Q: A mother wanted to encourage her son's progress at the piano. She bought tickets to a performance by a great pianist. When the evening arrived,they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and looked at the big piano waiting on the stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to,and the boy slipped away.        At 8 o'clock,the lights in the hall became weak. The spotlights came on. Only then did they notice the boy up on the piano bench,playing Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star. His mother was shocked,but before she could get her son back,the master himself was 0n the stage and quickly moving to the piano.        He went up to the boy and said gently,"Don't stop. Keep playing. "Then he leaned over and reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his fight arm reached around the other side and played a delightful piece of music. Together,the old master and the little boy carried the crowd away with their beautiful music.        In all our lives,we receive helping hands--some we notice,some we don't. Equally we ourselves have a great many chances to give a helping hand to others--sometimes we like our help to be noticed,sometimes we don't. Little of what we a11 achieve comes without learning or support from others. What we receive we should give back. The little boy slipped onto the stage when_. A) the evening arrived B) they got to the concert hall C) her mother talked to her friend D) the spotlight came on
A: C


Q: When American soldiers return home from war with disabilities, they often suffer twice -- first from their combat injuries, next from the humiliation   of government dependency. Wounded veterans   learn they have two basic choices: They can receive almost $3,000 a month in disability benefits along with medical care and access to other various welfare programs, or they can try to find a job. Especially in this economy, it's no wonder that many find that first option hard to turn down. Mark Duggan, an economics professor at Stanford University, reports that enrollment in U.S.veterans' disability programs rose from 2.3 million in 2001 to 3.9 million in 2014. The percentage of veterans receiving benefits doubled, from 8.9% in 2001 to 18% in 2014. Disability services for veterans now consume $59 billion. In the 1980s and 1990s, male veterans were more likely to be in the labor force than nonveterans. But since 2000, that has changed dramatically. Now there is a 4% gap between veteran and nonveteran labor participation, with veteran participation lower. Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, founder of The Mission Continues, explains how soldiers who served their country are transformed into welfare receivers who live off their country. "When veterans come home from war they are going through a tremendous change in identity,"he says."Then the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and others, encourage them to view themselves as disabled."By the time they come to Greitens' non-profit organization,"We meet a number of veterans who see themselves as charity cases and are not sure anymore what they have to contribute." There are also more practical factors driving the disability boom. One is the expansion of qualification criteria. In 2000, for instance, type 2 diabetes was added as a disability because of evidence linking exposure to Agent Orange with the onset of the disease. Heart disease has also been added to the list. Another possible factor is that younger veterans seem less against welfare than their parents'... One of the factors why there are more disabled veterans is that    . A) damage from the war is greater than ever B) the scale of disabilities has been broadened C) veterans have suffered much more than ever D) older veterans aren't afraid to admit their disability
A: B


Q: Ray Charles Robinson, a blind musician in America, was famous for his records of jazz, rock 'n' roll, blues and country music. But the world knew him better as Ray Charles. He had an influence on American popular music. The song Let's Go Get Stoned is an example of Ray Charles' own kind of music--his own sound. He worked hard for several years to create that sound. No one ever tried it before. He mixed black church music, blues and rock 'n' roll. The sound was extremely successful. In the nineteen fifties, his records began to sell millions of copies. At the same time, Ray Charles recorded jazz music. Those records sold well, too. People said they were new and exciting. Ray Charles became famous because he could play blues, rock and jazz. He also liked other kinds of music. He told the record company officials that he wanted to record an album   of country and western music. The president of the record company told him it would be a mistake. He said Ray's fans would not buy the album. Charles disagreed. He said he believed he would gain many new fans to replace the few he might lose. He produced the album and it was an immediate success. The album was called Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. Many of the songs sold very well. One of the most popular songs was I Can't Stop Loving You. It is a countryandwestern song with Ray Charles' sound of blues and black church music. Ray Charles achieved great success after producing his album because of   _  . A) the president of the record company B) his supporters C) his own confidence D) his own hard work
A: C


Q: "This past year has been one of great celebration for many. The enthusiasm which greeted the Diamond Jubilee was, of course, especially memorable for me and my family. It was humbling that so many chose to mark the anniversary of a duty which passed to me 60 years ago. People of all ages took the trouble to take part in various ways and in many nations. But perhaps most striking of all was to witness the strength of fellowship and friendship among those who had gathered together on these occasions. On the barges and the bridges and the banks of the river there were people who had taken their places to cheer through the mist, undaunted by the rain. That day there was a tremendous sense of common determination to celebrate, triumphing  over the elements. That same spirit was also in evidence from the moment the Olympic flame arrived on these shores. The flame itself drew hundreds and thousands of people on its journey around the British Isles, and was carried by every kind of deserving individual, many nominated for their own extraordinary service. As London hosted a splendid summer of sport, all those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes. In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama. We were reminded, too, that the success of these great festivals depended to an enormous degree upon the dedication and effort of an army of volunteers. Those public-spirited people came forward in the great tradition of all those who devote themselves to keeping others safe, supported and comforted. For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first. Those serving in our armed forces, in our emergency services and in our hospitals, whose sense of duty takes them away from family and friends, will be missing those they love. At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of... What might be the main purpose of this speech? A) To make a summary of what has been done in the past years. B) To offer congratulations on the arrival of Christmas. C) To hold an anniversary celebration of an event. D) To express respect for and loyalty to God.

A: B