PeriodFourLesson4TheNewAustraliansⅠ.阅读理解AGeorgeGershwin，bornin1898，wasoneofAmerica’sgreatestcomposers.Hepublishedhisfirstsongwhenhewaseighteenyearsold.Duringthenexttwentyyearshewrotemorethanfivehundredsongs.ManyofGershwin’ssongswerefirstwrittenformusicalplaysperformedintheatresinNewYorkCity.Theseplayswereapopularformofentertainmentinthe1920sand1930s.Manyofhissongshaveremainedpopularasever.Overtheyearstheyhavebeensungandplayedineverypossibleway—fromjazztocountry.Inthe1920stherewasadebateintheUnitedStatesaboutjazzmusic.Couldjazz，somepeopleasked，beconsideredseriousmusic?In1924jazzmusicianandorchestraleaderPaulWhitemandecidedtoorganizeaspecialconcerttoshowthatjazzwasseriousmusic.Gershwinagreedtocomposesomethingfortheconcertbeforeherealizedhehadjustafewweekstodoit.Andinthatshorttime，hecomposedapieceforpianoandorchestrawhichhecalledRhapsodyinBlue.Gershwinhimselfplayedthepianoattheconcert.Theaudiencewerethrilledwhentheyheardhismusic.Itmadehimworldfamousandshowedthatjazzmusiccouldbebothseriousandpopular.In1928，GershwinwenttoParis.Heappliedtostudycomposition(作曲)withthewellknownmusicianNadiaBoulanger，butsherejectedhim.Shewasafraidthatclassicalstudywouldruinhisjazzinfluencedstyle.Whilethere，GershwinwroteAnAmericaninParis.Whenitwasfirstperformed，critics(评论家)weredividedoverthemusic.Somecalledithappyandfulloflife，toothersitwassillyandboring.ButitquicklybecamepopularinEuropeandtheUnitedStates.Itstillremainsoneofhismostfamousworks.GeorgeGershwindiedin1937，justdaysafterdoctorslearnedhehadbraincancer.Hewasonlythirtynineyearsold.Newspapersallovertheworldreportedhisdeathontheirfrontpages.Peoplemournedthelossofthemanandallthemusichemighthavestillwritten.1．ManyofGershwin’smusicalworkswere________.A．writtenaboutNewYorkersB．composedforPaulWhitemanC．playedmainlyinthecountrysideD．performedinvariousways答案D解析细节理解题。根据原文第二段末“Overtheyearstheyhavebeensungandplayedineverypossibleway—fromjazztocountry.”其中“they”指代Gershwin’smusicalworks，“ineverypossibleway”与variousways属于同义替换，所以选D项。2．WhatdoweknowabouttheconcertorganizedbyWhiteman?A．Itattractedmorepeopletotheatres.B．Itprovedjazzcouldbeseriousmusic.C．ItmadeGershwinleaderoftheorchestra.D．Itcausedadebateamongjazzmusicians.答案B解析细节理解题。根据原文第三段第三句“In1924，jazzmusicianandorchestraleaderPaulWhitemandecidedtoorganizeaspecialconcerttoshowthatjazzwasseriousmusic.”其中“showthatjazzwasseriousmusic”和B选项是表达的一个意思，所以选B项。3．Whatdowelearnfromthelastparagraph?A．ManyofGershwin’sworkswerelost.B．ThedeathofGershwinwaswidelyreported.C．AconcertwasheldinmemoryofGershwin.D．BraincancerresearchstartedafterGershwin’sdeath.答案B解析推理判断题。根据原文最后一段第三句“Newspapersallovertheworldreportedhisdeathontheirfrontpages.”即说明了B选项“ThedeathofGershwinwaswidelyreported.”故B项正确。其他选项均没有涉及。4．WhichofthefollowingbestdescribesGershwin?A．Talentedandproductive.B．Seriousandboring.C．Popularandunhappy.D．Friendlyandhonest.答案A解析细节理解题。从全文看，不可能用boring这样带有负面感情色彩的词来形容这个人，故B项错误；文中提到他popular，但没有说他unhappy，故C项错误；friendly和honest在文中没有具体体现，没有根据，故D项错误；A选项中talented有天分的，productive多产的，准确地描述了Gershwin作为一个作曲家所具备的素质。BJimmyisanautomotivemechanic，buthelosthisj...
