四六级

　　At 23, Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayu to fans, is the mostpowerful figure in Japanese pop music. She has soldmore records than any other musical act for twoyears running in the world's second largest musicmarket. Her frequent makeovers1 determine the course of fashion. Her huge black eyespeer2 out from billboards in every corner of the country.

　　Fans memorize her lyrics, transform into Ayu clones and swear she's changed their lives.

　　Despite her childlike persona, you can't help but sense Hamasaki was never truly a child. Born inFukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu, she was just a toddler when her father walked out.Raised by a single mother and a grandmother, she began modeling locally at seven, in part toearn money for the family. It was an unusual and lonely childhood in this country of steadfastlynuclear families, but Hamasaki says she wasn't aware of what she was missing.

　　Hamasaki began to pursue an acting and modeling career. Old magazine spreads feature thesweetly smiling young starlet clad in bathing suits or prim outfits that would never make it toher own wardrobe. After bit parts in five low-budget movies and handful of TV dramas, shetired of acting and, with her tiny frame, did not have a future in modeling.

　　Then a friend invited her out for karaoke that forever changed her life. The friend had alsoinvited Masato Matsuura, who introduced himself to Hamasaki as a producer. Hamasaki recalls,laughing,"When, he asked if I wanted to pursue a singing career, I said, ‘No way.'he was thisolder guy, and I thought the whole thing sounded fishy. "Over the following year, though,Matsuura persisted. Finally she relented to his request that she at least attended vocaltraining, only because"I had nothing better to do . "But classes were dull and the teachersharsh.

　　Finally, she confessed3 to Matsuura that she'd skipped most of the classes. But instead ofwriting her off, he proposed sending her to New York for some real training. She stayed in NewYork for three months. Then suggested by Matsuura she tried her hands on writing songs."Noone had ever asked anything of me before, or expected anything of me, "she says ofMatsuura,"He's the one who found me and drew me out. "

　　Ⅰ. Complete the following sentences with the words: give stare glancing glare peeringskip confess fritter

　　1. She is often caught at people or objects at a distance when she is not wearing her glasses.

　　2. The hearings are conducted under the full of publicity.

　　3. down the list of name, she was pleased when saw his name heading the list.

　　4. She has an insuperable habit to at the abnormal in the street.

　　Ⅱ. Questions:

　　1. Where is Ayu’s hometown?

　　2. When did she begin her modeling career? Why?

　　3. Why couldn’t she see her future in her modeling career?

　　参考答案：

　　Ⅰ. 1. peering 2. glare 3 . Glancing 4. stare

　　Ⅱ. 1. Her hometown is Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu.

　　2. At seven. To earn the money for the family.

　　3. Because of her tiny frame.

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