1 . Even though it’s been more than 30 years, Brendan Slocumb still feels the heartbreak of his stolen violin.
In his senior year of high school, Slocumb’s family found their home ransacked (洗劫) after a trip abroad. Slocumb, who had been playing the violin since he was nine, went immediately to the hiding spot under his bed. “I looked. My instrument was gone. I looked again. It was gone,” he said.
The stolen violin is one of many life experiences Slocumb drew upon to write his book, The Violin Conspiracy. It tells the story of Ray McMillan, a gifted violinist whose family violin is stolen just before one of the world-class music competitions.
Born in California, Slocumb was raised in Fayetteville, N.C., and began playing the violin through a public school music program. For both Slocumb and his character Ray, the violin was a means to get away from a difficult childhood and a ticket to college and a promising job. After graduating from college with a degree in music education, Slocumb has taught music to students from primary through high school for more than 20 years.
Writing the book was a chance to celebrate Slocumb’s success and honor the people who helped him along the way. In the book, Ray’s Grandma Nora—his first supporter—is named after Slocumb’s grandmother. And Ray’s mentor (导师) Janice is based on Dr. Rachel Vetter Huang, Slocumb’s college teacher, whom he calls “a life-saving force”.
The Violin Conspiracy has been praised for its lively descriptions. After it came on the market in 2022, thank-yous poured in. Slocumb heard from many Black musicians who said “This is a story that I’ve been carrying along as well. I experienced the exact same things Ray has gone through in the story, and noon would believe me. Now it’s out there in the world to see.”
1. Why was Slocumb heartbroken about his stolen violin?| A．The violin cost too much. | B．He got the violin on his birthday. |
| C．The violin mattered to him. | D．He bought the violin from abroad. |
| A．She gave Slocumb much support. | B．She wrote books in her spare time. |
| C．She had saved Slocumb’s life. | D．She taught music in a high school. |
| A．They placed their orders in a hurry. |
| B．They faced an impossible situation. |
| C．They were worried about the coming life. |
| D．They were thankful for Slocumb’s work. |
| A．A children’s story. | B．A news report. |
| C．A book review. | D．A lesson plan. |
