The arts, especially music, should be part of every school's lessons at every grade level. Students would be much smarter if they had some musical experience. They could improve their classroom skills, like paying attention and following directions. People develop all these skills when they learn music. Making music also lets children use their imagination. It provides students with a chance to try out their own ideas.

Music not only makes children better students, but also gives them something positive to do. In a music program, children can be part of a band instead of joining a gang (团伙). Parents can enjoy listening to their children's music instead of seeing them glued to a computer or TV screen. In a school band, students get to be part of a team. They can get along well with old friends and make new friends through music.

Music builds self-confidence, too. It gives children a sense of achievement and success. Making music is something for them to be proud of, and it lets kids practice performing in front of an audience. Music gives children an opportunity for self-expression, and that helps develop their self-confidence.

Once again, music is important because it can make children better students, give them something positive to do, and build their character. That is why music should be offered in every single grade in every school.

1．According to the passage, music could make students smarter by________.

A. improving their classroom skills and paying attention

B. improving their classroom skills and imagination

C. improving their attention, direction and imagination

D. learning music, making music and trying out their own ideas

2．What does the underlined phrase "glued to" in the second paragraph mean?

A. unwilling to turn on     B. always looking

C. unwilling to leave       D. always playing

3．The third paragraph mainly tells us that music could __________.

A. give children self-expression and self-confidence

B. bring to children achievement and success

C. give children something to be proud of

D. develop children's self-confidence

4．What's the best title of this passage？

A. Music is a must as a course at school

B. Music builds children's self-confidence

C. Music makes students much smarter

D. Learning music and making music

It gives me great pleasure today to say a few words in praise of a man we will all miss very much. To be honest, I can't imagine we will do without him when he's gone.

　　Bill Masters almost single-handed built up our sales force in the Houston area and developed the market position that we enjoy today. In only six years, he has brought the firm from a very low fifth position in the area sales to the point where we now outsell all but one of our competitors. Not only have we got 37 per cent of the market under Bill's leadership; we are increasing our share with each passing month.

　　As you know, the company has moved Bill to northern California to work his sales magic in one of this company's most competitive(竞争的) areas. But we know that if anyone can do it, Bill Masters can, and I know you all join me in wishing him the best of luck in his new work.

5．The speech was made _______.

　A. at a welcome meeting

　B. at the opening of a new school term

　C. when somebody was leaving

　D. when they had a new manager

6． How long did Masters worked there?

　A.37 years                  B. less than 5 years

　C. about six years            D. since he began to work

7．When Bill started to work in Houston area, he had _______to help him.

　A. many people              B. nobody

　C. about 37 people            D. very few people

8．Bill increased the company's sale _______.

A. by 37 per cent every month 

B. to the second largest in the area

C. to be the fifth largest in the area 

D. five times as much as before

Thomas Alva Edison was awarded more patents on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931, Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him. One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout. All electric power would be shut off in homes, streets, and factories. Perhaps this suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion. A blackout was impossible.
     On the day of Edison's funeral, many people silently dimmed their lights. In this way they honored the man who had done more than anyone else to put the great force of electricity at his countrymen's fingertips.
9．This selection says that Thomas Edison ________.
  A．was the only important American inventor     

B．received the first American patent
C．received more patents than any other American 

D．was the first American inventor
10．People decided to honor Edison when ________.
  A．he made the first electric light               

B．electric power was 100 years
C．the country realized electricity's importance    

D．he died in 1931
11．The suggested plan was to ________.
  A．turn off the lights in factories and schools  

B．observe a few minutes of total silence
C．dim all electric lights                  

D．shut off all electricity for a short time

The most frightening words in the English language are, “Our computer is down.” You hear it more and more when you are on business. The other day I was at the airport waiting for a ticket to Washington and the girl in the ticket office said, “I’m sorry, I can’t sell you a ticket. Our computer is down.”

“If your computer is down, just write me out a ticket.”

“I can’t write you out a ticket. The computer is the only one allowed to do so.”

I looked down on the computer and every passenger was just standing there drinking coffee and staring at the black screen. Then I asked her, “What do all you people do?”

“We give the computer the information about your trip, and then it tells us whether you can fly with us or not.”

“So when it goes down, you go down with it.”

“That’s good, sir.”

“How long will the computer be down?” I wanted to know.

“I have no idea. Sometimes it’s down for 10 minutes, sometimes for two hours. There’s no way we can find out without asking the computer, and since it’s down it won’t answer us.”

After the girl told me they had no backup(备用) computer, I said. “Let’s forget the computer. What about your planes? They’re still flying, aren’t they?”

“I couldn’t tell without asking the computer.”

“Maybe I could just go to the gate and ask the pilot if he’s flying to Washington, ” I suggested.

“I wouldn’t know what gate to send you to. Even if the pilot was going to Washington, he couldn’t take you if you didn’t have a ticket.”

“Is there any other airline flying to Washington within the next few hours?”

“I wouldn’t know, ” she said, pointing at the dark screen. “Only ‘IT’ knows. ‘It’ can’t tell me.”

By this time there were quite a few people standing in lines. The word soon spread to other travelers that the computer was down. Some people went white, some people started to cry and still others kicked their luggage.

12． The best title for the article is _______.

A. When the Computer Is Down                 B. The Most Frightening Words

C. The Computer of the Airport               D. Asking the Computer

13． What could the girl in the ticket office do for the passengers without asking the computer?

A. She could sell a ticket.

B. She could write out a ticket.

C. She could answer the passengers’ questions.

D. She could do nothing.

14． Why do you think they had not a backup computer?

A. Because it was easy down

B. Because it was very expensive.

C. Because it was not advanced enough.

D. Because it was not as big as the main computer.

15． The last paragraph suggests that _______.

A. a modern computer won’t be down.

B. computers can take the place of humans

C. sometimes a computer may bring suffering to people

D. there will be great changes in computers

I was said to be the worst student in my class, and my family thought I was hopeless. I had to 16  grade six. at that time a new teacher, Miss Sadia, came to our school.

   One day after class, she  17  that I was staying alone during the lunch break. She came to me and began to talk to me. It was just a  18  conversation. After that day, she gave me particular 19 and it made me feel special(特别). I started to work hard because she gave me the feeling that 20   believed me , and my  21  started to improve(提高) in her subject.

   Months later, she moved into a house near my  22 . We would walk home together after school. Her constant (不断的 ) support helped me, 23 in my studies, as I knew she would  24 my grades both in her subject and the other subjects. I finally 25 second in my class.

   Then, after grade six, she started to slowly drift away（疏远） 26 still kept a constant(不断的) check on me. By the time I was in grade seven, we 27 spoke, but by then I had become the 28 in my class. When I left my school, I was 29 with her, as she never answered the 30 when I called her.

   Then I graduated and went to a good university. One fine day, our paths（路）  31 again. I met her at a wedding. I could not  32  asking her, "Why did you stop talking to me?"

"You are a clever boy. I wanted you to be a tree  33  on your own roots, not depending on (依靠)others. Now here you are and I feel 34 of you. You are your inspiration and do not need to 35  a shoulder," she said. I could not say anything, but I smiled. I'll always thank her .

16． A. jump      B. attend       C. copy        D. repeat

17．A. heard      B. noticed      C. learned      D. sensed

18． A. stupid     B. useless       C. normal      D. secret

19．A. attention   B. attraction     C. explanation  D. examination

20．A. everyone   B. someone     C. anyone      D. nobody

21．A. words     B. objects       C. classes       D. grades

22． A. home      B. school       C. hotel        D. company

23．A. generally   B. actually      C. especially    D. usually

24． A. change     B. look         C. improve     D. check

25．A. received    B. came        C. caught      D. held

26． A. but         B. as          C. or          D. so

27． A. ever        B. often        C. once        D. hardly

28．A oldest       B. strongest     C.best         D. cleverest

29．A. out of touch  B. in common   C. out of reach  D. in touch

30．A. road        B. schoolyard   C. phone       D. machine

31．A. separated    B. formed      C. added       D. crossed

32．A. finish       B. help         C. prevent     D. keep

33．A. standing     B. flying       C. growing     D. sitting

34．A. sad         B. proud       C. good        D. ashamed

35． A. give up      B. get on       C. look for     D. take up