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The French word renaissance means rebirth. It was first used in 1855 by the historian Jules Michelet in his History of France, and then adopted by historians of culture, by art historians, and eventually by music historians, all of whom applied it to European culture during the 150 years spanning 1450-1600. The concept of rebirth was appropriate to this period of European history because of the renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture that began in Italy and then spread throughout Europe. Scholars and artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries wanted to restore the learning and ideals of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. To these scholars this meant a return to human—as opposed to spiritual-values. Fulfillment in life—as opposed to concern about an afterlife—became a desirable goal, and expressing the entire range of human emotions and enjoying the pleasures of the senses were no longer frowned on (不赞同). Artists and writers now turned to secular (非宗教的) as well as religious subject matter and sought to make their works understandable and appealing.
These changes in outlook deeply affected the musical culture of the Renaissance period—how people thought about music as well as the way music was composed, experienced, discussed, and disseminated. They could see the architectural monuments, sculptures, plays, and poems that were being rediscovered, but they could not actually hear ancient music—although they could read the writings of classical philosophers, poets, essayists, and music theorists that were becoming available in translation. They learned about the power of ancient music to move the listener and wondered why modern music did not have the same effect. For example, the influential religious leader Bernardino Cirillo expressed disappointment with the learned music of his time. He urged musicians to follow the example of the sculptors, painters, architects, and scholars who had rediscovered ancient art and literature. The musical Renaissance in Europe was more a general cultural movement and state of mind than a specific set of musical techniques. Furthermore, music changed so rapidly during this century and a half—though at different rates in different countries—that we cannot define a single Renaissance style.
小题1:What is the passage mainly about?
A.The musical compositions that best illustrate the developments during the European Renaissance.
B.The musical techniques that were in use during the European Renaissance.
C.The European Renaissance as a cultural development that included changes in musical style.
D.The ancient Greek and Roman musical practices used during the European Renaissance.
小题2:According to the passage, Renaissance artists and writers had all of the following intentions EXCEPT _______.
A.to use religious themes
B.to express only the pleasant parts of human experience
C.to produce art that people would find attractive
D.to create works that were easily understood
小题3:The word "disseminated" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.
A.playedB.documentedC.spreadD.ignored
小题4:What can be inferred about the music of ancient Greece and Rome?
A.It expressed different ideals than classical sculpture, painting and poetry.
B.It was played on instruments that are familiar to modern audiences.
C.It had the same effect on Renaissance audiences as it had when originally performed.
D.Its effect on listeners was described in a number of classical texts.

答案

小题1:C
小题2:B
小题3:C
小题4:D
解析

试题解析:本文从法语中的“再生,复兴”讲述了欧洲文化复兴时期的音乐文化领域的变化总结出:不能简单地定义文艺复兴风格。
小题1:C主旨大意题。通读全文和根据文章第一段的第一句开篇点题:The French word renaissance means rebirth. It was first used in 1855 by the historian Jules Michelet in his History of France, and then adopted by historians of culture, by art historians, and eventually by music historians, all of whom applied it to European culture during the 150 years spanning 1450-1600法语词“Renaissance”的意思是“再生、复兴”,第一次被应用于历史学家Jules Michelet的法国历史著作,随后被文化史学家和艺术史学家采用,最终被加入了音乐史,用于描述欧洲于1450-1600年间长达150年的文化运动,所以C正确。
小题2:B细节理解题。根据文章第一段最后一句话Artists and writers now turned to secular (非宗教的) as well as religious subject matter and sought to make their works understandable and appealing.艺术家和作家们将他们的作品主题从宗教转向了世俗,并试图使他们的作品看起来更通俗易懂、更引人瞩目,排除 A  C D,所以B正确。
小题3:C词义猜测题。根据后句中的关键词:They could see the architectural monuments, sculptures, plays, and poems that were being rediscovered人们可以看到那个时期的建筑、雕塑、戏剧以及诗歌并重现它们,所以上句应该是音乐的组成、经验积累、探讨和传播,所以C正确。
小题4:D推理判断题。根据根据文章第二段内容;人们可以看到那个时期的建筑、雕塑、戏剧以及诗歌并重现它们,却不能真正听那个时期的音乐——尽管他们可以阅读并翻译古典哲学家、诗人、散文家和音乐理论家的作品。但他们了解到了那些古典音乐中吸引观众的神奇力量,并思考为什么现代音乐缺乏这样的影响,加举例说明,所以D正确。
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试题【The French word renaissance means rebirth. It was first used in 1855 by the hist】;主要考察你对题材分类等知识点的理解。[详细]
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Face masks are commonly used in ceremonies and performances. They not only hide the real face of the mask wearer but they often evoke powerful emotions in the audience—danger, fear, sadness, joy. You might think, because so many things vary cross-culturally, that the ways in which emotions are displayed and recognized in the face vary too. Apparently they do not. Recent research on masks from different cultures supports the conclusion that masks, like faces, tend to represent certain emotions in the same ways. We now have some evidence that the symbolism used in masks is often universal.
The research on masks builds on work done by anthropologists, who used photographs of individuals experiencing various emotions. These photographs were shown to members of different cultural groups who were asked to identify the emotions displayed in the photographs. Emotions were identified correctly by most viewers, whatever the viewer’s native culture.
Coding schemes were developed to enable researchers to compare the detailed facial positions of individual portions of die face (eyebrows, mouth, etc.) for different emotions. What exactly do we do when we scowl? We contract the eyebrows and lower the corners of the mouth; in geometric terms, we make angles and diagonals (斜线) on our faces. When we smile, we raise the corners of the mouth; we make it curved.
Psychologist Joel Arnoff and his colleagues compared two types of wooden face masks from many different societies—masks described as threatening versus masks associated with nonthreatening functions. As suspected, the two sets of masks had significant differences in certain facial elements. The threatening masks had eyebrows and eyes facing inward and downward and a downward-facing mouth. In more abstract or geometrical terms, threatening features generally tend to be angular or diagonal and nonthreatening features tend to be curved or rounded, a face with a pointed beard is threatening; a baby"s face is not. The theory is that humans express and recognize basic emotions in uniform (一致的) ways because all human faces are quite similar, skeletally and muscularly.
小题1:What does the passage mainly discuss?
A.The techniques for comparing facial expressions across cultures.
B.The photography of faces.
C.Cultural variations in mask.
D.The uniformity of facial expressions in revealing emotions.
小题2:According to the passage, masks are used in performances to _______.
A.disguise the real emotions of the performers
B.cause members of the audience to have strong emotions
C.remind the audience that an illusion is being created
D.identify the cultural background of the performers
小题3:What does the author mean by stating, "the symbolism used in masks is often universal"?
A.Masks are sometimes used to hide emotions.
B.Performers often need help conveying emotions to an audience.
C.Not all societies use masks in their rituals.
D.People from different cultures generally express certain emotions in similar ways.
小题4:The passage mentions "baby’s face" in the last paragraph as an example of a _______.
A.typical human face
B.source of inspiration in the creation of masks
C.nonthreatening face
D.face that expresses few emotions

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Laptop computers (笔记本电脑)are popular all over the world. People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels. These laptops connect people to their workplace. In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms.
Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The laptops are part of a $10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college. The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to "speak" with their teachers, their classmates, and their families. However, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it at home, in a fast-food restaurant or under the trees-anywhere at all!
Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education, such as colleges and universities, is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers. In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources. State higher-education officials are studying how laptops can help students. State officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too.
At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff(全体员工)use computers. The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said, "Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we"re giving students a window on the world. They can see everything and do everything."
小题1:The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to _____.
A.use for their schoolwork
B.access the Internet
C.work at home
D.connect them to libraries
小题2:Why is the word "speak" in the second paragraph in quotation marks (引号)?
A.They can speak loudly.
B.They use the computer language.
C.Laptops have speakers.
D.They don"t really talk.
小题3:Which of the following is TRUE about Westlake College?
A.All teachers use computers.
B.1500 students have laptops.
C.It is an old college in America.
D.Students there can do everything.

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When students and parents are asked to rate(排名) subjects according to their importance, the arts are unavoidably at the bottom of the list. Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is viewed as only entertainment, but certainly not an education priority(优先). This view is shortsighted. In fact, music education is beneficial and important for all students.
Music tells us who we are. Because music is an expression of the people who create it, it reflects their thinking and values, as well as the social environment it came from . Rock music represents a lifestyle just as surely as does a Schubert song. The jazz influence that George Gershwin and other musicians introduced into their music is obviously American because it came from American musical traditions. Music expresses our character and values. It gives us identity(身份) as a society.
Music provides a kind of perception(感知)that cannot be gained any other way. Science can explain how the sun rises and sets. The arts explore the emotive(情感的)meaning of the same phenomenon(现象). We need every possible way to discover and respond to our world for one simple but powerful reason: No one way can get it all.
The arts are forms of thought as powerful as maths and science. They are ways we human beings “talk” to each other. They are the language of civilization(文明) through which we express our fears, our curiosities, our hungers, our discoveries, our hopes. The arts are ways we give form to our ideas and imagination so that they can be shared with others. When we do not give children  some important way of expressing themselves such as music, we take away the meanings that music expresses from our children.
Science and technology do not tell us what it means to be human. The arts do. Music is an important way we express human suffering, happiness, the meaning and value of peace and love.
So music education is far more necessary than people seem to realize.
小题1:According to Paragraph 1, students      
A.regard music as a way of entertainment
B.disagree with their parents on education
C.view music as an overlooked(被忽视的) subject
D.prefer the arts to science
小题2: In Paragraph 2, the author uses jazz an example to       
A.compare it with rock music
B.show music identifies(身份) a society
C.introduce American musical traditions
D.prove music influences people’s lifestyles
小题3:According to the passage, the arts and science      .
A. approach the world from different angles(角度)
B. explore different phenomena of the world
C express people’s feelings in different ways
D. explain what it means to be human differently
小题4: What is the main idea of the passage ?
A.Music education deserves(值得) more attention.
B.Music should be of top education priority(优先).
C.Music is an effective communication tool.
D.Music education makes students more imaginative.

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Parents are not only looking for a unique name for their baby, but they also want a name that has a special meaning. American Indians usually have pretty interesting names. These names are given to them through various methods and usually by an elder. American Indians feel very strongly abouL naming their child, and it is almost treated like a ritual. In some American Indian cultures. they even hold a ceremony when they are to name a child
Amcrican Indian children are usually named by an elder who could be eheir grandmother, grandfather. mother or father. The name given by the elder comes to them in many different forms such as charactcnstics of the person, dreams that the elder may have. or the name of a family member who has died It is also true that some Amerlcan Indians arc named after some sort of animal while others are named after nature Some tribes (部落) name their children after events that happen before thiir birth.
Also in different tribes. two of the American Indians in the same tribe can"t share the same name Once the person with the name has died. then the name may be used again. It is said that Amcrican Indians believe that they shoutd not address the baby by the name that they are given because if the name is too well-known. the child or baby may be called back to the spirit world; this is what causes many American Indians to be given nicknames(绰号). Many Amcrican Indians arc more commonly known by their nicknames instead of their names given at birth
小题1:What does the underlined word "ritual" in Paragraph l probably mean?
A.exciting momentB.special eventC.good opportunityD.great time
小题2:Which is not the way Indians name their child?
A.The name of a certain animal.
B.Onc of the child"s ancestors.
C.The dreaius of the Indian child.
D.An event before the child"s birth.
小题3:Why are American Indians given nicknames?
A.It is not convenient to use their formal names
B.They don"t want to be famous in the tribes.
C.Parents are afraid cheir child would die young.
D.Nicknames are shortcr and easier to address.
小题4:What doCS the text mainly talk about?
A.Ongins of American Indians" names
B.Hisrory of American Indians" names
C.Importance of American Indians" names.
D.Customs in American Indians" names.

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Great Britain

“Great Britain” has several different names. Some people say “Britain”, or “the United Kingdom”, or just “UK”. There are four different countries in the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Everyone from Britain is British, but only people from England are English. People from Scotland are Scottish, people from Wales are Welsh, and people from Northern Ireland are Irish. Don"t call a Scottish or Welsh person English. He won’t like it!
Altogether more than 56 million people live in Britain, many of them in big industrial cities like London, Liverpool and Manchester, but people are often surprised by how much of Britain is open country, with lovely hills and woods, quiet rivers, lakes and farmlands.
Everyone in Britain speaks English. But in some parts of Scotland and Wales people speak an older language as well. The Welsh are especially proud of their language, and you can see road signs in Welsh all over Wales.
Everyone speaks English, but they do not all speak it in the same way. A Scottish person has to listen carefully if he wants to understand a Londoner. And when a Welsh person speaks, everyone knows at once where he comes from!
Many people think that the weather is cold and wet in Britain all the year round. But it isn"t! True, it sometimes rains and even snows for days and days, but every year there are weeks of beautiful sunny weather when the British put on their bikinis and go out to sunbathe.
Britain is only a small country, but every part is different. Scotland is a land of mountains, lakes and romantic castles. The winters are cold, with plenty of snow, but the summers are often warm and sunny. Most farmers keep sheep, and there are many small factories which make fine sweaters from their wool. In some parts of Scotland, there are very few people. Deer live in the hills, and the rivers are full of fish. But Glasgow and Edinburgh are both large and busy, with all that is good (and bad) in modern cities.
Northern Ireland has its problems, but it has beauty too. In the warm, wet climate, the grass grows a brilliant green, and much of the land is farming country. Belfast is a large industrial city with many fine buildings and a big port from which ships come and go to Scotland and England. But Belfast has had many difficult years, and it is not the busy place it once was.
In the north of England there are many old industrial towns. Now, a great number of factories have closed and thousands of people have no work. Some have moved to the new towns, built in the 1960s and 1970s, where the industries are more modern. Outside the towns, much of this part of England is beautiful countryside, with green hills, lakes and sandy beaches. Fishing is an important industry in the North East, and every night (except Sunday) the fishing boats go out to sea.
The centre of England (the “Midlands”) is also an important industrial area, especially near the huge cities of Coventry and Birmingham, the centre of the car industry. But everywhere, even in the heart of a modern city, there are buildings from an older Britain — cathedrals, castles, and houses built hundreds of years ago.
Wales is a special place, a country of high mountains and pretty valleys. But Wales has plenty of industry too, with many factories and coal mines. The people of Wales are very musical. Every year they have a festival of Welsh music and poetry called an “Eisteddfod”.
The west of England is rich farming country. It produces milk, cream, butter, cheese and apples, which go to make cider, a popular drink. In the villages, country people often grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers.
Some areas of Britain are very crowded. Around Manchester, in northwest England, and Glasgow, in Scotland, are large city areas of houses and factories. The southeast of England, too, has many towns and cities, including London, the giant capital. But quite near London there are still some quiet villages and peaceful farms.
Britain is an island, of course, and you are never far from the sea. Some of the coast, especially in the west, is wild and rocky, with small, sandy beaches, and romantic old harbours. Other parts are industrial. The east coast of Scotland, for example, is busy with oilrigs and fishing boats. The most popular beaches are near the many holiday towns on the south coast, where the weather is usually warmer. It is here that Londoners come to relax.
London London has been a capital city for nearly a thousand years, and many of its ancient buildings still stand. The most famous of these are the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul"s Cathedral, but most visitors also want to see the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace (the Queen"s London home) and the many magnificent museums.
Once, London was a small Roman town on the north bank of the Thames, but slowly it grew into one of the world"s major cities with more than nine million people. Fewer people live in the centre now, but the suburbs are still growing.
Places now in the heart of London, like Westminster, once stood in the middle of green fields. Many small villages, like Hampstead, Chelsea and Mayfair, became part of London, but they still keep some of their old atmosphere. Different areas of London seem like different cities. The West End is a rich man"s world of shops, offices and theatres. The East End is the old working people"s district, where there are many small flats and houses, some old, some new.
London is always changing. New buildings go up and old ones come down. Poorer areas become fashionable and people with more money move into them.
A hundred years ago, the river was crowded with ships, leaving for Java and Japan, New Zealand and New York, but now the port is nearly empty. People travel by air, and London"s main airport, Heathrow, is one of the busiest in the world.
Like all big cities, London has streets and concrete buildings, but it also has many big parks, full of trees, flowers and grass. Sit on the grass (you"re allowed to!) in the middle of Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens, and you will think that you are in the country miles away.
Many people live outside the centre of London in the suburbs, and they travel to work by train, bus or underground. Every day, nearly half a million office workers travel into the “City”, the business centre of London, a small area full of banks and offices. Some people come from far out of London, even from the coast, and spend up to four hours travelling every day.
Working hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 8 until 10 every morning, and 4.30 to 6.30 every evening, the trains are crowded with people, and after the morning “rush hour” the shoppers come.
By day the whole of London is busy. At night, the City is quiet and empty, but the West End stays alive, because this is where Londoners come to enjoy themselves. There are two opera houses here, several concert halls and many theatres, as well as cinemas, and the pubs, restaurants and night clubs are busy half the night.
Many people think that London is all grey, but in fact red is London"s favorite colour. The buses are red, the letter boxes are red, and the mail vans are all bright, bright red. London is at its best when people are celebrating. Then the flags, the soldiers" uniforms, the cheering crowds and the carriages and horses all sparkle in the sunshine —if it"s not raining, of course! 
Edinburgh Edinburgh is Scotland"s capital, and one of the most beautiful cities in Britain. The heart of Edinburgh is the thousand-year-old castle, where the kings of Scotland lived for centuries.
From Edinburgh castle you can see for miles, north over the beautiful old streets, an arm of the sea that pushes inland. Far away are the mountains of central Scotland, often covered with snow.
Edinburgh has a busy cultural life. Every year, in September the International Festival takes place. Musicians, actors and singers come from all over the world and thousands of visitors fill the city. In the evening, the opera house, the theatres and the concert halls are full. In cafes and pubs, small groups sing, act and read poetry.
The castle is at its best in festival time. Every night there is a magnificent military “Tattoo”. Highland soldiers wearing “kilts” play the bagpipes, and march to the music.
Tartans, the patterns of the kilts, have an interesting history. Since the fifteenth century, each Scottish family has worn its own tartan as a kind of badge. It was a useful way of recognizing people, especially in times of war. Many tartans date only from the nineteenth century, but some of the old patterns still exist. “Dress” tartans, worn on special occasions, have light, bright colours. ”Hunting” tartans are usually green, blue or brown.
Oxford What is so special about Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest universities in England? Why do so many students want to study there?
Both of these university towns are very beautiful. They have some of the finest architecture in Britain. Some of their colleges and libraries are three, four and even five hundred years old, and are full of valuable books and precious paintings. Both towns have many lovely gardens, where the students can read and relax in the summer months.
Oxford is the older university of the two. The first of its colleges was founded in 1249. The university now has thirty-four colleges and about twelve thousand students, many of them from other countries. There were no women students at Oxford until 1878, when the first women"s college, Lady Margaret Hall, opened. Now, women study at most colleges.
Oxford is, of course, famous for its first class education as well as its beautiful buildings. Some of the most intelligent men and women in the country live and work here. Oxford gives them what they need: a quiet atmosphere, friendly colleagues, and the four-hundred-year-old Bodleian library, which has about five million books.
It is not easy to get a place at Oxford University to study for a degree. But outside the university there are many smaller private colleges which offer less difficult courses and where it is easy to enroll. Most students in these private schools take business, secretarial or English language courses.
小题1:Providing that you want to visit a most beautiful city and see “kilts” worn by men, you are supposed to go to ________.
A.EdinburghB.LondonC.ManchesterD.Birmingham
小题2:Oxford is one of the oldest universities in Britain, which is special because ________.
A.it has a big and modern library
B.it has a quiet and friendly atmosphere
C.tremendous of the most intelligent people in the country live and work there
D.all of the above

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