在备考英语四级阅读时，重点应放在提升阅读速度和理解文章主旨上。多做训练，熟知容易见到题型和方法，能够帮助应付考试挑战。新东方在线记者为大伙整理了“2024年12月英语四级考试阅读理解练习：以音乐作武器”，期望能为大伙带来帮助。
2024年12月英语四级考试阅读理解练习：以音乐作武器
Beethoven And Lennon
Ludwig Van Beethoven1 was one of the greatestmusicians in the 19 th century. John Lennon2 wasone of the greatest musicians in the 20 th century. Although there is a period of about 200 yearsbetween them, they are quite similar in certainways.
Both men expressed the spirit of their time in theirmusic. Beethoven lived in the period of rising capitalism. At that time, people were trying tobreak the shackles of feudalism3 , and they were pursuing freedom, equality, and universallove. This social trend, especially the French revolution, greatly inspired Beethoven. Hismusic was very active, passionate, and vigorous. Some of his works praised heroism, someconveyed the love for nature, and some extolled4 harmony among people. Similarly, Lennonsmusic revealed his time. In the 1960s and 1970 s, the youth in America were deeply frustratedby the discrimination and injustice in the society and were longing to build a new one . Mostof Lennons songs expressed the ideas of the youth. In one of his songs entitled Imagine, hesings, "Imagine all the people , living under peace", and "The world will be united together asone". These words show his anti-war attitude and his hope for peace , and reflect the spirit ofthe 60s and 70 s.
Both men were social rebels to some extent. They refused to bow to social conventions andpower. Beethoven was a devoted republican. When Napoleon5 was in power, who claimed tobe a defender of republicanism, Beethoven admired him so much that he dedicated hisSymphony No. 3, the theme of which is heroism, to him. But then Napoleon crowned6 himselfand became an emperor. Beethoven was so angry that he openly declared he took back whathe had said about Napoleon, regardless of possible persecution. Lennon was also considered atrouble-maker by the authorities because of his support for youth movements. For a time hewas not even allowed to give public performances. But he ignored all this and stuck to hisbelief.
阅读自测
Ⅰ. Fin d the correct me anings of the words in the left from the right side :
1. passionate A. praise somebody or something highly
2. dedicate B. discouraged, not satisfied
3. frustrated C. caused by or showing strong feelings
4. stick to D. not change something; keep to
5. extol E. address to somebody as a way of showing respect
Ⅱ. Fill in the blanks :
1. At the time of capitalism, people were trying to break the _____________ offeudalism to pursue freedom _____________ and _____________ . 2. In the 60 s and 70s, the youth in America were deeply frustrated by the _____________ and_____________ in the society and were longing to build a new one. 3. They refusedto bow to social _____________ and power and Beethoven was a _____________ republican. 4. But then Napoleon ________ himself and became an emperor.
参考答案
Ⅰ. 1. C 2 . E 3. B 4 . D 5. A
Ⅱ. 1. shackles / equality / universal love 2. discrimination / injustice 3. conventions / devoted4. crowned
参考译文
以音乐作武器
路德维希· 冯·贝多芬是18 世纪最伟大的音乐家之一。约翰· 列侬则是20 世纪最 有收获的音乐家之一。尽管两人相距近两百年, 但他们在某些方面却极其相似。
贝多芬和列侬都在音乐中表达各自的年代精神。贝多芬生活在资本主义崛起之时。 那时, 大家正试图打破封建主义的枷锁, 追求自由、平等和博爱。这种社会趋势, 尤其是法 国大革命, 给了他很大的启发。贝多芬的音乐很积极向上、热情激昂、气势磅礴。他的音 乐作品有些赞美英雄主义, 有些表达对自然的热爱之情, 还有些歌颂人与人之间的融洽情 感。和贝多芬一样, 列侬的音乐也展示了他生活的那个年代。20 世纪60 年代与70 年代, 美国社会上出现的歧视与不公正现象强烈地打击了年轻人们, 他们都期望打造新的社会。列 侬的歌曲大多表达了年轻人的这种思想。他在一首名为《想象》的歌曲中唱道,“ 想象全人类 都生活在和平之中”,“ 世界大同”。这类歌词表达了他的反战情绪与对和平的向往之 情, 并反射出上世纪60 和70 年代的年代精神。
在 一定量上, 两人都是社会的不听话者。他们拒绝向社会风俗和势力低头。贝多芬是 个忠实的共和党人。拿破仑当权时曾宣称自己是共和制的捍卫者, 贝多芬很钦佩他, 就 把歌颂英雄主义的作品《第三交响曲》献给了他。但不久, 拿破仑就加冕称帝了。贝多 芬异常气愤, 不考虑可能遭受的迫害, 公开宣布收回对拿破仑的赞扬。列侬因支持年轻人运动 也被当权者认定是捣乱分子, 甚至一度遭到封杀, 可他却依旧不考虑所有地坚持我们的信仰。
阅读导评
国内著名音乐家冼星海说过:“音乐是生活最大的快乐, 音乐是日常的一股清泉, 音 乐是陶冶性情的熔炉。”贝多芬和列侬不只体验到了这种快乐, 还从中获得了一种促进他们 前进的精神力量。为了更好地生活, 大家也当悉心倾听音乐。倾听音乐才能更好地领悟音 乐。可以领悟音乐的人, 才能从所有世俗的烦恼中超脱出来, 才能更好地驾驭生活, 才能成 为生活的主人。
阅读导释
1. 路德维希·冯·贝多芬 , 德国作曲家, 毕生追求“ 自由、平等、博爱”的理 想, 其创作集西方古典乐派之大成, 开浪漫乐派之先河, 对后世西洋音乐的进步有深远影 响。贝多芬被后人尊称为“ 乐圣”, 其主要作品有《英雄》、《命》、《田园》等交响乐9部,《悲怆》、《月光》、《暴风雨》等钢琴奏鸣曲32 部及弦乐四重奏17 部。文章中提及的 Symphony No. 3 即《第三交响曲》, 作品原来计划题献给贝多芬心目中的英雄拿破仑, 但 当他听说拿破仑称帝, 便划掉了献词。共和主义原则使他义愤填膺, 于是把题词改为 “ 为了纪念一位伟人”。
2. 约翰·列侬 ,“ 披头士” 乐队主要代表人物, 被叫做“ 摇滚之父”。 大伙所熟知的歌曲《黄色潜水艇》与《昨天》均源于该乐队。这支乐队是先锋派, 他们比 较狂热与敏锐, 是和平的忠实捍卫者。1980 年12 月8 日, 列侬在自己曼哈顿公寓的门口, 被一名疯狂的歌迷枪杀。文章中提到的《想象》表达了列侬呼唤和平常代到来的思想。
3. shackle 原意是“镣铐, 手铐, 脚镣”, 常比喻为“ 枷锁, 桎梏, 束缚”, 这里就取此词的比喻 义。feudalism意思是“封建主义, 封建规范”, 与前文中的capitalism, 即“ 资本主义, 资本 主义规范”是相对而言的。
4. 这个词的意思是“ 颂扬, 赞扬, 赞美”, 是个美化用语的动词, 如: extol ones merits ; extol one to the skies 。
5. 这里指的是一般所说的拿破仑一世 , 法兰西第一帝国和百日王朝皇帝。 1804 年, 拿破仑发动雾月18 日政变, 自任第一执政。他称帝后颁布的《拿破仑法典》对 后世有着要紧影响。他在位时连年对外用兵, 滑铁卢战役惨败后被流放到圣赫勒拿岛。 今天所说的短语meet ones waterloo 即源自此。
6. 该词原本指“皇冠, 桂冠”, 这里用作动词, 意思是“ 为……加冕, 立……为君王”, 还有 “ 给……戴 , 授……以荣誉”的意思, 如: The Emperor crowned the victor with laurel. 词组the crown of the year 则指“收成季节, 秋天”。
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