1 . What is the man doing?

A．Talking to a new neighbour.

B．Enjoying classical music.

C．Giving a warning.

6 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

I love to play the piano and I greatly enjoy performing my songs, so when the annual winter recital (音乐演奏会) was canceled, I was disappointed. I had looked forward to it for a long time and had already prepared two of my best songs.

My mom had a wonderful idea, however, to turn this disappointing thing into something worthwhile. “You can perform your songs at Carriage House Senior Living,” my mom suggested brightly. “I’m sure the seniors there who do not have families to visit them that often, would really appreciate the music and you could play more than just two songs.”

I immediately thought this was a great idea. One of the things I did not like about the recitals was that I was limited to playing just a couple of songs. Playing the piano at Carriage House seemed like a win-win situation because not only could I play more songs, but I would also have the chance to cheer up the residents there with some lively tunes.

My mom called Carriage House and made arrangements for me to perform. In the coming including many old classics.

When the exciting day finally arrived, my family and I drove to Carriage House. Walking through the enormous double doors, we stepped into an entryway that overlooked the spacious grand dining room. Right at the entrance to the dining room stood the piano as if it were just waiting to make some music to liven the place up a bit. At nearly every table several gray-haired women or men were seated enjoying their dinner and the company that the crowded room provided. Despite the conversations going on at various tables, isolation hung like a dark cloud in the room.

Almost immediately, we were greeted by an old woman with a walker who introduced herself as Phyllis in charge of Carriage House. She welcomed me and led me to the stage.

注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

As I sat down on the bench, I pressed a key on the piano and was surprised to hear no sound.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nervousness melted away and I started to enjoy the performance with the old.

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8 . TIANJIN, Dec.12, 2018 (Xinhua)—Striking Chinese gongs(锣) for 50 years, Liu Zibin, a 70-year-old folk artist in Tianjin Municipality, is eager to introduce the traditional musical instrument used in Chinese opera to more people.

Liu became addicted to Chinese opera in his childhood when his grandfather frequently took him to watch performances. At the age of 13, he joined Hebei bangzi training team. Hebei bangzi is one of the oldest types of Chinese opera in northern China, which became popular in the Qing Dynasty. It is a traditional Chinese opera combining music, vocals, dance and acrobatics(杂技).

“It took me hours to practice the basic skills of gongs,” he said. “This round piece of metal can help performers on the stage to express joy and sorrow when hit by a stick with different rhythms, so I must bear in mind all kinds of rhythms(节奏) for various situations. For example, striking gongs with a quick tempo(速度) can create a tense atmosphere for action scenes.”

In the 1960s and 1970s, the reorganization of opera troupes in Tianjin forced many members to switch their jobs to those in factories. Thanks to Liu’s brilliant skills, he was fortunate enough to go to one of the three biggest Beijing Opera troupes in Tianjin to continue his gong life.

Ten years ago, Liu retired, but he still goes to an opera tea house almost every afternoon to strike the gong for opera performances. In 2006, Hebei bangzi was listed into China’s national intangible cultural heritage. However, he worries about maintaining the art as fewer and fewer youngsters are learning percussion(敲打乐器), especially gongs. “People who strike the gong stay behind the scenes. It is hard for them to gain fame and fortune,” he said. Although many amateurs(业余爱好者) have learned from Liu over the years, some gave up easily. “It’s a bit dull and boring to continuously strike a gong for 40 minutes at the practice stage. It requires patience. Few can bear the hardship,” he said.

Various kinds of Chinese gongs are neatly placed at Liu’s home. He is waiting for more people to take over his career and spread the traditional Chinese art.

1. What can we know about Liu Zibin from the 2nd paragraph?

A．His grandfather founded Hebei Opera Troupe.

B．He showed interest in Chinese opera as a child.

C．He was the only one who could strike gongs in the troupe.

D．His grandfather taught him to sing Hebei bangzi.

2. Why did some members of the opera troupes turn to factories in the 1960s and 1970s?

A．Because of the reform of the opera troupes.

B．Because no one showed interest in opera then.

C．Because they could earn more money in factories.

D．Because the opera troupe was badly lacking in funds.

3. How old was Liu Zibin when he retired?

A．55 years old.	B．60 years old.
C．65 years old.	D．70 years old.

4. What can we conclude from the text?

A．People striking the gong will never become famous.

B．Grasping the skill of striking the gong is anything but challenging.

C．Liu expects the traditional Chinese art will draw more people’s attention.

D．Hebei bangzi is now the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

9 . You dash through a crowded railway station, tripping over bags, spilling (泼出) your coffee, only to have the doors slide shut in your face, leaving you breathless on the platform as the train pulls away.

But at least, if you’re in France, someone may be playing the piano for you. But it won’t be performed by a paid musician, or even a street entertainer playing for coins. It will just be a random passer-by, jamming for the fun of it on one of the pianos that the national railroad company, S. N. C. F., has fixed in nearly 100 stations across France. They are free for anyone to play, and travelers from all walks of life have taken to doing just that.

Gares & Connexions, the S. N. C. F. division that manages its stations, rents the instruments from the producer, Yamaha: which maintains them and tunes them every month or two. The first one was set up in the Gare Montparnasse in Paris in 2012.

The music, mixed with the sounds of shouting passengers, screaming trains and rolling suitcases, gives French stations a special soundscape. The amateur musicians have included Irish soccer fans and even babies. In 2014, Gares & Connexions and Yamaha organized a nationwide contest called Your Turn to Play, asking participants to submit videos of themselves using one of the pianos. It drew nearly 900 entries.

Isn’t the railroad company taking a big chance? Apparently not: “None of the instruments has been vandalized to this day, or even merely damaged,” said Claire Foumon, a spokeswoman for Gares & Connexions. “They are shared and respected by all.”

So if you miss a train in Paris; Bordeaux or Marseille one day, perhaps someone will be playing a favorite piece that will ease your pain. Or perhaps you’ll sit down and play your annoyance away yourself.

1. Why did Gares & Connexions fix pianos in railway stations?

A．To advertise Yamaha’s products.	B．To make stations more attractive.
C．To let travelers have a relaxing trip.	D．To help street artists make a living.

2. What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us?

A．The contest has proved a hit.	B．The pianos are very popular.
C．Railway stations are crowded.	D．Everyone can be an amateur musician.

3. What does the underlined word “vandalized” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Selected carefully.	B．Checked regularly.
C．Reserved in advance.	D．Destroyed on purpose.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Miss a train yet catch a tune	B．A soundscape in the memory
C．The role of piano in French life	D．An amazing train with a piano bar

10 . Muzak

The next time you go into a bank, a store, or a supermarket, stop and listen. What do you hear?     1    . It's similar to the music you listen to, but it's not exactly the same. That's because this music was especially designed to relax you, or to give you extra energy. Sometimes you don't even realize the music is playing, but you react to the music anyway.

Quiet background music used to be called "elevator (电梯) music" because we often heard it in elevators. But lately we hear it in more and more places, and it has a new name "Muzak". About one-third of the people in America listen to "Muzak" every day. The music plays for 15 minutes at a time, with short pauses in between. It is always more lively between ten and eleven in the morning, and between three and four in the afternoon, when people are more tired.     2    .

If you listen to Muzak carefully, you will probably recognize the names of many of the songs. Some musicians or songwriters don't want their songs to be used as Muzak, but others are happy when their songs are chosen. Why?     3    .

Music is often played in public places because it is designed to make people feel less lonely when they are in an airport or a hotel. It has been proven that Muzak doeswhat it is designed to do. Tired office workers suddenly have more energy when they hear the pleasant sound of Muzak in the background.     4    . Supermarket shoppers buy 38 percent more groceries.

    5    . They say it's boring to hear the same songs all the time. But other people enjoy hearing Muzak in public places. They say it helps them relax and feel calm. One way or another, Muzak affects everyone. Some farmers even say their cows give more milk when they hear Muzak!

A．Some people don't like Muzak.

B．The music gives them extra energy.

C．Music is playing in the background.

D．Factory workers produce 13 percent more.

E．Muzak tends to help people understand music better.

F．They get as much as $4 million a year if their songs are used.

G．Muzak is played in most of the big supermarkets in the world.