Question

    In many ways, Alma Deutscher is like other 11-year-olds. She loves to climb trees, dance, read, and draw. But Alma, who lives in Dorking, England, can claim one very special achievement. She has composed a full opera and brought it to the stage. Her opera, a retelling of Cinderella (灰姑娘), premiered (首次演出) in December 2016, in Vienna, Austria.

“I’ve loved Cinderella since I was 3,” Alma said. But she felt the story needed an improvement. “I didn’t like the thing about the shoe,” she says. “Why should the prince find her because of her feet?”

In Alma’s version (版本), Cinderella is a composer. She creates a melody (旋律) that she sings to the prince before fleeing the ball. “He remembers the beginning but not how it went on,” Alma says. The prince realizes that only Cinderella would know how the melody continues. He uses that knowledge to find her.

Alma began writing the opera when she was 8. It premiered to a sold-out crowd on December 29, 2016, and got a standing ovation (起立鼓掌). Alma played the piano and violin and performed in the show. “It was something that was completely inside my head, in my imagination, and then it came to life,” Alma says.

Alma says she is certain that music will remain a major part of her life. “I have lots of things that I want to compose,” she says. “The first one is a piano concerto (协奏曲). Then I’m writing a novel, and I want to write a movie based on it, and the music for that.”

She also has advice for kids who want to achieve their big dreams. “It’s a lot of work to reach a high level,” Alma says. “But if you love what you are doing, it doesn’t feel like hard work. Don’t let anyone stop you from doing it.”

1.What does the author mostly want to tell us in Paragraph 1?

A. Alma Deutscher lives in Vienna Austria.

B. Alma Deutscher is a cute girl.

C. Alma Deutscher is always ready to help others.

D. Alma Deutscher has a special music talent.

2.What can we learn from Alma’s version of Cinderella?

A. The prince finds Cinderella because of her shoes.

B. The prince finds Cinderella because of a melody.

C. The prince sings a melody to Cinderella before her fleeing the ball.

D. The prince knows how the melody continues.

3.How is the performance of Alma’s Opera Cinderella?

A. It lives up to audience’s expectation.

B. It sets a good example for other kids.

C. It turns out to be a great success.

D. It is something in Alma’s imagination.

4.What can we learn from Alma’s advice to other kids?

A. Necessity is the mother of invention. B. Knowledge is power.

C. Nothing is difficult to a willing heart. D. A bold heart is half the battle.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文。主要内容是Alma凭着特殊的音乐天赋创作了一部完整的歌剧，而且非常成功。通过此事，她告诉其他的孩子们，世上无难事只怕有心人。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段Alma…can claim one very special achievement. She has composed a full opera and brought it to the stage.可知Alma虽然年轻但已经创作了一部完整的歌剧，并把它搬上了舞台，由此可知，第一段主要想告诉我们Alma Deutscher有一种特殊的音乐天赋。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段的The prince realizes that only Cinderella would know how the melody continues. He uses that knowledge to find her.可知王子意识到只有灰姑娘才知道旋律是如何继续的。他用这些知识找到了她。由此可知，在Alma版本的《灰姑娘》里，王子发现灰姑娘是因为一段旋律。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据第四段的It premiered to a sold-out crowd on December 29, 2016, and got a standing ovation 可知该剧于2016年12月29日首播，座无虚席，观众起立鼓掌。由此可推知，Alma的歌剧《灰姑娘》的演出取得了巨大的成功。故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段的But if you love what you are doing, it doesn’t feel like hard work. Don’t let anyone stop you from doing it.可知，按照Alma所说“如果你热爱你所做的事情，那就不会觉得辛苦。不要让任何人阻止你做这件事。”，由此可知，Alma给其他孩子的建议是“世上无难事，只怕有心人”，故选C。