1 . Pullman is a superb writer and Seagull is a brilliant communicator. They had a debate after Seagull posted a question on his social media platform: “When you were trying to create an environment for learning, what were your best pieces of classical music to listen to?” He received hundreds of suggestions — and one negative reply, from Pullman: “That’s not what classical music is for. Treat it with respect.”
That did it! Everyone — professional musicians, students, teachers — weighed into the argument, and the majority supported Seagull and were criticizing Pullman.
It’s easy to see why people are annoyed. We all want classical music to be as accessible as possible, especially to the young. If some of them are using Bach or Schubert as a tool to help them study, what’s the problem? They may also develop an attachment to classical music.
So is Pullman ridiculous and supercilious by objecting to classical music being used as background music? At first sight, his idea seems stuffy and extreme. By suggesting that classical music should be “treated with respect” and not used as background music, Pullman seems to be closing classical music of to millions of people.
It’s worth pointing out, however, that he isn’t the first to express concerns about classical music being devalued by becoming too commonplace in today’s technologically shaped world. In Benjamin Britten’s 1964 speech, the composer expressed exactly the same worries as Pullman. Britten suggested, “The true musical experience demands some preparation, some effort, a journey to a special place, saving up for a ticket, some homework perhaps”. In short, it demands as much effort from listeners as from composers and performers.
I don’t agree with such an extreme viewpoint, but I do think it touches on a reality. You will never fully grasp the beauty of classical music if you half-hear it only in the background. That doesn’t necessarily matter. Music can be enjoyed on many levels. What Pullman and Britten are really saying is that, in a drive for “accessibility”, we shouldn’t deny the emotional and intellectual complexity underpinning (构成) much classical music.
1. What did Seagull’s posting result in?A.Great admiration for Seagull. |
B.Public criticism of classical music. |
C.A discussion about learning environments. |
D.An argument over the role of classical music. |
A.Self-important. | B.Open-minded. | C.Impatient. | D.Considerate. |
A.To show his affection for classical music. |
B.To introduce young people to classical music. |
C.To demonstrate classical music is demanding. |
D.To support Pullman’s idea over classical music. |
A.Favorable. | B.Doubtful. | C.Objective. | D.Uninterested. |
1.自我介绍;2.询问活动相关信息;3.表达意愿。
注意:
1.词数80左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Alice,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
Recently, Ma Xiaohui, a famous Chinese erhu
Attendees from different backgrounds and participants in the World Madam Global Awards Ceremony were
The concert began
In the next three
“This beautiful and
4 . Highly emotional music causes networks in the brain to release dopamine. This brain chemical plays a role in feelings of pleasure. It also turns on the brain’s motor network that makes us want to move. That physical response to a strong beat can be used to help people with brain-related disorders, research has shown. It aids their ability to time their body’s movements, which can help them with speech issues or trouble moving around.
Olivia Brancatisano, a researcher at Bond University in Robina, Australia, studies music and aging. She found that music can offer a number of benefits, from movement and emotion to communication and thinking. That led her to find music-based therapies (治疗) that might aid people who struggle in these areas.
Older people who have dementia (痴呆) may struggle to remember things. But they did better on mental (精神的) tasks while listening to music they knew and enjoyed. The selected music had to be highly emotional and personal, Brancatisano notes, Listening brought back memories and improved their attention. Since then, she has developed the Music Mind and Movement program for people with dementia.
Music helps young people, too. International students in Australia took part in a recent study at the University of Queensland in St, Lucia. Students may often feel lonely while far from home. Those in the Tuned In program, however, learned to better manage their anxiety using music. They also got better at identifying their emotions. That helped them take action when they were struggling.
The benefits of music seem to cover people of all ages. “We use it to meet basic human needs and to improve our emotional states,” says Brancatisano, “Now, more than ever, we have the ability to engage in music in a variety of ways. We can use it as a tool in everyday life to energize and comfort us.”
1. What is the purpose of the Music Mind and Movement program?A.To help students keep their spirits up. |
B.To remind us to run as often as possible. |
C.To benefit old people with a mental illness. |
D.To show patients how to forget bad memories. |
A.They felt more anxious in class. | B.They tended to be less homesick. |
C.They worked together to write music. | D.They developed a popular music app. |
A.It’s a good practice to listen to music. |
B.We struggle to meet our basic needs. |
C.Music enables us to remain young. |
D.There are plentiful free songs online. |
A.Classical Music Is People’s Top Choice |
B.Happiness Is the Medicine of Daily Life |
C.Both Physical and Mental Health Matters |
D.Music Can Improve Our Overall Health |
1. Where are the speakers?
A.At a store. | B.In a classroom. | C.At the man’s home. |
A.Jazz music. | B.Rock music. | C.Country music. |
6 . In the 1970s, a new supermarket selling LPs arrived in my hometown and I began devoting my pocket money to acquiring records. I swiftly developed an affection for Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, harboring dreams of performing that music myself. Despite the absence of a piano at home, there was one at my grandmother’s care home, where I learned to play Beethoven by ear, with pigeons cooing and farmers working in the fields. It was truly magical.
Entering the Royal Academy of Arts at 16 marked the beginning of my artistic journey. In my 30s, I took another significant step in life — marriage. My wife worked at Elephants World, a reserve dedicated to the care of rescued domestic elephants. These elephants have worked for humans all their life and many are blind or disabled from being treated badly, so I wanted to make the effort to carry something heavy myself. For my 50th birthday, my wife successfully persuaded the manager to allow us to bring a piano into the reserve, bringing music to the elephants’ lives.
Initially, when I started playing, it was hard to hear the piano above the sounds of nature and the elephants chewing grass. However, everything changed when a blind elephant ceased eating and tuned into my playing. It struck me that this elephant, trapped in a world of darkness, had a profound love for music. From that moment on, there was no longer any concern about disturbing their peace. We occasionally film these performances, and now, we proudly have nearly 700,000 YouTube subscribers.
I continue to play for these elephants that run freely in the reserve, despite the constant potential danger. Surprisingly, it’s the moody male elephants who show the most fascination with the music. I firmly believe it has a calming effect. These elephants’ breathing actually slows down when I play, which tells me they are relaxed and happy. I’ve even witnessed elephants seemingly dancing to Beethoven’s tunes. With their exceptional hearing and the ability to sense vibrations (震动) through their feet, I am convinced that elephants grasp the language of human expression. This serves as a powerful illustration that music serves as a universal language, connecting us all.
1. What motivated the author’s early affection for music?A.Exposure to Beethoven’s music. |
B.Employment at Elephants World. |
C.Attendance at the Royal Academy of Arts. |
D.Piano teaching at his grandma’s care home. |
A.Personal achievements in music. |
B.A combination of music and care. |
C.Successful fundraising for the reserve. |
D.Recognition for the author’s artistic journey. |
A.Emotional recovery. | B.Physical exercise. |
C.Financial support. | D.Artistic expression. |
A.Save the Mistreated Elephants |
B.Male Elephants: Moody and Musical |
C.Play the Piano for Rescued Elephants |
D.Elephants: Animals of Sharp Hearing |
7 . 听下面一段独白,回答以下小题。
1. Why is the exhibition held?A.To promote a radio program. |
B.To celebrate a radio station. |
C.To remember a ship owner. |
A.It closed down in 1968. |
B.It was popular with the old. |
C.It was legally based on a ship. |
A.Listen to music in the past. |
B.Read letters for The Beatles. |
C.Interview DJs of Radio Caroline. |
A.For six hours. |
B.For eight hours. |
C.For ten hours. |
8 . Four unique European music traditions that are protected by UNESCO
Inuit drum dancing, Greenland
In 2021, UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) recognised Greenland’s Inuit drum dancing and singing as an intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) of humanity. The drum dance typical of the tradition can be performed by one dancer alone or accompanied by a group of people singing songs about love, humour and hunting.
Uilleann piping, Ireland
Uilleann piping was included in the UNESCO’s list in 2017. It involves playing Irish music on a particular type of bagpipe (风笛) known as the “uilleann”. It is a highly developed and complex instrument, with some functions that cannot be found elsewhere. It often accompanies music played at weddings and parties, and it’s been passed on through several generations of Irish musicians.
Kaustinen folk music, Finland
In 2019, UNESCO added to its list Finland’s Kaustinen folk music, a tradition where the violin, with or without accompanying instruments, is played by ear. The style is characterised by rhythms or accents that make it easy to dance to. The 250-year-old tradition is played during wedding parties, public concerts and at music festivals in the small village of Kaustinen.
Fado, Portugal
Fado music, which originated in Portugal in the early 19th century, is now a symbol of Portuguese culture and tradition. It combines poetry and music to create a sometimes sorrowful, and always passionate melody, usually performed by a solo singer accompanied by guitars. It was included in the UNESCO’s list in2011.
1. What is a feature of the uilleann?A.It is easy to play. | B.It is played by ear. |
C.It is highly developed. | D.Its functions are common. |
A.Fado. | B.Uilleann piping. | C.Inuit drum dancing. | D.Kaustinen folk music. |
A.An instrument ad. | B.A culture website. |
C.A history textbook. | D.A music festival poster. |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
A.Buying a mobile phone. | B.Winning a prize. | C.Joining a singing contest. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Confident. | C.Indifferent. |
A.Schoolmates. | B.Colleagues. | C.Roommates. |
1. Who invited the man to the party?
A.His cousin. | B.The woman. | C.His classmate. |
A.Boring. | B.Beautiful. | C.Noisy. |
A.Leave the party. | B.Go tree climbing. | C.Go on chatting. |