I often write about the bad state of television these days, but recently my mom told me about a story she saw on 60 Minutes that was inspiring, educational, and entertaining for the whole family. I went to the show’s website to see for myself. My mom was right. At a time when even Barbara Walters says she’s really bored with celebrities interviews, this one will not disappoint.

It’s the story of Derek Paravicini, a 30-year-old who was born three months early, physically disabled (he can’t button his own shirt), blind, and severely autistic(自闭的).

Yet, through total luck and coincidence, his family discovered that Derek had a remarkable musical talent when he was three.

Derek can hear any musical composition one time and play it perfectly on the piano.

That’s right. He only has to hear it once.

Even more unbelievable, his brain, like a computer, can keep many songs that he can immediately repeat when asked. But his talent isn’t limited to just learning things by heart. Derek is a true musical genius and artist who plays beautifully in a wide range of styles and can make his own music.

With his talent, Derek has raised millions of dollars putting on charity concerts. He also donates his time to senior centers where he acts as a human jukebox (自动唱机) machine, taking requests from senior citizens who haven’t heard their favorite songs for decades.

As it turns out, Derek loves people and his extraordinary talent has been the key to unlocking his personality and social development.

If you want to inspire your family, pop some popcorn and sit everyone down to watch this excellent piece of journalism. If your kids are like mine, it will cause a great family discussion about the definition of “disability” and the extraordinary ability of the human brain and spirit. It may even give you the perfect answer the next time your child says he or she “can’t” do something. Now that’s priceless.

Who says there’s nothing good on TV?

1. From the first paragraph, we know that 60 minutes is a TV program on      .

A.  interviewing celebrities

B.  interviewing the disabled

C.  the latest news round the world

D.  stating the positive influence of TV

2. How does Derek help the elderly?

A.  By buying them a jukebox machine.

B.  By building senior centers for them.

C.  By singing the old songs they ask for.

D.  By playing the piano to raise money for them.

3. In the opinion of the author, Derek can     .

A.  attract the whole family to watch TV together

B.  cause family members to help the disabled

C.  help kids understand the ability of their brains

D.  encourage kids to accept challenges in life

4.The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to     .

A.  prove that there is something good on TV

B.  introduce a disabled but gifted musician

C.  call on people to show more love to the disabled

D.  express personal admiration for Derek Paravicini

I often write about the bad state of television these days, but recently my mom told me about a story she saw on 60 Minutes that was inspiring, educational, and entertaining for the whole family. I went to the show’s website to see for myself. My mom was right. At a time when even Barbara Walters says she’s really bored with celebrities interviews, this one will not disappoint.
It’s the story of Derek Paravicini, a 30-year-old who was born three months early, physically disabled (he can’t button his own shirt), blind, and severely autistic(自闭的).
Yet, through total luck and coincidence, his family discovered that Derek had a remarkable musical talent when he was three.
Derek can hear any musical composition one time and play it perfectly on the piano.
That’s right. He only has to hear it once.
Even more unbelievable, his brain, like a computer, can keep many songs that he can immediately repeat when asked. But his talent isn’t limited to just learning things by heart. Derek is a true musical genius and artist who plays beautifully in a wide range of styles and can make his own music.
With his talent, Derek has raised millions of dollars putting on charity concerts. He also donates his time to senior centers where he acts as a human jukebox (自动唱机) machine, taking requests from senior citizens who haven’t heard their favorite songs for decades.
As it turns out, Derek loves people and his extraordinary talent has been the key to unlocking his personality and social development.
If you want to inspire your family, pop some popcorn and sit everyone down to watch this excellent piece of journalism. If your kids are like mine, it will cause a great family discussion about the definition of “disability” and the extraordinary ability of the human brain and spirit. It may even give you the perfect answer the next time your child says he or she “can’t” do something. Now that’s priceless.
Who says there’s nothing good on TV?
【小题1】 From the first paragraph, we know that 60 minutes is a TV program on      .

Miss Green was watching TV. Suddenly the program stopped. “Now we broadcast an important notice from the  36 : At about nine this evening, an old woman of 79, named Mrs. Humney, was    37  and killed by a robber wearing a green coat. Those who can supply any clue(线索) are requested to  38  to the police.” The  39  news made the lonely girl filled with  40 . She couldn’t help looking around. But she didn’t   41  that a man was already behind the door.
Suddenly the man  42  before Miss Green. The girl didn’t know what to   43 . “Just put your necklace on the table, then I’ll  44  whether I shall be safe to stay here for the night.” said the robber. That made her even more terrified, but she tried to   45  herself.
Just then there came the whistle of a police car. Then  46   the door bell. The man said with a pistol(手枪)  47  the girl’s back, “Don’t  48  the door. Never let him in.” But the girl got    a(n)  49 . She asked the man outside the door, “Who is it?” “I’m Bull. Is there  50  unusual here?” “No , there isn’t.” Immediately she added   51 , “Only   52  and I are here.” “Good night.” Bull replied in the same loud voice.
A few minutes later, the sound of the  53  died away. “It’s well done,” the robber laughed. Almost at the same time the glass was   54  into pieces. The policemen  55  into the room and caught the robber.
“Miss Green, what you said made us take action right away,” said Bull, “for we know that you have no brother.”

Miss Green was watching TV. Suddenly the program stopped. “Now we broadcast an important notice from the  36 : At about nine this evening, an old woman of 79, named Mrs. Humney, was    37  and killed by a robber wearing a green coat. Those who can supply any clue(线索) are requested to  38  to the police.” The  39  news made the lonely girl filled with  40 . She couldn’t help looking around. But she didn’t   41  that a man was already behind the door.
Suddenly the man  42  before Miss Green. The girl didn’t know what to   43 . “Just put your necklace on the table, then I’ll  44  whether I shall be safe to stay here for the night.” said the robber. That made her even more terrified, but she tried to   45  herself.
Just then there came the whistle of a police car. Then  46   the door bell. The man said with a pistol(手枪)  47  the girl’s back, “Don’t  48  the door. Never let him in.” But the girl got    a(n)  49 . She asked the man outside the door, “Who is it?” “I’m Bull. Is there  50  unusual here?” “No , there isn’t.” Immediately she added   51 , “Only   52  and I are here.” “Good night.” Bull replied in the same loud voice.
A few minutes later, the sound of the  53  died away. “It’s well done,” the robber laughed. Almost at the same time the glass was   54  into pieces. The policemen  55  into the room and caught the robber.
“Miss Green, what you said made us take action right away,” said Bull, “for we know that you have no brother.”

Miss Wenter was watching TV when the program suddenly stopped. “Sorry to 　1 the program. Now we are requested to 　2 an important notice from the police station. At about nine this evening, a lady named Mrs Humney was 　3 and killed. Anyone who can supply any clue (线索) is requested to report to the 　4 . Thank you.” The terrible news made the lonely girl 　5 with fear. She couldn’t help looking around, but she didn’t notice that a man was already 　6 behind the door to the veranda (阳台).

All of a 　7 the man appeared before Miss Wenter. The girl really didn’t know what to do. “Don’t ask for 　8 , just put your jewellery on the table; then think over whether I shall be safe to stay up here for the night,” said the robber. That made Miss Wenter even more 　9 , but she tried to 　10 herself.

Just then came the whistle of a police car, In a little while, someone rang the 　11 . The robber said with a gun 　12 the girl’s back, “Go to the door and say that you’ve gone to bed. Never let him in.”

In a flash, the girl had an idea. “Oh, who are you?” she said.

“I’m Sergeant Bull, Miss Wenter. Is there something 　13 here?”

“No, there isn’t.” Immediately she added loudly, 　14 , my elder brother extends his 　15 greetings (问候) to you.”

“Thank you. Good night,” Bull replied in the same 　16 .

A few minutes later, the sound of the police car going 　17 could be heard. “It’s well 　18 ,” the robber said with a smile. Then he 　19 to the girl. Almost at the same time the glass on the window was broken. The policemen hurried into the room from the veranda. They quickly put handcuffs (手铐) on the robber.

“Miss Wenter, your greetings were so good that it made us take 　20 right away,” said Sergeant Bull, because we’ve already known that your elder brother was killed in a robbery half a year ago.”

1. A. stop　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. share　　　　　　　　　　　 C. interrupt　　　　　　　　　 D. control

2. A. obey　　　 　　　　　　 B. make　　　　　　　　　　　 C. introduce　　　　　　　　 D. broadcast

3. A. robbed　　　　　　　　 B. hurt　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. wounded　　　　　　　　 D. stolen

4. A. public　　　　　　　　　 B. police　　　　　　　　　　　 C. hospital　　　　　　　　　 D. family

5. A. cry　　　　　　　　　　　 B. shake 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. fall　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. tremble

6. A. hidden　　　　　　　　 B. sitting　　　　　　　　　　　 C. away　　　　　　　　　　　 D. staying

7. A. while　　　　　　　　　 B. time　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. period　　　　　　　　　　 D. sudden

8. A. anything　　　　　　　 B. trouble　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. another　　　　　　　　　 D. police

9. A. careful　　　　　　　　 B. anxious　　　　　　　　　 C. strange　　　　　　　　　　 D. terrified

10. A. protect　　　　　　　 B. help　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. calm　　　　　　　　　　　 D. express

11. A. call　　　　　　　　　　 B. phone　　　　　　　　　　　 C. window　　　　　　　　　 D. doorbell

12. A. at　　　　　　　　　　　 B. against　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. behind　　　　　　　　　　 D. beyond

13. A. new　　　　　　　　　 B. important　　　　　　　　 C. unusual　　　　　　　　　 D. upset

14. A. Instead　　　　　　　 B. However　　　　　　　　 C. Otherwise　　　　　　　 D. Besides

15. A. hearty　　　　　　　　 B. deeply　　　　　　　　　　 C. own　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. real

16. A. sound　　　　　　　　 B. manner　　　　　　　　　　 C. speech　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. voice

17. A. out　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. on　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. along　　　　　　　　　　　 D. away

18. A. enough　　　　　　　 B. now　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. done　　　　　　　　　　　 D. said

19. A. referred　　　　　　　　　　 B. listened　　　　　　　　　　 C. talked　　　　　　　　　　　 D. rushed

20. A. him B. action C. photos D. something