Every year on June 21st, World Music Day is commemorated in over 120 countries, including its birthplace of France, to honor both amateur and professional musicians. Citizens of a city or country are permitted and encouraged to perform music outside in their neighborhoods, public areas, and parks on Music Day. Free concerts are also held, where musicians perform for the joy of it rather than for a fee.
In the 1970s, American musician Joel Cohen, who was then working for a French radio station, came up with the idea of having musicians perform on the evening of June 21 to celebrate the start of summer. It was finally accepted by France’s Ministry of Culture in 1982. The day started in France and has since extended to countries such as Belgium, the United Kingdom and others. It’s the ideal time to learn a new instrument or listen to songs they wouldn’t ordinarily include on their playlist. Every type of musician can celebrate World Music Day with friends, family, and even strangers, whether they are young, elderly, new, or seasoned professionals. The purpose is to promote music.
It makes no difference how good you are at making music; everyone can do it. This day can be used by even the most tone-deaf folks to sing their hearts out and appreciate the beauty and power of music. Music is not only a great way to express yourself, but it may also be beneficial to your health. A song might bring back a joyful memory or make you feel energized when you listen to it.
1. Where did the World Music Day begin?| A．France. | B．American. | C．Belgium. | D．China. |
| A．For reputation. | B．For entertainment. | C．For experience. | D．For occupation. |
| A．Those who are not expert in music are not welcome. |
| B．Joel Cohen put forward the idea of performing music for free. |
| C．The purpose of it is to instruct tone-deaf people in music. |
| D．You can listen to some songs not included on the playlist. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Critical. | C．Positive. | D．Sceptical. |
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【推荐1】It's Christmas once again. And you are right there, bothered by a serious question. What do men want for Christmas?
It's the time of year when men are wondering what Christmas gifts they will receive this season. It's difficult to find the right Christmas gift for a man, and definitely a lot more difficult than finding one for a woman. Every man has his own taste in things. And just like women, men have a variety of interests-sports, music, cars, games, gadgets(小器具), etc. The possibilities are endless. You should think of something that caters to his interests and not just something that you see in a hardware store or a sports outlet.
If you are not really familiar with the man you are giving the gift to, that's okay. You can simply choose anything from this list of top Christmas gift ideas we are about to give you to make the receiver feel special.To help you find the best Christmas gift for your father, brother, a guy friend or the friend of a friend, here is our top 10 Christmas gift ideas for him.
| Top 1 Leather wallet | Top 6 Shaving cream |
| Top2 Screwdriver(螺丝刀)set | Top 7 Sports equipment |
| Top 3 Personal travel case | Top 8 T-shits |
| Top 4 Towel or bath robe | Top 9 Digital music player |
| Top 5 Bottle opener with key chain | Top 10 Electronic gadgets |
1. When you buy Christmas gifts for your father, brother, etc, what should you take into consideration?
| A．His own taste and interests | B．What he got last year |
| C．Your interests | D．His age |
| A．Leather wallet | B．Screwdriver set |
| C．Electronic gadgets | D．Personal travel case |
| A．Male shoppers | B．Female shoppers |
| C．Men who are considering buying Christmas gifts | D．Married women |
| A．Christmas Gifts Make People Happy | B．Men's View on Christmas Gifts |
| C．How to Choose Christmas Gifts for Men | D．How to Buy Practical Christmas Gifts |
【推荐2】Wherever you go throughout the globe, everybody is keen on celebrating. And when it comes to celebration, festivals, in most cases, offer something for everyone.
Mardi Gras (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Also known as Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a cultural event. Though the celebration is held every year on the day before Ash Wednesday, the festivities last for months, banning in November throughout January and early February. And if you love music, check out the annual Galactic concert at the world-famous Tipitina’s on Lundi Gras(the day before Mardi Gras).
La Tomatina (Valencia, Spain)
Launched way back in 1945, La Tomatina is one of the oldest festivals on our list. It’s also easily the happiest but the messiest, coming off like the world’s biggest food fight.
Legend has it that the whole thing started when some local boys joined a parade alongside musicians. The boys made the performers so angry that they tried hit the boys, and a vendor’s(小摊贩) vegetable stand fell victim to the incident.
If you go, please follow some simple rules: Don’t throw hard objects, squash the tomato before throwing it, stay a safe distance away from tomato trucks, and stop in time.
Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland)
Founded back in 1967, Montreux is one of the oldest music festivals in the world. It’s also the second largest jazz festival, after the Montreal International Jazz Festival. That Canadian concert may attract more visitors-around 2 million annually. But Montreux benefits from its pretty location on the attractive shores of Lake Geneva. The area is particularly beautiful in late June/early July, when the festival is held.
1. In which event can you have an untidy experience?| A．Mardi Gras. | B．Lundi Gras. |
| C．Montreux Jazz Festival. | D．La Tomatina. |
| A．Montreux Jazz Festival s. | B．Valencia, Spain. |
| C．Montreal International Jazz Festival. | D．New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| A．News report. | B．Tourism journal. |
| C．Concert brochure. | D．Academic magazine. |
【推荐3】There are many traditions around the world to greet the New Year. Here is a look at a few of them .
Sweeping away bad luck.
Many cultures have traditions meant to sweep away evil spirits and bad luck.This often involves(涉及) using fire or loud noises-or both-often in the form of fireworks!In Scotland people walk through the streets and swing huge fireballs over their heads.These fireballs represent the sun and they are supposed to clean the coming year.
But there are other ways people do it, too. For example, just before the New Year people in Denmark find the highest place they can and jump from it as the New Year starts.The hope is that they leave behind the evil spirits and bad luck of the previous year and enter a New Year full of promise and new beginnings.
Bringing in good luck
Many cultures have certain foods that are said to bring good luck.In the southern part of the United States, people often eat black-eyed peas and pork for good luck in the New Year. In Spain, as the clock strikes midnight, people eat 12 grapes.These 12 grapes represent the 12months of the year.Eating them all in the first 12 seconds of the New Year ensures that the year will be filled with good luck.
Dressing up for money and love
To set the New Year off on the right foot, people in the Philippines wear clothing with golden circles, which stand for making more money in the New Year.
In Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezueln,some people wear colorful underwear on New Year’s Eve.The most popular colors are red and yellow.Red is supposed to bring you love: yellow is supposed to bring you money
No matter how we celebrate, let’s have a happy, healthy and lucky new year!
1. In many cultures. fire and loud noises are used to________.| A．welcome the goddess | B．bring in good fortune |
| C．drive away bad luck | D．please the evil spirits |
| A．Spain. | B．The US. | C．Denmark | D．Bolivia |
| A．Love. | B．Money. | C．Health. | D．Happiness. |
【推荐1】Country Music
Enjoy true American country music.
Place: Dawang Music Hall Date: July 2nd- July 4th
Price: ￥ 800 Time: 7: 00 p.m. -9 :30 p.m. Tel: 1811560008
Live Music
Come and enjoy the songs by Lu Qiqi, one of the best singers in the past 5 years.
Place: The People Theater(剧院) Date: June 26th
Price: ￥ 188-288 Time: 7:00 p.m. Tel: 69373500
Dancing to Disco
Dancing is fun and easy to learn. Come and learn this wonderful dance.
Place: Jianti Gym Date: June 15th-July 14th
Price: ￥ 80 Time: 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Tel: 12766113
Concert(音乐会)
To know more about the song My Heart Will Go On. Come quickly.
Place: Zhujiang Theater Date: June 1st -8th
Price: ￥ 180 Time: 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. Tel: 21310276
1. If you want to enjoy country music, you should call ________.| A．1811560008 | B．21310276 | C．12766113 | D．693735002 |
| A．Dawang Music Hall | B．Zhujiang Theater |
| C．The People Theater | D．Jianti Gym |
| A．￥80. | B．￥160. | C．￥188. | D．￥288. |
| A．July 1st. | B．June 1st. | C．June 8th. | D．July 8th. |
【推荐2】Beethoven wrote many famous pieces of music, but he’s probably best known for his nine symphonies. When Beethoven died in 1827, he had some ideas for a 10th Symphony(交响曲). But all that he left behind were some notes about the piece and a few “sketches” -short bits of written music.
In 2019, a special team of musicians, computer scientists, and historians was formed. Their goal: to try to complete Beethoven’s 10th Symphony with the help of AI(人工智能) to celebrate his 250th birthday. The team didn’t just want to complete the symphony, they wanted to come as close as possible to producing the symphony that Beethoven meant to write.
They fed the program all of Beethoven’s music so that the AI could look for patterns in the way Beethoven wrote. Other members of the team studied Beethoven’s notes and sketches, and figured out what Beethoven was planning to do or where in the symphony he planned to use them.
One early test told the team they were on the right track. They took a few minutes of music created by the AI based on Beethoven’s sketches, and played it for Beethoven experts, musicians, and reporters. No one could tell which parts had been written by Beethoven and which parts were made up by the AI. Finally, the AI had the challenge of connecting the little musical bits into a symphony. Last Saturday night, the piece was performed for the first time ever by the Beethoven Orchestra in Bonn, Germany.
So Beethoven now has a 10th Symphony. And though Beethoven didn’t write it all, the team feels sure that the music is very much like what he might have written, if he’d had the chance. Actually, this is the second attempt to finish Beethoven’s 10th Symphony. In 1988, musician Barry Cooper also worked on completing part of Beethoven’s 10th.
If you’re curious about what the new symphony sounds like, here is a link to an MP3 file containing a few minutes of the piece.
1. Why did the team try to complete Beethoven’s 10th Symphony?| A．To use it for Beethoven’s birthday celebration. |
| B．To create a symphony as close as possible to Beethoven’s. |
| C．To realise Beethoven’s ideas for a 10th Symphony. |
| D．To continue Barry Cooper’s unfinished work. |
| A．The team put some of Beethoven’s music into the AI. |
| B．The AI found out the way that Beethoven wrote his music. |
| C．Team members analyzed why Beethoven wrote the notes and sketches. |
| D．The AI connected the bits of music written by Beethoven into a symphony. |
| A．totally different from Beethoven’s sketches |
| B．exactly the same as Beethoven’s sketches |
| C．like what Beethoven had intended to write |
| D．successfully performed many times. |
| A．AI Completed Beethoven’s 10th Symphony |
| B．AI is a Good Composer of Classical Music |
| C．A Team was Formed to Celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday |
| D．A Team Used AI to Help Finish Beethoven’s 10th Symphony |
【推荐3】Belgium is the land of music festivals. There are rock, pop, world, electronic music festivals and more, so you’re sure to find a festival that suits your taste.
Groezrock
Groezrock could be considered the opener of the festival season in Belgium. This festival grew from a small event to an international festival that had 33,000 visitors in 2016. If you’re into the harder stuff(东西), this is where you need to go.
When? April 29-30, 2017. Where? Meerhout. Music? Punk, emo, ska and rock in all its variations. Free? No.
Sfinks Mixed
Sfinks is a world music festival that focuses on bringing culture together. There are also plenty of things to do besides watching the performances. Good to know for families: Sfinks is a kid-friendly festival, with workshops, storytelling and performances aimed at children.
When? July 27-30, 2017. Where? Boechout. Music? World. Free? The festival is free; the camping is not.
Graspop Metal Meeting
If Groezrock doesn’t seem rough enough to you, Graspop Metal Meeting might. As the name says, this festival is all about metal, rock and punk. In 2016 the festival received 140,000 visitors who came to watch the more than 100 bands performing.
When? June 16-18, 2017. Where? Dessel. Music? Metal. Free? No.
Genk on Stage
Geek on Stage is a pop musical with not only a lot of Belgian artists, but also some international names. 80,000 people attended Genk on Stage in 2016.
When? June 23-25, 2017. Where? Genk. Music? Pop. Free? Yes.
1. Which may kick off the festival season in Belgium?| A．Groezrock. | B．Sfinks Mixed. |
| C．Graspop Metal Meeting. | D．Genk on Stage. |
| A．It enjoys worldwide popularity. | B．It’s mainly targeted at kids. |
| C．It combines fun with culture. | D．It features certain types of music. |
| A．Meerhout. | B．Boechout. | C．Genk. | D．Dessel. |
| A．80,000 | B．7000 | C．6000 | D．30000 |
【推荐1】If you're looking for new and creative ways to get fit and stay healthy, the following clever apps can do everything for you except the exercise itself.
Hot5 Fitness Platform: iOS Cost: Free
From abs(腰腹训练)and core(核心力量), to yoga(瑜伽)and flexibility(柔韧性)and everything in between, this app contains workout pages and videos that are easy to follow. You can find workout videos of all varieties and difficulty levels that will give you a thorough workout in only five moves.
While most fitness app videos look like they were filmed in the 1980s, Hot5's are modern. The interface(界面)is also beautifully designed and user-friendly. It is to the point and clear-cut, saving you time by skipping the personal questionnaires and signing-up wart.
Zombies, Run! Platforms: iOS, Android Cost: 25 yuan
Yes, the zombie craze has already reached the fitness field. This action-packed app adds an element that is often missing from other workout apps—fun.
Zombies, Run!, which has a simplified version called Zombies, Run! SK Training, mixes games and stories into your run as you complete missions(任务)in a world full of zombies. Whether you're gathering supplies, saving a fellow human, or avoiding a crowd of the undead, this app adds excitement to your normal jog with imagination and competition.
Sleep Cycle Platforms: iOS Cost: 6 yuan
This app tracks your sleeping patterns by following your movements in bed, without having to spend a fortune on fitness trackers such as Jawbone Up. Based on your movements at night, the app wakes you up with soothing music when you're in the lightest stage of sleep, allowing a natural and easy transition(过渡)into your day. You'll also get detailed statistics telling when you were awake during the night, or in a deep or light sleep.
You can also add notes about your day - whether you had cottee, worked out, or were stressed-to better understand how your sleep is affected by different daily activities
RunKeeper Platforms: iOS, Android Cost: Free
This app allows you to track not only runs, but pretty much any kind of training you can think of-from walking to cycling to strength training and more. You can track your personal records and set goals for yourself, such as a weight loss goal or a distance goal. You can then view your progress over time.
RunKeeper also provides real-time coaching by giving you audible(可听的)updates on your pace, time, distance, and much more.
1. What can be concluded about these apps?| A．They all charge a small fee for their service. |
| B．They are all available on both iOS and Android. |
| C．They are designed for people who want to stay fit. |
| D．They can automatically track users' body movements. |
| A．It includes classic workout videos from the 1980s. |
| B．It offers instructions on many kinds of exercises. |
| C．It is specially designed for professional athletes. |
| D．It requires users to fill in personal questionnaires. |
| A．compare your sleep patterns with others |
| B．train yourself to wake up at a certain time |
| C．receive instructions on how to sleep well |
| D．find out what influences your sleep quality |
【推荐2】Most Asian people are familiar with pickled vegetables. Chinese pickles, which vary from regions, play a very important part in Chinese daily life. Not only are Chinese pickles easy to make and keep at home, out also they are an excellent side dish. These pickles go great with a congee meal(粥). Here we’ll make the delicious Chinese pickles together.
Ingredients
◇ 1 carrot with fantastic taste and 2 cucumbers. Don’t use the regular cucumbers, which are called Garden Cucumbers, as they are too watery and pretty tasteless and have lots of seeds you have to get rid of.
◇ a Glass Jar for pickling, a teaspoon of sea salt, a cup of Rice Vinegar, a cup of Raw Sugar and 2 slices ginger.
Directions
Peel the carrot and wash the cucumbers. Slice everything into approximately 2 inch lengths by 1/4 inch thickness. Put into a large bowl with salt and shake. Let stand for at least l/2 hour. Remove squeezed water until dry as possible. Place one of the ginger slices on bottom. Pack the vegetables into your pickling jar. Put the other ginger slices on top. Mix the sugar into the vinegar in a bowl and shake until the sugar is melted. Pour over the vegetables until covered. Pour in a bit more vinegar to top up if necessary. Close jar and put in the fridge overnight.
It’s ready to eat the next day but the flavor will improve as time goes by.
Let’s call it a day. See you this time tomorrow.
1. What can we know about Chinese pickles?| A．They are a Chinese meal similar in different provinces. |
| B．They are an Asian an food easy to make but difficult to keep. |
| C．They are a side dish made with Garden Cucumbers. |
| D．They are a great match for congee meals. |
| A．Drown the vegetables with sugar and vinegar. |
| B．Cover the vegetables with ginger slices. |
| C．Squeeze the water from the vegetables. |
| D．Close the jar and put in the fridge. |
| A．A food programme. | B．A gardening broadcast. |
| C．A cooking magazine. | D．A DIY reference book. |
【推荐3】“Giraffenap” has been created by a Japanese company and is intended to allow the user to take a rest while standing when you feel tired or sleepy with the aim of improving performance at work.
Rather than relying on coffee and endless yawns to try and make it through the workday, Koyoju Plywood Corporation declared about the “Giraffenap” that the nap box will allow you to “be refreshed” in just 20 minutes.
Giving in to your sleepiness and taking a 20-minute nap will apparently help improve your performance by recovering from tiredness, reducing stress, restoring memory and concentration, and improving creativity. A study by NASA has found that pilots who took a 26-minute nap experienced a 34 percent improvement in performance, and a 16 percent improvement in reaction time. “As a new way to take a break, we will provide a space where you can take a nap while standing in the office,” the site explains.
But why does it have to be standing? Well, the site explains that the research by Hokkaido University showed that sleeping while standing allows you to reach a sleep state in which you breathe lightly, so when you wake up you can feel the effect of a nap without having to sleep too much, and you can quickly return to work without feeling dizzy. Plus, making the box vertical (垂直的) rather than horizontal means that it takes up half as much floor space and makes it less likely that your boss will say there just isn’t room. The box also comes equipped with a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and LED lighting for safety, and it blocks out sound from the outside to ensure a calm, sleep-worthy environment.
Now, I know what you’re thinking—wouldn’t you just fall down if you tried to sleep while standing? Well, not with Giraffenap’s design. The box is equipped with four points to support the body at the head, butt, legs and feet, meaning you can relax in the box while still remaining upright.
1. Where is the “Giraffenap” designed to be used?| A．At home. | B．In the field. |
| C．In the workplace. | D．In the classroom. |
| A．The benefits from taking a nap. | B．The new finding by NASA. |
| C．The ways of improving productivity. | D．The pilots’ experience with the “Giraffenap”. |
| A．It will ensure the sleepers’ safety. | B．The sleepers can breathe slowly. |
| C．It will occupy much less floor space. | D．The sleepers can enter a deeper sleep state. |
| A．They have limited mobility. | B．They will be disturbed by noise. |
| C．They come out feeling pretty dizzy. | D．They’re likely to suffer injuries. |
