It was a cold morning at a metro station in Washington DC, a man started to play the violin. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the tin without stopping, and continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3-year-old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most beautiful pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment.
The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we enjoy beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected situation?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?”
1.Few people stopped to listen to Joshua Bell playing because____________.
A. it was too cold in the subway
B. they were not interested in music
C. people were in a hurry
D. the performance was not good enough
2.Which of the following is true about Joshua Bell’s performance?
A. Nobody gave him money
B. Nobody recognized him.
C. Nobody appreciated it
D. Nobody organized it
3.Joshua Bell played in the metro station in order to ____________.
A. make more money on the street
B. practice his skills in playing music
C. made an advertisement for his concert
D. find out people’s reaction under such a circumstance
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?.
A. The Importance of Music B. A Talented Violinist
C. A Subway Violin Performance D. The Things We Miss
假设你叫李华, 你将作为高三毕业生代表, 根据以下要点在毕业晚会上用英文做一简短的告别演讲:
1. 对三年高中生活的怀念;
2. 对老师的感谢;
3. 对母校的祝福。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头已经给出，不计入总词数。
My dear teachers and fellow students,
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：在错的词下画一横线，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。
I’m very glad to have received the letter you sent me two weeks before. I have been thought about the question raised in your letter. In my opinion, you should go back after you finish your studies at abroad. For one thing, that you are studying is badly needed nowadays in our country. It will be quite easily for you to find a good job. In fact, I know that a few big company in our city hope to hire people like you. For another, I think it will be more convenient for you look after your parents because they are getting older and older. And this is only my point of view. It is up to me to make a right choice.
Two little children were sitting by the fire one cold winter’s night. Suddenly, they heard a knock at the door. “Who can it be?” they wondered. One ran 1. (curious) to open it. There, outside in the cold and the darkness, stood a child 2. no shoes on his feet and dressed in old thin garments. He was trembling with cold, 3. he asked if he was allowed to come in and warm himself.
Yes, come, cried both the children. They drew the little stranger to their warm seat, 4. (share) their supper with him, and gave him their bed, and they slept on a hard bench.
On the night, they 5. (awake) by sweet music, 6. was played by a band of children in shining garments. Suddenly the stranger child stood in front of 7. : no longer cold and ragged, but dressed in silvery light. He said, I am the Christ Child, 8. (wander) through the world to bring peace and 9. (happy) to good children as you. As you have helped me so much, this tree will give rich fruit to you every year.
When he was saying that, he broke 10. branch from the tree that grew near the door, planted it in the ground and disappeared. But the branch grew into a great tree, and every year it bore wonderful golden fruit for the kind children.
One day I was taking a bus. The driver didn't to start the bus soon because it was not yet .A middle-aged woman got on. Tired and sad, she told her story , not to anyone particular. On her way to the station, half of her was stolen. The other half was hidden under her blouse, so she still had some left. A few minutes later, she stopped crying, but still looked .
When all the seats were taken, the driver started the engine. The conductor began to collect the fares. When she came to an old man in worn-out clothes, he that he had spent all his money as he accidentally got on a wrong bus and now was trying to go home. On hearing this, she ordered the old man to the bus. The old man was almost in tears as he her to let him take the bus home. The driver took the conductor's side and repeated the conductor's .
The woman was watching the incident. the driver and the conductor raised their voices at the old man, she interfered.
Stop him! Can't you see he's only trying to get home。He doesn't have any money! the driver .
Well, that's no to throw him off the bus. She insisted.
Then she reached inside her blouse, took out her money, and handed it to the conductor. Here's his fare and mine. Just stop giving him a time.
All heads turned to the woman. It's only money, she shrugged.
She rode the rest of her way home a happy smile, with the money she'd lost earlier .
On the road of life, the help of strangers can our loads and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the will be when we make it a little smoother for others!
1.A. try B. intend C. decide D. care
2.A. empty B. ready C. crowded D. full
3.A. carefully B. seriously C. tearfully D. calmly
4.A. money B. possession C. fare D. wealth
5.A. strangely B. happily C. fortunately D. secretly
6.A. unsatisfied B. weak C. excited D. unhappy
7.A. explained B. declared C. admitted D. found
8.A. get off B. get over C. get on D. get into
9.A. thanked B. scolded C. praised D. begged
10.A. command B. action C. suggestion D. request
11.A. Unless B. When C. Until D. Although
12.A. attacking B. wronging C. blaming D. bothering
13.A. warned B. whispered C. repeated D. shouted
14.A. problem B. need C. reason D. matter
15.A. spending B. lost C. remaining D. borrowed
16.A. busy B. hard C. cold D. fearful
17.A. giving B. taking C. wearing D. forcing
18.A. forgotten B. used C. earned D. returned
19.A. move B. Increase C. lighten D. carry
20.A. world B. journey C. smile D. friendship
Kids with Special Needs
Kids with special needs refer to any kid who might need extra help because of medical, emotional, or learning problems. For example, disabled kids need wheelchairs. They not only need the equipment that helps them get around, but they might need to have ramps(斜坡) or elevators available. 1.
Kids with an illness would have special needs, too. 2. Kids with sight problems might need Braille books to read. Kids with hearing problems might need hearing aids.
3. It might be harder to do normal things—like learning to read or just getting around school. The good news is that parents, doctors, nurses, teachers, and others can help. The goal is to help kids be as independent as possible.
Other kids also can be a big help. How? By being a friend. Kids who use a wheelchair or have lots of health problems want friends just as you do. But meeting people and making friends can be difficult. 4. Be sure to tell a teacher if you see someone being bullied(欺侮) or teased.
5. You might carry the person’s books or do something simple, such as asking him or her to join you and your friends at lunch. It’s also important not to be “overly helpful” when no help is needed. Why? Because just like you, kids with special needs like to be as independent as they can be.
Being friendly to kids with special needs is one of the best ways to be helpful. As you get to know, they may help you understand what it’s like to be in their shoes. And you’ll be helping fill a very special need, one that everybody has—the need for good friends.
A.Some kids might laugh at or make fun of them.
B.They also might need to get a special bus to school.
C.Life can be challenging for a kid with special needs.
D.It’s good manners to try to offer help to kids with special needs.
E.Also try to be helpful if you know someone with special needs.
F.Kids with special needs usually live a harder life than normal kids.
F.They might need medicine or other help as they go about their daily activities.
