Most musicians and artists say the Internet has helped them make more money from their work despite online file-trading services that allow users to copy songs and other material for free, according to a study released on Sunday.
Recording labels and movie studios have hired groups of lawyers to pursue(追究)networks like Kazaa, and have sued thousands of individuals who spread out copyrighted material through such networks.
But most of the artists surveyed by the nonprofit Pew Internet and American Life Project said online file sharing did not concern them much.
Artists were divided on the rewards of peer-to-peer networks, with 47 percent saying that they prevent artists from earning royalties(版税)for their work and another 43 percent saying they helped promote and spread their material.
But two-thirds of those surveyed said file sharing caused little threat to them, and less than one-third of those surveyed said file sharing was a major threat to creative industries. Only 3 percent said the Internet hurt their ability to protect their creative works.
“What we hear from a wide range of artists is that, despite the real challenges of protecting work online, the Internet has opened new ways for them to exercise their imaginations and sell their creations,” said report author Mary Madden, a research specialist at the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
The nonprofit group based its report on a survey of 809 self-identified artists in December 2003.
1.The underlined sue in paragraph two probably means ____.
A. to criticize formally B. to start a legal case
C. to give thanks to D. to draw attention to
2.47% of the artists surveyed said that ____.
A. some networks were illegal
B. file-sharing was a threat to their material
C. the Internet made their material more popular
D. their income reduced because of some networks
3.What is wrong about the Pew Internet and American Life Project?
A. It is a research group.
B. It is a very popular network.
C. It doesn’t make money by its research.
D. It focuses on the relation between the Internet and people’s life.
4.The nonprofit group holds the opinion that ____.
A. artists don’t want to put their works on the Internet.
B. some networks should be closed because they are illegal
C. users of the Internet should not be allowed to copy songs and materials
D. although the Internet is improperly used sometimes, it helps the artists a lot
高三英语阅读理解困难题
Most musicians and artists say the Internet has helped them make more money from their work despite online file-trading services that allow users to copy songs and other material for free, according to a study released on Sunday.
Recording labels and movie studios have hired groups of lawyers to pursue(追究)networks like Kazaa, and have sued thousands of individuals who spread out copyrighted material through such networks.
But most of the artists surveyed by the nonprofit Pew Internet and American Life Project said online file sharing did not concern them much.
Artists were divided on the rewards of peer-to-peer networks, with 47 percent saying that they prevent artists from earning royalties(版税)for their work and another 43 percent saying they helped promote and spread their material.
But two-thirds of those surveyed said file sharing caused little threat to them, and less than one-third of those surveyed said file sharing was a major threat to creative industries. Only 3 percent said the Internet hurt their ability to protect their creative works.
“What we hear from a wide range of artists is that, despite the real challenges of protecting work online, the Internet has opened new ways for them to exercise their imaginations and sell their creations,” said report author Mary Madden, a research specialist at the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
The nonprofit group based its report on a survey of 809 self-identified artists in December 2003.
1.The underlined sue in paragraph two probably means ____.
A. to criticize formally B. to start a legal case
C. to give thanks to D. to draw attention to
2.47% of the artists surveyed said that ____.
A. some networks were illegal
B. file-sharing was a threat to their material
C. the Internet made their material more popular
D. their income reduced because of some networks
3.What is wrong about the Pew Internet and American Life Project?
A. It is a research group.
B. It is a very popular network.
C. It doesn’t make money by its research.
D. It focuses on the relation between the Internet and people’s life.
4.The nonprofit group holds the opinion that ____.
A. artists don’t want to put their works on the Internet.
B. some networks should be closed because they are illegal
C. users of the Internet should not be allowed to copy songs and materials
D. although the Internet is improperly used sometimes, it helps the artists a lot
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet.Basically,Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first.
The first thing to do if you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile which can include your hobbies,hopes for the future,and so on.A photograph is optional,but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile. Many Internet dating sites will charge a one-time registration fee to use their services.
Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world. You call even narrow the search down to your area by zip code.Another advantage is that you can communicate by email before you meet in person.Thousands of people have met,fallen in love,and married through Internet dating.It is an excellent way for shy people to meet.It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others,and an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Just as in conventional dating and love,there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating.The person you have been talking to on the net may not be who they say they are. Be very aware that there are some people who misrepresent their appearance or private details,such as marital status,income,and so on,for their own reasons.It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in, and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time.Nevertheless,taking a few simple precautions should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun.
1.The purpose of writing the passage is to _____.
A.persuade readers to go dating on the Internet
B.inform us how to date on the Internet
C.warn readers against web love
D.introduce Internet dating to us
2.Which of the following is a must to make an Internet dating possible?
A.A photo . B.A profile. C.Registration fee. D.Business experience.
3.One advantage of Internet dating is that _____. .
A.you can avoid a face-to-face meeting in the beginning
B.you’re sure to find a partner with the same interests
C.you'll find absolutely reliable information of others
D.you'll gain fame and money overnight
4.What is probably talked about following the last paragraph?
A.Traditional dating. B.Hidden advantages.
C.Safety measures. D.Romantic love.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet.Basically, Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first.
The first thing to do it you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile (简介) which can include your hobbies, hopes for the future, and so on.A photograph is optional, but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile.Many Internet dating sites will charge a one-lime registration fee to use their services.
Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world.You can even narrow the search down to your area by zip code.Another advantage is that you can communicate by e-mail before you meet in person.Thousands of people have met, fallen in love, and married through Internet dating.It is an excellent way for shy people to meet.It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others, and an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Just as in traditional dating and love, there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating.The person you have been talking to on the Net may not be who they say they are, Be very aware that there are some people who misrepresent their appearance or private details, such as marital status, income, and so on, for their own reasons.It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in, and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time.Nevertheless, taking a few simple precautions should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun.
1.The purpose of writing the passage is to _____.
A.persuade readers to go dating on the Internet
B.inform us how to date on the Internet
C.warn readers against web love
D.introduce Internet dating to us
2.Which of the following is a must to make an Internet dating possible?
A.A photo. B.A profile. C.Money. D.Business experience.
3.One advantage of Internet dating is that _____.
A.you can avoid a face-to-face meeting in the beginning
B.you're sure to find a partner with the same interests
C.you'll find absolutely dependable information of others
D.you'll gain fame and money overnight
4.What is probably talked about following the last paragraph?
A.Traditional dating. B.Hidden advantages.
C.Safety measures. D.Romantic love.
5.The underlined word "pitfalls" in Paragraph 4 most probably means ______
A.rules B.trends C.problems D.skills
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet.Basically,Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first.
The first thing to do if you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile (简介) which can include your hobbies,hopes for the future,and so on.A photograph is optional,but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile.Many Internet dating sites will charge a onetime registration fee to use their services.
Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world.Your call even narrow the search down to your area by zip code (邮政编码).Another advantage is that you can communicate by email before you meet in person.Thousands of people have met,fallen in love,and married through Internet dating.It is an excellent way for shy people to meet.It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others,and an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Just as in conventional dating and love,there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating.The person you have been talking to on the Net may not be who they say they are.Be very aware that there are some people who misrepresent their appearance or private details,such as marital status,income,and so on,for their own reasons.It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in,and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time.Nevertheless,taking a few simple precautions (防范措施) should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun.
1.The purpose of writing the passage is to________.
A.persuade readers to go dating on the Internet
B.inform us how to date on the Internet
C.warn readers against web love
D.introduce Internet dating to us
2.Which of the following is a must to make an Internet dating possible?
A.A photo. B.A profile.
C.Registration fee. D.Business experience.
3.The underlined word “pitfalls” in Paragraph 4 most probably means________.
A.rules B.trends
C.problems D.skills
4.What is probably talked about following the last paragraph?
A.Conventional dating. B.Hidden advantages.
C.Safety measures. D.Romantic love.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Teachers say the Internet has made _______ much easier to find and copy materials.
A.that | B.it | C.this | D.them |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Age has its privileges in America, and one of the most important of them is the senior citizen discount. Eligibility(资格) is determined not by one’s need but by the date on one’s birth certificate. The discounts have become a routine part of many businesses—as common as color televisions in motel rooms and free coffee on airliners.
People with gray hair often are given the discounts without even asking for them; yet, millions of Americans above age 60 are healthy and solvent (有支付能力的). Businesses that would never dare offer discounts to college students or anyone under 30 freely offer them to older Americans. The practice is acceptable because of the widespread belief that "elderly" means "needy". Perhaps that once was true, but today elderly Americans as a group have a lower poverty rate than the rest of the population. To be sure, there is economic diversity within the elderly, and many older Americans are poor. But most of them aren’t.
It is impossible to determine the impact of the discounts on individual companies. For many firms, they are a stimulus to revenue. But in other cases, the discounts are given at the expense, directly or indirectly, of younger Americans. Moreover, they are a direct irritant(刺激物) in what some politicians and scholars see as a coming conflict between the generations.
Generational tensions are being fueled by continuing debate over Social Security benefits, which mostly involve a transfer of resources from the young to the old. Employment is another sore point. Supported by laws and court decisions, more and more older Americans are declining the retirement dinner in favor of staying on the job—thereby lessening employment and promotion opportunities for younger workers.
Far from a kind of charity they once were, senior citizen discounts have become a privilege to a group with millions of members who don’t need them.
It no longer makes sense to treat the elderly as a single group whose economic needs deserve priority over those of others. Senior citizen discounts only enhance the myth that older people can’t take care of themselves and need special treatment; and they threaten the creation of a new myth, that the elderly are ungrateful and taking for themselves at the expense of children and other age groups. Senior citizen discounts are the essence of the very thing older Americans are fighting against—discrimination by age.
Outline | Details |
Introduction | Age determines whether an American can be given a discount, which is a common 1. in American business life today. |
Origin of senior citizen discount | Since the senior citizens are often treated as people who are in 2., they are given such priority. |
3.situation | ●The situation has changed a lot where the majority of the elderly are not poor at all. ●Younger Americans were at a(n) 4. directly or indirectly due to the discounts given to the elderly, thus leading to conflicts between generations. ●The number of older Americans 5. to work rather than retire is on the increase, which means 6. opportunities for young workers. ●It is no longer a kind of charity because millions of senior citizens don’t need the priority 7. now. |
Conclusion | ●It’s unwise to offer discount priority to the elderly. ●It will mislead people to think they are unable to 8. to themselves. ●People may think that they are ungrateful and they’re hurting the 9. of other age groups. ●Actually senior citizen discounts, to some extent,10. against their age. |
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The insanely popular song from South Korean recording artist PSY has just become the most watched video on YouTube ever, gaining more than 808 million views on the popular media site.
The record was previously held by another pop heavyweight, Justin Bieber, whose song“Baby”had a little more than 804 million views at press time. PSY made the announcement early today.
Since its release,the song has outshone such other popular videos as Jennifer Lopez’s“On the Floor.”and Eminem’s“Love the Way You Lie”.
And in September,“Gangnam Style”also became the most liked video on YouTube,now with nearly 5.4 million thumbs up.
At the time of the announcement, the Guinness Book of World Records released a statement saying: “In years past it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times, and now Gangnam Style has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube. PSY,your certificate is waiting here at our office,come and pick it up any time!”
Despite its massive popularity, the video shows no signs of slowing down, and it even has a shot at becoming the first video to get more than one billion views.
If it maintains its current rate of around six million new views per day, “Gangnam Style”would be in line to break that record by the end of the year.
It has found its way to the tops of music charts in more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Canada, while providing material for thousands of parody videos.
It became a staple in the 2012 presidential elections with the now ramous “Mitt Romney Style” video and was even used by the North Korean government in propaganda(宣传)films promoting their supreme leader. Meanwhile, such influential figures as President Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt have all made mention of the hit song.
1.Which of the following ranks second in views on YouTube?
A.Gangnam Style. B.Baby.
C.On the Floor. D.Love the Way You Lie.
2.Which statement about Gangnam Style on YouTube is wrong?
A.It has become the most watched video.
B.It has become the most liked video.
C.It has won more than 5.4 million thumbs down.
D.It has more than two hundred million views in three months.
3.What does the statement made by the Guinness Book of World Records suggest?
A.Some video gained more views than Gangnam Style.
B.It is impossible that Gangnam Style should have 100 million views.
C.Guinness Book of World Records has recognized Gangnam Style’s achievements.
D.Guinness Book of World Records won’t believe Gangnam Style’s achievements.
4. Gangnam Style is to _______ if it keeps its current rate.
A.get more than one billion views
B.get more than two billion views
C.get more than 808 million Views
D.get one hundred million views
5.What can we learn about Gangnam Style from the last paragraph?
A.It is especially popular in developing countries.
B.It has played a part in the US presidential elections.
C.Few influential figures know it.
D.The supreme leader of North Korea has ever performed it.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
As one of the most popular artists in the US, not only_______ with her hit songs, but has inspired women with her devotion to charity.
A. has Beyonce influenced pop culture B. influenced pop culture has Beyonce
C. Beyonce has influenced pop culture D. influenced pop culture Beyonce has
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Some of the world’s most famous musicians recently gathered in Paris and New Orleans to celebrate the first annual International Jazz Day. UNESCO( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recently set April 30 as a day to raise awareness of jazz music, its significance, and its potential as a unifying(联合) voice across cultures.
Despite the celebrations, though, in the U.S. the jazz audience continues to shrink and grow older, and the music has failed to connect with younger generations.
It’s Jason Moran’s job to help change that. As the Kennedy Center’s artistic adviser for jazz, Moran hopes to widen the audience for jazz, make the music more accessible, and preserve its history and culture.
“Jazz seems like it’s not really a part of the American appetite,” Moran tells National Public Radio’s reporter Neal Conan. “What I’m hoping to accomplish is that my generation and younger start to reconsider and understand that jazz is not black and write anymore. It’s actually color, and it’s actually digital.”
Moran says one of the problems with jazz today is that the entertainment aspect of the music has been lost. “The music can’t be presented today the way it was in 1908 or 1958. It has to continue to move, because the way the world works is not the same,” says Moran.
Last year, Moran worked on a project that arranged Fats Waller’s music for a dance party, “Just to kind of put it back in the mind that Waller is dance music as much as it is concert music,” says Moran. “For me, it’s the recontextualization. In music, where does the emotion(情感) lie? Are we, as humans, gaining any insight(感悟) on how to talk about ourselves and how something as abstract as a Charlie Parker record gets us into a dialogue about our emotions and our thoughts? Sometimes we lose sight that the music has a wider context,” says Moran, “so I want to continue those dialogues. Those are the things I want to foster.”
1.Why did UNESCO set April 30 as International Jazz Day?
A.To remember the birth of jazz.
B.To protect cultural diversity.
C.To encourage people to study music.
D.To recognize the value of jazz.
2.What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.Jazz becoming more accessible.
B.The production of jazz growing faster.
C.Jazz being less popular with the young.
D.The jazz audience becoming larger.
3.What can we infer about Moran’s opinion on jazz?
A.It will disappear gradually.
B.It remains black and white.
C.It should keep up with the times.
D.It changes every 50 years.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.Exploring the Future of Jazz.
B.The Rise and Fall of Jazz.
C.The Story of a Jazz Musician.
D.Celebrating the Jazz Day.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Some of the world’s most famous musicians recently gathered in Paris and New Orleans to celebrate the first annual International Jazz Day. UNESCO( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recently set April 30 as a day to raise awareness of jazz music, its significance, and its potential as a unifying(联合) voice across cultures.
Despite the celebrations, though, in the U.S. the jazz audience continues to shrink and grow older, and the music has failed to connect with younger generations.
It’s Jason Moran’s job to help change that. As the Kennedy Center’s artistic adviser for jazz, Moran hopes to widen the audience for jazz, make the music more accessible, and preserve its history and culture.
“Jazz seems like it’s not really a part of the American appetite,” Moran tells National Public Radio’s reporter Neal Conan. “What I’m hoping to accomplish is that my generation and younger start to reconsider and understand that jazz is not black and write anymore. It’s actually color, and it’s actually digital.”
Moran says one of the problems with jazz today is that the entertainment aspect of the music has been lost. “The music can’t be presented today the way it was in 1908 or 1958. It has to continue to move, because the way the world works is not the same,” says Moran.
Last year, Moran worked on a project that arranged Fats Waller’s music for a dance party, “Just to kind of put it back in the mind that Waller is dance music as much as it is concert music,” says Moran. “For me, it’s the recontextualization. In music, where does the emotion(情感) lie? Are we, as humans, gaining any insight(感悟) on how to talk about ourselves and how something as abstract as a Charlie Parker record gets us into a dialogue about our emotions and our thoughts? Sometimes we lose sight that the music has a wider context,” says Moran, “so I want to continue those dialogues. Those are the things I want to foster.”
1.Why did UNESCO set April 30 as International Jazz Day?
A. To remember the birth of jazz.
B. To protect cultural diversity.
C. To encourage people to study music.
D. To recognize the value of jazz.
2.What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. Jazz becoming more accessible.
B. The production of jazz growing faster.
C. Jazz being less popular with the young.
D. The jazz audience becoming larger.
3.What can we infer about Moran’s opinion on jazz?
A. It will disappear gradually.
B. It remains black and white.
C. It should keep up with the times.
D. It changes every 50 years.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Exploring the Future of Jazz.
B. The Rise and Fall of Jazz.
C. The Story of a Jazz Musician.
D. Celebrating the Jazz Day.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析