Question

Samuel Osmond is a 19-year-old law student from Cornwall, England. He never studied the piano. However, he can play very difficult musical pieces by musicians such as Chopin and Beethoven just a few minutes after he hears them. He learns a piece of music by listening to it in parts. Then he thinks about the notes in his head. Two years ago, he played his first piece Moonlight Sonata（奏鸣曲）by Beethoven. He surprised everyone around him.

Amazed that he remembered this long and difficult piece of music and played it perfectly, his teachers say Samuel is unbelievable. They say his ability is very rare, but Samuel doesn’t even realize that what he can do is special. Samuel wanted to become a lawyer as it was the wish of his parents, but music teachers told him he should study music instead. Now, he studies law and music.

Samuel can’t understand why everyone is so surprised. “I grew up with music. My mother played the piano and my father played the guitar. About two years ago, I suddenly decided to start playing the piano, without being able to read music and without having any lessons. It comes easily to me ---I hear the notes and can bear them in mind---each and every note,” says Samuel.

Recently, Samuel performed a piece during a special event at his college. The piece had more than a thousand notes. The audience was impressed by his amazing performance. He is now learning a piece that is so difficult that many professional(专业的) pianists can’t play it. Samuel says confidently,” It’s all about super memory---I guess I have that gift.”

However, Samuel’s ability to remember things doesn’t stop with music. His family says that even when he was a young boy, Samuel heard someone read a story, and then he could retell the story word for word.

Samuel is still only a teenager. He doesn’t know what he wants to do in the future. For now, he is just happy to play beautiful music and continue his studies.

1.What is special about Samuel Osmond?

A. He has a gift for writing music.

B. He can write down the note he hears.

C. He is a top student at the law school.

D. He can play the musical piece he hears.

2.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Samuel chose law against the wish of his parents.

B. Samuel planned to be a lawyer rather than a musician.

C. Samuel thinks of himself as a man of great musical ability.

D. Samuel studies law and music on the advice of his teachers.

3. Everyone around Samuel was surprised because he _________.

A. received a good early education in music

B. played the guitar and the piano perfectly

C. could play the piano without reading music

D. could play the guitar better than his father

4.What can we infer(推断) about Samuel in Paragraph 4?

A. He became famous during a special event at his college.

B. He is proud of his ability to remember things accurately(精确地).

C. He plays the piano better than many professional pianists.

D. He impressed the audience by playing all the musical pieces.

5.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A. The Qualities of a Musician

B. The Story of a Musical Talent

C. The Importance of Early Education

D. The Relationship between Memory and Music.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.B

5.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇记叙文。文中叙述了一个名叫Samuel Osmond的音乐天才。他在不会读乐谱的情况下，能把听到的乐曲弹奏出来。他的记忆力好，能把听到的乐曲记下来。他不仅能记住乐曲，听到的故事也能复述。

1.D细节理解题。Samuel Osmond的特殊之处是什么？根据 However, he can play very difficult musical pieces by musicians such as Chopin and Beethoven just a few minutes after he hears them. 可知Samuel Osmond能把听到的乐曲弹奏出来，故选D。

2.B细节理解题。从第二段我们能得知什么？根据Samuel wanted to become a lawyer as it was the wish of his parents, 可知Samuel 想当一名律师。故选B。

3.C细节理解题。Samuel周围的人对他感到惊讶是因为什么？根据I suddenly decided to start playing the piano, without being able to read music and without having any lessons.可知Samuel不会读乐谱的情况下就会弹钢琴，这使大家感到惊讶。故选C。

4.B推理判断题。在第四段中我们可以推断出关于Samuel的什么事情？ 根据He is now learning a piece that is so difficult that many professional pianists can’t play it.可知Samuel正在学习许多专业钢琴家也不会弹的曲子，故推断他比许多专业钢琴家弹钢琴弹得好。故选B。

5.B主旨大意题。下面哪一个是文章的最好标题？根据He never studied the piano. However, he can play very difficult musical pieces by musicians such as Chopin and Beethoven just a few minutes after he hears them. 本文围绕着Samuel没有学习弹钢琴，只是把听到乐曲就能记下来，然后弹奏出来，这是一个特殊的天赋，因此本文的标题讲的是一个音乐天才的故事。故选B。

考点：故事类阅读。