In Shanghai's Grand Theater, a fashionable, mainly young audience applauds enthusiastically as Guo Yong takes center stage.He holds a large bushy tree branch with leaves.Blowing on one of the leaves, he produces a sound like the singing of birds as he plays a traditional Buyi folk song.Some other musicians are also playing the traditional instruments from various ethnic groups in China.
It's the first time such music has ever been performed in the Grand Theater.But all this is the efforts of Zhu Zheqin, a Cantoneseborn singer, who has made it her mission to help preserve China's traditional ethnic music.
In 2009, after being appointed a United Nations Development Program ambassador, Zhu traveled through some of China's remotest regions in an attempt to document the traditional music of various minority groups.In the course of the fourmonth trip, she recorded more than a thousand songs.But she noticed that many of the best musicians were old, and some of the music was at risk of dying out.
“I was shocked by the beauty of what I heard—it was so good,” she says.“But it needed support.I hope to let people see the beauty of these things in the contemporary times.”
So Zhu decided to introduce some of the musicians to a wider audience.By doing this, she hopes to rekindle(点燃) the interest of the younger generation.“Young people don't like this music much; they prefer pop music and love songs.They think these songs are something their grandma sings.This kind of repackaging gives young people a new door into their heritage.”
Zhu believes China needs to look again at its own roots.“China today is basically all Western art; in our conservatories (音乐学院) Western classical music is the top,” she says.“For China to really contribute to the world, we need to go on our own path.So what can represent China today?” The answer, she suggests, is to move from “made in China” to “created in China”.
From the first paragraph, we learn that________.
A.the audience are all young people |
B.Guo Yong is playing the Buyi folk music |
C.Guo Yong is the only minority performer in China |
D.tree branches make good musical instruments |
Which of the following is true of Zhu Zheqin?
A.She teaches music in a conservatory. |
B.She is helping preserve Chinese ethnic music. |
C.She works as an official in the United Nations. |
D.She's created all the music for the Grand Theater. |
What is Zhu Zheqin's idea about Chinese traditional music?
A.It is completely out of date. |
B.Only old musicians play it well. |
C.It needs changes to attract young people. |
D.It is quickly dying out. |
What does Zhu Zheqin mean in the last paragraph?
A.The traditional music should be repackaged. |
B.Chinese conservatories shouldn't teach Western music. |
C.China has contributed a lot to the Western art. |
D.Only the things created in China can be symbols of China. |
In 1693 the philosopher John Locke warned that children should not be given too much “unhealthy fruit” to eat.Three centuries later, misguided ideas about child-raising are still popular.Many parents fear that their children will die unless ceaselessly watched.In America the law can be equally paranoid (偏执的).In South Carolina this month Debra Harrell was jailed for letting her 9-year-old daughter play in a park unsupervised (无人监督的).
Her severe punishment reflects the rich world’s worry about parenting.By most objective measures, modern parents are far more conscientious (认真的) than previous generations.Dads are more hands-on than their fathers were, and working mothers spend more time nurturing their children than the housewives of the 1960s did.However, there are two problems in this picture, connected to class.One is at the lower end.Even if poor parents spend more time with their children than they once did, they spend less than rich parents do.America is a laggard here: its government spends abundantly on school-age kids but much less than other rich countries on the first two or three years of life.If America did more to help poor parents with young children, it would have huge returns.
The second one, occurs at the other end of the income scale, and may even apply to otherwise rational (理性的) Economist readers: well-educated, rich parents try to do too much.Safety is part of it—they fear that if they are not constantly watching their children may break their necks, which is the least rational.Despite the impression you get from watching crime dramas, children in rich countries are safe, so long as they look both ways before crossing the road.The other popular parental fear—that your children might not get into an Ivy League college—is more rational.Academic success matters more than ever before.But beyond a certain point, parenting makes less difference than many parents imagine.Studies in Minnesota and Sweden, for example, found that identical twins grew up equally intelligent whether they were raised together or apart.A study in Colorado found that children that adopted and raised by brainy parents ended up no brainier than those adopted by average parents.
This doesn’t mean that parenting is irrelevant.The families who adopt children are carefully screened, so they tend to be warm, capable and middle-class.But the twin and adoption studies indicate that any child given a loving home and adequate stimulation is likely to fulfill her potential.Put another way, better-off parents can afford to relax a bit.And if you are less stressed, your children will appreciate it, even if you still make them eat their fruit and vegetables.Which of the following statements is NOT a misguided idea of parenting mentioned in the passage?
A.Children should be protected from any dangers by their parents |
B.The more conscientious parents are, the more children will surely benefit from parenting |
C.Children will die unless ceaselessly watched |
D.Children are likely to fulfill their potential with a loving home and adequate stimulation |
The underlined word “laggard” in Paragraph 2 probably means a country that __________.
A.is ahead in development |
B.falls slow behind others |
C.is free from physical or mental disorder |
D.moves to a higher position |
Which of the following can we learn from the passage?
A.Only warm, capable and middle-class people can adopt a child. |
B.When it comes to child-raising, Economist readers will become more rational. |
C.Children in rich countries are in greater danger due to the bad influence of crime dramas. |
D.Although poor parents spend more time with their kids than they once did, they spend less than rich parents do. |
This passage is mainly written to __________.
A.urge American laws concerning parenting to be changed |
B.advise modern parents to learn from their previous generations |
C.persuade stressed parents to learn to relax and give more freedom to their children |
D.call on the government to do more to help poor parents with school-age children |
MUMBAI – Indian commandos battled into the early hours of Friday to end a multiple hostage crisis in Mumbai after suspected Islamic militants killed 125 people across the city.
Officials said they had almost totally cleared the luxury Taj Mahal hotel where gunmen had been held up for more than 24 hours.
Indian security forces personnel released hostages from Nariman House in Mumbai.Thirty-nine people were rescued from the five-star Oberoi hotel, where "mopping up(清理火场)" operations were still underway, police said.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the militants had come from "outside the country.”
The Press Trust of India said one Pakistani militant had been arrested, although Pakistan's government fiercely denied any involvement.
Indian media reports said between six and nine foreign nationals were among the dead in Mumbai -- including a Japanese businessman, an Australian, a Briton , a German and an Italian.
At least five gunmen had been shot dead and one captured, police said.Fourteen security personnel were also killed, including the head of Mumbai's anti-terror squad.
To draw maximum international attention, the militants used small groups to attack a total of about a dozen targets in India's financial hub , including the main railway station, a hospital and a restaurant popular with tourists.
An unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahedeen claimed responsibility, with one gunman telling an Indian TV channel by phone that the outfit(装备)was of Indian origin and motivated by the treatment of Indian Muslims.
Up to 327 people were reported wounded.
The main Bombay Stock Exchange was closed until further notice, as were shops, schools and businesses.
Prime Minister Singh said the aim had clearly been to spread panic by choosing high profile(知名度高的)targets and "indiscriminately(随心所欲地)killing foreigners."
Witnesses said the gunmen had been very particular in their choice of hotel hostages."They said they wanted anyone with British and American passports," said one British guest at the Taj Mahal hotel.The following statements are NOT true except ________.
A.thirty-nine hostages were rescued from the Taj Mahal Hotel |
B.fourteen gunmen were killed in Nariman House |
C.the target of the attack was obviously on Britons and Americans |
D.an American was among the killed foreigners |
The best title of this passage can be _______.
A.Hostages Released by Indian Commandos |
B.Mumbai Under Terrorist Attack |
C.Islamic Militants Attacking Westerners in Mumbai |
D.Unfortunate Britons and Americans in Mumbai |
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项中(A、B、C和D),选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Eventually all suns will their fuel, explode and then become cold and dark.Matter itself will disappear and the universe will become for the rest of time.
This was the general drift of my thoughts as my wife and I my eldest son as a freshman at college.That moment at the dorm is at the kindergarten door, at the gates of summer camp, at every occasion of parting and .But it comes surprising, taking what you most.
Our ancestors thought this parting should take place .In many societies adolescents were sent away to live with friends or relatives right after adolescence.This was supposed to the conflicts that come from teenagers and their parents very near.
Eighteen years is not enough.The days pass uncounted, until they .The adjustment is upsetting.My son is on the side --- observant, thoughtful, a practitioner of companionable silence.I know this is hard on him as well.He will be homesick.Among the greatest of college students is they won’t have a room at home to return to.
But with due respect to my son’s feelings, I have the of parting.I know something he doesn’t --- incomprehensible to the young.He is experiencing the that come with beginnings.His life is starting for real.I have begun the long letting go.Put another way: He has a wonderful future in which my part decreases.
I’m sure my father realized it at a(n) moment.And I certainly didn’t notice or understand.At first, he was a giant who held my hand and my sky.Then a middle-aged man who paid my bills.Now, decades after his passing, a much-loved .But I can remember the last time I hugged him in his home, where I always had a room.I can only hope to leave my son the same.
My son, those days have been the greatest wonder and of my life.And there will always be a for you.
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Sorry for not having got what you wanted.She kept her mouth shut and just said __________.
A.that’s her feet of clay |
B.a little bird told her |
C.she wanted to kill the fatted calf |
D.she was the salt of the earth |
Owing to the popular Korean drama , a new mix-and-match food trend ,beer and fried chicken,has _______ among young audience despite its unhealthy nature.
A.counted on | B.caught on |
C.catch up on | D.caught up with |
After three hours’ drive , they arrived in ______ they thought was the place they had been looking forward to visiting.
A.which | B.that | C.where | D.what |
We are going to spend the Spring Festival in Canada this year, ______live my grandparents and some relatives.
A.where | B.which | C.who | D.that |
As teenagers, sometimes we do need our parents’ guidance, especially______ social experiences.
A.by way of | B.as a result of |
C.in place of | D.in terms of |
What would have happened, ___________, as far as the river bank?
A.Bob had walked farther |
B.if Bob should walked farther |
C.had Bob walked farther |
D.if Bob walked farther |
________ on their last legs, the enemies still thought they were unconquerable.
A.As though | B.Even though |
C.In case | D.As soon as |
________ for a long time, but he tried his best to make up for what he missed.
A.Being ill staying in hospital |
B.Having been ill staying in hospital |
C.He was ill staying in hospital |
D.To be ill staying in hospital |
--- I am really struck by your spoken English.You speak so fluently.Have you been abroad?
---Yes.I ______ in London for two years.
A.have stayed | B.stayed |
C.had stayed | D.have been staying |
British government is planning to run a pilot scheme that will allow Chinese tourists to get a two-year tourist visa for £85—these ______ cost £324.
A.currently | B.apparently |
C.frequently | D.similarly |
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