1 . You may have heard of Dude Perfect. They are 5 guys who make crazy trick (技巧) shots and have fun for a living! They are so good at what they do. They have one of the top 10 channels (频道) on YouTube. It all sounds good. But their real story is much deeper and better. It is a story of trust, friendship, hard work, passion and giving back.
Dude Perfect is made up of 5 best friends who met while at college at Texas A&M University. Their names are Coby, Cory Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, Cody Jones, and Tyler Toney. At college, they became friends through their love of sports. They enjoyed spending time with each other so much that they all became roommates.
One day, in their backyard, they said they could make a trick basketball shot. They started to take video of their crazy shots. Within one week, the video received over 200,000 views! Soon, they received a call from the TV show Good Morning America who wanted to interview them. That was their first interview, the one that started everything! As Dude Perfect started to catch on, they started to attract star athletes to shoot videos with them.
Despite all their success, they have never taken their eyes off their bigger goal to spread good worldwide. Their message of the power of faith and friendship is at the heart of what they do.
Their videos show the history of Dude Perfect and the values that drive them. There is a great example of how they use their fame (名声) to spread good. They also show how they invite children from the Make a Wish Foundation to be a “Dude for a Day”!
Dude Perfects tricks are so good that some people question whether they are real. Well, they are. The secret is simply hard work and persistence (坚持). Their videos show how they do what they do!
1. What is the key to setting up Dude Perfect?| A．The star athletes’ love for it, |
| B．The members’ common interest. |
| C．The popularity of social media. |
| D．The trust between different people. |
| A．Strong but shy. | B．Humorous but crazy. |
| C．Kind and hard-working. | D．Handsome and easy-going. |
| A．It is never too old to learn. | B．Never forget why you started. |
| C．You can’t judge a book by its cover. | D．Be prepared for danger in times of peace. |
| A．Dude Perfect, an amazing team | B．Dude Perfect’s tricks are real |
| C．Dude Perfect built on friendship | D．Dude Perfect achieved their goal |
2 . Musicians born after the year 2000 kicked off the Project Spring Bird music season at the Blackstone Music Plus, showcasing the passion and creativity of Generation Z.
The small orchestras were among the biggest surprises in the festival. Each of the pieces in their repertoire (全部剧目)was performed for the first time. Homewood Symphony Orchestra directors and audience alike marveled at the talent of the young performers.
The small orchestras and musicians are the products of a nurturing program aimed at developing the skills and artistic creativity of young talent. It is strongly supported by Mellon Swift, music director of the Homewood Symphony Orchestra. “For young musicians, growth not only takes time, but also a starting point to bigger stages,Mellon said. “We want to help them cross the barriers and explore their artistic passion.”
Young musicians at the beginning of their careers usually emerge from well-known competitions, but Mellon said he wants to see opportunities become more expansive. “We insist on giving them as much freedom and support as possible, so that they don’t get sidetracked by concerns about some practical elements at the beginning of their careers,” he explained. “All they are required to do is to grow artistically and explore their creative potential and ideas, ” he added.
“If a voice tells us:Just do whatever you want, and we will support you all the way, just imagine what kind of potential could emerge?” wrote conductor Karajan, who is only 21, “The future belongs to us, and it can belong to us now! ”
1. What can we learn about the small orchestras in the festival?| A．Their songs were considered as classics. | B．Their performances amazed the audience. |
| C．They have got chances to be world known. | D．They are faced with few developing problems. |
| A．They rose to fame from fashion shows. |
| B．It was they who spread the popular pieces. |
| C．They are budding talents in the music world. |
| D．It takes them little time to peak in their career. |
| A．Young talents need help and improvement. |
| B．It is a long shot to explore music potential. |
| C．Big stages have been set for the music lovers. |
| D．Freedom is the only source of music inspiration. |
| A．A Big Success: the Project Spring Bird | B．Music Directors: Passion and Creativity |
| C．Generation Z:A Group of Musical Talents | D．Young Musicians: “The future belongs to us” |
3 . In August 2018, Yo-Yo Ma began a two-year journey to perform solo cello(大提琴) in 36 locations around the world. The project is motivated not only by his six-decade relationship with Bach’s music, but also by Bach’s ability to speak to our shared humanity at a time when our civil conversation is so often focused on culture division.
Bach’s 300-hundred-year-old music is one extraordinary example of how culture connects us and can help us to imagine and build a better future. For Ma, culture includes not just the arts, but everything that helps us to understand our environment, each other, and ourselves, from music and literature to science and food. The Bach Project explores and celebrates all the ways that culture makes us stronger as individuals, as communities, as a society, and as a planet.
“Bach’s music has been my constant musical companions. For almost six decades, they have given me support, comfort, and joy during times of stress, celebration, and loss. What power does this music possess that even today, after three hundred years? Does it continue to help us navigate through troubled times?” Ma said in a conference. He is more convinced than ever of the Bach’s music has the ability to create shared meaning that extends far beyond the here and now. “Over the years,” writes Ma, “I came to believe that, in creating these works, Bach played the part of a musician-scientist, expressing precise observations about nature and human nature.”
In the next few years, Ma will play cello across six continents, in familiar and unlikely locations. Accompanying each performance will be events that seek to put culture in action by bringing people and organizations together to address present social issues.
1. Why did Yo-Yo Ma want to release the project?| A．To convey his appreciation to Bach. |
| B．To focus more on civil conversations. |
| C．To perform in different locations around the world. |
| D．To celebrate the 300-anniversary of Bach’s birthday. |
| A．Its significance. | B．Its long history. |
| C．Its wide popularity. | D．Its target audience. |
| A．They were composed six decades ago. |
| B．Bach worked with some scientists to write them. |
| C．They concern not only nature but also human nature. |
| D．They have been used to treat mental illness like stress or loss. |
| A．History. | B．Art. |
| C．Travel. | D．Sport. |
4 . New England holds some special museums. They are devoted largely or entirely to the work of just one person. And they are the artists’ birthplaces or onetime homes. Here are four examples of such museums.
Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum
The name Cyrus E. Dallin (1861-1944) might not be familiar, but several of the artist’s sculptures (雕塑) are, especially those related to Native Americans. A good example is his “Appeal to the Great Spirit” standing in front of the Museum of Fine Arts. Born in Utah, he lived in Arlington for the final four decades of his life. The museum is in the Jefferson Cutter House, an 1830 Greek styled building.
Norman Rockwell Museum
Rockwell (1894-1978) was America’s well-known artist. The museum, founded in 1969, moved into its present location, Robert A.M. Stern-designed building in 1993. Its 998 paintings and drawings are the largest single collection of Rockwell's artworks.
Kids 16 and under: free; adults: $20; the old: at a 10% discount (折扣)
Edward Gorey House
Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was an artist, but he was also an author and clothes designer. Gorey bought this 18th-century house in 1979 and lived there for the rest of his life. Edward Gorey House is also known as the Elephant House. Gorey had respect for animals. The activities of the house, from art education to exhibits, show Gorey's support of animal well-being.
Gibert Stuart Birthplace and Museum
Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) is responsible for what may well be the most familiar work of any American artist, His drawing of George is the basis of the first president’s portrait (画像) on the dollar. Stuart painted more than a thousand portraits throughout his life.
1. What do we know about Cyrus E. Dallin?| A．He built the Jefferson Cutter House. |
| B．He lived in Arlington for half a century. |
| C．He was best known for his Greek styled sculptures. |
| D．He created famous works related to Native Americans. |
| A．$36. | B．$40. | C．$60. | D．$72. |
| A．Edward Gorey House. | B．Norman Rockwell Museum. |
| C．Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum. | D．Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum. |
5 . In Brazzaville, where art stalls can be found everywhere, local artist Andre N'Kitengue finds his inner peace on canvas in spite of traffic noise. At his
Though coloring his canvas and dealing with
“Brazzaville is an artistic city because of its unique history and we need to pass it on to our younger generations," he says. Andre is also an active teacher who
Andre is
| A．new | B．old | C．outdoor | D．indoor |
| A．darkness | B．loneliness | C．light | D．space |
| A．refuses | B．regrets | C．promises | D．prefers |
| A．lively | B．narrow | C．commercial | D．quiet |
| A．smart | B．positive | C．professional | D．creative |
| A．buyers | B．dealers | C．artists | D．fans |
| A．lacks | B．imagines | C．builds | D．carries |
| A．refers to | B．focuses on | C．stands by | D．gives up |
| A．systems | B．designs | C．reminders | D．effects |
| A．studios | B．paintings | C．investigations | D．reports |
| A．replies | B．introduces | C．adds | D．compares |
| A．depressed | B．united | C．awake | D．alive |
| A．drawing | B．living | C．filming | D．studying |
| A．express | B．explain | C．offer | D．present |
| A．relies on | B．calls at | C．takes in | D．brings up |
| A．Actually | B．Eventually | C．However | D．Meanwhile |
| A．pieces | B．performances | C．interviews | D．stories |
| A．terrified | B．surprised | C．embarrassed | D．confused |
| A．failed | B．worked | C．arrived | D．existed |
| A．cooperation | B．contribution | C．preparation | D．education |
