I started winning competitions. We still had very little money -- my father had to borrow $5,000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won -- earning enough money to pay back our loan.
It was soo n clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on the world's big stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for an apartment and even lent me a Steinway(斯坦威鋼琴).At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.
Now that I was in America, I spent two years practicing, and by 1999 I had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard me play and liked me, but orchestra schedules were set far in advance. I thought I might join them in a few years.
The next morning, I got a call. The great pianist Andre Watts, who was to play the "Gala Benefit Evening" at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, had become ill. I was asked to replace him. That performance was, for me, the moment. After violinist Isaac Stern introduced me, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. My father's mouth hung open throughout the entire song.
I played until 3:30 a.m. I felt something happening. Sure enough, it was a great success. Still, my father kept telling me, "You'd better practice!" But living in America with me was beginning to relax him. In Beijing I'd been fat -- he made sure I ate -- and he'd been skinny. Now I was getting thin. He wasn't.
My father and I had often practiced a piece called "Horses," a fun version for piano and erhu. One night in Carnegie Hall, after I played Chopin and Liszt, I brought Dad out on the stage, and we played our duet(二重奏). People went crazy -- they loved it. My father couldn't sleep for days. He was too happy to sleep.
There have been lots of concerts in Carnegie Hall, but for me playing there was especially sweet when I remember the cold days in Beijing. Together, my father and I worked to reach the lucky place where fortune spots you, and lets you shine.
【小題1】In the first paragraph his father cried when it was announced that he'd won mainly because__________.

A.his father was excited that his son succeeded at last.
B.his father was under too much pressure.
C.they could pay back the loan with the prize.
D.his father was proud of him.
【小題2】 Tell the order of the events.
a. He and his father moved to Philadelphia.
b. He was asked to replace the great pianist Andre Watts.
c. He and his father played “Horses” together.
d.The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard his performance.
e. The Curtis Institute of Music lent him a Steinway
A.a(chǎn), e, c, b, dB.b, e, a, d, cC.d, a, e, b, cD.a(chǎn), e, d, b, c
【小題3】 Which of the following statements agrees with the author?
A.The writer’s father had been very fat before they went to America.
B.The writer thought he would be one of them soon when he knew the Chicago Symphony orchestra heard him play and liked him.
C.The Curtis Institute of Music finally eased their money worries.
D.One can achieve his dream if he is lucky enough.
【小題4】 The underlined word there in the last paragraph refers to_________.
A.America B.Beijing.C.Carnegie HallD.All the places he went to.
【小題5】 What is the best title of the passage?
A.I Took Off!B.When Fortune Spots Me.
C.No Pain, No Gain.D.My father and I


【小題1】C【小題1】D【小題1】C【小題1】C【小題1】B

解析

練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源:2010-2011學(xué)年浙江省高三上學(xué)期11月月考英語卷 題型:閱讀理解

There are still many things that Peter Cooke would like to try his hand at — paper-making and feather-work are on his list. For the moment, though, he will stick to the skill that he has been delighted to make perfect over the past ten years: making delicate and unusual objects out of shells.

As he leads me round his apartment showing me his work, he points to a pair of shell-covered ornaments(裝飾品) above a fireplace. “I shan’t be at all bothered if people don’t buy them because I have got so used to them, and to me they’re lovely. I never meant to sell my work commercially. Some friends came to see me about five years ago and said, ‘You must have an exhibition — people ought to see these. We’ll talk to a man who owns an art gallery’”. The result was an exhibition in London, at which 70 per cent of the objects were sold. His second exhibition opened at the gallery yesterday. Considering the enormous prices the pieces command —around £2,000 for the ornaments — an empty space above the fireplace would seem a small sacrifice for Cooke to make.

There are 86 pieces in the exhibition, with prices starting at£225 for a shell-flower in a crystal vase. Cooke insists that he has nothing to do with the prices and is cheerily open about their level: he claims there is nobody else in the world who produces work like his, and, as the gallery-owner told him, “Well, you’re going to stop one day and everybody will want your pieces because there won’t be any more.”

“I do wish, though,” says Cooke, “that I’d taken this up a lot earlier, because then I would have been able to produce really wonderful things — at least the potential would have been there. Although the ideas are still there and I’m doing the best I can now, I’m more limited physically than I was when I started.” Still, the work that he has managed to produce is a long way from the common shell constructions that can be found in seaside shops. “I have a miniature(微型的) mind,” he says, and this has resulted in boxes covered in thousands of tiny shells, little shaded pictures made from shells and baskets of astonishingly realistic flowers.?

Cooke’s quest(追求) for beautiful, and especially tiny, shells has taken him further than his Norfolk shore: to France, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa and the Philippines, to name but a few of the beaches where he has lain on his stomach and looked for beauties to bring home. He is insistent that he only collects dead shells and defends himself against people who write him letters accusing him of stripping the world’s beaches. “When I am collecting shells, I hear people’s great fat feet crunching(嘎吱嘎吱地踩) them up far faster than I can collect them; and the ones that are left, the sea breaks up. I would not dream of collecting shells with living creatures in them or diving for them, but once their occupants have left, why should I not collect them?” If one bases this argument on the amount of luggage that can be carried home by one man, the beauty of whose work is often greater than its natural parts, it becomes very convincing indeed.

1.What does the reader learn about Peter Cooke in the first paragraph?

A. He has produced hand-made objects in different materials.?

B. He hopes to work with other materials in the future.?

C. He has written about his love of making shell objects.?

D. He was praised for his shell objects many years ago. 

2.When mentioning the cost of his shell objects, Cooke ____.

         A. cleverly changes the subject.

         B. defends the prices charged for his work.

         C. says he has no idea why the level is so high.

         D. notes that his work will not always be so popular.

3.The “small sacrifice” in Paragraph 2 refers to _________.?

A. the loss of Cooke’s ornaments?            B. the display of Cooke’s ornaments?

C. the cost of keeping Cooke’s ornaments      D. the space required to store Cooke’s ornaments

4.What does Cooke regret about his work?

A. He is not as famous as he should have been.?B. He makes less money than he should make.

C. He is less imaginative than he used to be.?      D. He is not as skillful as he used to be. ?

5.What does the reader learn about Cooke's shell-collecting activities?

A. Not everyone approves of what he does.

B. Other methods might make his work easier.

C. Other tourists get in the way of his collecting.

D. Not all shells are the right size and shape for his work

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:2012屆度遼寧省高三上學(xué)期第三次月考英語題 題型:其他題

注意: 如果選 E 涂 AD, 選F 涂BD,選G涂  CD。

I started to study English by myself when I was about 15 because of Michael Jackson. He’s been my idol since 1991, and I really wanted to understand him and his music. 1. I was very patient, and that helped me a lot in the process of learning English by myself.

Actually, I can’t describe the techniques I used to learn it, because it was almost automatic for me to start understanding English after a period of hard work trying to translate texts, dialogues and songs. 2.

One thing that I can say is that I started learning English through comparing patterns and observing the language structure, comparing it to Portuguese and trying to memorize rules.  3.  Another thing that helped me a lot is the fact that I would spend hours studying the uses, tenses, etc. of the words I could notice.

 4.    It was the hardest part of the process for me, because the only source I had was music, although I used a pronunciation dictionary , too.

5.    Later on I entered UFMG and really started studying English. Today I’m a teacher at an English Course, and I really enjoy it, because I can improve my English each day.

A.Despite the difficulty, I could learn everything well.

B.So I really can’t say exactly how I’ve achieved proficiency(熟練).

C.With the help of my teacher, I learned pronunciation well.

D.So I can say that a strong will is the key to my success.

E.  After having a large vocabulary, I started working on pronunciation.

F.  And I used to make lists of words in order to memorize them and their meanings.

G.I used to use a dictionary to find the meaning of each word in songs written by him.

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:2013屆度遼寧省莊河六高高二第一次月考英語題 題型:閱讀理解

Last year.I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, DC.I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended.Immediately, I pulled out all of my change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her.But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money.I just need help finding the post office.”

In an instant, I realized what I had done.I acted with prejudice―I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be.I hated what I saw in myself.

The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant.I left Honduras and arrived in the US at the age of 15.I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister.Through the years, I have been a doorkeeper, cashier and pizza delivery driver among many other humble(卑微的)jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer.

In my own life, I have experienced prejudice.I remember a time―at the age of 17―when I was a busboy, I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me.

But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am, where I have been ,and to lose sight of where I want to be going.That blind woman on the streets cured me of my blindness.She reminded me of my belief in humility(謙虛).By the way, I helped that lady to the post office.I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson.

1.How did the writer give the blind woman money?

    A.In a modest way                   B.In a polite way

    C.In an impatient way.             D.In a painful way

2.According to the text, the writer__________.

    A.still lives a poor life    

 B.was busy with his work

C.was born in Honduras  

D.was a native of Washington D.C.

3.According to the text, the author most probably agrees that one should__________.

    A.be nice to the elderly and the disabled

    B.try to experience different kinds of culture

    C.treat others equally with love and respect

    D.think about one’s past as often as possible

4.What would be the best title of the text?

    A.A priceless lesson                B.An act of prejudice

    C.A sightseeing trip   D.A humble moment

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:2010年普通高等學(xué)校招生全國統(tǒng)一考試(重慶卷)英語 題型:完型填空

第二節(jié) 完形填空 (共20小題:每小題1.5分,滿分30分)

     請閱讀西面短文,,掌握其大意,然后從36~55各題所給的四個選項(xiàng)(A、B、C和D)中,選出最佳選項(xiàng),并在答題卡上將該選項(xiàng)的標(biāo)號涂黑。

Introduction to letters to Sam

Dear Reader,

     Please allow me to tell you something before you read this book. When my     36    ,Sam,was born , my heart was filled with joy . I had been sitting  in a wheelchair for 20 years before then ,and I have been     37     ill many times . So I wondered if I would have the

     38   to tell Sam what I had      39 .

     For years I have been hosting a program on the     40     and writing articles for a  magazine .  Being     41 to move freely , I have learned to sit still and keep my  heart    42   , exchanging thoughts with  thousands of listeners and     43  . So when Sam was born .I

     44   to tell him about school and fridship , romance and work , love and everything else . That how I started to write these     45     , I hope that Sam would     46     them sooner or later .

     However , that expectation     47   when  Sam showed aigns of autism (自閉癥) at the age of two , He had actually stopped talking before the discovery of the signs . He    48   to communicate with others , even the family members . That was    49  for me but didn’t stop me writing on . I realized that I even    50  now to tell him . I wanted him to    51     what it means to be “diffenet” from others , and learn how to fight against the misfortune  he’ll    52   

as I myself .. his grandfather ,did ,I just     53  if  I could write all that I wanted to say in the rest of my life .

Now .   54    the book has been pubhshed . I have been given the chance , Every chapter in the book is a letter to Sam: some about my life .and all about what it means to be a     55  .

                                                               Daniel Gottlied

 

36.A.son     B. nephew  C.brother D.grandson

37.A.seriously     B.mentally   C. slightly        D.quictly

38. A.ability       B.time        C.courage          D.reaponsibuty

39. A.writen        B. sulfered   C.observed         D.lost

40. A. radio        B. television   C.stage  D.bed

41. A.ready         B.unable      C.anxious          D.cager

42. A.warm          B.broken      C.closed           D.open

43. A.hosts         B.vistors     C. readers         D.reportets

44. A.boon          B.stopped     C.forgot           D.decided

45.A.letters         B.emunls      C.books            D.diaries

46. A.bad        B. read       C. collecd         D.keep

47. A. decdoped     B.disappeared C. changed         D.arrived

48. A.ined          B.refused     C. regreed         D.hoped

49. A.exciting      B.aeceptable C.strange       D.heartherathing

50. A.less          B.eventhing  C.more             D.nothing

51. A. understand   B.explam      C.believe          D.question

52. A.fear          B.face        C. know            D.cause

53. A.felt          B.guessed     C.saw              D.doubted

54. A. as           B.once        C. thought         D.if

55. A.teacher       B. child      C. man             D.witct

 

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:2013屆云南省高一下學(xué)期期末考試英語題 題型:完型填空

 In the doorway of my home, I looked closely at my 23-year-old son, Daniel. In a few hours he would be flying to France to    36   a different life. It was a transitional(過渡的)time in Daniel's life. I wanted to    37   him some words of significance. But nothing came from my lips, and this was not the    38   time I had let such moments pass.

When Daniel was five, I took him to the bus stop on his first day of kindergarten. He asked, “What is it going to be like, Dad? Can I do it?” Then he walked   39   the steps of the bus and disappeared inside. The bus drove away and I said nothing. A decade later, a similar  40  played itself out. I drove him to college. As I started to leave, I tried to think of something to say to give him   41   and confidence as he started this new stage of life. Again, words   42   me.

Now, as I stood before him, I thought of those   43   opportunities. How many times have I let such moments   44  ? I don't find a quiet moment to tell him what they have   45   to me. Or what he might   46   to face in the years ahead. Maybe I thought it was not necessary to say anything.

What does it matter in the course of a lifetime if a father never tells a son what he really thinks of him?    47   as I stood before Daniel, I knew that it did matter. My father and I loved each other. Yet, I always     48   never hearing him put his   49   into words. Now I could feel my palms sweat and my throat tighten. Why is it so    50   to tell a son something from the heart?

My mouth turned dry, and I knew I would be able to get out only a few words clearly. “Daniel,” I said, “If I could have picked, I would have picked you.” That's all I could say. He hugged me. For a moment, the world    51  , and there were just Daniel and me. He was saying something, but tears misted my eyes, and I couldn't understand what he was saying. All I was  52 

of was the stubble(短須)on his chin as his face pressed   53   mine. What I had said to Daniel was    54   . It was nothing. And yet, it was   55   .

1.A. experience         B. spend            C. enjoy           D. shape

2.A. show               B. make             C. leave                D. instruct

3.A. last               B. first                C. very                 D. next

4.A. upward             B. into            C. down            D. up

5.A. sign               B. scene           C. scenery         D. sight

6.A. interest           B. benefit              C. courage         D. measure

7.A. failed                 B. discouraged     C. struck          D. troubled

8.A. future             B. embarrassing    C. obvious              D. lost

9.A. last               B. pass            C. fly                  D. remain

10.A. counted          B. meant            C. valued               D. existed

11.A. think             B. want             C. expect               D. wish

12.A. But               B. And              C. Instead              D. So

13.A. wondered          B. regretted            C. minded               D. tried

14.A. views             B. actions         C. feelings             D. attitudes

15.A. important         B. necessary            C. hard            D. complex

16.A. disappeared           B. changed         C. progressed           D. advanced

17.A. pleased               B. convinced            C. aware            D. tired

18.A. by                B. against              C. on              D. with

19.A. clumsy            B. gentle               C. violent              D. moving

20.A. none              B. all             C. anything             D. everything

 

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案