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On December 23, 2008, Niu Niu held a piano concert at the national Grand Theater (国家大剧院). As an eleven-year-old boy, he became the youngest pianist ever to perform a concert at the theater.

Never too young to learn

Niu Niu was born into a musical family in Xiamen. His father Zhang was a piano teacher. Niu Niu grew up listening to his father’s students playing the piano. At just three years old, Niu Niu asked his father to teach him to play, too.

“I gave Niu Niu some sheet music and helped him find the eight notes when he first played the piano. To my surprise, he played nearly 80 percent correct,” said the father. He used to think that three years old is too young an age to learn piano, but Niu Niu changed his mind. He continued to allow Niu Niu to watch his teaching of other students and gave him more sheet music to play.

Playing for fun

Zhang started teaching Niu Niu standard piano lessons when he was four. Unlike many other piano teachers, Zhang didn’t insist that Niu Niu play strictly with the correct finger positioning (位置). He said that the strict finger positioning would rob some kids of fun of playing. So Niu Niu could play in his own way. He could play the tone successfully. But Niu Niu was required to play the music without looking at the sheet music. Now he can remember about 80 pages.

Rising to fame

In 2003, at the age of 6, Niu Niu successfully held a sole concert in his hometown Xiamen. At the age of 8, he gave a performance at the International Piano Festival in France. At the age of 10, Niu Niu played in London and his performance was praised by Prince Charles. Last year, this young pianist published his first album “Niu Niu Plays Mozart” and over 10,000 copies have been sold in the world.

We are very glad to see a young Chinese pianist rising in the music world.

1.How old was Niu Niu when he performed a concert at the National Grand Theater?

2.What was Niu Niu’s father?

3.What did Niu Niu’s father feel when Niu Niu played nearly 80 percent of the sheet music correct?

4.What did Niu Niu’s father say about the strict finger positioning?

5.What do you think of Zhang’s way of teaching his son Niu Niu? （请自拟一句话作答）

 

Jack Brown, an office worker, lives in Washington. He inherited (继承) a million dollars when he was 23, but he wasn’t happy at all. When his college friends were looking for their jobs, he didn’t have to. Jack decided to keep living a simple life like everyone else. He gave ﹩10，000 of his money to a charity to help poor children live a happy life. Today he is 36. He still wears cheap shoes and clothes and drives a small car only, but he is very happy.
Up to now Jack has helped some children from poor countries all over the world, by sending them each ﹩200 a month. The money was used for the children’s study, food, medicine and clothing. Jack receives a report each year on the children’s progress. They can write to each other, but usually the children do not speak English.
When Jack first heard about these children, he wanted to help them. “It was nothing special,” he said. “Until I went to these countries and met the children I was helping, I didn’t know anything about their life.” Once Jack went to meet a little girl in Africa. He said that the meeting was very exciting. “When I met her, I felt very, very happy, ”he said. “And I saw that the money was used for a good cause. It brought me happiness. I want to do everything I can to go on helping those children.”
【小题1】Jack has sent them each ﹩200 a month to help some poor children ________.

A．only in Washington	B．only in England
C．only in Africa	D．around the world

【小题2】Jack learned about the children’s progress by ________.

A．visiting them each other	B．getting a report each year
C．staying with them	D．talking to them in English

【小题3】The underlined words “for a good cause” means ________ in Chinese.

A．施舍

B．行善

C．优惠

D．赏赐

【小题4】The money Jack gave the children wasn’t used for the children’s ________.

A．clothing

B．medicine

C．study

D．playing

【小题5】What’s the main idea of the story?

A．Help others, and you’ll feel happy

B．It’s necessary to write letters to poor children

C．Live a simple life., and you can give others help

D．It’s the most important to help the children in Africa

Once Effendi had a joke with the Prime Minister (宰相). He said that the Minister would die the next day. The next day, the Minister fell to the ground from the horse and really died. When the king learned this, he got angry and sent his men to catch Effendi at once.
When Effendi was brought to him, the king shouted angrily, “Effendi, since (既然)you knew when my Minister would die, you must know the date of your own death. Say it out, or you’ll die today.”
Effendi looked at the king for a while. Then he answered, “But how can I know? I’ll die two days earlier than you.” The king was afraid that if he killed Effendi, he himself would die after that. He thought he must keep Effendi alive (活着) as long as possible, so he let Effendi go.
【小题1】This story tells us ________.

A．how Effendi fooled (愚弄) the king	B．when the king would die
C．why the Minister died	D．Effendi knew the dates of everyone’s death

【小题2】The Prime Minister died because ________.

A．Effendi killed him	B．Effendi said he would die
C．He was badly ill	D．He fell off the horse

【小题3】 Why did the king ask Effendi to tell him the date of Effendi’s own death?

A．Because the king wanted to know when he himself would die.

B．Because the wanted to find an excuse to kill Effendi.

C． Because he himself had known the date of Effendi’s death.

D．Because he wanted to know when Effendi would die.

【小题4】The king let Effendi go because ________.

A．he hoped to live a long life	B．he was afraid of Effendi
C．he didn’t believe (相信) Effendi’s word	D．He knew he would die two days later

【小题5】Which of the following is not true?

A．Effendi played a joke on the Minister

B．Effendi didn’t know when the king would die.

C．The king was afraid of death.

D．If the king killed Effendi, he himself would die two days later.

Once Effendi had a joke with the Prime Minister（宰相）. He said that the Minister would die the next day. The next day, the Minister fell to the ground from the horse and really died. When the king learned this, he got angry and sent his men to catch Effendi at once.
When Effendi was brought to him, the king shouted angrily, “Effendi, since you knew when my Minister would die, you must know the date of your own death. Say it out, or you’ll die today.”
Effendi looked at the king for a while. Then he answered, “But how can I know? I’ll die two days earlier than you.” The king was afraid that if he killed Effendi, he himself would die after that. He thought he must keep Effendi alive as long as possible, so he let Effendi go.
【小题1】This story tells us __________.

A．how Effendi fooled the king	B．when the king would die
C．why the Minister died	D．Effendi knew the date of everyone’s death

【小题2】The Prime Minister died because __________.

A．Effendi killed him	B．Effendi said he would die
C．he was badly ill	D．he fell off the horse

【小题3】Why did the king ask Effendi to tell him the date of Effendi’s own death?

A．Because the king wanted to know when he himself would die.

B．Because the king wanted to find an excuse to kill Effendi.

C．Because he himself had known the date of Effendi’s death.

D．Because he wanted to know when Effendi would die.

【小题4】The king let Effendi go because __________.

A．he hoped to live a long life	B．he was afraid of Effendi
C．he didn’t believe Effendi’s words	D．he knew the would die two days later

【小题5】Which of the following is not true?

A．Effendi played a joke on the Minister.

B．The king was afraid of death.

C．Effendi didn’t know when the king would die

D．If the king killed Effendi, he himself would die two days later.

 

Once Effendi had a joke with the Prime Minister（宰相）. He said that the Minister would die the next day. The next day, the Minister fell to the ground from the horse and really died. When the king learned this, he got angry and sent his men to catch Effendi at once.

When Effendi was brought to him, the king shouted angrily, “Effendi, since you knew when my Minister would die, you must know the date of your own death. Say it out, or you’ll die today.”

Effendi looked at the king for a while. Then he answered, “But how can I know? I’ll die two days earlier than you.” The king was afraid that if he killed Effendi, he himself would die after that. He thought he must keep Effendi alive as long as possible, so he let Effendi go.

1.This story tells us __________.

   A. how Effendi fooled the king         B. when the king would die

   C. why the Minister died              D. Effendi knew the date of everyone’s death

2.The Prime Minister died because __________.

   A. Effendi killed him                 B. Effendi said he would die

   C. he was badly ill                   D. he fell off the horse

3.Why did the king ask Effendi to tell him the date of Effendi’s own death?

   A. Because the king wanted to know when he himself would die.

   B. Because the king wanted to find an excuse to kill Effendi.

   C. Because he himself had known the date of Effendi’s death.

   D. Because he wanted to know when Effendi would die.

4.The king let Effendi go because __________.

   A. he hoped to live a long life          B. he was afraid of Effendi

   C. he didn’t believe Effendi’s words     D. he knew the would die two days later

5.Which of the following is not true?

   A. Effendi played a joke on the Minister.

   B. The king was afraid of death.

   C. Effendi didn’t know when the king would die

   D. If the king killed Effendi, he himself would die two days later.