Leila’ s Hair Museum
Before the invention of photography, people kept memories of loved ones by creating mementos(纪念物)using human hair. In 1986, Leila Cohoon opened a museum in Independence, Missouri, to show her collection of more than 2, 000 pieces of hair-based art collected over 30 years. Billed as the only hair museum in the world, it includes more than 400 braided hair wreaths(花环)and 2,000 pieces of jewellery dating back to the mid-1600s. “My museum is filled with other people’s families,” Leila says. “It tells a story. ”
International UFO Museum and Research Center
On July 7, 1947, a farmer discovered mysterious metallic debris(金属碎片)in his farm outside Roswell, New Mexico. Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF)originally said it recovered a flying disc. The next day, RAAF changed its words: The object was a weather balloon. Stories of a UFO and a government cover-up spread. Each year, 180,000 people check out the dirt from the UFO crash site, photos, and reports about the Roswell incident.
Museum of Bad Art
Not all art is created equal. After finding an oil painting in the rubbish in 1993—the now classic Lucy in the Field with Flowers—Scott Wilson started collecting bad art. Before long, he showed his finds at the Somerville movie theater. The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) gives the public a firsthand look at some of the world’s worst “disaster-pieces”. Popular paintings include Mana Lisa, Hollywood Lips, and Drilling for Eggs. “MOBA is always on the lookout for the best of the worst,” said co-founder Marie Jackson. “But what an artist considers to be bad doesn’t always meet our low standards. ”
Mutter Museum
Welcome to the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—home to more than 5,000 brains, bones, and dead bodies! In 1858, Dr. Thomas Dent Mutter gave his collection of preserved body parts, and bones to the College Of Physicians to improve medical education, which led to the museum’s creation in 1863. Today, Mutter is the most famous medical museum in America, housing a wall of bones, and pieces of Albert Einstein’ s brain.
1.What is special about Leila’s Hair Museum?
A. It is full of family stories.
B. It houses the world’s greatest photos.
C. It holds collections from around the globe.
D. It was opened to remember Leila’s loved ones.
2.What can you find in the Mutter Museum?
A. Photos about the Roswell incident. B. Some of Albert Einstein’s brain.
C. 2,000 pieces of jewellery. D. Mana Lisa.
3.What do the four museums have in common?
A. They are newly-founded museums. B. They are art-centered.
C. They are unpopular among visitors. D. They are quite unusual.
假定你是李华, 现在英国，你想和你的同学们参观镇上的一次历史展览会。请你根据以下内容 给展览会的负责人写一封信，询问你想了解的相关信息。内容主要包括:
1.展览的内容；
2.展览开始和结束的日期；
3.门票是否有折扣。
注意：1.词数 80 词左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.已给内容不计入词数。
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单词拼写
1.What percentage of the students in your school are a ______ to colleges?
2.These toys are a real b ______ at such low prices.
3.Consider carefully where your s ______ and weaknesses lie.
4.Facing such f ______ competition, he has to make every effort.
5.He a ______ to his girl friend for having kept her waiting.
6.He tried over and over and finally s ______ (成功).
7.Are you ______ (熟悉的) with the rules of baseball?
8.They ______ (探索) this desert region in 1923.
9.You have to ask for your teacher’s ______ (许可) to leave early.
10.They only have a ______ (有限的) amount of time to explain their idea.
As a young man, Aaron was a skilled artist, a porter. He had a wife and two fine sons. One night, his older son developed a stomachache. Thinking it was some _______ disorder, neither Aaron nor his wife took the condition very seriously. But the illness was actually severe and the boy _______ suddenly that night.
The son’s death could have been prevented if he had only _______ the seriousness of the situation! Aaron’s emotional health got _______ under the heavy burden of his guilt (内疚). What's worse, his wife left him a short time later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son. The hurt and pain of the two situations were more than Aaron could handle, and he _______ alcohol (酒精) to help him cope. In time Aaron became an alcoholic (酗酒者).
As the alcoholism (酗酒) _______, Aaron began to lose everything he possessed — his home, his land, his art objects, everything. _______, Aaron died alone in a San Francisco motel room.
When I heard of Aaron's death, I reacted like most people who show no respect for one ending his life with nothing material to show for it. ''What a complete failure! '' I thought. ''What a _______ life! ''
As time went by, I began to reevaluate my earlier cold _______. You see, I knew Aaron’s now adult son, Ernie. He has a family and he is one of the kindest, most caring, most loving men I have ever known. I watched Ernie with his ________. I saw the free flow of ________ between them. I knew that kindness and caring had to come from somewhere.
I hadn't heard Ernie talk much about his father. It is so hard to ________ an alcoholic. One day I worked up my courage to ________ him. ''I'm really ________ by something, '' I said. ''I know your father was basically the only one to ________ you. What on earth did he do that you became such a special person? ''
Ernie sat quietly and thought for a few moments. Then he said, ''From my earliest memories as a child until I left home at 18, Aaron came into my room every night, gave me a ________ and said, 'love you, son. '''
Tears came to my eyes as I realized what a fool I had been to judge Aaron as a(n) ________. He had not ________ any material possessions to his son. But he had been a kind loving ________. He ________ one of the finest, most giving men I have ever known.
1.A.common B.strange C.special D.unusual
2.A.cried B.died C.ached D.awoke
3.A.discussed B.questioned C.ignored D.realized
4.A.considered B.improved C.damaged D.examined
5.A.turned to B.referred to C.picked up D.gave up
6.A.decreased B.disappeared C.progressed D.approached
7.A.Finally B.Surprisingly C.Naturally D.Obviously
8.A.short B.wasted C.rich D.lonely
9.A.speech B.judgment C.words D.attitude
10.A.children B.friends C.colleagues D.pets
11.A.thoughts B.blood C.love D.time
12.A.hate B.hide C.change D.defend
13.A.meet B.interview C.call D.ask
14.A.embarrassed B.puzzled C.frightened D.harmed
15.A.visit B.teach C.leave D.raise
16.A.kiss B.gift C.book D.lecture
17.A.pity B.pride C.failure D.honor
18.A.presented B.left C.offered D.showed
19.A.husband B.adult C.artist D.father
20.A.found out B.left out C.left behind D.pointed out
To joke around is to have fun with someone. To fool someone is to try to make them believe something that is not true. 1.
April 1st is known as the day to fool people with practical jokes, pranks or harmless tricks. 2. Some say April Fools' Day began as one big mistake.
Many centuries ago, people in the Western world used the Julian calendar. 3. However, when people began using the Gregorian calendar, the New Year was moved to January 1st. Those who forgot the change and tried to celebrate New Year's Day on the wrong date were teased and called ''April fools''. This is just one of the many theories behind the origin of April Fools' Day. 4.
The fool is a common character in art, music and literature. William Shakespeare is famous for his fools. And fools make for great pop songs. Fools are found in many words, expressions and proverbs. To be foolhardy means to do something that are too dangerous or risky. For example, it is foolhardy to hike up a mountain during a heavy snowstorm. If something is foolproof, it is planned or made so well that nothing could go wrong. 5.
''Look, I don't want to get into trouble. This plan of yours sounds risky. ''
''My plan is foolproof. Nothing will go wrong as long as you do exactly as I say. ''
A.Not even a fool could mess it up.
B.And that is the purpose of April Fools' Day.
C.They celebrated the New Year on April 1st.
D.Even a smart person can be a fool at times.
E.But the tradition remains the same—to fool someone.
F.Fools also find themselves in many proverbs.
G.But how did this tradition begin?
Attending a live musical performance in a huge sports center with lots of supporters of the musician is exciting. Even in a theatre, a skilled performer can provide a great show. Here in the U.S., a very different kind of performance space is gaining in popularity.
Singer-songwriter Annalise Emerick is getting ready to play a show. It is something she does most nights in bars, and other small spaces across the country. But tonight, the setting is even smaller. Ms. Emerick will play for a few people in Kristina Shulz's home.
Ms. Shulz has been holding such performances in her home for about four years. As many as 30 people have attended past shows. The crowd is usually a mix of family, friends and neighbors. But some strangers might show up, too. The performances are listed on house concert websites. ''We've done rock, we've had blues, we've had pop, folk...pretty much anything...anything we’ll have here. '' she said.
House concerts have become an importance part of Annalise Emerick's earnings. ''I can play a bar for 100 dollars, but I can play a house concert and if there are 50 people and they all paying $20 I’m having a great night. And they're all buying CDs. It’s amazing. ''
Ms. Emerick says house concert audiences tend to make more supportive fans. They follow her career, buy her new releases, and go to her shows when she is in town.
''There's just a totally unique experience as opposed to playing like a coffee shop or a bar or something like that where people are usually there, but you don’t always know if they're there for you. ''
Charlie Dahan teaches music management courses. He used to organize shows for artists. Mr. Dahan says house concerts can be financially risky for artists.
''The downside for the artists is that most house concerts don't pay guarantees. In fact, most house concerts by law are not allowed to charge admission. Most of them can only do a suggested donation.'' On the other hand, he says house concerts can help fill an artist's performance calendar and build a loyal following.
Annalise Emerick says she has played in some homes so often the owners have become close friends. And that's been really nice for her.
1.All of the following about the house concerts in Kristina Shulz’s home are true EXCEPT ______.
A.Some strangers might attend the concerts.
B.Many kinds of music have been played in the concerts.
C.The performances are listed on house concert websites.
D.The concerts have become an important part of her income.
2.What does “a totally unique experience” refer to?
A.People come just for your music. B.People come to drink coffee.
C.People are paying much for your music. D.People are buying your CDs.
3.In Charlie Dahan’s opinion, house concerts ______.
A.should charge admission
B.should do more donations
C.bring uncertain income
D.help artists make friends
4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.The advantages of house concerts B.The popularity of house concerts
C.Ways to get royal fans for artists D.Ways to fill an artist’s calendar
