George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America’s greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.
Many of Gershwin’s songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way — from jazz to country.
In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.
In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition (作曲)with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics (评论家)were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It still remains one of his most famous works.
George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty-nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.
1.Many of Gershwin’s musical works were ________ .
A. composed for Paul Whiteman
B. performed in various ways
C. played mainly in the countryside
D. written about New Yorkers
2.What do we know about the concert organized by Whiteman?
A. It attracted more people to theatres.
B. It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra.
C. It caused a debate among jazz musicians.
D. It proved jazz could be serious music.
3.What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?
A. He argued with French critics.
B. He studied with Nadia Boulanger.
C. He changed his music style.
D. He created one of his best works.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. Many of Gershwin’s works were lost.
B. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin’s death.
C. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.
D. The death of Gershwin was widely reported.
5.Which of the following best describes Gershwin?
A. Serious and boring B. Talented and productive
C. Popular and unhappy D. Friendly and honest
完形填空(共20小题;每小题1.5分,满分30分)
阅读下面短文,从短文后各题的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
John’s parents acquired the washer when he was a small boy. It happened during World War II. His family never a washing machine and, since gasoline was expensive, they could not trips to the laundry (洗衣店) several miles away. Keeping clothes became a problem for young John’s household.
A family friend joined the army, and his wife to go with him. John’s family to store their furniture while they were away. To the family’s , the friend suggested they use their Bendix. So this is how they the washer.
Young John helped with the washing, and across the years he a love for the old, green Bendix. But the war ended. When the friends came to take it back, John grew terribly . His mother him and said. “You must remember, that machine belonged to us in the first place. That we ever got to use it at all was a gift. So, instead of being mad at it being taken , let’s use this to be grateful that we had it at all.”
The lesson turned out . Years later, John watched his eight-year-old daughter die a slow and painful death of leukemia(白血病). Though he for months with her death, John could not begin getting over from the until he remembered the old Bendix.
His daughter was a . When he realized the simple fact, everything changed. He could now begin recovering from the death of his daughter. He started to see her as a marvelous gift that he was fortunate enough to for a time. He felt . He found strength and recovery. He knew he could get through the valley of loss.
1.A. required B. owned C. repaired D. saw
2.A. take B. have C. afford D. ride
3.A. clean B. warm C. nice D. good
4.A. agreed B. managed C. desired D. prepared
5.A. offered B. decided C. expected D. promised
6.A. disappointed B. astonishment C. sadness D. regret
7.A. bought B. got C. borrowed D. used
8.A. achieved B. produced C. developed D. reduced
9.A. finally B. obviously C. immediately D. peacefully
10.A. frightened B. upset C. hopeless D. confused
11.A. explained B. encouraged C. comforted D. taught
12.A. once B. already C. hardly D. never
13.A. out B. down C. away D. up
14.A. chance B. success C. event D. treasure
15.A.important B. necessary C. reasonable D. invaluable
16.A. thought B. missed C. struggled D. forgot
17.A. lesson B. loss C. illness D. difficulty
18.A. death B. washer C. gift D. loser
19.A. share B. spend C. live D. earn
20.A. grateful B. energetic C. relaxed D. happy
—Sorry, I overslept. I forgot to set the alarm.
—Your clock______. Perhaps you should buy a new one.
A. never worked B. never works
C. had never worked D. is never working
—She’s really pretty, isn’t she? Her skin looks so baby smooth!
—Well, it’s just that she puts lots of make-up on her face.____
A. Sometimes I wish I could be as beautiful as her.
B. Actually, natural beauty comes from within.
C. I can’t believe she is still so pretty after giving birth to a baby!
D. Fortunately, she has a good income.
—How do you find your missing pen?
—Wow,________.
A. It writes well
B. Quite by chance
B. It lies in my drawer
D. It was kept by my grandfather
Only after being attacked by the Japanese in Pearl Harbor ________in the Second World War thoroughly.
A. had America involved B. was America involved
C. America had involved D. America was involved