1 . 语义匹配

Tobias Le Compte, a 35-year-old Belgian musician, has become a _________sensation on social media for his excellent grasp of the main Shanghai dialect. In 2008, Le Compte, visited Shanghai for the first time in an arts festival. He _________was enchanted by the city right away, and returned the next year and enrolled as an undergraduate student at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Like most _________expats in China, Le Compte first studied Mandarin and spent about half a year teaching himself the language. It was not until 2021, when Le Compte was back in Belgium and _________confined to his home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that he started learning Shanghainese. He was also _________motivated by the 2021 hit movie B for Busy, a tale set in Shanghai starring local stars who speak their lines in the city’s dialect.

1.

A．wrestler

B．influencer

C．actor

D．conductor

2.

A．was capable of

B．was moved by

C．was impressed by

D．was eager for

3.

A．local people

B．native speakers

C．descendants

D．foreign residents

4.

A．joined to

B．limited to

C．addicted to

D．devoted to

5.

A．inspired

B．scared

C．discouraged

D．awarded

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Taylor Swift is ending her year with another honor. The pop superstar     1     (name) Time magazine’s 2023 “Person of the Year,”     2     (beat) out Barbie and King Charles III. “While her popularity     3     (grow) across the decades, this is the first year     4     Swift, 33, achieved a kind of nuclear fusion (核聚变): shooting art and commerce together     5     (release) an energy of historic force,” the magazine said. Time said Swift was selected     6     she found a way to give people around the world hope in some seriously dark times. “No one else     7     the planet today can move so many people so well,” Time said in its profile, “    8     giving too much credit to     9     star ignores her skill and her power.” The magazine also interviewed Swift, with the artist revealing that “this is the proudest and happiest I’ve ever felt, and the most     10     (creative) fulfilled and free I’ve ever been.”

3 . Adding to the achievements of a remarkable year, Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023.

Already a superstar before 2023, Swift’s career has reached new heights thanks to the beginning of her Eras Tour that brought her 3.5-hour performance to 66 shows in 23 cities across North America, Argentina and Brazil. Promoted by her tour, Swift has been named the most-streamed female artist in the history of Spotify and Apple Music. According to Billboard, the tour made about $900 million (about 6.4 billion yuan) in 2023. In addition, the tour’s movie Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour became the biggest concert movie of all time, taking more than $250 million globally.

As she was declared (宣布) a billionaire by Bloomberg in November, a hidden “Taylor Swift economy” also promoted sales for business owners across the US. From soaps to a cruise inspired by her different “eras”, interest in Swift-related products went way up.

Apart from her financial contributions, Swift made a significant cultural impact by taking back control of her music. In 2019, her old record label, Big Machine, sold the master tapes of her first six albums (专辑) to Scooter Braun. The sale meant that she didn’t have the rights to the albums. In response to this, Swift began re-recording her first six albums, tagging (加标签于) them “Taylor’s Version”. This move stressed her belief that artists deserve to own their work. “It’s all in how you deal with loss,” she told Time. “I respond to extreme pain by resisting.”

Heading into 2024, Swift will start the Eras Tour again in Japan and Australia. As USA Today noted, “Her current top has been a long time coming, but it may also be just beginning.”

1. What do we know about Taylor Swift?

A．She broke a new record on her tour.

B．She toured South America before 2023.

C．Her achievements received great recognition.

D．Her performance began with the Apple Music.

2. How did Taylor Swift benefit from her Eras Tour?

A．She proved herself to be an artist.

B．She learned to make some products.

C．She got rich and regained album rights.

D．She sold her master tapes to a company.

3. What can we learn about Taylor Swift from the last paragraph?

A．She will end her music career.

B．She will continue her Eras Tour.

C．She will reach her top in Japan.

D．She will make a record in Australia.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards Taylor Swift?

A．Admirable.	B．Uncaring.
C．Doubtful.	D．Critical.

4 . He is a Chinese superstar, a piano genius who has sold millions of albums worldwide. Lang Lang has also used his fame and fortune to help state schools around the world that lack music, warning at a 2019 awards ceremony in London that such lessons had become “a real challenge” for children in the most disadvantaged communities.

Now he is bringing music to British state schools in an ambitious project that will set up modern “piano labs” in needy schools across the nation. Each lab will have 20 to 30 keyboards. The plan is inspired by his programmes in the US and China, in which he has invested tens of millions of pounds.

In the US, he has set up piano labs in 86 schools, giving 70,000 kids access to keyboards. In China, he has installed them in 104 schools, enabling 110,000 children to make music. This is primarily for pupils aged seven to 12.

The first UK school to benefit is the Winns primary school in Waltham Forest, London’s 12th poorest area. It will receive 30 keyboards within the next few weeks. Every lab is accompanied by a curriculum created by the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto and Lang Lang, with ongoing teacher-training, financial support, and headphones, allowing group piano classes.

Asked what inspired him to support UK schools, Lang told the reporter: “We were able to identify many similarities between state schools in the UK and public schools in the US in terms of the way access to music and arts can be extremely limited when budgets are cut…I was so surprised by how music classes are never guaranteed. The schools and teachers are incredible, and are so dedicated to providing their students with everything they can. But it shocked me how access to music education can be so limited.”

His charity quotes the Greek philosopher Aristotle: “Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it.”

Lang Lang said: “When I visit our partner schools and see the joy on the students’ faces or hear from our teachers about the progress students are making, I’m reminded of why we created this programme—to give children an opportunity to discover what they’re capable of achieving and to find their voices through music.”

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To offer background information.	B．To introduce an argument.
C．To discuss Lang Lang’s plans.	D．To highlight Lang Lang’s reputation.

2. Which schools will Lang Lang help in Britain?

A．Private schools.	B．Ambitious schools.
C．Remote schools.	D．Disadvantaged schools.

3. Why did Lang Lang decide to support schools in Britain?

A．The teachers are doing a good job.

B．Music classes aren’t always available.

C．The budgets are always being cut.

D．The schools are dedicated to helping students.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Lang Lang—a kind and caring pianist

B．Lang Lang teaches the world to play piano

C．Chinese superstar brings music to British kids

D．Chinese piano genius looks for future piano stars

5 . One year after WildAid started its new program to protect ocean wildlife in China, Chinese world-famous pianist Lang Lang has joined the latest public campaign (运动), “Play Your Part in the Oceans Symphony” on Friday.

The campaign video public service announcement (PSA) impressed the public with Lang Lang playing his song “Stay”, greatly calling attention to the beauty and importance of protecting the marine life in China’s waters such as whale sharks, sea turtles, dolphins and spotted seals.

A new series of messages calls on the public to help protect marine biodiversity (生物多样性) by supporting marine protected areas (MPAs) and the protection of ocean wildlife. The campaign video PSA and billboards, which will be displayed across China, were released (发布) at a Beijing press event hosted by WildAid, with China Green Carbon Foundation and the First Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources (FIO) as key partners.

Ranked among “the world’s 100 most influential people” by Time magazine, Lang Lang has served as WildAid ambassador for more than 12 years, contributed to protecting endangered wildlife and nature. Speaking at the event he said, “we can all play our part in protecting our oceans by taking simple steps, such as refusing to eat endangered wildlife such as sea turtles, reporting illegal wildlife trade, and reducing the use of single-use plastics.”

WildAid also designed online activities for this campaign in which Lang Lang invites users to re-create his song “Stay” through the two most popular social platforms in China: Weibo and Tik Tok.

Lang Lang joined this campaign following a survey report conducted by WildAid and FIO that discusses public awareness of MPAs and marine biodiversity in China.

The report finds that more than 80% of the survey takers believe that MPAs are very important, but their understanding of the functions of MPAs is low. More than half do not know the term “marine biodiversity” and have not received enough information about marine protection.

“Play Your Part in the Oceans Symphony” campaign PSA and billboards will be given out at outdoor places across China, reaching millions of viewers.

1. What is the purpose of the latest PSA of WorldAid?

A．To show the special beauty of marine life in China’s waters.

B．To stress the importance of protecting China’s ocean wildlife.

C．To call on the public to support marine protected areas (MPAs).

D．To invite world-famous pianist Lang Lang to join the campaign.

2. What does Lang Lang ask people to do to protect the ocean life?

A．Report illegal wildlife hunting to FIO.	B．Stop eating endangered wildlife.
C．Re-create his song “Stay” on line.	D．Call on friends to join the campaign.

3. What is one of the findings of the survey report?

A．Lots of Chinese do not clearly know how to protect the ocean life.

B．The Chinese public would like to help protect marine biodiversity.

C．The Chinese public awareness of marine biodiversity should be raised.

D．Weibo and Tik Tok are the two most popular social platforms in China.

4. Which of the following best describe the campaign PSA?

A．Interesting.

B．Demanding.

C．Beneficial.

D．Enjoyable.

6 . “He is a giant of the 20th-century art, but that doesn’t mean he only did big paintings, said Lynn Miller, director of Rochester Central Gallery, in an interview last Thursday.

Entitled “Picasso and His Drafts”, a special exhibit marking 50 years since the death of Pablo Picasso is held at the gallery this month. Instead of his paintings, the notebooks on which the Spanish legendary artist drew drafts are shown to the public for the first time.

Matchbox covers, postcards, restaurant napkins all served as drafting notes for the artist at moments of inspiration. It is important to know that each of the 14 notebooks presented reflects what was going on in his life.

For example, a tiny notebook whose size is just 3 by 5 inches stands out among the exhibits. Inside the little book was a self-portrait of the artist finished roughly in pencil, with deep and thoughtful eyes. It was done in 1918 and Picasso, then in his mid-30s, had just got married. He produced big-sized artworks but he also kept this tiny notebook around, filling it with scenes of his wife, their friends, the beach and the town, and drafts of upcoming paintings. Actually, many of the draft drawings are early versions of famed paintings like Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) and Dora Maar in an Armchair (1939).

“He is a great artist of the modern period, and we see practice and determination in his notebooks,” said Lynn Miller, referring to Picasso’s efforts in improving his skills through copious drawing. Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, a grandson of Picasso’s, remembered him always drafting until the last piece of paper available. “My grandpa was permanently drawing something,” Ruiz-Picasso said.

In a documentary film shown at the gallery, Picasso, shirtless and in shorts, was standing on a ladder to reach the top of his canvas (画布). It reminds visitors of the real size of his masterworks.

1. What are the key features of the recent exhibit at the gallery?

A．Notebooks for sale.	B．Picasso’s artworks.
C．Priceless artistic drafts.	D．Masterpieces of the 20th century.

2. What is reflected in the notebooks of Picasso?

A．His life experience.	B．The love for his country.
C．The content of his books.	D．His education background.

3. Which of the following best describes Picasso according to his grandson?

A．Creative.

B．Diligent.

C．Optimistic.

D．Humorous.

4. What can we learn from the author’s words in the last paragraph?

A．Picasso used to mind his appearance.	B．The gallery exhibits real masterworks.
C．The documentary movie is worth seeing.	D．Picasso’s artworks are actually of great size.

7 . 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。

Qi Baishi is a world-famous art master in China.

He was born in     1     poor family from Xiangtan, Hunan province. He was at school for less than a year because     2     illnesses. One day, he found a Chinese painting guide book — Jieziyuan Huapu. The book inspired his interests in painting     3     (picture). He decided     4     (learn) by himself and later became a master of art through his hard work. In 1902, he     5     (start) to travel around China. He visited famous places, met many people and saw different kinds of art pieces. These experiences helped him become one of the     6    (good) artists of all time.

    7     (He) paintings are generally about the small things of the world, such as fish, shrimps (虾) and frogs. “Mouse and Cat with Lamp” is one of them. In the picture, a mouse is standing on the top of a long pole (杆子). Under the pole is a cat. They are so lively     8     it looks like they would jump out of the paper to fight.

All the works     9     (create) by Qi Baishi in a fresh way, which expressed his love for nature and life. His talents and skills amazed the whole world a lot. He is    10     (real) a master of art and the pride of Xiangtan.

8 . Stories of Art: 1800~1900

About

This series of online lectures is produced by the National Gallery, London, through which you can learn about the art of different periods with Dr Amy Mechowski. Each lecture lasts 2 hours, starting from 5:30 pm

Week1

In this first session, Amy Mechowski will give a brief introduction to this module (模块). Then we will be joined by Dr Susanna Avery-Quash, who will report on the National Gallery's foundation and its development under Charles Eastlake, the first director of the National Gallery, from1855 to 1865.

Week 2

With the realists, represented by Courbet, Millet, and Manet in France and important contributions to social realism by members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (前拉斐尔派) and others in England, direct observation came to the forefront of artistic practice.

Week 3

From their first independent exhibition in 1874, the group of artists known as the impressionists forever changed approaches to painting. Significantly, the works of women artists, who were regarded by their contemporaries as important members of this group, including Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt, came into focus.

Week 4

With the last of the independent exhibitions in 1886 came the debut (首次亮相) of artists for whom the English art critic Roger Fry coined the term “Post-Impressionists” 20 years later,

Booking information

Only one ticket can be booked per account. You will be emailed an E-ticket with instructions on how to access the course via your account. If you are new to the National Gallery, please go to our official website and create your own account, through which all lecture information including weekly handouts and recordings will be provided.

Admission

Standard: £75

A special offer: £70.50 (Special offers are for full-time students.)

1. What will Avery-Quash talk about at the first week's lecture?

A．A brief introduction to the lecture series.

B．The life experience of Amy Mechowski.

C．Eastlake's paintings exhibited at the gallery

D．Eastlake's contribution to the National Gallery.

2. Which lecture offers attendees information about some female Impressionists

A．Week 1

B．Week 2.

C．Week3.

D．Week4.

3. What is a must for someone who wants to book a ticket?

A．Being a full-time art student.

B．Having attended Dr Amy's lectures before.

C．Owning an account of the National Gallery.

D．Paying an additional fee for lecture recordings.

9 . 阅读下面短文，根据上下文内容从所给的A到G的选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，每个词只可选用一次。

A. reminded him of       B. made sense       C. give away       D. devoted all his life to E. work on                  F. believe in          G. turned his back on

Jack’s parents got very disappointed after their son quit school. However, Jack was stubborn (固执) and     1     his parents. From then on, he     2     composing pop music and finally became a successful composer. Jack felt grateful to his mentor (导师) and friends, so he planned to     3    what he earned. The charity work     4     what his parents had done for him. Looking back on the old days, he felt he owed (亏欠) his parents quite a lot. It was not until his success that his parents’ love and care     5    .

10 . Cole (a successful actor) talked about his acting journey in a new interview with Variety. As a child star in public, he became one of the cover stars of the “Power of Young Hollywood” series. He said to Variety that if it hadn’t been for Riverdale, he might have given up acting, at least for a while. When Cole auditioned (试镜) for Riverdale, he was working in a small laboratory in Brooklyn bagging artifacts. It was the character of Jughead that brought him back to his acting life.

In the years following his days on the Disney channel, Cole joined NYU and took acting classes. Disney had offered Cole a third series following his successful series — The Suit Life of Zack and Cody and The Suite Life on Deck, but he knew he wanted to go to college. Finally, Cole found his way back to his acting life, though. While working at the lab, Cole said his manager kept on encouraging him to audition for some roles. He really wanted to say thanks to him.

Cole knew what he wanted and how to play the role well in Riverdale. He was first invited to audition for the role of Archie, but Cole said he asked for the character of the outcast (被抛弃者) instead. “I think this is a bot of my style,” he told Variety. Jughead wasn’t supposed to be an important character in the show, but Cole acted so well that he received praise and became well known.

Now, Cole’s successfully changed himself from a Disney star to a serious actor. It can help him to plan his new series — the fourth season. It’s good news that Cole decided to show his talent for acting.

1. What did Cole tell Variety in the new interview?

A．His life as an actor.

B．His experience in “Riverdale”.

C．His work in a small lab.

D．His feelings as a child star.

2. Why did Cole refuse the third series offered by Disney?

A．Because he didn’t like acting any more.

B．Because he wanted to get more education.

C．Because his manager asked him to stay in the lab.

D．Because his manager advised him to act in “Riverdale”.

3. What is the key to Cole’s success?

A．His work experience in the lab.

B．His previous work as a manager.

C．His wonderful skills in acting.

D．His experience as a serious actor.

4. Which is a suitable title for the text?

A．Cole Gave up Acting

B．Cole Was Begged to Act in “Riverdale”

C．Cole Told us How to succeed in Acting

D．Acting in “Riverdale” Led Cole to Success