英语专业八级阅读出题来源新闻周刊-Newsweek-练习1

Passage·1題材：历史人物Michael Jackson ，字数：565 建议做题时间：6分钟

As Michael Jackson made the unfortunate transition from pop-music icon to tabloid staple，one of the most common lines of attack was on his ever-changing appearance, the way his skin dramatically lightened in color, and his face altered in structure.

What's most tragic about Jackson's death, aside from the fact that it comes as he was mounting a comeback to include a sold-out 50-show residence at London's 02 Arena，is that what people will remember about him is his changing face. What they should remember：The way he changed the face of pop music.

Jackson first came to prominence as the pint-size nucleus of his family band, the Jackson 5. He quickly became the focal point of the group because of his popular cuteness and, of course, that voice. What was so remarkable about the young Michael was his ability to communicate youthful innocence’ or premature wisdom, or sometimes both at the same time. It was no small feat for the same preteen to credibly deliver shrewd stories of love and loss like “I Want You Back" and "The Love You Save", as well as he carried off cutesy soul ditties like “ ABC" and "Rockin' Robin". He led the group to four No. 1 singles.

But his watershed moments came after he came out of his awkward teenage years. At 20, Jackson starred in the film version of The Wiz, at which point he met Quincy Jones, who agreed to produce his fifth solo album, Off the Wall. The record was a mature, sexy blend of pop soul with a heavy, danceable disco groove. Having spent his earlier years trying to straddle vocal adolescence，he effortlessly became an adult. It certainly helped that Jackson was so adept at using that voice, and that he had a set of amazing songs to work with, among them "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and “Rock With You", in which Jackson sings lyrics that perfectly describe his own gifted footwork："When you dance, there's a magic that must be love.“

As stunning an artistic statement as Off the Wall was, it did little to prepare anyone for the cultural phenomenon that was his subsequent album, Thriller. Jackson’s goal was to create an album in which every song was a hit. He didn't quite accomplish that, but he did create a classic pop album that fans zealously snatched up (to the tune of an estimated 100 million copies worldwide to date) and that solidified his status as the King of Pop. Debate still rages about whether Off the Wall or Thriller is stronger as an album. But the sea change Jackson created with Thriller had less to do with the music than with the medium.

At the height of MTV, Jackson became the first black artist to create a fan base using his image rather than in spite d it. His grasp of performance and presentation remains without parallel.

Jackson's subsequent albums failed to reach the heights of Thriller. But Jackson retained his knack for spectacle. Every music video he released was a major event, which is why MTV's lifetime-achievement statue at its annual awards show still bears his name. As a singer, as a

songwriter, as a performer, as a dancer, Jackson remains among the most gifted ’ imaginative ’ larger-than-life musician of any race that has ever come along. Whatever changed about him over the years, that certainly didn't.

(此文选自Newsweek 2009年刊）

1. According to Paragraph Two, which of the following is NOT true aboul Jackson's tragic death?

[A] He had been busy preparing for his comeback shows before he died.

[B] The tickets to his comeback shows had been sold out before he died.

[C] His ever-changing appearance had negative effects on him.

[D] People don't remember the way he changed the face of pop music.

2. Which of the following is true about Jackson's songs mentioned in this passage?

[A] "I Want You Back", "The Love You Save", "ABC" and "Rockin' Robin" were the four No. 1 singles of Jackson 5.

[B] Jackson failed to convey the meaning trf love and loss in the songs "I Want You Back" and "The Love You Save".

[C] "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You" were from Off the Wall, which was his first solo album.

[D] Jackson's wonderful dancing skills were vividly described in the lyrics of “ Rock With You".

3. "Straddle" in Paragraph Four can be best replaced by

[A] deal with. [B] get over. [C] avoid. [D] end.

4. Which of the following can be inferred from Paragraph Five?

[A] Every song in Thriller was a success.

[B] Thriller was more successful than Off the Wall.

[C] Jackson had already been recognized as the King of Pop before Thriller.

[D] Some of Jackson's fans still minded his image as a black person.

5. The tone of the passage can be best described as

[A] commendatory. [B] derogatory. [C] critical. [D] neutral.

2009年6月25日.美国“流行天王”迈克尔 杰克逊在洛杉矾突发心脏病离世,终年50岁。尽管关于他的负面报道比比皆是,但这些都无法抹煞他在流行乐坛取得的成就和撼动他的天王地位。他是音乐史上第一位在羑国以外卖出上亿张唱片的艺术家。他魔幻般的舞步更是让无数明里效仿。

l.[D]事实细节题。第二段最后一句说人们"应该记住的是他改变流行音乐面孔的方式“，因此选[D]。第二段第一句指出,杰克逊生前正筹划着复出,包括要在伦敦02体育馆驻唱50场,那时门票已全部预售完,因此排除[A]、[B]；第一句指出,关于他的死最悲哀的一点在于人们记住的将是他不断改 …… 此处隐藏：10651字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……