1 . The “Got Talent” crew is one of the pioneers in finding and publicizing music talents and has been giving the world some of its most favorite artists for almost two decades. This year “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) uncovered a musical genius named Malakai Bayoh who amazed the audience with perfect high-note singing. The London-based 13-year-old boy appeared for the show’s audition (试镜) in April, 2023 and was accompanied by his mom and sister. “My big dream is to be a singer. I started singing at 7,” said Bayoh to the BGT team and added jokingly, “My mom made me join the choir (合唱团) because she’s very bossy.” The teenager mentioned she’s his biggest fan.

Bayoh’s mom was shocked as he was about to perform and said, “It scares me because, on his first show, somebody heckled (对……起哄) him. It was bad to think that someone would boo (喝倒彩) a child on stage because it could’ve knocked his confidence completely.” Contrary to his mom’s fear, Bayoh set the stage on fire singing the song “Pie Jesu” and the entire crowd were struck by his beautiful voice. As he ended his song, the audience and the judges gave him a standing applause. Simon Cowell, a judge, had just one word to say and it was “Golden Buzzer”, sending him straight to the semi-finals of the show.

Cowell and the other judges called Bayoh’s performance “flawless” and “heavenly”. His angelic voice made the audience tear up and the judges thanked the teen for coming on the show. Bayoh went on to become one of the finalists of the show.

Bayoh’s audition at the BGT became popular on social media. People loved the boy’s impeccable singing and some musicians even commented on how perfectly he hit the high notes. “I’m a trained singer and a music teacher by profession, and sang this song as a young performer myself. I can say with absolute certainty that this song is most beautifully sung this time. With proper technique and breathing, this boy sang really well,” posted @mayacorinne878.

1. What can be learned about Bayoh from paragraph 2?

A．He comes from a single-parent family.	B．He is humorous in speech.
C．His dream was inspired by his fans.	D．His mom used to be a singer.

2. What made Bayoh’s mom worried?

A．Bayoh’s difficulty in singing.	B．The judges’ attitudes to his son.
C．Bayoh’s performance on stage.	D．Some audiences’ initial responses.

3. How did the audience probably feel after hearing the boy’s song?

A．Touched.

B．Annoyed.

C．Relieved.

D．Amused.

4. Why does the author mention a music teacher?

A．To uncover more musical geniuses.	B．To show musicians’ ability to sing well.
C．To stress Bayoh’s excellent singing.	D．To contradict some audiences’ comments.

3 . Seba Stephens is only 10 years old, but he’s a very talented musician. Before he turned three, his parents asked him what he wanted for his birthday. “Drums!” (鼓) he answered. His parents weren’t sure, but after seeing him play the drums at a local music store, they decided he was serious. They bought him a set of junior drums. It was a huge step. “He didn’t stop playing-ever”, says his dad, Everett.

But soon Seba grew unhappy, he couldn’t get his junior drums to make the sounds that the famous drummer Copeland made. Therefore, his parents bought him a set of professional drums and sent him to a drum teacher. Just a few months later, his teacher reported that Seba was learning extremely quickly and needed a higher level of training. He was still four.

His father encouraged him to explore music in other ways. In 2020, Seba got special permission to join a summer guitar online program at Berklee College of Music as an 8-year-old. To keep up, he had to practice 36 hours a week. After the busy summer, Everett thought Seba might want a break. However, Seba asked his parents to home-school him so that he could continue the program during the school year. Seba did school work in the morning. In the afternoon he worked on music. And at night, he still worked on music.

Recently, Seba earned a professional certificate (证书) in music through the Berklee Online program.

1. What did Seba want for his birthday?

A．Drums.	B．Music lessons.
C．A guitar.	D．A music book.

2. Who does the underlined word “his” refer to in Paragraph 2?

A．Seba’s.	B．Copeland’s.
C．Seba’s parent’s.	D．Seba’s teacher’s.

3. Seba needed a higher level of training because

A．he grew very worried	B．he failed to hear the sounds
C．he bought a new drum	D．he was learning extremely quickly

4. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Seba joined a summer camp.	B．Seba worked hard on music.
C．Seba did school work at home.	D．Seba graduated from a college.

5. How did Seba earn a professional certificate in music?

A．By going to a famous college.	B．By getting special permission.
C．Through the Berklee Online program.	D．Through the lessons given by his parents.

4 . Getting older means greater maturity and wisdom.     1     In a society that is aging fast, it has become crucial to find ways to prevent related mental and emotional disorders. Music emerges as a promising tool for promoting well-being of the elderly.

Music has a great power to cause strong emotions and intense pleasure.     2     singing and dancing to music with others is not only fun but also improves mood. Musical activities are great ways to reduce stress because they take our minds off problems. They also help us feel less lonely and more connected with other people.

    3     A song may become a soundtrack for a particular time, such as a delightful party with friends that you had along time ago. Listening to that song allows you to remember all the happy memories from that time.

Finally, music contributes to keeping our thinking skills sharp. It makes our brains work hard in unique ways to understand the rhythm and melody.     4     For example, exposure to background music, particularly classical music, during cognitive (认知的) tasks is shown to improve older people’s cognitive processes, such as processing speed and working memory.

In conclusion, music is a powerful tool to fight against aging-related emotional and cognitive problems. It is an enjoyable and social activity, available to anyone regardless of their background or previous musical experience.     5    

A．Music can also open forgotten doors to our memories.

B．Recalling happy memories can lift our mood on a bad day.

C．Even passive music listening can help elderly adults think better.

D．This helps people feel better when they are depressed or anxious.

E．However, it often involves a series of physical and mental challenges.

F．The ability to form new memories is essential for processing information.

G．Thus, this accessible intervention should become a major policy priority for healthy aging.

5 . Guy Noble, one of Australia’s most famous conductors, who conducted the touring concert “East Meets West”, said he’d like to learn more about Chinese music. “I’m impressed by the history and the beauty Chinese music has,” he’s said in an interview recently.

“East Meets West” concert tour in Australia was resumed this year after being postponed twice due to the pandemic. It was hosted in Canberra last Saturday, bringing audiences some well-known Chinese and Western pieces such as Jasmine Flower, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, and The Yellow River.

While it was called “East Meets West”, music from China and the West with the same themes was brought together. Chinese singer Ya Fen and Australian singer Victoria Lambourn performed a duet (二重唱) Hope Betrayed, which was inspired by the Chinese classic novel A Dream of Red Mansions. Noble said he loved the duet as it showed completely different singing styles: traditional Chinese opera style and Western opera style. “They’re not exactly the same, but they came together,” he said.

Having been a professional conductor for more than 20 years, Noble called music an international language. He noted that most music at the concert was about love, which was also an international language. He also spoke highly of some Chinese musicians, such as pianist Lang Lang who he thought has inspired many kids in China to learn music.

Noble admitted his knowledge of Chinese culture was limited. He said that conducting the Canberra concert was “an experience that I’ve enjoyed”, which made him more interested in discovering the background and history of the music, as well as the stories behind it. Noble is ready to create more things that can involve dance or calligraphy or some of the other aspects of Chinese culture, and put them together with music.

1. What does the underlined word “resumed” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Restarted.	B．Expanded.
C．Paused.	D．Concluded.

2. Why did Noble enjoy Hope Betrayed?

A．Because it impressed him with its history.

B．Because it was inspired by a classic novel.

C．Because it showed two performing styles.

D．Because it was performed by an Australian.

3. What can we learn about Noble from the text?

A．He is an amateur conductor.

B．He speaks highly of all Chinese musicians.

C．He has a wide knowledge of Chinese culture.

D．He intends to integrate more Chinese elements into music.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．Guy Noble: A Famous Australian Conductor

B．An Australian’s Passion for Chinese Culture

C．Music: A Bridge to Understanding Each Other

D．The Cooperation Between Foreign Musicians

6 . As vast fields surrounding Beijing and Shanghai transformed into towering skyscrapers, and old bicycles gave way to motor vehicles, the essence of music communication remained unchanged over these shifts.

“I’ll never forget that I’ve never seen so many bicycles in my life,” Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Davyd Booth said, recalling his first tour in China 50 years ago. “Everyone rode a bicycle. There were literally hundreds, thousands.”   

This month, 14 musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra, including Booth, are returning to China, with performances scheduled in Beijing, Tianjin, Suzhou and Shanghai. The tour marks the 50th anniversary(周年纪念日) of their first visit in the 1970s, celebrating the unique friendship between China and the United States. Over the years, the orchestra(管弦乐团) has strengthened connections across China, with concerts and residencies that facilitate meaningful people-to-people interactions.

Booth said the 1973 tour was his first international trip with the orchestra. He considered himself lucky to have been part of the tour. He had just auditioned(试演) and got accepted into the orchestra that year. His official start date was scheduled after the orchestra’s return from China, but Booth received a call from the personnel manager informing him that someone had fallen ill. He then took the place and went to China.

“I was incredibly thrilled! Then, after I hung up, I realized I didn’t even have a passport,” Booth said. However, he got his passport and visa in just three days, thanks to the strong support from both countries. With his violin in tow, Booth joined the team on the 15-hour flight to China.

In addition to some regular compositions, the Philadelphia Orchestra also played the Yellow River Concerto, one of the most popular piano concertos in China even today. The Philadelphia Orchestra cooperated on this ensemble (合奏) with a Chinese pianist, marking the earliest ties between the US and China in music.

After the concert, the team was hanging around on the streets, Booth said. It was a fun experience even though people did not know how to talk to locals because of language barriers, he said. “You can communicate a lot by smiling, and it worked out very, very well,” he added.

1. What is the passage generally about?

A．US artists will give live performances.	B．Booth recalled his first visit to China.
C．Great changes have occurred in China.	D．China and the US are living in peace.

2. What do you know from paragraph 3?

A．The orchestra is popular in America.	B．Music performances happen a lot in China.
C．Music communication remains active.	D．Booth has come to China for the 50th time.

3. Booth meant that his getting the chance to come to China in 1973 was just a(an)______.

A．magic

B．mistake

C．luxury

D．accident

4. What is the role music plays based on the passage?

A．It serves to build bridge.	B．It stimulates people’s interest.
C．It contributes to equality.	D．It removes barriers to harmony.

7 . Music is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. It can bring us joy, sorrow, or even inspiration. It can evoke emotions and memories that we didn’t even know we had.     1    

Music can be a source of comfort. It can provide a refuge（避难所）from the troubles of the world and provide a sense of peace and solace.     2     It can also bring people together, helping to create a sense of community and shared experience.

    3     It can be an uplifting force in times of struggle, helping us to persevere and overcome obstacles. It can inspire us to take action and make positive changes in our lives.

Finally, music can be a source of joy and celebration.     4     It can be a way to express our love and gratitude for the people in our lives.

Music has the power to change our lives in ways we may never have imagined. It can provide us with strength, courage, comfort, and joy. It can help us to find our inner voice and express ourselves in unique and creative ways.     5    

A．Poor people can live a happy life with music.

B．Music can also give us strength and courage.

C．Music can associate people with each other around the world.

D．Music can change a person’s life in ways that nothing else can.

E．Listening to music can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

F．It can bring us closer together, helping us to appreciate and celebrate the beauty of life.

G．Music can truly be a life-changing force, and one that should never be underestimated.

9 . To American ears, hearing the words “Black Grace” used together makes them feel a kind of quiet strength in times of hardship or perhaps a positive cultural stereotype (刻板印象). To choreographer Neil Ieremia, the words represent the joining of two ideas born from personal and cultural conflict.

In New Zealand, where Ieremia grew up in what he describes as “a fairly tough town” northeast of Wellington, black was used to describe brave, daring behavior. In Ieremia’s youth, brave people were called “black”, linking them to the neighborhood’ s heroes, New Zealand’ s great All Blacks, the national rugby (橄榄球) team.

Ieremia was born in New Zealand to Samoan immigrants who arrived in the country during the 1960s. Illnesses kept him from actively participating in the country’s widespread sports culture. This was difficult for a Pacific Island boy living in a neighborhood where boys were expected to be sporty and tough. In this world, he developed a passion for music.

At the age of 19, Ieremia decided to attend dance school. At his first ballet class, the instructor told him he lacked grace. Ieremia wasn’t discouraged. When he started his own dance company in 1995, he looked to his own experiences for a name that would also reflect his ambitions for dance grace and storytelling. Thus Black Grace was born. Since then, he has changed the face of modern dance in New Zealand and turned Black Grace into one of the most recognizable and successful cultural brands.

In the early years of Black Grace, Ieremia struggled with the conflict between Samoan and New Zealand cultures. Questions of how and where one belongs were at the forefront of his work. Ieremia draws inspiration from his Samoan and New Zealand roots to create innovative dance works that reach across social, cultural and generational barriers. The work itself is highly physical, rich in the storytelling traditions of the South Pacific, and expressed with unique beauty and power.

1. What is Neil Ieremia’s occupation?

A．a sports figure

B．a dancer

C．a psychologist

D．a great writer

2. What does “Black Grace” mean to Neil Ieremia?

A．Stay calm and positive when facing difficulties

B．The quality of being courageous and elegant

C．A kind of stereotype from cultural conflict

D．The expectation of being sporty and tough

3. According to the passage, what can we learn about Ieremia?

A．Ieremia immigrated from New Zealand to Samoan.

B．Ieremia played a key role in mainstream sports culture.

C．Ieremia had a talent for dance at an early age.

D．Ieremia made Black Grace become a successful cultural brand.

4. The best title for the message might be________.

A．Bridging cultures through dance	B．A conflict between two cultures
C．Breaking cultural stereotype	D．Neil Iremia—a successful choreographer

10 . Last year, there were 38 student members and a full-time teacher in the school band. But over the summer, the director took another job and the school board had no applicants for the vacant position.

“It was such a downer,” remembers Jadyn Lane. “But we were given a choice — we could sign up for other electives (选修课), or find a way to make the band work.” Most students signed up for other electives, but 10 students decided to stay.

“It wasn’t an option to quit,” says Hailey Fitzgerald. “I’ve been in the band for seven years. I love it! It’s too important for too many reasons.” The students elected Hailey as director, a position she accepted on the condition they would all work together and share responsibilities. They recruited Casey Griffith and Jennifer Nail-Cook to be their official faculty advisors. Casey did the paperwork, and Jennifer helped with the music.

They directed themselves. Front and center on the band room whiteboard are a set of rules which they created themselves. In addition, they made a calendar (日历) of their upcoming events, like football games. It included a daily countdown to each event so they’d be prepared.

Perhaps most importantly, they decided which instruments were necessary to make a band of this size work. Most of them were drummers. How could they play those instruments with the people they had? “Several members switched instruments and some even learnt brand new ones,” Hailey says.

The time came last month for their first public performance. It was a home football game against Richwood. They had no idea what to expect. Would it work? Would the crowd cheer them on? Would they cheer up the football team? To their surprise, a group of students made posters for the band and hung them at the entrance to the football field. “We thought some people didn’t even know we still had a band,” says Jadyn. But their classmates had been paying attention and wanted to make their first game special. And their school won.

1. What do the underlined words “a downer” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Something rewarding.	B．Something demanding.
C．Something frightening.	D．Something disappointing.

2. How did the members overcome the challenges?

A．They redefined their roles.	B．They sought help from parents.
C．They learnt to beat drums.	D．They joined the football team.

3. What can be learnt about their first public performance?

A．It drew little attention.	B．It was a huge success.
C．It won lots of bonuses.	D．It was a total mess.

4. Which word best describes the remaining members?

A．Confident.

B．Sensible.

C．Devoted.

D．Ambitious.