Question

    The world famous Boston Symphony Orchestra normally performs at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. But its summer home is the Tanglewood Music Center in western Massachusetts.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra also has a summer program at Tanglewood. It is designed for young singers, musicians and those who create musical works. Great composers like Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and John Adams have worked There.

Serge Koussevitzky led the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1940. At the time Europe was at war. The United States did not enter World War I until the end of 1941. Mr. Koussevitzky persuaded people in the music industry to open a music school at Tanglewood, the BSO’s summer home. He wanted young, gifted musicians toattend the school for free.

But within two years, the program almost came to an end. “The BSO trustees(托管人) wanted to close the school because of the war and Koussevitzky was angry, and wrote a letter calling it an ‘act of artistic vandalism(损坏)’. And he said, ‘Now is the time when the world needs to be hearing this music’,” says Jeremy Eichler, a music critic for The Boston Globe newspaper. “This music” was not Just works by Beethoven or Brahms. It was the sounds of the time.

Mr. Koussevitzky chose composer Aaron Copland to head the school. “In establishing Aaron Copland as the head of the school not as the head of composition, he was making a very specific statement…And I think he felt very strongly that paying attention to the music of one’s own time is the way to ensure that there will be a future,” says Jeremy Eichler.

Paul Hindemith was a refugee (难民) from the war in Europe. He was chosen as the first head of Tanglewood’s music composition department. He and Copland decided that the school would be a place where composers write new musical works.

Their first performance was Alleluia, a piece written by American composer Randall Thompson. Alleluia has opened the school’s program every summer since it was first performed. Since it opened, Tanglewood’s young musicians, singers and conductors have performed many new compositions. They include the first American performance of Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes. This year, for its 75th anniversary, the center asks composers to write 34 new pieces of music.

1.What happened to the Tanglewood Music Center?

A. Aaron Copland once worked as the head of the school.

B. Many young, gifted musicians attended the school in 1941.

C. It was closed in 1943 because of the World War II.

D. It was created by Serge Koussevitzky in 1940.

2.Which of the following is in agreement with Serge Koussevitzky’s opinions?

A. The great music should be the reflection of the time.

B. The young should have the chance to learn music for free.

C. The head of a music school should be a composer.

D. The traditional music should not be emphasized.

3.It can be referred that the Tanglewood Music Center attaches importance to         .

A. performing new works every year

B. the compositions of famous musicians

C. working with famous composers

D. the young talented musicians creation.

4.What’s the passage mainly about?

A. The great changes taking place in the Tanglewood Music Center.

B. A brief introduction to the Tanglewood Music Center.

C. The development of the Tanglewood Music Center.

D. The events that make the Tanglewood Music Center famous.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。人们都很熟悉闻名于世的波士顿交响乐团，而事实上，位于马塞诸塞州西部的坦格尔伍德音乐中心也是该乐团的组成部分。本文对坦格尔伍德音乐中心进行了简要介绍。

1.细节理解题。根据第五段中的“Mr. Koussevitzky chose composer Aaron Copland to head the school” 可知Aaron Copland曾经是Tanglewood Music Center这所学校的校长。故正确答案为A。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段中的“It was the sounds of the time.”（这是时代的声音。）和第五段中的“he felt very strongly that paying attention to the music of one’s own time”（ 他强烈地感觉到专注于自己时代的音乐）可推断Serge Koussevitzky认为伟大的音乐应该是时代的反映。故正确答案为A。

3.推理判断题。根据第三段中的“He wanted young, gifted musicians toattend the school for free.”（ 他想让有天赋的年轻音乐家免费上这所学校。）和最后一段中的“Since it opened, Tanglewood’s young musicians, singers and conductors have performed many new compositions.”（ 自开业以来，坦格伍德的年轻音乐家、歌手和指挥家们演奏了许多新作品。）可以看出，Tanglewood音乐中心重视青年才俊的创作。故选D。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段最后一句But its summer home is the Tanglewood Music Center in western Massachusetts.以及文章简要介绍了位于马萨诸塞州西部的坦格尔伍德音乐中心，文章主要为简要介绍Tanglewood音乐中心。故选B。