No other band has had the same influence in the world as the Beatles. Over eight years and with more than a dozen albums (专辑),four young men from Liverpool, England — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Star changed popular music and culture forever.
People in the UK became crazy about the Beatles in late 1963. The phenomenon (现象) was called “Beatlemania” by the British press. The term referred to the young women seen screaming at the band’s concerts. Beatlemania came to North America in early 1964, and the band’s popularity spread across much of the world.
Within five years, the Beatles’music changed greatly from their simple early hits like “She Loves You” and “I want to Hold Your Hand”.
The band wrote their own songs, explored new ways to create music and strived (奋斗)for high quality in every album they put out.
However, with their popularity came criticism (批评). The press criticized the band as symbols of 1960s youth culture, which celebrated freedom from traditional family roles.
In 1970, Paul McCartney announced he was leaving the Beatles. And the group quietly came to an end.
In the 70s, fans hoped for a reunion, but the group decided to follow their own careers with different degrees of success.
Fans lost hope with a tragedy; John Lennon was murdered in New York in 1980.
1.How long did the Beatles exist?
A. Five years. B. Six years.
C. Eight years. D. Thirteen years.
2.The underlined word “press” means _______.
A. young women of a country
B. young fans of a singer or film star
C. a business that prints and sometimes also sells books
D. reports in newspapers and on radio and television
3.For what reason were the Beatles criticized?
A. Because their own songs were not popular.
B. Because they influenced the youth culture.
C. Because of their own families.
D. Because of their roles in the band.
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Beatles changed the face of music B. John Lennon’s death
C. John Lennon and his band D. The break-up of the Beatles
Terry was a middle-aged businessman. He was _____ in his business and often complained that he had been fooled by others. One day he told his wife he was _____ disappointed with the city that he had to _____.
So his family moved to another city. It was Saturday ____. When Terry and his wife were busily putting their things in their new home, the lights suddenly _____ and they were forced to stop work. Terry was sorry to have_____ to bring along some candles. Just then he heard light ____on his door.
“Who is it?” he wondered. Terry knew ______ else in the new city, and this was the moment he especially hated to be _____ He opened the door unwillingly. At the door was a little ____, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have _____? I’m your neighbor.” “No,” answered Terry angrily. He shut the door ____.
After a while the door was knocked again. He opened it and ____ the same little girl outside. But this time she was ____ two candles giving off red light. She said, “My grandma told me the____ neighbor downstairs might need candles. She sent me here to _____you these.”
At that moment Terry suddenly realized what ____ his failure in life. It was his ignorance and ____ to other people. The person who had fooled him in life was actually nobody else ____ himself, for his eyes had been covered by his ____ mind.
1.A. experienced B. unsuccessful C. interested D. lucky
2.A. very B. so C. such D. rather
3.A. leave B. travel C. stay D. choose
4.A. morning B. afternoon C. noon D. evening
5.A. went down B. went out C. went by D. went on
6.A. wanted B. decided C. forgotten D. remembered
7.A. knocks B. calls C. strikes D. sounds
8.A. everybody B. anybody C. somebody D. nobody
9.A. troubled B. followed C. liked D. learned
10.A. boy B. girl C. postman D. shopper
11.A. candies B. toys C. lights D. candles
12.A. easily B. worriedly C. happily D. heavily
13.A. found B. met C. touched D. knew
14.A. bringing B. seeing C. holding D. drawing
15.A. poor B. kind C. new D. young
16.A. buy B. give C. borrow D. sell
17.A. made B. caused C. developed D. stopped
18.A. laziness B. sadness C. unkindness D. unhappiness
19.A. besides B. except C. but D. than
20.A. open B. right C. warm D. cold
The father took off his coat as an umbrella to _____ her daughter from the rain.
A. affect B. pretend C. attach D. protect
I hurried _____ I wouldn’t be late for class.
A. in order B. so that C. as though D. such that
______ the help of the teacher, the student who wasn’t good at math ______ the difficult problem quickly.
A. Under; worked out B. With; worked on C. Under; was solved D. With; solved
He’s making great progress in his lessons that everyone else in his class can’t believe it.
A. so B. very C. such a D. such