【推荐1】Often people receive a guitar, mandolin, or some other musical instrument as a birthday or Christmas gift. There's joy everywhere. The giver of the gift knows how much the receiver wants to learn this instrument and the receiver is actually holding it in his hands instead of longing for it through the shop window.

Finding an instructor that fits into a busy work schedule is hard enough, but once you decide on a lesson plan, then you must consider the practice time, how to practice, what to practice—and let's face it...not all people learn something the same way. So in order to learn a musical instrument, how much practice time is enough and what kind of practice is right for you?

There is no set amount of time that anyone should practice a musical instrument. When I was in programming classes, I could have studied nightly for 5 hours each night. It would have taken me years to learn the art of computer programming. Though I'm attracted by the systematic logic of it, my talent is towards another thing. However, on the other hand, if I spent an hour every couple days with a passionate hobby like playing the violin, not only would the time fly quickly...I'd also be learning at a much greater speed since the built-in passion is the motivation for advancement.

So as much as it's important to practice, a step back is to first find the harmonious instrument that fits you as a person; as development of your personality. If you're learning the guitar because it's cool....obviously that's the modern-day mindset, however, you might not be actually linking your talent for musical satisfaction with your most creative advantages you have to offer.

It's been my experience that every person has a certain level of musical talent. My pleasant challenge has been to assist them in this adventure and actually locate their best abilities as quickly as possible. Then and only then can we match learners with instruments and truly begin a fun and exciting walk down the road of happiness and contentment, where music, ability, personality and soul all meet. Once this piece of the mystery puzzle is in place, I've never had to work at motivating a learner to practice...

1. In the author's opinion, which of the following is the most important when learning a musical instrument?

A．The amount of time for practice.	B．A scientific learning method.
C．A good music instructor.	D．The strong fondness for music.

2. In paragraph 3, how does the author try to make readers accept her opinion?

A．By talking about her personal experiences.

B．By comparing two different learning goals.

C．By pointing out the faults in what she does.

D．By discussing the advantage of music learning.

3. What do we know about the author?

A．She writes pop music.

B．She's a music instructor.

C．She advertises for music lesson.

D．She's a musical instrument collector.

4. Which of these questions does the passage answer?

A．Does practice make perfect?

B．Does talent make a difference?

C．Does a lesson plan really fit you?

D．Does hard work make up for lack of talent?

【推荐2】More than 30 years ago, there was a well-known boxer named Eugene Hart. Hart was heavily favored to win his next round against an ungifted boxer, Antuofermo. It was said that the only thing that Antuofermo could do was “he bled well". However, here was an important thing. He had good qualities that you couldn't see.

During the fight, Hart controlled Antuofermo, knocking him down and giving him a good beating. Antuofermo absorbed the punishment that was dealt to him by his naturally superior opponent, and he did it so well that Hart became discouraged. In the fifth round, Hart began to tire, not physically but mentally. Taking advantage of the situation, Antuofermo attacked and knocked Hart down, thus ending the fight.

When the fighters went back to their temporary restrooms, only a thin curtain was between them. Hart's room was quiet, but on the other side he could hear Antuofermo's coach talking about who would take the fighter to the hospital. Finally he heard Antuofermo saying, "Every time he hit me with that left hook （左勾拳）to the body, I thought I was going to quit. After the second round, I thought if he hit me there again, I'd quit. I thought the same thing after the fourth round. But he stopped hitting me there."

At that moment, Hart began to weep. He was crying because for the first time he under- stood that Antuofermo had felt the same way he had and even worse. And the only thing that distinguished the guy who was talking from the guy who was crying was perseverance （毅力）. The coward （懦夫）and the hero had the same emotions. They're both humans.

The important question to ask yourself here is this： How does each man respond to the tough situation that they are experiencing? Maybe you are in a tough position right now or, if not, one might be coming. How will you react? Like a hero or a coward?

1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?

A．Hart was an ordinary boxer.

B．Antuofermo was hardly defeated.

C．Hart was believed to win the game.

D．Antuofermo was gifted in boxing.

2. How did Antuofermo win the fight?

A．He trained hard before the fight.

B．Hart became discouraged by his coach.

C．He was confident about his boxing talent and power.

D．He dealt with the punishment properly and grasped the chance.

3. Why did Hart cry after the fight?

A．He realized he was just mentally defeated.

B．He was hurt and sent to a hospital.

C．He lost the game easily.

D．He was considered to be a coward.

4. What are Antuofermo's qualities?

A．Hard-work and honesty.	B．Humor and intelligence.
C．Perseverance and determination.	D．Enthusiasm and responsibility.

【推荐3】First Days

First days are milestones in our lives. They mark the beginning of a new experience or journey, They are also filled with mixed emotions. They can be a little frightening as we step into the unknown, but they can also inspire us as they give us fresh hope for the future. First days are powerful as we can leave our mistakes and failures in the past and make a new start.

I want to share a story that perfectly illustrates this point. It is a story about a little girl named Trisha. Trisha was born in a family of teachers who had taught her that reading was the key to knowledge. She watched her older brother as he read his schoolbooks and could hardly wait for the day when she would learn to read.

But when Trisha finally started school, she found that she was not able to understand the words like the other boys and girls. No matter how hard she tried the letters mixed up together, and she saw only confusion, Trisha fell further behind, the other children laughed and made fun of her, and she began to believe that she was not smart. By the time Trisha entered fifth grade, she had lost all confidence in herself. That was the year she met Mr. Falker. He was different. He praised Trisha’s talents, and he wouldn’t tolerate the other children teasing her. Mr. Falker realized that Trisha didn’t know how to read, but he knew she could with some help.

He recruited(招聘）a reading specialist, and together they worked with Trisha after school. They helped her to write letters and hear the sounds until one day Mr. Falker handed her a book and she read it all by herself. She didn’t even notice the tear, in his eyes.

This is a true story. The little girl is Patricia Polacco, the famous children’s author, and Thank you Mr. Falker is the twenty-sixth book that she has written.

We can all make a difference in the world—one student at a time by using first days” with wisdom and grace，and giving each individual the chance to start over and become the best that they can be.

1. Trisha fell far behind in school because she      .

A．was not confident	B．was not smart enough
C．did not try her best	D．did not know how to read

2. The passage mainly conveys the message that First days are_____ .

A．frightening as we step into the unknown

B．inspiring as they give us fresh hope for the future

C．turning points from where we can make a new start

D．chances when we can forget our mistakes and failures

3. The passage is probably intended for      .

A．teachers	B．students
C．children’s authors	D．reading specialists

4. How does the writer make his point clear?

A．By persuading.	B．By making suggestions.
C．By arguing.	D．By giving an example.

【推荐2】Advertisements can be seen everywhere in this modern world. It is estimated that Americans view an average of 1,500 ads every day! With the rapid economic growth in China, you can expect a number doubling that in the near future.

If you think you know all the ad tricks in the book and will never be talked into buying something you don't really want, wait till you finish reading this article.

While "hard-sell" ads are easy to detect — such as those with cheerful Olympic champions or film stars holding products and feeding you reasons why they are bargains — we are less clever when faced with "soft-sell" methods. The most common technique of this kind is to make customers think there is an immediate need to buy the product. So next time you see words like hurry, act now, last chance, now or never etc., think twice. Most of the chances aren't as short lived as they seem to be.

Is that the only type of soft-sell advertising? Of course not. Soft-sell advertising includes give away samples and concert sponsorships. Different types of advertising work in different places and for different products. "There's never a one-size-fits-all technique. It has to be tailor made for each situation," says Gillian Greene, Creative Director of Cheesy Bee, an advertising company in London.

Other than speaking directly to customers, some ads are also made for investors and shop owners. Why? Because when the investors see the expensive, well-made ads, they believe that the company is running a good business. Then they're happy to invest more money in it, even though the ad itself does not appeal to anyone in the street. In the same way, shop owners prefer to stock well-advertised goods because they know that customers are more likely to buy them.

Therefore, advertising can help sell goods even when it's not directed at the customers.

Ads work in every stage of a business, and that perhaps is the best ad for the industry itself.

1. What is this article mainly about?

A．It is hard not to be influenced by ads.

B．It is easy to run a good advertising business.

C．Advertising helps make money.

D．Advertising helps industries grow.

2. The "soft-sell " technique mentioned in Paragraph 3 refers to _____.

A．Products that are real bargains	B．Short-lived ads
C．Misleading words that appear ads	D．Images of Olympic champions

3. Which of the following is true according to the article?

A．“Sofy-selling”methods are easy to detect.

B．Not all ads are speaking directly to customers.

C．Tailors are needed in making ads.

D．Customers should always think of buying goods in a hurry.

4. What does“it”in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．the advertisement	B．the customer
C．the company	D．the “soft-sell”method

5. What can you conclude from the article

A．If we are careful, we can avoid ads

B．Expensive ads are more attractive.

C．Customers will buy goods that are well-advertised

D．Ads are powerful

【推荐3】Adolescence is a crucial period when the subject experiences a process of growth, the development of his own personality, and the discovery of himself.

    1    

They are often upset when their children praise the homes of their friends and regard it as a slur on their own cooking, or cleaning, or furniture, and often are foolish enough to let the adolescents see they are annoyed.     2     Such a loss of dignity and descent into childish behaviour on the part of the adults deeply shocks the adolescents, and makes them resolve that in future they will not talk to their parents about anything private.

Disillusionment(幻灭感) with the parents, however good and adequate they may be both as parents and as individuals, is to some degree inevitable. Most children have such a high ideal of their parents, unless the parents themselves have been unsatisfactory,     3     Parents would be greatly surprised and deeply touched if they realized how much belief their children usually have in their character and infallibility(一贯正确), and how much this faith means to a child. If parents were prepared for this adolescent reaction, and realized that it was a sign that     4     , they would not be so hurt, and   therefore would not drive the child into opposition by resenting and resisting it.

Victorian parents believed that they kept their dignity by retreating behind an unreasoning authoritarian(专制的) attitude; in fact they did nothing of the kind, but children were then too cowed to let them know how they really felt while    5     , but on the whole this is a healthier attitude both for the child and the parent. It is always wiser and safer to face up to reality, however painful it may be at the moment.

A．in contemporary societies we tend to go to the other extreme.

B．They may even accuse them of disloyalty or make some spiteful remarks.

C．which almost eliminated the disillusionment via sincere talks.

D．But how do parents feel about their kids’ independence shown out?

E．adolescents came to terms with their unreasoning demands.

F．that it can hardly stand up to a realistic evaluation.

G．the child was developing valuable powers of observation and judgment.

【推荐2】Last week, Education Secretary Arne Duncan declared war on paper textbooks. “Over the next few years,” he said in a speech at the National Press Club, “textbooks should be abandoned.” In their place would come a variety of digital-learning technologies, like e-readers and multi-media websites.

Such technologies certainly have their place. But Secretary Duncan is threatening to light a fire to a tried-and-true technology—good old paper—that has been the foundation for one of the great educational systems on the planet. And while e-readers and multi-media websites may seem appealing, the idea of replacing an effective learning platform with a widely hyped (炒作) but still unproven one is extremely dangerous.

An expert on reading, Maryanne Wolf, has recently begun studying the effects of digital reading on learning, and so far the results are mixed. She worries that Internet reading, in particular, could be such a source of distractions(分散注意力) for students that they may cancel out most other potential benefits of a Web-linked, e-learning environment and while it's true that the high-tech industry has sponsored substantial amounts of research on the potential benefits of Web-based learning, not enough time has passed for longitudinal(纵向的) studies to demonstrate the full effects.

In addition, digital-reading advocates claim that lightweight e-books benefit students' backs and save schools money. But the rolling backpack seems to have solved the weight problem, and the shocking costs to outfit every student with an e-reader, provide technical support and pay for regular software updates promise to make the e-textbook a very pricey choice.

As both a teacher who uses paper textbooks and a student of urban history, I can't help but wonder what parallels exist between my own field and this sudden, wholesale abandonment of the technology of paper.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Multi-media websites and good old paper are kinds of digital-learning technologies.

B．Digital learning technologies will replace the paper textbooks sooner or later.

C．E-readers and multi-media websites are learning methods that are proved effective.

D．A tried-and-true technology is paper textbooks, long used in educational system.

2. What is the drawback of paper textbooks according to the passage?

A．Their weight.	B．Their price.
C．Their content.	D．Their appearance.

3. What worries Maryanne Wolf is that ________.

A．paper learning can provide more potential benefits

B．students may not focus on learning by digital reading

C．digital reading can't provide potential benefits for users

D．the results of digital reading effects are understandable

4. What is the author's attitude towards digital-learning?

A．Disapproving.	B．Supportive.
C．Positive.	D．Objective.

【推荐3】I met Ariep on an island in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Being the last fluent Naati speaker in the area, he sadly expressed his fear that, with his death, the language would disappear.

Naati is just an example of dying languages. Today, 50% to 90% of the world's languages are considered at risk of falling out of use by the end of the century.

Over the last 10 years, this has attracted more public attention. While we praised the efforts made to protect dying languages native to certain places and spoken by local people, let's stop and ask: Why does it matter?

Should Naati's future matter to the world? Many speakers of dying languages, including Ariep, communicate fluently in other languages. Is the hope of "saving" these small languages just a romantic idea of unrealistic experts?

As a linguist(语言学家), I'm on the opposite side of those answering "yes". I understand how pressing and serious language loss is. Communities depend on languages to form culture and identity, and for the world, languages are an invaluable source of information about human cognition(认知).

If a language is lost, its community culture will disappear. For instance, people who speak Lulamogi in Uganda feel anxious that as people forget the terms describing ways of catching and eating white ants, they will also forget this important cultural practice.

Language loss also means a loss of community identity and self-determination. Measuring their damage is hard, but the loss certainly harms the well-being of community members. By contrast, the ability of community members to speak their local language together improves well-being. In British Columbia, research has shown that the young generations in communities where at least 50% of the people speak the native language tend to have a stronger sense of well-being.

When a language is disappearing, more is lost than just certain bits of information. Understanding language is important to understanding human cognition. Every language provides us with a tool for finding out how language works in our mind, without which we are prevented from seeing the full picture.

1. Why is Naati mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．To lead in the topic.	B．To sum up the main idea.
C．To tell a story.	D．To put forward a question.

2. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Ariep's fear.	B．Naati's future.
C．Public worry over the problem	D．Protecting dying languages.

3. What do the last three paragraphs mainly talk about over language loss?

A．Its examples.	B．Its reasons.
C．Its influence.	D．Its development.

4. What's the author's attitude toward saving dying languages?

A．Doubtful

B．Supportive

C．Unclear

D．Worried