雷利平
在疫情期間,鋼琴家哈莉特·斯塔布斯帶來了250場(chǎng)免費(fèi)的音樂會(huì),這給人們帶來了極大的慰藉。
主題語境:音樂 篇幅:294詞 建議用時(shí):5分鐘
1 The Queens Birthday Honors mark the extraordinarycontributions and service of people acrossthe UK. Every year, a list of honorees are publishedon the Queens official birthday in June. HarrietStubbs, a concert pianist from the UK, was recognizedfor services to the community in West London duringCOVID19,as she performed 250 daily free concertsin Londons W8 during 2020 and 2021.
2 When the coronavirus began to spread,Stubbs returned to London from New York City,intending to stay a week—which turned into a yearand a half. She was planning to record an album thatmixed David Bowies songs with classical pieces. While locked down in London, shepracticed and people would stop outside her window to listen.
3“I thought, what about if I just do it at the same time every day and leave my windowopen intentionally, because weve all lost routine? And what if it is just something thathappens at the same time every day?”she told ABC News.
4 So, she began playing every day at 5 pm with her window open. She advertised theinformal concerts locally. As restrictions were lifted, the crowd grew larger and larger, with?her occasionally coming out to serve drinks and meet her fans. Stubbs ended up performing100 concerts in 100 days before taking a break. Then she returned and did another 100concerts in 100 days. According to her website, she performed 250 total shows.
5“People stood outside in the middle of December, with masks on, in the rain, to listento music through a window, which was distorted (失真的) with a busy intersection oftraffic—if that doesnt tell us how much we need music as human beings, I dont know whatdoes,”Stubbs said.
Reading Check
Detail
1. Why was Stubbs recognized on the Queens Birthday Honors List?
A. She donated many items.
B. She had great piano skills.
C. She gave free performances.
D. She published amazing books.
Detail
2. What inspired Stubbs to play the piano with her window open?
A. Being locked down.
B. Losing all her routine.
C. Seeing people stop to listen.
D. Planning to record an album.
Gist
3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A. The experiences Stubbs had.
B. The contributions Stubbs made.
C. Stubbs process of being famous.
D. Stubbscommitment to piano career.
Inference
4. Which of the following can best describe Stubbs?
A. Talented and energetic.
B. Adaptable and modest.
C. Ambitious and elegant.
D. Devoted and responsible.
Language Study
Difficult sentences
1. When the coronavirus began to spread, Stubbs returned to London from New YorkCity, intending to stay a week—which turned into a year and a half. 當(dāng)新型冠狀病毒開始傳播時(shí),斯塔布斯從紐約回到倫敦,打算待一周,結(jié)果卻待了一年半。
【點(diǎn)石成金】該句的主干為Stubbs returned to London from New York City;Whencoronavirus began to spread為時(shí)間狀語從句;intending to stay a week為現(xiàn)在分詞結(jié)構(gòu)作狀語;which turned into a year and a half為定語從句,修飾a week。
2. While locked down in London, she practiced and people would stop outside her windowto listen. 在倫敦被封鎖時(shí),她練習(xí),人們會(huì)在她的窗外駐足聆聽。
【點(diǎn)石成金】該句的主干為she practiced and people would stop outside her window,是由and 連接的兩個(gè)并列句;to listen 為不定式作目的狀語;While locked down inLondon為時(shí)間狀語從句的省略,省略了she was。