2 . 语法填空

Today I thought I’d blog about a question     1     has been asked many times—how do you stay safe online and avoid bad     2     (experience) on the Internet? I’m not an expert, but many years as a     3     (blog) have taught me a thing or two.

First     4     all, there’s the golden rule of the Internet: If you see or read something     5     makes you feel uncomfortable, leave the site     6     (immediate). Don’t post     7     (comment) or click     8     anything. Second, protect your privacy. Don’t give     9     your address or phone number. Someone might use the information     10     (steal) your identity. Identity theft is a common and serious problem. Third, be polite.     11     (be) online is no excuse for     12     (be) rude, and you don’t want to become     13     target for a troll or cyberbully. A troll is a person     14     posts comments or questions in order to stir     15     trouble online. Trolls often use several false names so that they can stay on a site. A cyberbully uses the Internet to be mean     16     others. Like a troll, a cyberbully will also write something mean but it is usually directed     17     particular people. He or she may also post     18     (embarrass) photos and information about those people. However, the more polite you are, the less likely     19     is you will be attacked.

Have you had any bad     20     (experience) online, or do you have some good advice for     21     (stay) safe? Post your comments below!

Boy 579: Last year, we were having     22     (problem) in our chat room. Mean     23     (comment) were being posted by someone we didn’t know. I think he or she was only trying     24     (make) trouble.

Amy: A girl at my school had a very bad experience online. A photo of her had been posted online and she was being made fun     25    . It seemed like a joke at first,     26     the girl was very upset.

3 . 【课本改编题】

Imagine having the opportunity to sing together with hundreds of other people while you are at home alone. You can do this in a virtual choir. Virtual choir members record themselves while they perform alone on video. These videos are uploaded onto the Internet, and then they are put together into one video that you can see online—a virtual choir. Anyone can take part in a virtual choir from anywhere—all you need is a video camera and an Internet connection. You do not even need a studio. A virtual choir helps connect ordinary people together. Many people do not have close friends or contacts who have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance to join a local choir. A virtual choir enables them to add their voices to those of other individuals and become part of the global community. It has proved to be a positive influence on the lives of many people. As one virtual choir member said, “Music helps me to … forget my problems. With music, I become someone else.”

The virtual choir was the idea of award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. Born in the USA on 2 January 1970, Whitacre began studying music at the University of Nevada in 1988. He fell in love with Mozart’s classical music when he sang for the university choir. Moved by this music, he said, “It was like seeing color for the first time.” He graduated from university in 1995, and then received a master’s degree in musical composition from the Juilliard School in New York in 1997. Over the next 10 years, Whitacre’s original compositions began to become quite popular among choirs and singers. This led to the creation of the virtual choir.

In 2009, Whitacre received a video of a girl who was singing one of his works. Inspired, he asked his fans to make videos, which he then joined together into one performance. 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 phenomenon. Whitacre’s next effort was the Virtual Youth Choir for UNICEF, which was first seen on stage on 23 July 2014 in the UK. Altogether, 2,292 young people from 80 countries joined in to sing Whitacre’s song “What If”.

The virtual choir is a wonderful way for people around the world to sing with one voice and thus make the world a better place.

1. Scan the text and find out the following information.

The man who came up with the idea for a virtual choir	____________________________
The place where he studied musical composition	____________________________
The name of his song	____________________________

Intensive reading
2. Activity 1　Read Paragraph 1 and find out the key elements of virtual choir.
_______________________________________________________________
3. Activity 2　Find out the differences between a virtual choir and a real choir.

	Virtual choir	Real choir
Form	____________	____________
Place	____________	____________
Identity of singers	____________	____________
Number of singers	____________	____________

4. Activity 3　Read Paragraph 2 and describe Eric Whitacre’s life experience according to the timeline.

_______________________________________________________________
5. Activity 4　Read Paragraph 2 again and answer the following questions.
(1)What can you learn from what Whitacre said?
_______________________________________________________________
(2)Why does the author mention Eric Whitacre’s studying experience and his achievements in music?
_______________________________________________________________
6. Activity 5　Read Paragraph 3 and 4 and answer the following questions.
(1)What gave him the inspiration to make his first virtual choir?
_______________________________________________________________
(2)Does the writer hold a positive attitude toward the virtual choir? How do you know?
_______________________________________________________________

4 . Look at the picture and the title,and then predict what the text is about.

____________________________________________________________________________

5 . 课文填空

BEAUTIFUL IRELAND AND ITS TRADITIONS

Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence     1     its people and traditions, history of     2    (produce)great writers and     3    (poet). Its beautiful countryside excites and     4    (inspire) all,     5    (offer)something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald Isle” and its many green counties is a true feast     6     the eyes, with its     7    (roll)green hills     8    (dot)with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the seabirds make     9     the music of the coast.     10     a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day     11     their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising     12     Ireland has developed strong traditions     13     include music, dancing, and dining.     14     have a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious     15    (tradition)Irish Beef Stew. If you’re     16    (luck), you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce     17    (you)to a friendly face, you are more than likely to     18    (experience)local culture and customs first-hand.