Question

One of the most successful singers of the twentieth century, Ella Fitzgerald has made several different styles of her own. She was born in Virginia but was brought up in an orphanage in Yonkers, New York. Chick Webb spotted her in an amateur competition when she was sixteen. He engaged her to sing with his band and when he died in 1939, she took over.

Unlike Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald taught herself the sentimental music so popular in the 1930’s — songs like “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”— and her recordings became best-sellers. During the 1940’s she developed her own “scat singing” — a breathless, nonsense—syllable style—for songs like “Flying Home” and “Lady Be Good.”

Ella Fitzgerald was the perfect musical partner for her friend, the trumpeter Louis Armstrong, matching him in warmth and artistry. “I just like music, period,” she said. “To me, it’s a story. There’s only one thing better than singing…. It’s more singing.”

1.What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. A comparison of Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith.

B. The musical career of Ella Fitzgerald.

C. Ella Fitzgerald’s early childhood.

D. Ella Fitzgerald’s most recent recordings.

2.The underlined word “spotted” means ________.

A. noticedB. brought upC. employedD. recognized

3.What does the passage imply about Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong?

A. They were the founders of “scat singing”.

B. They played the same musical instruments.

C. They performed well together.

D. They were a married couple.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了美国爵士乐女歌手Ella Fitzgerald的音乐事业。

1. 主旨大意题。根据第一段第一句One of the most successful singers of the twentieth century, Ella Fitzgerald has made several different styles her own.可以，本文谈论的是美国爵士乐女歌手Ella Fitzgerald的音乐事业。故选B。

2. 词义猜测题。根据第一段最后一句He engaged her to sing with his band and when he died in 1939, she took over.（他聘请她和他的乐队一起唱歌，他1939年去世后她接管了乐队。）可知，Chick Webb发现了她的唱歌天赋。故选A。

3. 推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句Ella Fitzgerald was the perfect musical partner for her friend, the trumpeter Louis Armstrong, matching him in warmth and artistry.可知，他们在一起配合得很好。故选C。

【名师点睛】

猜测词义题。阅读材料中的每个词与它前后的词语或句子甚至段落都有联系。我们可以利用语境（各种已知信息）推测、判断某些生词的词义。做这种类型的题，要根据词、词组、句子所在的语境来判断其意义。因此熟练掌握一些猜词技巧是做好这类题的关键。命题者在出这类题时惯用常规词义来麻痹考生，我们要特别注意熟词生义，切不可脱离语境想当然。在句子或段落中，我们可以利用熟悉的词语，根据语言环境所表示的关系推断生词词义。4.（他聘请她和他的乐队一起唱歌，他1939年去世后她接管了乐队。）可知，Chick Webb发现了她的唱歌天赋。故选A。

考点：考查人物传记类阅读