Playing a musical instrument can be a fun and...

Playing a musical instrument can be a fun and rewarding hobby. It’s a good way to express feelings and develop confidence in your abilities. 1. Here are a few questions to help you decide.

What kind of music do you like?

What you are interested in will encourage you to play. 2. Traditional orchestra musical instruments are what you hear in classical music. Modem music calls for modem instruments, like electric guitars.

Where are you going to practice?

3. Think about where and when you are going to practice, as well as the patience of the people you live with or near. Some instruments like the guitar give you the chance of playing in the night using earphones, while your housemates sleep in peace. Also, you may need to consider going to a school or a music center to practice.

4.

This is quite a big problem. A lot of instruments can be bought in different price ranges. But this doesn’t change the fact that many instruments, such as the piano, are always expensive. If you can’t afford your chosen instrument，will you be able to borrow someone else’s?

Are there any physical limitations?

If you are small and don’t like lifting heavy objects，you won’t want to carry around a cello (大提琴). If you don’t have great lung power, think twice about the saxophone. 5. But remember that with the right coaching, everyone can develop the right skills.

A. How much money can you spend?

B. How easy will it be to find a teacher?

C. Don’t let your physical shortcomings put you off.

D. A piece of music might move you more than another.

E. Talk to people who already play musical instruments.

F. Practicing the drums, for example, will drive your neighbors crazy.

G. If you want to learn a musical instrument, you might face a problem: what to play?

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Writing an article for your school newspaper can be exciting and rewarding, especially when you proudly see your name in print.

Decide on a topic.1.If you plan to write a news article for a monthly newspaper, you will need to take into consideration whether the topic will be relevant before printing. To get ideas for stories, listen to your fellow students and find out what has them talking. Follow developments within your school and community to get information on what would interest your readers.

Do your research. There is an old saying in law that a good lawyer never asks a question that they don’t know the answer to. 2. To sum up, the more, the better.

Attract the readers with a lead. As the beginning of a newspaper story, a lead has to be direct, but it does not mean you don’t need to entertain the reader as well. 3.Your lead must be short, but it must also state as many of the essential parts of you story as possible.

Consider the 5 Ws and H. These are the meat and potatoes of your news articles. You article must answer all of these questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Once you have answered these things, you can feel confident. 4.

Write, edit, rewrite and repeat as necessary. So, much about having a successful final product is about being willing to spend time and effort in editing and reviewing process. 5.After that, make changes as a result. Having taken some useful suggestions, you are to make your article readable not only for their content, but also for their quality.

A. Think about what is happening on campus.

B. You have effectively informed your readers.

C. Get them interested with an interesting beginning.

D. Do not be afraid to accept positive comments.

E. News articles are suitable for the date of publication.

F. Take note of anything particularly unusual.

G. Try to find out as much as you can on the subject.

高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Learning to play a musical instrument can change your brain, with a US review finding musical training can lead to improved speech and foreign language skills.

Although it was suggested in the past that listening to Mozart’s music or other classical music could make you smarter, there has been little evidence to show that music can boost(使增长) brain power.

But a data-driven review by Northwestern University has pulled reaserch together that links musical training to learning that spills over into (波及) skills including language, speech, memory, attention and even vocal emotion.

Researcher Nina Kraus said the data strongly suggested that the nervous connections made during musical training also prepared the brain for other aspects of human communication.

“ The effect of musical training suggests that, like physical exercise and its effect on body fitness, music is a resource that tones the brain for auditory fitness and thus requires society to re-examine the role of music in shaping individual development, ” the researchers said in their study.

Kraus said learning musical sounds could improve the brain’s ability to adapt and change and also enable the nervous system to provide constructing patterns that are important to learning.

The study, published in Nature Review Neuroscience , looked at the explosion of research in recent years focusing on the effect of musical training on the nervous system which could have impacts for education.

The study found that playing an instrument prepares the brain to choose what is related in a complex process that may involve reading or remembering a score, timing issues and coordination with other musicians.

1.What is the text mainly about ?

A. The effect of physical exercise.      B. The researcher named Kraus.

C. The benefit of musical training.      D. Musicians’ improved skills.

2.The underlined word “ auditory ” in Paragraph 5 probably means “ __________”.

A. of the body                      B. connected with seeing

C. of the mind                      D. connected with hearing

3.It was believed but not proved that listening to classical music could __________.

A. add to your intelligence            B. improve your speech

C. boost your memory               D. make you think faster

4.According to Kraus, musical training contributes to the following EXCEPT __________.

A. body fitness                     B. the way to speak

C. langugage learning               D. mental concentration

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A music festival is a community event focusing on live performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme. On the list are the music festivals for fans around the world. Find your favorite now!

Field Day

January 1, 2018. Sydney

Field Pay means New Year’s Day for young people in Sydney. Seen as the city’s original multi－stage party,, it’s a gathering of friends coming together for a great fun - filled first day of the year. There’s an air of hope and positive energy on a perfect summer’s day.

The Envision Festival

February 22 – 25, 2018, Uvita

The Envision Festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that aims to provide an

opportunity for different cultures to work with one another to create a better community. The festival encourages people to practice art, music, dance performances, and education. Meanwhile, our connection with nature is expected to be strengthened.

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival

March 2 - 4, 2018, Phoenix

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival is Phoenix、musical cele ra ,on of community culture. Since its founding in 2004 f it is the only 100% non – profit music festival designed to support, entertain and educate the community. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year from around the country, and it is an opportunity to experience true culture.

The Old Settler’s Music Festival

April 19 - 22, 2018, Dale

The Old Settler’s Music Festival is a nationally known music festival for American music. The festival is held in the country of Texas at the height of the wild flower season. The Old Settler’s Music Festival offers great music and activities for the whole family.

1.In which city can people enjoy a fun New Year’s Day?

A. Phoenix　　 B. Uvita.

C. Sydney　　 D. Dale

2.What is special about the McDowell Mountain Music Festival?

A. It encourages people to receive education.

B. It is not aimed at making money.

C. It provides an opportunity for friend gathering.

D. It focuses on cultural exchanges.

3.Which festivals are connected with nature?

A. Field Day and the Envision Festival.

B. The Envision Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival.

C. The Old Settler’s Music Festival and the McDowll McDowell Mountain Music Festival.

D. The Envision Festival and the Old Settler’s Music Festival.

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

After retirement, learning a musical instrument may be harder than ______ when you were a kid.

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

My father’s playing the violin lights up any room. To him, it is an instrument of faith, hope and charity. My mother used to joke, “Your papa would play his violin if the world was about to blow up.”

Once_Dad_came_about_as_close_to_that_as_could_ever_be_possible.

In the early years of the 20th century, the boll weevil (棉铃象鼻虫) began destroying the cotton farms in the southern USA.

In May 1910, folks all over the nation were talking about Halley’s Comet (哈雷彗星). There were all sorts of frightening stories about it, the main one being that the world would pass through its tail, said to be millions of miles long.

Between the threats of the comet and weevils, the farmers were running low on optimism. One night, they gathered at our farm to discuss what to do. Will Bowen, a local man, suggested, “Charley, how about giving us a little music?”

“I don’t think anybody’d want to hear me tonight,” Dad replied.

“Come on, Mr. Nordyke,” one of the younger women urged. “Play for us!”

Dad got the hang of getting people in the mood for his music. He played church songs, and then switched to war songs. By the time he had finished performing, people were stamping their feet, clapping their hands and yelling.

All of our neighbors went home whistling. Very few remembered to look to see whether the comet was still around.

Another evening, Will Bowen called Dad on the telephone and said, “Charley, I'm downhearted and blue. Could you play a tune or two for me through the phone?”

Dad handed the receiver to me and then set about playing the songs he had performed that night. I could hear Mr. Bowen whistling and yelling.

By the time the tune was finished there were half a dozen neighbors on the line. They talked about how wonderful the music sounded over the telephone. They made numerous requests; I relayed them to Dad and he played.

Our broadcasts became regular features of community life. When the weather was bad in winter and farmers were forced to remain in the house, someone would ring us and ask Dad to play. Usually it developed into a network affair. Our phone kept ringing with requests for music until radio came into fashion.

1. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that the author’s mother ________.

A. believed that her husband had the ability to save the world by playing the violin.

B. complained that her husband loved the violin more than her.

C. thought that her husband could always get strength from his violin.

D. showed that she loved music as much as her husband

2.The underlined sentence “Once Dad came about as close to that as could ever be possible.” functions as ________.

A. a conclusion of the first paragraph

B. an introduction of a story

C. an example of my father's love of music

D. the topic sentence of this passage

3. From the last three paragraphs, we could see that Mr. Nordyke was ______.

A. generous and optimistic　　 B. popular and creative

C. sensitive and determined　　 D. energetic and humorous

4.All the following statements are FALSE except ________.

A. The neighbors often dropped in to hear Mr. Nordyke’s performance.

B. Mr. Nordyke’s music entertained and comforted people in the community.

C. The farmers knew listening to music would help them avoid being destroyed by Halley’s Comet.

D. At that time people loved all sorts of music deeply.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relaxation from hot weather．But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don't take great care．Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning．Here are some tips to keep your kids safe in the water:

At the Lake or Pond

●Don't let little kids swim alone without adult supervision— lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and are suddenly deep sharply further out from shore．

●Ponds and lakes may hide sharp rocks, broken glass, or rubbish．

●Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear socks or water shoes．

●Watch out for weeds and grass in the water that could trap a leg or arm．

●Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol．Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water．

At the Beach

●Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty．Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides．Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions．

●Tell kids never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over．

●Teach kids that if they're caught in a dangerous wave, they should swim to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard's help．

Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning．

1.Which is the right behavior when swimming at the beach? ________

A. Go off the water without a lifeguard on duty.

B. Go on swimming in a heavy rain.

C. Call for help if caught in a dangerous wave.

D. Go off the water before checking the water conditions.

2.Swimming at a beach is more dangerous than in a pool because ________.

A. there are currents and tides at a beach

B. there are no lifeguards at a beach

C. the waters of a beach are more calm

D. the waters of a pool are warmer

3.The passage is probably written for ________.

A. students at school

B. parents with little children

C. kids who want to learn swimming

D. coaches who teach kids to swim

4.In which column of a magazine can you find this passage? ________

A. Sports　　　　　　　　 B. Science

C. Entertainment　　　　 D. Education

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Christmas is a time for relaxing, having fun and spending time with family and friends. 1.It can be difficult to find the motivation for study when everyone around you is having so much fun. So, here are my top five tips for revising effectively over the Christmas break.

Set aside a few hours a day to revise.

Find the best time to revise and make sure that you stick to your timetable! For example, I find that I work best in the morning. 2.

Plan something fun to do every day.

Even if it’s just going for coffee with a friend or watching a film at home, this will give you something to look forward to and motivate you to finish your revision.

Explain to your family why your revision is important.

3.So, make efforts to tell them why your exams are important. Perhaps you can agree to do something nice with them when your exams are over.

4.

It is important to take some time to relax. When you do get back to revising, you’ll probably find it easier to concentrate. Pick the most important days for you and your family to concentrate on celebrating Christmas!

Remember that it won’t last forever.

You might have to spend your Christmas revising this year, and perhaps for a few more years, but soon enough you’ll be free of exams forever.　 5.Have a great Christmas and make sure you find a balance between studying and celebrating. Good luck in your exams!

A. Spare your time for your family.

B. Make sure that you take a few days off!

C. So I get up fairly early and do a few hours of revision.

D. Sometimes it can be difficult for family to understand you.

E. However, for many of us, it is also time to prepare for January exams.

F. Otherwise, you may probably fall into trouble with your friends and family.

G. And after spending time revising, your future Christmases will seem even better!

高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Finding a new and fun hobby can make you a happier person.Hobbies can be a great way to relieve stress and bring more joy into your life.Specifically when you find a new hobby.Hobbies are for everyone at any age.When you get older,you should not have fewer hobbies.1.You might be looking for a new hobby,but you're not sure what.A new hobby requires finding new interests,which means experimenting to find those interests.

Try new things.To find a new hobby,it will require trying new things.New hobbies won't usually just find you. Don't put things off.You might think to yourself, "I don't like that." If you've never done it,or given it a chance,how can you know?2.

Learn new things.You're never too young or old to learn more in life.If you take the time to learn new things, you'll develop new interests.Let your curiosity run wild,and develop more knowledge over the things you don't know or are familiar with.3.Reading the same sports newspaper every day doesn't count as a new and fun hobby.

Collect things.4.Start collecting them.Maybe you have an interest in coins,or specific jewelry.Think about certain interests that pertain to（关于）what you can collect.If you're a sports fan,then collect sport cards,or jerseys. Simple hobbies aren't always a bad thing.You can collect just about anything.

5.Everyone has a creative side.Some people find different ways of expressing that side to them.It can be writing,drawing,painting,playing a music instrument,photography,dancing,or singing.These can be fun and relaxing hobbies to have that can be a positive way of expressing your emotions.

A.Interact with others.

B.Think of the things that you do like.

C.Learning is not such a bad thing.

D.Find and express the creative side in you.

E.Have an open mind and give things a chance.

F.Otherwise you'll develop more stress and gray hairs.

G.Write down a list of the leisure activities you enjoy.

高二英语信息匹配中等难度题查看答案及解析

Cheektowage Central Middle School can be a lot of fun. It has game nights and student dances, after-school activities, and sports teams. However, students at the school must earn the right to join in the fun. If they don’t do their homework, participate in class, and behave at all times, they’re banned(禁止) from participating in after-school activities.

Students and parents say the threat of being excluded(排除在外) appears to be working. Kenny T. of Reno, Nev., says it taught him that actions have consequences: “I learned that I need to be balanced in both my work and athletics to be rewarded for working hard.” Parent Sondra LaMacchia told The New York Times that her 14-year-old daughter is learning responsibility at Cheektowaga Central. The teen used to perform poorly in her studies, but then she was banned from a school dance. The message got through loud and clear. “It’s nobody’s fault but hers,” LaMacchia said.

Although exclusion may help teach responsibility, some psychologists say it can also be threatening, especially for students who often cause, or may cause, trouble in school. They might become more aggressive and antisocial, which is exactly what schools like Cheektowaga Central want to prevent.

Should schools exclude students from activities to get them to behave? I believe teens need school activities and that inclusion can be the answer. For some troubled students, activities can be their motivation to stay in school. “Activities such as sports may be the only thing keeping certain students in school,” says Duace Wood, a teacher at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam, N.Y. Getting involved in after-class activities keeps troublesome students in class. Even if they don’t do as well as their classmates, they are still learning. The more time they spend at school, the less time they have to even think about starting trouble. Teams also provide support and role models, and they help build the confidence that students need to succeed. If students who don’t behave are banned from activities, they might give up on school altogether.

1.Paragraph 2 is developed by _______.

A．analyzing causes                        B．giving examples

C．examining differences                    D．following the time order

2.Parent Sondra LaMacchia supports the policy of exclusion because _______.

A．it provides role models

B．her daughter is aggressive

C．her daughter hates taking exercise

D． it helps teach responsibility

3.In Paragraph 3 and 4, the author mainly talks about________.

A．students who are good at sports

B．students who often cause trouble

C．teens who do well in their studies

D．teens who always behave themselves

4.What is the author’s attitude towards the school’s policy of exclusion?

A． Negative         B．Sympathetic        C．Satisfied          D．Supportive

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析