1 . Before James Blunt became a musician, he served in the army. He spent four and a half years there, with six months in Kosovo as part of the peacekeeping force. Before leaving the army, Blunt had decided to achieve his dream of becoming a musician. In 2003, he was discovered by a music producer Linda Perry who signed him to her Custard label. However, the road to success never runs smoothly. It seemed that he would become another struggling singer trying to live from hand to mouth (现挣现吃地) when his first two singles failed to make an impact on the British charts. But everything changed when his third single You’re Beautiful made it all the way to No.1 on the UK singles charts, and remained there for five weeks. The album (专辑) Back to Bedlam soon followed and quickly became one of the biggest selling records of the year, remaining ten continual weeks at No. 1. Since then, he has sold more than three million records, making him the first British artist to top the American singles charts in nearly a decade.
Blunt, 34, a throwback (返祖者)to the 1970s soft rock golden age, has been quoted by Western media as saying that he will never get used to people screaming at him in the street.
His success proves a lasting theory: You spend years chasing the right song. Then, if you’re lucky, and if the song really takes off, you spend the rest of your life trying to escape it, or learning to live with it. A few years removed from You’re Beautiful, he can still fill stages worldwide with fans who stay until the end.
1. Which of the following can describe James Blunt’s life as a musician before he sang the song You’re Beautiful?| A．Difficult. | B．Happy. | C．Boring. | D．Smooth. |
| A．Blunt will never adjust himself to the noisy environment around. |
| B．The popularity of Blunt has been gaining him an increasing number of fans out of his expectation. |
| C．What Blunt sings disturbs people so much that they yell to him their anger. |
| D．People in the street are rude civilians who are against any form of entertaining, including Blunt’s songs. |
| A．Blunt is wellknown in the world for his talent |
| B．Blunt’s fame as a musician came easily |
| C．Blunt wasn’t lucky enough to win his fans’ support |
| D．Blunt has to face the inconvenience his fame has caused |
2 . Miles was born in Alton, a city on the Mississippi River in Illinois on May 26,1926. Miles’s father was a dentist, while his mother was a music teacher. Miles had a good childhood, catching fish and riding horses with his older sister and younger brother. He was known as a naughty boy in school.
He recalls his story, “By the age of 12, music had become the most important thing in my life.” His mother, a violinist herself, dearly wanted her son to play the violin. But brass(铜管乐器) was Miles’s calling, and he remembers arguments between their parents as his dad overruled his mom to fight his son’s corner. He received his first trumpet(喇叭) in 1935 and began weekly music lessons with his father’s friend Mr Elwood, his lifelong teacher.
Talking about his schooldays, Miles said that Mr Buchanan was the biggest influence on his life. He was the person who took Miles all the way into music at that time. He wanted to be a musician that he had dreamed.
When he was 16, Miles met his girlfriend,Irene Birth.Although she was a beautiful young woman in many ways,it was her easy-going character that attracted Miles. At the weekends,Miles and Irene would take the bus over the Mississippi River to St Louis to watch movies and go dancing. Although Miles was too shy to really enjoy dancing, he always felt confident when he danced with Irene.
When he turned 17, she persuaded him to ask for a job in his band. It worked. Joining the band was a breakthrough for Miles, and marked the time when he first began to write and arrange music.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?| A．Miles had no schooling in his childhood. |
| B．Miles had a comfortable family. |
| C．Miles’s parents were strict with him. |
| D．Miles caught fish for meals. |
| A．Help Mother to beat Miles. |
| B．Hit Miles in the corner. |
| C．Defend Miles’s choice. |
| D．Prevent Miles from choosing music. |
| A．His father. | B．His mother. |
| C．Mr Elwood. | D．Mr Buchanan. |
3 . Every year in May, art galleries and museums prepare shows to honour Leonardo da Vinci, who died in France on May 2, 1519. He is remembered as one of the greatest artists and the most creative thinkers of all time. His most famous paintings are Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
Recently, researchers have been studying a painting-Landscupe 8P, which they think is Leonardo’s earliest-known artwork. They used special lighting to study the artwork and discovered there were two images(图像), not one. One drawing is on the back of the piece, which dates back to August 5,1473.
The drawing on the front was painted when Leonardo was 21 years old. It shows a river valley and a castle outside the city of Florence. There is little left of the drawing on the back, perhaps because it was wiped off. Only a bridge over a river can be seen. But there is writing on both sides.
The writing on the front gives the date and goes from right to left. Some people would call this “mirror writing”. It’s a way Leonardo often wrote in his notebooks. The writing on the back goes from left to right and tells an agreement, probably to produce a work of art.
Cecilia Frosinini is an art historian. She said, “By looking at his writing, including that from this drawing, we can see his right-handed handwriting is educated and well done.”
Experts compared the two handwriting samples(样本)and said they were both made by Leonardo. They show he could write well using his left hand or his right hand.
The drawing is known as Landscape 8P from its number in an art list. It is part of an exhibit at Italy’s Uffizi Gallery. The gallery-director, Eike Schmidt, said by studying the drawing researchers gave us a new way of looking at Leonardo’s drawing technique and his abilities in writing.
1. Which of the following mentioned in the text has been studied by researchers recently?| A．Mona Lisa. | B．Landscape 8P. |
| C．Mirror-writing. | D．The Last Supper. |
| A．A statement about the painting. |
| B．An introduction about Leonardo. |
| C．An agreement to produce a painting. |
| D．Something about the city of Florence. |
| A．He could write with either of his hands. |
| B．He did badly in right-handed handwriting. |
| C．He wasn’t good at writing with his left hand. |
| D．He taught himself to write with his right hand. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Indifferent. | C．Doubtful. | D．Positive. |
4 . From a woodworker to a great artist — this was the course of Qi Baishi’s life. He achieved success by coupling talent with hard work. In 1953, he was honoured with the title “People’s Artist” by the Chinese government.
Qi Baishi’s works of shrimps, crabs and fish have always been on display. For most of the general public, however, his masterpieces are his paintings of shrimps. At the beginning, he painted these small animals by following ancient models. Later, he developed a personal style by using shades of ink to show a shrimp’s body, giving it an almost real-life feel. Besides, some of his paintings are flowers and vegetables, which are famous as well. People love these nature-based paintings because the works remind them of the countryside and of their hometowns. The dove is another common image in Qi’s art during his later years, showing his wish for world peace.
Whether they are landscapes, birds, flowers or figures, Qi’s paintings are rich in expression and detail. Using heavy ink, bright colors and energetic strokes (用笔), he created works in a fresh and lively manner, expressing his love of nature and life. His art reflected an international trend in modern art at the time, yet he expressed it in a typical Chinese way.
Qi was hard-working even in his 70s. He kept pursuing higher goals, especially as he got older. While many other Chinese artists retired from public life at an old age, Qi actively took on more social responsibilities. He said, “I love my hometown, my country and all the lives there. In recent years, I have realized that what I run after is world peace.”
1. Why are Qi Baishi’s nature-based paintings popular?| A．They lift people’s spirits. | B．They touch people’s feelings. |
| C．They inspire people’s passions. | D．They reflect people’s wishes. |
| A．His influence. | B．His painting style. | C．His masterpieces. | D．His painting subjects. |
| A．He involved the youth in art. | B．He earned international reputation. |
| C．He popularized Chinese paintings. | D．He shouldered more social responsibilities. |
| A．Intelligent and generous. | B．Passionate and confident. |
| C．Realistic and professional. | D．Outstanding and admirable. |
5 . Benjamin West, one of the leaders of American painting, showed his talent for art when he was only six years of age. But he did not know about brushes before a visitor told him he needed one. In those days, a brush was made from camel’s hair. There were no such animals nearby. Benjamin decided that cat hair would work instead. He cut some fur from the family cat to make a brush.
The brush did not last long. Soon Benjamin needed more fur. Before long, the cat began to look ragged (皮毛蓬乱的). His father said that the cat must be sick. Benjamin was forced to admit what he had been doing.
The cat’s lot was about to improve. That year, one of Benjamin’s cousins, Mr. Pennington, came to visit. He was impressed with Benjamin’s drawings. When he went home, he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes. He also sent six engravings (版画) by an artist. These were the first pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had ever seen.
In 1747, when Benjamin was nine years old, Mr. Pennington returned for another visit. He was amazed at what Benjamin had done with his gift. He asked Benjamin’s parents if he might take the boy back to Philadelphia for a visit.
In the city, Mr. Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings. The boy began a landscape (风景) painting. William Williams, a well-known painter, came to see him work. Williams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home. The books were long and dull. Benjamin could read only a little, having been a poor student. But he later said, “Those two books were my companions by day, and under my pillow at night.” While it is likely that he understood very little of the books, they were his introduction to classical paintings. The nine-year-old boy made up his mind then that he would be an artist.
1. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 suggest?| A．The cat would be closely watched. |
| B．The cat would get some medical care. |
| C．Benjamin would leave his home shortly. |
| D．Benjamin would have real brushes soon. |
| A．He took him to see painting exhibitions. |
| B．He provided him with painting materials. |
| C．He sent him to a school in Philadelphia. |
| D．He taught him how to make engravings. |
| A．Because they helped him master the use of paints. |
| B．Because they helped him appreciate landscape paintings. |
| C．Because they helped him get to know other painters. |
| D．Because they helped him make up his mind to be a painter. |
| A．Benjamin’s visit to Philadelphia. |
| B．Williams’ influence on Benjamin. |
| C．The beginning of Benjamin’s life as an artist. |
| D．The friendship between Benjamin and Pennington. |
6 . In the 17th century, the Netherlands experienced a period of artistic prosperity known as the Dutch Golden Age. During this period, artists found inspiration in Northern Renaissance painting techniques, contributing to masterpieces like Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer. Known as the “Mona Lisa of the North”,this painting represents the best of Dutch art and it has become one of art history’s most beloved paintings.
Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer is famous for his paintings of contemporary Delft, a city in Holland where the artist was born, lived and died. Girl with a Pearl Earring is Vermeer’s most well-known work of art. However, it did not attain international fame at its time of completion. That came about at the end of the 20th century, when it was featured in a special exhibition in Washington, D. C.
Girl with a Pearl Earring does not show a specific person. Instead, it shows an unknown girl dressed in grand clothing who, “like a vision coming from the darkness,” art historian Arthur K. Wheelock explained in the Johannes Vermeer catalogue, “belongs to no specific time or place.”
Vermeer is known for his ability to create shapes and forms using light rather than line. This characteristic approach to modeling is particularly evident in Girl with a Pearl Earring. First, he would “invent”, or create an initial drawing on the canvas. Then, he made a single colored underpainting. Next, he added color. And, finally, in order to make the piece extraordinarily bright, he would apply a thin layer of glaze to certain parts of the painting.
In addition to its fascinating context and appealing beauty, the piece is celebrated for the mystery that surrounds it. “When you think about the Mona Lisa, she is also looking at us, but she isn’t engaging — she’s sitting back in the painting, self-contained,” Tracy Chevalier, the author of the New York Times bestselling historical novel, Girl with a Pearl Earring, points out. “While Girl with a Pearl Earring is right there — there is nothing between her and us. She has this magical quality of being incredibly open and yet mysterious at the same time—and that is what makes her so appealing.”
1. What inspired the creation of Girl with a Pearl Earring?| A．Previous artists’ skills. | B．The appearance of the girl. |
| C．Vermeer’s international fame. | D．Encouragement from other artists. |
| A．It is set in the artist’s birthplace. | B．It makes the artist famous overnight. |
| C．It describes a particular and exact girl. | D．It is regarded as a match for Mona Lisa. |
| A．To introduce the subject of the painting. | B．To show techniques used in the painting. |
| C．To explain the artistic value of the painting. | D．To uncover the mystery behind the painting. |
| A．By citing a theory. | B．By giving a definition. |
| C．By offering an example. | D．By making a comparison. |
7 . One of the most popular American singers of the twentieth century was Elvis Presley. He made the rock ”n” roll music popular all over the world, He sold millions of records and made many successful films, and he helped change the direction of popular music in the 1960s.
Elvis Presley was born in a poor family in 1935, His parents were simple country people who often took him to church, where he learned to sing, and he never forgot the kind of songs that he used to sing in church as a child.
When he was young, Elvis moved from Toledo to Memphis in Tennessee, where he attended high school, but he was not a good student, His only real interest was singing. He began to sing in the style that is called “country and western”.
In 1955 he recorded some songs for his mother’s birthday. The people at the recording studio liked his singing and his music. It was country and western music, but it also sounded a little like the music which black people used to sing in the American South. It was called “blues”.
Shortly after that, Elvis met Tom Parker, who became his manager and arranged (安排) concerts for him across the United States and new recordings as well. Soon Elvis became famous around the country. Later Elvis went to Hollywood and began to appear in films such as Love Me Tender and King Creole.
But Elvis found it difficult to live with success. Like many other famous people, He began to take drugs and his health started to suffer. When he died at an early age of 42 in 1977,his many millions of fans were shocked, “The King Is Dead!” the newspaper said, But today his memory and his music live on and will always be remembered as the King of Rock “n” roll.
1. From the passage, we can see________________.| A．the church songs didn’t help Elvis develop his own style |
| B．Elvis forgot his church music at a later age |
| C．Elvis didn’t get any help from his parents |
| D．the church songs helped Elvis’ development in his singing |
| A．A manager of a bank | B．A famous singer |
| C．Elvis’ manager | D．Elvis’ best friend since childhood |
| A．His singing too much | B．His taking the drugs |
| C．His parent’s death | D．Tom Parker’s help |
| A．Only country and western |
| B．Only country and blues |
| C．Both western and church music |
| D．Not only country and western but also a bit “blues” |
8 . Lao-tzu and Confucius were China’s most famous philosophers.
According to Taoism, the entire universe flows with a mysterious force called the Tao, which means “The Way”.
Born in 551 BC, Confucius wandered throughout China as a government employee and a political adviser to the ruling Chou family.
Taoism and Confucianism have differences and similarities. Confucianism tells people how to act toward each other. Taoism tells people how to find meaning in life. They both share ideas about man, society, and the universe. Both Taoism and Confucianism have served as guides.
| A．Good thinking lasts a long time! |
| B．Their sayings are still used today. |
| C．Lao-tzu may not even have existed. |
| D．He was also a musician, thinker, and teacher. |
| E．The name Lao-tzu means “Old Master” or “Old Boy”. |
| F．They have led China through the peaks and valleys of its long history. |
| G．Taoists believe that everything might seem separate, but is actually one. |
