Question

    Vijay Gupta is known to classical music lovers across the United States. He serves as first violinist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In that job, he often plays to large crowds, including many very rich people. When he is not performing, he organizes concerts for homeless people. “They have reminded me why I became a musician,” he said.

Last week, Gupta was recognized for being a founder and the artistic director of Street Symphony. The group has performed at homeless shelters, jails and halfway houses for about eight years. Gupta is among the 25 winners of the 2018 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius grant.” Each winner will receive $625,000 over five years to use as they wish. The money is coming from a private group, the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It awards grants (补助金)to people whose work it considers exceptional and that “inspires hope in us all.” Gupta said he got the idea for Street Symphony while teaching Nathaniel Ayers, a trained musician whose mental illness led to homelessness.

Another winner is Rebecca Sandefur, an associate professor of sociology and law in the University of Illinois. The Associated Press says her research actively supports new ways to involve poor communities in the U.S. justice system.

47-year-old Sandefur created the first national mapping of civil legal aid providers. It shows which states had the financial resources to provide such aid and which did not. She also found that the cost of legal services is only one of the things preventing poor people from getting lawyers. Among the others are fears about unfairness in the legal system. Sandefur noted that a lot of attention has been paid to problems with the criminal justice system, but more attention must be paid to the civil side of the law, which also affects millions of people.

1.Why did Gupta win the award?

A.For his achievements in classical music.

B.For performing for large crowds.

C.For organizing a group playing for the homeless.

D.For the friendship with Nathaniel Ayers.

2.What do we know about MacArthur Fellowship?

A.It is founded by the government.

B.It offers $625,000 to 25 winners in 2018.

C.It allows the winners to use the money freely.

D.It awards people who make great contributions to society.

3.What was the extraordinary thing that Sandefur did?

A.She offered legal aids to the poor freely.

B.She made the legal system fairer.

C.She paid more attention to the criminal justice system.

D.She made it easier to get legal help for the poor.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A.Grants winners, inspiring the poor.

B.The city homeless, in need of help.

C.Vijay Gupta, an extraordinary violinist.

D.MacArthur Foundation, awarding exceptional work.

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇新闻报道，讲述了两位麦克阿瑟奖学金的获得者——古普塔和桑德弗尔分别通过音乐和法律来帮助穷人的故事。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的“When he is not performing, he organizes concerts for homeless people.”及第二段中的“a founder and the artistic director of Street Symphony”可知，古普塔为无家可归的人组织音乐会，他是“街头交响乐”组织的创始人，由此可知，古普塔获奖的原因是他成立了一个为无家可归者演奏交响乐的组织，故C项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Each winner will receive $625,000 over five years to use as they wish.”可知，每位麦克阿瑟奖学金的获得者将在五年内获得62.5万美元，按照自己的意愿使用，由此可知，麦克阿瑟奖学金允许获得者自由地使用这笔钱，故C项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段中的“The Associated Press says her research actively supports new ways to involve poor communities in the U.S. justice system.”可知，美联社说，丽贝卡·桑德弗尔的研究积极支持让贫困社区参与美国司法系统的新方法，由此可知，桑德弗尔使穷人更容易获得法律帮助，故D项正确。

4.主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要讲述了两位麦克阿瑟奖学金的获得者——古普塔和桑德弗尔分别通过音乐和法律来帮助穷人的故事，所以短文的最佳标题为“奖励获奖者，激励穷人。”故A项正确。