Read first and then discuss the questions.

　　Where did jazz originate? What musical, social, and cultural ingredients (n. 成分, 因素) combined to form jazz? These questions, and their respective answers, are important for the student of jazz history to investigate.

　　Jazz is the only indigenous American art form and it is truly a cultural product of the United States. Western and African musical culture were the seeds of jazz, but America was the soil where jazz grew and prospered (V．成功, 兴隆, 昌盛). Jazz is neither a music of Blacks nor the music of Whites, but jazz is actually a blending of a variety of traditions, heritages, and philosophies (n. 哲学, 哲学体系) .

　　During the early history of America, slavery was a standard social practice. Slaves were forcibly brought from Africa to America. While in America, the displaced African’s (including African musicians who brought their musical traditions and talents with them) would learn from already established Western musical theories and performance practices. At the same time, Western musicians would learn African (Eastern) musical theories and performance practices from the African musicians.

　　Primitive (原始的) African culture places a great emphasis on music, much more so than Western societies. Music is an important aspect (n. 方面) of many of the day-today activities of the primitive African societies. As a primitive musical expression, early African music placed a great emphasis on rhythmic (adj. 节奏的, 合拍的) activity with a more simple use of melody (n. 悦耳的音调) and harmony (n. 协调, 融洽). African rhythms are quite complex and very advanced, yet the melodies and harmonies are simple. This strong emphasis on musical tradition and usage was brought with the African populations during their forced exile of slavery to America.

　　While in America, these new Black Americans still expressed themselves through their musical traditions. Since they were in America, their old musical traditions could not be reproduced exactly for many reasons, including not being allowed to use traditional African instruments. To understand a comparable situation, let us assume (vt. 假定, 设想) that we have a fictional American rock band who are forcibly taken to a foreign country. While in slavery, the rock musicians still desire to create their music. Unfortunately, their new “owners” give them permission to perform their rock music, but the rock band is not allowed to use any electric guitars, an electric bass, a drum set, keyboards, or any type of electronic instruments. This would cause quite a problem for the rock band, but if they have a strong enough desire to create their music, they would have to find a way to do so with the resources (instruments etc. ) that were available to them. This imaginary (adj. 假想的, 想象的) scenario (剧情概要, 或是某一特定情节) was exactly what the African musicians faced as slaves in America.

　　Along with finding new instruments, the African musicians were being exposed to the Western musical culture. This exposure was a vital essence to the evolution of jazz. These new Western melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, and aural traditions affected the African musicians tremendously. Of course, White musicians were also being affected by what they head from the African musicians. As time passes, the give and take between the African and Western musical traditions would blossom into what would be called Jazz.

　　To this day, elements that started with the African slaves can still be heard in jazz and rock. One example still in use is the African “call and response” method of early African songs. In a call and response, the soloist sings a portion of a melody while the group responds afterwards (much like a musical question and answer) .

　　Another example is “pitch-bending”. During the advent of jazz, the musicians would bend pitches for expressive purposes. This bent pitch catches our ears because the ear does not know where the pitch will actually end up, thus creating a musical surprise. Countless jazz and rock musicians use this technique today. Listen to a rock lead-guitar solo and count all the pitch-bends utilized. Most of today's synthesizers even have a pitch-bend device built in.

　　The roots of jazz are from African and Western musical traditions blended together. Over a period of many years, these traditions exchanged musical qualities and slowly evolved into jazz. The African emphasis on rhythm combined with Western theoretical musical thought created a new music for all musicians and audiences to enjoy. As the jazz musical tree grew, other sub-styles of music grew from the trunk of jazz. Music styles such as Rhythm and Blues (n. 节奏和布鲁斯) Soul, Funk, Rap, and Rock and Roll are all descendants (n. 子孙, 后裔, 后代) of jazz and the jazz heritage.

Questions For Discussion:

1．Does Jazz come from Africa?

2．Does Jazz come from Blues?

It happened that a young man named Henry was wandering through the street. He had come to Britain only by   1   . Being homeless and jobless, he looked pale and hungry. Walking along the street, he suddenly caught   2   of and apple thrown away by a boy. The poor fellow was so hungry that he was thinking   3   picking it up to eat. Just as he was   4   out his hand, he heard a voice calling him, “Young man.” He looked up and saw two   5   on a balcony（阳台）.Then he was led into a big house to meet the men. Having made sure that he was as   6   as a church mouse, the two men decided he was the   7   man they needed. Then they gave him a letter and told him that he was not to open it   8   two o’clock. They said, “Nothing but money in it.”

It was then only five minutes to one. “   9   there is money in it, why    10    go and have a good lunch?” Henry said to himself. At this   11   , he entered a restaurant and asked the waiter for meat and eggs, and a bottle of beer. Then he ate happily. When he had finished eating, it was only half   12   one. There was still half an hour before he could open the letter and so he called the waiter and asked for some   13   . Afraid that he could not afford to   14  the bill, the boss told the waiter to give him a   15   portion（一份）. As he was forced to pay, he had to open the letter a few minutes earlier than he had   16   . To his great surprise, he found a million-pound note. Taking a look at the note, the boss gave a low whistle. He couldn’t believe his own  17   . However, it was true. At once the boss  18   his tune（调子）and smiled. He asked the millionaire to come   19  he pleased and to have whatever he liked. As for the bill he  20   that it should be forgotten.

1. A. chance　　 　　　　 B. surprise　　   C. turn　　　　　　　　   D. plane

2. A. sight　　　　　　   B. hold　　　　   C. half　　　　　　　　   D. sign

3. A. about　　　　　　  B. over　　　　    C. of　　　　　　　　    D. through

4. A. putting　　　　　　  B. extending　　　　  C. reaching　　　　　　    D. letting

5. A. peasants　　　　    B. gentlemen　　    C. scholars　　　　　　  D. managers

6. A. rich　　　　　　　　    B. hungry　　　　    C. strong　　　　　　  D. poor

7. A. very　　　　　　　　    B. just   　　　　　　  C. worthy　　　　　　 D. able

8. A. before　　　　　　　　  B. until　　　　　　 C. after　　　　　　　　  D. at

9. A. Because　　　　   &n

bsp;　　 B. As　　　　    C. Where　　　　　　　　 D. Since

10. A. never　　　　　　　　  B. do you　　　　   C. not　　　　　　　　 D. don’t

11. A. thought　　　　　　　　 B. condition　　    C. situation　　　　　　   D. note

12. A. passed　　　　　　　　  B. to　　　　    C. past　　　　　　　　   D. for

13. A. water　　　　　　　　   B. more　　　　  C. money　　　　　　    D. rice

14. A. spend　　　　　　　　  B. count　　　　   C. write　　　　　　    D. pay

15. A. big　　　　　　　　    B. smaller　　　　    C. rich　　　　　　   D. full

16. A. promised　　　　　　  B. hoped　　　　　　  C. thought　　    　　 D. decided

17. A. master　　　　　　    B. waiter　　　　　　 C. note　　　　　　 D. eyes

18. A. raised　　　　　　    B. lowered　　　　    C. changed　　　　   D. struck

19. A. when　　　　　　    B. whenever　　　　    C. if　　　　　　    D. whether

20. A. suggested　　　　    B. insisted　　　　　　    C. asked　　　　  D. required

            475 Riverside Drive
New York N.Y. 10027
Jan.15, 2011
Dear John,
I'm sorry you didn't get the part you tried out for in that play. I know how much you wanted to be in the play. Now you feel that maybe acting isn't the right future for you. I think you're wrong. You're a good actor. Do you remember when you played Caesar in your summer theatre group's play? You were excellent . People clapped(鼓掌)every time you walked on stage（舞台). Even the other actors loved you.
All actors have to get used to being turned down for a job. It's part of an actor's life. Even famouse actors don't get every part they want. I think you should give acting another chance. You love it so much, and you're good at it. Don't be discouraged because you lose one part in the play. Wait a bit, and try for another one. After all , you can always give up some other time.
Love,
Jane
【小题1】
Jane wrote this letter because____.

完形填空（共20小题；每题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36-55各题所给的四个选项（A、Ｂ、Ｃ和Ｄ）中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
He drove after drinking alcohol, having a severe accident and had to get his arms removed. Since then, he has had to rely on his younger brother, who became his shadow, never   36   him alone for years. Except for   37   with his toes, he was totally unable to do anything else. As the two brothers grew up together, they had their own problems and would often   38  . Eventually, his younger brother went away and lived separately, leaving him heartbroken and   39   a loss what to do.
40  , a misfortune happened to a girl. One night she was preparing dinner when the kerosene(煤油) light on the stove was overturned, resulting in a fire which took her   41   away. Having decidedly   42   her sister’s willingness to help her, she determined to be thoroughly   43  . At school, she always studied hard. Most of all, she learned to be self-reliant. “I am lucky.   44   my arms are broken, my heart can still fly.” She wrote in her blog.
One day, the young man and the girl were both invited to a(n)   45   program. The boy told the television hostess about his uncertain future, whereas the girl was full of   46   for her life. They were both asked to write something on a piece of paper with their  47  . The boy: My younger brother’s arms are my arms. The girl: Broken wings,   48  heart.
They had both gone through the same ordeal(痛苦的折磨), but their different   49   determined the nature of their lives. As seems the case, unexpected disasters can strike our life at any time. How you handle   50   when faced with it is the true   51   of your character. If you choose to   52   or escape from the ordeal, it will follow you wherever you go.   53  , if you decide to be strong, the   54   will turn out to be a fortune on which new   55   will arise.
36. A. having left                   B. to leave                 C. left                  D. leaving
37. A. walking                B. writing               C. cleaning              D. playing
38. A. quarrel                         B. share                   C. communicate          D. disagree
39. A. on                    B. under                C. in                   D. at
40. A. Unfortunately          B. Unexpectedly         C. Similarly             D. Seriously 
41. A. hair                     B. hands                   C. happiness             D. possessions 
42. A. turned on                    B. turned up             C. turned off             D. turned down
43. A. helpless                     B. free                     C. independent           D. respected
44. A. Though                 B. Unless                 C. Whether               D. Since
45. A. interview              B. entertainment         C. contest                D. donation
46. A. calmness               B. enthusiasm           C. patience               D. excitement
47. A. wisdom                 B. strength                C. toes                     D. mouths
48. A. promising           B. inspiring             C. flying                D. advancing
49. A. characters              B. attitudes               C. opinions              D. ambitions
50. A. emergency             B. misfortune            C. opportunity                 D. defeat
51. A. test                       B. value                   C. meaning              D. function
52. A. complain                    B. struggle                    C. fight                 D. suffer
53. A. However               B. Though                C. But                  D. Therefore
54. A. accidents               B. carelessness           C. failures                D. hardship
55. A. solutions               B. impressions           C. hopes                  D. rewards

A wise man was visiting the Ganges, a river which flows through northern India, to take a bath. He found a group of family members on the  16 ， shouting angrily at each other.He  17 his disciples (弟子), smiled and asked, “Why do people shout in  18  at each other？”The disciples 19  for a while and one of them said, “Because we   20  our calm, we shout.”“But, why should you shout  21  the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a(n)  22   manner，” asked the wise man. Some disciples gave some other answers, but none  23  the other disciples. Finally the wise man explained, “When two people are angry at each other, there is a distance between their 24  . To cover that distance they must shout to be able to  25  each other. The angrier they are, the louder they will have to shout to 26  that great distance. What 27 when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, because their hearts are very  28  . The distance between them is either nonexistent (不存在的) or very small.”
The wise man  29 ，“When they love each other even more, they do not  30 ， but only whisper and they get even closer to each other. Finally they 31  need not whisper. They only look at each other and that's  32 . That is how close two people are when they love each other.”
He looked at his disciples and said, “So when you  33 ， do not let your hearts get distant. Do not say words that distance each other more.  34  there will come a day when the distance is so great that you'll not find the path to  35 . You may end up becoming enemies, for instance.”