题干

   You dash through a crowded railway station, tripping over bags, spilling your coffee, only to have the doors slide shut in your face, leaving you breathless on the platform as the train pulls away.

But at least, if you're in France, someone may be playing the piano for you. But it won't be performed by a paid musician, or even a street entertainer playing for coins. It will just be a random passer-by, jamming (即兴演奏) for the fun of it on one of the pianos that the national railroad company, S. N. C. F. , has fixed in nearly 100 stations across France. They are free for anyone to play, and travelers from all walks of life have taken to doing just that.

Gares & Connexions, the S. N. C. F. division that manages its stations, rents the instruments from producer, Yamaha, which maintains them and tunes them every month or two. The first one was set up in the Gare Montparnasse in Paris in 2012.

The music, mixed with the sounds of shouting passengers, screaming trains and rolling suitcases, gives French stations a special soundscape. The amateur (业余的) musicians have included Irish soccer fans and even babies. In 2014, Gares & Connexions and Yamaha organized a nationwide contest called Your Turn to Play, asking participants to submit (提交) videos of themselves using one of the pianos. It drew nearly 900 entries.

Isn't the railroad company taking a big chance? Obviously not. "None of the instruments has been vandalized to this day, or even merely damaged," said Claire Foumon, a spokeswoman for Gares & Connexions. "They are shared and respected by all. " So if you miss a train in Paris one day, perhaps someone will be playing a favorite piece that will ease your pain. Or perhaps you'll sit down and play your annoyance away yourself.

【小题1】Why did Gares & Connexions fix pianos in railway stations?
A.To advertise Yamaha's products.
B.To make stations more attractive.
C.To let travelers have a relaxing trip.
D.To help street artists make a living.
【小题2】What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us?
A.The contest has proved a hit.
B.The pianos are very popular.
C.Railway stations are crowded.
D.Everyone can be an amateur musician.
【小题3】What does the underlined word "vandalized" in Paragraph 5 probably mean?
A.Selected carefully.
B.Checked regularly.
C.Reserved in advance.
D.Destroyed on purpose.
【小题4】What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Miss a train yet catch a tune
B.A good place to ease your pain
C.The role of pianos in French life
D.An amazing train with a piano bar
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同类题2

   I was attending a party one night given in Sir Ross's honor. During the dinner, the man sitting next to me told a humorous story and spoke of the quotation:“There's a divinity(神)that shapes our ends, /Rough-hew them how we will. ”

The storyteller mentioned that the quotation was from the Bible. He was wrong. I knew that; I knew it positively. There couldn't be the slightest doubt about it. And so, to get a feeling of importance and show my high quality, I chose myself as an unwelcome person to correct him. He stuck to his guns. “What? From Shakespeare? Impossible! Absurd ! That quotation was from the Bible. ”

The storyteller was sitting at my right hand, and Frank Gammond, an old friend of mine, was seated at my left hand. Mr. Gammond had devoted years to the study of Shakespeare, so the storyteller and I agreed to leave the question to Mr. Gammond. Mr. Gammond listened, kicked me under the table, and then said ,“Dale, you are wrong. The gentleman is right. It is from the Bible. ”

On our way home that night, I said to Mr. Gammond,“Frank, you knew that quotation was from Shakespeare. ”

“Yes, of course,”he replied. “Hamlet, Act V, Scene 2. But we were guests on a festive occasion, my dear Dale. Why prove to a man he is wrong? Is that going to make him like you? Why not let him save his face? He didn't ask for your opinion. He didn't want it. Why argue with him?”The man who said that taught me a lesson I would never forget. I not only had made the storyteller uncomfortable, but had put my friend in an embarrassing situation. How much better it would have been if I hadn't become argumentative.

Nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants(竞争者)more firmly convinced than ever that he is absolutely right. You can't win an argument. You can't because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it.

【小题1】At the party, the author tried to get a feeling of importance by ___________ .
A.telling a humorous story
B.showing off his rich knowledge
C.teaching the storyteller a lesson
D.correcting the storyteller's mistake
【小题2】The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 means that ___________ .
A.he realized he was wrong
B.he didn't change his mind
C.he felt sorry for what he said
D.he wanted to fight with the author
【小题3】What do we learn about Frank Gammond?
A.He was very humorous.
B.He was very thoughtful.
C.He knew much about the Bible.
D.He didn't know much about Shakespeare.
【小题4】What does the author learn from his friend Gammond?
A.Having an open mind.
B.Respecting others opinion.
C.Never getting into an argument.
D.Avoiding making mistakes in public.

同类题3

   I was the fool at school, regarded as a special needs student. I was termed as such, obviously, because I was not interested in school and did not care for my _______.

Over time, I started to believe in my stupidity. I _______ the fact that I was in special needs classes and poured it out as anger and depression. But one activity _______ this view of myself chess.

I started to play chess with my father after school simply because I wanted to _______ him at something. My father was a _________ man, fond of physics, writing, religion…, almost every _______. He was called a walking dictionary. So, winning in chess against my father would be a _______ that I had intellectual power. On the small chessboard, I had a chance to _______ my so-called inability.

Game after game, I wanted to beat my father even more. I started to study chess books and play against a chess computer to _______ my skills. One weekend, I finally checkmated(将杀) my father on a ferry ride, which made me feel ________.

Two years later, I became the second board on my school chess team, with our top board being the best high school player in the state. But before the tournament season, our top player ________ to come. There came my chance to play as top board against the best players in other states.

I was determined to show who I had become: a(n) ________ person able to win with calculation, logic and will. My most ________ game came in the final round. Our team was facing a high school which only excellent students attended. It was ________ a match between a special needs student and a smart soul. My opponent(对手) was playing well and kept ________ while I kept defending to keep my king safe. He spent long trying to break down my defenses, but could not find the final push. I ________ with more defensive moves, trying to make it as difficult for him as possible. With little ________ left, he started to make rapid moves. ________ he could make the final decision, he ran out of time. Honestly, as his clock flag fell, I jumped up out of my seat and kissed the floor out of excitement. Of course it was not the most sportsmen—like ________, but I could not control my emotions.

While holding my winner’s cup, I knew I was not ________. The inferiority complex (自卑感) had melted away, and I realized that underneath our thoughts, each person is a genius.

【小题1】
A.habitsB.gradesC.plansD.benefits
【小题2】
A.noticedB.explainedC.acceptedD.ignored
【小题3】
A.changedB.supportedC.questionedD.showed
【小题4】
A.pleaseB.comfortC.beatD.disturb
【小题5】
A.smartB.strictC.quietD.strong
【小题6】
A.methodB.topicC.eventD.field
【小题7】
A.dreamB.lessonC.theoryD.sign
【小题8】
A.proveB.exposeC.overcomeD.promote
【小题9】
A.teachB.sharpenC.chooseD.invent
【小题10】
A.overjoyedB.disappointedC.puzzledD.interested
【小题11】
A.promisedB.managedC.happenedD.failed
【小题12】
A.braveB.luckyC.activeD.intelligent
【小题13】
A.terribleB.memorableC.dangerousD.popular
【小题14】
A.normallyB.possiblyC.actuallyD.partly
【小题15】
A.attackingB.smilingC.pausingD.escaping
【小题16】
A.returnedB.quitC.wonD.exchanged
【小题17】
A.patienceB.timeC.energyD.wisdom
【小题18】
A.OnceB.UntilC.BeforeD.Unless
【小题19】
A.spiritB.thoughtC.commentD.behavior
【小题20】
A.proudB.stupidC.brightD.lazy

同类题5

   A couple of years ago I graduated from art school. After graduation I was unsure of what to do with my degree. I had majored in Illustration(插画专业)and loved it,but didn't really feel interested in doing illustrations for any companies. This left me with few options other than freelance(自由职业的)jobs and nannying.

I spent two years working as a nanny doing freelance illustrations on the side. It just wasn't quite enough to pay rent, but I loved it, so I worked well over 50 hours a week, trying to keep up with both.

Just under a year ago I went to a friend's wedding. I couldn't think of a gift for them and really didn't have a lot of money to spare so I used my talents to create a portrait for them. It wasn't much, but I hoped it would be a good gift. When I handed the portrait to them and they unwrapped it, the looks on their faces were something I did not expect. There were joyful tears in their eyes as they cried, "That's us! This is so beautiful!"

It's funny because when I was in art school portraits were always my least favourite assignment. I hated drawing people and was always so much more interested in drawing little furry creatures. Once I saw the looks on my friends' faces after giving them their portrait, it was all over. I suddenly loved portraits and wanted to do more.

I now take portraits to every wedding I go to and have given them as gifts to the families I nannied for. Every time the reaction makes all of the hard work and time I put into them so worth it.

I' ve just started offering couple, family and pet portraits as an item on my Etsy shop.

【小题1】After graduation, the author chose to ________.
A.do illustrations for a company
B.draw portraits
C.work as a nanny and a freelancer
D.draw furry creatures
【小题2】Why did the author decide to draw a portrait for her friends as a wedding present?
A.Her friends requested her to do so.
B.She thought it was meaningful.
C.She didn't have enough money to buy a gift.
D.She was fond of drawing people.
【小题3】How did the friends feel when they received their portrait?
A.Delighted.B.Disappointed.
C.Embarrassed.D.Shocked.
【小题4】What may be the best title of the passage?
A.Your major is your future career
B.A gift turned into my career
C.I sacrificed a lot for my job
D.You are to do what you desire to do