4 . Lexi is just a little girl from Canada who found herself in a heart-stopping situation. It started off as a normal car trip. Angela Shymanski, Lexi’s mom, was at the wheel, navigating (导航) the tough roads of the Rockies with her daughter Lexi and her baby Peter in the car. An unexpected animal ran into the road. Angela swerved (突然转向) to avoid the animal. Unfortunately, their car was off the road, falling down a steep embankment (路堤).

The crash was nothing short of terrifying. Angela ended up with a broken back. She was unconscious, and unable to help her babies. Meanwhile, baby Peter’s cries rang in disorder. But Lexi, only five years old, didn’t freeze. Instead, she showed courage that would leave many grown-ups in surprise.

She quickly jumped into action. The little girl, without even shoes on her feet, struggled free from her seatbelt and climbed the 40-foot embankment. Once she reached the top, Lexi did everything she could to make a passing car stop in order to get help for her mom and brother.

Lexi’s insistence finally paid off. A car stopped, and the people inside didn’t hesitate to help her call for emergency services. When the paramedics (护理人员) arrived, they found Angela in an extremely bad state, and her heart had stopped. Thankfully, they managed to bring her back.

Lexi’s dad, reflecting on the incident, couldn’t help but be amazed by his daughter’s bravery. He stressed how important it is for kids to be prepared for emergencies, shocked at how Lexi remembered and acted on what she had been taught. It’s a powerful reminder of what kids can do in key moments.

And Lexi’s heroism didn’t go unnoticed. She was awarded a Bronze Medal for Bravery by the police. But for the Shymanskis, the real prize was being back in each other’s arms, safe and sound.

1. What caused the accident?

A．The tough road.	B．The children’s noise.
C．A car that suddenly swerved.	D．An animal appearing suddenly.

2. What was Lexi’s first move after the accident?

A．Putting on her shoes.	B．Managing to get out of the car.
C．Stopping a passing car.	D．Climbing up the 40-foot embankment.

3. What can we learn about Lexi from paragraph 5?

A．Her heroic action deserved praise.	B．She had learned how to deal with emergencies.
C．Her dad knew her daughter well enough.	D．It was important for her to face some emergencies.

4. Which of the following can l best describe Lexi?

A．Brave and honest.	B．Thoughtful but mean.
C．Calm and courageous	D．Caring but impolite.

6 . The ability of music to evoke (唤起) specific, often powerful feelings is no secret to anyone who has listened to Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No.5”, Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child”, the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated”, Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” or any of the other countless compositions that have found their way onto Western playlists in the past few centuries.

The emotional effects of music are the point, of course. They are also the subject of a fast-growing field of research around the world in which scientists are exploring the nature of the many “subjective experiences” — such as joy, sadness, anxiety and calmness — that music evokes.

In a recent set of experiments, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and their colleagues sought to determine if the feelings that people experience when listening to music “show evidence of universality”. They compared and analyzed how more than 2,800 U. S. and Chinese study participants responded to 2,168 (mostly Western) samples of instrumental music. The team identified 13 distinct and very specific feelings that the Chinese and U. S. subjects shared when listening to music, despite their cultural differences.

The music used in the research, described in the paper as “the richest set of Western music samples ever studied,” included classical, pop, rock, indie, hip-hop, R&B, country, film soundtracks, and more. An additional 189 sample of traditional Chinese music was also used. In all, the researchers gathered 375,230 judgments of the samples from the study participants.

In the first experiment, subjects listened to Western music samples (each of which was just five seconds long) and reported on the specific feelings they evoked, choosing responses from a list of 28 “categories of subjective experience” provided by the researchers. Terms on the list included “victorious/heroic”, “sad/depressing”, “joyful/cheerful”, “awe-inspiring/amazing” and “dreamy”. The team then used data-driven statistical modeling to identify the 13 shared experiences. The second experiment, which included the Chinese music, involved broad evaluations of the samples by participants—such as whether the subjects liked or disliked them or found them exciting or not. A central finding of the study, the researchers write, is that specific feelings “drive the experience of music” more than the broader features.

1. Why does the author mention these songs in the first paragraph?

A．Because they all have strong musical emotional effects.

B．Because their loop playback rates are very high.

C．Because they have all become world-renowned songs.

D．Because they have won countless awards.

2. How to understand the underlined part in paragraph 2?

A．Music can directly express people’s true emotions.

B．Music should have a variety of styles.

C．Music will easily ease people’s various emotions.

D．Music can produce significant emotional effects.

3. What is the focus of the latest research experiments?

A．People’s taste in music.

B．Differences in Chinese and Western Music.

C．The universal feelings of different music.

D．The great influence of music on people.

4. What is the correct description of the two experiments?

A．In the first experiment, people shared their experiences with each other.

B．In the first experiment, people chose how they felt from a list provided by the researchers.

C．In the second experiment, people need to write down the types of songs.

D．In the second experiment, people need to sing the songs.

7 . “Colour” and “color”, “favourite” and “favorite”, “honour” and “honor”… Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a “u”? Is it because they are lazy? Of course not. In fact, the difference in spelling was started by Noah Webster(1758 — 1843). He was a teacher who reformed (改革) English to make American identity (特征) stronger. Linguists (语言学家) celebrate his birthday on October 16 every year.

After the Revolutionary War (1775 — 1783), Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary, rather than rely on British dictionaries. He dropped the British “u” in some words. And he changed “centre” into “center” for children to learn English by spelling words more like what they sounded. He used “subway” instead of British word “underground”. Some other examples are “soccer” and “football”, “fall” and “autumn”.

Webster wasn’t shy about expressing his opinions. In defining (定义) preposterous(unreasonable), he wrote: “A republican government in the hands of female is preposterous.” Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary with his American-style spelling in 1828. He also added local words.

His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new country achieve unity (统一) and cultural independence at a time when most people cared about political freedom.

“He was the creator of our language and the creator of American identity,” said Joshua Kendall, who is working on a book about Webster. “He at last brought us together through our language.”

1. Which is NOT true about Webster’s dictionary?

A．It has local words in it.

B．It is a 70,000-word dictionary.

C．All the words are spelled without “u”.

D．Its words are in American-style spelling.

2. What does the underlined phrase “rely on” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Depend on.

B．Trust in.

C．Put up with.

D．Give up.

3. What do people think of Webster’s dictionary?

A．It is the only dictionary that Americans still use today.

B．It helped to bring Americans together besides its cultural influence.

C．It has no influence on the development of American English.

D．It helped to make American English more useful than British English.

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．The development of the British English.

B．American English is better than British English.

C．Noah Webster added local words to the dictionary.

D．Noah Webster wrote an American English dictionary and reformed English.

8 . When my son was eleven years old, he came home from school in tears one day. A couple of the older kids bullied (欺负) him at the bus stop. Rob wanted to stay home from school, so he wouldn’t have to meet the boys.

We called the school. “We’ll be happy to call the boys’ parents,” We were told, “And you should call the police.” “We don’t know what we will do yet.” I said. I felt that calling the police was a choice to be used when everything else failed, and I wanted first to consider other ways of dealing with the situation, I asked him to hold off calling the boys’ parents.

The next day was Saturday. Rob happened to look our of the window and said in fer, “There are the boys who beat me up!” Two older boys were standing in front of our house, as if they were waiting for Rob to step outside.

My wife Bev opened the door and said with a smile, “Hi guys. Would you like some ice cream?” They looked at each other in puzzlement. But they were teenagers, after all, so one of them said, “Sure. Why not?”

Bev quickly introduced herself, Rob’s younger brothers and me. She even introduced Rusty, the dog. “And I think you already know Rob,” She said. Her idea was to help them to see that Rob was a person, not a target. He had a family and even owned a family pet.

Bev drew the boys into chat while we ate ice cream. After a few minutes, she said, “I know there’s been some trouble at the bus stop. I think there may be a misunderstanding.” They nodded that there had indeed been trouble at the bus stop. She continued, “Maybe we can talk about the misunderstanding, so you can be friends.” We talked until the ice cream was finished. Finally the boys apologized.

Understanding is a difficult task. It may be easier to control conflict by force than to find a way to cooperate. Force can calm a situation. But understanding leads to peace.

1. Why didn’t the writer call the police?

A．He feared his son would be bullied again.

B．He meant to try some other ways to solve it first.

C．The police wouldn’t take the bullying seriously.

D．The school promised to call the boys’ parents.

2. What does “But they were teenagers, after all” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．They couldn’t refuse the attraction of ice cream.

B．They could be cheated into telling the truth.

C．They dared to face any challenges bravely.

D．They were too young to understand the invitation.

3. Why did Bev introduce her family and their dog?

A．To give the dog to the boys as a gift.

B．To advise the boys to have a family pet.

C．To expect the boys to treat Rob kindly.

D．To show off the wealth of the family.

4. From the text we can infer Bev was ________.

A．fond of children

B．angry with the boys

C．skilled at making ice cream

D．good at making peace

9 . Born in a musical family in 1925in New Orleans, Renald Richard spent his childhood filled with music. At the age of 13, he went to see a band perform at a church where he fell in love with trumpet (小号). So he started lessons on it, and later played it in the high school band. After high school, he was sent into military service and played his trumpet in the United States Navy Band. After ending up studying music at Xavier University of Louisiana, he played clubs on the famous Bourbon Street and also toured with many bands.

In 1954, Richard was approached by Jeff Brown, the manager of musician Ray Charles. He invited Richard to join Ray Charles’ new band. “To be selected by Ray Charles was an honor to me. Ray Charles was exacting,” said Richard. “He was a perfectionist and was rather demanding about his music.”

Renald Richard toured all over the South and West with Ray Charles. Sitting in the back seat of the car on the way to a concert, Richard wrote the song “I Got a Woman” for Charles, which became Ray Charles’ first number one radio hit. In 1954, Renald Richard left Ray Charles’ band. However, he stayed friendly with Ray Charles over the years. He became the high school’s band director in his hometown until 1962. Four years later, he moved again to New York City. Over the years, Richard has written many other songs that have been recorded by artists including Joe Turner, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley, to name but a few. Living now in Southern Florida, Richard is still active at the age of 92. As you can see, Renald Richard’s musical days are by no means near an end.

That is today’s Celebrity Introduction. Any comments? Please write to us in the Comments Section on this page.

1. What inspired Richard to learn the trumpet?

A．His family background.	B．A band performance.
C．His high school band.	D．Support from his idol.

2. What is the order of Richard’s life?
①Start learning trumpet.
②Serve in the military.
③Tour around everywhere.
④Graduate from Xavier University of Louisiana.

A．①③②④	B．①④③②
C．①③④②	D．①②④③

3. How did Richard feel when he joined Ray Charles’ new band?

A．Terrified.	B．Nervous.
C．Honorable.	D．Uneasy.

4. What is the main topic discussed in the third paragraph?

A．Richard creates countless works all over his life.

B．Richard cooperates with many companies.

C．Richard is keen on public welfare and charity.

D．Richard has an inspiration when he fails.

10 . As computers become all the more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes（笔画） of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.

Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more widespread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer.

All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.

It’s faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that’s why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are taking stock in computers increasingly, problems appear.

“When I’m writing with a pen, I find I often can’t remember how to write a character, though I feel I’m familiar with it.”

“I’m not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper.”

Many students don’t feel this is something to worry about. Now that it’s more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?

Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, “Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic（审美的） value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only keep their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer’s emotion. Through one’s handwriting, people can get to know one’s thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them.”

To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory（必修的） and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand.

1. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A．To Type or To Handwrite

B．The Value of Chinese Characters

C．The Importance of Handwriting and Typing

D．Writing by Computer Will Replace Writing by Hand

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Students think typing is more efficient.

B．Handwriting contains the writer’s emotion.

C．A lot of Chinese people don’t write Chinese characters.

D．The writer’s thinking and personality are shown in his or her handwriting.

3. The underlined expression “taking stock in” in Paragraph 4 probably means ______.

A．getting bored with	B．getting dependent on
C．becoming crazy about	D．becoming afraid of

4. We can draw the conclusion from the passage that ______.

A．writing by hand will give way to typing by computer one day

B．the typed article better expresses one’s emotion and quality

C．more and more students will give up writing on a computer

D．more and more students will pay attention to handwriting