Question

    Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.

Swift was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania, and raised in Wyomissing. Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Andrea Gardner, a housewife who previously worked in finance, and Scott Kingsley Swift, a stockbroker. Her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, was an opera singer. Swift has a younger brother, Austin. She grew up on a Christmas-tree farm.

When Swift was in fourth grade, she won a national poetry contest with a three-page poem, “Monster in My Closet”. At the age of ten, a computer repairman showed her how to play three chords (和弦) on a guitar, arousing her interest in learning the instrument. Afterwards, Swift wrote her first song, “Lucky You”. When Swift was 12, she devoted an entire summer to writing a 350-page novel, which remains unpublished. She began writing songs regularly and used it as a way to help her with her pain from not fitting in at school. Swift was a victim of bullying (欺凌), and spent her time writing songs to express her emotions. She also started performing at local karaoke contests, festivals, and fair.

Swift began to regularly visit Nashville, Tennessee, and work with local songwriters. When she was 14, her family moved to Nashville. Her first major show was a well-received performance at the Bloomsburg Fair. In Tennessee, Swift attended Hendersonville High School, but was then homeschooled for her junior and senior years. In 2008, she earned her high school diploma.

Swift’s greatest musical influence is Shania Twain. Her other influences include Leann Rimes, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and Swifts grandmother. Although her grandmother was a professional opera singer, Swifts tastes always leaned more toward country music. In her younger years, she developed a love for Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. She also credits her love for music in her teens to the influence of the Dixie Chicks.

1.What can we know about Swift from the passage?

A.Her first novel came out in 2001.

B.She showed her music talent in her teens.

C.Her first major show was in Hendersonville High School.

D.Her mother influenced her a lot in her later music career.

2.Which word can best describe Swift’s school life?

A.Colorful. B.Busy.

C.Successful. D.Unhappy.

3.We can infer that Shania Twain in the last paragraph is a famous ________.

A.film star B.novelist

C.opera singer D.country music star

4.The passage is mainly about the ________ of Taylor Alison Swift.

A.family life B.achievements

C.early life D.contributions

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.D

4.C

【解析】

本文为记叙文。文章主要叙述了美国乡村流行歌手、作曲家、音乐家和女演员Taylor Alison Swift的早年生活。

1.推理判断题。根据第四段中的Swift began to regularly visit Nashville, Tennessee, and work with local songwriters. When she was 14, her family moved to Nashville. Her first major show was a well-received performance at the Bloomsburg Fair.可知，Swift开始定期访问田纳西州的纳什维尔，并与当地的作曲家合作。她14岁时，全家搬到了纳什维尔。她的第一场重要演出是在布卢姆斯堡博览会上受到好评的演出。由此可推断出，Swift在十几岁时就表现出了音乐天赋。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中的She began writing songs regularly and used it as a way to help her with her pain from not fitting in at school. Swift was a victim of bullying (欺凌), and spent her time writing songs to express her emotions.可知，她开始定期写歌，并以此来帮助她摆脱在学校不适应的痛苦。Swift是欺凌的受害者，她花时间写歌来表达自己的情感。由此可知，她在学校的生活并不快乐。故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的Swift’s greatest musical influence is Shania Twain.… Swifts tastes always leaned more toward country music可知，对Swift最大的音乐影响是Shania Twain，尽管她祖母是一位职业歌剧歌手，但Swift的品味总是更倾向于乡村音乐。由此可推断出Shania Twain是位乡村音乐明星，故选D。

4.主旨大意题。本文第一段总述Taylor Alison Swift是美国乡村流行歌手、作曲家、音乐家和女演员。文章从第二段一直到最后介绍了Swift的出生到14岁的早期生活。根据文章中的“Swift was born on December 13, 1989,…When Swift was in fourth grade, she won a national poetry contest,…At the age of ten, …arousing her interest in learning the instrument. …. When Swift was 12, …When she was 14, her family moved to Nashville…. In 2008,....”，由此可推断出，本文主要叙述了Swift的早期生活。故选C。