Question

       In 1947 a group of famous people from the art world headed by an Austrian conductor decided to hold an international festival of music, dance and theatre in Edinburgh. The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.

       At the same time, the “Fringe” appeared as a challenge to the official festival. Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947, in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform, and they did so in a public house disused for years.

       Soon, groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre by little-known writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh.

       Today the “Fringe”, once less recognized, has far outgrown the festival with around 1,500 performances of theatre, music and dance on every one of the 21 days it lasts. And years early as 1959, with only 19 theatre groups performing, some said it was getting too big.

       A paid administrator was first employed only in 1971, and today there are eight administrators working all year round and the number rises to 150 during August itself. In 2004 there were 200 places housing 1,695 shows by over 600 different groups from 50 different countries. More than 1.25 million tickets were sold.

40. What was the purpose of Edinburgh Festival at the beginning?

A. To bring Europe together again.

B. To honor heroes of World War 11.

C. To introduce young theatre groups.

D. To attract great artists from Europe.

41. Why did some uninvited theatre groups come to Edinburgh in 1947?

A. They owned a public house there.

B. They came to take up a challenge.

C. They thought they were also famous.

D. They wanted to take part in the festival.

42. Who joined the "Fringe" after it appeared?

A. Popular writers

B. University students.

C. Artists from around the world.

D. Performers of music and dance.

43. We may learn from the text that Edinburgh Festival_________.

A. has become a non-official event

B. has gone beyond an art festival

C. gives shows all year round

D. keeps growing rapidly

Answer 1

【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文，题材是娱乐内容。作者介绍了Fringe的起源和发展过程。

段落		关键词、句	大意推测
过去的Fringe音乐节	第一部分（Para. 1）	In 1947 a group of famous people；hold an international festival；unexpectedly；reunite	1947年以奥地利指挥家为首的一组世界艺术名人在爱丁堡举行一次音乐节，目的是为了使二战后的欧洲团结起来。
	第二部分（Para. 2）	Fringe; a challenge to the official festival; Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947	与此同时， Fringe音乐节挑战官方音乐节而出现。1947年8个戏剧组织没有应邀而出现。
	第三部分（Para. 3）	Soon; groups of students; uncomfortable; make the journey to the Scottish capital; perform theatre	不久，一些大学的学生也组织起来，去爱丁堡表演戏剧。
现在的Fringe音乐节	第四部分（Para. 4）	Today；far outgrown； getting too big；	今天的Fringe音乐节蓬勃发展，音乐组织变得很庞大。
	第五部分（Para. 5）	A paid administrator；1971；today there are eight administrators；	1971年成立第一家收费管理机构，现在多大8家管理机构。

【解析】

40. A。细节理解题。难度：易。本题命题设置采用了同义句表达的方法。文章第一段中的The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War和A选项To bring Europe together again是同义句。

41. D。推理判断题。难度：中等。根据文章第二段中的Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947, in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform, and they did so in a public house disused for years可知，这些没有被邀请的戏剧组织认为每个人都应该有权利进行表演，所以他们用废弃了多年的公共剧院演出。所以他们的目的只是为了参加这个活动。故选D。

42. B。细节理解题。难度：易。根据文章第三段中的Soon, groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre可知，不久，一些大学的学生也组织起来，去爱丁堡表演戏剧。故选B。其他三项无中生有。

43. D。推理判断题。难度：中等。根据第四段中的Today the “Fringe”, once less recognized, has far outgrown the festival with around 1,500 performances和some said it was getting too big可知，Fringe音乐节发展很快，音乐组织变得很庞大。故选C项。

【难句学习】

1. Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947, in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform, and they did so in a public house disused for years.

翻译：1947年8个戏剧组织没有应邀而出现，他们相信每个人都有权利进行表演，所以他们用废弃了多年的公共剧院演出。

分析：句中and连接两个并列分句，前一个分句含有一个that引导的同位语从句。

2. Soon, groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre by little-known writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh.

翻译：不久，首先来自Edinburgh大学和后来来自Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham大学的学生组织每年都到苏格兰的首府在小教堂里给爱丁堡市民表演不怎么知名的作家写的戏剧。

分析：句中groups of students是主语，介词短语firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham作定语，to perform theatre by little-known writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh作目的状语。