1 . Had she been a singer, she might have been an American star. But Clora Bryant played the trumpet, and reputation came slowly. Bryant, a barrier breaker who stood firm in her determination to be a respected jazz trumpet player despite the open sexism (性别歧视) that shadowed her, died on August 25, in 2019, in Los Angeles, when she was 92. Life as a jazz trumpeter was an uphill battle, said her son Darrin. “It was a man’s world, and that made it hard for her. But that only fueled her fire, and made her more resolved.”

Bryant played the trumpet with such passion and she became a mainstay in the growing jazz scene in the 1940s. Dizzy Gillespie once told Times jazz critic Leonard Feather that Bryant was the most underrated (低估) trumpet player in L.A.

But by 1992, she was living on Social Security, staying at a son’s Long Beach, in California, apartment, and two of her trumpets were in the pawnshop (典当铺). “A lot of clubs have closed.” she told the Times. “And how many female trumpet players do you see working?”

Bryant and her brothers were raised by their father, a patient man who encouraged his children to think big. She wanted to be in the high school marching band, but Charles Bryant warned his daughter she’d likely face resistance. “But anything you want to do, I’m behind you,” she recalled. It was her father who encouraged her to do whatever she wanted to do that made her stronger and stronger.

1. What does the underlined word “resolved” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Adventurous.

B．Unique.

C．Emotional.

D．Determined.

2. Why is “Social Security” mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To show people’s acts of kindness.

B．To prove Bryant’s struggle through life.

C．To explain how Bryant earned his living.

D．To stress the importance of the pawnshop.

3. What’s the key reason for Bryant’s being underrated?

A．The open sexism from society.

B．The poor family background.

C．The terrible financial situation.

D．The mental pressure from colleagues.

4. What played an important role for Bryant to stick to her dream?

A．Her son’s support.	B．Her brothers’ company.
C．Her strict family education.	D．Her father’s encouragement.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内的单词的正确形式。

Yu Rong, a Chinese artist, thinks of a new way to introduce     1     ancient story of Hua Mulan in her picture book. In the book, I Am Hua Mulan, she tells the story by     2     (combine) paper-cutting with international artistic styles. She places Shaanxi paper-cuts over western-style pencil sketches (素描)     3     (create) a typical presentation of Chinese elements (元素), which turns out to be a     4     (success) and impressive breakthrough.

Hua Mulan,     5     story has been told by generations in China, is a fighter from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). As a devoted daughter, she dressed herself as a man to serve in the army     6     place of her father. Mulan’s characteristics, such as courage, kindness and a disinterested attitude toward fame and fortune, made     7     (she) one of the most respected historical Chinese heroics. Mulan’s story has been adapted     8     (frequent) in modern media, including TV shows, video games and literature. For example, in 1998, Disney produced a film named Mulan, which     9     (consider) a great success by critics and the public.

To better tell the story, Yu Rong takes inspiration from her several     10     (visit)to sites of ancient battles and Henan Province’s Yuju Opera. After years of preparation she finally made this extraordinary work.

3 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Germany     1     1770. He started his musical training when he was five years old, and his teachers     2     (work) him so hard that he often cried.

He started writing music when he was nineteen, and two years later he moved to Vienna     3     (study) music and perform. Beethoven first became famous as a pianist. However, by 1800, his musical works had become very popular,     4     he was thought of by many as the most important composer of his generation. During this same period, he     5     (slow) became deaf, but he could still write music because he could hear music in his head. Most of the     6     (great) musical works of his were completed after he became deaf. In the later part of his life, he had many health and money     7     (problem). He was also lonely because the woman     8     he loved and wanted to marry had left     9     (he). His friends tried to help him through his dark times, but his life became marked by sadness. He died after     10     (suffer)from a long illness in 1827.

4 . 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。

Many artists draw with pens and brushes, but few “paint” with knives. Wang Jing, a woman from China, has been engaged     1    this novel art form for 27 years. In 1995, Wang believed that she may have created something out of     2     ordinary when inspired by an accidental cut by a knife on a piece of red paper, which left a white line.     3     (use) knives and paper, she then completed a painting of a pair of peacocks that later became a source of motivation for her 27-year effort.

Unlike traditional paintings, onto    4     colors are “added”, “knife painting” uses blades to take away colors on specially made coated paper. “Knife painters” apply varied pressure on the paper in different directions    5     (create) different colors and tones. The novel art form was known to few people just     6    Wang created it. Even Wang herself was not expecting to make it something big at the beginning. But    7    (thank) to her huge enthusiasm for the art form, she has persisted with it for the past 27 years. “Painting on paper with knives    8     a delicate art and each line in the painting is as thin as a hair, ” said Wang, adding that once the marks are left on the paper, they cannot    9    (cover), so it requires the painter to be    10     (complete) absorbed in the work.

8 . 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。

Charlie Chaplin, who was born in a poor family, showed an     1     (astonish) talent as a     2     (perform) as soon as he could walk. Unfortunately, his father died young,     3     (leave) his family even     4     (badly) off. In his teens, he could act the fool doing ordinary everyday tasks. No one was ever     5     (bore)watching him. Later on, Chaplin directed, produced and     6     (star) in a series of funny movies,     7     made people laugh at a time when they felt depressed, so they could feel more content     8     their lives. The little tramp, who was a     9     (home) man with a moustache, large trousers, worn-out shoes and a small round black hat, was one of     10     most outstanding parts he had ever played.

10 . Later this month, Tate Britain will host its first Van Gogh exhibition since 1947. Here we’ve collected 4 of his best paintings before the show.

Potato Eaters

Potato Eaters was Van Gogh’s first major work and, despite a distinct lack of colour, it was one that he was most proud of. His aim was to represent the difficulties of country life, so the farmers are painted in earthy tones with rough faces and bony hands. He was more concerned with conveying his message than achieving technical perfection in this painting.

Irises

Van Gogh finished almost 142 pieces during his stay in the Saint Remy de Provence asylum (精神病院), where he was a voluntary patient from 1889 to 1890. This piece was started shortly after he arrived there. The hospital garden provided much inspiration for the artist during his stay there. Originally, the flowers in this work were painted purple but the red pigment (色素) faded over time and has now turned blue.

Cafe Terrace at Night

Despite being painted more than 130 years ago, this cafe still exists in France and has since been renamed the Cafe Van Gogh. This artwork marks the first time Van Gogh’s famous post-impressionistic star-filled sky was seen in a piece, and it was painted on the ground, in person, rather than from memory. While the artwork doesn’t bear his signature (签名), it’s widely known to be Van Gogh’s, as he mentioned Cafe Terrace at Night in a number of his letters.

Wheat Field With Cypresses

This piece was inspired by the view from Van Gogh’s asylum window and was finished on the spot. The work was the title of three paintings that offer an insight into his stay at the hospital. Van Gogh was so pleased with the summer landscape that he made three copies there, one of the same size — which hangs in the National Gallery and two smaller copies which he planned to gift to his mother and sister.

1. Which of the mentioned paintings will Van Gogh probably love best?

A．Potato Eaters.	B．Irises.
C．Cafe Terrace at Night.	D．Wheat Field With Cypresses.

2. What’s the original color of flowers in Irises?

A．Blue.

B．Red.

C．Purple.

D．Green.

3. Where is Wheat Field With Cypresses now?

A．In England.	B．In France.
C．In the asylum.	D．In the memorial museum.