Children's Games in Ancient China
Unlike the children nowadays, the children during ancient times didn't have smart phone, iPad or computer to entertain(娱乐) themselves. 1. Let's take a look.
Flying kites
Kites have quite a long history. The earliest kites were made of wood, instead of paper. Nowadays, the three most famous kites are the Beijing kite, Tianjin kite and Weifang kite. 2. For example, the swallow-shaped kite is a well-known Beijing style.
Playing hide-and-seek
Hide-and-seek is a traditional game for children, popular around the nation. Even nowadays, many children like playing it. There are two ways to play. One way is covering a child's eyes while other kids run around to tease(戏弄) him. 3.
4.
The closest thing to watching a film or television for entertainment during ancient times was going to see a shadow play. Folk artists manipulate puppets behind the screen, narrating stories and accompanied by music.
Setting off firecrackers(鞭炮)
Firecrackers have a history of more than 2,000 years. It is said that there was a beast (野兽)named Nian in ancient China. 5. After gunpowder was invented, it gradually replaced the bamboo joint cracker. Crackers are still set off during Spring Festival to symbolize auspiciousness(吉利).
A. Watching shadow plays
B. Each of them has special features.
C. Different materials are used to make the kite.
D. Shadow plays were the popular entertaining form in ancient times.
E. And to scare off the beast, people burnt bamboo joints to make it blast.
F. More commonly, participants hide and one child must try to find them.
G. Instead, they came up with(想出) interesting games to play in their childhood.
Often people use laptops(手提电脑) on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels.These laptops connect people to their workplace.In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms.
Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want.Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop.The laptops are part of a $10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college.The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet.Besides, they will be able to use e-mail to “speak” with their teachers, their classmates and their families.However, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs.They can work with it at home, in a fast-food restaurant or under the trees—anywhere at all!
Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education, such as colleges and universities, is workable, As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers.Also, the portable(便携式的)computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources. State higher-education officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too.
1.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A. Laptops are very popular in universities of America.
B. More laptops are being used in universities of America.
C. People like using laptops everywhere, including in universities.
D. Laptops will be used in Westlake College in Virginia.
2.The underlined word “speak” in the second paragraph most probably means ______.
A. communicate B. talk with one's mouth
C. talk with speakers D. use the computer language
3.Which of the following is TRUE about Westlake College?
A. All students use computers. B. 1,500 students have laptops.
C. It is an old college in America. D. Students there can do everything.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A. The result is not known yet. B. The program is not workable.
C. The program is too expensive. D. The program is successful.
One of the most famous buildings in the United States is Carnegie Hall, the home of classical and popular music concerts in New York. Carnegie Hall is known not just for its beauty and history, but also for its amazing sound. It has been said that the hall itself is an instrument. It takes the music and makes it larger than life.
Carnegie Hall is named after Andrew Carnegie, who paid for its construction. Construction on Carnegie Hall began in 1890 and the official opening night was on May 5, 1891.
The hall was owned by the Carnegie family until 1924 when it was sold to Robert E. Simon. The building became very old and in 1960, the new owner made plans to destroy it and build an office block. Isaac Stem led a group of people who fought to save Carnegie Hall and finally, the city of New York bought it for $5 million. It was then fixed up between 1983 and 1995.
Advertisements and stories in newspapers about how Carnegie Hall needed help to recover its history led people to send in old concert programmes and information from all over the world. Over 12,000 concert programmes were received and with these it was possible to make a proper record of Carnegie Hall’s concert history.
Carnegie Hall is actually made up of several different halls, but the Main Hall, now called the Isaac Stern Hall, is the most famous. The hall itself can hold an audience of 2,804 in five levels of seating.
Because the best and most famous musicians of all time have played at Carnegie Hall, it is the dream of most musicians who want to be great to play there. This has led to a very old joke which is now part of Carnegie Hall’s history. Question: “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” Answer: “Practise, practise, practise.”
1.It can be inferred that people wanted to save Carnegie Hall mainly because _____.
A. it made a lot of money B. it was worth visiting
C. many important concerts were held in it D. it made some musicians become famous
2.How did Carnegie Hall recover its concert history?
A. Through newspaper reports. B. Through old concert programmes.
C. Through old photographs. D. Through old joke.
3.How long did it take Carnegie Hall to be fixed up?
A. 9 years. B. 10 years. C. 11 years. D. 12 years.
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. The History of Carnegie Hall. B. The Best Musician Having Played in Carnegie Hall.
C. A Joke about Carnegie Hall. D. The Dream of Most Musicians.
I'll never forget the day when Mary came into my office and said, I am too old to learn how to use a computer. I shook my head. Here was a woman who had raised 6 children and who had made great progress in her career telling me that she was too old to learn something new. I told her that I always believed people were never too old to learn.
Mary followed my advice and did learn how to use the computer. Now, she is retired and leading a very active life volunteering in her community(社区), using her computer skills and helping anyone that needs help.
When she was in her sixties, one day she called me and said she had played the piano for others all her life, and now she was going to plan to make a CD of her own. My mind flashed back to the day when she told me she was too old to learn. You can imagine my surprise and delight.
To produce the CD, she had a lot of things to learn. It was not just sitting at the piano and playing. She had to research the songs, learn about copyright(版权), and learn about marketing. It was pretty amazing for someone who once said she was too old to learn. And finally she made it. Now she has her own CD-Mixed Blessings.
Most of you probably have heard about some people who have gone back to university in their seventies and have also graduated. They are on their way again to charging themselves with a new skill and a new attitude towards life. The point is you are unable to learn anything at any age if you believe you are too old. On the contrary, you can achieve anything at any age if you believe you can.
1.When Mary said she was too old to learn, the author ________.
A. became disappointed with her B. felt sad and decided to help her
C. did not agree with her D. thought what she had said was true
2.Why did Mary call the author one day in her sixties?
A. To ask him to play the piano. B. To talk about her education.
C. To ask him to make a CD. D. To tell him about her plan.
3.The author thought it ________ for Mary to make a CD.
A. impossible B. difficult C. unnecessary D. interesting
4.What does the text mainly tell us?
A. We're never too old to learn. B. We should always learn new skills.
C. Interest is the best teacher. D. Some people succeed for a reason.
Where to Drink
Cafe San Bernardo
Join table-tennis and pool-playing port. Cafe San Bernardo has been running since 1912.The Villa Crespo dive bar also offers up table football for￡4 an hour. Service is efficient; with last orders at 5 am. The daily happy hour between 6 pm and 9 pm includes 60 minutes playing your game of choice, plus a half-bottle of red wine and a corn pie,for￡9.
●Avenue Corrientes 5436, Villa Crespo, 54 11 4805 3956, cafesanbernardo.com
M Salumeria & Enoteca
Trading only in wine with a story, sommelier(侍酒师)Mariana Torta chooses new ways on a daily basis, and keeps a list of around 250 labels.There's no wine menu—simply take your bottle from the shelf.
●Open 11:00 am-11:30 pm, El Salvador 5777, Palermo Hollywood, 54 11 4778 9016, on Facebook
Negro Cueva de Cafe
Coffee has found its place in Buenos Aires. While LAB: Tostadores, The Shelter and Coffee Town are famous new places, Negro Cueva de Cafe is one of the best downtown. It serves Ecuadorian, Colombian and Brazilian beans, and its attracting cakes include croissant.
●Open 9:30 am-7:00 pm, Suipacha 637, Microcentro, 54 11 4322 3000, negrocafe .com
La Calle
Head to the Niceto Vega address and you'll be faced with a pizza. Order the special wine, special candy, and prepare to sing until dawn with a high-energy young crowd.
●Open 8:00 pm-2:00 am, Niceto Vega 4942, Palermo Soho, 54 11 3914 1972, on Facebook
1.Which number should you call if you want to do some sports?
A. 54 11 4778 9016. B. 54 11 4805 3956. C. 54 11 4322 3000. D. 54 11 3914 1972.
2.When can you go to M Salumeria & Enoteca?
A. All day. B. 1:00 am. C. 3:00 pm. D. 10:00 am.
3.What makes La Calle different?
A. Its having special candy. B. Its having no wine menu.
C. Its allowing you to play games. D. Its opening for the longest time.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What kind of gifts is the woman talking about?
A. Thanksgiving Day gifts. B. Birthday gifts. C. Christmas gifts
2.How many grandchildren does the woman have?
A. Four. B. Seven. C. Eleven.
3.Where did the woman's granddaughter put her gift?
A. In a bag. B. In a box. C. In an envelope.
4.What impressed the woman most about the gift?
A. That Her granddaughter used French to express herself.
B. That Her granddaughter showed great love with simple words.
C. That Her granddaughter bought the gift with all her money.
