Music comes in many forms; most countries have a style of their own. The US is well known for jazz (爵士乐), which has gained world-wide popularity.

In contrast to classical (古典的) music, which follows formal European traditions, jazz is natural and free-form. It is full of energy, expressing the moods, interests, and feelings of the people. It has a modern sound that makes people very excited. In the 1920s jazz sounded like America. And So it does today.

The origins of this music are as interesting as the music itself. Jazz was produced by American blacks, who were brought to the Southern States as slaves. They were sold to plantation owners (种植园主) and forced to work long hours in the cotton and tobacco fields. This work was hard and life was short. When a Negro died, his friends and relatives formed a group to carry the body to the cemetery.

A band often went with them. On the way to the cemetery the band played slow and sad music. But on the way home the mood changed. Spirits lifted. Everybody was happy. Death had removed one of their members, but the living were glad to be alive. The band played happy music, which made everyone want to dance. It was an early form of jazz.

Music has always been important in their lives. Coming mainly from West Africa, the black men who were brought to America already possessed a rich musical tradition. This music centered on religious ceremonies (宗教的仪式) in which dancing, singing, clapping and stamping (顿足) to the beat of a drum were important forms of musical expression. As these people settled in to their fields, they made up work songs. Singing made the hard work go faster.

Another musical form that helped to develop jazz was the blues. Blues songs always describe something sad — an unhappy love affair, a money problem, bad luck. To this day, the expression “feeling blue” means being sad.

1.Through jazz, people can express______.

2.Which of the following is true according to the text?

3.The underlined sentence “Spirits lilted,” suggested that______.

4.What should be the best tide for this passage?

A. A Light Music.

B. Black men’s Music.

C. The Origin of the Jazz Music.

D. The Popular Music—Jazz in the U.S.A.

5.Why did the band play happy music on the way home from the cemetery?

阅读理解

Music comes in many forms; most countries have a style of their own. Poland has its folks. Hungary has its czardas. Argentina is famous for the tango. The U.S. is known for jazz, the type of music that has gained worldwide popularity.

Jazz is American contribution to popular music. While classical music follows formal European tradition(传统)，jazz is rather a free form. It is full of energy, expressing the moods, interests, and emotions (感情) of the people. It is breaking and exciting with a modern sound. In the 1920s jazz sounded like America. And so it does today.

The origins (起源)of the music are as interesting as the music itself. Jazz was invented by American Negroes, or blacks, as they are called today, who were brought to the Southern states as slaves. They were sold to farm owners and forced to work long hours in the cotton and tobacco fields. This work was hard and life was short. When a Negro died his friends and relatives would gather and carry the body to have a ceremony before they buried him.

There was always a band おwith them. On the way to the ceremony the band played slow, solemn music suitable for the situation. But on the way home the mood changed. Spirits lifted. Everyone was happy. Death had removed one of their members, but the living were glad to be alive. The band played happy music, this music made everyone want to dance. It was an early form of jazz.

Music has always been important in Negro life. The blacks, who were brought to America from West Africa, had a rich musical tradition. In the fields, they made up work songs. Singing made the hard work go faster. And when they got to Christianity, they made lovely spirituals, which have become an everlasting part of American music.

1．From the passage, we can see that jazz　　   .

A. is a kind of African music

B. started from Africa but is popular in America

C. was started by blacks working in Africa

D. was started by blacks in America

2．Jazz is a kind of music　　   .

A. almost the same as classical music

B. quite different from classical music

C. popular only in America

D. quite different from Africa music.

3．Generally speaking, Jazz is mostly a kind of　　   .

A. American music

B. African music

C. classical music

D. popular music played at funerals

4．Usually we may feel 　　   moods when we listen to jazz music.

A. sad and sorry

B. tiring and hard working

C. exciting and happy

D. lonely and sad

5．Jazz will always be connected with　　   .

A. American blacks

B. slavery in the United States

C. modern times

D. quick development of music

The geographical location of a country and its physical characteristics are very important to its development and progress. he United States is very fortunate in this respect.

First of all, it has a good climate. In almost all sections of the country it is possible to live comfortably during the whole year. It is true that in the south it sometimes gets very hot, and in the north very cold. But the people who live in these regions become accustomed to the climate and never suffer very much when the weather is either very hot or very cold.

In a large country there is usually a great variety of different physical characteristics. In the United States, there are wide plains and high mountains, thousands of lakes and rivets of all sizes, cool forests and hot deserts, and a coastline several thousand miles long.

The many lakes and rivers, as well as the long coastline, have been of great importance to the development of the country, since they made possible the easy transportation of people and all the things people need. Transportation by water is still necessary and important. In modern times, however, trains, automobiles, trucks and airplanes are doing much of the work which was formerly done by ships and boats.

44．What are the principal physical characteristics of the United States？

A．Almost the same．  B．Rather various．

C．Very good for farming． D．Suitable for transportation．

45．In what respect is the United States very fortunate？

A．Geographical location．  B．Good climate．

C．Physical characteristics．       D．Both A and C．

46．Why are rivers，lakes and coastlines important to the development of the U. S. A？

A．They make the climate better．

B．They provide people with a good many opportunities of employment．

C．They provide people with good transportation and whatever they need．

D．They make the scenery of the country more beautiful and attractive．

47．What was used for transportation in the distant past in the U. S. A. ?

A．Trains．   B．Trucks．

C．Planes．   D．Ships and boats．

The geographical location of a country and its physical characteristics are very important to its development and progress. he United States is very fortunate in this respect.
First of all, it has a good climate. In almost all sections of the country it is possible to live comfortably during the whole year. It is true that in the south it sometimes gets very hot, and in the north very cold. But the people who live in these regions become accustomed to the climate and never suffer very much when the weather is either very hot or very cold.
In a large country there is usually a great variety of different physical characteristics. In the United States, there are wide plains and high mountains, thousands of lakes and rivets of all sizes, cool forests and hot deserts, and a coastline several thousand miles long.
The many lakes and rivers, as well as the long coastline, have been of great importance to the development of the country, since they made possible the easy transportation of people and all the things people need. Transportation by water is still necessary and important. In modern times, however, trains, automobiles, trucks and airplanes are doing much of the work which was formerly done by ships and boats.
44．What are the principal physical characteristics of the United States？
A．Almost the same．  B．Rather various．
C．Very good for farming． D．Suitable for transportation．
45．In what respect is the United States very fortunate？
A．Geographical location．  B．Good climate．
C．Physical characteristics．       D．Both A and C．
46．Why are rivers，lakes and coastlines important to the development of the U. S. A？
A．They make the climate better．
B．They provide people with a good many opportunities of employment．
C．They provide people with good transportation and whatever they need．
D．They make the scenery of the country more beautiful and attractive．
47．What was used for transportation in the distant past in the U. S. A. ?
A．Trains．   B．Trucks．
C．Planes．   D．Ships and boats．

1During the First World War, some Americans indirectly benefited because of the war. With two million white men fighting in Europe and no new immigrants entering the country, many jobs in the United States became available to blacks and women for the first time.

2Both groups proved their ability to do any kind of job. Women became railway conductors, brick layers, and factory workers. Their presence in traditionally male workplace produced many problems. Men were annoyed by women’s higher productivity and willingness to work for lower pay. Working mothers were often criticized for leaving their families. But many women welcomed the responsibilities. “It was not until our men were called overseas,” said one woman bank executive, “that we make any real onslaught on the realm of finance, and became tellers, managers of departments, and junior and senior officers.”

3Women who did not take jobs helped in the war effort in other ways. They made uniforms, rolled bandages, and campaigned for the sale of Liberty Bonds to help finance the war.

4American manufacturers offered jobs to large numbers of black Americans for the first time as a result of the war. Most factories were located in the North. To take advantage of these new job opportunities, many black families moved from their homes in the South to the Northern cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, Chicago, and Detroit.

5White Americans were of two minds about the role of black Americans in the war effort. On the one hand, black workers’ ability to learn new jobs quickly and do them well strengthened the home front, and the black men’s fighting ability helped the Allies win the war. However, many whites did not want to acknowledge that blacks were capable, effective workers. White soldiers returning from the war had no desire to compete for jobs with blacks on equal terms. At the same time, many blacks were not willing to a lesser role once the war had ended.

1.Why could American women and backs find jobs during World War I?

A. They were taken to serve the war.                B. They had their equal right at that time.

C. Workforce was in great need.               D. They had better productivities.

2.Which of the following is Untrue according to the above passage?

A. Blacks women were not allowed to fight in World War I.

B. All American women went to work during World War I.

C. Northern cities applied more blacks during World War I.

D. Women and blacks earned a lot during World War I.

3.Which of the following is the main idea of the whole passage?

A. Americans benefited a lot from World Ward I.

B. World War I had strong effect on America.

C. Some Americans benefited from World War I indirectly.

D. U.S.A. women and blacks contributed much in World War I.

4.Which of the following shows the right structures of the above passage?

A. 1→23→45             B. 1→2→3→4→5

C. 1→23→4→5                     D. 123→4→5