I’ve been playing in rock bands since I was about 14 years old. It’s my favorite hobby in the world and I don, t think I’ll ever give it up. When I moved to China, I wasn’t sure what it would be like to play in a band here. Would it be hard to find people to play with? Or places to play at? As it turns out, Beijing is a great place to play music.
One of the main differences is that the music scene here is much smaller than those in most big Western cities. This might seem like a disadvantage, but I actually kind of (有点) like it. It means that most of the people involved, whether they are promoters (宣传人员) or musicians or Just music fans, know each other well. It’s like having a big family. I’ve met some amazing friends by playing music here.
Another big difference is that every practice studio and live-house in Beijing has the basic equipment (设备) for playing music. When I played drums in the US, I had to bring my whole drum kit everywhere we played. But here, I just bring my drumsticks and cymbals (钹). This makes it way more convenient to practice, record and play music.
And I’ve definitely had some unique experiences since I’ve been playing here. For one concert, we played on an outdoor stage next to a farm in the suburbs of Baoding in Hebei province. For another show, we played at a tiny bar inside of a huge shopping mall. These kinds of experiences are rare in the US. It’s definitely been a lot of fun to play music here.
1.In the first paragraph the writer wasn’t sure ________?
A.whether he would miss his friends
B.whether he would bring his whole drum kit
C.whether he could continue playing music
D.whether he could start a new hobby
2.From the second paragraph we know ________.
A.the music scene in Beijing is the same size as Western cities
B.people in the music scene come from a big family
C.the writer gets on well with people in Western cities
D.the writer makes some new friends by playing music
3.What does the underlined word “unique” mean in the last paragraph?
A.独特的 B.危险的 C.艰难的 D.可怕的
4.What do we know from the passage?
A.The writer has played rock music for 14 years.
B.Rock bands in Beijing are not very popular.
C.The writer enjoys playing music in China.
D.The writer once played on an outdoor stage on a farm.
Final exams are just around the corner. Liu Haoxuan, 14, who studies at Beijing Dayu School, is quite busy However, he still had to find time to practice his spoken English. That’s because he had to take a new English listening and speaking test.
Liu is not alone. This is a new test for all students who are taking senior high school entrance exams (中考) in Beijing, Junior 3 students have to take an English listening and speaking test that counts for 40 points on their full English exam. The test is taken on a computer. They can take the test twice—once in December and again in March -to try to get the highest score possible. The test was just introduced last year.
During the 30-minute test, students have to fill in blanks, answer questions and retell stories after listening to different materials. “It pushes us to speak. Though it was hard at the beginning, it’s a good thing,” Liu said. He got a low score when he first took it last semester. But he kept working hard in order to improve his pronunciation and other skills. He pracised speaking in front of a mirror every day. Later, he got a score of 39 on the test.
LiTianyou, 14, from Beying Yuying Middle School, has his own way to prepare for the spoken English test. He uses apps to take practice tests every day. “The apps will score your performance so that you can improve accordingly,” he said. “Also, the practice tests help me learn to take notes properly. They help me grasp topic sentences and connection words.”
1.How many times can they take the English listening and speaking test?
A.Only once B.Twice C.Three times D.Four times
2.According to the passage, we know ________.
A.All the students have to take the test.
B.The test was introduced this year.
C.It is worth 40 points on the full English exam.
D.Most of the students can get high scores on the test.
3.What do we know about Li Tianyou?
A.He got a score of 39 on the test.
B.He prepared for the test by using apps.
C.He was afraid of speaking English in class.
D.He still finds it hard to grasp topic sentences.
4.What’s the passage mainly about?
A.The difficulties students face in learning English
B.The research of English education in China
C.An oral English class that students in Beijing have to take
D.a new oral English test for Beijing Junior 3 students
Red Star Theater Jay Chou will give a concert. Time: 7: 00 pm-9: 00 pm, on January 10 Price:￥80-￥1280 | Mengxin Shopping Center All clothes will be on sale at the Mengxin Shopping Centre Time: 8:00 am-9:00 pm from January 11-25 |
Blue Sky Cinema 3D movie: Transformers 3 Director: Michael Bay Actors/Actresses: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Josh Duhamel Time: 7:30 pm-9:30 pm from January 28 to February 5 Price:￥80 | International Picnic Come to enjoy delicious food from all over the world. Place: People’s Park Time: 12:00 noon-5:00 pm, February 2-8 Price:￥100 |
1.The sale at the mengxin Shopping Center will last for ________.
A.a month B.half a month C.ten days D.a week
2.Lucy can only spend 80 yuan on January 29. She can ________.
A.watch Transformers 3 in Blue Sky Cinema
B.buy clothes on sale at the Mengxin Shopping Center
C.enjoy Jay Chou’s concert in Red Star Theater
D.go to the International Picnic
3.You can enjoy delicious food from all over the world in International Picnic at ________.
A.8:00 am on February 3
B.9:00 am on February 5
C.3:00 pm on February 7
D.5:00 pm on February 9
One day, two little boys were walking along the road. They overtook a woman carrying a large basket of apples.
The boys thought the woman looked very ________ and tired, so they said, “Are you going to town? If you are, we will carry your ________.”
“Thank you,” replied the woman, “You are very kind. You see I am weak and ill.” Then she told them that she was a widow (寡妇), and had a lame (跛足的) son to raise.
She lived in a cottage three miles away, and was now going to the market to ________ the apples which grew ________ the only tree in her garden. She wanted the money to ________ her rent.
“We are going the ________ way you are,” said the boys. “Let us have the basket” And they took hold of it, one on each side, and trudged (艰难地走) along with ________ hearts.
The poor widow looked glad, and said that she hoped their mother would not be ________ with them. “Oh, no,” they replied, “Our mother has ________ us to be kind to everybody, and to be useful in any way that we can.”
She then offered to give them a few of the ripest apples for their ________. “No thank you,” said they, “We do not want any pay for want we have done.”
Upon arriving at home, she told her lame ________ what had happened on the road, and they were both made happier that day by the ________ of the two boys.
The other day, I saw a little girl stop and ________ a piece of orange peel (果皮), which she threw into the gutter. “I wish the boys would not throw orange peel on the sidewalk,” said she. “Someone may be on it, and ________.”
Perhaps some may say that these are ________ things. So they are. But we must not wait for chances to do great things. We must begin with little labors of love.
1.A.nice B.ugly C.pale D.healthy
2.A.backpack B.basket C.suitcase D.packet
3.A.buy B.borrow C.sell D.keep
4.A.in B.on C.above D.over
5.A.cost B.take C.spend D.pay
6.A.wrong B.correct C.same D.different
7.A.heavy B.light C.broken D.cold
8.A.happy B.satisfied C.friendly D.angry
9.A.taught B.made C.warned D.forced
10.A.challenge B.trouble C.courage D.travel
11.A.daughter B.husband C.brother D.son
12.A.kindness B.promise C.protection D.honesty
13.A.turn up B.come up C.pick up D.put up
14.A.fall off B.fall down C.fall into D.fall on
15.A.little B.great C.important D.difficult
—How did your interview go last Sunday?
—________! I think I might get the job.
A.Don’t mention it B.No problem C.Not bad D.Good luck
—Mr. Wu, can you tell me ________?
—You should speak more often in class.
A.how I can improve my English
B.what’s wrong with my English
C.how often I should read English books
D.when I can return the English books
