【推荐1】Music can be a great power to change people’s lives. Regina del Carmen Sanchez, 14, always believes this. The girl from Kansas City, US, leads a hard life. She lives in a small house with her mom and grandparents. Her mom gets a very low pay.
But it doesn’t stop Sanchez’s love of music. She wrote her first song Keep Your Head Up when she was 12. It described the bad situation at her home, but it also sent the message of hope: “My house is old and poor, but it beats (胜过) being homeless… Love yourself and never give up. You’ll see a better life if you keep your head up…”
It took Sanchez several months to finish the song. Sometimes during a break in class, when lyrics (歌词) came into her head, “I would have to write them down right then,” she told the local newspaper The Kansas City Star.
Jeremy Lillie was a spokesman for Bright Futures, a charity fund. When he saw the video of the song, he was moved. He shared it through social media (社交媒体). The fund has provided money for poor students in Kansas City.
Now Sanchez often plays the song in public. “I want to help people understand what is happening in the world in an easy way,” she said.
1. There are ________ people in Sanchez’s family.

A．three

B．four

C．five

D．six

2. What’s true about Keep Your Head Up?

A．It was written two years ago.

B．It showed a feeling of hopeless.

C．It described the good situation of a house.

D．It took Sanchez several weeks to write the song.

3. The Kansas City Star is ________.

A．a music group	B．a newspaper
C．a charity fund	D．a school

4. The word “moved” can be replaced (代替) by ________

A．surprised	B．interested
C．touched	D．excited

【推荐3】Soon it would be the holidays. But before that, there were the end of year exams. All the students had been working hard for some time. If they didn’t pass, they would have to retake the exams in February. There were usually a few who failed, but Kate decided not to be one of them. She had worked hard all day, but just before the exams she was working so hard that her sister, Barbala, was worried about her. She was staying up too late. The night before the first exam, Barbala insisted（坚持）that she should have an early night and take a sleeping pill. She promised（许诺）to wake her in the morning.
As she was falling asleep, Kate was worried in case（万一）she over-slept. Her mind kept jumping from subject to subject. At last, with the help of the pill, she fell asleep. In no time at all, she was sitting in the examination hall, looking at the paper. She couldn’t answer any of the questions. Everyone round her was writing pages and pages. However hard she thought, she couldn’t find anything to write about. She kept looking at her watch. Time was running out. There was only one hour left. She started one question, wrote two sentences, gave up and tried another one. With only half an hour left she wrote another two sentences. By this time she was so worried that she started crying. Her whole body shook. It shook so much that it woke her up. She was still in bed and it had all been a terrible dream. A minute later, Barbala called her name.
1. Which of the following is true?

A．All the students were usually successful in their exams.

B．Most of the students usually passed the year exams.

C．Only some of the students could pass the end of year exams.

D．None of the students would take the exams again in February.

2. Why did Barbala insist that Kate should take a sleeping pill?

A．Because she thought Kate should oversleep before the first exam.

B．Because Kate was so worried about her exams that she couldn’t go to sleep at all.

C．Because Barbala hoped her sister would have a good sleep before the first exam.

D．Because she had promised to wake her up the next morning.

3. Kate dreamed a terrible dream simply because ______

A．she had taken a sleeping pill.

B．she was too worried about her exams.

C．her sister had forgotten to wake her up.

D．she did not pass the exams.

【推荐1】Hip-hop dancing（街舞）is popular with many young people today. They like it because they can invent their own moves. They use this dance to show their love for life. It also shows that they feel good about life, that they just want to be themselves and enjoy life, and that they are not afraid of problems.

Hip-hop dancing has a history of more than 30 years. It first began in the 1980s in the USA. In early times, it was seen in New York and Los Angeles. At that time, many young black people often danced to the music in the streets. They used their legs, arms, heads and even shoulders to dance. Many young people still use most of these moves today.

Hip-hop dancing became popular all over the world because of the 1983 movie Flashdance. Some people performed Hip-hop dancing in the movie. People enjoyed their performance. They began to dance like them. Then it became popular. There are two kinds of Hip-hop dancing: new school and old school. More and more young people are learning Hip-hop dancing. People believe that it is a good way to exercise their bodies, and that it is good for their health .

1. Young people like Hip-hop dancing because ________.

A．it has a history of more than 20 years	B．it first began in the 1980s in the US
C．they can invent their own moves	D．many young black people dance it

2. At first, Hip-hop dancing was seen ________.

A．in the movies

B．in the streets

C．in old schools

D．in new schools

3. The young black people didn’t use their ________ to dance at that time.

A．legs

B．heads

C．shoulders

D．faces

4. Hip-hop dancing became popular all over the world ________.

A．in 1983

B．in the 1990s

C．20 years ago

D．last year

5. Which of the following is true about Hip-hop dancing?

A．It’s not a good way to exercise the bodies.

B．It shows that young people feel bad about life.

C．Young people use this dance to show their love for life.

D．It shows that young people are afraid of problems

【推荐2】From Super Girl to “Asian hero”, Li Yuchun has always followed her own musical path. As a pioneer, Li was one of the first Chinese singer-song writers to release digital albums (数字专辑). Her last album, Liuxing (Pop), released in 2017 via QQ Music, has reached in 16 million yuan in sales. Her 2016 album, Growing Wild, sold over 32.8 million yuan, China’s highest digital music sales figure since the platform (平台) played the nation’s first digital album, Aiyo, Not Bad, by Taiwan pop icon Jay Chou, in December 2014.

On the new album, Li wrote a song, You Are Always the Apple of My Eye to her parents, which was first played on Chinese Valentine’s Day, Qixi festival, which fell on August 7th last year. Li surprised her fans by playing a short video of a trip she made back to her home in Chengdu, Sichuan province. In the video, her parents cook together and Li chats with them in the local Sichuan language. “I used to avoid showing my personal life on social media, but now, I would like to share. My father takes care of the family as he always has, my family has made me who I am and, as I grow up, I value my moments with them more and more. My parents love me and I love them too. As a child, I think we should always be thankful to our parents and try to spend more time with them.”

1. Which is the highest digital music sales figure?

A．Liuxing.	B．Aiyo, not bad.
C．You Are Always the Apple of My Eye.	D．Growing Wild.

2. Who was the song You Are Always the Apple of My Eye sung to?

A．The fans.

B．Herself.

C．Her parents.

D．Jay Chou.

3. The first digital album of the platform is ________.

A．Liuxing	B．Growing Wild
C．Aiyo, Not Bad	D．You Are Always the Apple of My Eye

4. When is Chinese Valentine’s Day last year according to the passage?

A．August 7th.

B．February 14th.

C．December 25th.

D．July 7th.

5. Whom does Li Yuchun think she should spend more time with?

A．Her fans.

B．Her parents.

C．Jay Chou.

D．Herself.

【推荐3】In America, every student likes popular music. Students carry small radios and listen to music before class, after class and at lunch.

Adult（成年人）drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen about sports, the weather and the life of American people. Most of the radio programs are music.

Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in many places. Once the popular singer is known all over the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes goes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her.

There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk（民间）music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called country music. This was started by cowboys（牛仔）who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called country music.

根据文章内容，给下列的问题选择最佳答案。
1. How many kinds of music are mentioned（被提到）in this passage？

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Five.

2. What are most of the radio programs about in America？

A．Music.

B．Sports.

C．Weather.

D．The life of Americans.

3. From the passage we know that country music is about the ________.

A．school life in America	B．life of cowboys
C．common life of Americans	D．country life and love stories

4. Which of the following is true according to the passage？

A．Most students in America like popular music.

B．Adult drivers in America always listen to music while driving.

C．Everyone in America wants to meet pop singers wherever they go.

D．Folk music and country music is not important to Americans.

5. What’s the best title（标题）of this passage？

A．Popular Music	B．History of Music
C．Country Music	D．Music That Are Important to Americans

【推荐1】When looking at a pair of old chopsticks, most people would see nothing but waste. But Felix Bock would see boxes, tables, shelves and so on.

In 2016, Felix Back, a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia, Canada, found out people threw away about 100,000 pairs of chopsticks every day in Vancouver alone. He felt he needed to do something. So he started the company ChopValue in the same year. The company collected used chopsticks from restaurants, schools and shopping centers in Canada and the US and turned them into furniture and other artworks. Now in its fifth year with the rapid growth of the company, Bock employs 40 people, and using his special methods of steam and press machines, he has recycled 32 million pairs of chopsticks.

Bock takes pride in his work. And he hopes the idea behind ChopValue will help people rethink what they see as waste. “I believe every small action can help,” he said. “And I am happy that my business provides a new way for people.” Hundreds of restaurants across North America pay a small sum of money to Bock for the recycling of their used chopsticks. Bock doesn’t stop there. Now he is busy taking his business to more countries and has set up factories for recycling local wood like chopsticks in 10 countries.

1. When did Felix Bock start his company?

A．In 2016.

B．2017.

C．In 2021.

D．In 2018.

2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The company collected old chopsticks to make new machines.

B．People threw away about 100,000 pairs of chopsticks in England.

C．The company turned used chopsticks into furniture and other art works.

D．Hundreds of restaurants across North America pay a large sum of money to Bock for the recycling of their used chopsticks.

3. What does the underlined word “employ” mean in Chinese?

A．指责

B．雇用

C．奖励

D．解雇

4. Why do many restaurants in North America pay money to Bock?

A．Because they expect Bock to continue his business.

B．Because they hope to build some factories with Bock.

C．Because they want Bock to help recycle their used chopsticks.

D．Because Bock employs them.

5. What’s the passage mainly about?

A．The new way to rethink was.	B．The plan for recycling local wood.
C．The advice about setting up a company.	D．The use of chopsticks.

【推荐2】Bruno was a boy of eight. His father worked in a cinema and his mother worked in a shop. He lived not far from his school. He always walked there and walked home. On his way to school, he had to pass a playground. It was very wet after it rained. One day, when he got home, his clothes were all wet. His mother became angry and said, “don’t play in the water on your way home from school!”

On the next day, Bruno came back with wet and dirty（脏的）clothes. His mother became even angrier.“I’ll tell your father you come back wet again.” said his mother, “He’ll punish you, you know.”

The third day the little boy was dry when he came home.

“You’re a good boy today,” his mother said happily. “You didn’t play in the water.”

“No,” the boy said unhappily. “There were too many older boys in the water when I got there this afternoon. There wasn’t any room（空地方） for me at all.”

1. Bruno went to school ________ every day.

A．by bike

B．by bus

C．by car

D．on foot

2. The little boy liked to play on the playground ________.

A．when it snowed	B．when there was some water there
C．when the children played football there	D．when his father was busy with his work

3. Bruno’s clothes were wet for ________ day(s).

A．one

B．two

C．three

D．four

4. That afternoon, the boy’s clothes were dry because ________.

A．nobody made room（地方）for him in the water.	B．there was no water on the playground
C．he took off his clothes before he played there.	D．he played in the water carefully.

【推荐3】Bill was a boy of 15. His parents went gambling (赌博) all day and all night. Nobody cared about him. He couldn’t pass the exams. So his teachers didn’t like him, neither did his classmates play with him.

Bill often slept in class because his heart was not in school. He almost gave himself up.

One day, Miss Jones, a new teacher, came to Bill’s class. She was a loving and beautiful woman . Bill was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher.

It was Miss Jones’ class. She was asking a question. “I’d like the smartest boy to answer my question.” Then she said loudly, “Bill, please!”

Bill was surprised. And he stood up without a word.

“Just try it! I believe you can!”

After school, Miss Jones had a long talk with Bill. She told him that she cared about him and believed in him.

Bill thought a lot that evening. From then on he arrived at school on time every day. Miss Jones helped him with his homework in the afternoon. She even cooked delicious food for him. She told Bill, “Nothing is impossible if you put your heart into it.”

Later, Miss Jones gave them another exam. Bill did it with all his heart. He was very amazed to find that he had passed the exam. Now Bill discovered that not only could he learn, but also he could do it well. A change took place in Bill’s heart.

You see that one teacher saved one boy. It’s really simple.

1. Bill couldn’t pass the exams at first because he _________.

A．went gambling	B．talked in class
C．didn’t answer questions	D．gave himself up

2. Miss Jones had a long talk with Bill and told him that she ________ him and believed in him.

A．heard about

B．talked about

C．cared about

D．argued about

3. Miss Jones changed Bill by ________.

A．doing homework for him	B．encouraging and helping him
C．giving Bill some books	D．taking him to restaurants

4. From the passage we can learn that _________.

A．Miss Jones was a loving and careful teacher

B．Bill’s parents cared about him very much

C．Miss Jones loved to answer Bill’s questions

D．Bill didn’t like to play with his classmates

5. Which may be the best title for the passage?

A．Parents’ Love

B．A Lazy Boy

C．A Boy’s Change

D．A Strict Teacher