Most musicians agree that the best violins(小提琴) were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200years ago. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to makeinstruments(乐器)like the Italian violins,however,they are not the same. Why are these old Italianviolins so special? No one really knows. But many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins
sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. It must be from certain kinds of trees.It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something specialabout wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in aspecial way. Wood for a violin must be cut into the right size and shape. The smallest difference willchange the sund of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new ones still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientiststhink the secret may be the varnish (清漆).It makes the wood look shiny, but it also helps the soundof the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one canmake the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old
violins left. So these old violins from Cremona become more and more precious.
44. What would be the best title for the text?
A. The Secrets of Cremona Violins.
B. B. The History of Cremona Violins.
C. C. The Making of Italian Violins.
D. D. The Studies of Italian Violins.
【答案】A
【应试指导】主旨大意题。文章第一段最后三句话讲的是“为什么这些意大利古小提琴这么与众不同?没有人知道答案。但是许多人认为他们知道答案。”文章围绕这一主题展开了分析。因此，正确答案应为A。
45. What is still not clear about Cremona violins?
A. The shape.
B. The wood.
C. The size.
D. The varnish.
【答案】D
【应试指导】事实细节题。由文章倒数第二段最后一句话“Since no one knows what the Italian violinmakers used in their varnish，no one can make thesame varnish today.”可知，D项为正确答案。
46. Which of the following Words can best describe Cremona violins?
A. Light.
B. Shining.
C. Valuable.
D. Modern.
【答案】C
【应试指导】事实细节题。由文章最一段最后一句话“So these old violins from Cremona becomemore and more previous.”可知.C项为正确答案。
D
Advice on Public Speaking
Building confidence ( 信心)
Faith in yourself, your topic and your healthy mind is a must if you are to be a better publicspeaker. Many speakers are not prepared and lose confidence because of that. But others lack confidencebecause they are afraid of being judged--and possibly made fun of--just like they were in high schoolspeech class. Build your confidence by using all your tools and knowing that you are excellent.
Knowing what's up
You have to know your topic inside and out. Nothing kills your speech like "um" and "uh" in every
sentence. Research your subject to the point where you are an expert. And that's half the battle.
Practicing
Researching and knowing your topic is one thing, but actually delivering that information isanother. Practicing your speech in advance is a must. You will find your beats and your direction,through hours in front of the mirror practicing. So when you climb up on stage, it will be like riding ahike,unless you don't know how to ride a bike.
Dressing properly
You will want to dress properly for the occasion(场合)--which could be a suit or simply ajacket. Make sure it also has the comfort you need. If the clothes are not comfortable, you may notpay full attention to your speech.
Making connections
Make a personal connection with someone in the audience (听众). It might be someone youknow that you can call out to, or someone in the front row you can speak directly to. Maybe yourspeech leads you to ask them a question, which is an easy way for you to take yourself from the stageand place yourself as one of your audience. It also takes the pressure off.
47. What does "that' s half the battle" mean in the text?
A. You have already won the battle.
B. You are getting on the way to final success.
C. You need experts to guide you in public speaking.
D. You should write sentences without "um" and "uh".
【答案】B
【应试指导】词义猜测题。half the battle意为“成功的一半”。结合文章的意思，that’S half thebattle的意思应该是“你已经踏上通往成功的路”。故选B。
48. The author compares delivering a speech to riding a bike because both of them need
A. guiding
B. practice
C. proper dressing
D. self-confidence
【答案】B
【应试指导】推理判断题。前面讲到“Practicingyour speech in advance is a must.”且根据常识可知，骑自行车也需要练习，由此可推断，作者把作演讲比作骑自行车是因为两者都需要练习。
49. Which of the following ways is suggested in making connections with the audience?
A. Looking at someone in the distance.
B. Calling out to someone you don' t know.
C. Asking someone in the audience a question.
D. Shaking hands with someone in the front row.
【答案】C
【应试指导】事实细节题。由文章最后一段第三句中“Maybe your speech leads you to ask them aquestion”可知，C项为正确答案。
50. What is the main purpose of the text?
A. To show you how to dress properly.
B. To help you become a good speaker.
C. To teach you how to gain confidence.
D. To help you get to know the audience.
【答案】B
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins
sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. It must be from certain kinds of trees.It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something specialabout wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in aspecial way. Wood for a violin must be cut into the right size and shape. The smallest difference willchange the sund of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new ones still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientiststhink the secret may be the varnish (清漆).It makes the wood look shiny, but it also helps the soundof the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one canmake the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old
violins left. So these old violins from Cremona become more and more precious.
44. What would be the best title for the text?
A. The Secrets of Cremona Violins.
B. B. The History of Cremona Violins.
C. C. The Making of Italian Violins.
D. D. The Studies of Italian Violins.
【答案】A
【应试指导】主旨大意题。文章第一段最后三句话讲的是“为什么这些意大利古小提琴这么与众不同?没有人知道答案。但是许多人认为他们知道答案。”文章围绕这一主题展开了分析。因此，正确答案应为A。
45. What is still not clear about Cremona violins?
A. The shape.
B. The wood.
C. The size.
D. The varnish.
【答案】D
【应试指导】事实细节题。由文章倒数第二段最后一句话“Since no one knows what the Italian violinmakers used in their varnish，no one can make thesame varnish today.”可知，D项为正确答案。
46. Which of the following Words can best describe Cremona violins?
A. Light.
B. Shining.
C. Valuable.
D. Modern.
【答案】C
【应试指导】事实细节题。由文章最一段最后一句话“So these old violins from Cremona becomemore and more previous.”可知.C项为正确答案。
D
Advice on Public Speaking
Building confidence ( 信心)
Faith in yourself, your topic and your healthy mind is a must if you are to be a better publicspeaker. Many speakers are not prepared and lose confidence because of that. But others lack confidencebecause they are afraid of being judged--and possibly made fun of--just like they were in high schoolspeech class. Build your confidence by using all your tools and knowing that you are excellent.
Knowing what's up
You have to know your topic inside and out. Nothing kills your speech like "um" and "uh" in every
sentence. Research your subject to the point where you are an expert. And that's half the battle.
Practicing
Researching and knowing your topic is one thing, but actually delivering that information isanother. Practicing your speech in advance is a must. You will find your beats and your direction,through hours in front of the mirror practicing. So when you climb up on stage, it will be like riding ahike,unless you don't know how to ride a bike.
Dressing properly
You will want to dress properly for the occasion(场合)--which could be a suit or simply ajacket. Make sure it also has the comfort you need. If the clothes are not comfortable, you may notpay full attention to your speech.
Making connections
Make a personal connection with someone in the audience (听众). It might be someone youknow that you can call out to, or someone in the front row you can speak directly to. Maybe yourspeech leads you to ask them a question, which is an easy way for you to take yourself from the stageand place yourself as one of your audience. It also takes the pressure off.
47. What does "that' s half the battle" mean in the text?
A. You have already won the battle.
B. You are getting on the way to final success.
C. You need experts to guide you in public speaking.
D. You should write sentences without "um" and "uh".
【答案】B
【应试指导】词义猜测题。half the battle意为“成功的一半”。结合文章的意思，that’S half thebattle的意思应该是“你已经踏上通往成功的路”。故选B。
48. The author compares delivering a speech to riding a bike because both of them need
A. guiding
B. practice
C. proper dressing
D. self-confidence
【答案】B
【应试指导】推理判断题。前面讲到“Practicingyour speech in advance is a must.”且根据常识可知，骑自行车也需要练习，由此可推断，作者把作演讲比作骑自行车是因为两者都需要练习。
49. Which of the following ways is suggested in making connections with the audience?
A. Looking at someone in the distance.
B. Calling out to someone you don' t know.
C. Asking someone in the audience a question.
D. Shaking hands with someone in the front row.
【答案】C
【应试指导】事实细节题。由文章最后一段第三句中“Maybe your speech leads you to ask them aquestion”可知，C项为正确答案。
50. What is the main purpose of the text?
A. To show you how to dress properly.
B. To help you become a good speaker.
C. To teach you how to gain confidence.
D. To help you get to know the audience.
【答案】B
