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. |
2 . A music festival is a community event focusing on live performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme. On the list are the music festivals for fans around the world. Find your favorite now!
Field Day
January 1, 2023, Sydney
Field Day means New Year’s Day for young people in Sydney. Seen as the city’s original multi-stage party, it’s a gathering of friends coming together for a great fun-filled first day of the year. There’s an air of hope and positive energy on a perfect summer’s day.
The Envision Festival
February 27—March 6, 2023, Uvita
The Envision Festival is an annual gathering in Costa Rica that aims to provide an opportunity for different cultures to work with one another to create a better community. The festival encourages people to practice art, music, dance performances, and education. Meanwhile, our connection with nature is expected to be strengthened.
The McDowell Mountain Music Festival
March 2—4, 2023, Phoenix
The McDowell Mountain Music Festival is Phoenix’s musical celebration of community culture. Since its foundation in 2004, it has been the only 100% non-profit music festival designed to support, entertain and educate the community. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year from around the country, and it is an opportunity to experience true culture.
The Old Settler’s Music Festival
April 20—23, 2023, Dale
The Old Settler’s Music Festival is a nationally known music festival for American music. The festival is held in the country of Texas at the height of the wild flower season. The Old Settler’s Music Festival offers great music and activities for the whole family.
1. In which city can people enjoy a fun New Year’s Day?| A．Phoenix. | B．Uvita. | C．Sydney. | D．Dale. |
| A．It encourages people to receive education. | B．It is not aimed at making money. |
| C．It provides an opportunity for friend gathering. | D．It focuses on cultural exchanges. |
| A．Field Day and the Envision Festival. |
| B．The Envision Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. |
| C．The Old Settler’s Music Festival and the McDowell Mountain Music Festival. |
| D．The Envision Festival and the Old Settler’s Music Festival. |
3 . My parents always told me that I couldn’t dance, because it was a girl’s sport. But I never gave up my dream of becoming a dancer, I practised secretly, learning from books, movies, and shows. However, without my parents’ support, that
One summer, my little sister Maggie was going to dance lessons. I immediately asked my parents for permission(允许) to take her to the lessons. What a
One afternoon, I was
“What’s the matter, Maggie?” I stopped
“Denis, you are a great dancer! Can you help me?”
“What is it?” I wondered.
“There’ll be a dancing performance in my school,
“You can be a good dancer!” I
In the following months, we practised every evening,
Finally came the big day. I became
My heart was beating wildly when I saw my father coming towards me. He put his hand on my shoulder. “Well done, son. Though it is hard for me to
I’d been waiting for this moment for so long. I knew that the road ahead wasn’t going to be easy, but I wouldn’t
| A．line | B．dream | C．answer | D．message |
| A．similar | B．funny | C．good | D．strange |
| A．playing | B．struggling | C．achieving | D．practising |
| A．drawing | B．dancing | C．singing | D．writing |
| A．but | B．or | C．so | D．if |
| A．happily | B．anxiously | C．slowly | D．angrily |
| A．asked | B．believed | C．encouraged | D．informed |
| A．sad | B．lazy | C．sorry | D．wrong |
| A．chatting | B．resting | C．sleeping | D．hiding |
| A．shy | B．bored | C．nervous | D．angry |
| A．music | B．lesson | C．meeting | D．party |
| A．arrived | B．finished | C．succeeded | D．regretted |
| A．admit | B．catch | C．cause | D．agree |
| A．took away | B．paid for | C．fell into | D．belonged to |
| A．give up | B．give in | C．give out | D．give away |
At noon that day, I drove back to my house after the performance. Just as I entered the living room, I heard a gentle sound coming from the bedroom upstairs — it was the sound of my favorite violin.
“Thief!”
I rushed upstairs. Sure enough, as expected, a boy of about 11 years old was petting my violin. The boy had messy hair and a thin face, his over-sized coat seemingly filled with something. At first glance, I found a new pair of shoes missing. It seemed that he was surely a thief.
Then, I saw his eyes full of fear and despair. My anger was immediately replaced by a smile. I asked, “Are you Mr. Tom’s nephew, Michael? I’m his housekeeper. Two days ago, I heard his nephew living in the countryside will come. It must be you. You’re really like him!”
On hearing my words, the boy was first astonished, but then quickly said, “Has my uncle gone out? I think I’d better first go out for a walk and visit him again in a little while.”
I nodded and asked the boy who was preparing to put down the violin, “Do you like to play the violin so much?”
“Yes, but I’m so poor that I can’t afford it.” the boy replied.
“Then, I can give this violin to you.” The boy looked at me questioningly, but he picked up the violin.
Going out to the living room, he suddenly saw on the wall my huge color photo in which I performed in the Sydney Opera House. He involuntarily trembled for a moment and ran out without looking back.
I was sure that the boy had understood what happened, because no one would decorate the living room with the housekeeper’s photo.
A few years later, I was invited to be a judge at a music competition of senior high school students. Fascinated by the gentle sound of one participant, I was wholeheartedly impressed by his wonderful performance and solid strength. As I flicked my eyes up to glance at the performer, I was so astonished to see a thin face, so familiar, yet now lit up with joy and confidence. The “thief”! For an instant, I was amazed that the kindness I offered to cover the boy’s misconduct would make such a big difference!
注意：1.续写词数应为 80 词左右；2.请按如下格式在以下位置作答。
After the competition, “Michael” ran to me, holding a violin box.
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5 . Music has universal power. It helps people from all walks of life find their creative
Mike Ball, the founder of Lost Voices, first
As a writer and music enthusiast, Ball recognized the potential of songwriting as a
Lost Voices conducts week-long programs, sending musicians into residential treatment facilities to
Through the
| A．gestures | B．expressions | C．thoughts | D．talents |
| A．rewards | B．entertains | C．provides | D．challenges |
| A．Meanwhile | B．Otherwise | C．Instead | D．However |
| A．greeted | B．invited | C．introduced | D．encountered |
| A．writing | B．singing | C．teaching | D．recording |
| A．misunderstood | B．criticized | C．changed | D．unheard |
| A．familiar | B．positive | C．loving | D．humorous |
| A．recommendation | B．judgment | C．realization | D．creativity |
| A．frightening | B．smooth | C．plain | D．significant |
| A．engage | B．play | C．debate | D．act |
| A．watch | B．assist | C．forbid | D．command |
| A．experience | B．devotion | C．motivation | D．adventure |
| A．challenging | B．limited | C．joint | D．tiring |
| A．wealth | B．struggle | C．hope | D．peace |
| A．want | B．wait | C．remain | D．deserve |
6 . Top 4 Music Festivals in 2023
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Originally focused on jam bands and folk rock, this festival has expanded to include rock and roll. Once praised by Rolling Stone magazine as being amongst the “50 Moments That Changed Rock &. Roll”,Bonnaroo has firmly strengthened its place as one of the most influential festivals in North America.
When & where: June 15-18, 2023;Great Stage Park, Tennessee
Rolling Loud Festival
In only a few short years Rolling Loud shot up to become the king of all hip hop festival series. With editions held in New York, LA, the Bay Area, Australia, Toronto, the Netherlands, Portugal and of course its flagship in Miami, the festival is by far the biggest festival to hip hop.
When &. where: July 21-23,2023;Miami, Florida
Stagecoach Festival
Stagecoach is the Coachella of country music in every way. The lineup(阵容)is one of the most hotly anticipated in the country and annually features the biggest names in modern country music, you’re likely to spot some celebrities onsite.
When & where: April 28-30,2023;Indio,California
Ⅲ Points
As one of the country’s leading boutique(精品店)festivals,Ⅲ Points has been raising the bar in terms of giving creativiy a platform since 2013.Firmly base on electronic music, the festival also showcases the best from hip hop and rock with only one criteria to make it on the bill: your music has to be good.
When & where: October 20-21,2023; Miami, Florida
1. Where should visitors go if they want to enjoy country music?
| A．Tennessee. | B．Florida. | C．California. | D．Delaware. |
| A．Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. | B．Rolling Loud Festival. |
| C．Stagecoach Festival. | D．III Points. |
| A．They both have the same criteria. | B．They both feature rock. |
| C．They both perform electronically. | D．They both play hip hop. |
7 . Music is present in any part of the world, and it is appreciated and felt everywhere. Without its presence, life could be boring. Studies show that music is good for your body and mind.
Music can increase pain management. Listening to music can help increase your pain tolerance (耐痛性).
●
●Music can reduce anxiety and depression
●Music can improve self-expression and communication. Self-expression and communication are an important part of the human experience, especially when it comes to basic emotional and mental health needs.
| A．Music can improve heart health. |
| B．Music can increase your heartbeat rate. |
| C．Here are some benefits of music treatment. |
| D．They are two common pains in your daily life. |
| E．It has been proved to be helpful for anxious and depressed people. |
| F．Listening to music can also help decrease the strength of your pains. |
| G．For kids weak in both areas, music treatment can help develop their relative skills. |
We call Talent Show the biggest stage in our country. I stood on that huge stage, with my throat dry. As I stared at the audience, I knew this moment could change my life forever. When judges asked my name and I tried to speak,nothing came out. The crowd fell silent, waiting for the words to come. Finally I stuttered(结巴地说) my name and my age. “As you can tell,” I said, “I have a speech disorder…”
I’d love to sing and had already signed up for the school talent show in fourth grade when I started stuttering.Fortunately, most of the kids at my school were kind, and I was rarely made fun of. I tried speech therapy too, but it didn’t help. I feared to sing in the school talent show. Therefore, I decided to practice at home. To my surprise, the words came smoothly when I sang. And then I decided to learn to play the guitar, which was given as a birthday gift by my father.
One afternoon, I walked into the basement, where I kept my musical equipment. My eyes lit on the guitar. I picked it up and started playing. I opened my mouth, and the words came flooding out. Then I wrote a song called I Will Trust,telling the pain IP’d experienced. The next day, I filmed a video of performing the song and posted it online. Hundreds of strangers left comments that I had uplifted them with my music. Ever since, I’ve been writing songs.
Last year, I started college and majored in music production. When I saw Talent Show audition(试唱)announcement pop up on my computer, I wanted to have a try. Several months later, I was standing on that stage, trying to calm my nerves as I introduced myself, “I have a speech impediment.” I said, “It was definitely something that caused me to…” I took a long pause to find the words. “…to hide. But I found that I don’t stutter when I sing.”
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then I began to sing a new song I’d just written.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My performance on Talent Show had a deep influence on me.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9 . The arts, especially music, should be part of every school’s lessons at every grade level. Students would be much smarter if they had some musical experience. They could improve their classroom skills, like paying attention and following directions. People develop all these skills when they learn music. Making music also lets children use their imagination. It provides students with a chance to try out their own ideas.
Music not only makes children better students, but also gives them something positive to do. In a music programme, children can be part of a band instead of joining a gang (团伙). Parents can enjoy listening to their children’s music instead of seeing them glued to a computer or TV screen. In a school band, students get to be part of a team. They can get along well with old friends and make new friends through music.
Music builds self-confidence, too. It gives children a sense of achievement and success. Making music is something for them to be proud of, and it lets kids practise performing in front of the audience. Music gives children an opportunity for self-expression, and that helps develop their self-confidence.
Once again, music is important because it can make children better students, give them something positive to do, and build their character. That is why music lessons should be offered in every single grade in every school.
1. According to the passage, music could make students smarter by________.| A．improving their classroom skills and paying attention |
| B．improving their classroom skills and imagination |
| C．improving their attention and imagination |
| D．letting them make music and try out their own ideas |
| A．Unwilling to turn on. |
| B．Always looking at. |
| C．Unwilling to move. |
| D．Always playing with. |
| A．make children express themselves |
| B．bring children success |
| C．give children something to be proud of |
| D．develop children’s self-confidence |
| A．Music Is a Must as a Course at School |
| B．Music Builds Children’s Self-confidence |
| C．Music Makes Students Much Smarter |
| D．Learning Music and Making Music Build Children’s Character |
10 . Some Music Festivals
Pitchfork Music Festival
Anyone who adores indie(独立的) music and upandcoming artists will have an amazing time at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park. This is a wonderful festival that explores more underground and lessknown bands than the other big Chicago summer festival, Lollapalooza.
Date: July 14－16
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Music Type: Indie
Price: $75－$365
Essence Music Festival
No matter what time of the year it is, New Orleans is an incredible place to be if you love live music. The Essence Music Festival is a celebration of great artists like Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, and Mary J. Blige.
Date: June 29－July 2
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Music Type: R & B, soul
Price: $126－$2, 700
Sziget Festival
Budapest knows how to organize a party, and Sziget is one of the biggest celebrations of music and culture in all of Europe. You can expect to watch favorite artists like Bad Religion and Mac DeMarco appearing on the stages here during this sevenday festival.
Date: August 9－15
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Music Type: Eclectic, indie, rock
Price: $70－$96
Flow Festival
The Flow Festival is a great excuse to explore the city of Helsinki. Artists including Lana Del Rey and The XX will be playing, among many others. Come to this festival to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere with an earthfriendly attitude.
Date: August 11－13
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Music Type: Rock, soul, jazz
Price: $106－$199
1. What is special about Pitchfork Music Festival?| A．It is more independent. | B．It is held underground. |
| C．It is more famous than other festivals. | D．It focuses on unknown bands. |
| A．In Budapest. | B．In Helsinki. |
| C．In Chicago. | D．In New Orleans. |
| A．Sziget Festival. | B．Flow Festival. |
| C．Essence Music Festival. | D．Pitchfork Music Festival. |
