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 sun 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 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 slop 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.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

3.What can we infer 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.

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

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

4.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.C

3.B

4.B

【解析】试题分析：本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了一个名叫Samuel Osmond的音乐天才。他从未学过钢琴，但是却能够在不会读乐谱的情况下，把听到的乐曲弹奏出来。他的记忆力非常好，能把听到的很长，很难的乐曲记下来，能把听到。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段句子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是他的特殊之处，故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段句子Samuel can’t understand why everyone is so surprised. 和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。

3.推理判断题。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，因此推断他比许多专业钢琴家弹钢琴弹得还好。故选B。

4.标题判断题。根据第一段句子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.以及全文内容可知， 本文围绕着Samuel没有学习弹钢琴，只是听到乐曲就能记下来这一特殊天赋展开论述，因此推断B项“一个音乐天才的故事”符合语境。故选B。

【名师点睛】

细节理解题是针对文中的某个细节、某句话或者某部分的具体内容设置问题，正确答案的根据一定可以在原文中找到，而原文的改写往往成为正确的选项。

如小题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.

答案定位在第第一段句子However, he can play very difficult musical pieces by musicians such as Chopin and Beethoven just a few minutes after he hears them. ，因此可知Samuel Osmond能把听到的乐曲弹奏出来是他的特殊之处。故选D。