1 . Today, the world-famous musical group the Beatles are releasing a new song called “Now and Then”. The “new” song was written around 45 years ago, and has taken a very long time to finish. It’s special because it’s the last song the Beatles will ever make.
The Beatles were a British rock band that was extremely popular in the 1960s and 70s. The four members of the band were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The Beatles broke up as a group in 1970, but all of the band members continued to make music on their own. But now, only two of the band members, Mr. McCartney and Mr. Starr, are still alive.
In 1980, John Lennon was killed. But in the years before that, he recorded “demos” (rough versions) of several new songs. In 1994, Mr. Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono, passed the tape along to Mr. McCartney. The tape had demos of Mr. Lennon playing and singing several songs, including “Now and Then”.
In 1995, the three living Beatles got together again and began to work on recording new versions of Mr. Lennon’s demos. They recorded some music for “Now and Then”, but unable to finish the song. The recording of Mr. Lennon singing had a loud electric humming sound that meant it couldn’t be used on a finished record. But in June of this year, Mr. McCartney announced the Beatles would soon be releasing one final song “Now and Then”. New computer methods had made it possible to separate out Mr. Lennon’s voice and clean up the recording to get rid of the hum.
Mr. McCartney wrote more verses to complete the song, He also worked together with Mr. Starr to add new bass, drums, and vocal parts to the song. Mr. Harrison died in 2001, but the group was able to use some of the guitar parts he had recorded in 1995.
The result is the last Beatles song ever. “We all play on it,” said Mr. McCartney. “It’s a genuine Beatles recording.”
1. What makes the song “Now and Then” unusual?A.It has a history of almost 45 years. |
B.It is the last song of the Beatles. |
C.It is made by the famous rock band the Beatles. |
D.It is produced before the Beatles broke up. |
A.Adding more verses to the new song. |
B.Removing the loud electric humming sound. |
C.The three living Beatles working together again. |
D.Using the guitar parts recorded by late Mr. Harrison. |
A.By giving examples. | B.By analyzing causes. |
C.By following time order. | D.By comparing differences. |
A.The Beatles performed the song genuinely. |
B.The Beatles recorded the song in a studio together. |
C.The Beatles finished the song in honor of Lennon. |
D.The Beatles members added to the song over the years. |
A.Talking to a new neighbour. |
B.Enjoying classical music. |
C.Giving a warning. |
1.钦佩他的演奏;
2.提出互相学习。
注意:
1.写作词数应为80左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Novak,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
4 . When Belquer first joined a team to make a better live music experience for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, he was struck by how they had developed workarounds to enjoy concerts. “What they were doing at the time was holding balloons to feel the vibrations (震动) through their fingers,” Belquer said. He thought the team could make something to help hard-of- hearing people enjoy live music even more with the technology now available.
Belquer, who is also a musician and theater artist, is now the “Chief Vibrational Officer” of Music: Not Impossible, which uses new technology to address social issues like poverty and disability access. His team started by tying vibrating different cell phone motors to bodies, but that didn’t quite work. The vibrations were all the same. Eventually, they worked with engineers to develop a light haptic (触觉的) suit with a total of 24 vibrating plates. There are 20 of them tied to a vest that fits tightly around the body like a hiking backpack, plus one that ties to each wrist and ankle. When you wear the suit, it’s surprising how it feels.
The vibrations are mixed by a haptic DJ who controls the location, frequency and intensity of feeling across the suits, just as a music DJ mixes sounds in an artful way. “What we’re doing is selecting and mixing what we want and send it to different parts of the body,” said the DJ. The haptic suits were just one component of the event. There were American Sign Language interpreters; the music was captioned on a screen on the stage.
The suits are the star attraction. Lily Lipman, who has auditory processing disorder, lit up when asked about her experience. “It’s cool, because I’m never quite sure if I’m hearing what other people are hearing, so it’s amazing to get the music in my body.”
1. What surprised Belquer about people with hearing problems?A.The way they enjoyed music. |
B.The attitude they held to life. |
C.The love they had for balloons. |
D.The frequency they vibrated fingers. |
A.The motors were the same. |
B.The vibrations lacked variety. |
C.The motors hardly worked. |
D.The vibrations were irregular. |
A.He interpreted the sign language. |
B.He captioned the music on stage. |
C.He selected suits for the attendees. |
D.He helped people feel the music. |
A.Comforting. | B.Challenging. | C.Satisfying. | D.Encouraging. |
5 . For more culture coverage and the new streaming services, www. vulture. com has prepared a wide range of funny things to see, hear, watch, and read.
TV: The Crown (Season Six)
Netflix, November 16.
The final season of The Crown is being divided into two parts, with four episodes on show before Thanksgiving and the remaining six landing on December 14. And, yes, those initial episodes will address the death of Princess Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, a talented Australian actress.
OPERA: Later the Same Evening
Juilliard Opera presents. Peter Jay Sharp Theater, November 12, 15, and 17.
Composer John Musto and play writer Mark Campbell turned those moody scenes into a one-act opera that’s become a student favorite but rarely gets seen on a greater stage. It would be a once in a life time chance to have a feast for eyes.
MOVIES: Fallen Leaves
In theaters, November 17.
Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, a master of deadpan, returns with what might be his most romantic film so far — an unexpected meet up of an alcoholic construction worker and a headstrong supermarket employee.
MUSIC: Heaven Knows
Warner Records UK, November 10.
Pink Pantheress, 22, combines R&B, pop, and electronic music into relaxing but impactful tracks like “Do You Miss Me?” from December’s Take Me Home EP. This fall, her first complete studio-recorded album, consisting of 13 songs, will be released. Early tastes of Heaven Knows like “Capable of Love” and “Mosquito” suggest that we’re in for tighter hooks and longer, more ambitious compositions.
1. Which will attract those who enjoy Elizabeth Debicki’s performance?A.Mosquito. | B.Malarkoi. |
C.The Crown. | D.Fallen Leaves. |
A.They are coming into market in November. |
B.The works can be enjoyed once in a life time. |
C.More details can be accessible from newspaper. |
D.They are the works by the world-famous artists. |
A.It is produced by Netflix. |
B.It is divided into two parts. |
C.It’ll be released on Nov.17. |
D.It is her first full studio album. |
6 . A children’s choir (合唱团) from the snowy highlands of Tibet recently
The Qomolangma Children’s Choir was set up in 2020. They recently paid a week-long trip to Beijing to
When journalists met the choir on Saturday, the children were
Geng Muyao was the choir’s
Including children from all over Tibet, the choir primarily shows Tibetan folk culture. Though the members are
A.explained | B.described | C.brought | D.improved |
A.gain | B.lift | C.study | D.teach |
A.turning in | B.taking in | C.varying in | D.participating in |
A.recording | B.training | C.representing | D.playing |
A.information | B.communication | C.preparation | D.guidance |
A.museums | B.sites | C.campuses | D.locals |
A.instrument | B.branch | C.decoration | D.button |
A.living | B.working | C.getting | D.standing |
A.annoying | B.frightening | C.exciting | D.shocking |
A.gradually | B.especially | C.slightly | D.finally |
A.instructor | B.professor | C.manager | D.performer |
A.viewed | B.recommended | C.agreed | D.noted |
A.admitted | B.supported | C.inspired | D.observed |
A.fond | B.tired | C.short | D.full |
A.young | B.dynamic | C.capable | D.ambitious |
A dance called “Subject Three” performed by waiters at the hot pot chain Haidilao in Shandong province has become an internet sensation .
The dance,
In Wuhan, Hubei province, customers can now request the dance by
However, the widespread adoption of the “Subject Three” dance has ignited debates on Sina Weibo. While many find it
Amid the fervor, concerns about potential health risks have also surfaced. In Huzhou, Zhejiang province, a young man
8 . Fifty years ago, the well-loved musician Bob Dylan played at the Newport Folk Festival and was widely booed (嘘声). The audience may have been unhappy but Dylan’s performance helped change the direction of music and culture in the United States.
The mid-1960s were a time of great change. One such place of change was the world of folk music. Bob Dylan became a symbol of change when he moved from acoustic (原声的) to electric guitar.Rock music historian Elijah Wald has written a new book about the change. It is called “Dylan Goes Electric”.
“There was a moment in the early 1960s when you could look at the Billboard charts and seven of the top 10 albums were folk records. And Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary, the Kingston Trio, all had huge, huge, huge number-one records.”
And then this happened: The “British Invasion” introduced the world to the Beatles and grew a huge fan base for rock music. “That worried many folk musicians,” says Elijah Wald.
They hoped that Bob Dylan would come to the rescue. However, a new Dylan sound came from the stage.
Bob Dylan had gone electric, and the followers of folk music were not pleased.
“When Dylan went electric, I think one of the issues was the feeling that — wait a minute, he’s gone over to the enemy.”
Folk lovers had looked to Bob Dylan to save their movement from rock and roll. But, author Wald says Dylan felt differently about the music.
“Dylan had always liked rock and roll and Dylan didn’t think of rock and roll as stupid music.” In fact, Dylan was a Beatles fan. He later said that from the first time he heard the Beatles he knew “they were pointing to the direction where music had to go.”
Beyond the music, Dylan’s performance that night also marked a turn in American culture.
1. How did the audience feel when Dylan played at the Newport Folk Festival?
A.Unsatisfied. | B.Respectful. |
C.Uncaring. | D.Excited. |
A.Great changes had taken place in folk music. |
B.People had grown sincere love for rock music. |
C.Folk music was once a huge mainstream pop trend. |
D.Bob Dylan was the best American musician at that time. |
A.Introduce the world to the Beatles. | B.Change folk music for better. |
C.Play rock and roll against the Beatles. | D.Recover the glory of folk music. |
A.Dylan’s beliefs in the new direction music should go. |
B.Dylan’s deep love for the Beatles, rock and roll music. |
C.Dylan’s music as a great contribution to American folk music. |
D.Dylan’s performance as a mark of a change in American culture. |
A concert featuring the musical instruments of various Chinese ethnic groups was staged at Minhang Culture Park on Friday evening. It served as the opening for the Shanghai Lakeside International Music Festival, which enables locals to enjoy high-quality art performances on
The festival, part of the ongoing 22nd China Shanghai International Arts Festival and also part of efforts
The concert
The Kunlun Orchestra also performed Tuelve Mugam,
Over the weekend, the Mariinsky Orchestra, the Russian Far East Troupe, National Choir of Ireland and other musicians will perform.
10 . Music Festivals You Need to Attend
Tomorrowland (July 21--30)
Tomorrowland is known as one of the largest, if not the largest, EDM music festivals in the world. Located at De Schorre Provincial Recreational Park in Boom, Belgium, the festival is a one- of-a-kind experience. Visitors are surrounded by beautifully crafted stages while listening to all of their favorite DJs. It’ll be a party, and most definitely a fun time.
Glastonbury (June 22--26)
It may be cloudy and rainy for most of the year, but England shines bright when it’s time for Glastonbury. Not only does this festival have some of the best musicians, it also has dance performances, comedy, theatrics, and more. There’s no need to worry about being too hot because England has the best summer weather for events like this. Artists including Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, and Wizkid are all on the lineup (阵容) this year.
Outside Lands (August 11--13)
With San Francisco as its backdrop (背景幕布), Outside Lands is always a popular festival. There are always some famous faces in the crowds, and in years past we have seen Vanessa Hudgens and Kim Kardashian. This year, the lineup is incredibly strong, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, Lana Del Rey, Lil Yachty, Maggie Rogers, and so many others.
Mysteryland (August 25--28)
This is a festival for the EDM lovers out there. The Netherlands hosts Mysteryland each year, bringing in all of the top DJs and artists from around the world. The festival is the first of its kind in the country, so it’s a unique experience for everyone involved. Bring your rave energy because this festival isn’t for just anyone.
1. Which music festival begins the earliest?A.Tomorrowland. | B.Mysteryland. | C.Outside Lands. | D.Glastonbury. |
A.Lana Del Rey. | B.Megan Thee Stallion. | C.Maggie Rogers. | D.Elton John. |
A.They’re both held once a year. |
B.They’re both attractive to EDM lovers. |
C.They’re both the first of its kind in the country. |
D.They’re both the largest music festivals in the country. |