Question

In the early part of the twentieth century, racism was widespread in the United States. Many African Americans were not given equal opportunities in education or employment. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was an African American woman who gained fame as a concert singer in this climate of racism. She was born in Philadelphia and sang in church choirs during her childhood. When she applied for admission to a local music school in 1917, she was turned down because she was black. Unable to attend music school, she began her career as a singer for church gatherings. In 1929, she went to Europe to study voice and spent several years performing there. Her voice was widely praised throughout Europe. Then she returned to the US in 1935 and became a top concert singer after performing at Town Hall in New York City.

Racism again affected Anderson in 1939. When it was arranged for her to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, the Daughters of the American Revolution opposed it because of her color. She sang instead at the Lincoln Memorial for over 75 000 people. In 1955, Anderson became the first black soloist to sing win the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. The famous conductor Toscanini praised her voice as “heard only once in a hundred years”. She was a US delegate to the United Nations in 1958 and won the UN peace prize in 1977. Anderson eventually triumphed over racism.

1. According to this passage, what did Marian Anderson do between 1917 and 1929?

A．She studied at a music school.              B．She sang for religious activities.

C．She sang at Town Hall in New York.           D．She studied voice in Europe.

2.Toscanini thought that Marian Anderson        .

A．had a very rare voice                    B．sang occasionally in public

C．sang only once in many years              D．was seldom heard by people

3.Anderson’s beautiful voice was first recognized      .

A. at the Lincoln Memorial              B. in Washington, DC.

C. in Europe                            D. at the United Nations

4.This passage shows that Anderson finally defeated racism in the US by         .

A．protesting to the government              B．appealing to the United Nations

C．demonstrating in the streets               D．working hard to perfect her art

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章难度：中等。本文介绍了美国黑人歌唱家玛丽安·安德生如何凭着自身实力和勤奋战胜了种族歧视，获得了事业上的成功。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段“Unable to attend music School she began her career as asinger for church gatherings.”可知在 1917 年到 1929 年之间 Anderson 为宗教活动唱歌。选B

2.推理判断题。由第二段“The famous conductor Toscanini praised her voice as heardonly once in a hundred years.”可推知答案。选A

3.细节理解题。由第一段倒数第二、三句“...she went to Europe to study voice andspent several years performing there. Her voice was widely praised throughout Europe.”可知她的美妙的声音一开始是在欧洲被认可。选C

4.推理判断题。由文章主旨可知，Anderson 凭着认真工作以使得她的艺术完美，借此击败种族歧视。选D

考点：考查人物传记类短文