So far, this year's global music market has d...

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So far, this year's global music market has definitely been controlled by women: Beyonce Knowles, Taylor Swift, and Iggy Azalea are all making waves. And one hot name that adds more weight to the list is US singer Ariana Grande.

Almost exactly a year ago, Grande released her first album, Yours Truly. And over the past 12 months, the 21-year-old former Nickelodeon (an American TV channel for kids and adolescents) star has transformed from a pop artist you might recognize to a superstar. She now boasts three top 10 singles in the current Billboard Hot 100 chart, an impressive opening performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, and millions of followers on social networking sites.

Her second album, My Everything, which was released on Aug, 25th, is the latest sign of her coming dominance (优势). It ranked first on the Billboard 200 album chart this week, making her the only other female singer after Scotland's Susan Boyle to have two No. 1 albums in a row in a single year.

OK, with all the glitter and glory aside, let's talk about Grande's trump card — her powerful voice and wide vocal range (音域). Unlike Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, Grande's star power is rooted in the fact that she can really sing. More importantly, Grande knows how to control her voice, which is at once strong and sensitive, and use it to expand her musical territory.

My Everything is the best example. In this album, Grande nearly tries her hand at everything: dance music (Break Free), R&B jams (Be My Baby), hip-hop tunes (Problem), power ballads (Why Try) and even '60s-inflected pop (Bang Bang).

While you can clearly sense her ambition as a singer, you will be impressed by how effortlessly she handles these different styles of music, especially if you have listened to Yours Truly, a more cohesive, '90s R&B-influenced project.

Of course, one suggestion for Grande's future music would be for her to display more personality instead of simply showing off her voice. But not to worry; based on what we've heard thus far, it's safe to say Grande is well on her way to growing into her own.

1.The underlined word “boasts” in paragraph 2 is similar in meaning to ________.

A.releases B.adopts C.advocates D.possesses

2.The author takes her album, My Everything, as an example to ________.

A.show her wide vocal range

B.show she is a superstar

C.show she is very popular with followers

D.show she sings better than other singers

3.In the author's opinion, Grande ________.

A.should try her hand in more styles of music

B.is satisfied with just showing off her voice talent

C.is sure to display more personality in her future performance

D.is going to lose her advantage for lack of change in her performance

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题

少年，再来一题如何？

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So far, this year's global music market has definitely been controlled by women: Beyonce Knowles, Taylor Swift, and Iggy Azalea are all making waves. And one hot name that adds more weight to the list is US singer Ariana Grande.
Almost exactly a year ago, Grande released her first album, Yours Truly. And over the past 12 months, the 21-year-old former Nickelodeon (an American TV channel for kids and adolescents) star has transformed from a pop artist you might recognize to a superstar. She now boasts three top 10 singles in the current Billboard Hot 100 chart, an impressive opening performance at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, and millions of followers on social networking sites.
Her second album, My Everything, which was released on Aug, 25th, is the latest sign of her coming dominance (优势). It ranked first on the Billboard 200 album chart this week, making her the only other female singer after Scotland's Susan Boyle to have two No. 1 albums in a row in a single year.
OK, with all the glitter and glory aside, let's talk about Grande's trump card — her powerful voice and wide vocal range (音域). Unlike Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, Grande's star power is rooted in the fact that she can really sing. More importantly, Grande knows how to control her voice, which is at once strong and sensitive, and use it to expand her musical territory.
My Everything is the best example. In this album, Grande nearly tries her hand at everything: dance music (Break Free), R&B jams (Be My Baby), hip-hop tunes (Problem), power ballads (Why Try) and even '60s-inflected pop (Bang Bang).
While you can clearly sense her ambition as a singer, you will be impressed by how effortlessly she handles these different styles of music, especially if you have listened to Yours Truly, a more cohesive, '90s R&B-influenced project.
Of course, one suggestion for Grande's future music would be for her to display more personality instead of simply showing off her voice. But not to worry; based on what we've heard thus far, it's safe to say Grande is well on her way to growing into her own.
1.The underlined word “boasts” in paragraph 2 is similar in meaning to ________.
A.releases B.adopts C.advocates D.possesses
2.The author takes her album, My Everything, as an example to ________.
A.show her wide vocal range
B.show she is a superstar
C.show she is very popular with followers
D.show she sings better than other singers
3.In the author's opinion, Grande ________.
A.should try her hand in more styles of music
B.is satisfied with just showing off her voice talent
C.is sure to display more personality in her future performance
D.is going to lose her advantage for lack of change in her performance

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image.
I am a fashionist too, at least in spirit---I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels.
When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.
What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness.
Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily combined with a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.
Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are.
Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
1.What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?
A. The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself.
B. The author agrees to spend money on material things.
C. The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels.
D. The author finds it natural for fashionists to follow fashion trends.
2.Leaf Van Boven’s studies showed that ______.
A. traveling changes a person’s identity greatly
B. people dislike those who love luxuries
C. experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries
D. luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness
3.What is the author’s advice on expressing oneself?
A. Be selective about designer labels.
B. Create your own personal unique style.
C. Choose styles that are simple and comfortable.
D. Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s.
4.The main purpose of the article is to ______.
A. persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries
B. prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life
C. tell how to express yourself through appearances
D. report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
John Otway
John Otway has been playing music and making records in the UK for more than 40 years. Over the years he has released more than ten albums. He has played hundreds of concerts. He has written two autobiographies. He has worked with some of the country’s best musicians and he has even made a film about his life. But despite all of this, most people have never heard of him.
Otway released his first record in 1972, but it was the Punk Movement a few years later that really gave him his big chance. Otway wasn’t the greatest musician but his songs were always fun, and his performances on stage were always entertaining - there was a good chance he would fall off the stage at least once in each show. The punks liked him, and in 1977 he had a small hit when his single Really Free made it to No. 27 in the UK top 40 charts. Otway really enjoyed his success but unfortunately, no more came. Not one of his records over the next 30 years was a hit.
Although he never had much commercial success, Otway had a lot of very loyal fans. When someone asked him what he would like for his 50th birthday, his reply was: “A second hit.” His fans went out and bought as many copies of the new single Bunsen Burner as they could. And in October 2002, Otway finally saw his wish come true. In a chart that featured international superstars like Pink, Will Young and Oasis, Bunsen Burner made it to No. 9. Many high street shops refused to sell the record, saying that Otway was too old and unattractive for the teenage market. Otway didn’t care. He celebrated his success with an appearance on TV’s biggest music show Top of the Pops.
These days John Otway continues to play his music around the country, and there are always plenty of people who are happy to go and watch him perform. He’s a great example for anyone who loves making music. You don’t have to be young, good-looking (or even very talented) to enjoy a long career in the music business.
1.From paragraph 1, we know that ________.
A.John Otway has released hundreds of albums
B.John Otway never worked with best musicians
C.John Otway has written hundreds of autobiographies
D.John Otway is not well-known in the UK as a musician
2.John Otway saw his wish come true when he released ________.
A.Really Free B.Bunsen Burner
C.Top of the Pops D.his first record
3.Why were some street shops unwilling to sell his single Bunsen Burner?
A.They thought it was terrible.
B.It wasn’t a very big hit.
C.John Otway didn’t want them to have it.
D.They thought teenagers would not like to buy it.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Musicians have to be young and attractive.
B.Success isn’t important in our life.
C.We should be determined to do what we love.
D.Musicians do much better as they get older.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

IS IT TIME TO GET － MP3

Your computer has been playing music for years, one CD at a time．Now hundreds of songs can be stored in your PC if they’re in the MP3 format．

What is it?

MP3 compresses (压缩) music into small computer—friendly files．You access MP3 music several ways: Tunes can be downloaded from websites that have converted (转变) vast music libraries into MP3．Or you can prerecorded CDs into your PC and convert songs in minutes into MP3．Once MP3 music is on your PC’s hard drive, you can play it through your computer’s speakers, “burn” it onto blank CDs or swap (交换) MP3 files with friends using e—mail．

How much?

Software needed to play and convert MP3 music is often free．It is preinstalled (预先安装)on most new computers or can be downloaded from many websites, including MP3, com．Some MP3 sites are free．Just type at around $50 and can hold hundreds of songs．A blank CD on which you can record music costs about a dollar．

Advantages

MP3 turns your home PC into a jukebox (自动唱机)．Tiny MP3 players are the size of a deck of cards, making it easy to take hundreds of songs with you．

Disadvantages

You may find that music at many sites is limited．And some only allow you to listen rather than download offerings．Others let you download music that then can’t be copied to MP3 players．And a growing number of new CDs make it impossible to copy songs to a computer．

1.How can you get Mp3 music?

A．By turning your home PC into jukebox．

B．By taking you own music or songs with you．

C．By copying songs to a PC through the speakers．

D．By downloading from websites which have converted music libraries．

2.Which is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Software needed to play and convert MP3 music is often free of charge．

B．MP3 music can be “burned” onto bland CDs or swapped with friends by e-mail．

C．MP3 music can be taken along while traveling．

D．A greater number of new CDs make it possible to copy songs to a computer．

3.How much will you pay for a MP3 player?

A．Free of charge	B．Free downloading
C．At least fifty dollars	D．About a dollar

4.What is the closest meaning of the underlined word “burn”?

A．Copy

B．Play

C．Store

D．Change

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析