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Most musicians agree that the best violins were first made in Italy. They were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any others. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they aren't the same Musicians still prefer the old ones. No one really knows why these old Italian violins are so special, but many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. They say that today's violins will also sound wonderful someday. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer. There must be something different about Cremona or those Italian violin makers.
Other people think the secret to those violins in the wood. The wood of the violin is very important. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something special shout wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may he more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians. Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists measured these old violins very carefully. They can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old one. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish, which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. No one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish. So no one can make the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. Their secret may be lost forever. Young musicians today hope: this is not true. They need fine violins. But there aren't very many of the old violins left. Also, the old violins are very expensive. Recently, a famous old Italian violin was sold for about US $300, 000!
1.When and where were the best violins made?
_______________________
2.How many possible reasons about the old Italian violins does the writer mention?
_______________________
3.Does anyone know what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish?
_______________________
4.How much was the famous old Italian violin?
_______________________
5.What is the passage mainly about?
_______________________
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Building blocks (积木) are still one of the most popular traditional toys today. They were first made of wood. Today, wooden building blocks are still used, but now there are more different types of building blocks for children to choose from, like plastic building blocks. The easy use and interesting design attract (吸引) children of all ages. Maybe that is why they are still welcomed today. Children build all kinds of things that they see in everyday life with building blocks. Building blocks are helpful for children to learn new things and many skills.
Building blocks can help children practice their languages. Most children talk to each other as they build things with these traditional toys. When some kids don’t know how to build things, they will also ask others for help.
In addition, this type of toy also helps develop the skills that children need in life. As they begin to join groups playing with building blocks, they learn to take turns, share, and solve problems with others.
However, these are not the only advantages of playing building blocks. Building blocks help develop children’s skills in math and science as well. They allow children to work according to the steps of scientific discovery. They are first to watch and to think, and then to test. Both traditional and modern toy building blocks come in different shapes, colors and sizes. These types of building blocks encourage children to develop skills in dividing things.
1.完成句子
________of building blocks attract children from different ages.
2.完成句子
Children learn to take turns, share and________with others when they play with building blocks.
3.简略回答问题What are the steps of scientific discovery?
_____________________________________________________________.
4.找出并写下全文的主题句
_____________________________________________________________
5.将句中画线句子译成汉语。
_____________________________________________________________
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The young violin player Vanessa-Mae was the first musician to use dance and rock music in classical（古典的）music. Vanessa-Mae love pop music, and she was also a very good classical violinist, and she brought these kinds of music together.
She likes lots of different kinds of music, from Beethoven to the Beatles, and she wants to play the music she likes. Not only has she played in classical concerts all over the world, but she has also played in pop concerts with pop stars.
A lot of people don’t like the way she uses modern rhythms（节奏）, noisy drums and guitars in traditional（传统的）music. But Vanessa-Mae has done one important thing: she has brought many new fans to classical music. For the first time, many young people began to listen to classical music.
1.Vanessa-Mae was a young woman.
A. Chinese B. English C. Singaporean D. French
2.The type of music Vanessa-Mae likes is .
A. traditional music B. different kinds of music C. classical music D. rock and roll
3. listen to classical music because they like Vanessa-Mae.
A. Pop stars B. Young people C. Classical musicians D. Old people
4. was the first instrument（乐器）she learnt to play.
A. The violin B. The piano C. The drums D. The guitar
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The first bicycles were made of wood. After that, manufacturers used steel tubes. But the steel ones cost too much. The people in poorer countries want to have cheaper ones.
Izhar Gafni had an idea to make a cardboard bicycle able to support the weight of a human being. After three years hard work, he succeeded in creating this special bike. It is made of cardboard and 100% recycled materials. It costs less than $12.
The cardboard bike can hold a rider weighing up to 485 pounds. And if you don’t want to have it any more, you could just throw it into dustbin. And this will do no damage to the environment because it is easy to recycle.
When talking about his design, Izhar says, “It’s strong. It’s durable. It is cheap. What I like about it the most is: it’s made out of recycled cardboard.
1.What was the first bicycle made of ?
A．wood B．steel C．cardboard D．iron
2.How much may a cardboard bicycle cost?
A．$9 B．$13 C．$15 D．$16
3.What are the main features of the cardboard bicycle according to the passage?
A．strong, expensive, durable and recycled
B．strong, heavy, expensive and durable
C．strong, cheap, durable and recycled
D．strong, heavy, cheap and durable
4.What is Izhar’s attitude(态度) towards the cardboard bicycle?
A．negative B．unconcerned C．favorable D．indifferent
5.The passage may probably be taken from .
A．a novel B．a fairy tale C．a newspaper D．a comic book
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Once upon a time, the colors of the world had a fight. All thought that they were the best and most beautiful.
Green said, “Clearly I am the most important. I am the symbol of hope and of _______. I’m the color of grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die.”
_______ said, “What is the color of the sky and the sea? Is not water the most important thing for life?”
Yellow laughed, “You are all serious. I bring laughter, happiness and warmth into the world. Without me, there would be no _______.”
Orange said at the top of his _______, “I am the color of health and strength. I _______ the most important vitamins(维生素). Think of carrots, pumpkins and oranges.”
Red could stand it no longer, _______ he shouted, “I am the color of danger and of bravery. I bring fire into blood.”
The colors went on _______. Each of them thought he was the most important. Then the thunder(雷) got angry and the _______ started to pour. When the colors began to _______, they said, “You foolish colors! Don’t you know that each of you is unique(唯一的)? You can’t be replaced by each other. Join ________ and follow us.”
They did what the thunder and the rain told them and together made the most beautiful rainbow.
1.A.surprise B.happiness C.sadness D.life
2.A.Black B.Blue C.Pink D.White
3.A.music B.flower C.fun D.color
4.A.voice B.mind C.noise D.thought
5.A.take B.carry C.like D.drink
6.A.while B.because C.so D.but
7.A.fighting B.speaking C.thinking D.laughing
8.A.cloud B.wind C.snow D.rain
9.A.stop B.listen C.cry D.smile
10.A.heads B.hands C.arms D.legs
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---Mary dances best in our school.
---I agree. I’ll never forget ______ her dance for the first time.
A. seeing B. to see C. see D. seen
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“Wanted: Violin. Can’t pay much. Call…”
That advertisement in the newspaper made me remember my childhood. I, too, had wanted a violin, but we didn’t have the money. Even though times were 16 , I couldn’t wait any longer to ask. “Daddy, may I have a violin of 17 ?” Daddy’s face looked 18 . But a few weeks later, Daddy went home, with a case in his hand, 19 ,“Mary, I found this secondhand violin for seven dollars.”
The day when I carried my violin to school for my first lesson , no one could know how 20 I was. I practiced, joined the school orchestra(管弦乐队), gave performances……Several years seemed to run even quickly and I found myself in the first violin chair. More years 21 , and my violin made every move with me, until one day, I carefully 22 it away.
Now here 23 this want advertisement, I discovered the case deep in my closet（储藏室）. I put it on the table. Then I picked up the 24 , walked to the telephone and called by the 25 .
Later in the day, a man of about 30 knocked at the door. “I’ve been expecting someone would 26 my advertisement. My daughter wants a violin so 27 ,”he said, examining my violin. “How much are you asking?”
I said, “Seven dollars.” “Are you sure?” he asked, 28 he did not believe his ears. “Seven dollars.” I 29 and then added,” I hope your little girl will enjoy it 30 I did.”
I smiled, but I found my tears(眼泪) rolling down my face.
1.A. easy B. hard C. late D. long
2. A. my B. mine C. myself D. me
3.A. angry B. happy C. sad D. funny
4.A. answering B. saying C. asking D. telling
5.A. surprised B. excited C. interested D. embarrassed
6. A. past B. was passed C. passing D. passed
7.A. carried B. put C. took D. threw
8.A. about B. by C. in D. for
9.A. advertisement B. violin C. case D. newspaper
10. A. date B. name C. number D. address
11.A. offer B. answer C. receive D. find
12.A. badly B. easily C. quickly D. luckily
13. A. though B. when C. as if D. until
14. A. repeated B. continued C. reminded D. suggested
15.A. which B. when C. what D. as
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Most of the club members agreed to the plan; only a few were _____ it.
A. for B. of
C. against D. without
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The Chinese first made paper about 2,000 years ago. China still has pieces of paper which were made as long ago as that. But Chinese paper was not made from the wood of trees. It was made from the hair-like parts of certain plants.
Paper was not made in southern Europe until about the year 1100.Scandinavia(斯堪的纳维亚半岛),which now makes a great deal of the world’s paper, did not begin to make it until 1500.It was a German named Schaeffer who found out that one could make the best paper from trees. After that, the forest countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the United States became the largest paper producers. Today in Finland, which makes the best paper in the world, the paper industry is the biggest in the land. New paper-making machines are very big ,and they make paper very fast. The biggest machines can make a piece of paper 300 meters long and 6 meters wide in one minute.
When we think of paper, we think of newspapers, books ,letters and envelopes. But there are many other uses. Only half of the paper that is made is used for books and newspapers, etc.
1.Which of the following is the first to make paper?
A. China. B. Scandinavia. C. Germany. D. Finland.
2.Schaeffer found out that .
A. the best paper was in the forest B. a German made the best paper
C. wood could be made into the best paper D. the oldest paper was made 1,500 years ago
3.What does the underlined word “industry” mean in Chinese?
A. 国防 B. 教育 C. 农业 D. 工业
4.According to the passage, paper is not used for .
A. newspapers B. envelopes C. letters D. food and drinks
5.The second paragraph mainly talks about paper making .
A. in the United States B. in Scandinavia C. in Europe D. in all forest countries
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The Chinese first made paper about 2，000 years ago．China still has pieces of paper which were made as long ago as that．But Chinese paper was not made from the wood of trees．It was made from the hair-like parts of certain plants．
Paper was not made in southern Europe until about the year 1100．Scandinavia(斯堪的纳维亚)，which now makes a great deal of the world’s paper，did not begin to make it until 1500．It was a German named Schaeffer who found out that one could make the best paper from trees．After that，the forest countries of Sweden，Norway，Finland，and the United States became the largest paper producers．Today in Finland，which makes the best paper in the world，the paper industry is the biggest in the land．New paper-making machines are very big，and they make paper very fast．The biggest machines can make a piece of paper 300 meters long and 6 meters wide in one minute．
When we think of paper，we think of newspaper，books，letters，envelopes and writing paper．But there are many other uses．Only half of the paper that is made is used for books and newspapers，etc．
1.Which of the following is the first to make paper？
A. China．
B. Scandinavia．
C. Germany．
D. Finland．
2.Schaeffer found out that________．
A. the best tree
B. a German made the best paper
C. wood could be made into the best paper
D. the oldest paper
3.What does the underlined word“industry”mean in Chinese？
A. 国防 B. 教育 C. 农业 D. 工业
4.According to the passage，paper is not used for________．
A. newspapers B. envelopes
C. writing paper D. food and drinks
5.The article mainly talks about paper-making________．
A. in the United States B. in Scandinavia
C. in Japan D. in the world