2 . Top Piano Players in the World

Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich could be considered the next Beethoven, as she is one of the most outstanding pianists ever to play. Argerich preferred being on stage with others instead of performing solo; therefore, she has been performing in a concerto format since the 1980s. Argerich was not one for the spotlight, as she often avoided public appearances such as interviews; however, her great talent was all the publicity she needed, standing out during concertos and sonatas.

Leif Ove Andsnes

Known for his appealing performances of Edvard Grieg’s works, Andsnes has won praise for his performances at some of the world’s most famous concert halls. Andsnes has certainly made his mark in Norway, as he is the founding director of Norway’s Rosendal Chamber Music Festival. Because of his unique voice and interesting approach, he was praised by The New York Times as a “pianist of authoritative elegance, power, and insight.”

Alfred Brendel

Known for his beautiful interpretations of Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert and Mozart, Alfred Brendel was considered one of the greats. He played in various concertos throughout his career and became known for his interpretive coldness in recreating these works. Brendel was considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, as he made his mark in the classical music industry. Brendel was self-taught and learned his love of piano at an early age.

Arthur Rubinstein

Arthur Rubinstein was certainly one of the greats. His career began in the early 20th century when he began to come into contact with some of the world’s most important composers, such as Maurice Ravel, Paul Dukas, and Jacques Thibaud. He made various trips worldwide and visited nearly every continent, where crowds met him with great praise and encouragement.

1. What does the female pianist focus on in her career?

A．Skills in hosting concertos and sonatas.	B．Cooperation with other musicians.
C．Close relationships with the media.	D．Unique ways to interpret music.

2. Who learned music by himself or herself?

A．Martha Argerich.	B．Leif Ove Andsnes.
C．Alfred Brendel.	D．Arthur Rubinstein.

3. How is Arthur Rubinstein different from the other pianists?

A．He was the director of a Norwegian festival.

B．He made a difference in classical music.

C．He was the best musician of the 20th century.

D．He got in touch with some famous composers.

4 . In the last months of Dad’s life, my brothers and I moved him to a local nursing home nearby. I spent as much time as I could ______ him there. Cancer had damaged his body badly and was now ______ his mind.

During one visit, I entered his room, only to find him in a ______ sleep. I sat by his side for a while ______, wishing for more time with him and also ______ I hadn’t made the most of all the years we had together. Then I got up and walked out.

A light rain was starting to fall and it matched my ______. As I walked to my car, I saw a woman in a wheelchair ______ to move herself out of the rain. I ______ walked over and helped push her inside. She thanked me and gave me a ______ smile. At that moment, I felt a light shine into my soul and a sense of ______ return to my heart. I walked back out, letting the rain wash over me, and thanked all the years I had with Dad. I also knew even if Dad died, the love we shared would ______ continue.

I now still think of that ______ of loving kindness. It reminds me that while we might not be able to live every moment to the fullest, we can still ______ the moments we do have. Life is

______ for love and kindness, which go beyond even death and are ever-lasting ______. May you fill your days with them.

1.

A．inspecting

B．observing

C．joining

D．visiting

2.

A．eating away at

B．keeping away from

C．living up to

D．getting rid of

3.

A．disturbed

B．light

C．broken

D．deep

4.

A．silently

B．impatiently

C．secretly

D．nervously

5.

A．recalling

B．understanding

C．regretting

D．denying

6.

A．image

B．mood

C．taste

D．character

7.

A．hesitating

B．pretending

C．refusing

D．struggling

8.

A．quickly

B．randomly

C．curiously

D．anxiously

9.

A．forced

B．beautiful

C．fixed

D．humorous

10.

A．fun

B．warmth

C．amazement

D．commitment

11.

A．almost

B．hardly

C．still

D．even

12.

A．period

B．adventure

C．performance

D．moment

13.

A．value

B．pick

C．change

D．create

14.

A．tested

B．kept

C．meant

D．used

15.

A．belongings

B．treasures

C．goods

D．possessions

5 . Johnny Agar had always dreamed of competing in triathlons (铁人三项赛) as an athlete. Unfortunately, he’d been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (大脑性瘫痪) shortly after he was born. This disorder makes it difficult for the now-28-year-old to get around. However, he and his father are proving that where there’s a will — and a lot of love — there’s a way!

Jeff Agar, 59, is helping Johnny experience life to the fullest by entering triathlons by his side. As a team, they’ve completed over 200 races, including a full ironman triathlon that required them to swim, bike and run 140 miles in just 17 hours.

“I’m not a fan of triathlon,” Jeff joked. “I’m doing it not because I love it. This is Johnny’s dream and I’m giving him the legs and the power to do it.” Although Jeff typically provides the majority of the manpower, it was important for Johnny to cross the finish line on his own legs. “Walking in races was my way of telling Dad, ‘Okay, I’m not just going to say thank-you anymore; I’m going to actually put words into action,’” Johnny said.

Johnny and his dad now form Team Agar, using their story and the power of motivational speaking to inspire others. “When we completed that 140-mile Ironman together, it had an amazing impact on many people who had seen our story. We began to see that competing isn’t just about us crossing the finish line; it’s about helping others leave uncertainty in the dust — even those facing greater obstacles than we did.”

Earlier this month, they received some incredible news. They were invited to compete in one of the toughest triathlons: the Ironman World Championship! What made the occasion even more special was a pre-recorded video message from Johnny’s idol, athlete Peyton Manning. “Rumor has it that you’re a big fan of mine,” Peyton said, “I’m a big fan of yours as well! You guys are incredible; you’re a true inspiration.”

1. What can we learn about Jeff from the text?

A．He has a great passion for triathlons.

B．He is upset about Johnny’s severe illness.

C．He goes all out to help his son achieve his ambition.

D．He crosses the finish line with his son in competitions.

2. Why did Jeff and Johnny set up Team Agar?

A．To give motivation to other people.	B．To encourage more people to join them.
C．To make themselves more competitive.	D．To participate in more competitions as a team.

3. What does the author want to convey in the last paragraph?

A．Peyton will record more videos of Johnny and Jeff.

B．Jeff and Johnny have influenced people positively.

C．Johnny and Jeff have been getting along well with Peyton.

D．Peyton has provided Johnny with material assistance.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．An Old Father’s Love for Triathlons

B．A Disabled Competitor Works Wonders

C．Dad Helps Son With Cerebral Palsy Achieve His Dream

D．Great Achievements Made by Dad and Son in Sports

6 . You’ve heard the phrase “home for the holidays”, but I would like to introduce a new phrase: hygge for the holidays. A hygge holiday is all about peaceful, quiet and cozy(温暖舒适的) surroundings. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Holiday hygge is easy and comforting. Most people are already doing at least some of these simple hygge holidays without even knowing it.

Hygge is a Danish word originally coming from an old Norwegian word meaning well-being and protection from the outside harm. It’s known that winters in Denmark are severe and last long. The concept of hygge has been used by Danish people to keep themselves mentally positive in the dark winter season and fill their homes with comfort and love.

Hygge is a very important word to Danish people, often used to describe what their culture is all about and it is not necessarily a thing, something you can buy, but rather more of something you feel. Hygge really is a reflection of one aspect of Danish living, and, happily, in the last five years the concept of hygge has made its way to the US and many other countries. I mean what’s not to like about nurturing(培育)peace and quiet and coziness?

Here are some more descriptive words for hygge: comfort, familiarity, friendship, laughter, and even seasonal homemade food and drinks. While it is possible to achieve hygge any time of the year with hygge activities-an outdoor BBQ with friends and a movie under the stars with family are good examples of summertime hygge, it is most commonly associated with the colder months because of its ability to lift one’s spirits during dark winter months.

Hygge is the most suitable for the November and December holiday season because it’s all about peaceful and cozy surroundings that fill you with contentment. There is indeed something you can do to bring holiday hygge into your home this season.

1. Why do Danish people choose a hygge holiday?

A．To deal with cold and long winters.	B．To follow the latest holiday trend.
C．To fight against nature physically.	D．To spend more time with their family.

2. How does the author find hygge?

A．It reflects Danish living totally.	B．It is mainly about some feeling.
C．It is limited to Denmark and the US.	D．It represents ancient Danish culture

3. What message is conveyed in paragraph 4?

A．People do hygge in more ways.	B．Hygge is preferred in summertime.
C．Hygge is still perfect for winter.	D．People access hygge in certain time.

4. What might the author go on to talk about?

A．Ways of hygge celebrations.	B．Tips on achieving hygge.
C．Different opinions about hygge	D．Benefits of bringing hygge into home.

7 . Everyone wants to keep their kitchen clean and have a healthy pantry(食品储藏室)that offers healthy food options year-round. You already do so much for your family’s health.     1    

You can smarten up your storage. Whenever possible, you can store pepper, grains, and other pantry foods in glass containers.    2     Plastic food storage containers are a good second best, though plastics are always less desirable from an environmental angle.

It’s time to sharpen your knife skills. Grocery stores offer pre-cut vegetables, which is a wonderful innovation for the short-on-time among us. But if you are able, buying a whole vegetable will save you some money-and your produce will last longer if you don’t cook it immediately.

    3     Some foods, like tomatoes, should never be refrigerated, while others, like cucumbers, stay fresh longer if they’re stored in cold conditions. Knowing where each food is happy will help you use your cooling equipment to maximum benefit.

Clean up your cleaning products. Most kitchen cleaning work can be handled without products that have powerful but damaging chemicals which come in plastic containers and put eco-unfriendly substances into the air and near your food.    4     You can use baking soda(小苏打)to clean counters, sinks, and stovetops. Lemon juice, essential oils, and even large pieces of sea salt for cleaning can also help with your cleaning routine.

Share with your local food pantry. A quick online search or phone call can put you in touch with your local food pantry. Learn what they need most and seek out items in your pantry that are not yet past their best-before date or that you aren’t likely to use in the near future.    5     Both sides will get a benefit.

A．You should manage storage temperatures.

B．Then how can you keep just what you need?

C．Extend your foods’ shelf life as long as you can.

D．Seek out some simple and mild solution “recipes”.

E．You’ll be reducing your waste and feeding your neighbors at one go.

F．The see-through material will show you when things are running low

G．But could you also pay some attention to keeping an eco-friendly pantry?

9 . 假如你是李华，明日你班英语课课前3分钟自由表达的主题是“如何高效学习”。请你以“How to Study Effectively”为题，用英语写一篇短文，谈谈你对高效学习的看法。内容包括：
1. 你对高效学习的理解；
2. 你的建议。
注意:
1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 请在答题卡的相应位置作答。

How to Study Effectively

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