When someone says, "Well, I guess I'll have to face the music," it doesn't mean he is planning to go to a concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this and did that, and why you did not do this or that. Terrible music indeed, but it has to be faced. At sometime or another, every one of us has had to "face the music", especially as children. We can remember father's angry voice, "I want to talk to you!" And only because we did not obey him. What an unpleasant business it was! The phrase "face the music" is known to every American, old and young. It is at least one hundred years old. Where did the expression come from? The first explanation came from the American novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. He said, in 1851, that expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on the stage. After they got their clue to go on, they often said.  "It's time to face the music." And that was exactly what they did - facing the orchestra  which was just below the stage. An actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of the audience that might be friendly, or perhaps unfriendly, especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. If he did not, there would be no play. So the expression "face the music" came to mean "having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice." Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A) If you'd like to enjoy songs, you'll face the music. B) When actors have to face the music, it means they have to go on stage to perform, however changeable the situation is. C) When you have to face the music, it is probable that you have met something unpleasant. D) If a child does something against his parent's will, maybe he'll face the music.
A
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You cannot say that it's entirely true that kids learn a second language easily, but it's still the best time to learn. Babies are basically equipped to hear and distinguish every possible language and dialect, but once they reach 6 months old, they begin to focus on the particular sounds that exist in the languages that they're exposed to. In this way, kids will naturally and automatically be bilingual  if they hear multiple languages on a daily basis when they are still babies. One lady told me of her son who grew up in a very multi-cultural community working at a resort. He would naturally and easily switch from Dutch, to French, to Italian, German and English depending on who he was talking to. Of course that's an extreme case, but it's completely possible and easy. It's not true that they will get mixed up by learning multiple languages. They may mix them up purposely simply because certain words or expressions are easier, but they won't develop any permanent language disabilities. Quite the contrary, bilingual children have been shown to be as much as a year more advanced in learning ability development for 2 and 3 years olds. Some kids who simply aren't gifted at learning languages, just as some aren't gifted at sports or music, will find it difficult to continue schooling in a foreign language. In that case, it may be better not to continue with the foreign language school. Perhaps for Grade Two you could try a bilingual school. In any case, learning even a small amount of a foreign language, maintaining the ability to hear and pronounce it by listening to music and movies will keep a foundation for later learning. Knowing a second language can be a great benefit for gaining employment. What should you do if your kids are not good at learning language? A) Send them to a bilingual school later. B) Ask them to turn to sports or music. C) Encourage them to remain in Grade One. D) Let them remain in the foreign language school.
A
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Transcribe Sheng Qi     Born in Anhui province, Sheng Qi worked in Italy from 1989 to 1992. His work deals with the ever-popular subject of the cultural gap between East and West. The artist combines calligraphy with other more western media in an attempt to bridge this gap.     Where: Red Gate Gallery, Dongbianmen, Watchtower     When: Till February 6, daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.     Admission: free     Tel: 6525 1005     Wan Qingli Traditional Chinese Painting     Professor at the Hong Kong Chinese Language University and graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Wan Qingli, is well known as an art theorist. His landscape paintings are now on display at his alma mater.     Where: Central Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Shuaifuyuaj, Wangfujing, 5 Xiaowei Hutong     When: Till January 26, Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.     Admission: 5 yuan     Tel: 6527 7991 Music     Xie Tingfeng (Nicholas Tse)     Nicholas Tse is one of the hottest young stars in Hong Kong and a top-selling singer. Having decided to pursue a career in show business, he left school at 16 and spent a year in Tokyo studying various aspects of music and performance. On his return to Hong Kong, he released his debut CD, My Attitude, which quickly became a hit and propelled   him to stardom  .     Where: Capital Gymnasium, 54 Baishiqiao Lu     When: January 25, 7:30 p.m.     Admission: 80 to 900 yuan     Tel: 6833 5552 Movies Yige Dou Buneng Shao (Not One Less)     Rural China in the 1990s was a far cry from its city counterparts. A young girl is made teacher of the local primary school and finds herself tracking down a student who left the school for work in the city. Director Zhang Yimou cast non-professionals for this film. Mandarin with English subtitles.     Where: B2M Bar, Dongpingfang Apartment Block (inside the easternmost gate), next to the Dong River, Andingmenwai     When: February 6, 7:00 p.m.     Admission: free     Tel: 6426 1091 You can go to see   _   for free in February. A) two exhibitions B) a concert and a movie C) a movie and an exhibition D) an exhibition and a concert
C
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The 12-year-old CEO   of a Web site design company will be one of 300 business and political leaders accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a trade visit to China in March.   Keith Peiris, who founded Cyberteks Design in June 1999 and now has 25 clients   in North America, insisted in an interview that he is "just like any other kid".   He and his father will spend nine days on the Team Canada trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, where Chretien aims to showcase the best of Canadian business in the most populous country in the world.  A glance at the complex, elegant animations   on his www. cyberteks, com site shows the extent of Peiris talent. "He doesn't want to be No.2," his father Deepal said proudly.   His father, who is now vice president of operations at Cyberteks, said "I am teaching my son what I know. We make decisions together. I haven't done anything my son disagreed with. He makes the final decision."   The company has seven offices in the United States and five part - time employees who, like the Peiris family, work from their London homes.   Keith Peiris admitted some potential clients change their minds when they learn his age, but the well- informed teenager tries to ignore them.   "suddenly, I've been called a whiz kid or geek, which I am not too happy about. A few people have asked if they should call me 'mister', but I stay casual, I am still a kid." According to the informationin the passage, which is the best and fastest way to know more about the Web giant? A) We can go to Canada to pay him a visit. B) We can make an international telephone call to him. C) We'd better visit his web site- www. cyberteks, com. D) We can write to his father for the kid's information.

C
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