Unit 7
Sports and Hobbies
Reading Comprehention
Passage A
Why Fishing Attracts Millions of People
Fish have been on our earth for many millions of years and were probably the chief local food of some animalswhichlived on the earth. It is only in fairly recent times that man discovered that catchingthemcouldalsobefun.Andso,oneofthemost popular sports of all time has developed.
It is estimated (估计) that in England, on a normal Saturday afternoon, more people will be fishing thanwatchingfootball. What is it about fishing that attracts (吸引) millionsofpeopleallovertheworldtovisitrivers,lakesandoceanseachweekend?
The answer is certainly not for food. Some say it lies in the fact that fishing offers the great pleasure of achievement (成就). The equipment can be expensive, but the great excitement of catching a fish usually justifies (使…有理由) the money. However, it’s most fishing fans’ experience that they might have caught a large or small fish once or twice. But in most cases, what they catch is an old boot, rarely (很少) with a school (群) offishinasitisoftenthecasepicturedin()stories.
Others say it is the easy nature of this activity that makes it attractive. True, but again only partly. Landing a struggling fish skillfully (熟练的) is more like an hour or more of very hard work. If you have read Earnest Heminway()’sTheOldMan And The Sea, you’d know better than to think it easy.
The mystery (神秘感) which follows fishing is said to be another attraction (吸引力).
After all, when you have thrown your line into the water, you have little control over what happens next.
You will spend hours watching your line in the hope that you will be able to land
something better than the one you caught last time. Still, you may never go beyond as to dream of catching a
beautiful mermaid (美人鱼), a gold-fish princess, or a magic (魔术) bottle with some geniu(妖怪) locked in!
So none of the above mentioned is the most important reason why I love fishing. I often fish for hours without catching anything---not even old boots. “You should give up fishing!” my friends say, “It’s a waste of time and bait (鱼饵)”. But they don’t realize one important point. I’m not really interested in catching something for my barbecue (烘烤). Nor do I expect to have a romantic (浪漫的) meeting with any mermaid or fish princess. All that I am fond of is sitting in a boat and enjoying the comforting effect (功效) it has on me. Even before going fishing, the planning is already turning my mind from the stress (压力) of my work. Where am I going this time? Is it salt water or fresh water?
What kind of bait will I be using? All these could very well relax a tired body and mind.
And I believe this is the true joy for most, if not all, fishing fans in modern society.
Read the passage carefully and check your understanding by making the correct choices.
A. is a relatively recent phenomenon
B. is an old pastime known to man
C. is mainly for catching fish to feed animals
D. is the most popular sports of all times
2. Sport fishing is enjoyable, ____________.
A. though it is too costly for most fans
B. though it requires good skill and patience
C. but it can also be physically demanding
D. but it is restricted to people free from work
3. According to the article, most fishing fans ____________.
A. probably know what they will catch and when
B. feel extremely contented with their harvesting
C. expect to land an old boot full of fish in it
D. have no idea of what to expect on the line
4. One thing the writer is sure about fishing is that ___________.
A. it is less difficult than other pastimes are
B. the gains form it is well worth all the pains
C. it can rid men of their pressure from work
D. it always offers great mysteries and surprises
5. In the opinion of the writer, ___________.
A. fishing is an effective way to keep the mind occupied
B. fishing is enjoyable, but very expensive
C. the enjoyment of fishing goes beyond many people’s imagination
D. the enjoyment of fishing can never be stated in words
Key:
1-5 ACDCC
Passage B
Interview with Kevin Maynor In Beijing
The well-known American singer Kevin Maynor visited Beijing recently.
A reporter (记者) fromBTV’s “Music Makers” program interviewed him.
When asked about the origins (起源) of his talent, Kevin Maynor recalled (回忆) that his grandmother used to sing from morning till night, whenever the mood (情绪，心情) seized her. His parents also liked to sing; but no one before his generation (代) had ever actually gone into music professionally (专业地). Maynor studied at three US universities and the Moscow Music Institute, earning two master (硕士)’s and a doctor (博士)’s degree. Now 42 years old, Maynor has been a professional singer for 21 years, and many now consider him in his prime (鼎盛).
Besides being able to sing in Italian, German and French, Kevin Maynor can handle Spanish, Russian (俄语) and Czech (捷克语), plus of course English. And he is not one of those performers (表演者) who cope mechanically (机械地) with languages, just studying the pronunciation for music purposes (目的). Any language he can sing in he can likewise (同样地) talk in. He said that it was a result of his good ears. Ears so sensitive to music, he says, must also be sensitive (敏感的) to language. But he is just modest (谦逊的), because in fact any musician
(音乐家) worth his salt has good ears, but not every musician masters so many languages.
A good ear for music is far from ensuring (保证) an ear for language, and vice versa (反之亦然).
But maynor pointed out something else that may go farther to explain his language ability: He likes to
communicate (交流) with audience (听众) from all over the world. “The key to communicating is language,
so I want in particular (特别) to learn it.” He told the reporters that he would also like to learn
Chinese and he hopes one day his son will study this beautiful language.
Maynor’s son is six months old. When asked whether he thinks his son will go into music too, Maynor said,
“That’s up to him. If he likes, he can be a singer, a lawyer, or a street cleaner.” His advice to young people is to
“follow your heart”. When a person realizes what he enjoys doing, then he should just do it, without
hesitation (犹豫). When a person follows his heart interests, work is no longer a living, but the first
desire of life. Maynor’s own career has been a perfect example of personal interest and professional
development. “The most exciting thing for me is making music. In that sense, I’m really a lucky man.”
Maynor takes his art seriously as a tool in improving mutual (相互间的) understanding among
different peoples. When somebody once pronounced him a music “star”, he replied,
“No, a star in the sky is lonely. But I like being together with people.”
Read the passage and decide whether the following statements are True or False.
Key:
1-5 TFTFT 6-10 TFTFT