A
(2019·河北省普高质监)Martha Graham，born in 1894，was one of the most famous dancers and creators of dance，whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on the modern visual arts.Stravinsky had on music，or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She created almost two hundred dance pieces.She is often called the Mother of Modern Dance.
Earlier in her life，however，Martha did not know that she would become a dancer.At that time，the dancers were looked down on.So Martha's parents didn't approve of her desire to dance at the beginning.Until 1916，she began her studies at the newly created Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts，founded by Ruth St.Denis and Ted Shawn，where Graham worked very hard to improve her ability to dance because she was considered too old to begin dancing.
In 1936，Graham made her defining work，“Chronicle”，which signaled the beginning of a new era in modern dance.The dance brought serious issues to the stage for the general public in a dramatic manner.Influenced by the Wall Street Crash of 1929，the Great Depression that followed，and the Spanish Civil War，it focused on depression and isolation，reflected in the dark nature of both the set and costumes.
Graham continued to dance past the age of seventy.Once again，she was met with criticism from people who came to watch her shows.But she didn't give up.Her last completed ballet was 1990's Maple Leaf Rag.“A Dancer's World” is an introduction to Graham and her work.She tells about her dances and her dance group shows some of their methods.
Martha Graham received many awards during her lifetime，including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in nineteen seventy－six.She was the first dancer to receive the country's highest civilian honor.She died in 1991 at the age of ninety－six.In 1998，Time magazine listed her as the “Dancer of the Century” and as one of the most important people of the twentieth century.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了现代舞之母玛莎·格兰姆的故事和她所取得的成就。
1．Some famous artists mentioned in Paragraph 1 show Martha Graham ________.
A．was influenced greatly by them
B．kept in touch with them regularly
C．had a great effect on modern dance
D．liked to make more friends with them
【答案】 C 推理判断题。第一段中将玛莎·格兰姆的影响和其他的一些伟大的人物相比，暗示她的影响也非常大，故最佳答案为C。
2．Why didn't Martha's parents approve of her desire to dance at first?
A．She was too old to learn American dance.
B．American dance was seen as a lower art form.
C．There was no academic school to teach dancing.
D．Her family was too poor to afford her tuition.
【答案】 B 细节理解题。根据第二段中的第二句At that time，the dancers were looked down on舞蹈家在那时是被看不起的，暗示舞蹈在当时是一种地位较低的艺术形式，故最佳答案为B。
3．When Martha Graham continued to dance in her 70s，she ________.
A．was warmly welcomed by the youth
B．achieved huge success once again
C．received many awards for her age
D．was attacked by people
【答案】 D 细节理解题。根据第四段中的第一、二句Graham continued to dance past the age of seventy.Once again，she was met with criticism from people who came to watch her shows.知她70岁演出时，她受到了一些人的批评，可知她受到了一些人的攻击，故最佳答案为D。
4．The text is mainly about ________.
A．the background of modern dance in America
B．the development of modern dance in America
C．Martha Graham and her achievements in dance
D．the awards Martha Graham won in her life
【答案】 C 主旨大意题。根据文章的内容，是按时间顺序叙述了现代舞之母玛莎·格兰姆的一生以及她在舞蹈方面的成就，故最佳答案为C。
