Question

    I was 11 years old when I asked my mom for piano lessons in 2010.We were in financial trouble,so she said politely,"Sorry,son,but we can't now.”

I googled the measurements for a keyboard,drew the keys on a piece of paper and stuck it on my desk.I would click notes on an online keyboard and"play"them back on my paper one-keeping the sound they made on the computer in my head.I spent 6 months playing without touching a real piano.Once my mom saw that I was serious,she borrowed money and bought me 10 lessons.

I still remember the first one.I was struck by how real the sound of the piano was.I sat my Grade 1 after 8 lessons.Once I started secondary school,we couldn't afford lessons again.I passed Grade 3,and then Grade 5,practicing only on my piece of paper.One evening,when I was about 13,my mom said she had a surprise for me-it was an electronic keyboard,bought with more borrowed money.It was the first time that I'd played for her and she was in shock.

My school didn't offer music A-level.I found the Purcell School for young musicians,but the tryouts were difficult.Some of the questions even involved an evaluation of the composer.I was at a loss.But to my amazement,I was offered a place.At Purcell,I spent 2 years working as hard as I could.I performed to raise money and saved enough to buy my first piano.When I left Purcell,I was awarded the senior piano prize and academic music prize.I'm now at the Guildhall School in London.I feel proud-it's been 10 years since I drew my paper piano,and I'm at one of the world's leading music schools.

Surprisingly,I continue to do a lot of my practice away from the piano:what we call mental practice.The paper piano helped motivate my curiosity about how music works.

1.Why did the mother buy the author piano lessons?

A.She believed he had a talent for piano.

B.She found he was eager to learn piano.

C.She was shocked by his first performance.

D.She got out of her family's financial difficulties.

2.Which of the following words best describes the author?

A.Honest.

B.Cautious.

C.Clever.

D.Determined.

3.What might be the best title for the passage?

A.Mental practice makes perfect.

B.Paper piano leads me to success.

C.Mother supports my music career.

D.Hard times make my dream come true.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。讲述了尽管家庭窘迫，我依旧下定决心纸上练琴最终获得成功的历程。

1.细节理解题。由文中第二段“I spent 6 months playing without touching a real piano. Once my mom saw that I was serious, she borrowed money and bought me 10 lessons”可知，在没有琴的情况下，我在纸上练琴六个月。妈妈得知我是真的想学钢琴，借钱给我买了10节课程。所以妈妈给我买钢琴课是因为看到我迫切想学琴。故选B项。

2.判断推理题。由第二段“I googled the measurements for a keyboard, drew the keys on a piece of paper and stuck it on my desk. I would click notes on an online keyboard and "play" them back on my paper one-keeping the sound they made on the computer in my head. I spent 6 months playing without touching a real piano” 我在纸上画琴，在没有条件触摸真琴的情况下坚持练琴六个月。以及第四段“At Purcell, I spent 2 years working as hard as I could. I performed to raise money and saved enough to buy my first piano. When I left Purcell, I was awarded the senior piano prize and academic music prize. I'm now at the Guildhall School in London. I feel proud-it's been 10 years since I drew my paper piano ,and I'm at one of the world's leading music schools.”在Purcell，我花两年时间努力练习。靠演出筹钱买了人生的第一架琴。离开Purcell的时候，获得了资深钢琴奖。10年的学琴历程才促成了我的成功。由作者学琴10年修得正果的这一艰难历程，我们可以看到作者是非常有决心和毅力的。故选D项。

3.主旨大意题。文章一二段讲了由于家里经济窘迫，我在纸上画琴练习。妈妈看到了我学琴的决心，借钱给我买钢琴课。第三段讲了我上学期间练琴的经历以及13岁的时候，妈妈给我买了电子琴。第四段讲了我去音乐学院学习，买了自己的第一架钢琴并最终获得成功的故事。所以文章在讲我从纸上谈琴到学琴成功的历程。故选B项。