The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.                                                          

                                                                 —Thomas Macaulay

Some thirty years ago, I was studying in a public school in New York. One day, Mrs Nanette O'Neill gave an arithmetic   41   to our class. When the papers were marked she discovered that twelve boys had made exactly the   42    mistakes throughout the test.
　　There is nothing really new about  43   in exams. Perhaps that was why Mrs O'Neill  44   even say a word about it. She only asked the twelve boys to   45   after class. I was one of the twelve.
　　Mrs O'Neill asked  46   questions, and she didn't   47    us either. Instead, she wrote on the blackboard the   48  words by Thomas Macaulay. She then ordered us to  49    these words into our exercise-books one hundred times.
　　I don't   50   about the other eleven boys. Speaking for  51   I can say :it was the most important single  52   of my life. Thirty years after being introduced to Macaulay's words, they  53   seem to me the best yardstick(准绳), because they give us a   54   to measure ourselves rather than others.
　    55   of us are asked to make  56   decisions about nations going to war or armies going to battle. But all of us are called upon daily to make a great many personal decisions.  57   the wallet, found in the street, be put into a pocket  58   turned over to the policeman? Should the  59   change received at the store be forgotten or returned? Nobody will know except  60   . But you have to live with yourself, and it is always better to live with someone you respect.
41. A. paper　　　      B. problem　　　        C. test 　　　      D. lesson
42. A. easy　　　       B. funny　　　　        C. same　　　           D. serious
43. A. lying　　        B. cheating　　         C. guessing　           D. discussing
44. A. didn't　　       B. did　　　　      C. would　　　          D. wouldn't
45. A. come　　　       B. leave　　　　        C. apologize　　        D. remain
46. A. no　　　　       B. certain　　　        C. many　　　           D. more
47. A. excuse　　       B. reject　　　         C. help　　　           D. scold
48. A. following　　    B. common　　　     C. above            D. unusual
49. A. repeat　　  B. copy　　　　　   C. put　　　　          D. get
50. A. worry　　    B. know　　　　         C. hear　　　           D. talk
51. A. myself　　       B. ourselves　　        C. themselves           D. herself
52. A. chance　　       B. incident　　         C. lesson　　       D. memory
53. A. even　　　       B. almost　　　　  C. always　　           D. still
54. A. way　　　        B. sentence　　         C. choice　　           D. reason
55. A. All　　　        B. Few　　　　　        C. Some　　　           D. None
56. A. quick　　        B. wise　　　　     C. great　　　      D. personal
57. A. Would　　        B. Must　　　　         C. Should　　　     D. Need
58. A. and　　　    B. or　　　　　         C. then　　　           D. but
59. A. extra　　   B. small　　　　        C. some　　　           D. necessary
60. A. me　　　　       B. us　　　　　     C. you　　　　      D. them 

We would appreciate it if you don’t ________ to leave your suggestions on our product and your expectations.

A. pretend                          B. undertake                 C. hesitate                  D. manage

.Since you are interested in traditional Chinese cultures,I think the festival is worth      .

A.experiencing                  B.being experienced

C.of being experienced          D.to be experienced

We all have our ways of marking time. As a photographer, my life is measured from one story to the next. My oldest son was born in the middle of a long story about the Endangered Species Act. My daughter came along with a pack of gray wolves.

Twenty stories later, though, it's the story in Alaska that I'll remember best. It was the story about the loss of wilderness—and the story during which my wife Kathy got cancer. That's the one that made time stand still. I stopped taking pictures on the day when she found that tumor. Cruelly, it was Thanksgiving. By Christmas, she had become very weak. Some days she was so sick she couldn't watch TV.

Early examination saves time. But ours was not early. By the time you can feel it yourself, it's often bigger than the doctor want it to be.

Cancer is a thief. It steals time. Our days are already short with worry. Then comes this terrible disease, unfair as storm at harvest time. But cancer also has the power to change us, for good. We learn to simplify, enjoying what we have instead of feeling sorry for what we don't. Cancer even made me a better father. My work had made me a stranger to my three kids. But now I pay attention to what really matters. This is not a race. This is a new way of life and new way of seeing, all from the cancer.

In the end each of us has so little time. We have less of it than we can possibly imagine. And even thought it turns out that Kathy's cancer has not spread, and her prognosis(诊断) is good, we try to make it all count now, enjoying every part of every day.

I've picked up my camera again. I watch the sky, searching for beautiful light. When winter storms come, Kathy and I gather our children and take the time to catch snowflakes (雪花) on our tongues. After all, this is good. This is we're living for.

24．As a photographer, the author used to ________．

   A．leave his daughter with a pack of gray wolves

   B．express his love for his family in a special way

   C．miss a great many important historical moments

   D．devote much more to his career than his family

25．Why did the author decide to stop taking pictures?

   A．To cure his own disease.

   B．To spend more time with his wife.

   C．To seek a better position.

   D．To leave the wildness alone.

26．What is the biggest change the cancer has brought to the author?

   A．He treasured every bit of time with his family.

   B．He has become a stranger to his children.

   C．He takes his work more seriously.

   D．He focuses more on medical care.

27．The author and his family catch snowflakes on their tongues probably because ________．

   A．the snowflakes taste very good

   B．snowflakes are what they feed on

   C．they regard that as a way to enjoy life

   D．there is beautiful light in the snowflakes

假设你是一名即将毕业的高中学生。现在校报征稿，请根据以下要点写一篇英语短文，谈谈你对高中生活的体会和建议。

1. 对老师与家长的关爱表示感谢；

2. 向与自己发生过矛盾的同学表达歉意；

3. 努力学习，实现人生梦想；

4. 对学弟、学妹的建议。

注意：

1. 可适当加入细节，使行文连贯；

2. 词数：100 左右（开头已给出，不计入总字数）。

High school is always considered as the most cherished period of one’s life. As a Senior high school student, it won’t be long before I graduate. ___________________________________________________________

Street at is a very popular from of art  61  is spreading quickly all over the world.You can find  62  on buildings,sidewalks and street signs.Now someart museums and gallerieseven include the  63  (work)of street artists in their collections.

Among all forms of street art,graffiti（涂鸦）is   64  (popular).It originally  65  (start)in New York in the 1960s.At first,some young people planted words and images on the walls,They found that  66  paintings they painted could show theirdisagreements against society,Later,this colorful,energetic style of writing began  67  (know)as graffiti.Street artists do this for different reasons.Some think it bring them closer to the people,  68  others try to express their political opinions.

In today’s world.the internet has a big influence  69  street art.  70  (show)their pictures to audiences all over the world has never been easier.The street art movement lives with energy and life of cities.It will contiune to grow and change.

 Education now only accounts for 4 percent of our country’s total budgets. ______, the figure in some developed countries is around 10 percent.

A. By coincidence   B. At random                C. In addition                   D. By comparison

Last night’s meteor(流星)shower left many people in the community dissatisfied and demanding answers. According to Gabe Rothschild, Emerald Valley’s mayor, people gathered in the suburbs of the city, carrying heavy telescopes, expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky. What they found instead was a sky so brightened by the city’s lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead.

“My family was so frustrated, ”admitted town resident Duane Cosby. “We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.”

Astronomers—scientists who study stars and planets—have been complaining about this problem for decades. They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past. They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.

There is yet a population besides professional and amateur star observers that suffers even more from light pollution. This population consists of birds, bats, frogs, snakes, etc. For example, outdoor lighting severely affects migrating birds. According to the International Dark-Sky Association.“100 million birds a year throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers.”

Countless more animal casualties(伤亡)result from the use of artificial lighting. Clearly, people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings, but some scientists think it can be harmful for humans, too. They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase a person’s chances of getting cancer.

Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution. For years, Flagstaff, Arizona, has enforced lighting regulations in its city in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory. Similar efforts have been made worldwide, and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them, so that other creatures can share the night.

32. It happened last night that　　　.

A. the city’s lights affected the meteor watching

B. the meteors flew past before being noticed

C. the city light show attracted many people

D. the meteor watching ended up a social outing

33. What do the astronomers complain about?

A. Meteor showers occur less often than before.

B. Their observation equipment is in poor repair.

C. Light pollution has remained unsolved for years.

D. Their eyesight is falling due to artificial lighting.

34. What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 4?

A. Birds may take other migration paths.

B. Animals’ living habits may change suddenly.

C. Varieties of animals will become sharply reduced.

D. Animals’ survival is threatened by outdoor lighting.

35. What message does the author most want to give us?

A. Saving wildlife is saving ourselves.

B. Great efforts should be made to save energy.

C. Human activities should be environmentally friendly.

D. New equipment should be introduced for space study.

    Taking a shower is relaxing. You can hum a song, daydream or think about nothing, leaving the real world behind you. But did you know that showering can also benefit your mind?

    A research by Scott Barry Kaufman, a psychologist from Yale University in the US interviewed over 3000 people around the world. It turned out that nearly two-thirds of the interviewees said they had experienced new ideas in the shower and were more likely to have them in the shower than at work.

    So why does a simple shower have such magic power? Science can explain it.

Showering can help to raise our level of dopamine (多巴胺), a hormone (荷尔蒙) closely related to our creativity. "People vary in terms of their level of creativity according to the activity of dopamine", explained Alice Flaherty, a famous American neuroscientist (神经系统学家). "Taking a warm shower can make us feel relaxed and therefore make the dopamine level rise and bring 'Aha! 'moment to us."

    Besides the chemical changes, showering may give you a break from what you feel you have been stuck with. Especially when you have thought hard all day about a problem, jumping into the shower can keep you from the outside world so that you can focus on your inner feelings and memories. In this way, according to American psychologist Shelley H. Carson, author of Your Creative Brain, "a showering hour may turn into an 'incubation (孵化) period’for your ideas."

    Compared with sitting in front of a computer, taking a shower is something we do less frequently in our daily life. When showering, we get a fresh experience with the change of location, temperature and humidity. "New and unexpected experiences can lead to positive changes in thinking," explained Kaufman. "Getting off the couch and jumping in the shower may create a distance and force you to think from a new point of view."

    Showering allows us to enjoy the creative juices of our minds, but it needn't just be the bathroom where you get your inspiration. For instance, Gertrude Stein, a female American writer and poet, got new ideas by driving around a farm and stopping at different cows until she found the one that most inspired her. So try to create your own way to free your mind, whether it's a walk near the ocean, a country drive or reading a book at home.

32. According to the article, what changes can showering cause?

    A. Bringing the terrible moment to us.

    B. Increasing the level of dopamine.

    C. Leading to boredom or tiredness.

    D. Setting the creative part of the brain free.

33. If one has focused on something all day, showering can help      .

    A. turn one's attention inwards

    B. draw one's attention to the outside world

    C. one make an important breakthrough

D. many chemical changes to take place

34. It can be inferred from the article that       .

    A. changes in the frequency of an action can create a new perspective

    B. it is a good idea to talk with others about their sources of           inspiration

    C. our lives might feel longer and fuller if we frequently try new things

    D. it is helpful to try something different rather than stay focused on a difficult task

35. The example of Gertrude Stein in the last paragraph is used to          .

    A. encourage readers to find their own ways of getting inspiration

    B. point out to readers that it's hard to find inspiration

    C. explain how to link inspiration with readers’daily lives

D. show that creativity often comes from strange places

Although it doesn’t look like _______, the entire church is made of wood.

A． it              B． that             C． this             D． such

Were you the first or the last child in your family? Or were you a middle or an only child? Some people think  ____61 ___  matters where you were born in your family. But there are different ideas about what birth order means. Some people say that oldest children, ____62 ___ are smart and strong-willed, are very likely  ____63 ___  (succeed). The reason  ____64 ___  this is simple. Parents have a lot of time for their first child and give him or her a lot of attention. An only child will succeed for  ____65 ___   same reason.

What happens to the  ____66 ___  children in the family? Middle children don’t get so much attention, so they don’t feel that important. If a family has many children, the middle one sometimes gets lost in the crowd. The youngest child,  ____67 ___ , often gets special treatment. Often this child grows up to be funny. But a recent study saw things quite  ____68 ___  (difference). The study found that first children believed in family rules. They didn’t take many chances in  ____69 ___  lives. They usually  ____70 ___ (follow) orders. Rules didn’t mean as much to later children in the family. They took chances and they often did better in life.

   Two of the hardest things to accomplish in this world are to acquire wealth by honest effort and, having gained it, to learn how to use it properly. Recently I walked into the locker room of a rather well known golf club after finishing a round.It was in the late afternoon and most of the members had left for their homes. But a half－dozen or so men past middle age were still seated at tables talking aimlessly and drinking more than was good for them.These same men can be found there day after day, and, strangely enough, each one of these men had been a man of affairs and wealth, successful in business and respected in the community if material prosperity were the chief necessity for happiness, then each one should have been happy.Yet, it seemed to me, something very important was missing, else—there would not have been the constant effort to escape the realities of life through scotch and soda.They knew, each one of them, that their productivity had ceased(停止)．When a fruit tree ceases to bear its fruit, it is dying.And it is even so with man.

What is the answer to a long and happy existence in this world of ours? I think I found it long ago in a passage from the book of Genesis which caught my eye while I was looking through my Bible.The words were few, but they became memorably impressed on my mind.“In__the__sweat__of__the__face__shall__you__eat__the__bread．”

To me, that has been a challenge from my earliest recollections (memories). In fact, the battle of life, of existence, is a challenge to everyone.The immortal words of St. Paul, too, have been and always will be a great inspiration to me. At the end of the road I want to be able to feel that I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

32. Which of the following is indicated in the first paragraph?

   A. Wealth results from honest effort.

   B．The men seated at tables in the locker room are lost in the significance of life.

   C．For some people, no way can be found to escape the realities of life other than scotch and soda.

   D．The men acquire wealth by planting fruit trees.

33. The underlined sentence “In the sweat of the face shall you eat the bread” means “________”．

   A. Bread tastes delicious when sweat pours off your face

   B．No pains, no gains

   C．Failure is the mother of success

   D．Bread comes from the sweat on your face

34. We learn from the passage that the author________．

   A．was a wealthy person in the community

   B．held a positive attitude towards an active life

   C．was fond of associating with celebrities (名人)

   D．kept a secret of the reason why he was so impressed

35. What is implied in the passage by the writer?

   A．To use wealth properly, eat, drink and be merry.

   B．Where there is a will, there is a way.

   C．As life is but like a dream, a man is like a fruit tree.

   D．If you cease to struggle, you cease to live.

 ---The weatherman on the news said it might rain later on this afternoon.

---Well, I ____ take my umbrella along with me today.

    A. can                  B. may              C. could              D. must    

Every student has tests when they are at school. But have you ever been so worried about the tests that you can’t fall asleep at night? Have you ever felt sick or had a headache during a test?        

___36___This worry in your mind can make your body feel bad. You may feel angry, frustrated, scared, or afraid, which can give you a stomachache or a headache.

___37___ Good or normal stress might happen when you are called to answer a question in class or when you have to give a speech. This kind of stress can help you to get things better done.   ___38___

But bad stress can happen if the stressful feelings keep going over a long time. You may not feel well if your parents are fighting, if a family member is ill, if you are having problems at school, or if you are going through anything else that makes you upset every day. ___39___

___40___That means making good decision about how to spend your time. If you are only dealing with school stuff and have no time to play, you can get stressed. Make sure you keep your SELF in mind: Sleep, Exercise, Leisure and Food. If you take care of yourself and get enough sleep and food, and if you exercise and leave time for fun stuff, you will probably be less stressed out!

A. However, there are two different kinds of stress.

B. Can you tell a kind of stress from another one?

C. The best way to keep stress away is to have a balanced life.

D. That kind of stress isn’t going to help you, and it can actually make you sick.

E. Since bad stress is harmful to us, you’d better try to change it into good stress.

F. If so, then you know what stress is. Stress is what you feel when you are worried or uncomfortable about something.

G. For example, you may do a better job on your test if the stress pushes you to prepare well before the test.

Jack Benny was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 14th, 1894. While in school, Benny got a job as a violin player in the early 1900s with the Barrison Theater, the most popular form of show business that made people laugh in the United States.
     During World War I, Benny joined the navy and continued using his violin to perform for sailors. In one show, he was loved more for his funny jokes than his violin skills. That experience made him believe that his future job was as a comedian, not a musician.
     On his shows, Jack Benny often spoke of his appearance, especially his baby blue eyes. He also allowed other actors to make fun of him during the performances. He was known as a comedian with great timing. He seemed to know the perfect time to tell a joke and when to remain silent. The way he looked at other actors and his use of body movements were world famous. He was also skilled at using his violin to make people laugh.
     Jack Benny entered the new medium of television in 1950. Five years later, he dropped his radio program to spend more time developing his television show. At first, his appearances on television were rare. By 1960, the Benny Show had become a weekly television program. It continued until 1965. Benny also appeared in about twenty films during his lifetime.
     Jack Benny received many awards during his lifetime. The publication of Motion Picture Daily voted him the country’s best radio comedian four times. In 1957, he won a special award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the best continuing performance. Perhaps the honor that pleased him most was that his hometown of Waukegan named a school after him. This was a special honor for a man who had never finished high school.

32. Jack Benny entered the show business ________.
A. during World War I in the navy

B. in 1894, in Chicago, Illinois

C. at the beginning of the twentieth century
D. in the early 1950s in Waukegan

33. Which of the following is NOT true about Jack Benny’s acting style?

A. He realized his strength while in the navy.

B. He was very good at timing during his performances.

C. He impressed the audience greatly with his body movements.
D. He liked to make fun of other actors in his show.

34. What’s the fourth paragraph mainly about?
     A. Television was widely used in 1950.

B. Jack Benny also won success in television and film.

C. How the Benny Show was started.
  D. Why Jack Benny chose to act in films.

35. We know from the text that ______.
       A. Jack Benny received little education when he was young

B. World War I brought great suffering to Benny

C. Motion Picture Daily named a school after Jack Benny
  D. the Benny Show had lasted for six years

What problems do you have with your study? Do you want to improve the way you study? Do you feel nervous before a test? Many students say that a lack of concentration is their biggest problem. It seriously affects their ability to study, so do their test results. __36__

Study Techniques

    You should always study in the same place. You shouldn’t sit in a position that you use for another purpose. __37__ Don’t watch TV while you are studying. Experts warn that your concentration may be reduced by 50 percent if you attempt to study in this way. Always try to have a white wall in front of you, so there is nothing to distract you. Before sitting down to study, gather together all the equipment you need. Apart from your textbooks, pens, pencils and knives, make sure you have a dictionary. 

    __38__ Finish one thing before beginning another. If you need a break, get up and walk around for a few minutes, but try not to telephone a friend or have something to eat.

    Test-taking Skills

    All your hard work will be for nothing if you are too nervous to take your test. Getting plenty of rest is very important. This means: do not study all night before your test! It is a better idea to have a long-term study plan. Try to make a timetable for your study which lasts for a few months.

    __39__ Doing some form of exercise every day will also improve your concentration. Eat healthy food too.

    When you arrive in the examination room, find your seat and sit down. Breathe slowly and deeply. Check the time on the clock during the test, but not too often. ___40___

A. Above all, take no notice of everyone else and give the test paper your undivided attention. 

B. Your eyes will become tired if you try to read a text which is on a flat surface.

C. If so, use these tips to help you.

D. Be realistic and don’t try to complete too much in one study period.

E. For example, when you sit on a sofa to study, your brain will think it is time to relax. 

F. You will have enough energy to deal with your study and exams by eating healthy diet.

G. Exercise is a great way to reduce pressure.

The insanely popular song ‘Gangnam Style’ from South Korean recording artist PSY has just become the most watched video on YouTube ever, garnering more than 808 million views on the popular media site.

The distinction was previously held by another pop heavyweight, Justin Bieber, whose song ‘Baby’ had a little more than 804 million views at press time. PSY made the announcement on his Twitter page earlier today.

Since its release, the song has defeated such other popular videos as Jennifer Lopez’s ‘On the Floor,’ Eminem's ‘Love the Way You Lie’ and LMFAO’s ‘Party Rock Anthem.’ And in September, 'Gangnam Style' also became the most liked video on YouTube, now with nearly 5.4 million thumbs up.

At the time of the announcement, the Guinness Book of World Records released a statement saying: “In years past it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times, and now Gangnam Style has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube. PSY, your certificate is waiting here at our office, come pick it up any time!”

Despite its massive popularity, the video shows no signs of slowing down, and it even has a shot at becoming the first video to get more than one billion views.

If it maintains its current rate of around six million new views per day, ‘Gangnam Style’ would be in line to break that record by the end of the year.

The YouTube honors are just the latest in a long list that shows just how popular the song has become. Since it was released in July, the song has seen a meteoric rise through the music industry.

It has found its way to the tops of music charts in more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Canada, while providing material for thousands of parody（恶搞）videos.

It became a staple (主要部份) in the 2012 presidential elections with the now famous ‘Mitt Romney Style’ video and was even used by the North Korean government in propaganda films promoting their supreme leader.

Meanwhile, such influential figures as President Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt have all made mention of the hit song.

56. This passage mainly talks about a world famous________.

   A. music chart                                           B. music video

   C. video website                                        C. Korean pop singer

57. Which of the following about “Gangnam Style” is NOT true according to the passage?

   A. “Gangnam Style” has defeated Justin Bieber’s “Baby” on You Tube’s views.

   B. “Gangnam Style” has been the favorite to at least 5.4 million people.

   C. “Gangnam Style” has been the first to get more than 1 billion views.

   D. “Gangnam Style” has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

58. What can we infer from this passage?

   A. PSY will become one of the greatest musicians due to the popularity of “Gangnam Style”.

   B. Obama won the presidential election partly because of the ‘Mitt Romney Style’ video.

   C. Despite its massive popularity, the fever of “Gangnam Style” has decreased.

   D. The influence of “Gangnam Style” has spread far and wide.

 —We’d better go downstairs right now for lunch.

—______ They serve food 24 hours a day.

A. Take your time.                           B. No way!

C. Hurry up!                              D. It doesn’t matter.

Some inventions are so useful, but seem so simple, that we wonder why no one thought of them long ago.

Post-it Notes were invented about twenty years ago by Art Fry, a scientist at 3M Company. The idea for the product came from an awful experience he often had while singing in his church choir. Fry used pieces of paper as bookmarks to mark the places in his book of songs, but these bookmarks were always falling out. Around that time, Fry heard about a new adhesive (粘合剂) that a colleague, Dr. Spence Silver, had created. This adhesive was special because it was strong enough to hold papers together, but not strong enough to tear the paper when it was removed.

A short time later, Fry realized that his new invention had even more uses than being a great bookmark. He came to this realization when he wrote a note on one of his new “bookmarks” and attached it to a report he was going to give to a colleague. Soon, co-workers were asking Fry for more of his invention so that they could use the new type of notes themselves.

Fry and some other people at 3M believed so much in the new product that they asked the company to give away thousands of the “sticky pieces of paper” for trial use. When some salespeople at 3M went to offices and showed workers just how helpful the new type of notes could be, they immediately received many orders. As more and more people discovered how useful Post-it Notes could be, the product took off.

32. How did Dr. Spence help Art Fry?

A. His adhesive made Art’s invention possible.

B. He offered the new adhesive to Art.

C. He created the Post-it Notes.

D. He often worked and discussed science with Art.

33. Which of the following is a possible use of Post-it Notes?

A. A postcard from abroad.                                  B. An ad in a newspaper.

C. A note on a friend’s door.                              D. An e-mail to a friend.

34. Which of the following shows the proper order of the events?

a. The company gave away many “sticky pieces of paper” for people to try.

b. Dr. Spence created a new adhesive.

c. Many orders were received and the Post-it Notes became successful.

d. Fry invented Post-it Notes.

e. His colleagues began to use the new types of notes themselves.

A. d b a e c            B. b a e d c                   C. b d e a c                 D. d e a b c 

35. In which column of a newspaper can we read this passage?

A. Economy             B. Recreation                C. Culture                     D. Science

Opera is an art form that celebrates the human voice. No other art form creates excitement and moves the heart in the way that opera does, especially when performed by a great singer. Opera is an important part of the Western classical music tradition. It uses music, words, and actions to bring a dramatic story to life. Opera started in Italy at the end of the 16th century and later became popular throughout Europe. Over the years, it has responded to various musicals. In recent decades, much wider audiences have been introduced to opera through modern recording technology. Some singers have become celebrities thanks to performing on radio, on TV, and in the cinema.

However, in recent years, opera has been facing serious challenges. One current challenge to opera is economic. The shortage of money raises the broader question of how much should be paid to support opera singers and other artists. Society seems to accept the large salaries paid to business managers and the multi-million-dollar contracts given to sports athletes. But what about opera singers? Somehow, people have the idea that artists can be creative only if they suffer in poverty, but this is unrealistic. If artists, including opera singers, lack the support they need, valuable talent is wasted.

Not only the shortage of money, but also the way money is managed in the opera world has led to hardships. Principal singers are generally paid performance fees once they complete a show. They typically receive nothing during the many weeks of rehearsal (排练) before a show starts.

Another problem faced by opera is how to meet the demands of audiences who are influenced by popular entertainment. Pop singers are often judged as much on the basis of how they look as how they sound. These demands may be unrealistic and possibly harmful. Opera singers simply cannot make a sound big enough to fill a large theater or concert hall without a microphone if their body weight is too low. Emphasizing physical appearance over singing ability may cause audiences to miss out on the human voice at its best.

There are no easy solutions to opera's problems and there are many different opinions about the value of opera. However, every year many young people register for music courses with hopes and dreams of developing their talents in this special art form. The fact that opera has survived many obstacles and continues to attract the rising generation shows that it remains a respected art form full of value.

24. Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Opera singers' life stories are dramatic.

B. Opera will soon appear on TV and in films

C. Opera fans thank celebrities for performing

D. Opera develops by adapting to new conditions.

25. What can we know from Paragraphs 2 and 3?

A. Opera singers are financially insecure.

B. Opera singers waste their valuable talent.

C. Opera singers get paid before the show.

D. Opera singers perform better if they are poor.

26. What does the author try to say in Paragraph 4?

A. Popular culture has had a positive influence on opera

B. Audiences know best how opera should be performed

C. Microphones should be used to make opera more enjoyable

D. Opera singers' voices should be valued more than their looks.

27. What would be the best title for this passage?

A. The Economic Challenge to Opera

B. Opera Faced with the Difficulties

C. Opera as Part of Popular Culture

D. The Historical Context of Opera