1 . When I was in sixth grade, I joined the band program to learn to play the clarinet (单簧管). The beginning of the year had gone _________. But as most students progressed, I seemed to fall behind. One day, when my teacher told us to play in front of the other students, I was filled with fear. I knew I would _________. When I began to play, my rhythms (节奏) were good, but my tone was another _________. “Did you practice your lesson?” the teacher barked at me. I felt so _________ and my world came _________ down in an instant.

From then on, I hated playing the clarinet and I kept getting _________. With the day of the new performance approaching, I grew increasingly upset. In a moment of _________, I asked for sick leave. It was so relieving and such a(n) _________ way out.

The avoidance of my lessons continued until my mum asked me about it. “I want to quit.” My tears started _________. “If you really want to quit, why are you crying?” asked mum. She __________ and I realized I wanted to stay in band and, by not facing my fears, I had created a black hole that would be difficult to __________ out of. I made a __________ not to hide from my fears and to stand up to even the worst of them, so a __________ could be achieved.

The next day I met with my band teacher and told her I was having a problem and couldn’t __________ why. She asked me gently to play for her. I tried, but only an unpleasant sound came out. She didn’t __________ at me and handed me a new reed (簧片). I put it in place and tried again. To my great __________ I could play well. My problem was solved and my fear was __________ a lot that year.

__________ I’m glad that I overcame my fear. Fear can __________ everything in a person’s life. Hiding from those very fears only creates a hole, which makes a person stay __________ inside. After facing up to a fear, one may find life easier and much more enjoyable.

1.

A．badly

B．endlessly

C．randomly

D．smoothly

2.

A．mess up

B．move on

C．set out

D．take off

3.

A．impression

B．essay

C．story

D．factor

4.

A．ashamed

B．starved

C．excited

D．relaxed

5.

A．crashing

B．moving

C．selling

D．bending

6.

A．stricter

B．worse

C．happier

D．smarter

7.

A．joy

B．panic

C．doubt

D．sympathy

8.

A．funny

B．important

C．easy

D．traditional

9.

A．drying

B．disappearing

C．flowing

D．separating

10.

A．had a point

B．made a change

C．reached a level

D．took a break

11.

A．send

B．bring

C．pick

D．climb

12.

A．request

B．resolution

C．presentation

D．proposal

13.

A．balance

B．degree

C．position

D．solution

14.

A．figure out

B．give away

C．think over

D．make up

15.

A．aim

B．smile

C．wave

D．shout

16.

A．anger

B．sorrow

C．disappointment

D．surprise

17.

A．felt

B．shown

C．removed

D．voiced

18.

A．Carrying on

B．Looking back

C．Stepping aside

D．Turning around

19.

A．consume

B．examine

C．reflect

D．rescue

20.

A．unknown

B．unpunished

C．interested

D．trapped

2 . National Music Theater Competition

The 2024 National Music Theater Competition (NMTC) will be held. It was launched in 2011 as the first national competition for the emerging professional music theater soloist (独唱者). NMTC has provided industry connections for past competitors and winners that have led to their success on Broadway and other venues.

Prizes (each prize only for a person)

The champion: $5,000 plus a concert at the next national conference of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), a $1,000 Gift Certificate from Hal Leonard, a Career Management Services package from Stage Door Connections.

The runner-up: $2,500 plus a $500 Gift Certificate from Hal Leonard.

The third place: Louise Lerch Prize; $1,000 cash prize.

The fourth place: Bill Hayes Prize; $750 cash prize.

Qualification

Singers aged from 20 to 28 as of September 15, 2023.

Entrance Procedure

Application requires a fee of $900, but for these students of NATS members the fee is $75. Application fees due to cancellation by the applicant won’t be returned. All application materials must be submitted by September 15, 2023. If you are planning to submit your application for the online round, you must complete the submission by September 15, 2023, but you’ll have 30 days after the deadline to upload your audition (试唱) videos. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Where to Audition

The preliminary (预选的) round

Live auditions: November 1 to 10, 2023 in New York City.

Online auditions: Video submission deadline is October 15, 2023.

Semifinal and final rounds

Live auditions: The semifinal round: January 3 to 9, 2024; the final round: January 15 to 20, 2024.

The semifinal and final rounds will be held in New York City as part of the 2024 NATS Winter Workshop.

1. Why was the National Music Theater Competition launched?

A．To make people like music.

B．To promote the leisure industry.

C．To popularize Broadway musicals.

D．To seek promising talents.

2. What will the person coming second in the competition get?

A．A $500 Gift Certificate and Louise Lerch Prize.

B．$2,500 in prize money and a Gift Certificate.

C．A Career Management Services package.

D．A chance to perform at a concert.

3. Which of the following is a necessity for participating in the competition?

A．Being at least 28 years old.

B．Applying for membership of NATS.

C．Submitting application materials on time.

D．Uploading audition videos by September 15.

4. What do you know about the competition?

A．Competitors can enter the semifinal round on January 18, 2024.

B．Both online and live auditions are available in any round.

C．There are three rounds in the competition in total.

D．Application submission deadline is October 15, 2023.

5. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To call on people to explore their potential in music.

B．To attract young singers to apply for the competition.

C．To appeal to young singers to become NATS members.

D．To encourage people to enter the musical industry.

4 . Things to see, hear, watch and read.

For more culture coverage and streaming recommendations, see vulture. com.

MOVIES

Go to New York Film Festival

Sans virtual screenings.

Lincoln Center, through October 10.

The city’s most impressive cinema showcase opens with the world premiere (首映) of Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth, with Deazel Washington and Frances McDormand as the ruthless(冷酷无情的) would-be royals, and includes new films from Pedro Almodóvar (Parallel Mothers), Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog）, Celine Sciamma (Petite Maman), Paul Verhoeven (Benedetta) and Apicbatpong Weerasethakul (Memoria).

ALISON WILLMORE

THEATER

See Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Rolling on the river.

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, reopens October 8.

With many Broadway shows returning, theater-goers can catch up with the shows they meant to attend but never quite got to. No one should miss a second chance to see star Adrienne Warren. The power-packed, laser-voiced performer will only be back playing the central role from October 8 to 31, and while her successor will no doubt be incredible, Warren...is simply the best. Do not miss her this time out.

HELEN SHAW

PODCASTS

Listen to Storytime with Seth Rogen.

Ft. celebrities and regular people.

Sirius XM’s Stitcher October 6.

Seth Rogen has teamed with producer Richard Parks III to show the stories of his interviewers as cinematically as possible, no matter how ordinary. Upcoming guests include Quinta Brunson, Joe Mande, and Paul Scheer.

NICHOLAS QUAH

ART

See Julian Lethbridge

Geometric abstractions.

Paula Cooper Gallery, 521 West 21" Street, through October 16.

Julian Lethbridge is a sort of under-known master of modeling the complex possibilities and variations of the visibility of thought. His works convey an intensity (强烈) of intention and a smoldering (郁积的) emotionalism.

JERRY SALTZ

1. Which of the following people is an actor in a movie?

A．Jane Campion.	B．Frances McDormand.
C．Seth Rogen.	D．Joel Coen.

2. Who recommends people to see a musical?

A．Helen Shaw.	B．Nieholas Quah.
C．Alison Willmore.	D．Jerry Saltz

3. Which of the following is true about the podcasts?

A．Paul Scheer is the producer.

B．Seth is interviewed on October 6.

C．You can hear common people's stories.

D．It covers as many cinemas as possible.

4. What do you know about Julian Lethbridge according to the passage?

A．His paintings are full of models.

B．He is not very famous.

C．His art exhibition runs through October.

D．He has a complex personality.

5. Where can you go to enjoy a culture highlight on October 24?

A．Lincoln Center.

B．Paula Cooper Gallery.

C．521 West 21th Street.

D．Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

5 . Dance Classes for Kids Near Me

Search Dance Class for Kids near me, and Twist N Turns is the best you could get.

★ What does Dance Class for Kids offer at Twist N Turns?

Jazz dance and street dance.

★ What is the application process?

Applications are accepted throughout the year. The course will run for only four terms. To apply one must visit our center and fill in the application form with one passport-size photo, the birth certificate along with the $50 application fee.

★ What is the course structure?

The dance course for kids is for 3.5 to 12 years, divided into three groups: Toddlers (3.5-5 years), Kids (6-8 years) and Tweens (9-12 years).

For below 5 years, we teach creative movement, which is basically the pre-dance class, a way for children to explore movement through music, develop physical skills, and stimulate imagination.

The advanced course includes body awareness, strength, conditioning, space awareness, expressions, and musicality.

At the end of the course, all students have to appear for a performance test in the studio, where they have to demonstrate moves. Then, the kids are selected and promoted to improvers or advanced classes, depending on their skill and level of performance. Not all kids make it to the next level.

★ What are the rules?

80% attendance is required. Students have to come in uniform. Also, refer to Dance Etiquette (礼仪).

★ Are certificates provided?

The certificate is awarded to students on an internal examination basis conducted after the completion of the course. To attain the certificate one must go to a minimum of 39 classes.

1. The dance class offers ______ kinds of dance.

A．2

B．3

C．4

D．5

2. What should a boy bring to apply for a dance course?

A．His passport.	B．His family photo.
C．His application form.	D．His birth certificate.

3. What do toddlers learn in the dance course?

A．Creative movement.	B．Body awareness.
C．Space awareness.	D．Musicality.

4. Which is NOT true about the performance test?

A．It takes place at the end of the course.

B．Students will show their moves in the test.

C．The students with full attendance can skip the test.

D．Not all students can be promoted to the next level.

5. What is required of a student to get a certificate?

A．Winning an internal award.

B．Attending at least 39 classes.

C．Knowing dance etiquette well.

D．Getting an A on the performance test.

9 . 阅读短文，按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

High school was a hard time for me, as it is for many kids. Recently I was reminded (使想起) of a huge reason why I made it through that time of my life. The reason was music.

I was reminded of this because my old high school is about to be pulled down over the Christmas break and the kids will be moving into a bigger newly built school in January. The high school band and chorus(合唱队) recently gave a concert on the 80-year-old stage, and all chorus alumni (校友) were invited to take part in this event. The alumni have been invited back to sing with the chorus in other concerts before, but this one was special. This was our last chance to sing on this stage.

We all arrived early for rehearsal (排练). Many of us did not even need music during rehearsal because we remembered the song so well. It became a tradition to invite alumni back on stage and sing “Honor and Glory” every year. After one rehearsal of it, it was like we never left.

As we waited for the beginning of the concert, we began taking ourselves on one last tour of the high school. We looked at the same artwork that has been on the same walls for years, but the only good memories (记忆) I actually remembered were the time I spent singing in the chorus. When nothing else felt like it was going right, music was there. Music has helped me and saved me.

Soon, everyone will get to experience a much bigger school with a much bigger stage for more amazing concerts, but I will always remember that stage that I sang on with my former classmates. I remember the songs that we sang together, countless memories, and just how thankful I am for my amazing music teachers who helped make music have such a strong influence on my life.

1. Why was the recent concert special? (no more than 10 words)
________________________________________________________________________
2. What did the author mean by saying “it was like we never left” in paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
________________________________________________________________________
3. What did the author think of singing in the chorus in high school? (no more than 1 words)
________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the purpose of the text? (no more than 10 words)
________________________________________________________________________
5. What precious memories did you have in high school? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)
________________________________________________________________________

10 . 阅读表达

During the final term of my theater and performance degree at the University of Leeds, I found myself standing outside Berkeley Court care home with three classmates and an underdeveloped idea. We planned to hold some interactive workshops with the residents to try to inspire memory and social engagement.

I remember being nervous, aware that we were working with people who were vulnerable, and that I had no idea what I was doing. Some residents were almost nonverbal, some were clearly not with ability. Some were happy to see us, and some were not.

I had decided to play music at the end of the session. We went with the song My Way because the residents, all roughly 80 years old, were probably listening to the hit song in their late 20s.

Once I pressed play, it was as if a spell had been cast. Nearly everyone in the room stood up and sang what seemed like every word. I was so profoundly moved. Many of them were communicating much better. It looked and felt like magic.

Off I went to drama school, but I thought about that experience almost daily. So when we were given the opportunity to write a script for a theater festival, I created a love story about music and dementia (痴呆), spanning 50 years of a couple’s life.

And now, 10 years later, the show I made is running again in London thanks to the Music for Dementia campaign.

When my grandma was diagnosed with dementia toward the end of her life, I didn’t struggle to communicate with her in the way that other people in their might have done. I felt more able to tune into what she needed and better equipped to see her underneath the disease.

I now know that music-based intervention reduce the need for medication in more than 60% of people living with dementia. I don’t know what My Way would be, but I certainly think we should all strive to find our song and do our best to stay connected to the people we share it with.

1. Why did the author choose the song My Way to play? (No more than 15 words)

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What made the author profoundly moved? (No more than 15 words)

___________________________________________________________________________

3. How did the author create the script for a theater festival? (No more than 15 words)

___________________________________________________________________________

4. What does the underlined sentence mean? (No more than 10 words)

___________________________________________________________________________

5. Do you think music can affect your emotions, memories and well-being? Why? (No more than 25 words)

___________________________________________________________________________