Which musical instrument shall I learn?

Many people would like to learn how to play a musical instrument, but they are put off by one big problem：What to play? Here are a few questions to help you decide.

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    Many instruments are of different use，but some are more fit for certain types of music. Some instruments may lead themselves better than others to the music you like, so consider this before you start.    Do you want to play with other people?

Think about your long-term future as a musician. If you want to play with other people, what sort of instrument would be most practical? Your first thought of playing the violin, for example, might disappear when too many people are competing with you！

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Many people live in flats and practicing the drums, for example, will drive your neighbors crazy. Think about where and when you are going to practice, as well as the feelings oI the people you live with or near.

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This is quite a big factor. Many instruments can be bought at different prices. But this doesn't change the fact that many, such as the piano, are always pretty expensive. If you can't afford your chosen instrument，will you be able to borrow someone else's or hire one?

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Talk to people you know who already play instruments. They might even let you try theirs. It's also a good idea to find an experienced music teacher, preferably one who plays a few different instruments, who can give you some advice and push you in the right direction.

AStill not sure?

BWhere are you going to practice?

CHow much money can you spend?

DAre you weak or strong?

EWhat king of music do you like?A

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}  Do you like music? Why or why not?（不少于5个单词）

   In 1834, the clock tower in London was burned down. People planned to build a new clock which would be the biggest and best in the world. So the clock had to be big and keep very good time. The big clock was made in two years. Five more years later the tower was finished. Then people put the big clock in the tower, and made it ring out for the first time on July 11, 1859.

   In order to give the big clock a good name, people held a meeting. Someone wanted to call it the Queen of Bells, and someone thought Victoria was good. At last, a man named Benjamin Hall stood up. He was a big man. Before he started to speak, someone shouted, “Why not call it Big Ben?” Everybody laughed and agreed with him.

   From then on, Big Ben became its name. And it also became a famous building of London. People all over the world write to Big Ben. They even send birthday presents—bottles of oil-to help keep Big Ben running. Big Ben is not only a clock but also a dear friend of people.

    Why should students play sports? Some people think that students play sports in order to get exercise. Others think it can help students have fun. But that is not enough. If students play sports, they can get more than healthy bodies. Why? Here are three more reasons.

    Students who play sports do better in school. Some people think that doing exercise will take up（占据） students' study time. But a recent study has shown that students who play sports get better scores in school than those who don't. Exercise gets students to learn, remember things and concentrate（集中） better.

    Students who play sports develop their teamwork spirits（精神） and learn problem-solving skills. When they are working together with others to win games and reach goals, they're learning how to be successful in practice. And these skills will be useful to them for study or their future work.

    Playing sports can also improve confidence（自信）. Students who play sports feel better about themselves. When they know they can improve and reach their goals by practicing, it builds their confidence. And sports can also help them communicate with others actively and make new friends.

    Now, how about going out to play sports with your friends every day?

    Wang Xiaohong is 7 years old. Her parents gave her an iPad as a present for her birthday. She was very excited and played with the ipad every day. A month later, her eyesight decreased(下降)to 300 degrees. Thin is serious for such a young girl Many children in China are facing the same problem tablet(平板电脑)and ipad using is bringing problems to their eyesight. The problem is so common that newspapers even call the iPad the " No. I killer of children's eyesight".

    "There are about 30 shortsighted(近视的)children coming every day, " said Hu Dali, an eye doctor at Guiyang Aier Eye Hospital " Half of those children have poor eyesight because they have played with phones and iPads for too long."

    Doctors and scientists say children's eyesight is not yet fully developed and their eyes get tired more easily. The screen of an ipad uses a very bright LED backlight. If children look at an iPad screen too much, their eyes do not have time to rest. This will make their eyesight worse over time.

    Doctors advise that users should hold their iPads between 40-60 centimeters away from them. The brightness of the screen should be comfortable for children. Children had better use iPads for less than one hour every day.

Sally is an 8-year-old girl. She likes 1 very much. She thinks they are people's friends. Of all the animals, pandas are her favorite because the panda is one of 2 , and she goes to the zoo to see them every month.

One Sunday afternoon, Sally goes to the zoo with her parents by bus. When they3 there, she runs to the pandas' house quickly. There are two pandas in the zoo. They are Lucy and Lily. She is happy 4 them every time.

But when Sally gets to the pandas' house, she sees lots of people talking in front of the house. And it's kind of 5 . "What's wrong with the pandas?" Sally asks anxiously(焦急地).

"Oh! Don't worry(担心), little girl. The pandas are 6 ," an old woman answers.

Then Sally looks into the house. Lucy and Lily are in the house. They 7 with a ball. And she also finds another panda in it.

"8 is he?" she asks.

"He's Peter. He 9 another zoo," a man in uniform(制服) says. "Next year, you may see a small panda here."

"A small panda! I love that," Sally says 10 ．

I hoped to be set free one day,so I was nice to the Lilliputians.Gradually,     ▲     .Sometimes the children even played hide-and-seek in my hair.

One day,the king said to me,"Gulliver,I invite you to watch an important performance.It is a contest called Rope Dancing".In the contest,a thin rope was tied between two poles very high above the ground.People had to dance on this rope.Each dancer tried to jump higher than the others.I had never seen such a dangerous sport.

"Your Majesty,"I said,"many dancers must fall and be hurt or killed."

"Yes,"he replied,"But I will give the best jobs in my kingdom to the men who are not afraid and jump the highest."What a strange way to choose who will work for the country!"I thought.

Then,as the king watched,I tied each corner of my handkerchief to a strong stick, and pushed the four sticks into the ground.My handkerchief was now under the rope but above the ground.Any dancer who fell would land on the handkerchief and not get hurt. The king was very pleased with my invention.His family and many other people watched the rope dancing.

Would you and the queen like to see better?"I asked the king.I gently put them on my hand and held it beside the rope.They had a good view of the dancers.One very skilled performer held on to the rope and flipped(翻转)his body right over it.The king and the queen clapped loudly and cheered.Later the king told me that he made this man one of his chief(首要的)advisors.

The king and I met often.He seemed to enjoy our conversations.One day,I said again,"Your Majesty, please set me free."This time he answered,"I have talked to my

advisors.We agree that you have been good to our people."