Aroundtheworldyoungpeoplearespendingunbelievablesumsofmoneylisteningtorockmusic.Forbesreportsthatatleastfiftyrockstarshaveincomesbetweentwomillionandsixmilliondollarsperyear."Itdoesn'tmakesense"

Question

Around the world young people are spending unbelievable sums of money listening to rock music. Forbes reports that at least fifty rock stars have incomes between two million and six million dollars per year.

"It doesn't make sense " says Johnny Mathis one of the older music millionaires who made a million dollars a year when he was most popular in the 1950s. "Performers aren't worth this kind of money. In fact nobody is. "

But the rock stars 'admirers seem to disagree. Those who love rock music spend about two billion dollars a year for records. They pay 150 million to see rock stars in person.

Luck is a key word for explaining the success of many. In 1972 one of the luckiest was Kon McLean who wrote and sang "American Pie". McLean writes his own music so he earns an additional two cents on every single record of the song.

Nell Young who performs in torn blue jeans sometimes sings to an audience of 10 000 each of whom has paid at least five dollars for a ticket. After paying expenses Young leaves with about $ 18 000 in his blue jeans at the end of an evening.

How do the rock stars use their money? What do they do when the money starts pouring in like water? Most of the young stars simply throw the money around. England's Elton John gave someone a $ 38 000 Rolls Royce car and bought himself 5 000 pair of eyeglasses then lighted up and spelt: E—L—T—O--N. He also bought himself two cars "one for each foot".

Many rock stars live like Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane. Those performers return from a tour pay their bills and buy new toys. Then when they need money again they do another tour. They save no money and live from hand to mouth.

In the end the rock star's life is unrewarding. After two or three years riches and fame are gone. Left with his memories and his tax problems the lonely person spends his remaining years trying to attract strangers. New stars have arrived to take his place.

28. This passage is mainly about ________________.

   A. the success of a rock star               B. the way rock stars live

   C. rich rock stars                        D. the admirers of rock stars

29. How much expense does Neil Young pay for a performance?

   A. $ 10 000                B. $ 33 000        C. $ 32 000            D. $ 38 000

30. According to the passage the underlined phrase “from hand to mouth” means____________.

   A. they have to earn money by hand

   B. they know how to spend money in a reasonable way

   C. they earn money only for their immediate enjoyment

   D. they steal to feed their mouth when they need money

31. What do we know about Johnny Mathis?

   A. He thinks rock stars shouldn’t make much money. 

   B. His admires disagree with him totally

   C. He was once popular in the twentieth century

   D. He never spends any money on a rock star’s performance.

Answer 1

BCCC