Instruments are a necessary part of making music, but what music sounds like will also depend upon
Popular music is what many people play or listen to for fun. It could be folk, country, pop and rock, or jazz. Often the music style
Classical music is
There are many famous orchestras throughout
2 . As Billboard expands in Asia, Billboard China, a new edition, has been launched. Mike Van, the new president of Billboard, said in an interview with China Daily that, “Billboard is further expanding its coverage in one of the biggest music markets in the world” and the move will be “bringing global pop music to Chinese fans and expose Chinese artists and music to an international audience” .
On Aug 9, the news of launching Billboard China was announced on its official Sina Weibo platform. According to Van, Billboard is establishing local partnerships, such as Tencent Music Entertainment Group, and rolling out content plans such as cover story, which features top-level Chinese artists and their music stories, and Billboard Master Collections, which brings highly professional music recommendations to music lovers. Pop star Jackson Wang was featured in the cover story of Billboard China Magazine’s August 2022 edition.
China ranks(排名) as the sixth-largest music market in the world, according to the annual global music report released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry on March 22. In 2021, China occupied the seventh spot.
As Van said in the interview, China has a unique, dynamic and fast-changing music market and the industry is constantly evolving. “How to best understand Chinese music culture and promote it is probably our biggest challenge,” he says. “The market potential in China is endless. The diversity of Chinese music culture, large music fan base, mature music industry ecosystem and a large energetic community of indie(独立的) musicians all contribute to massive growth for all involved” .
1. What does the underlined words “rolling out” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Spreading. | B．Publicizing. | C．Testing. | D．Closing. |
| A．To tell us that Jackson Wang is the most professional musician in China. |
| B．To show that Billboard Master Collections brings highly professional music. |
| C．To suggest that Billboard China has built partnerships with Chinese pop stars. |
| D．To prove that Billboard China’s cover story features excellent Chinese artists. |
| A．Billboard expands its business in China’s market. |
| B．Billboard brings global pop music to Chinese fans. |
| C．Billboard introduces Chinese artists and music abroad. |
| D．Billboard faces challenges in promoting Chinese music. |
| A．Slowly-growing. | B．diversified. |
| C．Full of potential. | D．Challenging. |
| A．In Vienna. | B．In Beijing. | C．On the street. |
4 . Country music has been long led by an age of “bro-country” — country music made by straight white men, best characterized by songs about drinking, trucks and blue jeans. Yet, at its core, country music is a type that is truly all about subversion. Country, essentially, takes the legend of the cowboy and turns it into an act, one that breaks away from tradition. In this new “bro-country” movement, subversion is completely lost, which is why someone like Orville Peck, with the first two chapters of his latest album “Bronco”,is so important for this age of country music.
The Toronto-based singer-songwriter Orville Peck announced “Bronco” on Feb. 7. In the trailer (预告片), the album was revealed to be released in three separate chapters weeks apart from each other.
The two chapters that have been released stay true to the musical stylings of country but often draw subtle influences from the closely related types of folk and rock, which may not be surprising given Peck’s time as a drummer in a punk band. As to the content, the first chapter of “Bronco” presents a more upbeat, somewhat positive feeling with its selection of songs like “C’mon Baby Cry”, “Outta Time”,“Dayton Sand”, and “Any Turn”, which in particular truly feels like the perfect jig (吉格舞曲) to square dance to. The second chapter of “Bronco”, with a focus on the fragile emotions that often lies at the core of the country type, explores darker topics, being largely made up of emotional songs that dive into topics like abusive relationships, loneliness, deep longing, and depression. While sharply different from one another, the two chapters fit amazingly well together. The songs draw on multiple contemporary inspirations, and in doing so stand out against what has become expected of country.
With the third and final chapter of “Bronco” coming on the road, we have reasons to believe that Peck will manage to meet and exceed public expectations and successfully made an album that may shake any who feel no appetite for the type of country music.
1. What do you learn about “bro-country”?| A．It is original country music. | B．It has gained lasting popularity. |
| C．It supports cowboy’s untraditional act. | D．It is well presented in the album ”Bronco“. |
| A．Legend. | B．Movement. | C．Tradition. | D．Opposition. |
| A．The two chapters contrast strikingly but mix well. |
| B．The style of the songs is restricted to country music. |
| C．The second chapter mainly concerns positive emotions. |
| D．The first chapter is a mixture of folk, rock, punk and jig. |
| A．“Bro-country”meets great challenge. | B．Orville Peck is to release a new album. |
| C．Traditional country music finds its way back. | D．“Bronco”returns to the core of country music. |
5 . No one knows exactly when jazz was invented, or by whom.
Who were the jazz pioneers? Most were blacks. This music was not written down, and at first only blacks played it. It was hard for white musicians to learn the new style. But soon they, too.
The popularity (流行) of this music spread (传播). From New Orleans, it traveled up the Mississippi to Chicago, then to Kansas City and New York. By the 1920s, there were many jazz musicians, both black and white. Many of them were famous.
Louis Armstrong was a born (天生的) musician. He was not only talented (有才能的) but also hard-working.
Louis Armstrong was born in 1900 in New Orleans. His father never went to school and his mother could hardly read. When Louis was still a kid, his parents separated (分居), and Louis lived with his mother.
| A．One man was better than the rest. |
| B．There was always a big smile on his face. |
| C．Jazz first became popular among the old. |
| D．Their hard life can hardly (几乎不) be imagined (想象). |
| E．He felt down and didn’t know what to do. |
| F．Whatever happened has been beautiful to me. |
| G．But it is said that it began in the early 1900s. |
6 . Today, at 28, the young German Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter is at the top. “She gives radiance (光芒) to the music,” wrote Geoffrey Norris in The Daily Telegraph, London.
Born in Rheinfelden on June 29, 1963, Anne-Sophie grew up in Wehr, a small town just five kilometers from the Swiss border. Her father, Karl Wilhelm Mutter, and her mother, Gerlinde, considered music lessons part of a good education. It came as no surprise when Anne-Sophie said she wanted a violin for her fifth birthday.
Her parents thought she was too young for the violin, and persuaded her to start on the piano. But Anne-Sophie has always had a mind of her own. “I longed to play the violin,” she says, “It seemed to me a much more interesting instrument.” After six months, her parents gave in.
The famous violin teacher Erna Honigberfer, who lived nearby, became Annie-Sophie’s teacher. After only nine months of lessons, she entered the six-year-old in a nationwide competition for young musicians. With Christoph accompanying her on the piano, Anne-Sophie won first prize.
In 1974, Erna Honigberger died. Anne-Sophie’s new teacher was Aida Stucki. She taught Anne-Sophie to develop her own ideas on how a piece should be played, not just to imitate (模仿) others. This is one of the violinist’s strongest, most distinctive characteristics today.
Though the Mutters were short of money at times, they limited their daughter’s performances to one or two a year. “We are glad we went the family road,” says her father. “No outsider can ever have an effect on our daughter’s career or push her into playing more concerts than she wants to.” Later she was allowed to give six to eight concerts a year and make some recordings.
1. Anne-Sophie’s concerts are _________.| A．limited to one or two a year | B．thought highly of |
| C．accompanied on the piano by Christoph | D．appreciated by professors in London |
| A．She wanted a violin for her fifth birthday. |
| B．She has always had a mind of her own. |
| C．Violin seemed to her a much more interesting instrument. |
| D．She had two famous violin teachers. |
| A．money is not everything |
| B．children should learn music |
| C．Anne-Sophie was too young to give concerts |
| D．parents have a great effect upon their children |
| A．Anne-Sophie got her first prize with the help of Aida Stucki. |
| B．Mutter’s family had an effect on her. |
| C．Anne-Sophie liked to imitate others. |
| D．Anne-Sophie liked all the instruments. |
7 . I devote myself to music because of my grandmother. My mum and I lived with my grandparents from the time I was two until I was eight. And even then, I was at their house before and after school every day while my mother was
Grandma loved music. It was she that first
Grandma played the piano and
Last month when I came home to visit grandma in the hospital, I brought along my guitar with me. She was in great pain, but the music seemed to
My grandma passed away two days ago. In my opinion, part of her will live on through every
| A．at home | B．at school | C．at work | D．in hospital |
| A．sent | B．inspired | C．introduced | D．remembered |
| A．debate | B．love | C．agreement | D．doubt |
| A．wave | B．sleep | C．dance | D．play |
| A．funny | B．balanced | C．good | D．interesting |
| A．forced | B．prepared | C．taught | D．enabled |
| A．hotel | B．apartment | C．neighbourhood | D．hospital |
| A．school | B．hospital | C．street | D．office |
| A．only | B．exactly | C．completely | D．seldom |
| A．comfort | B．spot | C．fascinate | D．terrify |
| A．joined | B．poured | C．mixed | D．combined |
| A．worthwhile | B．impressive | C．puzzling | D．unbelievable |
| A．horrible | B．thrilled | C．open | D．calm |
| A．refused | B．continued | C．expected | D．intended |
| A．song | B．poem | C．article | D．story |
No matter where you usually hear today’s top hits—the radio, Spotify, a mixtape on your Sony Walkman — you’ve probably noticed that they tend
As VOX — a classic record company — explains, the custom
The late 1940s
9 . Canadian Music Festivals to Let Your Hair Down at
Osheaga-Quebec
This 3-day local favorite is one of Canada’s biggest festivals, having a line-up of indie, rap and pop moguls. The festival is divided into six main stages: Mountain, River, Tree, Green, Valley and Zone Piknic Electronik-each featuring a different type of music.
Ottawa Bluesfest-Ontario
This music festival will celebrate its 25th birthday with hundreds of world-class shows. Taking place in the LeBreton Flats along, the Ottawa River, the festival will run across five stages over 10 exciting days. The star-studded line-up is full of local and international talents. Household names include alt-J, Alexisonfire, Chvrches, Jessie Reyez, Kygo, Logic, Shakey Graves, and many, many, many more.
Montreal Jazz Festival-Quebec
Founded in 1979, this Jazz festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year by hosting more than 600 concerts across 20 stages. Held in the heart of downtown and kicking off at the end of June, this year’s line-up is a mix of artists from around the world. This festival attracts more than 2.5 million music fans during 10 days, and is world famous in the jazz community. Most shows are free but some can cost up to $40 per person.
Festival d’été-Quebec
Established in 1908, the Festival d’été is an all-out 11-day musical feast that takes place in downtown Quebec City annually. Its main stage is one of the biggest in North America and is found in the historic Plains of Abraham. There are also hundreds of smaller performances spread across a dozen venues in the city. The best part is tickets are super cheap!
1. Where will the Montreal Jazz festival be held?| A．On the Ottawa river. | B．In a village. |
| C．In the city center. | D．On a plain. |
| A．Thrill-seekers. | B．Foodies. |
| C．Party-planners. | D．Concert-goers. |
| A．All of them are held in Quebec. | B．All of them are multi-stage festivals. |
| C．All of their performers are from Canada. | D．All of their shows are ticketed. |
10 . Anthony Madu, a boy from Nigeria, is getting the opportunity of a lifetime.
After a video of Madu
Madu developed his
Learning his video became a real hit made Madu very
| A．running | B．playing | C．dancing | D．hiking |
| A．grasped | B．landed | C．applied for | D．referred to |
| A．advocates | B．features | C．comments | D．denies |
| A．impressed | B．stuffed | C．disappointed | D．delighted |
| A．hardly | B．sincerely | C．eventually | D．literally |
| A．involved | B．occupied | C．stuck | D．associated |
| A．confidence | B．interest | C．expectation | D．fluency |
| A．dilemmas | B．choices | C．surroundings | D．calories |
| A．turns down | B．focuses on | C．disapproves of | D．leaves behind |
| A．Instead | B．Anyway | C．In contrast | D．On the contrary |
| A．depressed | B．puzzled | C．optimistic | D．astonished |
| A．praised | B．recognized | C．comforted | D．rewarded |
| A．if | B．though | C．because | D．once |
| A．anxious | B．qualified | C．exceptional | D．proud |
| A．remain | B．anticipate | C．return | D．flower |
