1 . Isadora Duncan is considered by many to be the progenitor of modern dance. To Duncan, classical ballet, with its strict rules of posture and formation, was “ugly and against nature”. She refused to accept traditional ballet steps, preferring to emphasize improvisation(即兴创作), emotion, and the human form. She said, “I spent long days and nights in the studio seeking that dance which might be the expression of the human spirit through the body’s movements.” By making connections between human emotion and the movements of dance, Duncan hoped to make dance a form of high art rather than simple entertainment. She developed free and natural movements inspired by the classical Greek arts, folk dances, social dances and natural forces. She drew on a number of sports moves, including skipping, running, jumping, leaping, and tossing. The athleticism and classical roots of her style are reflected in her innovative costume choice of a Grecian tunic(束腰外衣) and bare feet, which allowed for a physical freedom that could not be achieved in the traditional ballet costumes and pointed shoes that limited dancers. With time, she gained a very wide following and set up several schools in Europe and the United States.

Duncan’s fame, however, did not bring her wealth. In the later years of her life, her financial situation worsened, and finally she had to live in apartments rented by friends and supporters. Duncan also received criticism for some of her personal opinions.

In spite of the problems, Duncan is remembered today for her artistic achievements: the creation of modern dance and its high place among the arts. While Duncan’s own schools no longer exist, her style of dance continues to be practiced. Her life inspired novels, ballets, and films, and her likeness was included in the sculpture created by Antoine Bourdelle over the entrance of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

1. What does the underlined word “progenitor” Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Sponsor.

B．Originator.

C．Instructor.

D．Competitor.

2. What can we learn about Duncan’s costume choice?

A．It allowed dancers to move naturally and freely.

B．It included newly designed pointed shoes.

C．It was white and extremely simple.

D．It was introduced from Greece.

3. What is the main purpose of the second paragraph?

A．To explore the connection between art and wealth.

B．To characterize Duncan as a dishonorable person.

C．To prove Duncan was adored by friends and relatives.

D．To show Duncan lived a hard life in her declining years.

4. What is Duncan mainly famous for?

A．Her inspiration for artists.	B．The invention of a new-form dance.
C．Her special personal views.	D．The foundation of many dance schools.

2 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman doing?

A．She’s interpreting a painting.

B．She’s chairing a meeting.

C．She’s hosting a program.

2. How did Kuhn get the name “Happy”?

A．From an oil painting.

B．From a city in Mexico.

C．From his initials in Spanish.

3. Who discovered Kuhn’s artistic talent?

A．His childhood friend.

B．His father.

C．A woman artist.

4. What makes Kuhn’s art special?

A．His focus on life of the aged.

B．His unique use of bright colors.

C．His expression of childlike innocence.

3 . Uygur musician, Sanubar will give two concerts in Beijing and Shanghai on Jan. 13 and 14, featuring songs with dutar — a traditional folk instrument, which her father loved playing at home. “The instrument was hanging on the wall at my home and my father often played it for fun. My mother always sang along and we danced together,” recalls Sanubar, who was born into a Uygur family in Xinjiang. When her father died, Sanubar, who was 8 years old, composed her first song to honor him.

One of the songs she will perform is White Horse, adapted from an old Xinjiang folk song and telling a love story. “I get inspired by poems. Poems are as rhythmic as music. So when I read a beautiful poem, I easily connect it with its sounds, which allows me to turn the poem into a song,” says Sanubar. Some other songs are selected from the Xinjiang Uygur Muqam recorded on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 by UNESCO, which includes songs, dances, folk and classical music.

Sanubar learned to play dutar at Xinjiang Arts University and, after graduation, she joined the Xinjiang Art Theater Muqam Art Troupe. From 2003 to 2005, she came to Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music to study music production. In 2010, at the age of 39, Sanubar enrolled in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she spent four years learning to compose and got her Bachelor’s degree.

So far, Sanubar has written over 100 songs and released about 10 albums. She teaches dutar at an art school in the regional capital Urumqi. Sanubar and other folk musicians sang and danced with smiling faces. “I notice that many young people in Xinjiang are learning traditional instruments and singing old songs, which makes me very happy.” says Sanubar.

1. What originally inspired Sanubar’s music career?

A．The rhythm of poems.	B．The impact of her father.
C．The honor of her first song.	D．The company of her mother.

2. What can we learn about Sanubar in paragraph 2?

A．She promoted the beauty of traditional folk art.	B．She wrote many beautiful poems from old songs.
C．She gained reputation both at home and abroad.	D．She helped complete the Xinjiang Uygur Muqam.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Sanubar’s main achievements.	B．Sanubar’s learning experiences.
C．The composition of folk songs.	D．The preservation of local music.

4. Which words can best describe Sanubar according to the last paragraph?

A．Intelligent and sensitive.	B．Elegant and reliable.
C．Energetic and productive.	D．Motivated and cautious.

4 . Filkin’s Drift, a band of two in UK, have been highlighting sustainability (可持续性) in their latest tour along the coast of Wales. The tour _________ over 40 shows along the 870-mile path, which started in Flintshire on Sept. 3 and _________ on Oct. 31 in Chepstow.

At one point, because of bad weather, the tour was _______ temporarily. When Filkin’s Drift was prepared to start touring again, they found too much of their time was spent in a car _______ in traffic jams, which wasn’t very good for the _______, or mental and physical health.

So Bye and Roberts,_________ of the band, decided to walk their tour along the coast of Wales. They walked between stops for the rest of their tour, carrying the _________ and just enough clothing to walk and _________ each day. Along the way, they collected songs, stories, and tunes to make their performances _________. Also, the band raised money for a charity to __________ this mission.

They shared their experiences of the walking tour __________ in videos on their website blog, hoping to ________ other musicians and the music industry as a whole to approach touring in a more sustainable way. They have shown that a tour on foot is __________, discovering that the music industry, as well as others, could also learn to reduce the ________ for vehicles.

Today, Filkin’s Drift __________ a growing number of artists and industry professionals working to spotlight sustainability and the environment in their work.

1.

A．completed

B．planned

C．canceled

D．delayed

2.

A．failed

B．ended

C．slowed

D．closed

3.

A．scheduled

B．interrupted

C．appreciated

D．relocated

4.

A．picked out

B．taken up

C．caught up

D．set aside

5.

A．security

B．relaxation

C．reputation

D．environment

6.

A．researchers

B．followers

C．musicians

D．professors

7.

A．instruments

B．documents

C．envelopes

D．photographs

8.

A．compete

B．perform

C．advertise

D．conclude

9.

A．crucial

B．profitable

C．practical

D．colorful

10.

A．evaluate

B．clear

C．outline

D．further

11.

A．constantly

B．secretly

C．randomly

D．differently

12.

A．inform

B．request

C．inspire

D．permit

13.

A．possible

B．flexible

C．typical

D．private

14.

A．limit

B．creation

C．upgrade

D．need

15.

A．examines

B．joins

C．employs

D．declines

5 . Top Piano Players in the World

Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich could be considered the next Beethoven, as she is one of the most outstanding pianists ever to play. Argerich preferred being on stage with others instead of performing solo; therefore, she has been performing in a concerto format since the 1980s. Argerich was not one for the spotlight, as she often avoided public appearances such as interviews; however, her great talent was all the publicity she needed, standing out during concertos and sonatas.

Leif Ove Andsnes

Known for his appealing performances of Edvard Grieg’s works, Andsnes has won praise for his performances at some of the world’s most famous concert halls. Andsnes has certainly made his mark in Norway, as he is the founding director of Norway’s Rosendal Chamber Music Festival. Because of his unique voice and interesting approach, he was praised by The New York Times as a “pianist of authoritative elegance, power, and insight.”

Alfred Brendel

Known for his beautiful interpretations of Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert and Mozart, Alfred Brendel was considered one of the greats. He played in various concertos throughout his career and became known for his interpretive coldness in recreating these works. Brendel was considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, as he made his mark in the classical music industry. Brendel was self-taught and learned his love of piano at an early age.

Arthur Rubinstein

Arthur Rubinstein was certainly one of the greats. His career began in the early 20th century when he began to come into contact with some of the world’s most important composers, such as Maurice Ravel, Paul Dukas, and Jacques Thibaud. He made various trips worldwide and visited nearly every continent, where crowds met him with great praise and encouragement.

1. What does the female pianist focus on in her career?

A．Skills in hosting concertos and sonatas.	B．Cooperation with other musicians.
C．Close relationships with the media.	D．Unique ways to interpret music.

2. Who learned music by himself or herself?

A．Martha Argerich.	B．Leif Ove Andsnes.
C．Alfred Brendel.	D．Arthur Rubinstein.

3. How is Arthur Rubinstein different from the other pianists?

A．He was the director of a Norwegian festival.

B．He made a difference in classical music.

C．He was the best musician of the 20th century.

D．He got in touch with some famous composers.

6 . Louis Wain’s Cute Cats

Louis Wain was one of the most popular illustrators (插画师) in the history of England. Born in 1860, Wain was well-known for his anthropomorphic (拟人化的) pictures of cats and his work helped to upraise the profile and popularity of our feline (猫科的) friends to extraordinary heights. Before Wain, cats in England were often thought of without respect but his work humanised them and helped to show them as something to be liked, admired and even loved. “He made the cat his own,” H. G. Wells once remarked. “He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world.”

In his early years, Wain aimed at becoming a press artist. He specialised in drawing animals and country scenes and had work published in several journals including the popular Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. It wasn’t until 1884, when Wain was twenty-four, that he sold his first drawing of a cat to The Illustrated London News. Two years after this he got his first real taste of success when he was appointed to illustrate a children’s book. His illustrations seem a lot more traditional when compared to his later work. Yet even in these early examples, we can see signs of his ability to give a cat a personality and a playful nature.

Despite the happiness seen throughout his work, the tale of Wain’s interest in cats is sadly a heartbreaking one. In 1883, Wain married Emily Richardson. Not long after the couple married, Emily became unwell. Over the course of her illness, Wain drew their cat as a way to keep her spirits up. There must have been even more reason for joy when a few months later Wain was appointed again by The Illustrated London News to draw more illustrations based on their cat. His work, A Kitten’s Christmas Party was hugely popular and a great success. It set Wain on the road to artistic greatness and wealth but sadly he was unable to enjoy this achievement as a few months later Emily passed away.

The loss of his wife had a huge impact on Wain and he became increasingly more inward-looking. As his success went from strength to strength, he continued to struggle with anxiety and depression, and despite his professional accomplishments, his personal life was never quite the same again.

1. What did people in England think of cats in early times?

A．They thought cats were respectful.	B．They saw cats as their great friends.
C．They thought cats were like humans.	D．They regarded cats as negative creatures.

2. What can we learn about Wain’s early life?

A．He created persons like cats.

B．He achieved his first success at the age of 26.

C．He had always dreamt of being a cat illustrator.

D．He drew animals and country scenes for The Illustrated London News.

3. Which of the following is true about Emily?

A．She made Wain earn a lot of money.

B．Her death changed Wain’s mental state.

C．She married Wain because she liked his illustrations.

D．She became unwell after A Kitten’s Christmas Party was released.

4. According to the passage, art is the reflection of its creator’s ______.

A．Ability

B．fortune

C．emotion

D．personality

7 . Charlie Watts of the British music group the Rolling Stones died on Tuesday at a hospital in London. Watts played the drums for the very successful band for almost sixty years. His publicist, Bernard Doherty, said the musician “passed away peacefully” surrounded by his family.

Watts was respected worldwide for his muscular style of drumming, which he combined with elements of jazz, a favorite music of the artist. He joined the band early in 1963, just a few months following its first public performance.

To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the experience was tiring, unpleasant, and even frightening. “Girls chasing you down the street, screaming... horrible!... I hated it,” he told The Guardian newspaper. In another media report, he described the drumming life as a “cross between being an athlete and a total nervous wreck (神经兮兮的人)”.

Charlie Watts was born in London on June 2, 1941. From childhood, he was crazy about music-jazz, especially. He fell in love with the drums after hearing the music of Chico Hamilton. Watts was not a rock music fan at first. He shared a home with the Stones’ leaders Mick Jagger and Keith Richards because he did not have to pay for the housing. “Keith Richards taught me rock and roll,” Watts said. “We’d have nothing to do all day, and we’d play these records over and over again.”

The Stones had searched for months to find a permanent drummer. Richards has spoken about how much the band wanted Watts to join. The guitar player said the band members cut down on expenses so they could pay Watts a good wage. Watts said he believed at first the band would be lucky to last a year. “Every band I’d ever been in had lasted a week,” he said. “I always thought the Stones would last a week, then a fortnight, and then suddenly, it’s 30 years.”

1. What does the underlined word “muscular” mean in Paragraph 2?

A．Aggressive.

B．Complex.

C．Fashionable.

D．Powerful.

2. How did Watts feel about his experience as a rock star?

A．He enjoyed the fame and attention.

B．He had a strong dislike for fans and music.

C．He found the experience exhausting and intolerable.

D．He considered himself lucky to be a part of the band.

3. Why did Watts share a house with Keith Richards?

A．To save accommodation costs.

B．To practice playing the guitar.

C．To learn rock and composition.

D．To be the drummer of the band.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Watts was unwilling to join the band for low wages.

B．The band’s success depended on a talented drummer.

C．A band usually lasted for a few months in those days.

D．The band’s popularity was beyond Watts’ expectations.

8 . Do you have a hobby that you have loved for a long time? Carlos Santana does! Carlos Santana has loved music from a young age. Music has been his passion. At age 5, he started playing the violin. At age 8, he began playing the guitar. Santana worked hard to develop his musical talent, especially on the guitar. He became one of the most famous Mexican American musicians in history.

Santana grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, playing music in many bands. Even though his family moved to San Francisco in the 1960s, he visited Mexico often. He was inspired by Mexican blues music as well as American rock music. He combined many different types of music to create a unique style.

He got his big break in 1969 at the Woodstock music festival.Woodstock was a huge music festival that around 400,000 people attended. Many people did not know who Santana was before his performance. But they knew who he was after it! Many people said Santana was one of the highlights of the three-day festival. They said his guitar playing was incredible! It was full of passion and soul.

Santana and his band began producing hit after hit, including “Oye Como Va” and “Evil Ways”. The band’s songs show off a unique musical style, combining Latin and rock rhythms. Santana has won 10 Grammy Awards throughout his career. He has had or contributed to many great songs and impressive performances.

Carlos Santana wanted children to have the opportunity to discover their passions, like he did. He and his family created the Milagro Foundation, which helps children succeed by giving money to the arts, education, and health. Today, Carlo s Santana continues sharing his musical talent with people all over the United States and beyond.

1. Carlos Santana’s career began to take off after __________.

A．his family moved to San Francisco	B．the Woodstock music festival
C．he started to play the violin	D．he began playing the guitar

2. What can you infer from the underlined part?

A．The band’s songs became very popular.

B．The band went through a lot of failures.

C．It took the band much time to produce songs.

D．The band’s performances were different from others.

3. What is the main purpose of the Milagro Foundation created by Carlos Santana and his family?

A．To support children to succeed in education.

B．To help children explore their hobbies.

C．To share his musical talent with others.

D．To raise money for organizing music festivals.

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Music: A Lifelong and Important Hobby

B．The Unique Musical Journey of a Guitar Legend

C．The Rise of Mexican American Music Talents

D．Milagro Foundation: Inspiring the Next Generation

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Liu Cong, a 34-year-old illustrator (插画师), attracted by one particular aspect of the splendid city, the hutong,     1     (live) in Beijing since 2012. She enjoys     2     (ride) a bicycle and wandering through hutong neighborhoods. These narrow alleys consisting of trees, small shops and gray-walled courtyards, or siheyuan, contribute to a sense     3     community and offer a glance of a fast-disappearing way of life.

Last year, Liu moved to a courtyard in Chaodou hutong,     4     her friend, architect Jie Xiaofeng, had stayed for many years. There, Liu started a series of illustrations. With those 23 illustrations being displayed at the Shijia Hutong Museum now, in an     5     (exhibit) titled Wandering, Liu is popular among illustrators.

“Each of the     6     (yard) hidden in the hutong, as is known to people,     7     (be) different and full of the wisdom of the enthusiastic residents, who     8     (full) use the limited space     9     (create) comfortable and convenient surroundings for their families,” says architect Jie. What she loves about living in the hutong is     10     it offers a kind of close connection with her neighbors.

10 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式.

A black slate (石板), an alloy steel needle and decades of practice are     1     Li Yahua needs to create the perfect Huihe stone shadow carving work of art. With her left hand     2     (gentle) leaning against the mirror-like stone to support the heavy chisel (凿子) she’s holding in her right hand, the artist creates a black-and-white landscape by intensively chiseling dots in various sizes and density on the stone.

    3     (difference) from traditional Chinese art types that emphasize the beauty of lines, stone shadow carving highlights the size and     4     (deep) of dots.

“We use an alloy steel needle to chisel white dots to create images on a polished and smooth black slate,” Li explained, adding the pressure     5     (use) to chisel them was the key to getting the carving right.

“On an A4-paper-size black slate, we need to chisel about 100 million dots     6     (create) an image,” she continued, adding it would take 7 to 20 days to complete the work depending on its level of complexity.

Born into a family of stone carvers, stone and alloy steel needles     7     (be) Li’s best friends since childhood and the sound of chisel     8     (knock) on the slate is the soundtrack to her life.     9     56-year-old has devoted nearly 40 years to the craft. For her, shadow carving is about preserving history, culture and art,     10     recording the stories of the times.