This month, the singing competition, American Idol, will come to an end. For years, the popular show was a platform for rising artists. With a group of famous judges and a wide range of talents, it is clear that the competitive atmosphere of American Idol will remain unrivaled by any other show. After all, its success has been ＂unmatched in broadcasting history.＂
American Idol came from the British series Pop Idol. Through an application, contestants came into the competition and thereafter, were chosen to audition(试音)for the show. Each candidate would have to perform a piece to the judges, and participate in a strict selection process. Not only would contestants have to sing in groups, they were sometimes tasked to perform pieces without musical instruments. At the end of this stage, only 24 o 36 artists were chosen to enter the semi-final stage. Soon, the fate of the contestants would be decided by the public. During the candidate’s live performance, a free telephone number was displayed on the screen for viewers to dial, to cast their vote. At the end of the night, only 13 lucky singers would be left in the competition; by the finals, only 8 contestants would remain. Finally, a runner-up(亚军)and a winner were announced every season. Though only the winner would receive a million dollar reward and a significant record deal, other contestants would have had a chance to be known by the public. As the famous producer Simon Cowell once said, ＂The point of the show is not to be mean to loser, but to find a winner.＂
As the final season of the program begins, past winners will return to the stage to say goodbye and a new winner will be announced. With amazing performances and an excellent cast of singers, the show’s conclusion will leave audiences nostalgic(怀旧的), but more satisfied than ever.
1. Those who enter American Idol will _______.
A. share the one million dollar reward together
B. be asked to perform in pairs in the semi-finals
C. experience at least three rounds of performances
D. have the chance to become famous even if they fail
2. Who play the most important roles in the finals of American Idol?
A. The audiences B. The past winners
C. The judges D. The record companies
3. The author thinks the conclusion of American Idol will _________.
A. change its history B. be worth watching
C. not be the last season D. pick her favorite singer
4. In which section of the newspaper may you probably find the passage?
A. Advertisement B. Finance
C. Entertainment D. Business
【语篇解读】本文为说明文，介绍了很受欢迎的流行节目American Idol和它的比赛过程。
2.A【解析】细节理解题。根据第二段第六、七、八句话可知在决赛阶段起最重要作用的是观众，故选A。
3.B【解析】推理判断题。根据最后一段最后一句话＂With amazing performances and an excellent cast of singers, the show’s conclusion will leave audiences nostalgic, but more satisfied than ever＂可知作者认为 the show’s conclusion值得观看，故选B。
4.C【解析】推理判断题。根据文章可知本文介绍的是歌唱比赛节目，应属于娱乐类，故选C。
