Violin prodigies (神童), I learned, have come in distinct waves from distinct regions. Most of the great performers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were born and brought up in Russia and Eastern Europe. I asked Isaac Stern, one of the world’s greatest violinists the reason for this phenomenon. “It is very clear,” he told me. “They were all Jews and Jews at the time were severely oppressed and ill-treated in that part of the world. They were not allowed into the professional fields, but they were allowed to achieve excellence on a concert stage.” As a result, every Jewish parent’s dream was to have a child in the music school because it was a passport to the West.
Another element in the emergence of prodigies, I found, is a society that values excellence in a certain field to nurture (培育) talent. Nowadays, the most nurturing societies seem to be in the Far East. “In Japan, a most competitive society, with stronger discipline than ours,” says Isaac Stern, children are ready to test their limits every day in many fields, including music. When Western music came to Japan after World War II, that music not only became part of their daily lives, but it became a discipline as well. The Koreans and Chinese as we know, are just as highly motivated as the Japanese.
That’s a good thing, because even prodigies must work hard. Next to hard work, biological inheritance(遺傳) plays an important role in the making of a prodigy. J. S. Bach, for example, was the top of several generations of musicians, and four of his sons had significant careers in music.
小題1:     Jewish parents in Eastern Europe longed for their children to attend music school because ________.
A.it would allow them access to a better life in the West
B.Jewish children are born with excellent musical talent
C.they wanted their children to enter into the professional field
D.it would enable the family to get better treatment in their own country
小題2:     Nurturing societies as mentioned in the passage refer to societies that ________.
A.a(chǎn)re highly motivated in the education of music
B.treasure talent and provide opportunities for its full development
C.encourage people to compete with each other
D.promise talented children high positions
小題3:     Which of the following contributes to the emergence of musical prodigies according to the passage?
A.a(chǎn) natural gift.B.extensive knowledge of music.
C.very early training.D.a(chǎn) prejudice-free society.
小題4:     Which of the following titles best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
A.Jewish Contribution to MusicB.Training of Musicians in the World
C.Music and SocietyD.The Making of Music Prodigies

小題1:A           
小題1:B
小題1:A
小題1:D
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

One day I jumped into a taxi and took off for the airport.
We were driving in the right lane   36   suddenly a black car jumped out of a
parking space   37   in front of us. My taxi driver immediately put his foot on the   38  . The taxi slid a short distance quickly and   39   the other car by just inches! The driver of the black car moved his head around and started   40   at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy; and I mean he was   41   friendly, which is truly beyond my expectation.
  42   I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost  43   your car
and sent us to the   44  !” This is when my taxi driver   45   me what I now call “the Law of the Garbage Truck.”
He   46   that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, disappointment, frustration (挫敗感) and   47  . As their garbage   48  , they need a place to dump (丟棄) it and sometimes they’ll dump it on   49  . Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move   50 . Don’t take it   51  . Don’t take their garbage and   52   it to other people at work, at home or on the streets.                                
The   53   line is that successful people don’t let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with   54  , so “Love the people who treat you   55  . Pray for the ones who don’t”.
小題1:
A.a(chǎn)sB.whenC.beforeD.while
小題2:
A.evenB.stillC.rightD.only
小題3:
A.brakesB.a(chǎn)irbagsC.seatsD.gases
小題4:
A.leftB.hitC.a(chǎn)ttackedD.missed
小題5:
A.noddingB.lookingC.yellingD.frowning
小題6:
A.reallyB.exactlyC.a(chǎn)lmostD.rarely
小題7:
A.SinceB.SoC.ButD.Yet
小題8:
A.blockedB.ruinedC.passedD.followed
小題9:
A.a(chǎn)irportB.prisonC.courtD.hospital
小題10:
A.returnedB.showed C.taughtD.brought
小題11:
A.imaginedB.explainedC.a(chǎn)rguedD.a(chǎn)dvised
小題12:
A.doubtB.eagernessC.a(chǎn)ngerD.panic
小題13:
A.piles upB.breaks downC.runs outD.cuts down
小題14:
A.noneB.meC.themselvesD.you
小題15:
A.onB.a(chǎn)longC.inD.out
小題16:
A.formallyB.personallyC.immediatelyD.permanently
小題17:
A.saveB.presentC.offerD.spread
小題18:
A.finish B.lifeC.frontD.bottom
小題19:
A.lossesB.regrets C.dreamsD.plans
小題20:
A.wellB.differentlyC.a(chǎn)ctivelyD.hard

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空


“Tell me what you were like when you were my age,” I asked my mother one afternoon. She looked up, 21 at my question. After a long time she answered, “I was 22 like you. Then, there was only one career for girls — being a hard-working 23. To tell the truth, it is 24 for me to tell you that I 25 my mother when I was growing up. I did so much for her. Besides doing lots of housework, every night I would go into my parents’ bedroom, and wash their feet with warm water. Not once did my mother ever said, ‘thank you’."
I stared out of the window, remembering 26 I grew up, always wanting to hear a word of 27 from her, but getting only the rule and 28 I could never live up to (做到). I remembered the years when she 29 me to get up at six every morning and cook breakfast for the family before leaving for school. Least of all, I remembered the times she’d 30 me to other girls who were as old as me and found me useless.
“Nothing was ever 31 enough for my mother,’’ continued my mother, “ but now I know she did 32 me, even if she never said so. I told you this just for a 33. Yes, I love all my children, but you are my first child, the first in everything to me. I have been very strict and hard on you, but I 34 you in the only way I knew. I am 35 proud of you.”
小題1:
A.excitedB.a(chǎn)ngryC.disappointedD.surprised
小題2:
A.everB.mostlyC.neverD.once
小題3:
A.womanB.workerC.wifeD.student
小題4:
A.comfortableB.proudC.shamefulD.silly
小題5:
A.hatedB.lovedC.respectedD.forgave
小題6:
A.whereB.howC.beforeD.when
小題7:
A.honestyB.useC.importanceD.praise
小題8:
A.promiseB.orderC.expectationD.curiosity
小題9:
A.madeB.encouragedC.forcedD.a(chǎn)dvised
小題10:
A.comparedB.matchedC.explainedD.introduced
小題11:
A.interestingB.badC.modernD.good
小題12:
A.supportB.loveC.honourD.ignore
小題13:
A.reasonB.explanation C.excuseD.consideration
小題14:
A.helpedB.taughtC.raisedD.a(chǎn)ffected
小題15:
A.slightlyB.generallyC.a(chǎn)ctuallyD.gradually

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

It was her giggling that draw my attention. Note taking really wasn’t all that funny.
Walking over to the offender, I asked for the   46 . Frozen, she refused to give it to me. I waited, all attention in the classroom on the quiet   47  between teacher and student. When she finally   48  it over she whispered, “Okay, but I didn’t draw it.”
It was a hand-drawn   49  of me, teeth blackened and the words “I’m stupid” coming out of my mouth.
I managed to fold it up calmly. My mind,  50  , was working angrily as I struggled not to   51 . I figured I knew the two most likely candidates for drawing the picture. It would do them some   52  to teach them a lesson, and maybe it was high time that I did it!
Thankfully, I was able to keep myself   53 .
When there were about six minutes remaining, I showed the class the picture. They were all silent as I told them how   54  this was for me. I told them there must be a reason behind and now was their   55   to write down anything they needed to tell me. Then I let them write silently   56  I sniffed in the back of the classroom.
As I   57  the notes later, many of them said something like, “I’ve got nothing against you.” or “I’m sorry you were hurt.” Some kids said, “We’re afraid of you.” But two notes, from the girls who I   58  were behind the picture, had a list of issues. I was too   59 , too strict …
Reading those notes, I realized that over the course of this year, instead of   60  my student, I had begun commanding them to   61 . Where I thought I was driving them to success I was   62  driving them away.
I had some apology to do. But the next day I the classroom, one boy and one girl each handed me a card. The one   63  by all the boys expressed sincere regret for the ugly joke. The one from the girls asked for   64 .
This was a lesson for both the kids and me. Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the   65 .
小題1:
A.noteB.a(chǎn)dviceC.reasonD.help
小題2:
A.battleB.competitionC.a(chǎn)rgumentD.conversation
小題3:
A.tookB.passedC.turnedD.handed
小題4:
A.statueB.graphC.pictureD.poster
小題5:
A.otherwiseB.howeverC.thereforeD.besides
小題6:
A.leaveB.cryC.explainD.a(chǎn)rgue
小題7:
A.goodB.harmC.favorD.punishment
小題8:
A.a(chǎn)musedB.controlledC.uninterestedD.relaxed
小題9:
A.meaningfulB.forgetfulC.regretfulD.hurtful
小題10:
A.turnB.chanceC.honourD.a(chǎn)ttempt
小題11:
A.whenB.beforeC.a(chǎn)fterD.while
小題12:
A.wroteB.finishedC.readD.collected
小題13:
A.figuredB.promisedC.concludedD.confirmed
小題14:.
A.talkativeB.meanC.secureD.terrible
小題15:
A.forcingB.encouragingC.comfortingD.teaching
小題16:.
A.a(chǎn)ppreciateB.a(chǎn)pologizeC.masterD.a(chǎn)chieve
小題17:
A.a(chǎn)ctuallyB.normallyC.immediatelyD.generally
小題18:
A.decoratedB.offeredC.signedD.bought
小題19:
A.thankfulnessB.forgivenessC.communicationD.happiness
小題20:
A.friendshipB.educationC.knowledgeD.future

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

For five days, Edmonton's Downtown Park is transformed into one huge stage where artists are able to share their talents, and where people are able to celebrate and enjoy themselves .Since is beginning in 1980,the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has been commemorating(紀(jì)念)the true feeling of what folk music is all about and that's the traditional togetherness(友愛)that is felt when people gather to share stories and feelings through song.
This year will be the sixth year when volunteer Riedel will be offering up her time to the festival. "People coming off a busy spring and summer have a moment of relaxation." Riedel said. "It's really easy to relax, and it's great seeing family and friends have fun together." These families and friends come from all different kinds of musical tastes. People who take pleasure in Blues are there, so are people who love Bluegrass. This festival does its best to develop everyone's musical interests.
With so many years of experience, the festival has become a well-oiled machine, and does whatever it can to make attendees feel as comfortable as possible. There are free water stations throughout the venue(舉辦地)for people to fill up their travel cups. When people buy food, reusable dishes are given a $2 plate fee, but that is returned when the plate is brought back.
The festival has completely sold out of tickets, and in record time .But with big names such as Van Morrison and Jacob Dylan, it’s easy to see how that was going to happen. The festival has completely sold out of tickets, and in record time, so using the same Park and Ride system or Edmonton Transit is highly recommended .A bike lock-up area is provided and will be available Thursday until Sunday one hour before the gates open until 45 minutes after the gates close.
The Edmond Folk Music Festival begins on Wednesday, Aug 4 with Van Morrison plaything the special donation fund concert, and will finish up on Sunday,Aug 8.
小題1: The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is held mainly to ___________
A.gather people with different musical tastes.
B.remind people of the real sense of folk music.
C.exhibit the good voices of great talent in folk music.
D.collect old stories of folk music.
小題2:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passenger?
A.Riedel has volunteered for the festival for at least developed 5 years.
B.It’s hard for people to appreciate Blues.
C.It costs people a little to fill up their cups from water station.
D.People have to pay a visit to for a plate of food.
小題3:We can learn from passage that
A.people can get tickets easily for the festival.
B.the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is well organized .
C.driving one ‘s own car to the festival is highly recommended.
D.bikes are available at the festival from Wednesday to Sunday.
小題4:What would be the best title for this passage?
A.Folk Music of Blues.
B.One Festival for All.
C.Festival for Family Gathering.
D.Edmonton’s Downtown Park

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

One evening in February 2007 . a student named Paula Ceely brought her car to a stop on a remote in Wales . She got out to open a metal gate that blocked her path . That's when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train.Her Renault Clio parked across a railway line. Second later,she watched  the train drag her car almost a kilometre down the railway tracks.
Ceely's near miss  made the news because she blamed it on her GPS device(導(dǎo)航儀).She had never driven the route before .It was dark and raining heavily . Ceely was relying on her GPS. But it made no mention of the crossing ."I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train ,"she told the BBC.
W ho is to blame here ? Rick Stevenson ,who tells Ceely's story in his book When Machines Fail US, finger at the limitations of technology. We put our faith in digital devices, he says,
but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job. They are filled with small  problems. And it’s not just GPS devices: Stevenson takes us on a tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless key boards.
The problem with his argument in the book is that it’s  not clear why he only focuses digital technology,while  there may be a number of other possible  causes. A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map. Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention. perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signaling system. Or maybe someone has studied the relative dangers and worked out that there really is something specific wrong with the CPS equipment. But Stevenson doesn’t say.
It’s a problem that runs through the book. In a section on cars, Stevenson gives an accout of the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars. He offers two independent sets of figures on car theft; both show a small rise in some parts of the country. He says that once once again not all new locks have proved reliable. Perhaps, but maybe it’s also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets. Or changing social circumstances. Or some combination of these factors .
The game between humans and their smart devices  is complex. It is shaped by economics and psychology and the cultures we live in. Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be  way a wiser use of technology.
If there is such a way, it should involve more than just  an awareness of the shortcomings of our machines. After all, we have lived with them for thousands  of years. They have probably been fooling us for just as long .
小題1:What did Paula Ceely think was the cause of her accident?           
A.Shewasnotfamiliarwiththeroad.
B.Itwasdarkandrainingheavilythen.
C.The railway works failed to give the signal.
D.Her GPS device didn’t tell her about the crossing
小題2:The phrase”near miss” (paragraph 2 ) can best be replaced by _______.
A.closebitB.heavylossC.narrow escapeD.bigmistake
小題3:Which of the following would Rick Stevenson most probably agree with?          
A.Moderntechnologyiswhatwe can’tlivewithout.
B.Digitaltechnologyoftenfalls shortofoutexpectation.
C.Digitaldevicesaremore reliablethantheyusedtobe.
D.GPSerrorisnottheonly causeforCelery’saccident.
小題4:
In the writer’s opinion, Stevenson’s argument is________.
A.one-sidedB.reasonableC.puzzlingD.well-based
小題5:
What is the real concern of the writer of this article?
A.The major causes of traffic accidents and car thefts.
B.The relationship between humans and technology
C.Theshortcomingsofdigital devicesweuse.
D.Thehuman unawarenessoftechnicalproblems.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

The Jordans had the best raspberries in the neighborhood, and that their bushes were always heavy with fruit.So, that summer Friday night, we snuck(潛行) into the Jordans’ backyard and  21  ourselves carefully around the bushes and started  22  their sweet, juicy berry. And we were enjoying every bite of ill-gotten berry  23  all of a sudden the Jordans’ backyard lights were turned on.
“What you boys doing out here?” Mr Jordan shouted. In all  24  ran off my friends, une aten raspberries  25  everywhere.
He made an attempt to grab one or two, but they were too quick. Speed was never my   26  . So I could just stand there and  27  whatever punishment from the Jordans and my parents. I took the scolding that Mr Jordan gave me until we reached my house, where my mother  28  . My friends said they could hear every  29  word from the darkness of our backyard, where they had gathered to celebrate their  30  .
They  31   me about it for days afterwards, while all I could do was complain about how   32   it was that I had to pay the full  33   for doing the exact same thing all of them had done without any  34   consequences. After about a week, I complained it to my father.
“You took raspberries without asking, and you got exactly the punishment you  35 ,”Dad said.
“But what about the other guys?” I asked.
“That’s not my  36  , nor should it be yours,” Dad said. “You can’t control what happens to other people. You can  37   deal with what happens to you.”
Back then I thought Dad just didn’t   38   it. But through the years I come to realize that,   39 , he knew what he was talking about. We didn’t come to earth with a(an)  40  that life would treat us fairly. The only thing we can actually deal with is what happens to us.
小題1:.
A.a(chǎn)llowedB.protectedC.positionedD.helped
小題2:.
A.harvestingB.diggingC.throwingD.hunting
小題3:.
A.a(chǎn)ndB.whenC.beforeD.a(chǎn)s
小題4:.
A.sensesB.waysC.directionsD.efforts
小題5:.
A.growingB.runningC.flyingD.hiding
小題6:.
A.powerB.disadvantageC.strengthD.a(chǎn)ttempt
小題7:.
A.a(chǎn)cceptedB.rejectedC.riskedD.enjoyed
小題8:.
A.paid forB.took overC.turned awayD.picked out
小題9:.
A.encouragingB.swearC.coolD.kind
小題10:.
A.stealingB.experienceC.escapeD.behavior
小題11:.
A.explainedB.teasedC.scoldedD.praised
小題12:.
A.unfairB.funnyC.strangeD.equal
小題13:.
A.numberB.a(chǎn)ccidentC.priceD.task
小題14:.
A.sameB.reliableC.noticeableD.safe
小題15:.
A.desertedB.receivedC.refusedD.deserved
小題16:.
A.concernB.purposeC.requestD.a(chǎn)nswer
小題17:.
A.sometimesB.onlyC.mostlyD.a(chǎn)lmost
小題18:.
A.careB.valueC.getD.handle
小題19:.
A.a(chǎn)s wellB.a(chǎn)bove allC.a(chǎn)s usualD.or else
小題20:.
A.promiseB.guaranteeC.situationD.opinion

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

A Tchaikovsky concerto(協(xié)奏曲)is what made Romel Joseph fall in love with the violin.
He learned how to play in Haiti, where he was born, but a Fulbright scholarship brought him to the United States, and he finally earned a master’s degree, reports CBS News reporter Katie Couric. Music had changed his life. He wanted to do the same for the children of Haiti.
Joseph built a school in Port-au-Prince nearly 20 years ago. He was on the third floor when suddenly “It was like boom boom boom and everything just opened,” Joseph said. “And the next thing I knew I was on the ground.”
Blind since birth, Joseph tried to feel his way out, but was pinned(夾)beneath heavy concrete(混凝土). He remained trapped for 18 hours. He prays that his new wife, seven months pregnant(懷孕的), will be found.
He is now being treated at Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital for two injured legs and an arm.
Joseph wonders if he’ll ever play the violin again. He can feel sensation(知覺)in his fingertips. He said, “If you were to give me a violin and if I didn’t have to fold the fingers, I would be able to play.”
Joseph’s daughter Victoria spent three terrifying days unsure of her father’s fate. For her, having him home is the sweetest music.
“Can you imagine your dad not being able to play the violin?” Couric asked.
“No, I can’t,” Victoria Joseph said. “But I will love him all the same if he can’t.”
Romel doesn’t know how many of his 300 students died in the quake. As he waits for news about his wife, Romel Joseph is already planning a return to Haiti to rebuild the school and continue teaching there.
“We can save two children, 20, 200, 300, 500 through education and music, and these children will make a difference,” Romel Joseph said.
小題1: Romel began to like music ________.
A.because he was blind since birth
B.a(chǎn)fter he had listened to a famous piece of music
C.when he got a scholarship to study in America
D.since he was born in Haiti
小題2:From what Romel said in Paragraph 6, we can infer that he was ________.
A.upsetB.fearfulC.excitedD.optimistic
小題3:To Victoria, the best thing is ________.
A.to see her father recover from the injury quickly
B.to listen to her father playing the sweetest music
C.to play the violin as well as her father
D.to be sure that her father could play the violin
小題4:Why does Romel want to go back to Haiti?
A.To save his students from the earthquake.
B.To change the life of children by teaching music.
C.To find out how seriously his school was damaged.
D.To look for his wife who is pregnant.
小題5: Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Music education: keep your creativity alive
B.A great blind musician and his students
C.Haiti earthquake: a story of a music teacher
D.How did some Haiti earthquake victims survive

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

It was on a warm day last summer. I was walking by the sea. The waves came and went. But I didn’t see them. I was lost in my thoughts.
A row of small holes soon caught my eyes. They lay in the sandy earth by the side of a road. In a minute I would have stepped on them.
What are these holes? I wondered. It had an answer soon. A fat, hairy insect crawled up from the earth. It had a wide tail. It was using the tail to dig in the ground.
The insect moved round and round in one spot(地點(diǎn)). Soon it had made another hole. When it was finished, the insect hid at the bottom. It covered its head with sand.
By now my thoughts of the early morning had gone. This new hole and the insect were all my world. So I sat quite still by the side of the road. And I waited.
As I watched, a small ant crossed the road. It passed my foot, and then it crossed the sandy earth. In a little while it reached the edge of the hole. I saw it start to fall in. The ant tried to turn back. But it couldn’t.
And then I knew. I knew why the holes were there. For just then the fat insect came up out of the hole. It ate the ant who was trapped there.
Later I learned the insect’s name. It’s called ant lion. It digs holes to catch ants.
I’ll never forget that day. The holes looked so small to me. But to the ant and the ant lion they were the whole world.
I took my walks by the sea that summer. But I never again learned as much as I did on the one.
小題1: What did the ant lion use to dig holes?
A.Its tailB.Its feet.C.Its headD.Its whole body
小題2: Why did the ant lion hide in the hole?
A.To keep the sun awayB.So no one would catch it.
C.So the ant wouldn’t see itD.To keep warm.
小題3: Why did “I” sit down by the side of the road?
A.To thinkB.To eat her lunch
C.To watch the little holesD.To catch ants.
小題4:Why did the ant lion dig the holes?
A.To play a gameB.To catch its food
C.To hide its eggsD.To hide from its enemy
小題5:Why did “I” never forget that day?
A.Learned somethingB.Had a nice time
C.Saw the ant lion whenever she took a walk
D.Felt sorry for the ant.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案