1 . It is a windy day. Glenn Gould has got a coffee cup sitting on the piano top and is working on a music written by Bach. As he plays, he gets so totally lost in the music that suddenly, he stands up, and walks in what looks like a dream to the window.
There’s a total silence. Then the Bach flows out of him. He’s still playing, but in his head. Then he turns, wanders back, sits down on a low chair in front of the piano and picks up right where his voice left off, but now with new energy.
Gould, the greatest interpreter of Bach, is a strange man. He doesn’t like to practise. Instead, he’ll prepare for concerts mentally, running the piece over and over and playing with imaginary fingers.
Gould, for some reasons, reminds me of Michael Jordan playing basketball or Etta James singing the blues: There’s a concentration that’s so deep that it feels special, like a kind of “flow”.
“When you are in it, you lose track of everything except what you’re doing,” writes neuroscientist Daniel Levitin. “There was a surgeon, who wasn’t aware that the roof of his operating room had collapsed until he was done with the surgery. In this state, what you think becomes what you do. You get blissfully lost in an activity, forgetting time, yourselves and your problems.”
How does one get there? That’s still a mystery. Practice is important. Strong will matters. Talent helps. When you find your “flow”, your brain changes. Sex, hunger and thirst matter less. You are chemically released and can now wander far and wide. Yes, you have no idea where you are or how this is happening. But once you find your “flow”, it’s one of the most wonderful experiences ever.
When I watch Glenn Gould walking back to his piano, I see a man living in heaven, if there is one.
1. How does Glenn Gould usually prepare for concerts?| A．By drinking coffee to get more energy. | B．By running the pieces in his head first. |
| C．By practising over and over on the piano. | D．By doing exercise in his sweet dreams. |
| A．Encouraged. | B．Worried. | C．Absorbed. | D．Absent-minded. |
| A．Happily. | B．Occasionally. | C．Unnecessarily. | D．Hardly. |
| A．Practice. | B．Will. | C．Talent. | D．Desire. |
2 . Hi, everyone! I am doing 92 acts of kindness this month in memory of my grandma, who passed away a few days before Christmas.It is deeply meaningful for me to see the ripples(涟漪) of kindness and love exerting a positive influence on the world in her name.It feels like she can still do good in the world even though she is gone. I have read so many of this community’s updates and am inspired by how many creative and actively kind, worldchanging people are sharing stories.I am writing to request help in reaching my goal of 92 acts of kindness—one for every year of her life.
I am asking for those of you who are willing...would you please do an act of kindness in my grandmother’s name？It doesn’t have to be big. Just a small act of love. And comment to tell me about your act so it can be tracked by me along with the rest.
So far, we’ve had nearly 30 acts of kindness since I started a few days ago.You can go to my article, where I am making live updates each time I or someone else contributes an act of kindness. Please help me light up the world with goodness and kindness.You have no idea how overwhelming(无法抗拒的) and amazing it feels to read about these acts of kindness happening on behalf of my grandma each day. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote. “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” Let’s keep changing the world together.Thank you so much!
1. What does the author say about her grandmother?| A．She had a positive effect on the world. |
| B．She rarely did good when alive. |
| C．She was so great as to be remembered. |
| D．She died at the age of 92. |
| A．Help others whenever it’s possible. |
| B．Give someone a hand in her grandma’s name. |
| C．Leave her some encouraging comments. |
| D．Read this community’s worldchanging updates. |
| A．To call on people to do a kindness soon. |
| B．To remind people to think before they act. |
| C．To warn people not to do a kindness soon. |
| D．To advise people to speak louder than words. |
| A．To contribute a big act of kindness. |
| B．To honor her grandmother. |
| C．To get help to realize her dream. |
| D．To share this community's updates. |
3 . It gives me great pleasure today to say a few words in praise of a man we will all miss very much. To be honest, I can't imagine we will do without him when he's gone.
Bill Masters almost single-handed built up our sales force in the Houston area and developed the market position that we enjoy today. In only six years, he has brought the firm from a very low fifth position in the area sales to the point where we now outsell all but one of our competitors. Not only have we got 37 per cent of the market under Bill's leadership; we are increasing our share with each passing month.
As you know, the company has moved Bill to northern California to work his sales magic in one of this company's most competitive(竞争的) areas. But we know that if anyone can do it, Bill Masters can, and I know you all join me in wishing him the best of luck in his new work.
1. The speech was made _______.| A．at a welcome meeting |
| B．at the opening of a new school term |
| C．when somebody was leaving |
| D．when they had a new manager |
| A．37 years | B．less than 5 years |
| C．about six years | D．since he began to work |
| A．many people | B．nobody |
| C．about 37 people | D．very few people |
| A．by 37 per cent every month |
| B．to the second largest in the area |
| C．to be the fifth largest in the area |
| D．five times as much as before |
