Have you ever wished that you could make your little sister’s teddy bear talk to her? Or have you ever wanted to bring a puppet (木偶) to life? If so, you may be interested in learning the art of ventriloquism (腹语术). A ventriloquist can make an ordinary object seem to be alive by giving it a personality, movement, and speech.
Your object can be a puppet, or a doll. Give your new “friend” a name, and then decide on the personality that he will have. The next step is to give your friend movements that agree with the personality you have chosen.
Now you can learn to make your “friend” talk. A ventriloquist will control his mouth and lips so that it will appear that his voice is coming from the object he is using. This will take practice, but you can do it.
First, decide on a voice that is different from your own. It could be higher or lower than yours, or could even have a special accent. Then, find a clean teaspoon and hold the handle between your front teeth. Now, using the voice you created for your friend and holding the handle of the teaspoon tightly between your teeth, look into a mirror and talk. Practicing with the spoon in your mouth will help you learn to keep your mouth from moving. Now try telling a joke in your normal voice and have your friend speak in his voice. Practice those words until you can say them without your lips moving at all.
Ventriloquism is fun. It also requires hard work to become good at it. The most important thing to do is practice. But if you are willing to take the time to give your friend an interesting personality, to practice lively movements, and to work on good mouth control, then you will be well on your way to becoming a ventriloquist!
小题1:According to the text, a ventriloquist .| A．is a person who can make puppets | | B．needs to work with another person | | C．can speak without using his mouth | | D．can make an object seem to speak |
小题2:You need to hold the handle of a teaspoon between your front teeth so that . | A．your voice will change | | B．your mouth won’t move | | C．you can look humorous | | D．you can feel your mouth’s movements |
小题3:If you want to be good at ventriloquism, you .| A．need to spend much time practicing | | B．must learn from famous ventriloquists | | C．should learn at least one special accent | | D．must have a great doll to practice with |
小题4:What would be the best title for the text? | A．How to tell jokes | | B．How to make puppets | | C．Secrets of ventriloquism | | D．Tips on making friends |
|
小题1:D
小题2:B
小题3:A
小题4:C |
文章谈论的正是如何练习腹语的技巧。
小题1:细节题。根据地一段最后一句A ventriloquist can make an ordinary object seem to be alive by giving it a personality, movement, and speech.可知D正确。
小题2:推理题。用牙齿的前部咬住teaspoon的目的是不让嘴部动。
小题3:细节题。根据最后一段The most important thing to do is practice. But if you are willing to take the time to give your friend an interesting personality可知要多花时间来练习。
小题4:主旨大意题。文章谈论的正是如何练习腹语的技巧。 |
核心考点
试题【Have you ever wished that you could make your little sister’s teddy bear talk to】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
If there is one thing I’m sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It’s not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.
The nature of what is news may change. What basically makes news is what affects our lives — the big political stories, the coverage（报导）of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic（基因）engineering. In the future, I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do — as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.
It’s quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted（传送） electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact, I’m pretty sure that how it will happen in the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read — sports and international news, etc.
I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media. They actually feed off each other. Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound in the air. And as for the Internet, it’s never really pleasant to read something just on a screen.
小题1:What is the best title for the passage?| A．The Best Way to Get News. | | B．The Changes of Media. | | C．Make Your Own Newspaper. | | D．The Future of Newspaper. |
小题2:In the writer’s opinion, in the future, _______. | A．more big political affairs, wars and disasters will make news | | B．newspapers will not be printed in publishing houses any longer | | C．newspapers will cover more scientific researches | | D．more and more people will prefer watching TV to reading newspapers |
小题3:From the passage, we can infer _______. | A．newspapers will win the competition among the different media | | B．newspapers will stay with us together with other media | | C．television will take the place of newspaper in the future | | D．the writer believes some media will die out |
小题4:The phrase “feed off” in the last paragraph means ______.| A．depend on | B．compete with | C．fight with | D．kill off |
|
The 2012 London Olympics had enough problems to worry about. But one more has just been added -- a communications blackout caused by solar storms.
After a period of calm within the Sun, scientists have detected the signs of a flesh cycle of sunspots that could peak in 2012, just in time for the arrival of the Olympic torch in London.
Now scientists believe that this peak could result in vast solar explosions that could throw billions of tons of charged matter towards the Earth, causing strong solar storms that could jam the telecommunications satellites and interact links sending five Olympic broadcast from London.
"The Sun"s activity has a strong influence on the Earth. The Olympics could be in the middle of the next solar maximum which could affect the functions of communications satellites," said Professor Richard Harrison, head of space physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.
At the peak of the cycle, violent outbursts called coronal mass ejections (日冕物质抛射) occur in the Sun"s atmosphere, throwing out great quantities of electrically-charged matter. "A coronal mass ejection can carry a billion tons of solar material into space at over a million kilometres per hour. Such events can expose astronauts to a deadly amount, can disable satellites, cause power failures on Earth and disturb communications," Professor Harrison added. The risk is the greatest during a solar maximum when there is the greatest number of sunspots.
Next week in America, NASA is scheduled to launch a satellite for monitoring solar activity called the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which will take images of the Sun that are 10 times clearer than the most advanced televisions available.
The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory helped to make the high-tech cameras that will capture images of the solar flares (太阳耀斑) and explosions as they occur.
Professor Richard Harrison, the lab"s director, said that the SDO should be able to provide early warning of a solar flare or explosion big enough to affect satellite communications on Earth "If we have advanced warning, we"ll be able to reduce the damage. What you don"t want is things switching off for a week with no idea of what"s caused the problem," he said.
小题1:The phrase "communications blackout" in paragraph 1 most probably refers to____________ during the 2012 Olympics. | A．the extinguishing of the Olympic torch | | B．the collapse of broadcasting systems | | C．the transportation breakdown in London | | D．the destruction of weather satellites |
小题2:According to the passage, scientists are convinced that __________.| A．the sun’s activities have little to do with the earth | | B．the London Olympic broadcasting will be possibly influenced by the 2012 peak of sunspots | | C．the 2012 Olympic Games are during the solar maximum of throwing out greatest number of sunspots | | D．solar explosion will cause strong storms on the earth |
小题3:What can be inferred about the solar activity described in the passage? | A．The most fatal matter from the corona falls onto Earth. | | B．The solar storm peak occurs in the middle of each cycle. | | C．It takes several seconds for the charged matter to reach Earth. | | D．The number of sunspots declines after coronal mass ejections. |
小题4:According to the passage, NASA will launch a satellite to _________. | A．take images of the solar system | | B．provide early warning of thunderstorms | | C．keep track of solar activities | | D．improve the communications on Earth |
小题5:Which of the following might be the best title of the passage? | A．Solar Storms: An Invisible Killer | | B．Solar Storms: Earth Environment in Danger | | C．Solar Storms: Threatening the Human Race | | D．Solar Storms: Human Activities to Be Troubled |
|
I went to Beijing this National holiday, and it was an interesting experience of my life.
My friends told us that taking the “hard 16 ” to Beijing would be really terrible. So we didn’t know what to 17 . But we were pleasantly surprised when we finally boarded the 18 , which was relatively modern and 19 . During the 14-hour ride we ate peanuts and talked. It was not 20 at all.
It was morning when we arrived. We stepped out of the railway station, having sat in hard seats and not getting much 21 . However, we had energy. First, we tried to get return tickets to Shanghai, but the tickets seller 22 us that tickets would not be on 23 for another two days. We were a little worried about getting 24 , but we made up our minds to 25 for the hotel to put our bags down. After fighting our way 26 the “gypsy” taxi driver who tried to 27 one hundred yuan for the ride, we found another taxi and it 28 cost us thirty yuan to get 29 we had planned to go. When we reached the hotel, there was a window for airplane and train tickets. 30 , the man behind the counter could get tickets that day, which we 31 . The most important lesson about China I ever 32 is to get someone to do your work for you, and it seems to work out much 33 . We were not able to get tickets, but the 34 agents could.
While in Beijing we saw a lot of places of interest, most of which were very 35 . It was fun to be with thousands of people in one place. There aren’t any words to describe it.
| 小题1: | | A．chair | B．bed | C．bench | D．seat |
|
| 小题2: | | A．provide | B．happen | C．expect | D．think |
|
| 小题3: | | A．plane | B．train | C．ship | D．bus |
|
| 小题4: | | A．clean | B．dirty | C．simple | D．long |
|
| 小题6: | | A．trouble | B．sleep | C．food | D．help |
|
| 小题7: | | A．promised | B．persuaded | C．advised | D．informed |
|
| 小题9: | | A．behind | B．out | C．back | D．through |
|
| 小题11: | | A．towards | B．into | C．past | D．across |
|
| 小题12: | | A．charge | B．offer | C．bargain | D．share |
|
| 小题13: | | A．even | B．only | C．also | D．still |
|
| 小题14: | | A．where | B．which | C．what | D．how |
|
| 小题15: | | A．Meanwhile | B．Otherwise | C．Therefore | D．However |
|
| 小题16: | | A．couldn’t | B．wouldn’t | C．shouldn’t | D．needn’t |
|
| 小题17: | | A．heard | B．taught | C．gave | D．learned |
|
| 小题18: | | A．harder | B．earlier | C．easier | D．later |
|
| 小题19: | | A．business | B．travel | C．transport | D．hotel |
|
| 小题20: | | A．interesting | B．crowded | C．famous | D．good |
|
|
My sister and I grew up in a little village in England. Our father was a struggling 16 , but I always knew he was 17 . He never criticized us, but used 18 to bring out our best. He’d say, “If you pour water on flowers, they flourish. If you don’t give them water, they die.” I 19 as a child I said something 20 about somebody, and my father said, “ 21 time you say something unpleasant about somebody else, it’s a reflection of you.” He explained that if I looked for the best 22 people, I would get the best 23 . From then on I’ve always tried to 24 the principle in my life and later in running my company.
Dad’s also always been very 25 . At 15, I started a magazine. It was 26 a great deal of my time, and the headmaster of my school gave me a 27 ：stay in school or leave to work on my magazine.
I decided to leave, and Dad tried to sway me from my decision, 28 any good father would. When he realized I had made up my mind, he said, “Richard, when I was 23, my dad 29 me to go into law. And I’ve 30 regretted it. I wanted to be a biologist, 31 I didn’t pursue my 32 . You know what you want. Go fulfill it.”
As 33 turned out, my little publication went on to become Student, a national 34 for young people in the U.K. My wife and I have two children, and I’d like to think we are bringing them up in the same way Dad 35 me.
| 小题1: | | A．biologist | B．manager | C．lawyer | D．gardener |
|
| 小题2: | | A．strict | B．honest | C．special | D．learned |
|
| 小题3: | | A．praise | B．courage | C．power | D．warmth |
|
| 小题4: | | A．think | B．imagine | C．remember | D．guess |
|
| 小题5: | | A．unnecessary | B．unkind | C．unimportant | D．unusual |
|
| 小题6: | | A．Another | B．Some | C．Any | D．Other |
|
| 小题8: | | A．in case | B．by turns | C．by chance | D．in return |
|
| 小题9: | | A．revise | B．set | C．review | D．follow |
|
| 小题10: | | A．understanding | B．experienced | C．serious | D．demanding |
|
| 小题11: | | A．taking up | B．making up | C．picking up | D．keeping up |
|
| 小题12: | | A．suggestion | B．decision | C．notice | D．choice |
|
| 小题13: | | A．and | B．as | C．even if | D．as if |
|
| 小题14: | | A．helped | B．allowed | C．persuaded | D．suggested |
|
| 小题15: | | A．always | B．never | C．seldom | D．almost |
|
| 小题16: | | A．rather | B．but | C．for | D．therefore |
|
| 小题17: | | A．promise | B．task | C．belief | D．dream |
|
| 小题19: | | A．newspaper | B．magazine | C．program | D．project |
|
| 小题20: | | A．controlled | B．comforted | C．reminded | D．raise |
|
|
In the US, people prefer waiting for a table to sitting with people they don’t know. This means a hostess may not seat a small group until a small table is available, even if a large one is. If you are sitting at a table with people you don’t know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without asking if it will disturb them.
At American restaurants and coffee shops you are usually served tap water before you order. You may find the bread and butter is free, and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill.
Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and closing time for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. Especially in large cities, stores may be open 24 hours a day.
Serving in restaurants is often large; too large for many people. If you can’t finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a “doggie bag”. It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you’re taking the food for yourself.
Supper and dinner are both words for the evening meal. Some people have “Sunday dinner”. This is an especially big noon meal.
Tips are not usually added to the check. They are not included in the price of the meal, either. A tip of about 15% is expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave. In some restaurants, a check is brought on a plate and you put your money there. Then the waiter or waitress brings you your change.
小题1:Which statement is true?| A．American people like sitting with people they don’t know. | | B．A hostess always seats a small group at a large table. | | C．American people never sit with people they don’t know. | | D．American people will not light a cigarette if the people who sit at the same table mind their smoking. |
小题2:What is served before you order?| A．bread | B．butter | C．coffee | D．cold water |
小题3:What do American people always do when servings are too large for them?| A．They take the food home with a doggie bag for their dogs. | | B．They leave the food on the table and go away. | | C．They take the food home with a doggie bag and enjoy the food later. | | D．They ask the waitress or waiter to keep the food for them. |
小题4:Sunday dinner is_______.| A．a dinner in the evening | B．A big noon meal | | C．a big lunch on Sunday | D．A supper on Sunday |
|
