Question

It is difficult to say exactly how the music we call “rock” or “rock and roll” began. Its roots (根源) go back to many different countries and many different kinds of music and many musicians.

Rock music developed mainly from the interaction (相互影响）of black African and white European music. The Europeans and the African slaves (奴隶）who came to America during the seventeenth century each had their own different kinds of music. Black Africans used heavy drumbeats, a rough singing voice, and the calling of a melody (旋律）and answer of a chorus. The white Europeans, mostly English and Scots, used a stronger melody, a less heavy beat, and instruments such as guitars, horns, and fiddles. The history of rock and roll is the history of how rock changed from these two traditions.

From the seventeenth to the twentieth century, musicians in the southern United States developed two new forms of music: the blues, usually played by blacks, and country music, played by whites. Black musicians sang the blues with a guitar. This music was similar to work songs: stories of troubles and pain, with lines that were repeated several times. The word “rock and roll” probably came from the black churches in the South, where people sang and danced to the strong rhythms, which they called “rocking and reeling”. At the same time, whites were playing country music, which was mostly traditional dancing music and slow songs that told sad stories. The singers played with string instruments such as fiddles and guitars.

During this time blues and country musicians had some influence on each other, but the influence grew stronger after phonograph records (留声机唱片)became popular in the late nineteenth century. The birth of the electric guitar changed country and blue music in the 1940s. The sound of the electric guitar would become the sound of rock and roll. No one thinks of early rock and roll without thinking of Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll”. Rock music continues to develop and change, but the heart and soul of rock is the same heart and soul that Elvis expressed.

1.What’s the best title for the passage?

A.Different Kinds of Music

B.The Beginning of Rock and Roll

C.Elvis’s Contribution (贡献）to Music

D.Rock and Roll Is Developing

2.Which of the following doesn’t describe black Africans’ music style?

A.They used heavy drumbeats.

B.They sang in a rough voice.

C.They used instruments such as guitars, horns, and fiddles.

D.They used the calling of a melody and answer of a chorus.

3.Which of the following describes country music?

A.Country music is usually played by blacks.

B.People sang spiritual music and danced to the strong rhythms, which they called “country music”.

C.Country music was traditional dancing music and slow songs that told sad stories.

D.Country music was similar to work songs.

4.Which of the following NOT right according to the passage?

A.In the seventeenth century, many visitors went to America from Europe and Africa.

B.Rock music developed mainly from the interaction of black African and white European music.

C.Musicians in the southern United States developed two new forms of music: the blues and country music from the seventeenth to the twentieth century.

D.Blues and country musicians had some influence on each other during a time in history.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.A

【解析】

文章大意：这篇短文讲述了摇滚乐的形成，它的根源追溯到许多国家，许多种类的音乐和音乐家。它的发展主要受非洲黑人和欧洲白人的影响。

1.题意：文章最好的标题是_______？

最佳标题题。A. Different Kinds of Music不同种类的音乐；B. The Beginning of Rock and Roll摇滚乐的起点；C. Elvis’s Contribution (贡献）to Music埃尔维斯对音乐的贡献；D. Rock and Roll Is Developing 摇滚乐正在发展。这篇文章一直在讲摇滚乐的起点，从不同的国家到不同类型音乐的相互影响。故选B。

2.题意：下面哪一项没有描述非洲黑人的音乐方式？

细节理解题。A. They used heavy drumbeats.他们使用重打鼓时的音乐节奏；B. They sang in a rough voice.他们用粗野的嗓音唱歌；C.They used instruments such as guitars, horns, and fiddles.他们使用乐器例如吉他，喇叭和小提琴；D.They used the calling of a melody and answer of a chorus. 他们使用喊叫的曲调跟应答的唱和。根据第二段“The white Europeans, mostly English and Scots, used a stronger melody, a less heavy beat, and instruments such as guitars, horns, and fiddles.”可知使用例如吉他，喇叭和小提琴这些乐器的不是非洲黑人，而是欧洲白人。可知选C。

3.题意：下面那一项叙述描述乡村音乐？

细节理解题。A. Country music is usually played by blacks.乡村音乐通常由黑人演奏；B. People sang spiritual music and danced to the strong rhythms, which they called “country music”.人们唱心灵的音乐，随着强劲的节奏跳舞；被称作乡村音乐。C. Country music was traditional dancing music and slow songs that told sad stories.乡村音乐是传统的舞蹈音乐，讲着悲伤故事的慢歌；D. Country music was similar to work songs.乡村音乐和工作歌曲相似。根据短文中At the same time, whites were playing country music, which was mostly traditional dancing music and slow songs that told sad stories。同时，白人演奏乡村音乐，它大多演奏传统的舞蹈音乐，讲着悲伤故事的慢歌。故应该选C。

4.题意：根据短文下面哪一项不正确？

推理判断题。A. In the seventeenth century, many visitors went to America from Europe and Africa.在17世纪，许多游客从欧洲和非洲来到美国；B. Rock music developed mainly from the interaction of black African and white European music.摇滚乐主要受非洲黑人音乐和欧洲白人音乐的相互影响改进的；C. Musicians in the southern United States developed two new forms of music: the blues and country music from the seventeenth to the twentieth century.从十七世纪到二十世纪，美国南部的音乐家改进了音乐的两种新的形式，忧郁布鲁斯歌曲和乡村音乐；D. Blues and country musicians had some influence on each other during a time in history. 忧郁布鲁斯歌曲和乡村音乐家在历史上的一段时间相互影响。根据第二段“The Europeans and the African slaves (奴隶）who came to America during the seventeenth century each had their own different kinds of music.”，可知十七世纪来美国的不是欧洲人和非洲游客，而是欧洲人和非洲的奴隶。A不正确。故选A。