1 . Grammy Awards don’t only go to the people who produce and perform songs. For just over a decade, they’ve also been given out to those who teach others how to make music. The Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum, recognizes those who have made a “significant contribution and demonstrate devotion to music education”.
This year it went to Annie Ray, the performing arts department chair and orchestra director at Annandale High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She was honored for her efforts to make music accessible to all students, particularly those with disabilities. Ray got to attend the awards ceremony in Los Angeles, take selfies with pop stars and bring home both a $10,000 prize and matching grant for her school’s music program.
Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra (管弦乐队) for students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a parent orchestra that teaches nearly 200 caregivers a year to play the same instrument as their child.
She was inspired in large part by the diversity of the Annandale community, which she says represents over 60 countries, including many immigrants. “There’s a. lot of cultures that might typically clash, and they come together in this very beautiful harmony,” Ray explained. “And that’s really uniquely expressed in the orchestra classroom, where we’re just all music-ing together.”
Ray says the Crescendo Orchestra, which was born out of the pandemic, doesn’t necessarily share the social goals of a program like the Special Olympics. The focus is on teaching students how to play an instrument, through one-on-one instruction tailored to their needs. That involves tools like music scarves, egg shakers, rhythm sticks and cardboard instruments. Ray also works with a local charity to give damaged instruments a second life in her classroom.
The orchestra is about much more than just making music, however. Ray says the program gives students a chance to develop their collaboration skills, make mistakes and learn the art of refining something.
1. Which of the following is the reason for Annie Ray’s winning a Grammy?| A．Her determined effort to make music. | B．Her contribution to the high school. |
| C．Her commitment to music education. | D．Her excellence in performing songs. |
| A．Her enthusiasm for instructing music. | B．The diverse cultures of the community. |
| C．Her burning desire to win a Grammy. | D．The severe disabilities of her students. |
| A．To fix damaged instruments for a local charity. |
| B．To help students to face the pandemic bravely. |
| C．To make students familiar with music devices. |
| D．To give students need-centred music teaching. |
| A．A music teacher won a Grammy | B．A music teacher changed lives |
| C．A Grammy winner took selfies | D．A Grammy ceremony was held |
Wearing Hanfu and sitting in front of a Chinese zither (筝), Peng Jingxuan, a young Chinese student, moves her fingers gently along the strings on a street in Paris, France.
Peng has shared more than 200
Chinese zither (筝), or guzheng, is an ancient musical instrument with 21-26 strings and a length of 1.63 meters. Peng
Considering her audience’s
1. How long has the girl played the piano?
| A．For about three years. |
| B．For about thirteen years. |
| C．For about sixteen years. |
| A．Grade 3. | B．Grade 4. | C．Grade 8. |
| A．Why the girl is interested in playing the piano. |
| B．How the girl prepares for her piano tests. |
| C．What the girl does in her spare time. |
4 . I remember that it was a fall morning when the orchestra (管弦乐队) teachers came into Miss Newell’s third-grade classroom. “You have hands for the viola (中提琴),” Miss Ciano told me. I was excited because my hands were finally good for something. I told my parents I wanted to play, and naturally, they agreed.
Since I first touched the viola, I haven’t been able to put it down. Ignoring the difficulty, I am pulled closer to it each day.
Classical music is truly my best friend. It is the trusted friend of every man, woman and child. Various feelings are expressed in classical music. I discovered that when I was eleven and played a cello concerto (大提琴协奏曲) of Bach in a competition, the first movement was joyful, but the second movement was mysterious and full of pain. From the piece, I learned that music expresses not only feelings, but also sudden mood changes. By listening to classical music, I know that someone else shares these feelings. Since I am lucky enough to be able to play classical music, I am comforted by it when I am upset. It gives me a way to escape from my problems for a short period. Classical music can express my joy, sadness and anger.
Now look back at that fall day in the third grade and think how gullible I was for believing that anyone, even music teachers, could tell whether hands were perfect for a certain instrument. I’m certain they told me I had “ viola hands” not because they were fortune-tellers (算命师), but because there was a lack of violists in our district. Classical music is one of the best things that ever happened to mankind. If you get introduced to it in the right way, it will become your friend for life.
1. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the first and second paragraphs?| A．To introduce an interesting musical class. |
| B．To show the importance of proper guide. |
| C．To offer the evidence of her gift for music. |
| D．To tell the power of support from parents. |
| A．By developing social skills. | B．By broadening life experience. |
| C．By improving mental health. | D．By building close relationship. |
| A．generous | B．definite | C．relaxed | D．upset |
| A．Lifetime dream, great effort. | B．Happy childhood, unforgotten |
| C．Special event, sweet memory. | D．Classical music, endless friendship |
As usual, the whole class burst out laughing as Patric rushed into the classroom. He was a strange sight. His half-buttoned white shirt revealed a red striped pajama (条纹睡衣) top underneath, and instead of white school shoes, he had on a pair of bright green sandals (凉鞋) that were two sizes too big. The physics teacher’s hand froze in the middle of writing a formula (公式) on the blackboard.
Patric mumbled, “Sorry, teacher,” and rushed to his seat. Mr Gao glared (怒视) at the rest of the students. The chuckles (轻声笑) quickly stopped. Patric’s classmates always looked forward to Mondays. Nine times out of ten, they would be entertained by Patric’s late arrival and his odd appearance, which usually included improper clothing. That day, it was the pajama top and green sandals.
Patric lived just a street away from the school. He walked to school every day. Students passing by in buses would yell his name together just to see him jump and stop in his tracks. When he spotted the merry classmates in the bus, he would wave kindly. Although Patric was likable, he was too lost in his own thoughts to make friends. His classmates found him amusing but they ignored him most of the time. Only Kevin, who sat next to Patric , tried to be his friend.
The following Monday, Patric did not turn up at school. His classmates were a little disappointed but quickly forgot about him. After school, Kevin decided to walk over to Patric’s house to check on him. As he approached the gate, he could hear violin music. Patric must be listening to music, he thought. The gate was not locked. Kevin let himself in. He called Patric’s name a few times but there was no response. The music played on. Kevin peered (仔细看) in through a window. His eyes widened in surprise. In the middle of the living room, Patric was playing the violin. His eyes were closed in concentration as he drew the bow (琴弓) over the strings expertly. He played flawlessly (完美无瑕地), so much so that it sounded like a recording. Kevin left quietly.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。Paragraph 1:
With the Teacher’s Day approaching, Kevin had a plan.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
As the last note (音符) ended, there was a moment of silence.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The erhu, a famous Chinese musical instrument, has a history
The erhu has a slim wooden body whose strings are
The erhu can convey
Over the years, the erhu has gained
Whether
1. What do we learn about the speaker’s mother?
| A．She made a lot of records. |
| B．She had a varied taste in music. |
| C．She once worked in the field of music. |
| A．Classical music. | B．Country music. | C．Dance music. |
| A．Her mom. | B．Her sister. | C．Her schoolmate. |
| A．Their favorite types of music. | B．Different kinds of instruments. | C．Their favorite rock stars. |
9 . Depending on your view, the recorder is an instrument of “incredible functions” or a tool of annoyance that has bothered primary schools for too many generations. But now, it faces extinction, with one of the UK’s top music schools reporting an 80% decline in the number of young people playing it in the last 10 years.
The instrument’s future is so imperiled that the European Recorder Teachers Association is trying to bring it back to life again so it does not leave the stage. The ERTA argues that if the recorder was good enough for the Beatles, it has a place in modern music today.
Tom Redmond, the principal of Chetham’s school of music in Manchester, said only three of its pupils practised the recorder, compared with 15 a decade ago. “More pupils were taking up the piano or other instruments,” said Redmond. “The ones that became really popular are the ones students spend more time playing alone. With the instruments being more socially based, there has been a decline, just like the recorder.”
Redmond also said that this problem extended “beyond the recorder itself” and was a mirror of the future of music. “Like removing any plant or animal from an ecosystem, removing the recorder has a huge chain effect beyond just the instrument. You need these instruments to create the inspiration for music, and without that, there is less excitement to learn music,” he said.
Chris Orton, a recorder tutor and chair of the ERTA, is leading the fight against the instrument’s extinction. He said, “The recorder is increasingly overlooked by students, and yet it has a rich history and incredible attractions. As well as making beautiful sounds, it’s an accessible instrument in that it is low-cost compared to other woodwind instruments, and it’s light and easy to carry.”
1. What does the underlined word “imperiled” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．In danger. | B．Full of hope. | C．Out of memory. | D．Beyond recognition. |
| A．Students are less excited to learn it. |
| B．Its disadvantages outweigh its advantages. |
| C．It requires more cooperation with other instruments. |
| D．Students are more likely to play high-end instruments. |
| A．Music education is essential for students. |
| B．The recorder shapes the future of music. |
| C．The recorder plays an important role in music. |
| D．Nature is a rich source of inspiration for musicians. |
| A．It needs to be improved. | B．It is inconvenient to play. |
| C．It is a priority for students. | D．It deserves more attention. |
1. What instrument did the speaker play when she was young?
| A．The piano. | B．The guitar | C．The violin |
| A．In London. | B．In Sydney | C．In New York |
| A．They’ll meet famous performers. |
| B．They’ll have a brighter future. |
| C．They’ll get a chance to travel the world. |
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Seven. |
