Question

    My 12-year-old son Jack hit a milestone last summer. “Mom, I’m quitting the piano,” he said firmly.

Immediately, I said, “You can’t.” “Why?” he asked. “Because I said so.” And the battle followed. Many of you know the battle I am talking about. It’s the one where all of a sudden instrument that once filled the home with wonderful music are abandoned in favor of sports, games and all cool things. When Jack started piano lessons in the second grade, he took to music eagerly, displaying interest and talent. Over the next few years, he willingly entered competitions recommended by his teacher.

Much to our son’s sadness, my husband and I decided to stand firm. While parents allowed their children to win battles now and then, this was one that my husband and I were not willing to concede. We decided, however, to give him a choice of taking up another instrument. We suggested the guitar.

He was open to meeting a couple of instructors. “My hands are too small,” he complained. But the student who came after us was a 5-year-old girl.

I suggested changing teachers. He said he wanted a teacher who was “nice”. I understood that meant “no stress”. Finally, we found a male teacher with a gentle voice and a great sense of humor. He said that competitions were not his thing; playing music was.

After my son’s first lesson with his new teacher, I took a deep breath and braced myself for the usual negative complaints. “Mom, he makes me like the piano again,” my son announced as we headed to the car.

And then, cheerful piano music filled the house during the long winter evenings. The playing wasn’t as long as I would have liked or as frequent as it used to be. But it’s sweet, still the same.

1.What made Jack want to give up the piano?

A.Having no talent in music.

B.Having other cool things to do.

C.Failing in music competitions.

D.Being very busy with his lessons.

2.Why did Jack complain about his small hands?

A.To remind his mom of his weakness.

B.To show his embarrassment in learning.

C.To find an excuse to quit learning the guitar.

D.To prove the difficulty of playing the guitar.

3.What did Jack like his music teacher to do?

A.Play the guitar very well.

B.Not push him too much.

C.Help him win a competition.

D.Not report him to his parents.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。作者12岁的儿子去年夏天突然告诉作者他不想学钢琴了，作者和老公在这件事上不想妥协，建议他可以选择吉他。在面见了两位老师后，作者的儿子挑选了一位声音温和、幽默感很强的男老师，又重新喜欢上了钢琴。

1.推理判断题。由第二段中的It’s the one where all of a sudden instrument that once filled the home with wonderful music are abandoned in favor of sports, games and all cool things.(曾经让家里充满美妙音乐的乐器突然间被抛弃，取而代之的是运动、游戏和所有酷的东西)可推知，Jack想要放弃钢琴的原因可能是有其它很酷的事情想去做。故选B。

2.推理判断题。由第四段中“My hands are too small,” he complained. But the student who came after us was a 5-year-old girl.(他抱怨“我的手太小了。”。但是我们后边那个学生是一个5岁的小女孩)可知，5岁小女孩的手都可以谈吉他，而Jack 12岁了还说手太小，无法谈吉他。可推知，手小是Jack为不想学吉他找的一个借口。故选C。

3.细节理解题。由第五段中的He said he wanted a teacher who was “nice”. I understood that meant “no stress”(他说他想要一个好的老师。我知道那意味着“没有压力”)可知，Jack想要音乐老师不要把他催的太紧。故选B。