【正文】 ached D．a(chǎn)ppreciated42．A．pay B．praise C．follow D．inspire43．A．familiar B．simple C．interesting D．pleasant44．A．forced B．a(chǎn)dvised C．encouraged D．got45．A．optimistic B．popular C．sensitive D．grateful46．A．energy B．strength C．right D．power47．A．escaped B．slipped C．spread D．fled48．A．until B．since C．a(chǎn)s D．a(chǎn)fter49．A．sight B．look C．light D．feeling50．A．believe B．ignore C．oppose D．influence51．A．experience B．pressure C．confidence D．evidence52．A．to B．by C．for D．of53．A．intention B．honor C．promise D．trust54．A．on B．in C．back D．down55．A．lesson B．skill C．story D．exampleA I grew up in a small town．My father raised chickens and ran a Blackmoor farm．I was barely 10 years old when my dad gave me the responsibility of feeding the chickens and cleaning up the stable．He believed it was important for me to have those jobs to learn responsibility．Then, when I was 22, I found a job in Natchbill at a country music club called the Natchbill Palace, I washed dishes and cooked from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm and then went on stage and sang until 2:00 in the morning．It wasn’t long before I became known as a singing cook．I had been rejected so many times by record panies that it was hard not to be discouraged. One night, a woman executive (董事) from a pany named Warner Brothers Records came to hear me sing．When the show was over, we sat down and talked and after she left, I said to myself it was one more rejection．A few weeks later, my manager received a phone call—Warner Brothers wanted to sign me to a record deal．Soon after, I released(發(fā)行) my first record in June 1986．It sold over 2 million copies．My best efforts had gone into every job I’ve ever held．It was the sense of responsibility that made me feel like a man．Knowing that I had done my best filled me with pride．I still feel that way today, even though I have bee a wellknown singer．56. Why was the writer once known as the singing cook? A. Because he was a cook at a countrymusic club．B. Because he sang for guests while he worked as a cook．C. Because he often sang while cooking． D. Because he liked singing better than cooking．57. Who first recognized his talents and helped make his career successful? A. Warner Brothers． B. His manager． C. His father． D. A businesswoman．58. What made the writer proud of himself? A. His ability to live independently． B. His sense of responsibility in whatever he did．C. His courage in the face of rejections． D. His hard work in his early days．59. We can infer from this passage that the writer’s father was a __________. A. farmer B. worker C. manager D. singer BWHAT39。S ONSTAGE Russian dances: The famous Little White Birth Dance Troupe will travel from Russia to present performances in Beijing. The troupe, founded in 1948, is famous for their bination of Russian folk dances and classical dancing art. It has been invited by the Beijing Foreign Culture Exchange Co to give four performances in Beijing. Tickets are available through ticket hotlines and website such as . paio. . , . Chinaticket. and . . . Time: 7: 30 pm, January 18 21 Place: Beizhan Theatre, 135, Xiwai Dajie, Xicheng District Tel: 66064258EXHIBITIONS Kite show: All together 81 kites collected by the China National Art Museum is on show in the Yanhuang Art Museum. Kong Xiangze, an expert on Chinese kites, published a book on kites, explaining the origins of the Kitemaking process. The exhibited kites are made in a traditional Chinese style. Time: 9 am5 pm until February 11 Place: 9 Huizhong Lu Tel: 64912902CONCERTS Folk music: A concert of classics of Chinese folk music will greet audiences on the first day of the Year of Snake at the Beijing Concert Hall. The China Song and Dance Ensemble will perform dozens of traditional instrumental pieces, such as Full of Joy, Colourful Cloud Chasing the Moon. and Spring Festival Suite. Time: 7: 30 pm, January 24 Place: 1, Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District Tel: 65598285EVENTS Flower festival: The Beijing Botanical Garden is bringing people a blooming festival with the beautiful fl