Ⅰ.完形填空
Tim, my sevenyearold son, is learning to play the drums.It is an __1__ that has always caught his attention __2__ he hears them played.Before I __3__ his first lessons, drums were all he wanted.At the age of 3 he __4__ his mini drum set during a show.Using that same drum set he perfected the timing and rhythm of a popular song __5__ enough for his mom to sing along to.My son had found his passion at a young age and had a natural __6__ to catch on quickly. Wanting to act quickly to __7__ his talent, I immediately signed him up for drum lessons.No sooner had my first payment cleared than his passion __8__.He did not want to take instructions.He wanted to play the drums __9__.To him the drums were a way of __10__.Tim wanted to “play the beat of his own drum.”
The challenge was that music has more than one __11__.Rock doesn't sound like smooth jazz and smooth jazz doesn't sound like __12__.You can't play every __13__ that exists to the same beat.If__14__ were a series of songs, the melodies __15__ could be calming and peaceful, or violent and chaotic. Each event we face has its __16__ own sound, so we have to learn __17__ to play the tune of the moment.You should understand that even with all the natural talent in the world there is always __18__for improvement.You can't do it all without __19__. You won't know how to play every beat life throws at you without practice.You can't __20__talent forever.
语篇解读：本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。文章讲述了作者的儿子学打鼓的故事，告诉我们只依靠天赋是不行的，任何事都需要后天的努力。
1．A.arrangement B．enjoyment
C．instrument D．advertisement
解析：选C 根据常识可知，鼓是一种乐器(instrument)。
2．A.anyway B．however
C．whatever D．anytime
解析：选D 每当(anytime)他听到鼓声，总是被吸引。
3．A.paid for B．waited on
C．took off D．burst into
解析：选A 根据下文的“my first payment”可知，在作者支付(paid for)他的第一堂课之前，鼓是他想要的全部。
4．A.founded B．played
C．lost D．learned
解析：选B 在3岁的时候，他在一个节目中表演(played)了他的迷你鼓点。
5．A.similar B．horrible
C．good D．strange
解析：选C 用同样的鼓点，他完美地跟上了一首流行歌曲的时间和节奏，这首歌好得(good)足以让他的妈妈跟着唱。
6．A.taste B．talent
C．tendency D．habit
解析：选B 根据下文的“his talent”可知，作者的儿子天生就有能力(talent)迅速学会自己的爱好。
7．A.improve B．decrease
C．discover D．admit
解析：选A 为了提高(improve)他的才能，作者立即给他报了个鼓课。
8．A.rose B．strengthened
C．progressed D．disappeared
解析：选D 根据下文的“He did not want to take instructions”可知，作者的第一笔付款刚一结束，他的热情就消失(disappeared)了。
9．A.by himself B．in his way
C．in person D．with others
解析：选B 他想用他的方法(in his way)打鼓。
10．A.expression B．possession
C．permission D．impression
解析：选A 对他来说，鼓是一种表达(expression)方式。
11．A.form B．sound
C．beat D．advantage
解析：选C 根据上文的“play the beat of his own drum”可知，挑战在于音乐有不止一种节拍(beat)。
12．A.nature B．culture
C．view D．folk
解析：选D 根据空前的“Rock”和“jazz”可知，此处表示一种音乐形式。folk“民谣”符合语境。
13．A.poem B．song
C．sport D．game
解析：选B 你不能把每首歌曲(song)的节奏都演奏得一样。
14．A.luck B．life
C．night D．music
解析：选B 如果生活(life)是一系列的歌曲，那么旋律有时(at times)可能是平静的、和缓的，有时又可能是猛烈的、混乱的。
15．A.at times B．as usual
C．in general D．on average
解析：选A 参见上题解析。
16．A.quite B．well
C．fast D．very
解析：选D 我们面对的每一个事件都有它自己的声音，所以我们必须学会如何(how)演奏这一时刻。very置于own前表示强调。
17．A.when B．where
C．how D．why
解析：选C 参见上题解析。
18．A.place B．spot
C．scenery D．room
解析：选D 你应该明白，即使集世界上所有的天赋于一身，也总有改进的空间(room)。
19．A.instructions B．efforts
C．contributions D．experiences
解析：选A 根据上文的“instructions”可知，你不可能在没有指示(instructions)的情况下完成所有的事情。
20．A.figure out B．put off
C．rely on D．take in
解析：选C 你不能永远依靠(rely on)天赋。
