that will make things work well, and it also means staying with the plan. Common sense tells you that you take an umbrella out into a rainstorm, but you leave the umbrella home when you hear a weather forecast for sunshine. Common sense does not seem to be common for large organizations, because there are so many things going on that one person cannot be in charge of everything. People say that in a large company, “the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.\

And what is wrong with a society that thinks that making up a good excuse is like creating a work of art? One of the common problems with making excuses is that people, especially young people, get the idea that it’s okay not to be totally honest all the time. There is a corollary (直接推论) to that: if a good excuse is“good” even if it isn’t honest, then where is the place of the truth?

1. According to the passage, which of the following seems the most human?

A. To search for truth.

B. To achieve one’s ideal.

C. To make fun of others’ mistakes.

D. To criticize others for one’s own error.

2. According to the author, what is a sign of a man’s maturity?

A. Doing things his own way.

B. Bearing responsibility for his mistakes.

C. Making as few mistakes as possible.

D. Thinking seriously about his wrongdoings.

3. Which of the following is NOT based on common sense?

A. A man tries to take charge of everything in a large company.

B. A student goes out with an umbrella in stormy weather.

C. A company’s next move follows a good plan.

D. A lawyer acts on fine judgments.

4. What is the author’s opinion about a good excuse?

A. Making a good excuse is sometimes a better policy.

B. Inventing a good excuse needs creative ideas.

C. A good excuse is as rewarding as honesty.

D. Bitter truth is better than a good excuse.

5. What would be the best title for this passage?

A. A Mirror of Human Nature

B. To Blame or to Forgive

C. A Mark of Maturity

D. Truth of Excuse

【参考答案】64.1-5 DBADA

人物传记类

(2013·山东，B)George Gershwin，born in 1898，was one of America's greatest composers.He published his first song when he was eighteen years old.During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.

Many of Gershwin's songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City.These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s.Many of his songs have remained popular as ever.Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible

way—from jazz to country.

In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music.Could jazz，some people asked，be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music.Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it.And in that short time，he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue.Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert.The audience were thrilled when they heard his music.It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.

In 1928，Gershwin went to Paris.He applied to study composition (作曲)with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger，but she rejected him.She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style.While there，Gershwin wrote An American in Paris.When it was first performed，critics (评论家)were divided over the music.Some called it happy and full of life，to others it was stilly and boring.But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States.It still remains one of his most famous works.

George Gershwin died in 1937，just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer.He was only thirty-nine years old.Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages.People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.

【语篇解读】 本文讲述了George Gershwin 一位伟大的音乐家的一生，对音乐界及世界的影响。 13．Many of Gershwin's musical works were________. A．written about New Yorkers B．composed for Paul Whiteman C．played mainly in the countryside D．performed in various ways

解析 细节理解题。根据原文第二段末Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way—from jazz to country.其中“they”指代Gershwin's musical works，“in every possible way ”与 various ways属于同义替换，所以选D。 答案 D

14．What do we know about the concert organized by Whiteman? A．It attracted more people to theatres. B．It proved jazz could be serious music. C．It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra. D．It caused a debate among jazz musicians.

解析 细节理解题。根据原文第三段中In 1924, jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music .其中“show that jazz was serious music”和B选项是表达的一个意思，所以选B。

答案 B

15．What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris? A．He created one of his best works. B．He studied with Nadia Boulanger. C．He argued with French critics. D．He changed his music style.

解析 细节理解题。根据原文第四段中“It still remains one of his most famous works.”其中it指的就是An American in Paris，“one of his most famous works.”即A选项中的 one of his best works。 答案 A

16．What do we learn from the last paragraph? A．Many of Gershwin's works were lost. B．The death of Gershwin was widely reported. C．A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.

D．Brain cancer research started after Gershwin's death.

解析 推理判断题。根据原文最后一段，“Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages.”即说明了B选项“The death of Gershwin was widely reported.”故B正确。其它选项均没有涉及。 答案 B

17．Which of the following best describes Gershwin? A．Talented and productive. B．Serious and boring. C．Popular and unhappy. D．Friendly and honest.

解析 主旨大意题。从全文看，这个人不可能用boring这样感情色彩负面的词来形容，故B错误；文中提到他popular，但没有说他unhappy，故C错误；friendly和honest在文中没有具体体现，没有根据，故D错误；A选项中talented有天分的，productive多产的，准确地描述了Gershwin作为一个作曲家所具备的素质。 答案 A