摘要: Singing and dancing, the groups of children walked the foot of the mountain. A. as long as B. as far as C. as much as D. as well as

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Wearing a big hat and playing a guitar, a country music singer is using his rising and falling voice to tell the audience about his love, hope and loss. Few people could avoid getting caught up in his feelings.

This is the appeal(魅力)of country music, which speaks to the basic emotions of human life. Throughout the 20th century, it has grown into one of the most original and lasting American musical forms.

Country music's roots are in the songs of the American South, brought over by early immigrants(移民) from England. Those songs expressed the hardships of rural life and deep religious beliefs. In the 1920s, country music came into being as its first recordings were made. Early stars like Jimmy Rodger, known as "The Father of Country Music", and the Carter Family established its strong traditions - good song-writing, singing and playing.

Much of this music was written for and brought to the American public through the cowboy films of the 1930s and 1940s. It was widely popular then and many singers turned up on stage wearing Western fringe and cowboy hats.  

In the 1950s, the country music recording industry was set up in Nashville and moved away from its rough roots. But singers like John Denver, with his hit track "Take Me Home, Country Roads", insisted on the originality and emotions of "real" country music.

Younger artists in the 1990s turned to older country styles and mixed t3vhem with elements of rock 'n' roll. Steve Earle, with his song "The Devil's Right Hand", is typical of this so-called "another country music".

Country music continues to speak to Americans of all ages and backgrounds. And it gives the nation an identity(独特性).

Unlike pop music, country music was American, and only American. During its development, it continued to emphasize that "American" element and sounded completely different from its English ancestors. It may even be said that its sound and story tell the history of the United States.

Which of the following is the typical image(形象) when a country music singer performs?

A. Wearing a big hat and playing a guitar.

B. Using the rising and falling voice.

C. Telling about his love, hope and loss.

D. Singing for those working in the fields.

Which of the following statements about country music is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Country music was created by immigrants from England.

B. Country music comes from South American songs.

C. John Denver was known as "The Father of Country Music"

D. Country music that belongs to pop music was American, and only American.

The underlined expression “getting caught up in” probably means_________.

A. become interested or involved in

 B. becoming fashionable or popular in

 C. become caught in

 D. breaking away from

The author mentioned Jimmy Rodger, John Denver and Steve Earle to    __.

A. tell us the stage singing style of country music

B. show the process of the development of country music

C. attract the audience's attention to country music

D. introduce some famous stars to readers

When did Country music begin to turn into a stage art?

A. In the 1920s   B. In the 1940s    C. in the 1950s    D. in the 1990s

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Think of some of your favorite singers. When you listen, they can make you happy or sad, peaceful or angry. They can make you relax or want to get up and dance. Gifted singers have the power to affect us in many ways—emotionally, physically and mentally.

       But becoming a great singer isn’t as easy as listening to one. It takes practice, devotion and strong lungs! Just ask the well-known American opera(歌剧)star Carol Vaness.

       At the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where she often sings, Carol’s voice must be loud enough to be heard by four thousand people. It must reach every person in the theater, without a microphone, even when she’s singing softly. The reason Carol can project her voice that far is the way she breathes.

       “When you breathe, it’s like a swimmer taking a deep breath before going underwater,” Carol explains. “You have to take a lot of air into your lungs.”

       According to Carol, the main difference between pop singing and opera is “how you breathe, how much air you take in, and how you control it coming out. Regular singing is more like speaking, and it’s lot softer. When I sing for children, they’re often surprised by how the vibrations strike their ears—like waves on a beach, ”Carol says. “In opera, the air doesn’t just go out of your mouth—it vibrates in your chest,the way a guitar vibrates when it’s played.”

       Ever since she started piano lessons at the age of ten, Carol has loved music. As she got older, she decided to become a music teacher. When she went to college, she took singing lessons as part of her studies. Her voice teacher discovered that nineteen-year-old Carol had an exceptionally beautiful soprano voice-the highest singing voice for women.

       Carol decided to make opera her goal, not only because she loved to sing but also because she loved the drama. Opera is a play in which the characters sing the words instead of speaking them. The stories of opera can be tragic or comical. They can be personal stories about two people falling in love or grand stories about kings and queens who lived long ago. As the characters in an opera sing, the emotions(情感)expressed by words and music come to life.

       Today, Carol performs throughout the United States and Europe and she has song for almost twenty years. But she has never forgotten where she started singing in the first palace.

       “Put your heart into your singing and enjoy it,” says Carol, “because singing is a great joy. That’s why I sing. In fact, that’s why everybody sings.”

According to the passage,  the Metropolitan Opera in New York City      .

       A.is a five-story building    B.can seat 4,000 people     

       C.has no microphone in it   D.can project the singer’s voice

What is the best title for this passage?

       A.Opera Singing and Pop Singing     B.The Way an Opera Star Sings 

       C.An Opera Star         D.Singing without a Microphone

Which statement is true?

       A.A pop singer’s lungs are usually stronger than those of an opera singer’s   

       B.Opera singing is more like speaking.     

       C.A pop singer takes in much more air than an opera singer when singing.

       D.An opera singer breathes differently from a pop singer when singing.

From the passage you can conclude all the following EXCEPT that      .

       A.Carol once learned to play the piano     

       B.Carol worked as a music teacher    

       C.Carol has been singing opera for 20 years or so    

       D.Carol is popular with Americans and Europeans

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