A study of art history might be a good way to learn more about a culture than is possible to learn in general history classes. Most typical history courses concentrate on politics, economics, and war. But art history focuses on much more than this because art reflects not only the political values of a people, but also religious beliefs, emotions and psychology. In addition, information about the daily activities of our ancestors can be provided by art. In short, art expresses the essential qualities of a time and a place, and a study of it clearly offers us a deeper understanding than can be found in most history books.

       In history books, objective information about the political life of a country is presented: that is, facts about politics are given, but opinions are not expressed. Art, on the other hand, is subjective: it reflects personal emotions and opinions. The great Spanish painter Franciso Goya was perhaps the first truly “political” artist. In his well-known painting The Third of May,1808, he criticized the Spanish government for its abuse of power over people.

       In the same way, art can reflect a culture’s religious beliefs. For hundreds of years in Europe, religious art had been almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and other religious buildings were filled with paintings that described people and stories from the Bible. Although most people couldn’t read, they could still understand the Bible stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast, one of the main characteristics of art in the Middle East was (and still is) its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Islamic belief that statues are unholy.

1．We learn from the first paragraph that           .

       A．history class concentrates on religious beliefs and emotion

       B．history books focus on personal emotions and opinions

       C．art history shows us something about emotions and beliefs

       D．art history shows us nothing but the political values

2．According to the passage, it is true that           .

       A．history teachers must be quite subjective

       B．artists paint people from the Bible to show their political beliefs

       C．you can hardly find animal and human images in Islamic paintings

       D．painters in Europe only painted Bible stories for centuries

3．Francisco Goya and his painting are used as an example to show          .

       A．art is subjective, which is different from history books

       B．Spanish government abused its power over people

       C．in history books, facts about politics are given

       D．Francisco Goya was the first“political” artist

4．The text mainly discusses         .

       A．the development of art history

       B．what can we learn from art

       C．the influence of art history

       D．the difference between general history and art history

A

　　Michael Jackson has been on the road of performing since he was five years old. For anyone who wants to know,the road to fame and fortune is a long,hard way to travel.

　　Michael remembers those early years when he was young. “My father was a machine oporator. ”he explained, “and he worked at a steel plant. My mother worked as Sears,a big department store. But they were both musicians. ”

　　Mr. Jackson realized that his sons had a lot of talent,and he knew he could train them to become fine musicians. In those days there were plenty of music groups and some of them were very good. He knew if his sons were to stand out,they would have to be the best.

　　Ptactice makes perfect. And the Jackson boys practised!Gradually the group took shape. When the Jacksons took their first professional job,their total pay was only five dollars!They kept on working. They played at parties. They entered bigger contests(比赛). They worked at clubs. Then word of this group began to get around. All of a sudden,the Jackson Five became popular in the country；their first album(歌曲集)sold a million copies!Michael,11 years old then,was the star. It just didn’t seem possible that so much talent could come from such a young performer.

　　Then Michael got a chance to do some solo songs. For the following years Michael has always been on the top. One million records of his was sold in New Zealand,which has only a total population of three million!

　　When Michael was eighteen,he entered another field of his career：acting. “I plan to stair in movies. ”he told his friends, “but of course,my first love is music. ”

　　Michael wrote a lot of his own songs. “Songs came about in the strangest ways,”he said, “I’ll just wake up from sleeping and there is a whole song coming into my head. And then I put it down on the paper. ”Whatever he is doing,it works!

　　Still,with all his success,Michael manages to keep his head calm. “I just do a different job from other people,”he said, “but it doesn’t make me think I’m better than other people. ”

　　To be quite honest,his fans just love to hear and watch him !

　　1．Michael Jackson began performing with________.

　　A．his father

　　B．his mother

　　C．his parents

　　D．his brothers

　　2．Mr. Jackson knew only when his sons were the best musicians could they________.

　　A．make a lot of money

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p>　　B．go out of their hometown

　　C．be famous

　　D．support themselves

　　3．Which of the following is not mentioned in this passage?

　　A．When the group began to go round the world.

　　B．The songs sung by this group were very popular.

　　C．The Jacksons shocked the country.

　　D．People could hardly believe that young Michael was so talented.

　　4．Michacl Jackson wants to be________.

　　A．a solo singer and musician rather than a film star and actor

　　B．not only a film star and actor but a solo singer and musician

　　C．a solo singer as well as a musician

　　D．a film star as well as an actor

　　5．Michael means that he does something different from others,________.

　　A．so he is different from others

　　B．so he is better than others

　　C．still he is no better than others

　　D．he is as well as others

 

A

　　Michael Jackson has been on the road of performing since he was five years old. For anyone who wants to know,the road to fame and fortune is a long,hard way to travel.

　　Michael remembers those early years when he was young. “My father was a machine oporator. ”he explained, “and he worked at a steel plant. My mother worked as Sears,a big department store. But they were both musicians. ”

　　Mr. Jackson realized that his sons had a lot of talent,and he knew he could train them to become fine musicians. In those days there were plenty of music groups and some of them were very good. He knew if his sons were to stand out,they would have to be the best.

　　Ptactice makes perfect. And the Jackson boys practised!Gradually the group took shape. When the Jacksons took their first professional job,their total pay was only five dollars!They kept on working. They played at parties. They entered bigger contests(比赛). They worked at clubs. Then word of this group began to get around. All of a sudden,the Jackson Five became popular in the country；their first album(歌曲集)sold a million copies!Michael,11 years old then,was the star. It just didn’t seem possible that so much talent could come from such a young performer.

　　Then Michael got a chance to do some solo songs. For the following years Michael has always been on the top. One million records of his was sold in New Zealand,which has only a total population of three million!

　　When Michael was eighteen,he entered another field of his career：acting. “I plan to stair in movies. ”he told his friends, “but of course,my first love is music. ”

　　Michael wrote a lot of his own songs. “Songs came about in the strangest ways,”he said, “I’ll just wake up from sleeping and there is a whole song coming into my head. And then I put it down on the paper. ”Whatever he is doing,it works!

　　Still,with all his success,Michael manages to keep his head calm. “I just do a different job from other people,”he said, “but it doesn’t make me think I’m better than other people. ”

　　To be quite honest,his fans just love to hear and watch him !

　　1．Michael Jackson began performing with________.

　　A．his father

　　B．his mother

　　C．his parents

　　D．his brothers

　　2．Mr. Jackson knew only when his sons were the best musicians could they________.

　　A．make a lot of money

　　B．go out of their hometown

　　C．be famous

　　D．support themselves

　　3．Which of the following is not mentioned in this passage?

　　A．When the group began to go round the world.

　　B．The songs sung by this group were very popular.

　　C．The Jacksons shocked the country.

　　D．People could hardly believe that young Michael was so talented.

　　4．Michacl Jackson wants to be________.

　　A．a solo singer and musician rather than a film star and actor

　　B．not only a film star and actor but a solo singer and musician

　　C．a solo singer as well as a musician

　　D．a film star as well as an actor

　　5．Michael means that he does something different from others,________.

　　A．so he is different from others

　　B．so he is better than others

　　C．still he is no better than others

　　D．he is as well as others

 

Tess still stood hesitating like a swimmer about to make his dive，hardly knowing whether to return or move forward, when a figure came out from the dark door of the tent．It was a tall young man，smoking．

He had an almost black face, though red and smooth. His moustache was black with curled points，though he could not be more than twenty-three or-four. There was all unusual force in his face，and in his daring rolling eyes.

“Well，my beauty，what can I do for you?”said he，coming forward. And seeing that she was quite at a loss: “Never mind me，I am Mr．d’Urberville．Have you come to see me or my mother？”

 This differed greatly from what Tess had expected. She had dreamed of an aged and dignified face．She tried to keep calm and answered --- “I came to see your mother， sir.”

 “I am afraid you cannot see her---she is ill in bed,”replied the representative of the house；for this was Mr. Alec，the only son of the noble family． “What is the business you wish to see her about？”

“It isn’t business --- it is ---I can hardly say what！”

“Pleasure？”

“Oh no．Why，sir，if I tell you，it will seem…”

Tess’s sense of a certain ridicule was now so strong that despite her general discomfort at being here，her rosy lips curved（弯曲）towards a smile，much to the attraction of the young man.

“It is so foolish,”she stammered（结结巴巴地说）; “I fear I can＇t tell you！”

“Never mind；I like foolish things．Try again，my dear，”said he kindly.

“Mother asked me to come，” Tess continued; “and， indeed，I was in the mind to do so myself． But I did not think it would be like this. I came，sir，to tell you that we are of the same family as you.”

“Ho!Poor relations？”

“Yes.”

“Stokes？”

“No；d’Urbervilles．”

“Ay，ay；I mean d’Urbervilles.”

“Our names are worn away to Durbeyfield；but we have several proofs that we are d’Urbervilles．The local scholars hold the view that we are，…and…and we have an old seal（印章）and a silver spoon marked with the same castle as yours. So mother said we ought to make ourselves known to you， as we’ve lost our horse by a bad accident；we can hardly make a living.”

“Very kind of your mother，I’m sure．”Alec looked at Tess as he spoke，in a way that made her uneasy．”And so，my pretty girl，you’ve come on a friendly visit to us，as relations？”

“I Suppose I have，”looking less confident and uncomfortable again.

    “Well--- there’s no harm in it．Where do you live？What are you？”

72．How does Tess feel in the whole course of the meeting with Alec？

 A．Excited and hopeful            B. Surprised but comfortable

 C.  Nervous and uncomfortable      D.Pleased but embarrassed

73．In the eyes of Tess, Alec is ________.

 A．unfriendly and talkative         B.forceful and daring 

C．a gentle and reliable man        D. older than she had expected

74．Why does Tess pay the visit to the d’Urbervilles？

 A. To see Alec himself．         

B. To make known their relationship and seek help．

    C. To confirm that they are of the same family.   

D. To see Alec’s mother.

75．Alec appears quite friendly to Tess mainly because ________.

 A. Tess is his distant relation        B. Tess is a pretty girl

C. Tess looks polite to him         D. Tess looks ridiculous

When I was a teenager, I volunteered to give out water at a marathon. Watching the different runners who passed by and grabbed a cup was 36 . The next year I signed up for the race. I did little preparation and my only goal was to finish. On the day of the race, it was 37  hot. I remember struggling at about the 5^th mile, thinking, “I am never doing this again!”

Have you ever felt that way about something? You eagerly choose a goal 38     soon realize it is 39 to achieve than you imagined it would be. That first 10 km race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked. Then 40 a decisive moment. Near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me. I felt 41  that I was younger than him but I couldn’t keep up with him. I felt defeated for a second but then I realized 42 . He was running his race and I was running mine. He had different experience, training and goals and I had mine. 43  in life do we 44  ourselves with others and feel disappointed in ourselves when we really shouldn’t? I decided, then, that one day I would be one of those 70-year-olds who were still running. 45  I crossed the finish line, I was proud of my achievement. Since then I have run several races and run purely for fun.

In life we all 46  compare ourselves with others, which is only natural. But don’t let them weaken you. 47 , you should use them to inspire you and show you what is possible. Then you are a true winner.

1.                A．pleasing        B．interesting      C．inspiring  D．amazing

 

2.                A．extremely       B．strangely        C．sadly D．certainly

 

3.                A．and            B．but            C．while D．or

 

4.                A．easier          B．harder         C．better    D．worse

 

5.                A．went           B．flew           C．happened D．came

 

6.                A．exhausted      B．disappointed     C．embarrassed   D．annoyed

 

7.                A．something      B．anything        C．everything D．nothing

 

8.                A．How many      B．How much       C．How often D．How old

 

9.                A．cooperate      B．compare        C．combine  D．compromise

 

10.               A．When          B．Because        C．Since D．Until

 

11.               A．hardly         B．sometimes      C．always D．never

 

12.               A．Furthermore    B．Therefore       C．Meanwhile D．Instead