For many young Americans, graduating from college means finding a job, moving out of the dorm room and beginning to register one's annual earnings with the US government. That last item is the law, though sometimes it's a hassle (难事) to obey. Independent tax advisor Bob Gilbert calls the US income tax system "amazingly complicated". But he adds that "very little of the complicated tax law applies to young people who are just beginning their careers". According to Gilbert, 80 to 90 percent of Americans are not really burdened by the system's complications. Still, all the numbers and forms can be a little confusing to those who are just starting their careers. Some pull out their calculators and try to do the math alone. Some use income tax software. Others just hand the whole responsibility over to tax firms like Gilbert's. According to income tax law expert Linda Beale, young people will often follow their parents' lead when filling their income forms. "Young people who grow up in wealthy households typically use professional tax services because their parents have always done so," said Beale, a professor at Wayne State University in Michigan State. "On the other hand, most poorer young people probably try to do their own taxes, unless they want a quick 'refund' with the help of a tax advisor." In fact, obeying the law has its benefits. For one, many young people can expect a tax refund. This means that, over the course of the year, they have paid too much in monthly federal or state taxes and are entitled to the difference. Bob Thalman, a 20-year-old university student, expects he will get a refund of about $100, which will probably go in the bank, or perhaps be used to pay for car insurance or credit card bills. Thalman called the whole process a "hassle", but added that he didn't want to test the law by not filling his income tax papers. "I'm worried about what would happen if I failed to file," he said. "I know one individual who did not report his income tax for many years, and he's now in federal prison. I certainly don't want that. "
1. A college student with a part-time job is not required to file an income tax form.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
C
[解析] 本句意思：大学生做兼职工作不需要申报所得税。与纳税对象有关的内容在第一段中，根据“For many young Americans，graduating from college means finding a job，moving out of the dorm room and beginning to register one's annual earnings with the US government．”可知，大学毕业生在搬出宿舍、找到工作后，需要向政府申报所得税。但是文中并未提及做兼职的大学生是否要交税，故选C。
2. The US income tax system does not wholly apply to a college graduate who is just beginning his or her career.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
A
[解析] 本句意思：美国所得税体制并不完全适用于一个刚刚开始工作的大学毕业生。根据第三段中的“very little of the complicated tax law applies to young people who are just beginning their careers”可知，这项复杂的税率体制很少适用于那些刚参加工作的年轻人。题干叙述正确，故选A。
3. It's pretty easy for a beginner to report his or her income tax.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
B
[解析] 本句意思：申报所得税对于一个新手来说是件很容易的事。根据第三段中的“very little of the complicated tax law applies to young people who are just beginning their careers”可知，这项复杂的税率体制很少适用于那些刚参加工作的年轻人；此外，根据第四段第一句“Still，all the numbers and forms can be a little confusing to those who are just starting their careers．”可知，很多年轻人仍搞不明白申报所得税的数目与表格，所以这也是一件让他们有些费解困惑的事。题干叙述错误，故选B。
4. When young people file their income tax forms, they will often follow in their parents' footsteps.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
A
[解析] 本句意思：年轻人呈报所得税申请表时，他们往往会学他们父母那样做。由第五段中的“young people will often follow their parents' lead when filling their income forms”可知，许多年轻人在填写收入表格时，都会听从父母的指导。此外，根据第六段中的“Young people who grow up in wealthy households typically use professional tax services because their parents have always done so”可知，家庭富裕的年轻人一般都会咨询专业的税务顾问，因为他们的父母就是这么做的。题干叙述正确，故选A。
5. Young people from poorer families needn't file their income tax forms.
6. If one has failed to report his or her income tax for quite a few years, he or she may be put in prison.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
A
[解析] 本句意思：如果一个人好几年都没有申报自己的所得税，那么他或她有可能被抓进监狱。根据最后一段最后两句“I know one individual who did not report his income tax for man), years，and he's now in federal prison．I certainly don't want that．”可知，Bob Thalman害怕自己因不交税而像他认识的一个人那样被抓进监狱。说明好几年不交税有可能要坐牢。题干叙述正确，故选A。
7. The US income tax system will be simplified in the next few years.
第3部分：概括大意与完成句子 下面的短文后有2项测试任务：(1)第23～26题要求从所给的6个选项中为第2～5段每段选择 1个最佳标题；(2)第27～30题要求从所给的6个选项中为每个句子确定1个最佳选项。 1 A hundred years ago this week, a gigantic explosion ripped (撕裂) open the dawn sky above a forest in western Siberia, leaving a scientific riddle that endures to this day. 2 A dazzling light pierced the heavens, followed by a shock wave as strong as 1,000 atomic bombs. The explosion flattened 80 million trees across an area of 2,000 square kilometers. The fireball was so great that, a day later, Londoners could read their newspapers under the night sky. What caused the so-called Tunguska Event, named after the nearby Podkamennaya Tunguska river, still remains a mystery. 3 Experts suspect it was a rock that, after traveling in space for millions of years, was destined to crash to Earth at exactly 7:17 a.m. on June 30, 1908. This possibility worries scientists. "Imagine an unspotted asteroid (小行星) hitting a significant chunk (块) of land...and imagine if that area, unlike Tunguska, were populated," the British science journal Nature commented recently. 4 But no fragments of the "rock" have ever been found. Finding such evidence would be important, for it would increase our knowledge about the risk posed by dangerous Near Earth Objects (NEOs), say Italian researchers Luca Gasperini, Enrico Bonatti and Giuseppe Longo. When the next Tunguska NEO approaches, scientists will have to decide whether to try to deflect (使偏转) it or blow it up in space. 5 However, several rival theories for the Tunguska Event exist. Wolfgang Kundt, a professor at Germany's Bonn University, believes the Tunguska Event was caused by a massive escape of 10 million tons of methane (甲烷)-rich gas from deep within earth's crust. Some people hold that the explosion was caused by an alien spaceship crash, or a black hole in the universe.
1. Paragraph 2______ A. Competing Explanations B. Unknown Attacks C. Mysterious Explosion D. Star War E. Importance of Finding Evidence F. Explanation that Worries Scientists
5. The gigantic explosion that occurred a hundred years ago ______. A. has remained a puzzle B. lacks sufficient evidence C. is a university professor D. was generated by the explosion E. will kill many animals F. are attacked by aliens
A
[解析] 本句意思：一百年前发生的这场大爆炸______。可定位到文章第一段，根据“A hundred years ago this week．a gigantic explosion ripped open the day above a forest in western Siberia．leaving a scientific riddle that endures to this day．”可知，这场一百年前的大爆炸破坏力巨大，即便到今天仍旧是个谜，riddle对应选项A中的puzzle，故选A。
6. The shock wave which followed the dazzling light ______.
D
[解析] 本句意思：闪光之后的冲击波______。根据文章第二段第一句“A dazzling light pierlced the heavens．followed by a shock wave as strong as 1,000 atomic bombs．”可知，闪光和冲击波都是由大爆炸造成的，故选D。
7. The hypothesis that the explosion was caused by a rock colliding with the Earth ______.
B
[解析] 本句意思：爆炸是由陨石撞击地球造成的假设______。文章第三、四段出现相关内容，根据第四段第一句话“But no fragments of the 'rock' have ever been found(科学家们未找到任何“陨石”的碎屑)．”可知，这项假设缺乏足够证据，故选B。
8. Wolfgang Kundt, who has developed an alternative theory, ______.
C
[解析] 本句意思：Wolfgang Kundt提出了另一个理论，他______。文章第五段出现该人名，并且根据“Wolfgang Kundt，a professor at Germany's Bonn university”可知，他是德国波恩大学的一位教授，故选C。
第4部分：阅读理解 下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道题。请根据短文内容，为每题确定1个最佳选项。
第一篇
Sports Star Yao Ming
If Yao Ming is not the biggest sports star in the world, he is almost certainly the tallest. At 2.26m, he is the tallest player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and holds the record as the most towering Olympian ever to compete in the Games. But what really stands out about the giant center is his celebrity (名气). Few, if any, Chinese athletes are as well-known as Yao around the world. People across the globe are fascinated with Yao, not only for his basketball prowess (杰出的才能) but also for being a symbol of international commerce. When Yao joined the Houston Rockets as the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NBA draft (选拔), he was the first international player ever to be selected first. His assets on the court are clear enough—no NBA player of his size has ever possessed his mobility, so he is a handful (难对付的人) for opponents on either end of the court. But what makes Yao invaluable to the Rockets organization is his role as a global citizen and as a bridge to millions of potential basketball fans in China. When it was announced in February that Yao would miss the rest of the NBA season and possibly the Olympics with a stress fracture (骨折) in his left foot, a collective shudder (震动) spread across China. After considerable debate and discussion, Yao opted to get his foot surgically treated in an operation that placed several tiny screws across the bone, to offer his overburdened foot more support. The surgery was a success, and though the estimated four-month recovery period will leave him little time to prepare with Team China, Yao has vowed to be ready for the Beijing Olympics. Yao wrapped up a 10-day trip to China, where he underwent a series of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments, hoping to accelerate his recovery process. Western experts are generally skeptical of TCM's benefits, although new research from the university of Rochester suggests that a certain compound derived from shellfish may indeed stimulate bone repair. "There is no reason to dismiss TCM," Yao told a press conference in Beijing. "It's been used in our country for thousands of years. I don't think that it's short on science. "
1. The word "towering" in Paragraph 1 means ______.
A.large
B.fat
C.tall
D.great
A B C D
C
[解析] 词义猜测题。由第一段“If Yao Ming is not the biggest sports star in the world，he is almost certainly the tallest．”可知，如果姚明不是世界上最闪耀的球星，那他一定是最高的那个。此外，第一段都在强调他的身高，且根据tower(塔)一词也可联想到“(像塔一样)高耸的”，故选C。
2. Opponents find it very difficult to control Yao Ming because of his ______.
A.mobility
B.assault
C.defense
D.celebrity
A B C D
A
[解析] 事实细节题。定位到文章第三段第二句，根据“His assets on the court are clear enough—no NBA player of his size has ever possessed his mobility，so he is a handful for opponents on either end of the court．”可知，姚明在场上的优势很明显，没有哪个和他身高一样的NBA球星有这样的灵活性，所以才会让对手觉得很难对付。
3. Yao Ming had to undergo a series of TCM treatments because ______.
A.his right foot had been hurting
B.he wanted to make a more rapid recovery
C.the surgical operation had been a failure
D.he couldn't afford all the medical expenses
A B C D
B
[解析] 事实细节题。姚明受伤有关的内容在文章第五段。根据第五段第一句“…he underwent a series of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments，hoping to accelerate his recovery process．”可知，姚明接受一系列传统中医治疗是为了加快脚伤的恢复进程，故选B。
4. Which statement about Yao Ming is NOT true?
A.He missed the Athens Olympics.
B.He is an NBA player.
C.He fractured his left foot.
D.He is an international figure.
A B C D
A
[解析] 推理判断题。根据第一段中的“he is the tallest player in the National Basketball Association(NBA)”可知，姚明是NBA球员，故B正确。根据第三段中的“what makes Yao invaluable to the Rockets organization is his role as a global citizen”可知，姚明对于火箭队的价值就在于他是全球范围内的名人，故D正确。根据第四段中的“Yao would miss the rest of the NBA season and possibly the Olympics with a stress fracture in his left foot”可知，他左脚骨折，故C也正确。他错过的是剩下的NBA赛季以及可能错过北京奥运会，并没有提到他错过了雅典奥运会，故本题选A。
5. In general, the Western experts' attitude towards TCM is ______.
A.indifferent
B.positive
C.negative
D.doubtful
A B C D
D
[解析] 推理判断题。根据第五段第二句“Western experts are generally skeptical of TCM's benefits…．”可知，他们大都对此持怀疑态度，skeptical和选项D中的doubtful是同义词，故选D。
第二篇
Black Holes Trigger Stars to Self-destruct
Scientists have long understood that supermassive (超大质量的) black holes weighing millions or billions of suns can tear apart stars that come too close. The black hole's gravity pulls harder on the nearest part of the star, an imbalance that pulls the star apart over a period of minutes or hours, once it gets close enough. Scientists say this uneven pulling is not the only hazard facing the star. The strain of these unbalanced forces can also trigger a nuclear explosion powerful enough to destroy the star from within. Matthieu Brassart and Jean-Pierre Luminet of the Observatoire de Paris (巴黎天文台) in Meudon, France, carried out computer simulations of the final moments of such an unfortunate star's life, as it veered (改变方向) towards a supermassive black hole. When the star gets close enough, the uneven forces flatten it into a pancake (薄饼) shape. Some previous studies had suggested this flattening would increase the density and temperature inside the star enough to trigger intense nuclear reactions that would tear it apart. But other studies had suggested that the picture would be complicated by shock waves generated during the flattening process and that no nuclear explosion should occur. The new simulations investigated the effects of shock waves in detail, and found that even when their effects are included, the conditions favor a nuclear explosion. "There will be an explosion of the star—it will be completely destroyed," Brassart says. Although the explosion obliterates (使消失) the star, it saves some of the star's matter from being devoured (吞没) by the black hole. The explosion is powerful enough to hurl much of the star's matter out of the black hole's reach, he says. The devouring of stars by black holes may already have been observed, although at a much later stage. It is thought that several months after the event that rips the star apart, its matter starts swirling (旋转) into the hole itself. It heats up as it does so, releasing ultraviolet light and X-rays. If stars disrupted near black holes really do explode, then they could in principle allow these events to be detected at a much earlier stage, says Jules Halpern of Columbia University in New York, US. "It may make it possible to see the disruption of that star immediately if it gets hot enough," he says.
1. What would take place if a star gets too close to a black hole?
A.The star would veer away from the black hole.
B.The black hole would reduce its own size considerably.
C.The flattening process would reduce the star's density.
D.The black hole would rip the star apart.
A B C D
D
[解析] 事实细节题。根据文章第一段第一句“Scientists have long understood that super massive black holes weighing millions or billions of suns can tear apart stars that come too close．”可知，黑洞会毁灭靠近它的天体，故D正确。
2. According to Paragraph 3, researchers differed in the likelihood of generating ______.
A.star density
B.nuclear explosion
C.shock waves
D.the uneven forces
A B C D
B
[解析] 推理判断题。文章第三段主要说明了两种研究结论，它们就是否会产生核爆炸的可能性产生分歧。根据第三段中的第二句和第三句“Some previous studies had suggested this flattening would increase the density and temperature… But other studies had suggested that the picture would be complicated by shock waves generated during the flattening process and that no nuclear explosion should occur．”可知，先前的研究认为引力导致的扁平状会让天体内部密度、温度增加，从而引发核反应爆炸，而其他研究认为天体在变扁平的过程中会受到冲击波的影响，不会有爆炸产生，故B正确。
3. According to Paragraph 4, the new simulations favored ______.
A.the creation of a new star
B.the formation of a new black hole
C.a nuclear explosion
D.the enlargement of the star
A B C D
C
[解析] 事实细节题。根据文章第四段第一句“The new simulations investigated the effects of shock waves in detail，and found that even when their effects are included，the conditions favor a nuclear explosion．”可知，新的模拟实验详细地研究了冲击波的影响，实验发现即便将产生的影响包括在内，还是很有可能产生核爆炸，所以新的模拟实验偏向于产生核爆炸这一可能性，故选C。
4. What is supposed to happen several months after the explosion of the star?
A.The star's matter will move further away from the black hole.
B.The black hole's matter will heat up.
C.The torn star's matter will swirl into the black hole.
D.The black hole will devour ultraviolet light and X-rays.
A B C D
C
[解析] 事实细节题。根据第五段第二句“It is thought that several months after the event that rips the star apart，its matter starts swirling into the hole itself．”可知，天体爆炸几个月后，星体的物质会被吸入黑洞中，故选C。
5. The word "disruption" in Paragraph 6 means ______.
Conservationists may be miscalculating the numbers of the threatened animals such as elephants, say African and American researchers. The error occurs because of a flaw in the way they estimate animal numbers from the piles of dung (粪) the creatures leave behind. The mistake could lead researchers to think that there are twice as many elephants as there really are in some regions,according to Andrew Plumptre of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in New York. Biologist Katy Payne of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, agrees. "We really need to know elephant numbers and the evidence that we have is quite indirect," says Payne, who electronically tracks elephants. Counting elephants from aeroplanes is impossible in the vast rainforests of Central Africa. So researchers often estimate elephant numbers by counting dung piles in a given area. They also need to know the rate at which dung decays. Because it's extremely difficult to determine these rates, however, researchers tallying (统计) elephants in one region tend to rely on standard decay rates established elsewhere. But researchers at the WCS have found that this decay rate varies from region to region depending on the climate and environment. Using the wrong values can lead the census astray (歧途), says Plumptre. He and his colleague Anthony Chifu Nchanji studied decaying elephant dung in the forests of Banyany--Mbo wildlife sanctuary (禁猎区) in Southwest Cameroon. They found that the dung decayed between 55 and 65 per cent more slowly than dung in the rainforests of neighbouring Gabon. If researchers use decay rates from Gabon to count elephants in Cameroon, they would probably find more elephants than are actually around. This could mean estimates in Cameroon are at least twice as high as those derived from decay rates calculated locally, says Plumptre. " However accurate your dung density estimate is, the decay rate can severely affect the result. " Plumptre also says that the dung-pile census should be carried out over a region similar in size to an elephant's natural range. The usual technique of monitoring only small, protected areas distorts numbers because elephants move in and out of these regions, he says. "if the elephant population increases within the protected area, you can not determine whether it is a real increase or whether it is due to elephants moving in because they are being poached (偷猎) outside. " Plumptre says that similar problems may also plague other animal census studies that rely on indirect evidence such as nests, tracks or burrows (地洞).
1. The word "threatened" in Paragraph 1 means ______.
2. The way elephant numbers are estimated is ______.
A.technical
B.theoretical
C.unhelpful
D.mistaken
A B C D
D
[解析] 推理判断题。文章第五段提到“Using the wrong values can lead the census astray(使用错误的数值会导致数量普查偏离正道)”，而且第一段和第二段中的“error”“mistake”等词都表明这种间接的研究证据是有误的，大象的数量不能通过它们的粪便数量来估测。因为衰变率不同，会造成很大误差，故选D。
3. Counting piles of elephant dung is not reliable because they differ in ______.
A.size
B.shape
C.track location
D.decay rate
A B C D
D
[解析] 事实细节题。根据文章倒数第四段第三句“If researchers use decay rates from Gabon to count elephants in Cameroon, they would probably find more elephants than are actually around．”可知，如果研究衰变率，那么实际上会发现有更多大象。在文章倒数第三段中，Plumptre说到“However accurate your dung density estimate is，the decay rate can severely affect the result(不论粪便密度估计的多么准确，衰变率也会严重影响其效果)”。由此可知，研究者认为大象的数量不能通过它们的粪便数量来估测，因为衰变率不同，会造成很大误差，故选D。
4. According to Plumptre, a dung-pile census should be conducted in a ______.
A.natural range
B.small region
C.protected area
D.monitored place
A B C D
A
[解析] 推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段第一句话中的“the dung-pile census should be carried out over a region similar in size to an elephant's natural range”可知，粪便数量的统计范围应该选取与大象数量种群相近的地区。根据倒数第二段最后一句话“If the elephant population increases within the protected area…because they are being poached outside．”可知，即便保护区内的大象数量增加，也分不清是真的增长了还是因为入侵偷猎转移进来的。由此可知，调查区应该符合象群自然栖息活动的范围，故选A。
5. In making an animal census study, Plumptre advises researchers not to rely on ______.
A.monitoring techniques
B.electrical devices
C.aeroplanes
D.indirect evidence
A B C D
D
[解析] 推测理解题。根据最后一段“Plumptre says that similar problems may also affect other animal census studies that rely on indirect evidence such as nests，tracks or burrows．”可知，和利用粪便数量来估测象群数量一样，Plumptre认为依靠间接的研究证据，例如动物的巢穴、踪迹和地洞，也会导致普查其他动物数量时产生误差。由此可知，间接的实验证据是不可取的，故选D。
Ceremonial (仪式性的) bathing has existed for thousands of years and has many forms, one of which is the sauna. The Finns have perfected the steam bath, or sauna, which may be taken, usually in an enclosed room, by pouring water over hot rocks or as a dry heat bath. 1 Dry heat and steam baths had advocates in ancient Rome and pre-Columbian Americans used sweat lodges. The earliest saunas were probably underground caves heated by a fire that naturally filled with smoke as chimney making was unknown at that time. A fire kept in a fire-pit would heat the rock walls of the cave. After reaching full heat, the smoke was let out of the cave and the stones would retain heat for several hours. 2 Today most saunas use electric stoves, although gas and wood-burning stoves are available. Saunas are relaxing and stress relieving. Those with muscle aches or arthritis (关节炎) may find that the heat relaxes muscles and relieves pain and inflammation (炎症). Asthma (气喘) patients find that the heat enlarges air passageways of the lung and facilitates breathing. Saunas do not cure the common cold but they may help to alleviate congestion (阻塞) and speed recovery time. 3 The sauna could be considered to follow the old saying "starve a cold, feed a fever", The regular use of a sauna may decrease the likelihood of getting a cold in the first place. Sauna is good for your skin as the blood flow to the skin increases and sweating occurs. Adults sweat about 2 lbs of water per hour on average in a sauna. A good sweat removes dirt and grime from pores and gives the skin a healthy glow. The loss in water weight is temporary as the body's physiological mechanisms will quickly restore proper volumes. 4 Heart rate may increase from 72 beats per minute on average to 100-150 beats per minute. A normal heart can handle these stresses but those with heart trouble wishing to begin to use a sauna should seek a doctor's advice. The elderly and those with diabetes should cheek with their doctor prior to beginning to take saunas. 5 Indeed, everyone just starting out should take short sessions at first to become accustomed to this type of bath. A. An extra large sauna and steam room can be used for players to relax in. B. The cardiovascular (心血管的) system gets a workout as the heart must pump harder and faster to move blood to the surface for heat exchange. C. The Japanese, Greeks, Turks and Russians as well as Native Americans have forms of the sweat bath in their bathing rituals. D. The body's core temperature usually rises a 1-2 degrees while in the sauna, thus imitating a slight fever. E. Pregnant women should not take saunas, particularly in the first three months. F. A few people today say that the smoke sauna, "savusauna", is the only true sauna experience and that all saunas should have at least a background odor or smoke.
1.
C
[解析] 文章主要介绍了桑拿的由来、形式、功能以及注意事项。根据第一段中的“Ceremonial bathing has existed for thousands of years and has many forms”可知，桑拿是一种仪式性洗浴，而空格后的内容说了古罗马以及哥伦布时代前的美洲人分别喜欢干蒸和湿蒸，所以空格句应该是和“仪式性洗浴”以及一些具有这种洗浴形式的地点有关，故选C。
2.
F
[解析] 空格前介绍了古代桑拿的形式，例如烟熏桑拿，空格后的意思是，如今的桑拿都用电炉(Today most saunas use electric stoves，although gas and wood-burning stoves are available)。选项F提到当今很少有人还采用那种古老的烟熏桑拿形式，符合逻辑，承接上下文。
3.
D
[解析] 空格所在前一句“Saunas do not cure the common cold but they may help to alleviate congestion and speed recovery time．”提到，桑拿不能治愈普通感冒但可以缓解阻塞，加快康复进程，而选项D的意思是桑拿时体温升高1至2度，让身体稍微有发烧的感觉，刚好解释了原因，且空格后的“feed a cold，starve a fever”也对应选项中的fever，故选D。
4.
B
[解析] 空格后的内容“Heart rate may increase from 72 beats per minute on average to 100-150 beats per minute．”意思是，洗桑拿时心率会加快。选项B的意思是心脏提高供血，心脑血管系统也就得到加强，解释了这一原因，故选B。
5.
E
[解析] 空格所在段介绍了桑拿的注意事项，哪些人群需要遵照医嘱才能进行桑拿。空格前的内容“The elderly and those with diabetes should check with their doctor prior to beginning to take saunas．”说明，老人和糖尿病患者需要征求医生意见才可进行桑拿，选项E则提到另一种不可洗桑拿的人群，即孕妇(pregnant women)，符合上文逻辑顺序，故选E。
第6部分：完形填空 下面短文有15处空白，请根据短文内容为每处空白确定1个最佳选项。
The Origins of Jazz Music
Music comes in many forms; most countries have a style of their own. At the turn of the last century, 1 jazz was born, America had no prominent 2 of its own. No one knows exactly when it was invented or by whom. But it began to be 3 in the early 1890s. Jazz is America's contribution to 4 music. In contrast to classical music,which 5 formal European traditions, jazz is spontaneous and free in form. It bubbles with energy, 6 the moods, interests, and emotions of the people. In the 1920s, jazz 7 like America. And so it does today. The 8 of the music are as interesting as the music itself. American Negroes, or blacks, as they are called today, were the jazz pioneers. They were brought to the southern states 9 slaves. They were sold to plantation owners and forced to work long hours. When a Negro died his friends and relatives 10 a procession (行列) to carry the body to the cemetery. In New Orleans, a band often accompanied the 11 . On the way to the cemetery the band played slow, solemn (严肃的) music suited to the occasion. 12 on the way home the mood changed. Spirits lifted. Death had removed one of their number, but the living were glad to be 13 . The band played 14 music, improvising on both the harmony and the melody of the tunes 15 at the funeral. This music made everyone want to dance. It was an early form of jazz.
[解析] 空格所在句表示：在上世纪之交，爵士乐诞生之际，美国还没有属于自己的独特音乐；而且文章第一段第一句话中的“music comes in many forms”也提示，此空格应为“音乐(music)”，故选A。
3.
A.listened
B.seen
C.heard
D.moved
A B C D
C
[解析] 空格所在句意思：19世纪90年代早期才听到过爵士乐。hear强调听到的内容是什么，而listen强调的是听这一动作，而且是不及物动词，不能直接加宾语。前一句“No one knows exactly when it was invented or by whom．”说明，没人知道什么时候是谁发明了爵士乐，之后爵士乐流行普及，人们才开始听闻了解，故选C。
4.
A.classical
B.light
C.popular
D.serious
A B C D
C
[解析] 空格所在句意思：爵士乐是美国对流行音乐作出的贡献。空格后一句中的“In contrast to classical music”暗示此空格处是指一种与古典音乐截然不同的音乐类型，即popular music(流行乐)，故选C。
深色：已答题 浅色：未答题