【推荐1】Even though some people believe that money makes the world go around, many people would choose health over wealth. For someone like violinist Robert Gupta, who was on his way to becoming a physician before joining the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age 19, music, health, and wealth are all part of the same package.

In addition to music, Gupta is deeply interested in neurobiology Because of his interests, he has had the chance to work with Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a talented musician whose career was sidelined by schizophrenia. Although Ayers studied music at the Juilliard School York City, his mental illness got in the way of professional success.

After dropping out of Julliard and having unsuccessful medical treatment for his schizophrenia, Ayers moved to Los Angeles where he ended up homeless. In 2005, a journalist for the Los Angeles Times named Steve Lopez heard Ayers playing music in the streets. Lopez wrote a book about Ayers and became his friend. Their friendship became the subject of a movie, and because of the book and the movie, Ayers has had a chance to perform his music in some of the most famous concert halls in the world.

It seemed like Ayers had found his happy ending. However, he refuses to take medication to treat his schizophrenia. He says it keeps him from “hearing the music”. Because of this, Ayers is still subject to schizophrenia and sometimes leaves his home to go back to the streets.

Gupta was introduced to Ayers after Lopez took his friend to a performance of Beethoven’s First and Fourth symphonies, and Ayers asked Gupta for a violin lesson. When they first met, Ayers was on edge. Gupta was afraid that if he taught the lesson in his usual way, Ayers would react violently. Finally, he just began playing. A change came over Ayers. Gupta said, “And m a miracle, he lifted his own violin and he started playing.” The two musicians played many violin pieces together that day. A bond was formed.

Music, Gupta realized, is a way to deal with our emotions, even our most unpleasant ones. “This was the very reason why we made music through our creativity, we’re able to shape those emotions into reality,” he says.

Now, Gupta says, “I will always make music with Nathaniel, whether we’re at Walt Disney Concert Hall or on Skid Row, because he reminds me why I became a musician.”

1. From the first two paragraphs, we can learn that Robert Gupta________.

A．became a physician at the age of 19

B．was interested in the treatment of schizophrenia

C．was lucky to be wealthy, healthy and talented in music

D．had long dreamed to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic

2. Ayers got the chance to perform in some famous concert halls thanks to________.

A．Steve Lopez’s book and a movie about their friendship

B．his great efforts to fight against his mental illness

C．Robert Gupta’s original way of teaching music

D．his talent in composing and playing music

3. By “on edge” (in paragraph 5), the author means that Ayers was________.

A．excited but uncertain	B．eager for a violin lesson
C．nervous and bad-tempered	D．anxious about his own career

4. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．A Great Musician	B．Teaching Music
C．Why Study Music	D．Music Is Medicine

【推荐3】Life as a 340-pound man had become unmanageable for Erie O’Grey. When not traveling for work, he rarely left his apartment. He took about 15 medicines, including weight-loss drugs. He tried dieting, but nothing worked. Then two things during a flight inspired him to go to see a naturopathic (自然疗法的) doctor. O’Grey had an embarrassing incident when the flight crew had to wait for a seat belt extension for him before the plane took off. Then he saw news about “plant-based” diets.

The doctor recommended a plant-based diet and also ordered him to adopt a shelter dog and walk him twice a day for 30 minutes. Armed with new recipes and the order, he went to the local shelter with visions of the perfect dog dancing through his head, one that never barked or disobeyed orders. But the adoption coordinator (协调人) brought in a very fat dog with skin problems.

“The dog looked at me with a clear sense of disappointment. Then his head hung low,” O’Grey said.” I can relate to that." The coordinator told him they had much in common and that they both need work on the same things. O’Grey took the dog home and named him “Peety”. They began going for walks. At first, O’Grey could only take his new companion about 100 yards. But Peety seemed to like it. “He just looked up at me like he was so appreciative.”

Their twice-daily exercise gradually got longer as O’Grey began to enjoy walking through his neighborhood with Peety. As they lost weight and grew healthier together, the pair developed a tight bond. In six months, Grey quit all medicines. Over time O’Grey discovered he loved long-distance running. Now he runs an average of five to six marathons a year.

On the journey toward a healthier, happier life, O’Grey becomes a lover of long-distance running and dog adoption. He’s also co-written a book, Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life, encouraging others struggling with obesity to turn it around.

1. Why did O’Grey feel embarrassed during the air travel?

A．He was too fat to take a seat.

B．He rarely traveled by plane.

C．He was laughed at by the flight crew.

D．He couldn’t fit in the safety belt.

2. What kind of dog did O’Grey want to adopt initially?

A．A healthy dog.

B．An adaptive dog.

C．A gentle dog.

D．An energetic dog.

3. What can be learnt about Peety?

A．He disliked running at first.

B．He finished marathons with O’Grey.

C．He was trained to help people.

D．He was upset when meeting O’Grey.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．The tough journey of losing weight

B．A man completed his book inspired by his dog

C．The bond between a man and a dog

D．A dog changed its owner from medicines to marathon

【推荐1】Dr. Esther Ngumbi, now a professor of Entomology (昆虫学) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was born in a rural farming community along the Kenyan Coast.     1     There were no societal role models to inspire girls to reach for the stars. Luckily, her parents were teachers and struggled to raise enough money to pay for their children’s school fees.

Her parents would go to town to get their pay checks, but eat nothing before coming back in the evening, hungry and tired. She knew that they were able to buy food in town, but they chose not to spend money on themselves so that Esther and her brothers and sisters could go to school.     2     It inspired her to pursue her academic career goals and fight against challenges however tough they seemed.

    3     She went through high school and eventually college and attained a Bachelor and Master of Science at Kenyatta University. On a beautiful summer day of August 6, 2011, she attained what at times seemed to be an unrealistic dream: a PhD in Entomology from Auburn University.     4    

She cried on her graduation day as she thought of her community in Kenya and many girls in her community.     5     It was during that day that she told herself she would do everything she needed to do, and give the girls more opportunities to break down the poverty barrier, be educated, and achieve great things.

She has devoted all of her passion, efforts, heart and resources to bringing sustainable change in her community and she has become a role model for girls in her community.

A．This had a powerful effect on her.

B．Education for girls was considered unimportant there.

C．Once she started to do experiments in the lab, she was devoted to them.

D．She became the first woman in her community to obtain a PhD degree.

E．She was a real leader for many young African girls in similar situations.

F．They had the potential to be a scientist too, but just lacked the opportunity.

G．She studied hard and gained a lot, hoping she’d help her family and community.

【推荐3】“Auntie Goose Legs”, a Beijing street food seller, was recently invited to a meeting on women entrepreneurship (企业家精神) at Peking University, one of China’s top universities. Her inspiring words moved the hearts of many.

In her 50s, Chen Xiufeng, from Lianyungang city in East China’s Jiangsu Province, along with her husband, Liang Decai, has been trying to make a living as street sellers in the country’s capital for more than two decades. In the past few years the pair began to sell homemade goose (鹅) legs. Their secret family recipe has won them a continuous stream of customers over the years, mostly college students, as they usually operated near campuses such as Peking University. They even took orders in advance and delivered goose legs to campuses by motorbikes.

Last winter, Chen became famous on the Internet after she moved her business to Tsinghua University. Old customers from Peking University and Renmin University of China began half-jokingly calling for Tsinghua University to give back their beloved “Auntie Goose Legs”. A “competition” among China’s top universities for “Auntie Goose Legs” soon unfolded. Related topics quickly topped the trending list on social media, making her a focal point of online discussions, while their homemade goose legs became hard to get. At one point, they sold out all 200 goose legs within 20 minutes.

At the meeting, when asked by the host if she felt she was “entrepreneurial”, Chen shook her head, stating that her efforts were merely ordinary means to make a living. Peking University commented in an article posted on the university’s social media account on Friday, stating that entrepreneurship is not only a broad concept, but one that can also represent an attitude toward life.

In Chen’s closing speech at the meeting, she said, “I hope everyone can choose a comfortable pace... Life is a long journey, not something you can cross in one step. You, the youngsters, are full of vitality; everyone is their own hero.”

1. What caused the heated discussion about “Auntie Goose Legs” on the Internet?

A．Her secret family recipe.

B．Her selling out 200 goose legs.

C．Her relocation to another university.

D．Her rich experiences as a street seller.

2. How did Chen react when being called “entrepreneurial”?

A．She felt confused by the concept.

B．She thought it beyond her capabilities.

C．She considered herself a business genius.

D．She acknowledged it with a sense of pride.

3. What message did Chen deliver in her closing speech?

A．Wealth comes ahead of happiness.

B．Rapid success should be encouraged.

C．Take your own pace on life’s journey.

D．Entrepreneurship is the key to success.