单选题 The worst thing about television and radio is that they entertain us, saving us the trouble of entertaining ourselves.
A hundred years ago, before all these devices were invented, if a person wanted to entertain himself with a song or a piece of music, he would have to do the singing himself or pick up a violin and play it. Now, all he has to do is turn on the radio or TV. As a result, singing and music have declined.
Italians used to sing all the time. Now, they only do it in Hollywood movies, Indian movies are mostly a series of songs and dances trapped around silly stories. As a result, they don't do much singing in Indian villages anymore. Indeed, ever since radio first came to life, there has been a terrible decline in amateur (业余的) singing throughout the world.
There are two reasons for this sad decline. One, human beings are astonishingly lazy. Put a lift in a building, and people would rather take it than climb even two flights of steps. Similarly, invent a machine that sings, and people would rather let the machine sing than sing themselves. The other reason is that people are easily embarrassed. When there is a famous, talented musician readily available by pushing a button, which amateur violinist or pianist would want to try to entertain family or friends by himself?
These earnest reflections came to me recently when two CDs arrived in the mail. They are historic recordings of famous writers reading their own works. It was thrilling to hear the voices from a long dead past in the late 19th century. But today, reading out loud anything is no longer common. Today, we sing songs to our children until they are about two, we read simple books to them till they are about five, and once they have learnt to read themselves, we become deaf. We're alive only to the sound of the TV and the stereo (立体声音响).
I count myself extremely lucky to have been born before TV became so common: I was about six before TV appeared. To keep us entertained my mother had to do a good deal of singing and tell us endless tales. It was the same in many other homes. People spoke a language; they sang it, they recited it; it was something they could feel.
Professional actors' performance is extraordinarily revealing. But I still prefer my own reading, because it's mine. For the same reason, people find karaoke (卡拉OK) liberating. It is almost the only electronic thing that gives them back their own voice. Even if their voices are hopelessly out of tune, at least it is meaningful self-entertainment.

单选题 The main idea of this passage is that ______.
A. TV and radio can amuse us with beautiful songs and music
B. TV and radio prevent us from self-entertainment
C. people should sing songs and read books aloud themselves
D. parents should sing songs and read books aloud to their children

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】本题是一道主旨题。从文章的第一句话“The worst thing about television and radio is that they entertain us，saving us the trouble of entertaining ourselves．(关于电视和广播最糟糕的一点就是它们给我们提供娱乐，省去了我们自我娱乐的麻烦。)”可知，作者认为电视、广播阻碍了我们自我娱乐。另外，下文主要论述人们过去是如何娱乐的，启从有了电视以后，人们的娱乐发生了什么样的变化，从中也可以得出文章的主题。其他选项都过于具体，明显不是文章主要论述的内容。

单选题 According to the passage, Italians ______.
A. only sing songs in Hollywood B. are no longer fond of music
C. only sing and dance in villages D. don't sing much nowadays

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】本题是段落推断题。答案在第二段。根据原文第二句话“Now，they only do it in Hollywood movies”可排除A选项，原文中是说in Hollywood movies，而选项中变成了 in Hollywood，这是偷换概念。B选项明显不对。根据原文第四句话“As a result，they don't do much singing in Indian villages anymore．”又可将C项排除。原文第一句Italians used to sing all the time表示意大利人过去一直唱歌，现在不是这样了，再加上后面的论述，可推知D选项是正确的。

单选题 Which of the following is NOT the reason for the decline in amateur singing?
A. It is easier for people to please themselves with songs through TV and radio.
B. Amateurs feel embarrassed for they cannot sing as well as the professionals.
C. People don't want to take the trouble to sing songs themselves.
D. Famous and talented musicians can easily be met.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】本题可采用排除法。答案主要在第四段。第三段的结尾句提出这种现象，第四段论述了原因。根据第一句到第三句“…One，human beings are astonishingly lazy．Put a lift in a building，and...Similarly，invent a machine that sings，and people would rather let the machine sing than sing themselves(……第一点原因，人们变得非常懒惰，有了电梯，人们就不愿自己爬楼梯了，……同样道理，有了会唱歌的机器，人们宁愿让机器唱而不愿费力自己唱了)”可推知A、C选项都是业余歌手下降的原因。第四句和第五句“The other reason is that people are easily embarrassed．When there is a famous，talented musician readily available by pushing a button，which amateur violinist or pianist would want to try to entertain family or friends by himself?．(另一个原因是人们很容易觉得不好意思。因为随便按一下按钮就可以听到一位著名的优秀的音乐家的演奏，哪个业余选手还想自己表演来娱乐家人呢?)”的言外之意是他们觉得自己没有专业演员表演得好，故B选项也是原因之一。只有D选项不是恰当的原因，原文是说容易听到专业音乐人的演唱或演奏，而不是容易见到他们本人(easily be met)。