The art of public speaking began in ancient G...

The art of public speaking began in ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago. Now, twitter, e-mail, blogs and QQ chat offer approaches to communication— but none can replace the role of a great speech.

The spoken word can handle various important functions: persuading or inspiring, informing, paying tribute (致敬), entertaining, or simply introducing someone.

Persuading is used in dealing with or reconciling different points of view. When the leaders met in Copenhagen in December, 2009, persuasive words from activities encouraged them to take former action.

Inspirational speeches deal with emotions. They focus on topics and matters that are close to people’ s hearts. Last year, during the fighting in Iraq, generals used inspiring speeches to prepare the troops for battle.

Some speeches spread knowledge and deepen understanding. When the H1N1 flu was announced, the disease scared many people. Informtive speechs from World Health Organization (WTO) officials helped people to keep their panic under control so they could take necessary preventive measures.

Sad events are never easy to deal with but a speech that pays tribute to the loss of a loved one and gives praise for their contribution can be comforting. Madonna’s speech about Michael Jackson after his death showed the fact that he will continue to live on through his music.

It’s not only in world forums where public speaking plays an important role. It can also be helpful in the course of our own life. You may be asked to do a presentation at college or work to inform others about an area of great importance. On a more personal level, a friend may be upset and need comforting. Or you might be asked to introduce a speaker at a family gathering or to speak at a wedding, where your language will be needed to move people or make them laugh.

Great speaking ability is not something we’re born with. Even Barack Obama works hard to perfect every speech.

1.The underlined word “recociling” in paragraph 3 can best be replaced by “________”

2.The passage mentions the H1N1 flu to show the function of _______

3.The 7^th paragraph mainly tells us that public speaking ______.

4.What would the writer probably talk about following the last paragraph?

5.What would be the best title for the passage?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Theaters of the Past

The Greek Theater

Theaters developed in many parts of Greece. Ancient Greek theaters were built in natural open air sites on conveniently shaped hills. This allowed a great mass of people to enjoy a show at a time. Due to this, actors placed emphasis on exaggerated (夸张的) action and speech. And, colorful symbolic masks and costumes were used.

The Medieval Theater

The Medieval theater started in churches. That’s why medieval plays were about Bible stories. At first, it became a custom for priests (牧师) to act out brief scenes during Christmas and Easter. These acts attracted large crowds. Finally the church refused to allow priests to participate in any such events again, so ordinary people began these performances outside. Performances were set in the town square, with several stage settings around it.

The Elizabethan Theater

The England’s theater developed rapidly in the years following the defeat of the Spanish Navy. The dominant feature of Elizabethan theater was the stage, It has three parts: The fore stage for outside scenes ;the inner stage for scenes inside a building; an upper stage or balcony for various purposes. The reason for this design is that there were no scene changes, or breaks during the play. Very little scenery was used, so the actors had to create a scene through their voices and dialogues. This led to a more poetic script , and poets became the main source of script writing.

The Restoration Theater

Some of the plays told sad stories, but the majority of the plays were really funny. Many specialized machines were used to create the scene. The stage was a very clever idea , in that on the sides of the stage large back shutters (百叶窗) were painted with the scene.

1.Why were ancient Greek theaters built on hills?

A.To hold a large audience.

B.To build a big and strong stage.

C.To have a better sound effect.

D.To emphasize exaggerated performances.

2.In which theater could actors’ voices and speech help create scenes?

A.The Greek Theater.

B.The Medieval Theater,

C.The Elizabethan Theater,

D.The Restoration Theater.

3.What is special about the Restoration Theater?

A.Colorful masks were used.

B.The stage was smartly designed.

C.Most of its plays were sorrowful.

D.Ordinary people were the performers.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Theaters of the Past

The Greek Theater

Theaters developed in many parts of Greece. Ancient Greek theaters were built in natural open air sites on conveniently shaped hills. This allowed a great mass of people to enjoy a show at a time. Due to this, actors placed emphasis on exaggerated(夸张的) action and speech. And, colorful symbolic masks and costumes were used.

The Medieval Theater

The Medieval theater started in churches. That’s why medieval plays were about Bible stories. At first, it became a custom for priests (牧师) to act out brief scenes during Christmas and Easter. These acts attracted large crowds. Finally the church refused to allow priests to participate in any such events again, so ordinary people began these performances outside. Performances were set in the town square, with several stage settings around it.

The Elizabethan Theater

The England’s theater developed rapidly in the years following the defeat of the Spanish Navy. The dominant feature of Elizabethan theater was the stage, It has three parts :The fore stage for outside scenes ;the inner stage for scenes inside a building; an upper stage or balcony for various purposes. The reason for this design is that there were no scene changes, or breaks during the play. Very little scenery was used, so the actors had to create a scene through their voices and dialogues. This led to a more poetic script , and poets became the main source of script writing.

The Restoration Theater

Some of the plays told sad stories, but the majority of the plays were really funny. Many specialized machines were used to create the scene. The stage was a very clever idea , in that on the sides of the stage large back shutters(百叶窗) were painted with the scene.

1.Why were ancient Greek theaters built on hills?

A. To hold a large audience.

B. To build a big and strong stage.

C. To have a better sound effect.

D. To emphasize exaggerated performances.

2.In which theater could actors’ voices and speech help create scenes?

A. The Greek Theater.

B. The Medieval Theater,

C. The Elizabethan Theater,

D. The Restoration Theater.

3.What is special about the Restoration Theater?

A. Colorful masks were used.

B. The stage was smartly designed.

C. Most of its plays were sorrowful.

D. Ordinary people were the performers.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the ____ that drama evolved from ritual( 宗教仪式). The argument for this view goes as follows. In the beginning, human beings ____ the natural forces of the world -even the seasonal changes-as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to ____ these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which appeared to ____ the desired results were then kept and repeated until they changed into ____ rituals. ____ stories arose which explained or masked the mysteries of the rituals. As times passed, some rituals were ____, but the stories, later called myths, continued to exist and provided material for art and drama.

Those who believed that drama evolved out of ritual also argue that those rituals contained the ____ of theatre because music, dance, masks, and ____ were almost always used. ____, a suitable site had to be provided for performances and _____the entire community did not participate, a(n) ____ division was usually made between the “area of acting” and the “area in which an audience sits”. Besides, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was ____ to avoiding mistakes in the practice of rituals, religious leaders usually ____ that task. Wearing masks and costumes, they often imitated (模仿) other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and mimed (用哑剧表演出) the ____ effect―success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival of the Sun- ____ an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representatives were separated from ____ activities.

Another theory traces the theater’s origin from the human interest in ____. According to this view, tales about the hunt, war or other things are told and gradually spread. ____ through the use of action and dialogue by a narrator and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theater to those dances that are primarily gymnastic or that are ____ of animal movements and sounds.

1.A.background B.assumption C.evidence D.theory

2.A.viewed B.employed C.clarified D.dismissed

3.A.take B.possess C.guarantee D.control

4.A.start B.show C.bring D.continue

5.A.usual B.direct C.convincing D.fixed

6.A.Apparently B.Actually C.Eventually D.Naturally

7.A.spread B.abandoned C.followed D.celebrated

8.A.seed B.content C.myth D.history

9.A.costumes B.routines C.instructions D.performances

10.A.As a result B.In fact C.On the contrary D.In addition

11.A.when B.how C.unless D.while

12.A.deep B.equal C.clear D.extra

13.A.attached B.related C.committed D.tied

14.A.put up B.took up C.took on D.put on

15.A.unexpected B.unpredicted C.prepared D.desired

16.A.whenever B.as C.whatever D.so

17.A.social B.political C.economic D.religious

18.A.accounts B.story-telling C.descriptions D.drama-writing

19.A.at that time B.at a time C.at first D.at once

20.A.imitations B.creatures C.presentations D.exhibitions

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama evolved from ritual. The argument for this view goes as follows. In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world, even the seasonal changes, as unpredictable, and they sought through various means, to control these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results were then retained and repeated until they hardened into fixed rituals. Eventually stories arose which explained or veiled the mysteries of the rites. As time passed some rituals were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and provided material for art and drama.

Those who believed that drama evolved out of ritual also argue that those rites contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances, and when the entire community did not participate, a clear division was usually made between the “acting area” and the “auditorium”. In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the enactment of rites, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing masks and costumes, they often impersonated other people, animals, or super natural beings, and mimed the desired effect －success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival of the Sun －as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.

Another story traces the theater’s origin from the human interest in storytelling. According to this view, tales (about the hunt, war, or other feats) are gradually elaborated, at first through the use of impersonation, action and dialogue by a narrator and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theater to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.

1.What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. The origins of theater.               B. The role of ritual in modern dance.

C. The importance of storytelling.           D. The variety of early religious activities.

2.What aspect of drama does the author discuss in the first paragraph?

A. The reason drama is often unpredictable.

B. The seasons in which dramas were performed.

C. The connection between myths and dramatic plots.

D. The importance of costumes in early drama.

3.According to the passage, what is the main difference between ritual and drama?

A. Ritual uses music whereas drama does not.

B. Ritual is shorter than drama.

C. Ritual requires fewer performers than drama.

D. Ritual has a religious purpose and drama does not.

4.The passage supports which of the following statements?

A. No one really knows how the theater began.

B. Myths are no longer represented dramatically.

C. Storytelling is an important part of dialogue.

D. Dramatic activities require the use of costumes.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

There are many theories about how drama (戏剧) came into being in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama developed gradually from ceremonies. The argument for this view goes as follows.

In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to control these unknown powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed ceremonies. Eventually stories arose which explained the mysteries of the ceremonies. As time passed, some of them were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths (神话), provided materials for art and drama

Those who believe that drama came out of ceremonies also argue that those ceremonies contained the seed of theater because music, dance, and masks were almost always used. In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the rules of ceremonies, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing masks, they often impersonated (扮演) other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and performed the desired effect by gestures -- success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival (复活) of the Sun -- as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.

Another theory finds out the theater came from the human Interest in storytelling. According to this view, tales (about the hunt, war, or other events) are gradually formed, at first through the use of impersonation, action, and dialogue by a speaker and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person A closely related theory about drama traces to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations (模仿) of animal movements and sounds.

1.Which of the following is Not true according to the passage?

A．Three theories about how drama came into being are mentioned.

B．The majority of people believe drama came from ceremonies.

C．Stories were made up to explain the mysteries of the ceremonies.

D．Religious activities developed gradually from ceremonies.

2.We can infer from the passage that ______.

A．all measures couldn't bring the desired results

B．religious leaders usually didn't perform in the ceremonies

C．mistakes are unavoidable in the religious ceremonies

D．performers usually used languages to reach the desired results

3.The underlined part "traces to" in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.

A．dates back to       B．is devoted to       C．gives way to        D．is familiar to

4. The best title for the text would be ______.

A．The Development of Drama               B．The History of Drama

C．The Origin of Drama                     D．The Popularity of Drama

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Public Speaking

Public speaking can be defined as the act of making a speech in front of a group of listeners.

The types of public speaking are deliberately structured with three general purposes: to inform, to persuade and to entertain. An informative speech has a purpose to inform, or give knowledge to its audience. 1.For persuasive speech, the speaker would try to change the mindset, perception, or behavior of the audience for their own good. Thus, the speaker needs to look for common ground with the audience and try to relate to what they might agree on. The last type is a ceremonial speech. It tends to be less formal and more personal than the other types of speeches. No matter how well you know the person you are giving speech about, try not to say bad things about them, even if it is meant to be a joke.

2.Sparing some time to practice will help build confidence and help determine how long the presentation will last. Aside from it, knowing who the audience will be is quite necessary. Try to get as much information as possible regarding this particular area related to the audience. Knowing the “battlefield” in advance will give the speakers a huge advantage.

Language is the main aspect a speaker needs to pay attention to while giving a speech.

3.A speaker needs to choose their words carefully and make it clear to the audience what they mean. Often, when given a speech, the audience look up to the speaker to give them something new and useful.　 4.Language and delivery alone will not be sufficient if the speaker does not have the body language. The movement and gesture of a speaker also affect the audience. While closing the speech or presentation, speakers can restate their main points, just to remind the audience of the important things that have been said. 5.

A. It needs to be used clearly.

B. These speeches mark special occasions.

C. The important thing to watch about is not to put in too much information.

D. The key of perfecting anything is through practice, including public speaking.

E. They can also end it with a special message and encourage the audience to ask questions.

F. Knowing how public speaking is done is a key part in understanding the importance of it.

G. Thus, the speaker needs to know how to deliver their speech to fulfill the audience‟s expectation.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Common public speaking problems

1.The use of “I feel”, “I think” and “maybe”

In the question-and –answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like “I feel”, “I hear”, “maybe” and “perhaps”. These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view.1.

Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence. Instead of the empty-sounding “I guess”, using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.

2. 2.

Don't stick to the same tone. It can be boring. Try to mix it up. For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles tighter. 3., rather than just sticking with the same one.

3. Irresponsible answers

4. . you're responsible for your words. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don't want to sound foolish. So you should think twice before you talk. Don't be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy(盗版), started by saying he supported it.

4. Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it

You should focus on one point and give a clear solution.5.. is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?

Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.

A. Try mixing more than one style.

B. Improving your communication skill.

C. Using only one speaking style

D. It's important to involve your audience.

E. Public speaking is different from personal conversations.

F. The key is to work out what question is being asked

G. To the judges and audience, this lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Common public speaking problems

The use of "I feel", "I think" and "maybe"

In the question-and-answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like "I feel", "I guess", "I hear", "maybe" and "perhaps".

These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view.1.

Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point, 2.. Instead of the empty-sounding "I guess", using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.

Using only one speaking style

Don't stick to the same tone.3.

For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles together. Try mixing more than one style, rather than just sticking with the same one.

Irresponsible answers

Public speaking is different from personal conversations. You're responsible for your words. 4.So you should think twice before you talk. Don't be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy（盗版）, started by saying he supported it.

Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it

You should focus on one point and give a clear solution. The key is to work out what question is being asked. Is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?

Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion.5.

A. It can be boring. Try to mix it up.

B. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don't want to sound foolish.

C. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence.

D. Deliberate gestures and affected（做作的）expressions of feelings are improper in a successful speech.

E. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.

F. This lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable for the judges and audience.

G. Confidence is extremely important in public speaking as it lets a speaker sound more convincing.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Common public speaking problems

The use of “I feel”, “I think” and “maybe”

In the question-and –answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like “I feel”, “I hear”, “maybe” and “perhaps”. These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view. 1.

Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence. Instead of the empty-sounding “I guess”, using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.

2.

Don’t stick to the same tone. It can be boring. Try to mix it up. For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles tighter. 3., rather than just sticking with the same one.

Irresponsible answers

4.. you’re responsible for your words. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don’t want to sound foolish. So you should think twice before you talk. Don’t be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy(盗版), started by saying he supported it.

Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it

You should focus on one point and give a clear solution. 5.. is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?

Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.

A. Try mixing more than one style.

B. Improving your communication skill.

C. Using only one speaking style

D. It’s important to involve your audience.

E. Public speaking is different from personal conversations.

F. The key is to work out what question is being asked

G. To the judges and audience, this lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析