One of the great benefits of being able to record sound is to make books available for listening. With the appearance of audio recordings, many people were able to hear literary classics read aloud. Audio books are, of course, books read aloud and recorded to be listened to on some kind of player. As sound technology has changed, audio books have changed, as well. 1. Now, books are also available on audio tape or CD.
Talking books are books created for people who have sight problems. Some of these talking books often need special players to be used. Many visually damaged people are able to receive players for free. 2.
CD technology has caused great changes in the talking book industry, since more data can be written on a single disc. 3. So the visually damaged person has a multi-use machine.
4. Some are even read in the form of a play, in which different actors take the parts of the characters in the book. They may also have sound effects or music to help improve the listening experience.
Some book clubs have started offering audio books as part of their services. Libraries also have audio books available and they may also be purchased online or at any book store. 5. Those who feel they do not have time to enjoy the pleasure of a good book may find audio books to be the next best thing.
A.They are no longer available only on volumes.
B.Many talking book players will also play music CDs.
C.Audio books are popular with travelers and busy individuals.
D.Many audio books also feature famous actors reading the books.
E.People can listen to a personal music player whenever they want.
F.It is an affordable option if you typically listen to more than one book a month.
G.These players enable them to play their talking books independently, without the help of a sighted person.
My father was 44 and knew he wasn't going to make it to 45. He wrote me a letter and hoped that something in it would help me for the rest of my life.
Since the day I was 12 and first read his letter, some of his words have lived in my heart. One part always stands out. “Right now, you are pretending to be a timekiller . But I know that one day, you will do something great that will set you among the very best.” Knowing that my dad believed in me gave me permission to believe in myself. “You will do something great.” He didn't know what that would be, and neither did I, but at times in my life when I've felt proud of myself, I remember his words and wish he were here so I could ask, “Is this what you were talking about, Dad? Should I keep going？”
A long way from 12 now, I realize he would have been proud when I made any progress. Lately, though, I've come to believe he'd want me to move on to what comes next: to be proud of, and believe in, somebody else. It's time to start writing my own letters to my children. Our children look to us with the same unanswered question we had. Our kids don't hold back because they're afraid to fail. They're only afraid of failing us. They don't worry about being disappointed. Their fear－as mine was until my father's letter－is of being a disappointment.
Give your children permission to succeed. They're waiting for you to believe in them.
I always knew my parents loved me. But trust me: That belief will be more complete, that love will be more real, and their belief in themselves will be greater if you write the words on their hearts：“Don't worry; you'll do something great.” Not having that blessing from their parents may be the only thing holding them back.
1.We learn from the text that the author ________.
A.lost his father when he was young
B.worked hard before he read his father's letter
C.asked his father's permission to believe in himself
D.knew exactly what great thing his father wanted him to do
2.What does the author tell us in the 3rd paragraph?
A.Children need their parents' letters.
B.Children are afraid to be disappointed.
C.His children's fear of failure held them back.
D.His father's letter removed his fear of failing his parents.
3.Which of the following is TRUE of the author?
A.He got no access to success.
B.He wrote back to his father at 12.
C.He was sure his parents loved him.
D.He once asked his father about the letter.
4.The main purpose of the text is to ________.
A.describe children's thinking
B.answer some questions children have
C.stress the importance of communication
D.advise parents to encourage their children
We can achieve knowledge either actively or passively（被动地）．We achieve it actively by direct experience, by testing and proving an idea, or by reasoning．
We achieve knowledge passively by being told by someone else．Most of the learning that takes place in the classroom and the kind that happens when we watch TV or read newspapers or magazines is passive．Conditioned as we are to passive learning, it’s not surprising that we depend onitin our everyday communication with friends and co-workers．
Unfortunately, passive learning has a serious problem．It makes us tend to accept what we are told even when it is little more than hearsay and rumor（谣言）．
Did you ever play the game Rumor? It begins when one person writes down a message but doesn’t show it to anyone．Then the person whispers it, word for word, to another person．That person, in turn, whispers it to still another, and so on, through all the people playing the game．The last person writes down the message word for word as he or she hears it．Then the two written statements are compared．Typically, the original message has changed．
That’s what happens in daily life．The simple fact that people repeat a story in their own words changes the story．Then, too, most people listen imperfectly．And many enjoy adding their own creative touch to a story, trying to improve on it, stamping（打上标记）it with their own personal style．Yet those who hear it think they know．
This process is also found among scholars and authors: A statement of opinion by one writer may be restated as a fact by another, who may in turn be quoted by yet another; and this process may continue, unless it occurs to someone to question the facts on which the original writer based his opinion or to challenge the interpretation he placed upon those facts．
1.According to the passage, passive learning may occur in _______．
A. doing a medical experiment B. solving a math problem
C. visiting an exhibition D. doing scientific reasoning
2.The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refers to _____．
A. active learning B. knowledge
C. communication D. passive learning
3.The author mentions the game Rumor to show that _____．
A. a message may be changed when being passed on
B. a message should be delivered in different ways
C. people may have problems with their sense of hearing
D. people tend not to believe in what they know as rumor
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A. Active learning is less important．
B. Passive learning may not be reliable．
C. Active learning occurs more frequently．
D. Passive learning is not found among scholars．
A long time ago, and still in some countries today, the dollar and penny did not even exist. Actually, trading a cow for two pigs is still the norm (常态) for many cultures. So how is it that we get to use paper and coins?
The biggest challenge for ancient cultures was to have a system that would allow people to exchange products with each other. However, the problem came up when one person was in need of something immediately that they didn’t have a product to trade. For example, a farmer that needed wheat only had fruit to exchange but the fruit wasn’t ready to hand over for another two months. This is what started the idea of a “common currency”. The farmer could buy what he needed with “currency” and just as important, the value of the goods he was exchanging was standardized. He did not have to worry about giving anything in return now or later; his deal was complete. Thus “money” was born.
Over time, each country has developed its own currency and something that might cost 1,000,000 lire in one country might be 1 dollar in the US currency. Most countries also frequently use powerful political people as the “face” of their currency. The US currency is the best example of this. Can you name all the presidents that currently appear on not only paper money but also coins?
The real excitement, however, is the future of how we buy things. People have started to use debit cards (借记卡) that allow you to pay using your bank account rather than cash. That has given way to something called Mondex. Mondex allows you to “wave” your card past any special device that can read these cards. You no longer have to insert, swipe (刷) and then punch in numbers, which could cause security problems.
1.What’s the purpose of Paragraph 1?
A.To introduce the topic of the text.
B.To explain what money was like in history.
C.To tell us that there was no money long ago.
D.To compare the difference between a cow and two pigs.
2.The farmer had an idea of using currency when ________.
A.he had a product to exchange B.he had made a lot of money
C.he had nothing to trade for what he needed D.he would harvest his fruit
3.Mondex is a kind of card which can ________.
A.keep you safe if you are in trouble
B.save you a large amount of money
C.help you trade safely and conveniently
D.make you happy whenever you are bored
4.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A.The evolution of payment. B.The trade in ancient times.
C.The use of money in the world. D.New ways of payment.
Better known by his stage name KUN, Cai Xukun is a phenomenon, opening up the music industry in China.
Last year, after participating in the reality TV show Idol Producer, receiving the most votes from fans, the singer-songwriter rose to fame overnight. At just 21 years old, Cai has topped Chinese music charts with multiple singles.
On July 26, KUN released his newest single Young. Within just 20 seconds, it reached a million sales.
KUN wrote the song to share his understanding of youth. He mixed R&B and electronic beats (节拍) to make it more cheerful. A reviewer wrote on QQ Music, “When you listen to the song, you just seem to go back to youth again.”
The song was an early birthday present to himself which he celebrated on Aug 2. KUN also hopes that he always has the courage to pursue (追求) his love of music, no matter what people think. “My works are like my children and I have put my best effort into them.” he told the Global Times.
Indeed, KUN has written and produced most of his songs on his own. “I want every piece of my work to have my own spirit in it,” he told music website Soundigest, “I feel more enjoyment when I'm performing my own work.”
Although KUN loves performing onstage, when the lights go down, he prefers to fall back into his own world and darkness at night. “I always get inspired when it's quiet, late at night/' he told I-D magazine, “It's a great moment for me to create new things. Sometimes, I can write songs with a melody (旋律) I heard in a dream.”
To develop his introspection (反思) and find new inspiration, KUN attends different kinds of musical performances — from festivals to opera houses. “I just like to do everything, all for my music, all for my art,” he told I-D.
With such talent and dedication to music, it seems that KUN will continue to make his mark in the competitive Chinese music industry.
1.What do we know about KUN's newest single?
A.It earns him a birthday present.
B.It makes people feel happy and energetic.
C.It shows how he pursues his dream.
D.It combines jazz and electronic music.
2.What does KUN usually do to get inspiration for music?
A.He goes to music shows.
B.He talks to famous singers.
C.He attends music classes.
D.He finds melodies in his dreams.
3.Which would best describe KUN?
A.Courageous and patient.
B.Talented and humorous.
C.Hardworking and creative.
D.Optimistic and outgoing.
Directions: Write an English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
你校准备为高三学生开展一次普及上海历史知识的活动，现有两个方案征求大家意见:
1.学校组织学生集体驱车前往上海市历史博物馆(Shanghai History Museum)，现场参观并聆听专业讲解员(professional museum guide)介绍上海历史，共计五小时；
2.学校邀请某知名大学历史教授到校以“上海历史”为主题做讲座，共计两小时。
请你以李华的名义向王校长写一封信，在信中谈谈你更偏向哪个方案，并说明理由。
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