【课本改编题】

In 2009, Whitacre received a video of a girl who was singing one of his works.     1    , he asked his fans to make videos, which he then joined together into one     2    . His first virtual choir, “Lux Aurumque”, had 185 singers from 12 different countries. It has received millions of views on the Internet. Since then, the virtual choir has become a worldwide     3    .

The virtual choir was the idea of     1     -winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre.     2     in the USA on 2 January 1970, Whitacre began studying music at the University of Nevada in 1988. …Moved by this music, he said, “It was like seeing color for the first time.” He     3     from university in 1995, and then     4     a master’s degree. …. This     5     to the creation of the virtual choir.

In ancient times, silk from China found its way overland to India, the Middle East and Rome, along what became known as the Silk Road. A trading route across the sea was also     1     along the coasts of the Indian Ocean centred around Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Here, merchants from China and many other places met to     2     trade deals, which also led to more     3     of each other’s cultures. Over the centuries, further trading allowed more exploration of the regions to the west of China, as     4     in Du Huan’s Record of My Travels in the eighth century.

Later, the Ming Dynasty further     5     relations with these regions. Between 1405 and1433, seven large fleets sailed west on voyages of trade and exploration. These fleets were a sight to behold and were in a league of their own at that time. Under the     6     of Zheng He, they set sail from the South China Sea across the Indian Ocean to the mouth of the Red Sea, and then to the east coast of Africa. African     7     families sent gifts such as giraffes as gestures of friendship in     8     for gold, silk, and spices. Although China     9     from further expeditions after 1433, these land and sea routes remained     10     channels between other cultures for centuries.

Many people don’t know that Nuo opera (傩戏) is considered as one of the most popular folk operas in     1     (south) China. Jiangxi Nuo, also called G an No (赣傩) is most popular in the counties of Nanfeng and Shangli in Jiangxi. A local temple,     2     was said to have been built in the Ming Dynasty, still functions well     3     attracts many visitors today.     4       (probable) 80 Nuo opera programmes from the past still exist today.     5     number of Nuo opera masks in Jiangxi is over2, 000, and there are about 2, 000 professional folk artists of Nuo opera.

Nuo dancing, one of the most ancient     6     (art) and necessary ingredient in Nuo opera,     7     (stay) alive in Nanfeng, Jiangxi over the past 2, 000 years. The moves of Nanfeng Nuo dancing are simple but powerful,     8     (keep) their ancient characteristics. Nanfeng Nuo dancing was even seen     9     “The Active Fossil of Chinese Dancing Art”. In 1996, Nanfeng county     10     (call) “The Village of Chinese Folk Art-Nuo Art” by the govermment of China.

9 . At Beaver Meadows Ranch on Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, there is a long list of outdoor winter activities for the entire family. Take a winter vacation there.

For $10 a day, visitors can try their hand at ice fishing. Ice fishing is available(可提供的) from 9:30 a. m. to 4 p. m. seven days a week. You will need to bring your own ice fishing equipment because it cannot be rented. You will need to have your fishing license, too. For more about it, call 800-462-5870.

Passengers take a 15-to-20-minute sleigh ride through beautiful Colorado country. During the sleigh ride, you’ll have the experience of stopping at an old-time cabin, warming yourself by a fire and eating cookies while drinking hot chocolate. You will need to contact them at 970-231-1955 to set up a time for your sleigh ride.

Experience winter horseback riding while viewing the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding 840 acres where Beaver Meadows Ranch makes its home. You’ll be guided on a tour by one of the expert wranglers(牧马人) when the weather permits. One-hour rides cost $35 per person and two-hour rides cost $50. For more information, contact them at 866-881-7679 to set up your horseback riding winter activity.

For more information about Beaver Meadows Ranch, or if you’d like to book a room for an adventurous holiday, call 970-881-2450. It’s not very often you can find a one-stop adventure spot full of winter activities. Take advantage of your free time this winter season and enjoy the outdoor scenery in Colorado.

10 . Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices and schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening.

One advantage of living outside London is that the houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one’s own.

Then, in the country, one can rest from the noise and hurry of the town. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time on trains or buses, one can sleep better at night. Besides, during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one’s free time digging, planting, watering, and doing the hundred and one other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has the reward of one who has shared the secret of Nature.

Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional walk in one of the parks and a fortnight’s (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest they are quite prepared to leave to those who are glad to get away from London every night.