Many studies link music study to academic achievements. But what is it about serious music training that seems to associate with great success in other fields?
I put the question to top-flight professionals in industries from tech to finance to media, all of whom had serious (if often little-known) past lives as musicians, Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, was a professional saxophone player. The billionaire Bruce Kovner is a pianist who took classes at Juilliard. Almost all made a connection between their music training and their professional achievements. Mr. Greenspan says, ''I can tell you as a statistician, the probability that that is mere chance is extremely small. That's all that you can judge about the facts. The important question is: why does that connection exist? ''
Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, offers an answer. He says music ''builds up your confidence in the ability to create''. The music had the emotional similarity to his day job, with each giving a different type of motivation. The NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd, who attended college on music scholarships, says there is a connection between years of practice and competition and what he calls the ''drive for perfection''. He adds, ''The group playing trains you, quite literally, to play well with others, to know when to solo (独奏) and when to follow. ''
For many of the high achievers I spoke with, music functions as a ''hidden language'', as the former World Bank president James Wolfensohn calls it, one that improves the ability to connect diverse or even contradictory ideas. According to him, music may not make you a genius, or a better person. But it helps train you to think differently, to process different points of view-and most importantly, to take pleasure in listening.
1.How does Alan Greenspan find the connection between music training and professional achievements?
A.It's relatively weak. B.It's not common fact.
C.It's not a coincidence. D.It's widely acknowledged.
2.What quality does music equip Chuck Todd with?
A.Teamwork. B.Confidence.
C.Creativity. D.Tolerance.
3.How does the author mainly develop the text？
A.By comparing different facts. B.By debating and concluding.
C.By self-questioning and answering. D.By offering concrete examples.
4.What can be inferred from the text?
A.Music contributes to success. B.Music is the universal language.
C.Music can change your career. D.Music is linked to academic success.
Want to get your package delivered via robots? Now there’s an app for that. If you live in Washington D.C., or Redwood, you may have glimpsed a small, boxy robot rolling along a local sidewalk, minding its own business, but attracting the attention of many curious onlookers.
The autonomous machines were part of a pilot program last year by Starship Technologies focusing on delivering meals from local restaurants in dozens of cities around the world. This week, the company unveiled plans to broaden its delivery service beyond food to include package, a move that led it to declare itself “the world’s first robot package delivery service”. The next time you order food, this cute robot might roll up to deliver it. The package delivery service is not available to everyone yet.
The wheeled robots have a top speed of 4mph and can detect obstacles from 30 feet away. “The robot can operate through anything,” Nick Handrick, head of operations for Starship’s D.C. office, sad, “If you had something in the way-a stick –it’s able to climb sticks.”
To sign up for the service, which costs a little more than $10 per month, customers need to download the company’s app. Customers then create a “Starship Delivery Address”, a unique address inside a Starship facility, where they can have package sent from places such as Amazon.com. Once a package is delivered to the Starship address, customers receive a text notification that allows them to schedule a home delivery via robot. The robots are opened by customers via a mobile phone code.
Barriers exist for robotic ground delivery, with many states requiring that humans be in control of delivery robots. Those regulations haven’t stopped Starship Technologies from accumulating experience on streets around the globe ahead of the company’s latest launch. The company says its robots have covered more than 125,000 miles in more than 100 cities in 20 countries.
1.What can we know about the robotic delivery?
A.It is part of a trial project by Starship Technologies.
B.The robotic delivery is available to everyone at present.
C.You can use the service free of charge via smart phones.
D.The robots are opened by customers with a text notification.
2.What does the underlined word“unveiled”in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Revised. B.Released. C.Restored. D.Reset.
3.What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A.The good news of the service.
B.How the robotic delivery works.
C.The disadvantages of the robotic delivery.
D.Robotic delivery develops despite challenges.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A.New Robot Was Invented B.Wheelless Robots Are on the Way
C.How Robots Deliver Packages D.Packages Will Be Delivered by Robots
Recently Stiles aged 17 took her 3-year-old brother, James, to her high school. A family emergency prevented her parents from being able to pick up James. So they asked Stiles to step in.
“This was a one-time event; we have never had her get him from school other than this day. But it was an emergency,” her mother said. “I figured she had gone to get him and taken him home. Later that day I saw the picture online and realized that she had taken him back to school.”
Little James quickly fell asleep in his big sister’s arms at the high school.
She didn’t want to be counted absent or miss any work. Stiles was studying to be a nurse. She was in her class, and the teacher gladly welcomed her little brother in. He was so tired from his school that he slept most of the class. She not only helped her family out but returned to her responsibility at school.
Her teacher was very supportive and didn’t mind him being in the class at all. He slept most of the time and if he had become a problem she would have taken him out. She attends an amazing school that clearly sees the value in family and education.
Her mom said she can now put to rest any worries she’s had that the 14-year age gap between Stiles and James would keep them from being close. As a mom, she was thankful that they had this kind of relationship, and she prayed it would always stay this way.
1.Why did Stiles’ parents ask her for help?
A.Her family was in trouble. B.She was close to being an adult.
C.Her brother refused to attend school. D.Her parents couldn’t collect James.
2.Where did Stiles want to work when she grew up?
A.In a hospital. B.In a school. C.In a factory. D.In a shop.
3.What was Stiles’ teacher’s attitude to her act?
A.Opposed. B.Critical. C.Ambiguous. D.Approving.
4.What once made Stiles’ mother concerned?
A.Stiles’ bad performance in the key school. B.Stiles’ identity of being a senior high student.
C.Stiles’ terrible relationship with her classmates. D.The age difference between Stiles and her brother.
Fascination Auto
FRANKFURT, Germany-European automakers are preparing for the biggest European motor show, the 89th International Automobile-Ausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt, with affordable new family coupe (小汽车) and range-topping luxury models.
Maserati Spyder GT
Maserati’s new Spyder GT may resemble the coupe on the outer appearance, but it has a shorter wheelbase, a new engine and a new mechanical platform. The coupe won’t receive those changes until 2021. The new 4.4-liter V-8 engine gets 390 horsepower and 44 pounds lighter than the 3.2-liter biturbo power plant it replaces. The Spyder is expected to be about $138,000.
Saab 9X
Described by Saab, the 9X is a sports coupe that combines the features of a coupe, roadster (跑车), sedan (私家轿车) and pickup truck. The two-door coupe, created by Michael Mauer, is a preview of future Saab styling signal.
BMW 9 Series
A fourth generation of BMW’s high-dollar sedan arrives for 2021, introducing what BMW says is the world’s first six-speed automatic transmission (变速器). The V-8 engine is said to be loaded with technical advances. It develops 353 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of twisting force. The latest version of BMW’s Head Protection System adds rear-side airbags. Active Knee Protection, which contains an additional airbag to protect the knees of front passengers, is a new feature.
Porsche 911Carrera Targa
The third model in the 911 Carrera series in the redesigned Targa, which joins the coupe. The Targa’s whole glass roof covers nearly 5 square feet and is powered by two electric motors. The rear window is now folded for a bigger cargo bay, which has increased from 7.1 to 8.1 cubic feet.
1.What does“biturbo power plant”refer to in Paragraph 2?
A.Wheelbase. B.Horsepower.
C.Platform. D.Engine.
2.Which of the following is more concentrated on safety?
A.Saab 9X. B.BMW 9 Series.
C.Maserati Spyder GT. D.Porsche 911 Carrera Targa.
3.What is special about Saab 9X?
A.It signals the style of future coupes.
B.It provides all-glass top for the owner.
C.It is a combination of various functions.
D.It resembles the other four-door coupes physically.
假定你是李华，你的外国笔友Jeff得知你参加了你校学生会主办的“The Chinese Scientist I Admire Most”故事分享会，写信询问有关情况。请你回复邮件，内容包括：
1.感谢关注；
2.你的分享；
3.你的感想。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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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。每处错误仅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。
Recently I took a part in a geography research activity, whose theme was environmental pollution and protection. We took variety pictures showing the present pollution conditions of our city. To our surprise, there are still a great number people doing silly things to our surrounding. Some people often throw rubbish whichever they like. Some cars gave off harmful gases and waste water is pouring into rivers by some factories. Worse still, people sometimes have to make his way through dusty winds as a result of the pollution. Through our research, we have come to realize what everybody must pay more attention to protect our environment and that some measures should be taken to protect it.
