There lived a poor farmer. He had a beautiful white horse. Many people offered him much money to buy the horse. But he wouldn’t 21 it. The villagers told him, “You are so 　22 . You have such a precious horse.” The farmer said, “It is true that my horse may bring me a 　 23 . But we can’t say it is good luck or bad luck because nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.” The villagers didn’t like his 24 .

One day the horse just 　25 . They searched everywhere. But the horse was not found. The villagers told the farmer, “You should have sold that horse. It is such bad luck that the horse was stolen.” The farmer replied, “It is true that my horse is 　26 . But we can’t say it is good luck or bad luck because nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.” The villagers still didn’t like his answer.

After a few days, to the great 　27 of all the villagers, the horse came back to the farmer and 　28 a dozen white horses from the forest with it. The villagers all gathered 　29 the farmer and said he was so lucky. The farmer offered the same reply. The villagers thought the man was 30 .

One day the farmer’s youthful son was riding one of the horses. 　31 he fell off the horse and seriously broke his legs. The villagers came to 32 the farmer, “We are really sorry for you. It’s such bad luck that your only son has become disabled now.” The farmer 33 replied with the same word. The villagers really got mad and they didn’t 　34 him.

A few months later, suddenly the king of a neighboring country 35 the farmer’s own country. In order to win the war the king of the farmer made a(n) 36 that all the youth of the country should 37 the army, except 　38 people. The villagers were all in 　39 . They came to the farmer and said, “You are a lucky man. 40 you can see your son alive.” The wise farmer kept on giving the same reply. And the story never ended.

21. A. raise　　　　　 B. sell　　　 C. have　　　　　 D. control(控制)

22. A. right　　　　　 B. fine　　　 C. lucky　　　　 D. careful

23. A. fight　　　　　 B. faith(信念) C. failure(失败)　 D. fortune(财富)

24. A. result　　　　 B. reply　　　 C. horse　　 　　 D. excuse

25. A. died　　　　　 B. deserted(遗弃)C. walked　　　 D. disappeared

26. A. missing　　　 B. losing　　　 C. taken　　　　 D. left

27. A. disappointment B. happy　　　 C. surprise　　　 D. sadness

28. A. accepted　　　 B. brought　　 C. got　　　　 D. received

29. A. around　　　　 B. in　　　　　 C. to　　　　　 D. of

30. A. excited　　　　 B. puzzled　　 C. crazy　　　　 D. proud

31. A. Luckily　　　 B. Suddenly　　 C. Immediately　 D. Gradually

32. A. comfort　　　 B. talk　　　 C. remind　　　 D. warn

33. A. never　　　　 B. already　　　 C. seldom　　　 D. still

34. A. enjoy　　　　 B. understand　 C. help　　　　 D. tell

35. A. treated　　　　 B. cheated　　　 C. blocked　　　 D. attacked

36. A. announcement　 B. debate　　　 C. appointment　 D. expression

37 .A. Attend(参加)　 B. take part　　 C. serve　　　　 D. join

38. A. young　　　　 B. old　　　　 C. disabled　　　 D. perfect(完美的)

39. A. sorrow(悲伤)　 B. happiness　 C. trouble　　　 D. joy(高兴)

40. A. At last　　　　 B. At most　　 C. At first　　　 D. At least

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Among the four skills in learning English, which of these is the “Odd-Man-Out”? The answer is speaking. The other three you can do alone on your own. But you can't really speak alone! Speaking to yourself can be “dangerous” because men in white coats may come and take you away !

Where can you find people to speak English? And how can you practise speaking when you are alone? At school if you pay to go to a language school, you should use the chance to speak .If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs or groups with other students, try to say as much as possible. Don't worry about your mistakes. Just speak!?

Conversation Clubs　Many cities around the world have conversation clubs where people can exchange one language for another . Look in your local newspaper to find a conversation club near you .They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee.?

Shopping　Even if you don't want to buy anything ,you can ask questions about products that interest you in a shop. “How much does this cost?” “Can I pay by cheque?” Often you can start a real conversation—and it costs you nothing!?

Cafe and Bars　There are often American, Britain, Irish and Australian bars in many large cities .If you can find one, you'll probably meet many people speaking English as a first or second language.?

Language is all around you　Everywhere you go, you find language .Shop names, street names ,advertisements ,notices ,and car numbers....When you walk down the street , practice reading the words and numbers that you see .Say them to yourself .It's not exactly a conversation ,but it will help you to “think” in English .But don't speak too loud!?

Songs and Video　Repeat the words of an English-language song singing with the music until it becomes automatic. It's good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles that you need for English.?

Above all, speak as much as possible! Make as many mistakes as possible! When you know that you have made a mistake, you know that you have made progress!?

57．What does “Odd-Man-Out” probably mean according to the passage??

A. Someone or something appearing different from others.?

B. Someone or something standing out of the group.?

C. Someone or something arranged in pairs.?

D. Someone or something easily mistaken for another.?

58．What might happen if you speak to yourself loudly in public??

A. The police will take you away and punish you.?

B. The doctors will force you to stay in hospital.?

C. You will have to pay to escape being punished.?

D. You will be forbidden to be member of the club.?

59．Why does the writer say “Make as many mistakes as possible”? Because _______.

A. everyone will make mistakes in learning English?

B. everyone will meet people speaking English with some mistakes?

C. making mistakes is a must in making progress in learning English?

D. making mistakes can make one realize the importance of speaking?

60．According to the passage, which way is not likely to be accepted by English beginners?

A .Recite poems loudly along the riverside.?

B. Listen to some English pop songs and video.?

C. Find an Englishman to speak English with.?

D. Take to the TV showing programmes at home.??

 

Dancing That Tells a Story--Ballet

　　There are different ways of telling a story. It can be told in words. It can be told in pictures. It can be told in music. It can be acted out. Or it can be told by still another way--by dancing. Dancing that tells a story is called ballet.

　　The dancing in a ballet is done to music, but the story is told by the movements of the dancers. There is no singing or speaking.

　　The dancers in the picture are telling the story of Steeping Beauty. The music for this famous ballet was written by the Russian composer Tschaikowsky. The movements of its dancers were worked out by the French ballet master Petipa.

　　A ballet is a work (of art) just as a beautiful picture is. The person who plans a ballet is an artist. So is each dancer.

　　Sometimes ballet is called toe dancing. It is true that in some ballets the dancers do dance on their toes. But a great deal of the dancing in ballets is not toe dancing. Toe dancing is used to give the idea of lightness and airiness. It is never put into a ballet unless it fits the story.

　　Back in the days of ancient Greece and Rome there were dances that told stories of the gods. Even longer ago in Egypt there were dances that told stories of the planets.But the ballet of today had its beginnings about 600 years ago. It began as a kind of entertainment in the courts of the rulers of Italy. Two hundred years later ballet was popular in the French court. The French king Louis X IV founded a ballet school.

　　On a ballet program today there are often some French words. The names of many ballets are French. But there may be other French words, too. A part of a ballet that is danced by just two people is called a pas de deux. Such French words remind us that France was once the leader in ballet.

　　Today there are many ballet companies. All opera companies, too, have ballet dancers, for ballets are a part of many operas. No one country now leads in ballet.

　　Later the rulers of Russia became interested in ballet. They offered a great deal of money to the best ballet masters and dancers of France. They founded a ballet school. Soon Russia was the leader in ballet.

　　Ballet is not easy to learn. A boy or a girl who wishes to be a ballet dancer has to begin going to a ballet school very early. Some begin when they are only three or four. All the parts in a ballet used to be danced by men. But now a girl has as good a chance as a boy of being a famous ballet dancer.

(1)There are ______ ways of telling a story accordingto the passage.

[　　]

(2)Ballet is called toe dancing because _____.

[　　]

A．there is a great deal of toe dancing in every ballet

B．in some ballets toe dancing is used to fit the story

C．it always tells a story by toe move-ments

D．the word ballet means “toe” in French

(3)Ballet of today can date back as early as ___.

[　　]

A．the days of ancient Greece and Rome

B．days before ancient Greece and Rome

C．about 600 years ago

D．the time when Louis X IV was in power

(4)_______ never acted as the leader in the history of ballet.

[　　]

(5)Which of the following is true?

[　　]

A．Boys are more likely to be successful in ballet than girls.

B．Ballet dances also play parts in many operas beside ballets.

C．Petipa was a Russian ballet master.

D．Ballet dancers of France weren't welcome in Russia.