Question

    Probably no other musical instrument is as popular as the guitar. Musicians use the guitar for almost every kind of music. Country and western music would not be the same without a guitar. The traditional Spanish folk music called Flamenco could not exist without a guitar. The sound of American blues music would not be the same without the sad cry of the guitar. And rock and roll music would almost be impossible Without this instrument.

Some music experts say an instrument very much like a guitar was played in Egypt more than one thousand years ago. Some other experts say that the ancestor of the modern guitar was brought to Spain from Persia sometime in the twelfth century. The guitar continued to develop in Spain. In the 1700s, it became similar to the instrument we know today.

Many famous musicians played the instrument. The famous Italian violinist Niccolo Paganinni played and wrote music for the guitar in the early 1800s. Franz Schubert used the guitar to write some of his famous works. One kind of music for the guitar developed in the southern area of Spain called Adalusia. It will always be strongly linked with the Spanish guitar. It is called Flamenco.

In the 1930s, Les Paul began experimenting with ways to make an electric guitar. He invented the solid body electric guitar in 1946. The guitar has always been important to blues music. With the electric guitar, Les Paul helped make modern blues music possible. There have been many great blues guitarists. Yet, music experts say all blues guitar players are measured against one man and his famous guitar. That man is B. B. King. Every blues fan knows that years ago B. B. King named his guitar Lucille. Here B. B. King plays Lucille on his famous recording of “The Thrill Is Gone”. Lucille, B. B. King's large, beautiful black guitar, is important to American music. Visitors can see King's very first guitar at the Rock and Soul Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. The museum is the only permanent exhibit organized by the Smithsonian Institution outside Washington, D. C., and New York City.

1.Where did the modern guitar finally come into being?

A.Egypt. B.Spain.

C.Persia. D.Italy.

2.What do we know about Flamenco?

A.It is the name of a famous musician. B.It is related to Spanish guitar.

C.It is also called Adalusia. D.It is the name of a guitar.

3.What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?

A.The electric guitar promoted the development of the blues.

B.The musician B. B. King named his guitar Lucille.

C.The Rock and Soul Museum first opened in Memphis.

D.The exhibit was first organized by the Smithsonian Institution.

4.What would be the best title for this passage?

A.Traditional Folk Music B.Flamenco and Guitar

C.Violinist and Blues D.Guitar and Music

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文主要介绍了吉他在音乐中的重要性、发展史以及使用它的音乐家。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中Some other experts say that the ancestor of the modern guitar was brought to Spain from Persia sometime in the twelfth century. The guitar continued to develop in Spain.“其他一些专家说，现代吉他的祖先是在12世纪的某个时候从波斯带到西班牙的。吉他在西班牙继续发展。”由此可知，现代吉他最终来自西班牙。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第一段中The traditional Spanish folk music called Flamenco could not exist without a guitar.“没有吉他，传统的西班牙民间音乐Flamenco就无法存在。”由此可知，Flamenco与西班牙音乐有关。故选B。

3.段落大意题。根据最后一段中In the 1930s, Les Paul began experimenting with ways to make an electric guitar. He invented the solid body electric guitar in 1946. The guitar has always been important to blues music. With the electric guitar, Les Paul helped make modern blues music possible. There have been many great blues guitarists. “20世纪30年代，Les Paul开始尝试制作电吉他。他在1946年发明了固体电吉他。吉他在布鲁斯音乐中一直很重要。有了电吉他，莱斯·保罗使现代布鲁斯音乐成为可能。有很多伟大的布鲁斯吉他演奏家。”可知，最后一段讲述的是“电吉他促进了布鲁斯音乐的发展。”故选A。

4.标题判断题。根据第一段第一、二句Probably no other musical instrument is as popular as the guitar. Musicians use the guitar for almost every kind of music.“可能没有其他乐器像吉他一样受欢迎。音乐家几乎在每一种音乐中都使用吉他。”可知，吉他对音乐有很大的影响，所以D项Guitar and Music“吉他和音乐”是最佳主题。故选D。