Young musicians in African countries are creating a new kind of pop music. The tunes and the rhythms of their music combine African traditions with various forms of music popular today, such as hip-hop, rap, rock, jazz, or reggae. The result is music that may sound familiar to listeners anywhere in the world, but at the same time is distinctly African. It is different also in another way: Many of the songs are very serious and they deal with important social or political issues inAfricatoday.

    Eric Wainaina is one of these African musicians. He grew up inNairobi,Kenya, in a family of musicians. As a teenager, he listened to pop music from theUnited States, and later he moved toBostonto study at the Berklee College of Music. Now he has produced a CD inKenya. Eric"s most popular song, "Land of ‘A Little Something’” is aboutKenya"s problem of bribery, or paying others for illegal favors. He wants people to listen to his songs and think about how to makeKenyaa better place to live.

    Another musician who writes serious songs is Witness Mwaijaga fromTanzania. Her own experiences have helped her understand the suffering of many African women. At the age of fifteen she lost her home, but she was luckier than other homeless young people. She could make a living by writing songs and singing on the street. By the time she was eighteen years old, she had become a star. Her songs are written in rap or hip-hop style about the problems that she sees inTanzania, especially AIDS and the lack of rights for women ¹.

    Baaba Maal, fromSenegal, also feels that pop music must go beyond entertainment. He says that inSenegal, storytellers have always been important people. In the past, they were the ones who kept the history of their people alive. Baaba believes that songwriters now have a similar responsibility. They must write about the world around them and help people understand how it could be better. The words of his songs are important, in fact. They speak of peace and cooperation among Africans, as well as the rights of women, love for one" s family, and saving the environment ².

    One ofSouth Africa"s most popular musicians is Brenda Fassie. She is sometimes compared to Madonna, the American pop star, because she likes to shock people in her shows. But she also likes to make people think. She became famous in the 1980s for her simple pop songs against apartheid. Now that apartheid has ended, her songs are about other issues in South African culture and life. To sing about these, she uses local African languages and a new pop style called kwaito.

    In recent years, people outside ofAfricahave also begun to listen to these young musicians. Through music, the younger generation of Africans are connecting with the rest of the world and, at the same time, influencing the rest of the world. 

词汇： 

reggae /"regei/ n. 瑞格舞（西印度群岛的舞曲）

bribery ["braɪbərɪ] n. 行贿，贿赂

apartheid [əˈpɑ:tˌhaɪt, -ˌheɪt] n. 种族隔离

注释：

1. Her songs are written in rap or hip-hop style about the problems that she sees in Tanzania,especially AIDS and the lack of rights for women.她用嘻哈和说唱的风格写歌，歌曲的内容是坦桑尼亚的各种问题，特别是艾滋和女性权利的缺失。

2. They speak of peace and cooperation among Africans, as well as the rights of women, love forone"s family, and saving the environment.他倡导在非洲要和平与协作，同时也包括妇女权利、热爱家庭和保护环境。

This passage is about how African pop music is

A:usually about love and romance B:more serious than most pop music C:popular with young people in Africa D:mostly written just for entertainment

Just in time for summer, Great Outdoors announces a new promotion on its outdoor gear. Tents, sleeping bags, portable chairs, barbecues, and all camping equipment to meet the seasonal demand ... are now 25% off.
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From: Clive Winston ＜winstonlove@uscomniunications.com＞
To: The management ＜purchase@greatoutdoors.com＞
Subject: Group purchase
To all the Management of Great Outdoors,
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A:To place an order with the company B:To give an opinion on an item C:To inquire about a special discount D:To demand a refund for a defective product

College is a new and challenging experience, and new and challenging experience tend to produce stress. Consequently, stress is a common problem that many college students must face. How to reduce stress:
1. Eliminate the source of stress. Identify possible sources of stress, and work toward eliminating them. If a math course is creating stress, for instance, take action. Go to the learning lab or math lab for assistance or inquire about instructions.
2. Establish a daily routine. To eliminate daily hassles (混乱) and make daily tasks as simple as possible, establish a daily routine. A routine eliminates the need to make numerous small decisions, thus giving you a sense of "smooth sailing."
3. Review your achievements. When you feel pressures, stop and review what you have already achieved that day and that week. This review will give you confidence that you can handle the workload. A positive attitude goes a long way in overcoming stress.
4. Get physical exercise. Exercise often releases tension, promotes a general feeling of wellness, and improves self-concept. Many students report that as little as 30 minutes of exercise produces immediate relaxation.
5. Get involved with campus activities. Some students become so involved with their course work that they do little else but study or worry about studying. In fact, they feel guilty or stressed when they are not studying. Be sure to allow some time in each day to relax and have fun. Campus activities provide a valuable means of releasing tension and taking your mind off your work.

A:find out what causes stress B:seek help from your classmates C:inquire about instructions D:make a plan of your work

—You haven't said a word about my new coat, Brend

A:a. Do you like it B:—I'm sorry I ______ anything about it sooner. I certainly think it's pretty on you. wasn't saying don't say won't say didn't say

The purpose ( ) my coming here is to inquire about possibilities of establishing trade relations with your company.

A:with B:of C:for D:in

The purpose( )my coming here is to inquire about possibilities of establishing trade relations with your company.

A:with B:of C:for D:in

The purpose ( ) my coming here is to inquire about possibilities of establishing trade relations with your company.

A:with B:of C:for D:in