The Living Statue
Every day, Maria Marks makes her living by dressing in an antique (古式的) wedding dress, covering her skin in white clown paint and standing completely still on a pedestal (基座) in London's Covent Garden until a coin is thrown into her hat. So, what exactly draws the crowd when Maria “performs”? “Well, people want me to prove that I'm human. They watch carefully to see if I will breathe,” Maria says.
The Magician
Thirty-one-year-old Matthew Tate has built up many impressive magic tricks to shock and thrill his audience. They watch wide-eyed and open-mouthed. At the end of my interview with Matthew, I ask him if he can tell me just one of his secrets. My question is met with a wide smile and, of course, complete silence!
The Actor
Michael Webster has been an actor in London for almost fifteen years. He tells me all about the ups and downs of a typical actor's life. “You always try to give a perfect performance, often under imperfect conditions. And then there is always the worry about where the next job will come from,” he explains. “But standing in front of an audience knowing that they expressly came to see me perform fills me with great joy!”
The Circus Performer
Twenty-year-old Chinese-born Zhao Jian tours the world as a hand balancer with a circus troupe (马戏班). She has to follow an exceptionally hard programme, waking at 5:30 in the morning each day to begin eight hours of physical exercises. “I practice a move over and over again before I'm ready to perform it. Then when I'm on stage I balance on one hand for six minutes, which needs unbelievable strength and patience,” Zhao says.
1.What attracts people to Maria Marks?
A. Her funny performance.
B. Her strange appearance.
C. Their interest in antique clothing.
D. Their uncertainty about her realness.
2.Who travels widely to perform?
A. Zhao Jian. B. Matthew Tate.
C. Michael Webster. D. Maria Marks.
One weekend at my parents’ house, my brother announced that he was thinking of taking part in the London Marathon. “How ____ it is to be able to do that! Last year I went to ____ a friend who was going to run a marathon and it was such an emotional event,” I said. “You should do it ____, then,” said my father. “You must be ___! I can’t run,” I answered. “It’s not that you can’t run,” he ____. “It’s that you don’t.”
I had always dreamed of being a runner. Although my ____ to be one of those women leaping through the park was strong, I was equally ____ that I wasn’t the sporty type. My belief had been ____ by my first attempt (尝试) at running. I didn’t ___ the end of my road. I wasn’t a runner, which made me ____.
But there was no ____ in my father’s voice, not a shadow (影子) of it. ____ it from someone else, so directly, made me realize that the only thing stopping me from ___ was myself. I began with a(n) ____ five-kilometre run around the park. I waited until after dark ____ no one I knew would see me, and I did it with a half-walk and half-run approach. Instead of being ashamed, I felt ____. Being flushed (脸红的) with pride I signed up for the London Marathon.
Slowly, I started ____ the amount of time and then distance. The ____ I felt about doing sport decreased (减轻), and so did my weight. But what was more ____ than the weight I was dropping was removing the self-doubt I had felt for years. As each week passed, I ____ myself with a little more confidence and self-respect.
1.A. easy B. tiring C. strange D. amazing
2.A. depend on B. cheer on C. agree on D. insist on
3.A. again B. instead C. too D. alone
4.A. joking B. listening C. hesitating D. lying
5.A. defended B. corrected C. repeated D. nodded
6.A. desire B. promise C. taste D. relief
7.A. doubtful B. unique C. sure D. glad
8.A. expressed B. shared C. shaken D. strengthened
9.A. observe B. reach C. change D. occupy
10.A. sad B. weak C. quiet D. shy
11.A. pity B. concern C. uncertainty D. fear
12.A. Separating B. Hearing C. Protecting D. Removing
13.A. concentrating B. chatting C. smiling D. running
14.A. slow B. fun C. open D. extra
15.A. but B. unless C. so D. though
16.A. embarrassed B. excited C. lucky D. sorry
17.A. putting up B. taking up C. looking up D. building up
18.A. panic B. danger C. patience D. glory
19.A. fortunate B. convenient C. important D. independent
20.A. carried B. understood C. introduced D. helped
The recent popularity of children’s books has made the public _____ that there’s a huge market out there.
A. aware B. concerned
C. fortunate D. hopeful
I don’t really mind you allowing Tom to leave the company at this key moment. The problem is _____ can be sent to replace him.
A. what B. who
C. that D. which
We have to hold the meeting in the small hall because the meeting room where we planned to hold the meeting _____.
A. is being decorated B. is decorating
C. will be decorated D. will decorate
It makes little difference _____ we go or stay — they are all trying their best to talk to Jason and no one will notice us.
A. when B. where
C. whether D. why
