actions of those they were with.
1. The purpose of this passage is ____________.
A. to explain why people fail to act in emergencies
B. to explain when people will act in emergencies
C. to explain what people will do in emergencies
D. to explain how people feel in emergencies
2.The researchers have conducted an experiment to prove that people will act in emergencies when ____________.
A. they are in pairs B. they are in groups
C. they are alone D. they are with their friends
3. The main reason why people fail to act when they stay together is that ____________.
A. they are afraid of emergencies
B. they are unwilling to get themselves involved
C. others will act if they themselves hesitate
D. they do not have any direct responsibility for those who need help
4.The author suggests that ____________.
A. we shouldn’t blame a person if he fails to act in emergencies
B. a person must feel guilty if he fails to help
C. people should be responsible for themselves in emergencies
D. when you are in trouble, people will help you anyway
No trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to the Art Institute, which is the second largest art museum in the nation.
Opening hours:
Mon - Wed & Fri - Sun, 10:30 am - 5 pm; Thu, 10:30 am- 8 pm; closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Highlights:
The Modern Wing contains contemporary masterpieces by Dali, Matisse, Miro, Picasso, Pollock, and Warhol.
● View one of the world’s finest Impressionist collections, including masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Seurat, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.
● Thorne Miniature Rooms offer a detailed view of European homes from the 16th century through the 1930s and American homes from the 17th century to 1940.
● The past returns as over 550 works from 4,000 years of art come together in Of Gods and Glamour, located in the beautiful new Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art.
Advice for visitors:
● Free guided tours are available daily at noon.
● Free art-making activities are available for children each weekend from 11 am to 2 pm.
● Visit the Family Room in the Ryan Education Center, open daily from 10:30 am – 5 pm, and introduce your child to the museum’s collections with a variety of hands-on activities. Assemble (组装) puzzles based on masterpieces you’ll see in the galleries, build architectural wonders with colorful blocks, and learn about art through stories and games at Curious Corner.
● Check out the Lion’s Trial tour for children ages 5-10. This tour is especially designed for the young people in your group! Don’t miss it!
Getting there:
You can take the follow buses: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 26, 28, 126, 143.
1.The Art Institute of Chicago can be visited on ____________.
A. Christmas Day B. New Year’s Day
C. Thanksgiving Day D. Independence Day
2.Whose works can you see in the Impressionist collections?
A. Picasso’s B. Monet’s
C. Pollock’s D. Warhol’s
3.If you are interested in Greek art, you can go to ____________.
A. the Modern Wing
B. Thorne Miniature Rooms
C. the Impressionist collections
D. the Of Gods and Glamour collections
4.At Curious Corner, children can ____________.
A. get free guidance
B. join the Lion’s Trail tour
C. enjoy free art-making activities
D. take part in many hands-on activities
There is a growing number of kidults---or adults who wear the mask of maturity but prefer to pander(迎合) to their inner child.
They feel ill equipped for parenthood, because they don’t see what values or lessons they could honestly pass on to their young, besides self-centeredness and a passion for the good things in life. They are trying to live by not acting their age.
As Ms Jane put it in her letter: I’m married, in my late 20s and enjoy a lifestyle other married graduate couples enjoy: winning and dining, tasteful clothes, travel and a career. Why give up all these for a baby?
It is reported that when asked whether they were adults, most people in their 20s answered they were not sure. This reflected a global economy in which people chased more papers to get better jobs that would comfortably support middle class living.
Being a kidult is not all about being selfish, though. With the untold uncertainties of war, fluctuating(波动)markets, disease and terrorism, many see this world as a poor place to live in—let alone bring kids up in. This seems especially so in urban living. All anyone wants after a long, hard day at work is some peace and quiet.
My classmate, Jenny, mused(沉思)recently how our friends living in small Malaysian towns were onto their second or third kids. Maybe they just loved having children around. Or maybe, in their own way, they wanted to leave the world a better place than they found it.
That’s how you, I and everyone know we have the chance to breathe air, touch grass and see sky. I think out parents understand that just being alive is an experience worth passing on.
1.What is a kidult in the writer’s opinion?
A. A person who doesn’t have a child
B. An adult who actually has a psychology of a child
C. A child who doesn’t want to grow up
D. A person who doesn’t know that what values he has
2.What does the underlined word “paper” in Para. 4 mean?
A. money
B. reputation
C.qualification
D. power
3.The author explains the kidult phenomenon by ________.
A. presenting research findings
B. making comparison
C. showing her own experience
D. using examples
4.We can learn from the text that kidults________.
A. know little what they can pass on to their children
B. are sure of their abilities for good life
C. living in urban can enjoy more peace
D. living in small towns know well what they’re living for
Annie slept in the front of the seat with her father drove through the darkness. ”We’re almost there!” Dad announced cheerfully. “Soon well be observing and counting owls at the state park.” Yawning, Annie nodded and smiled. The time was 4:30 a.m. Looking out into the darkness, Annie remembered learning in school that most owls are active at night, when they hunt for food. During the day they sleep in hard-to-find spots.
“Dad, why do you need to count owls?” she asked. “It’s important for the scientists to have current information about bird populations,” he explained. “We want to know which birds have decreased in number and whether any new kinds of birds are coming into a certain area. You and I will write down the kinds of birds that we see today and keep a record of how many times we see each kind. The we’ll send out a report to a scientific organization that is collecting about birds from people all over the county.”
Dad pulled into the parking lot of the state park. Then, with flashing in hand, they began their hike into the woods. Annie zipped up her coat and tried to keep from trembling. She had not expected the morning to be so frigid. Luckily her gloves were in her pocket.
Suddenly Annie’s father stooped and gestured for her to be still. Obeying, Annie did not take another step. She thought she heard a low crying up head. “That’s certainly a screech owl,” her father whispered. “Let’s get a look at it.” After looking more closely, Annie could see that it was a small owl. Sensing danger, the owl narrowed its eyes and pulled its feathers tightly against its body. Annie carefully wrote down in her notebook that they had seen a screech owl.
Walking a little farther, they came to a tall oak tree. “This looks like a perfect spot to attract owls,” Dad said. “I’m going to play a recording of common call of the barred owl. Maybe we can get one to answer.’ Annie could hardly believe her ear. The recorded all sounded as if the bird were asking, “who cooks for you?” Moments later Annie thought she heard a return call in distance. She held her breath and waited. Suddenly a huge bird landed very quietly on a branch above them.
Annie had long forgotten how cold it was. She stood in wonder, shining her flashlight on the bird and studying it carefully. The barred owl was nearly tow feet tall. Gray feathers surrounded its dark eyes. The bird did not matter. Annie would never forge the image of the powerful barred owl.
1.Annie and her father went to the state park to _________.
A. catch owls
B. collect information about owls
C. record the call of owls
D. carry out an experiment on owls
2.With the help of ________, Annie could study the barren owl carefully.
A. scientists
B. moonlight
C. flashlight
D. a recorder
3.How did Annie feel when she saw the barren owl?
A. Bored
B. Relaxed
C. Frightened
D. Amazed
4.What would be the best title?
A. The Owl Count
B. A Study on Owls
C. Observation of Birds
D. A Cheerful Early Morning
World’s Wonderful Libraries
How cool can libraries be in an era of iPads and Kindles More than you think．Only if you know where to go.
Central Library
The Central Library in Seattle,United States is modern and sophisticated. The building is an impressive work of art, which has has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. The library offers free self-guided cell phone tours, along with group tours.
The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events throughout the year.
Open: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m-8 p.m, Friday-Saturday 10 a.m-6 p.m, Sunday noon-6 p.m
Trinity College Library
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.
Not only is the exterior impressive, it boasts the largest single chamber library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library's oldest books.
Various exhibitions and tour are available; admission 9(US 12)
Open: Monday-Wednesday 9:30 a.m -5 p.m, Tuesday 9:30 a.m -9 p.m, Saturday 9:30 a.m -1 p.m, Sunday closed.
Bibliotheca Alexamdrina
The Bibliotheca Alexamdrina is the revival(复兴) of the ancient Royal Library of Alexandria, which was the largest and most influential library in the Greek world. It was built by Alexander the Great some 2, 300 years ago.
The new library was reborn in 2002 on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea after 10 years of designing, planning and construction.
Along with the standard libraries, there are four museums covering science, Arabic Calligraphy, the history of printing and the Greek art.
Open: Saturday-Thursday 9 a.m- 4 p.m.
Stuttgart City Library
The Stuttgart City Library is controversial. Some say it’s innovative, while others say it doesn’t match its environment.
Nevertheless, the library is one of the most interesting buildings in Germany. The design of the cubic facility was influenced by the ancient Pantheon in Rome. It serves as a multi-story meeting space that draws natural sunlight through the roof.
Open: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m--9 p.m
1.Which of the following libraries are open on Friday?
A.Central Library and Bibliotheca Alexandrina
B.Stuttgart City Library and Central Library
C.Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Trinity College Library
D.Trinity College Library and Stuttgart City Library
2.Suppose you are visiting Trinity College Library, you can enjoy ________ there.
A. free exhibitions
B. the oldest Greek art
C. reading the worl’s oldest books
D. reading in the Long Room
3.What is special about the Bibliotheca Alexandrina?
A. It took 10 years to rebuid
B. It is the most influential library in the world
C. It has four museums covering all sorts of art
D. It used to be an ancient royal British library
