单选题_______the popular belief that classical music is too complex, it achieves a simplicity that only a genius can create.A Compared to B Contrary toC Familiar to D Subject to

Text 1 The decision of the New York Philharmonic to hire Alan Gilbert as its next music director has been the talk of the classical-music world ever since the sudden announcement of his appointment in 2009.For the most part,the response has been favorable,to say the least.“Hooray!At last!”wrote Anthony Tommasini,a sober-sided classical-music critic.One of the reasons why the appointment came as such a surprise,however,is that Gilbert is comparatively little known.Even Tommasini,who had advocated Gilbert’s appointment in the Times,calls him“an unpretentious musician with no air of the formidable conductor about him.”As a description of the next music director of an orchestra that has hitherto been led by musicians like Gustav Mahler and Pierre Boulez,that seems likely to have struck at least some Times readers as faint praise.For my part,I have no idea whether Gilbert is a great conductor or even a good one.To be sure,he performs an impressive variety of interesting compositions,but it is not necessary for me to visit Avery Fisher Hall,or anywhere else,to hear interesting orchestral music.All I have to do is to go to my CD shelf,or boot up my computer and download still more recorded music from iTunes.Devoted concertgoers who reply that recordings are no substitute for live performance are missing the point.For the time,attention,and money of the art-loving public,classical instrumentalists must compete not only with opera houses,dance troupes,theater companies,and museums,but also with the recorded performances of the great classical musicians of the 20th century.There recordings are cheap,available everywhere,and very often much higher in artistic quality than today’s live performances;moreover,they can be“consumed”at a time and place of the listener’s choosing.The widespread availability of such recordings has thus brought about a crisis in the institution of the traditional classical concert.One possible response is for classical performers to program attractive new music that is not yet available on record.Gilbert’s own interest in new music has been widely noted:Alex Ross,a classical-music critic,has described him as a man who is capable of turning the Philharmonic into“a markedly different,more vibrant organization.”But what will be the nature of that difference?Merely expanding the orchestra’s repertoire will not be enough.If Gilbert and the Philharmonic are to succeed,they must first change the relationship between America’s oldest orchestra and the new audience it hops to attract.25.Regarding Gilbert’s role in revitalizing the Philharmonic,the author feels

A.doubtful.
B.enthusiastic.
C.confident.
D.puzzled.

To learn an instrument such as the violin or accordion (手风琴) takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music teaching they can afford?
The secret lies in the influence of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person′s IQ over time. Different instruments and different types of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family coming out on top, potentially increasing your IQ by up to 12 points!
When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus (胎儿) can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional (成比例的) to the amount of practicing.
Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shiniehi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be "unmusical". Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners.
Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get together) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general.
So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone (长号) or take your first real six-string down from the attic (阁楼); get out there and play!
According to Shinichi Suzuki, ___________.

A.the progress in learning an instrument depends on natural gifts
B.it is too late for an adult to start an instrument
C.every child has a natural talent for music
D.all people can understand and read music

To learn an instrument such as the violin or accordion (手风琴) takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music teaching they can afford?
The secret lies in the influence of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person′s IQ over time. Different instruments and different types of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family coming out on top, potentially increasing your IQ by up to 12 points!
When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus (胎儿) can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional (成比例的) to the amount of practicing.
Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shiniehi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be "unmusical". Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners.
Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get together) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general.
So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone (长号) or take your first real six-string down from the attic (阁楼); get out there and play!
What can be inferred from the text?

A.Music can balance our life.
B.Music can improve our living conditions.
C.Playing instruments can make adults keep their IQ points.
D.Playing instruments can help us get along well with others.

Text 1 The decision of the New York Philharmonic to hire Alan Gilbert as its next music director has been the talk of the classical-music world ever since the sudden announcement of his appointment in 2009.For the most part,the response has been favorable,to say the least.“Hooray!At last!”wrote Anthony Tommasini,a sober-sided classical-music critic.One of the reasons why the appointment came as such a surprise,however,is that Gilbert is comparatively little known.Even Tommasini,who had advocated Gilbert’s appointment in the Times,calls him“an unpretentious musician with no air of the formidable conductor about him.”As a description of the next music director of an orchestra that has hitherto been led by musicians like Gustav Mahler and Pierre Boulez,that seems likely to have struck at least some Times readers as faint praise.For my part,I have no idea whether Gilbert is a great conductor or even a good one.To be sure,he performs an impressive variety of interesting compositions,but it is not necessary for me to visit Avery Fisher Hall,or anywhere else,to hear interesting orchestral music.All I have to do is to go to my CD shelf,or boot up my computer and download still more recorded music from iTunes.Devoted concertgoers who reply that recordings are no substitute for live performance are missing the point.For the time,attention,and money of the art-loving public,classical instrumentalists must compete not only with opera houses,dance troupes,theater companies,and museums,but also with the recorded performances of the great classical musicians of the 20th century.There recordings are cheap,available everywhere,and very often much higher in artistic quality than today’s live performances;moreover,they can be“consumed”at a time and place of the listener’s choosing.The widespread availability of such recordings has thus brought about a crisis in the institution of the traditional classical concert.One possible response is for classical performers to program attractive new music that is not yet available on record.Gilbert’s own interest in new music has been widely noted:Alex Ross,a classical-music critic,has described him as a man who is capable of turning the Philharmonic into“a markedly different,more vibrant organization.”But what will be the nature of that difference?Merely expanding the orchestra’s repertoire will not be enough.If Gilbert and the Philharmonic are to succeed,they must first change the relationship between America’s oldest orchestra and the new audience it hops to attract.24.According to the text,which of the following is true of recordings?

A.They are often inferior to live concerts in quality.
B.They are easily accessible to the general public.
C.They help improve the quality of music.
D.They have only covered masterpieces.

共用题干
"Happy Birthday to You"

The main problem in discussing American popular culture is also one of its main characteristics:it
won't stay American.No matter what it is,whether it is films,food and fashion,music,casual sports or slang, it's soon at home elsewhere in the world.There are several theories why American popular culture has had
this appeal.
One theory is that it has been"advertised"and marketed through American films,popular music,and more
recently,television.________(46)They are,after all,in competition with those produced by other countries. Another theory,probably a more common one,is that American popular culture is internationally associ-
ted with something called"the spirit of America"._______(47)
The final theory is less complex:American popular culture is popular because a lot of people in the
world like it.
Regardless of why it spreads,American popular culture is usually quite rapidly adopted and then adapted in
many other countries.________(48)"Happy Birthday to You",for instance,is such an everyday song tha
its source,its American copyright,so to speak,is not remembered.Black leather jackets worn by many heroe
in American movies could be found,a generation later,on all those young men who wanted to make this manly-
look their own.
Two areas where this continuing process is most clearly seen are clothing and music.Some people can
still remember a time when T-shirts,jogging clothes,tennis shoes,denim jackets,and blue jeans were not
common daily wear everywhere.Only twenty years ago,it was possible to spot an American in Paris by his or
her clothes.No longer so:Those bright colors,checkered jackets and trousers,hats and socks which were
once made fun of in cartoons are back again in Paris as the latest fashion._____(49)
The situation with American popular music is more complex because in the beginning,when it was still
clearly American,it was often strongly resisted.Jazz was once thought to be a great danger to youth and their
morals,and was actually outlawed in several countries.Today,while still showing its rather American roots,
has become so well established.Rock 'n' roll and all its variations,country & western music,all have moi
or less similar histories.They were first resisted,often in America as well,as being"low-class",and then:
"a danger to our nation's youth".______(50)And then the music became accepted and was extende
and developed,and exported back to the US.
46.________（46）
A.As a result,its American origins and roots are often quickly forgotten.
B.But this theory fails to explain why American films,music,and television programs are so popular in then selves.
C.American in origin,informal clothing has become the world's first truly universal style.
D.The BBC,for example,banned rock and roll until 1962.
E.American food has become popular around the world,too.
F.This spirit is variously described as being young and free,optimistic and confident,informal and disrespectfu.

________（48）
A:As a result,its American origins and roots are often quickly forgotten.
B:But this theory fails to explain why American films,music,and television programs are so popular in then selves.
C:American in origin,informal clothing has become the world's first truly universal style.
D:The BBC,for example,banned rock and roll until 1962.
E:American food has become popular around the world,too.
F:This spirit is variously described as being young and free,optimistic and confident,informal and disrespectfu.