Robert Todd Duncan was born in 1903 in the southern city of Danville，Kentucky.His mother was his first music teacher.As a young man，he continued his music study in Indianapolis，Indiana.

In 1930，he completed more musical education at Columbia University in New York City.Then he moved to Washington.For fifteen years，he taught music at Howard University in Washington.At that time，not many black musicians were known for writing or performing classical music.Teaching at Howard gave Duncan the chance to share his knowledge of classical European music with a mainly black student population.He taught special ways to present the music.These special ways became known as the Duncan Technique.

Besides teaching，Duncan sang in several operas with performers who were all black.But it seemed that he always would be known mainly as a concert artist.However，his life took a different turn in the middle 1930s.At that time，the famous American music writer George Gershwin was looking for someone to play a leading part in his new work Porgy and Bess.The music critic (评论家) of the New York Times newspaper suggested Todd Duncan.Duncan had almost decided not to try for the part as he knew it would not be easy to get it.But he changed his mind.He sang a piece from an Italian opera for Gershwin.He had sung only a few minutes when Gershwin offered him the part.He became famous because of the part in Porgy and Bess.

Todd Duncan gained fame as an opera singer and concert artist.But his greatest love in music was teaching.When he stopped teaching at Howard，he continued giving singing lessons in his Washington home until the week before his death.

50．What is this passage mainly about?

A．What Robert Todd Duncan loved most.

B．How Robert Todd Duncan became famous.

C．Robert Todd Duncan and his works of music.

D．A brief introduction to Robert Todd Duncan.

51．According to Paragraph 2，while teaching at Howard University，Duncan________.

A．found special ways to present music

B．opened doors for other black classical singers

C．had the chance to know many famous black musicians

D．became known for writing and performing classical  music

52．What happened to Duncan in the middle 1930s?

A．He gave up teaching at Howard University.

B．He was introduced by the New York Times in detail.

C．He was asked to be in charge of the opera Porgy and Bess.

D．He was given a big opportunity to become an opera singer.

53．We can infer that Robert Todd Duncan didn’t at first want  to try for the part mainly because________.

A．he was too busy to do it

B．he was not interested in it

C．he was not confident enough

D．he didn’t want to become famous

Robert Todd Duncan was born in 1903 in the southern city of Danville，Kentucky.His mother was his first music teacher.As a young man，he continued his music study in Indianapolis，Indiana.

In 1930，he completed more musical education at Columbia University in New York City.Then he moved to Washington.For fifteen years，he taught music at Howard University in Washington.At that time，not many black musicians were known for writing or performing classical music.Teaching at Howard gave Duncan the chance to share his knowledge of classical European music with a mainly black student population.He taught special ways to present the music.These special ways became known as the Duncan Technique.

Besides teaching，Duncan sang in several operas with performers who were all black.But it seemed that he always would be known mainly as a concert artist.However，his life took a different turn in the middle 1930s.At that time，the famous American music writer George Gershwin was looking for someone to play a leading part in his new work Porgy and Bess.The music critic (评论家) of the New York Times newspaper suggested Todd Duncan.Duncan had almost decided not to try for the part as he knew it would not be easy to get it.But he changed his mind.He sang a piece from an Italian opera for Gershwin.He had sung only a few minutes when Gershwin offered him the part.He became famous because of the part in Porgy and Bess.

Todd Duncan gained fame as an opera singer and concert artist.But his greatest love in music was teaching.When he stopped teaching at Howard，he continued giving singing lessons in his Washington home until the week before his death.

60．What is this passage mainly about?

A．What Robert Todd Duncan loved most.

B．How Robert Todd Duncan became famous.

C．Robert Todd Duncan and his works of music.

D．A brief introduction to Robert Todd Duncan.

61．According to Paragraph 2，while teaching at Howard University，Duncan________.

A．found special ways to present music

B．opened doors for other black classical singers

C．had the chance to know many famous black musicians

D．became known for writing and performing classical  music

62．What happened to Duncan in the middle 1930s?

A．He gave up teaching at Howard University.

B．He was introduced by the New York Times in detail.

C．He was asked to be in charge of the opera Porgy and Bess.

D．He was given a big opportunity to become an opera singer.

63．We can infer that Robert Todd Duncan didn’t at first want  to try for the part mainly because________.

A．he was too busy to do it

B．he was not interested in it

C．he was not confident enough

D．he didn’t want to become famous

Many years ago, when I was fresh out of school and working in Denver, I was driving to my parents' home in Missouri for Christmas. I stopped at a gas station(加油站)about 50 miles from Oklahoma City, where I was planning to stop and visit a friend. While I was standing in line at the cash register(收款台), I said hello to an older couple who were also paying for gas.
I took off, but had gone only a few miles when black smoke poured from the back of my car. I stopped and wondered what I should do. A car pulled up behind me. It was the couple I had spoken to at the gas station. They said they would take me to my friend's We chatted on the way into the city, and when I got out of the car, the husband gave me his business card.
I wrote him and his wife a thank-you note for helping me. Soon afterward, I received a Christmas present from them. Their note that came with it said that helping me had made their holidays meaningful.
Years later, I drove to a meeting in a nearby town in the morning. In late afternoon I returned to my car and found that I'd left the lights on all day, and the battery(电池)was dead. Then I noticed that the Friendly Ford dealership - a shop selling cars - was right next door. I walked over and found two salesmen in the showroom.
"Just how friendly is Friendly Ford?" I asked and explained my trouble. They quickly drove a pickup truck to my car and started it. They would accept no payment, so when I got home, I wrote them a note to say thanks. I received a letter back from one of the salesmen. No one had ever taken the time to write him and say thank you, and it meant a lot, he said.
"Thank you" - two powerful words. They're easy to say and mean so much.
【小题1】The author planned to stop at Oklahoma City_________.

A．to visit a friend

B．to see his parents

C．to pay at the cash register

D．to have more gas for his car

【小题2】What happened when the author found smoke coming out of his car?

A．He had it pulled back to the gas station.

B．The couple sent him a business card.

C．The couple offered to help him.

D．He called his friend for help.

【小题3】The battery of the author’s car was dead because_______.

A．something went wrong with the lights

B．the meeting lasted a whole day

C．he forgot to turn off the lights

D．he drove too long a distance

【小题4】By telling his own experiences, the author tries to show______.

A．how to write a thank-you letter

B．how to deal with car problems

C．the kind-heartedness of older people

D．the importance of expressing thanks