单选题
Most musicians agree that the best violins were made
in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any
others. They even sound{{U}} {{U}} 1 {{/U}}{{/U}}violins made today. Violin
makers and scientists try to make{{U}} {{U}} 2 {{/U}}{{/U}}like the old
Italian violins.{{U}} {{U}} 3 {{/U}}{{/U}}they aren't the same, Musicians
prefer the old ones. No one really knows{{U}} {{U}} 4 {{/U}}{{/U}}these old
Italian violins are so special,{{U}} {{U}} 5 {{/U}}{{/U}}many people think
they have an answer. Some people think it is the age of the
violins. But not all old violins sound wonderful. Only the old violins from
Cremona are{{U}} {{U}} 6 {{/U}}{{/U}}. Other people think
that the{{U}} {{U}} 7 {{/U}}{{/U}}to those violins is the wood. The wood of
the violin is very important. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It{{U}}
{{U}} 8 {{/U}}{{/U}}too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of
Cremona knew{{U}} {{U}} 9 {{/U}}{{/U}}special about wood for
violins. But the kind of wood may not be{{U}} {{U}} 10
{{/U}}{{/U}}important.{{U}} {{U}} 11 {{/U}}{{/U}}may be more important to cut
the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It was
to be the right size and{{U}} {{U}} 12 {{/U}}{{/U}}The smallest difference
will change the sound of the violin. Musicians{{U}} {{U}} 13
{{/U}}{{/U}}think that this was the secret of the Italians.{{U}} {{U}} 14
{{/U}}{{/U}}they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood.
Size and shape may not be the answer{{U}} {{U}} 15
{{/U}}{{/U}}.Scientists measured these old violins very carefully. They can make new
ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the violins do not sound{{U}}
{{U}} 16 {{/U}}{{/U}}the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be
the varnish. Varnish is what covers the wood of the violin. It makes the wood{{U}}
{{U}} 17 {{/U}}{{/U}}shiny. No one knows{{U}} {{U}} 18 {{/U}}{{/U}}the
Italian violin makers used in their varnish. So no one can make the same varnish
today. There may never be other violins{{U}} {{U}} 19 {{/U}}{{/U}}the
violins of Cremona. And there are not very many of the old violins{{U}} {{U}}
20 {{/U}}{{/U}}.
单选题
A. better than
B. worse. than
C. more than
D. rather than
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】要解答此题需要联系上一句These violins sound better than anyothers．(这些小提琴听起来音质要比别的小提琴好。)而这一句还是继续强调其好——“甚至好于今天的提琴”，联系上下文可以排除B、C、D。
【答案解析】联系上文“No one really knows…”，“…many people think they have an answer．”及下段“Some people think…”和再下一段“Other people think that…”可以发现此处缺一个转折关系的连词。so是表示因果关系的连词；whatever是“无论如何”，主要做连词或者副词；however是一个副词。这样我们可以选出whereas，意为“然而”。
单选题
A. strange
B. peculiar
C. special
D. odd
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】联系上段最后一句“No one really knows why these old Italian violins are so special…”可以找出答案。strange与文意相反。peculiar表示“特有的”，一般应该与to连用。odd表示“奇怪的”。