YOU love Jay Chou’s songs and you can even sing some quite well. So you make a video of your performance and post it online for your friends to see. But what if this led to something beyond your wildest imagination – a career in music?
Canadian teenager Justin Bieber, 16, has just had that magical experience: He posted homemade videos of his versions of songs by American singer Chris Brown online for his relatives. He received a phone call from Brown, telling him how much he liked his performance. His singing eventually earned him a fan base and a record contract (合约). After releasing a popular EP (extended play, 密纹唱片) record in November 2009, his album My World 2.0 came out last Tuesday.
Bieber sings ballads and songs about puppy love (初恋). But is he just another gooey (甜腻的) teen idol? David Malitz, a columnist with the Washington Post, doesn’t think so. “If we truly want the best for American children, let us pause and give thanks for Justin Bieber,” he writes. “After years of humdrum bubblegum (乏味的摇滚舞曲) from Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, the 16-year-old has thrown a candy-coated wrench (扭转) into Disney’s heartthrob (甜心) assembly line (生产线) by giving young fans something worth screaming their lungs out for: lovable pop songs.”
From a boy who grew up below the poverty line with his divorced mom to a star who causes near-riots (近乎失控) in shopping malls, even Bieber himself can’t believe his overnight fame, although his kind of success is becoming more and more common in the Internet era (时代).
Interested in hockey (冰球), the national sport of Canada, the boy once put up pictures of players on the walls of his bedroom. He dreamed of being a hockey star and used to practice signing his autograph (签名). He doesn’t need practice now. He signs autographs, if the girls can get close enough, as a music star.
BONUS
因特网和选秀节目让不少人一夜成名，谈到这个话题，我们可以说:someone achieves overnight fame/success; instant fame; rises from a nobody to a somebody; rockets to stardom.
Teens点金
高考词汇
lower //
v. 降低，放下，减弱
The flags were lowered to half-mast.
star // v. 由……担任主角
He stars as the romantic hero in the new film.
capture // vt. 捕获，俘获
Government troops have succeeded in capturing the rebel leader.
randomly //
adv. 随机地，未加计划地
Participants of the activity were randomly selected.
complex // adj. 复杂的
He seemed to have an instant understanding of the most complex issues.
考点看台
While some microbes can make their own food out of chemicals in the ocean, complex life like the shrimp can’t, Kim said.
本句中while表示“虽然”，前后分句形成转折对比关系。
真题演练
1. – I wonder how much you charge for your services.
– The first two are free ______ the third costs $30. (09安徽卷)
A. while B. until
C. when D. before
2. In some places women are expected to earn money ______ men work at home and raise their children. (08四川卷)
A. but B. while
C. because D. though
Key: AB
参考资料：http://www.21stcentury.com.cn/mod.shtml?n=se&ff=wencui&l=echo&id=3871