Filmmaker Jennifer Nelson had to pay $1,500 to have “Happy Birthday to You” sung in the movie she’s making. The money went to Warner Music Group, a company that claims to own the copyright on the song. A copyright is the legal right to use or sell a creative product such as a song, a TV show, a book, or a work of art. Warner has claimed the copyright for “Happy Birthday to You” since 1988.
“I never thought the song was owned by anyone,” Nelson said in an e-mail to The New York Times. “I thought it belonged to everyone.”
Nelson’s movie is a documentary — a film that uses pictures and/or interviews with people to create a factual report of real-life events — and is actually about the history of the “Happy Birthday” song itself.
Two sisters named Mildred and Patty Hill wrote a song called “Good Morning to All” in 1893. Over a short period of time, people began to sing the words “happy birthday to you” in place of the original lyrics to the tune of the Hill sisters’ song.
A number of history experts say that there is no record of who actually wrote the “Happy Birthday to You” lyrics. Historians also say there is no way to know when the general public began singing the “Happy Birthday” song, but they believe it was being sung by the public long before it was printed and owned by a company.
Nelson’s lawyers say this piece of music’s history proves that “Happy Birthday to You” belongs to everyone in the general public. That would mean Warner Music Group has no right to charge anyone a fee to sing the song in any setting.
Experts estimate that Warner/ Chappell, the publishing division of the Warner Music Group, has made about $2 million a year from licensing fees for “Happy Birthday to You.”
Nelson’s lawyers are asking a court in New York City to order Warner/Chappell to return fees they have collected over the past four years for use of the “Happy Birthday” song.
1.Jennifer Nelson had to pay Warner Music Group to ____________.
A. own the copyright on a song B. have a song sung in her movie
C. have it play a song in her movie D. have it write a song for her movie
2.The history experts’ statement can prove that the “Happy Birthday” song ____________.
A. has always been very popular
B. has more than 200 years’ history
C. does not belong to Warner Music Group
D. was initially owned by another company
3.According to Nelson’s lawyers, to sing the “Happy Birthday” song, people ____________.
A. should pay the Hill sisters
B. need not pay for any purpose
C. should pay Warner Music Group
D. need not pay except for commercial use
4.If the court supports Nelson’s lawyers’ claim, ____________.
A. Warner will return about $8 million
B. she can obtain the copyright on the song
C. Warner will have to pay her for her damages
D. she only needs to pay a little money to use the song
高二英语阅读理解困难题
Filmmaker Jennifer Nelson had to pay $1,500 to have “Happy Birthday to You” sung in the movie she’s making. The money went to Warner Music Group, a company that claims to own the copyright on the song. A copyright is the legal right to use or sell a creative product such as a song, a TV show, a book, or a work of art. Warner has claimed the copyright for “Happy Birthday to You” since 1988.
“I never thought the song was owned by anyone,” Nelson said in an e-mail to The New York Times. “I thought it belonged to everyone.”
Nelson’s movie is a documentary — a film that uses pictures and/or interviews with people to create a factual report of real-life events — and is actually about the history of the “Happy Birthday” song itself.
Two sisters named Mildred and Patty Hill wrote a song called “Good Morning to All” in 1893. Over a short period of time, people began to sing the words “happy birthday to you” in place of the original lyrics to the tune of the Hill sisters’ song.
A number of history experts say that there is no record of who actually wrote the “Happy Birthday to You” lyrics. Historians also say there is no way to know when the general public began singing the “Happy Birthday” song, but they believe it was being sung by the public long before it was printed and owned by a company.
Nelson’s lawyers say this piece of music’s history proves that “Happy Birthday to You” belongs to everyone in the general public. That would mean Warner Music Group has no right to charge anyone a fee to sing the song in any setting.
Experts estimate that Warner/ Chappell, the publishing division of the Warner Music Group, has made about $2 million a year from licensing fees for “Happy Birthday to You.”
Nelson’s lawyers are asking a court in New York City to order Warner/Chappell to return fees they have collected over the past four years for use of the “Happy Birthday” song.
1.Jennifer Nelson had to pay Warner Music Group to ____________.
A. own the copyright on a song B. have a song sung in her movie
C. have it play a song in her movie D. have it write a song for her movie
2.The history experts’ statement can prove that the “Happy Birthday” song ____________.
A. has always been very popular
B. has more than 200 years’ history
C. does not belong to Warner Music Group
D. was initially owned by another company
3.According to Nelson’s lawyers, to sing the “Happy Birthday” song, people ____________.
A. should pay the Hill sisters
B. need not pay for any purpose
C. should pay Warner Music Group
D. need not pay except for commercial use
4.If the court supports Nelson’s lawyers’ claim, ____________.
A. Warner will return about $8 million
B. she can obtain the copyright on the song
C. Warner will have to pay her for her damages
D. she only needs to pay a little money to use the song
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The house rent is expensive. I’ve got about half the space I had at home but I have to pay _____ here.
A. as three times much B. as much three times
C. much as three times D. three times as much
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The house rent is expensive. I’ve got about half the space I had at home but I have to pay_______here.
A. as three times much B. as much three times
C. much as three times D. three times as much
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The house rent is expensive. I’ve got about half the space I had at home but I have to pay _______ here.
A. as three times much B. as much three times
C. much as three times D. three times as much
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever had problems in your life and don’t know how to be happy? If 41, you will find “Being a Happy Teenager” by Australian writer Andrew Matthews 42.
In his book, Matthews 43 us how to have a happy life and answers the 44 of teenagers.
There are many 45such as parents and friends, and the book 46we should stop being angry and forgive. The book tells us of useful skills 47how to put what you have learned into pictures of your mind to 48 your memory better.
Many teenagers think 49happiness comes from a good exam result 50praise from other people. But you can 51be happy when there are no such “good” things.
Success comes from a(n) 52 attitude. If you 53 from problems, you will have success in the future.
Some school students have 54such as being too tall or too short. But Matthews tells us that 55 comes from thinking about things in a positive 56. If you are57, people notice you and you can get a 58 view at the movie; if you are short, your clothes and shoes 59less room in your bedroom! This is Matthews’ most important60 : you choose to be happy!
1. A.so B.not C.it D.do
2. A.wise B.smart C.useful D.simple
3. A.orders B.tells C.asks D.argues
4. A.problems B.questions C.ideas D.comments
5. A.roles B.classes C.courses D.subjects
6. A.says B.writes C.reads D.thinks
7. A.for example B.such as C.so as D.so that
8. A.make B.turn C.let D.change
9. A.what B.how C.that D.whether
10. A.and B.but C.so D.or
11. A.yet B.already C.still D.forever
12. A.bad B.good C.independent D.nomal
13. A.learn B.rescue C.struggle D.separate
14. A.experiences B.difficulties C.fears D.problems
15. A.success B.happiness C.failure D.height
16. A.way B.means C.manners D.spirit
17. A.short B.small C.tall D.fat
18. A.lower B.higher C.worse D.better
19. A.take B.spend C.cover D.cost
20. A.work B.lesson C.teaching D.study
高二英语完型填空简单题查看答案及解析
You'll have to pay one month's rent in ________,plus a ________ of $500.
A.advance;check B.reservation;cash
C.advance;deposit D.check;deposit
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Jennifer’s Hurricane Experience
I have evacuated(疏散)lots of times in my life. To make sure everything is safe, my family have to move a lot of things. I usually help my mom and my brothers help my dad. Mom and I take all of the special keepsakes(纪念品)to low safe places. Another thing we have to do is to take our sailboat out into deep water and anchor it really well. When it’s time to anchor the sailboat, Scott, my father’s brother, comes over. I just need to wait in the car with my mom and brothers before we evacuate.
John’s Hurricane Experience
My family evacuated for hurricane Opal in 1995. We left two days early because we were going to my dad’s 35th High School Reunion(聚会). There was a lot of traffic getting out of town. But we didn’t get into trouble as we had arrived at the school. During hurricane Georges, I slept. But there was a lot of lightning, thunder and rain at that night. The next morning, there were a lot of branches, twigs and leaves everywhere.
Catherine’s Hurricane Experience
This year, we experienced two hurricanes, Earl and Georges. We did the same thing in both hurricanes. We would always be watching the news. There was a lot of rain … a whole lot of rain. The hurricane never really got close enough to do very much damage. I have never evacuated, and I don’t think that I ever will.
Ryan’s Hurricane Experience
I am a police officer on an island in the Texas Gulf Coast. I was directly affected by the violent weather throughout the hurricane season. Our department was ordered to stay on the island while all the other citizens were evacuating. I didn’t feel at all prepared for the situation. So I went to the grocery store and purchased some food. I thought a survival kit would have helped ease some of the tension in my mind.
1. Who fixed the sailboat with Jennifer’s father?
A. Jennifer. B. Jennifer’s mother.
C. Jennifer’s uncle. D. Jennifer’s brothers.
2.Which of the following is NOT true about the hurricanes?
A. Hurricane Opal hit in 1995.
B. Hurricane Georges hit at night.
C. Hurricane Opal hit on John’s way to the school.
D. Hurricane Georges blew down many branches.
3.When Catherine’s family heard hurricanes were coming, they ___________.
A. purchased some food
B. paid attention to the hurricanes news
C. took special keepsakes to low safe places
D. moved out of the place where they lived
4.What can we know about Ryan?
A. He was nervous before the hurricane.
B. He did little preparation for the hurricane.
C. He was confident to overcome the hurricane.
D. He was busy helping citizens evacuate before the hurricane.
5.Who didn’t evacuate before the hurricanes?
A. Jennifer and John. B. Catherine and John.
C. Jennifer and Ryan. D. Catherine and Ryan.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I finally get the job. Never in my life _________ so happy.
A.did I feel B.I felt C.I had felt D.have I felt
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
_____for the damage to the house , Daisy had to pay a heavy fine.
A Blaming B blamed C To blame D To be blamed
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Jack was a college student. His parents were poor, so he had to work in his spare time to pay for his education. He1. _____________ (find) it necessary to get two part-time jobs at the same time so as to earn enough money.
One summer he managed 2.___________ (get) a job in a butcher’s shop during the daytime, and another in a hospital at night. In the butcher’s(屠夫) shop, he learnt to cut meat up quite 3. _________ (nice), so the butcher often left him to do all the serving. In the hospital, 4. ____ the other hand, he5._____________ (allow) to do only the simplest jobs, like helping to lift people and to carry them from one part of the hospital to another. Both at the butcher’s shop and at the hospital, Jack had to wear white clothes.
One evening at the hospital, Jack had to help 6.______woman from her bed to the place 7. __________ she was to have an 8.___________ (operate). The woman was already feeling 9.__________ (frighten) at the thought of the operation before he came to get her, 10.__________ when she saw Jack, she fainted away.
高二英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析