Most people want to know how things are made. They honestly admit, however, that
题型：不详难度：来源：
Most people want to know how things are made. They honestly admit, however, that they hardly know a thing when it comes to understanding how a piece of music is made. Where a composer begins, how he manages to keep going – in fact, how and when he learns his trade – all are covered in complete darkness. The composer, in short, is a man of mystery .
One of the first things the common man wants to know about is the part inspiration plays in a composer’s work. He finds it difficult to believe that composers are not much interested in that question. Writing music is as natural for the composer as eating or sleeping for all. Music is something that the composer happens to have been born for.
The composer, therefore, does not say to himself: “Do I feel inspired?” He says to himself: “Do I feel like working today?” And if he feels like working, he does. It is more or less like saying to himself: “Do I feel sleepy?” If you feel sleepy, you go to sleep. If you don’t feel sleepy, you stay up. If the composer doesn’t feel like working, he doesn’t work. It’s as simple as that.
小题1:What would be the best title for the text?| A．Composer: a man of mystery | | B．Practice makes good music | | C．Relation between sleeping and music | | D．Music: product of nature |
小题2:Most people seem to think that a composer ____.| A．finds it difficult to write music | | B．considers it important to have a good rest | | C．should like to talk about inspiration | | D．never asks himself very simple questions |
小题3:The author will most probably agree that composers ____.| A．are born with a gift for music | | B．are people full of mystery | | C．work late at night for their music | | D．know a lot about eating and sleeping |
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答案
小题1:A
小题2:C
小题3:A |
解析
试题分析：作曲家是从哪里开始作曲的，怎样继续下去的，怎样学会这一技巧的，都是个谜，没有人知道，由此可以推断出答案。
小题1:主旨大意题。第一段的最后一句The composer, in short, is a man of mystery .
是主题句，选A。
小题2:细节理解题。根据短文第二段He finds it difficult to believe that composers are not much interested in that question.可知“普通人首先知道的事情之一就是灵感在作曲家的工作中所起的作用。他认为作曲家想要谈论这个问题”选C。
小题3:细节理解题。根据短文第二段倒数一二句“ Writing music is…have been born for”可知作曲家是天生的，A项正确。
点评：考查细节题较多，本文所设试题主要考察细节查找，对于文章中的细节题，要注意文本内容的理解。关键是找出原文的根据，认真核查题支和原文的异同，常犯错误有：绝对化语言，范围扩大或缩小，以偏概全，张冠李戴等。带着问题，再读全文，找出答题所需要的依据，完成阅读。 |
举一反三
The French word renaissance means rebirth. It was first used in 1855 by the historian Jules Michelet in his History of France，then adopted by historians of culture，by art historians，and eventually by music historians，all of whom applied it to European culture during the 150 years spanning 1450－1600.The concept of rebirth was appropriate to this period of European history because of the renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture that began in Italy and then spread throughout Europe. Scholars and artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries wanted to restore the learning and ideals of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. To these scholars this meant a return to human—as opposed to spiritual values. Fulfillment in life—as opposed to concern about an afterlife—became a desirable goal，and expressing the entire range of human emotions and enjoying the pleasures of the senses were no longer frowned(皱眉头) on. Artists and writers now turned to secular(不朽的)as well as religious subject matter and sought to make their works understandable and appealing.
These changes in outlook deeply affected the musical culture of the Renaissance period—how people thought about music as well as the way music was composed，experienced，discussed，and circulated. They could see the architectural monuments，sculptures(雕塑)，plays，and poems that were being rediscovered，but they could not actually hear ancient music—although they could read the writings of classical philosophers，poets，essayists，and music theorists that were becoming available in translation. They learned about the power of ancient music to move the listener and wondered why modern music did not have the same effect. For example，the influential religious leader Bernardino Cirillo expressed disappointment with the learned music of his time. He urged musicians to follow the example of the sculptors，painters，architects，and scholars who had rediscovered ancient art and literature.
The musical Renaissance in Europe was more a general cultural movement and state of mind than a specific set of musical techniques. Furthermore，music changed so rapidly during this century and a half—though at different rates in different countries—that we cannot define a single Renaissance style.
小题1:What is the passage mainly about?| A．The musical compositions that best illustrate the developments during the European Renaissance. | | B．The musical techniques that were in use during the European Renaissance. | | C．The European Renaissance as a cultural development that included changes in musical style. | | D．The ancient Greek and Roman musical practices used during the European Renaissance. |
小题2:The underlined word “now” in Paragraph 1 refers to ________.| A．1855 | | B．the period of the Renaissance | | C．the time of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome | | D．the time at which the author wrote the passage |
小题3:It can be inferred from the passage that thinkers of the Renaissance were seeking a rebirth of ________.| A．spirituality in everyday life | | B．communication among artists across Europe | | C．a cultural emphasis on human values | | D．religious themes in art that would accompany the traditional secular themes |
小题4:What can be inferred about the music of ancient Greece and Rome?| A．Its effect on listeners was described in a number of classical texts. | | B．It was played on instruments that are familiar to modern audiences. | | C．It expressed more different ideals than classical sculpture，painting and poetry. | | D．It had the same effect on Renaissance audiences as it had when originally performed. |
小题5:According to the passage，why was Bernardino Cirillo disappointed with the music of his time?| A．It did not contain enough religious themes. | | B．It had little emotional impact on audiences. | | C．It was not complex enough to appeal to musicians. | | D．It was too dependent on the art and literature of his time. |
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Removing the sleeve(封套), you will find a book that is entirely white, except for the names of its author and subject in elegant black type on the cover. It is the perfect design for the biography of a man who insisted that even the insides of his products be perfectly constructed, and that his factory wails flash in the whitest white.
The cover was the only part of the book Steve Jobs wanted to control, writes Isaacson in his introduction. Though Mr. Jobs pushed the biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin to write in his own way, generously allowing the writer more than 40 interviews, this book offers quite a different view of Mr. Jobs, who won much praise from his fans after his death on October 5th at the age of 56.
As a biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, Mr. Isaacson knows how to celebrate long-dead genius, but he claimed that "Steve Jobs" would not be entirely praiseful words. The picture he paints, particularly in the first half of this book, is not nice. Mr. Jobs emerges as a controlling and often cold-blooded character. A child of the 1960s counter-culture (反主流文化), he hated, materialism and lived in simply furnished houses ( in part because he was too particular about furniture). But when Apple went public in 1980, he refused to give any share to Daniel Kottke, a Iongtime supporter and soul mate from college. "He has to abandon the people he is close to," observes Andy Hertzfeld, an early Apple engineer.
Mr. Jobs was undoubtedly possessing an extraordinary ability to attract others and inspire a kind of faith that could not be questioned. But also he could be cold and cruel. If he disapproved of an employee"s work, he often shamed him. "This is who I am," he once said after being challenged,"and you can"t expect me to be someone I"m not. " This disgusting personality wasn"t always helpful,but it served a purpose, writes Mr. Isaacson, many would "end their chain of horror stories by saying that he got them to do things they never dreamed possible. "
Mr. Isaacson treats "Steve Jobs" as the biography of record, which means that it is a strange book to read so soon after its subject"s death.
小题1:The biography for Jobs is believed to have the perfect design because __| A．it follows Jobs" style | | B．its cover is entirely white | | C．black and white are his favorite . | | D．it is designed by a famous biographer |
小题2:The picture of Jobs that Isaacson paints in his book is __
①cruel ②humorous ③particular ④generous小题3:It can be safely concluded that | A．Jobs is highly spoken of in the book | | B．Isaacson doesn"t think Jobs a good man | | C．Jobs didn"t care about the design of the book | | D．all descriptions of Jobs are not nice in the book |
小题4:This passage can be classified as | A．a personal diary | B．a book review | C．a news report | D．a TV interview |
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Need to relax after a few stressful months? Perhaps you need to go to a spa.
First of all, what exactly is a spa? Traditionally, spas were places with a natural spring producing warm waters that could be used in hydrotherapy (水疗法) treatments. They were places where you “took the waters” --- meaning you drank some of the water or bathed in it.
But nowadays, a “spa” can mean a variety of things. In general, the term is often used to refer to commercial establishment that provides many services for health, fitness, weight loss, beauty and relaxation. This may include exercise classes, mud baths, body treatment, facials (美容), etc.
In Japan, traditional hot springs have attracted visitors for centuries. And thermal baths (温泉浴) have been found in the ruins of the Cretan Palace of Knossos (2000-1400 B.C.). It was the Romans who made spas popular in Europe. They established a number of towns around thermal waters. These include the English town of Aquae Sulis (which is called Bath today), and the Belgian town of Aquae Spadanae (which is known as Spa these days).
In the 18th century, spas became the fashionable places to go on holiday. Bath and Harrogate in the UK were popular with British rich people. And in Europe Carsbad (now called Larlovy Vary), Marienbad and Franzensbsf were Europe’s most important holiday centers.
A typical day in Carsbad in the 19th century went as follows. Visitors got up at 6:00 a.m. to take the waters and listen to music by a band. Next, came a light breakfast, a bath in the waters, and then lunch. In the afternoon, visitors went sightseeing, walked or attended concerts. After dinner, there were theatrical performances. Guests returned to their hotels at about 9 p.m. to rest until six the following morning. Visitors would stay for as long as a month. Some of the more famous patients at these spas included the composers Beethoven and Chopin, and the Russian writer Turgnev.
Marienbad was the best spa town. It was popular with the inventor Thomas Edison, the writer Johann Goethe, and many famous people and European emperors.
Today, although taking the waters isn’t as common as it used to be, spa treatments are more popular than ever.
小题1:What can we learn about a spa?| A．It makes profits mainly on facials. | | B．It is a center for rich people to relax. | | C．It provides more services than before. | | D．It is where one can get medical treatment. |
小题2: From Paragraph 4, we can infer that ___________.| A．spas have a history of about 200 years | | B．Japan has more spas than any other countries | | C．the Romans played a positive part in the popularity of spas | | D．ordinary people could enjoy thermal baths in 18th-century UK |
小题3: At the spas in Carlsbad, ____________.| A．many visitors had facials | | B．guests often stayed for at least a month | | C．Thomas Edison was a regular guest | | D．guests had a bath between breakfast and lunch |
小题4: What can we learn from the passage?| A．The former name of Larlovy Vary was Carlsbad. | | B．Spa treatments are not so popular as before. | | C．Chopin visited Marienbad frequently. | | D．Marienbad is located in the UK. |
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Towards the end of Middle English, a sudden change in pronunciation started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. From the 16th century the British had contact(联系) with people from around the world. This means that many new words and phrases entered the language. The invention of printing also meant that there was a common language in print. Books became cheaper and more people learned to read. Spelling and grammar became fixed and the dialect （方言）of London became the standard. In 1604, the first English dictionary was published.
The numbers of words in Early Modern English and Late Modern English differ. Late Modern English has a lot more words because of two main factors(因素): firstly, the Industrial Revolution created a need for new words; secondly, the British Empire covered one quarter of the earth’s surface, and the English language took in foreign words from many countries.
From around 1600, the English colonization(殖民地化)of North America resulted in the creation of American English. Some English pronunciation and words froze when they reached America. In some ways, American English is more like the English of Shakespeare than modern British English. Some expressions that the British call “ Americanisms” are in fact original （原先的）British expressions that were preserved (保存) in the colonies but were lost in Britain. Spanish also had an influence on American English, with words like canyon, ranch, stampede and vigilante being examples of Spanish words that entered English. French words and West African words also influenced American English.
Today, American English is the most influential(有影响力的). But there are many other kinds of English around the world, including Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English , Indian English and Caribbean English. They have differences.
小题1:What can we know from Paragraph 1?| A．The dialect of London became the standard in the year 1604. | | B．Vowels were pronounced longer towards the end of Middle English | | C．The first English dictionary was published in the early 17th century. | | D．Many new words entered English because many people moved to Britain. |
小题2:From Paragraph 2, we know that the Industrial Revolution __________.| A．required spelling and grammar to be fixed | | B．required a greater number of English words | | C．caused many old English words to be useless | | D．led to the English colonization of North America. |
小题3:The underlined word “froze” in Paragraph 3 shows that some English words in America___________.| A．became longer | | B．greatly changed | | C．a little changed | | D．stayed as they were |
小题4:What will the paragraph following this passage most probably discuss?| A．The development of Modern English | | B．How the English vocabulary became larger | | C．Differences among the different kinds of English | | D．Differences between Middle English and Modern English |
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The 115-year-old prestigious (有名望的)Oxford Dictionary will now include popular new Chinese terms like“shanzhai” “youtiao” and “fangnu”, as part of the modern Chinese language．
As China plays a more and more important role in the world economy, the Chinese language is forever developing, attracting more attention from people who want to understand this ancient yet lively language．
For instance, the word “shanzhai” is used to describe the countless knockoffs（名牌仿制品）of iPhones or designer bags imprinted with Louis Vuitton logos．
Another new term in the new edition is the word “fangnu”, or a “mortgage slave” —a term used to describe the phenomenon in large cities where well-educated youth complain of a miserable existence due to the heavy burden of a home mortgage．
All these new or often fashionable terms can be found in the new Oxford English –Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary that was unveiled(公布于众的)in the recently concluded Beijing International Book Fair last week．
The dictionary now is available for retail sales since the beginning of this month．This dictionary is the largest single volume English-Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary and contains 670,000 words and phrases after five years of preparation．Sixty editors from the Oxford University Press and its partner in China—the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press—worked together on the project．According to Julie Kleeman, the dictionary’s chief editor, most of the firm’s editors were Chinese, while about one fourth were native-English speakers．
“We don’t want to make it florid（绚丽的）, we want it to be modern and conversational．．．many of the words in the present dictionary are no longer in use,” said Kleeman．“The need for studying Chinese by foreigners today is totally different from decades ago．．．Precise, native and practical—that is our main advantage,” she said．
Kleeman said newer publications updates will be available only for the online version as language often changes too quickly for book versions to keep pace．The online version will also offer a Chinese phonetic pronunciation guide．The online version, allowing access via different platforms from the PC to the iPad, will be ready “as soon as possible”, Kleeman said．
小题1: According to the above passage, we learn that ________．| A．knockoffs can be found in China but not very often. | | B．the Oxford University Press made the dictionary without outside aid. | | C．most Chinese editors are also native speakers of English. | | D．well-educated youth in China’s big cities have difficulty buying houses. |
小题2: The possible reason why newer publications updates are not available for book versions is that ________．| A．book versions can’t keep up with the changes of language. | | B．the computer network is available everywhere. | | C．book versions can’t offer a Chinese phonetic pronunciation guide. | | D．computer technology like the PC and the iPad keeps pace with language. |
小题3:What is the main idea of the passage?| A．New Chinese terms like “shanzhai” and “fangnu” have got into Oxford Dictionary． | | B．The latest Oxford English-Chinese, Chinese-English Dictionary is on the market． | | C．Oxford Dictionary has become more fashionable due to the Chinese language． | | D．Beijing International Book Fair was where the new Oxford Dictionary was published |
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