During the 1800s, African Americans worked long days in the fields of the American South.To ease their labor, they sang "field hollers" that they had brought from Africa.One person sang a line.Then a group of workers repeated it.The songs' words told of the hardships that people suffered.African Americans sang "shout spirituals", or joyous religious songs.They clapped their hands and stomped their feet to the music.
After the Civil War, the music changed dramatically.African American music, from ballads to church music, took new forms.It also adapted dance music, called "jump-ups".which had great rhythm. Banjos became popular.A blues singer usually played a call and response with the banjo.By the early 1900s, the guitar had replaced the banjo as the main blues instrument.
Northern Mississippi - called the Delta - was the center of the blues tradition.By the 1920s, the Delta had many clubs, so-called juke joints.African Americans listened and danced to music in these clubs.Some of the greatest blues men and women performed there.
Blues have a soulful sound that is easy to recognize.The musical notes are often "bent".That is, they are changed slightly to give a song more strength.Whatever their origin, these bent notes most often define the blues.
Lyrics are the words of a song.Blues lyrics describe everyday life.The lyrics, often about relationships between men and women, are often very intense and personal.They tell about sorrow and overwork.They tell about finding or losing love, having money or being broke, being happy or sad and lonely.The lyrics may use humor to describe life's trials and joys.They almost always use the rhythms of everyday speech.A typical blues stanza, or group of lyrics, has three lines.The second line repeats the first line.The third line has different words.
By the 1940s, large numbers of African Americans had left the Delta and moved north to work. Many settled in Chicago.There, a new kind of "electric", or "Chicago" blues began.Many of its themes were the same, but these blues had "wailing" electric guitars and harmonicas.The music had a steady, strong drumbeat.The loud, driving Chicago blues was excellent dance music.Chicago blues led to the birth of a new music style-rock and roll.
【小题1】The "field holler" is a kind of music that came from ___.
A.the American South. | B.Africa. |
C.Chicago. | D.Asia. |
A.used banjos. | B.were sung in church. |
C.included call and response singing. | D.expressed sadness. |
A.three lines. | B.a harmonica. |
C.a driving beat. | D.four lines. |
A.would have widespread without the juke joints of the Mississippi. |
B.served as a form of communication and self-expression. |
C.was successful only in the American South. |
D.there were only greatest blues man performed in these clubs. |
A.the South was too hot in summer. |
B.they liked the Chicago blues. |
C.there were more jobs there. |
D.they wanted to create a new music style. |
【小题1】B
【小题2】C
【小题3】A
【小题4】B
【小题5】C
解析试题分析:文章介绍了美国音乐的不同种类和它们的演变过程,也介绍这些音乐的表达方式和内涵。
【小题1】细节题:从文章第一段的句子:To ease their labor, they sang "field hollers" that they had brought from Africa.可知"field holler"是来自非洲的音乐,选B
【小题2】细节题:从文章第一段的句子:One person sang a line.Then a group of workers repeated it.可知"Shout spirituals" 和 "field hollers"相似因为它们都是一个人唱其他人附和,选C
【小题3】细节题:从文章倒数第二段的句子:A typical blues stanza, or group of lyrics, has three lines.可知一个典型的blues stanza,由三行组成,选A
【小题4】归纳题:从文章倒数第二段的句子:Blues lyrics describe everyday life.The lyrics, often about relationships between men and women, are often very intense and personal.They tell about sorrow and overwork.They tell about finding or losing love, having money or being broke, being happy or sad and lonely.The lyrics may use humor to describe life's trials and joys.可知蓝调是一种交流的形式和自我表达的方式,选B
【小题5】细节题:从文章最后一段的句子:By the 1940s, large numbers of African Americans had left the Delta and moved north to work. Many settled in Chicago.可知非裔美国人会搬到芝加哥因为那里有更多的工作,选C
考点:考查文化类短文
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Every people uses its own special word to show its ideas and feelings. Some of these expressions are commonly used for many years. Others are popular for just a short time. One such American expression is “Where’s the beef? ”It is used when something is not as good as it is said to be. In the early 1980s“Where’s the beef? ”was one of the most popular expressions in the United States. It seemed as if everyone using it at the time.
Beef, of course, is the meat from a cow, and this kind of food is more popular in America than a hamburger made from beef. In the 1960s a businessman named Ray began building small restaurants that sold hamburgers at a low price. Ray called this “McDonald’s”. Ray became one of the richest businessmen at last in America.
Other business people watched his success. Some of them opened their own hamburger restaurants. One company called “Wendy’s” said its hamburgers were bigger than those sold by McDonald’s or anyone else. The Wendy’s Company began to use the expression “Where’s the beef ? ”to make people know that Wendy’s hamburgers were the biggest. The Wendy’s television advertisement showed three old women eating hamburgers. The bread that covered the meat was very big, but inside there was only a bit of meat. One of the women said she would not eat a hamburger with such a little piece of beef. “Where’s the beef? ”she shouted in a funny way. The advertisement for Wendy’s hamburger restaurants was success. As we said, it seemed everyone began using the expression “Where’s the beef? ”.
【小题1】 started McDonald’s restaurant.
A.Ray | B.McDonald |
C.Wendy | D.Three old women |
A.they could sell hamburgers at a low price |
B.hamburgers were easy to make |
C.beef was very popular in America |
D.they could make a lot of money |
A.with many old women eating hamburgers |
B.by a television advertisement |
C.while selling bread with a bit of meat in it |
D.at McDonald’s restaurant |
A.The beef in hamburgers is not as much as it is said to be |
B.The hamburgers are not as good as they are said to be |
C.It is used when something is not as good as it is said to be |
D.Wendy’s is the biggest |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodles for you on your birthday. But in the US, a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday.
Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting (糖霜). It has been an American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to the classroom to celebrate their child’s birthday.
But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe cupcakes contribute to child obesity.
Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are interfering (妨碍) with American culture. The cupcake is seen as American as apple pie — only prettier.
According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, the cupcake is the most democratic (民主的) of desserts. As they are small enough for one person, you don’t have to share your cupcake with anyone — it’s all yours. They are also all the same size, so there can’t be any cries of “she got the bigger piece!”
Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson in self-determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, others have it all in just one bite.
In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as trendy as having a cup of Starbucks coffee.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk show that if she was elected president, she would give everyone a cupcake on her birthday.
Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the cupcake is very much about going back to American national identity in food, which is all about comfort. “People want to think about when they and their country were innocent,” she said.
【小题1】 According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that ___________.
A. a party for children on their birthday |
B. A mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday |
C. A mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday and brings it to the classroom |
D. parents go travelling with their children on their birthday |
A. Because they themselves don’t like cupcakes. |
B. Because they think cupcakes are not so delicious. |
C. Because they believe cupcakes will cause cries of “She got the bigger piece”. |
D. Because they believe cupcakes are one of the causes to make children become fat. |
A. The cupcake is more democratic than any other deserts in the US. |
B. The cupcake is too small to share with others. |
C. The sizes of cupcakes are the same so it’s equal to everyone. |
D. Cupcakes will lead to child obesity so they should be banned. |
A. popular | B. gentle | C. delicious | D. different |
A. To arouse the readers’ attention. |
B. To show that cupcakes are becoming a popular to show kindness and comfort. |
C. To make a comparison between them. |
D. To give readers a general idea of cupcakes. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
The kings of ancient Egypt built strong tombs(坟墓)to keep their bodies safe after death and to hold their treasures. The Great Pyramid was built thousands of years ago for a king called Khufu. It is located on the west bank of Nile River not far from Cairo. In fact all the pyramids along the Nile are on its west bank. The ancient Egyptians compared the rising of the sun to the beginning of life and the setting of the sun to the end of life. This is why their dead bodies were buried on the west bank of the Nile. The people of Mexico also built pyramids. They did not build the pyramids for tombs. They used to build a pyramid and then a temple on top of it. The pyramids of Mexico are not as high as the pyramids of Egypt, but they are big. Each of the pyramids has a wide stairway that goes from the bottom to the top.
The biggest pyramid in Mexico is almost 2000 years old. Scientists think it took 10,000 men more than ten years to build it. On the top they built a temple of the sun. The temple is no longer there but people still call it the Pyramid of the Sun. Near it is another huge pyramid, the Pyramid of the Moon.
【小题1】In ancient Egypt pyramids were built .
A.for visitors to see | B.for kings to live in |
C.as the kings’ tombs | D.for king Khufu |
A.they died in the west |
B.the sun sets in the west |
C.the end of their lives was like the setting of the sun |
D.they would go to the west after death |
A.The kings of ancient Egypt built strong tombs only to hold treasures. |
B.The ancient Egyptians compared the rising of the sun to the beginning of life and the setting of the sun to the end of life. |
C.The biggest pyramid in Mexico is nearly 2000 years old. |
D.Near the Pyramid of the Sun, there is the Pyramid of the Moon. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
“Hi,howareya.” some people say when they see a familiar face.The words run together into a mass,all sense and meaning lost. All the same,people do care how you are.After they greet you,it’s likely you will greet them back,with an equally meaningless phrase like,“Can’t complain,can’t complain.”You could probably complain,at length,or share a brilliant thought you were just beginning when a greeting interrupted you.You don’t though,you say,“Great,you?”
You are not giving each other information about your health and wellbeing.All the same,you are sharing information.You’re acknowledging each other’s positions as acknowledged friends,or at least as accepted acquaintances.And you are reestablishing the ties that may have lapsed(衰退) since yesterday,when you last met at the elevator or the entrance to the train station.
It’s what anthropologist(人类学家) Bronislaw Malinoski called a phatic(交流感情的) communication.Its message is not in the words you use,but in the fact that you speak ritually(仪式上地) accepted words.In Asia,for example,people may ask one another if they have eaten,or if they are busy.They’re not really asking for their lunch menu or their agenda,they are saying hello.A phatic signal merely says, “I see you there.” It says hi.
There’s embarrassment of being near people without acknowledging them.That uncomfortable feeling is one reason why lonely passengers in the subway may behave as if they cannot see anyone around them or may escape their uncomfortable situation with a book.Some people read all the way home,and never turn a page.
Your friend isn’t asking how you are,and you aren’t telling him.However,he is recognizing your existence,and when you answer,you are recognizing his.In addition,the set speech you have shared opens the door to closer communications if both agree.Someday,you may come to real close friendship,and really tell one another how you are.
Meanwhile,people who greet one another this way do care.They care enough to recognize someone’s essential humanity(人性).They send a signal across the space between,to share,very briefly and lightly,in awareness of one another.
Your greetings prove that neither of you has become a social outcast.How are you?You are still a member of society in good status.You are still the one who knows the rituals and secret passwords necessary to get to work each day.
【小题1】When people greet,they ________.
A.want to show their different educational backgrounds |
B.show nothing related with the words themselves |
C.want to know other people’s privacy |
D.express something special |
A.is rarely used by Asian people |
B.is too complex to be used often |
C.helps establish or keep certain relationships |
D.often ruins the normal relationships between friends or acquaintances |
A.they want to be polite to others |
B.they feel uncomfortable to do it |
C.they don’t know when to greet them |
D.they want to do something meaningful |
A.Greetings should be given better expressions. |
B.Greetings convey different meanings to different people. |
C.Greetings help prove an individual’s social independence. |
D.Greetings help an individual be connected with the society. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Here’s a movie—a sharp, sugar-rush of fun that’s guaranteed to entertain the entire family.
With some terrific computer-generated effects, a great cast and a fun-packed storyline, Robots is the best animated film (动画片) since The Incredibles. Yep, it really is that good.
Set in a world populated by robots, Ewan McGregor plays Rodney Copperbottom, a young robot who leaves his small-town home to pursue his dream of becoming an inventor.
But after arriving in Robot City, his hopes of getting a job at Bigweld Industries are destroyed when he learns the firm has been taken over by the evil Ratchet (Greg Kinnear).
Egged on by his controlling mum, Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent), Ratchet plans to reduce half of Robot City’s citizens to scrap metal by refusing to sell the spare parts they need to survive.
Instead, he wants to make a fortune selling expensive upgrades that few can afford. As he says, “Why be you when you can be new?”
Aided by a few misfit robots known as the Rustles—including Robin Williams as the cowardly' (胆小的)Fender (“I’m made of a metal called Afraidium”)—Rodney must track down the firm’s founder, Bigweld (Mel Brooks), and convince him to save the city from Ratchet’s plans.
The first thing that’ll strike you about the movie is the thought that's gone into creating Robot City. It’s a wondrous world full of mechanical marvels including wind-up cars and walking streetlamps.
Also terrific are the special effects. This might be an animated movie but at times you’ll catch yourself thinking it’s really a live-action film.
Of course, there have been plenty of animated movies that looked the part but were let down by a weak storyline (see Shark Tale, for example).
But Robots grips (扣人心弦) right from the start thanks to a heart-warming and thoroughly engaging plot that never bores.
My only complaints are with Williams who, as usual,has a one-in-10 success rate with his jokes. Also a letdown is a romantic subplot between Rodney and a shapely robot called Cappy (Halle Berry) that doesn’t go anywhere.
Complains aside, this is a mechanical marvel that’ll have you bolted firmly to your seat.
BEST QUOTE(引述): Fender: “Even though you had a discouraging day, just remember there’s another one coming tomorrow.”
BEST BIT: Check out those amazing images.
WORST BIT: Robin Williams, character does an unfunny Britney Spears dance routine.
IF YOU LIKED…Ice Age, The Incredibles, Toy Story... YOU’LL LIKE THIS.
【小题1】This piece of writing is a _______.
A.commercial advertisement | B.film review |
C.movie poster | D.literary essay |
A.Ewan McGregor | B.Robin Williams |
C.Britney Spears | D.Halle Berry |
A.A great cast. | B.A poor plot. |
C.Special effects. | D.Clumsy animation. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
In the winter months the temperature in most of Canada usually stays below 0℃. However, in some parts of Canada, such as southern British Columbia, the temperature rarely goes below 0℃. In most areas where people live, snow will be on the ground from mid-December to the middle of March. Though Canada’s winter may be much colder and longer than you are used to, it can be very enjoyable. For many Canadians, being active in winter is an important part of enjoying life. There are many outdoor winter activities, including skiing, ice fishing, walking, and skating. Joining in one of these activities may help you appreciate winter and enjoy your time outside in the snow.
Dressing for winter.
During winter in Canada, you will need warm clothing. If possible, arrive with these items or be prepared to buy them soon after your arrival. You will need:
*A warm waterproof(防水) boots.
*A scarf(围巾) for your neck.
*A hat that covers your ears.
*Gloves for your hands.
*Thick winter coats, pants(裤子) and sweaters.
Layers(层) keep you warm.
It’s a good idea to layer your clothing by, for example, wearing a T-shirt and a sweater underneath a jacket. If you become too hot, it is always easier to remove a piece of clothing than to add another. On the West Coast, prepare to dress for cool rainy or snowy weather. You will need:
*A warm waterproof coat.
*Waterproof hats.
*An umbrella.
*Rain boots or snow boots.
Learn more about weather and seasons across Canada. You can also contact(联系) Related Links.com, for example, an immigrant-serving(移民服务) organization in the community where you live for more information about dressing for winter.
【小题1】What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?
A.To tell about the details about Canada. |
B.To show many outdoor winter activities. |
C.To introduce the daily life of Canada. |
D.To encourage you to enjoy winter in Canada. |
A.Ice fishing. | B.Joining a group |
C.Leading an active life. | D.Staying in the snow |
A.an umbrella and sunglasses |
B.thick winter coats and a scarf |
C.waterproof hats and a scarf |
D.snow boots and gloves |
A.it is cool to dress like that. |
B.it is a rule to dress like that. |
C.the weather there is changeable. |
D.the weather is usually very hot. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
The influence of America is increasing in my country. Spanish people drink Coca Cola, wear blue jeans, watch Hollywood movies, listen to American music, and eat fast food, and they do these things every day.
I think that American movies are a good way to spread American culture because people are often influenced by what they see in the movies. Most of the programs and documentaries (纪录片) we watch on TV are from America, and most of the movies we go to see are made in Hollywood.
In the last few years, the government has tried to protect the Spanish movies. Now, in our cinemas, at least twenty percent of the movies which are shown must be from Spain or from other countries in Europe.
American culture is a part of Spanish life now. It’s certain that many things from America are as much a part of people’s lives as Spanish things. For example, Coca Cola is as familiar to everybody as any typical Spanish product. I’ve known about Coca Cola for my whole life.
However, it’s different with Western fast food. For example, I don’t think McDonald’s is as successful in Spain as it is in other countries. In my opinion, one of the reasons may be the lifestyle of the Spanish people. The Spanish people normally eat at home.
On the other hand, maybe McDonald’s hamburgers will eventually replace the famous Spanish tapas. It’s true that in every city in Spain you can find a McDonald’s, and it is more popular among the Spanish children than among the adults. In any case, it’s obvious that American culture is becoming more and more a part of our lives every day.
【小题1】From the first paragraph we can know that ____.
A.the influence of America on Spain can be found everywhere |
B.most Spanish people don’t like to listen to their own music |
C.fast food spreads from Spain to the United States |
D.some Spanish actors go to America to improve their acting skills |
A.American novels. | B.Hollywood movies. |
C.McDonald’s. | D.American music. |
A.To protect foreign culture in Spain. |
B.To earn more money from Spanish films. |
C.To limit the number of foreign movies. |
D.To unite the European Community. |
A.The name of a drink. | B.The name of a restaurant. |
C.A clothing brand. | D.A certain kind of food. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Zoos have been around for centuries — and they’ve changed a lot over the years. In the Middle Ages, wealthy people kept animals in their gardens. Public animal parks appeared in European cities in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The Philadelphia Zoo, the first in the United States, opened in 1874.
Until a few decades (十年) ago, most zoos were organized by creatures — monkeys in one area, cats in another, birds somewhere else, just like museum collections. In recent years, zoos have instead begun grouping animals that would normally interact (互相作用) in the wild. Moreover, instead of closing animals behind bars, designers are creating landscapes like the environments in which these creatures would naturally be found. Nearby signs provide information about the animals and their habitats in parts of the world where they normally live.
The Denver Zoo’s new Predator Ridge exhibit, for example, aims to teach visitors about Africa. Eight acres of land provide homes for 14 animal species, including lions, porcupines, cranes, and wild dogs. Plants from the region grow alongside African-like landform. Ten-foot-tall mounds (土墩) give lions a place from which to survey their surroundings, just as they would do in the wild.
Landscape design makes visitors to the Denver Zoo’s Predator Ridge exhibit feel like they’re really in Africa.
Animals in Predator Ridge can’t actually be mixed with one another, for safety reasons. But hidden deep channels and other smart features allow visitors to see all the animals at once. Different species can see each other too.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?
A.Protection of zoo animals. |
B.Changes of zoos over the time. |
C.The safety problem of zoos. |
D.The living habits of zoo animals. |
A.protect the safety of visitors |
B.separate lions from other animals |
C.create a natural environment for lions |
D.offer visitors a better view of lions |
A.Africa | B.the Predator Ridge exhibit |
C.the Denver Zoo | D.the ten-foot-tall mounds |
A.the earliest zoos were probably rich people’s gardens |
B.the Philadelphia Zoo is the first zoo in the world |
C.the new Predator Ridge exhibit is held in Africa |
D.more animals will be kept in zoos in the future |
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