<题目>B
乔治·格什温是美国著名的音乐家,他善于把精深复杂和原始质朴的风格熔于一炉,使其音乐中独特的个性至今未减半点魅力。在1919年他凭借一首《斯万尼》(Swanee)蜚声全国。此后他又创作了不少音乐剧。
George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America's greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.
Many of Gershwin's songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way—from jazz music to country music.
In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whitman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.
In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, while to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It still remains one of his most famous works.
George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty-nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.
WORD BOX ＞＞
| perform | [pə'fɔːm] | vt. 表演 | debate | [dɪ'beɪt] | n. 争论 |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| orchestra | ['ɔːkɪstrə] | n. 管弦乐队 | thrilled | [θrɪld] | adj. 非常兴奋 |
| apply | [ə'plaɪ] | vi. 申请 | reject | [rɪ'dʒekt] | vt. 拒绝接受 |
| critic | ['krɪtɪk] | n. 批评家 | mourn | [mɔːn] | vt. 哀悼 |
COMPREHENSION CHECK UP ＞＞
Choose the best answer according to the passage.
(
A. They were written about New Yorkers.
B. They were composed for Paul Whitman.
C. They were played mainly in the countryside.
D. They were performed in various ways.
(
A. It attracted more people to theatres.
B. It proved jazz could be serious music.
C. It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra.
D. It caused a debate among jazz musicians.
(
A. He created one of his best works.
B. He studied with Nadia Boulanger.
C. He argued with French critics.
D. He changed his music style.
(
A. Many of Gershwin's works were lost.
B. The death of Gershwin was widely reported.
C. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.
D. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin's death.
(
A. Talented and productive.
B. Serious and boring.
C. Popular and unhappy.
D. Friendly and honest.
乔治·格什温是美国著名的音乐家,他善于把精深复杂和原始质朴的风格熔于一炉,使其音乐中独特的个性至今未减半点魅力。在1919年他凭借一首《斯万尼》(Swanee)蜚声全国。此后他又创作了不少音乐剧。
George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America's greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.
Many of Gershwin's songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way—from jazz music to country music.
In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whitman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.
In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, while to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It still remains one of his most famous works.
George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty-nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.
WORD BOX ＞＞
| perform | [pə'fɔːm] | vt. 表演 | debate | [dɪ'beɪt] | n. 争论 |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| orchestra | ['ɔːkɪstrə] | n. 管弦乐队 | thrilled | [θrɪld] | adj. 非常兴奋 |
| apply | [ə'plaɪ] | vi. 申请 | reject | [rɪ'dʒekt] | vt. 拒绝接受 |
| critic | ['krɪtɪk] | n. 批评家 | mourn | [mɔːn] | vt. 哀悼 |
COMPREHENSION CHECK UP ＞＞
Choose the best answer according to the passage.
(
D
) 1. Which is TRUE about many of Gershwin's musical works?A. They were written about New Yorkers.
B. They were composed for Paul Whitman.
C. They were played mainly in the countryside.
D. They were performed in various ways.
(
B
) 2. What do we know about the concert organized by Whitman?A. It attracted more people to theatres.
B. It proved jazz could be serious music.
C. It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra.
D. It caused a debate among jazz musicians.
(
A
) 3. What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?A. He created one of his best works.
B. He studied with Nadia Boulanger.
C. He argued with French critics.
D. He changed his music style.
(
B
) 4. What do we learn from the last paragraph?A. Many of Gershwin's works were lost.
B. The death of Gershwin was widely reported.
C. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.
D. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin's death.
(
A
) 5. Which of the following best describes Gershwin?A. Talented and productive.
B. Serious and boring.
C. Popular and unhappy.
D. Friendly and honest.
答案：1. D
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. A
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. A
解析：
翻译:
### 乔治·格什温
乔治·格什温出生于1898年，是美国最伟大的作曲家之一。他18岁时发表了第一首歌。在接下来的20年里，他创作了500多首歌曲。
格什温的许多歌曲最初是为在纽约市剧院上演的音乐剧而写的。这些戏剧在20世纪20年代和30年代是一种很受欢迎的娱乐形式。他的许多歌曲一直都很受欢迎。多年来，它们以各种可能的方式被演唱和演奏——从爵士乐到乡村音乐。
20世纪20年代，美国有一场关于爵士乐的争论。一些人问，爵士乐能被视为严肃音乐吗？1924年，爵士乐音乐家兼管弦乐队指挥保罗·惠特曼决定组织一场特别的音乐会，以表明爵士乐是严肃的音乐。格什温在意识到自己只有几周的时间来创作之前就同意为这场音乐会创作一些作品。在那么短的时间里，他为钢琴和管弦乐队创作了一首曲子，他称之为《蓝色狂想曲》。格什温本人在音乐会上弹奏了钢琴。观众听到他的音乐时都非常兴奋。这使他举世闻名，并表明爵士乐既可以是严肃的，也可以是受欢迎的。
1928年，格什温去了巴黎。他申请向著名音乐家娜迪亚·布朗热学习作曲，但她拒绝了他。她担心古典音乐的学习会毁掉他受爵士乐影响的风格。在那里期间，格什温创作了《一个美国人在巴黎》。当它首次演出时，评论家们对这部音乐作品意见不一。一些人称之为欢快且充满活力，而另一些人则认为它很愚蠢且无聊。但它很快在欧洲和美国流行起来。它仍然是他最著名的作品之一。
乔治·格什温于1937年去世，就在医生发现他患有脑癌的几天后。他当时只有39岁。世界各地的报纸都在头版报道了他的死讯。人们哀悼这位伟人的离去，以及他本可能还会创作的所有音乐。
### 词汇框
| perform | [pə'fɔːm] | 表演（及物动词） | debate | [dɪ'beɪt] | 争论（名词） |
| ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| orchestra | ['ɔːkɪstrə] | 管弦乐队（名词） | thrilled | [θrɪld] | 非常兴奋（形容词） |
| apply | [ə'plaɪ] | 申请（不及物动词） | reject | [rɪ'dʒekt] | 拒绝接受（及物动词） |
| critic | ['krɪtɪk] | 批评家（名词） | mourn | [mɔːn] | 哀悼（及物动词） |
### 阅读理解检测
根据短文选择最佳答案。
（ ）1. 关于格什温的许多音乐作品，哪一项是正确的？
A. 它们是关于纽约人的。
B. 它们是为保罗·惠特曼创作的。
C. 它们主要在乡村演奏。
D. 它们以各种方式被演奏。
（ ）2. 关于惠特曼组织的音乐会，我们知道什么？
A. 它吸引了更多的人去剧院。
B. 它证明了爵士乐可以是严肃的音乐。
C. 它使格什温成为管弦乐队的指挥。
D. 它在爵士乐音乐家之间引起了一场争论。
（ ）3. 格什温在巴黎期间做了什么？
A. 他创作了他最好的作品之一。
B. 他向娜迪亚·布朗热学习。
C. 他与法国评论家争论。
D. 他改变了他的音乐风格。
（ ）4. 我们从最后一段中了解到什么？
A. 格什温的许多作品都丢失了。
B. 格什温的死讯被广泛报道。
C. 为了纪念格什温举行了一场音乐会。
D. 格什温死后开始了脑癌研究。
（ ）5. 以下哪一项最能描述格什温？
A. 有才华且多产的。
B. 严肃且无聊的。
C. 受欢迎且不快乐的。
D. 友好且诚实的。
### 乔治·格什温
乔治·格什温出生于1898年，是美国最伟大的作曲家之一。他18岁时发表了第一首歌。在接下来的20年里，他创作了500多首歌曲。
格什温的许多歌曲最初是为在纽约市剧院上演的音乐剧而写的。这些戏剧在20世纪20年代和30年代是一种很受欢迎的娱乐形式。他的许多歌曲一直都很受欢迎。多年来，它们以各种可能的方式被演唱和演奏——从爵士乐到乡村音乐。
20世纪20年代，美国有一场关于爵士乐的争论。一些人问，爵士乐能被视为严肃音乐吗？1924年，爵士乐音乐家兼管弦乐队指挥保罗·惠特曼决定组织一场特别的音乐会，以表明爵士乐是严肃的音乐。格什温在意识到自己只有几周的时间来创作之前就同意为这场音乐会创作一些作品。在那么短的时间里，他为钢琴和管弦乐队创作了一首曲子，他称之为《蓝色狂想曲》。格什温本人在音乐会上弹奏了钢琴。观众听到他的音乐时都非常兴奋。这使他举世闻名，并表明爵士乐既可以是严肃的，也可以是受欢迎的。
1928年，格什温去了巴黎。他申请向著名音乐家娜迪亚·布朗热学习作曲，但她拒绝了他。她担心古典音乐的学习会毁掉他受爵士乐影响的风格。在那里期间，格什温创作了《一个美国人在巴黎》。当它首次演出时，评论家们对这部音乐作品意见不一。一些人称之为欢快且充满活力，而另一些人则认为它很愚蠢且无聊。但它很快在欧洲和美国流行起来。它仍然是他最著名的作品之一。
乔治·格什温于1937年去世，就在医生发现他患有脑癌的几天后。他当时只有39岁。世界各地的报纸都在头版报道了他的死讯。人们哀悼这位伟人的离去，以及他本可能还会创作的所有音乐。
### 词汇框
| perform | [pə'fɔːm] | 表演（及物动词） | debate | [dɪ'beɪt] | 争论（名词） |
| ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| orchestra | ['ɔːkɪstrə] | 管弦乐队（名词） | thrilled | [θrɪld] | 非常兴奋（形容词） |
| apply | [ə'plaɪ] | 申请（不及物动词） | reject | [rɪ'dʒekt] | 拒绝接受（及物动词） |
| critic | ['krɪtɪk] | 批评家（名词） | mourn | [mɔːn] | 哀悼（及物动词） |
### 阅读理解检测
根据短文选择最佳答案。
（ ）1. 关于格什温的许多音乐作品，哪一项是正确的？
A. 它们是关于纽约人的。
B. 它们是为保罗·惠特曼创作的。
C. 它们主要在乡村演奏。
D. 它们以各种方式被演奏。
（ ）2. 关于惠特曼组织的音乐会，我们知道什么？
A. 它吸引了更多的人去剧院。
B. 它证明了爵士乐可以是严肃的音乐。
C. 它使格什温成为管弦乐队的指挥。
D. 它在爵士乐音乐家之间引起了一场争论。
（ ）3. 格什温在巴黎期间做了什么？
A. 他创作了他最好的作品之一。
B. 他向娜迪亚·布朗热学习。
C. 他与法国评论家争论。
D. 他改变了他的音乐风格。
（ ）4. 我们从最后一段中了解到什么？
A. 格什温的许多作品都丢失了。
B. 格什温的死讯被广泛报道。
C. 为了纪念格什温举行了一场音乐会。
D. 格什温死后开始了脑癌研究。
（ ）5. 以下哪一项最能描述格什温？
A. 有才华且多产的。
B. 严肃且无聊的。
C. 受欢迎且不快乐的。
D. 友好且诚实的。