单选题
From the beginning of jazz, the trumpet was the king. The trumpet players were often the leaders, and in any case they played the leading role in the music. It was trumpet players like Bolden, Oliver, Armstrong, and Beiderbecke who got the glory. But by the early years of the 1930"s, a relatively new instrument was beginning to push the trumpet aside. This was the saxophone.
The saxophone was invented by a Belgian, Adolph Sax, in 1840. Sax was trying to create an instrument which combined the carrying power of a brass instrument with the speed and facility of a clarinet. What he got was something quite different, an instrument that indeed could be played with speed, but which had a rather muted sound. It has never been much used in symphony orchestras, and during the early days of jazz was rarely used. But by 1910 dance orchestras were beginning to use the saxophone as a novelty instrument. It looked funny, especially when the saxophonist had several different sizes of them lined up in front of him. And by about 1920 jazz musicians were beginning to take an interest in the instrument. For the most part, they played it very badly. Early jazz saxophone playing is sometimes quite painful to hear. But very quickly some players began to master the instrument. Three who did so were Bud Freeman, tenor saxophonist, who was part of gang around Beiderbecke"s sidekick, Frankie Trumbauer. But it was yet another player who was to really demonstrate the possibilities of the instrument. This was Coleman Hawkins.
单选题
According to the passage, which instrument was the most important in early jazz?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第一段第一句“From the beginning of jazz, the trumpet was the king. ”可知,在爵士乐早期,小号是最重要的乐器。故选A。
单选题
Which of the following people played the trumpet?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第一段第三句“It was trumpet players like Bolden, Oliver, Armstrong, and Beiderbecke who got the glory. ”可知,四个选项中只有B项的拜德贝克是小号手。故选B。
单选题
How was the saxophone named?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第二段第一句“The saxophone was invented by a Belgian, Adolph Sax, in 1840. ”可知,1840年比利时的阿道夫·萨克斯发明了萨克斯。由此可推知,萨克斯是以发明者的名字来命名的。故选A。
单选题
Which of the following people not play saxophone?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第二段最后三句“Three who did so were Bud Freeman, tenor saxophonist, who was part of gang around Beiderbecke"s sidekick, Frankie Trumbauer. But it was yet another player who was to really demonstrate the possibilities of the instrument. This was Coleman Hawkins. ”可知,巴德·费里曼、弗兰基·特莫鲍尔和科尔曼·霍金斯都是萨克斯手。运用排除法可知,D项的罗利尼不是萨克斯手。故选D。
单选题
What"s the author"s opinion of jazz saxophone playing in the 1920"s?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据第二段第七、八句“And by about 1920 jazz musicians were beginning to take an interest in the instrument. For the most part, they played it very badly. ”可知,在1920年左右,大多爵士音乐家都演奏不好萨克斯。由此可推知,作者认为1920年左右的爵士萨克斯演奏水平很糟糕。故选B。