Brenda Bongos was a happy, artistic girl. She had one big ambition—to play the drums in a band. But one big problem lay in her way. To be good enough to play in a band, Brenda had to practice a lot, but she lived next-door to a lot of old people. Many of them are sick. She knew that the sound of beating drums would really get on their nerves. So, she had tried playing in the strangest places: a basement, a kitchen, and even in a shower. But there was always someone it would annoy.

One day, while watching a science documentary on TV, she heard that sound cannot travel in space, because there's no air. At that moment, Brenda Bongos decided to become a sort of musical astronaut.

With the help of a lot of time, books and work, Brenda built a space bubble. This was a big glass ball connected to a machine which sucked out all the air inside. All that would be left inside was a drum kit（成套设备） and a chair. Brenda got into the space suit she had made, entered the bubble, turned on the machine, and played those drums like a wild child.

It wasn't long before Brenda Bongos came very famous. Many people came to see her play in her space bubble. Shortly afterwards she came out of the bubble and started giving concerts. Her fame spread so much that the government suggested that she be part of a unique space journey. Finally, Brenda was a real musical astronaut, and had gone far beyond her first ambition of playing drums in a band.

Years later, when asked how she had achieved all this, she thought for a moment, and said: ''If those old people next – door hadn't mattered so much to me, I wouldn't have found a solution, and none of this would have ever happened.''

1.Why did Brenda try to play in the strangest places?

A．Because she didn't want others to hear her play.

B．Because she didn't mean to disturb others.

C．Because she didn't have her own room.

D．Because she didn’t like her neighbors.

2.Brenda started to give concerts _______.

A．after she practiced in her space bubble

B．when she became part of the unique space journey

C．after she became a real musical astronaut

D．when people came to see her in the space bubble

3.Brenda became famous because _______.

A．she was good at music and science

B．she became a real musical astronaut

C．she invented a special way of practice

D．she played well and had a talent

4.Which of the following can be used to describe Brenda?

A．Kind, hardworking and clever.

B．Brave, kind and hardworking.

C．Lovely, brave and kind.

D．Nervous, kind and clever.

5.It can be inferred from the text that: " _______".

A．He laughs best who laughs last

B．It's never too old to learn

C．Two heads are better than one

D．One good turn deserves another

 

Brenda Bongos was a happy, artistic girl. She had one big ambition—to play the drums in a band. But one big obstacle lay in her way. To be good enough to play in a band, Brenda had to practice a lot, but she lived next-door to a lot of old people. Many of them are sick. She knew that the sound of beating drums would really get on their nerves. So, she had tried playing in the strangest places: a basement, a kitchen, and even in a shower. But there was always someone it would annoy.

    One day, while watching a science documentary on TV, she heard that sound cannot travel in space, because there's no air. At that moment, Brenda Bongos decided to become a sort of musical astronaut.

    With the help of a lot of time, books and work, Brenda built a space bubble. This was a big glass ball connected to a machine which sucked out all the air inside. All that would be left inside was a drum kit（成套设备） and a chair. Brenda got into the space suit she had made, entered the bubble, turned on the machine, and played those drums like a wild child.

    It wasn't long before Brenda Bongos came very famous. Many people came to see her play in her space bubble. Shortly afterwards she came out of the bubble and started giving concerts. Her fame spread so much that the government suggested that she be part of a unique space journey. Finally, Brenda was a real musical astronaut, and had gone far beyond her first ambition of playing drums in a band.

    Years later, when asked how she had achieved all this, she thought for a moment, and said: ''If those old people next – door hadn't mattered so much to me, I wouldn't have found a solution, and none of this would have ever happened.''

61. Why did Brenda try to play in the strangest places?

   A. Because she didn't want others to hear her play.

   B. Because she didn't mean to disturb others.

   C. Because she didn't have her own room.

   D. Because she didn’t like her neighbors.

62. Brenda started to give concerts _______.

   A. after she practiced in her space bubble

   B. when she became part of the unique space journey

   C. after she became a real musicalastronaut

   D. when people came to see her in the space bubble

63. Brenda became famous because _______.

   A. she was good at music and science

   B. she became a real musical astronaut

   C. she invented a special way of practice

   D. she played well and had a talent

64. Which of the following can be used to describe Brenda?

   A. Kind, hardworking andclever.

   B. Brave, kind and hardworking.

   C. Lovely, brave and kind.

   D. Nervous, kind and clever.

65. It can be inferred from the text that: " _______".

   A. He laughs best who laughs last

   B. It's never too old to learn

   C. Two heads are better than one

   D. One good turn deserves another

  How can we all get more laughter into our lives? Here is what the experts suggest:

__71__.Nancy Alguire, a teacher in Clifton Park, N. Y., was once painfully shy and had a hard time laughing. Then she married a circus clown (小丑) . "I became interested in the clowns, " she recalls " One day I put on a costume and painted my face. That afternoon my whole life changed. I learned to laugh and enjoy life in a way I had never done before." __72__ To this day, she still makes it a rule to be with people who enjoy life and laughing.

__73__ It doesn't take you too much time and can be easy. Collect favourite cartoons and jokes. Also, keep a paper for writing down humour you find in everyday life. " Good ideas come and go fast, you have to capture them quickly or they are gone, " says Virginia Tooper.

Laugh when you need it most. "__74__ " says comedian Bill Cosby. " And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it, " he insists.

Gray Alan, a sociology professor at the University of Minnesota, claims that laughter is a skill we can all gain—because it comes naturally. __75_ . Just remember: we are just here for a period, so get a few laughs.
A. You can soften the worst blows through humour.

B. Mix with people who laugh.

C. Practise the art of laughing.

D. Keep a laughter file (文档).

E. He who laughs last laughs best.

F. But it's also something that has to be developed (培养).

G. People's joy can affect those around them.

How can we all get more laughter into our lives? Here is what the experts suggest:

1 . Nancy Alguire, a teacher in Clifton Park, N. Y., was once painfully shy and had a hard time laughing. Then she married a circus clown (小丑). “I became interested in the clowns,” she recalls “One day I put on a costume and paint my face. That afternoon my whole life changed. I learned to laugh and enjoy life in a way I had never done before.” 　2 To this day, she still makes it a rule to be with people who enjoy life and laughing.

3 It doesn’t take you too much time and can be easy. Collect favorite cartoons and jokes. Also, keep a paper for writing down humor you find in everyday life. “Good ideas come and go fast, you have to capture them quickly or they are gone,” says Virginia Tooper.

Laugh when you need it most. “ 4 ” says comedian Bill Cosby. “And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might by, you can survive it,” he insists.

Gray Alan, a sociology professor at the University of Minnesota, claims that laughter is a skill we can all gain – because it comes naturally. 　5 . Just remember: we are just here for a period, so get a few laughs.

A．You can soften the worst blows through humor.

B．Mix with people who laugh.

C．Practise the art of laughing.

D．Keep a laughter file.

E．He who laughs last laughs best.

F．But it’s also something that has to be developed.

G．People’s joy can affect those around them.