D
The 65-year-old Steve Goodwin was found suffering from early Alzheimer’s(阿尔楚海默症). He was losing his memory.
A software engineer by profession, Steve was a keen lover of the piano, and the only musician in his family. Music was his true passion, though he had never performed outside the family.
Melissa, his daughter, felt it more than worthwhile to save his music, to which she fell asleep catch night when she was young. She thought about hiring a professional pianist to work with her father.
Naomi, Melissa’s best friend and a talented pianist, got to know about this and showed willingness to help.
“Why do this?” Steve wondered.
“Because she cares.” Melissa said.
Steve nodded, tears in eye.
Naomi drove to the Goodwin home. She told Steve she’d love to hear him play. Steve moved to the piano and sat at the bench, hands trembling as he gently placed his fingers on the keys.
Naomi put a small recorder near the piano, Starts and stops and mistakes. Long pauses, heart sinking. But Steve pressed on, playing for the first time in his life for a stranger.
“It was beautiful." Naomi said after listening to the recording. “The music was worth saving.”
Her responsibility, her privilege, would be to rescue it. The music was sill in Steve Goodwin. It was bidden in rooms with doors about to be locked.
Naomi and Steve met every other week and spent hours together. He’d move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she’d take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head. He stood by the piano, eyes closed, listening for the first time to his own work being played by someone else.
Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it. He just couldn’t play it.
Working with Naomi did wonders for Steve. It had excited within him the belief he could write one last song. One day, Naomi received an email. Attached was a recording, a recording of loss and love, of the fight. Steve called it “Melancholy Flower”.
Naomi heard multiple stops and starts, Steve struggling, searching while his wife Joni called him “honey” and encouraged him. The task was so hard, and Steve, angry and upset, said he was quitting. Joni praised him, telling her husband this could be his signature piece.
Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve’s favorite, and most personal songs. With Naomi’s help, the Goodwin family found a sound engineer to record Naomi playing Steve’s songs. Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn’t.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert, Naomi told the director she had a special one in mind: “Melancholy Flower”
She told the director about her project with Steve. The director agreed to add it to the playing list. But Naomi would have to ask Steve’s permission. He considered it an honor.
After the concert, Naomi told the family that Steve’s music was beautiful and professional. It needed to be shared in public.
The family rented a former church in downtown Portland and scheduled a concert. By the day of the show, more than 300 people had said they would attend.
By then, Steve was having a hard time remembering the names of some of his friends. He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.
Steve arrived and sat in the front row, surrounded by his family. The house lights faded. Naomi took the stage. Her fingers. His heart.
65. Why did Melissa want to save her father’s music?
A. His music could stop his disease from worsening.
B. She wanted to please her dying old father.
C. His music deserved to be preserved in the family.
D. She wanted to make her father a professional.
66. After hearing Steve’s playing, Naomi ________.
A. refused to make a comment on it
B. was deeply impressed by his music
C. decided to free Steve from suffering
D. regretted offering help to her friend
67. How can the process of Steve’s recording be described?
A. It was slow but productive.
B. It was beneficial to his health.
C. It was tiresome for Naomi.
D. It was vital for Naomi’s career.
68. Before Steve finished “Melancholy Flower," his wife Joni _______.
A. thought the music talent of Steve was exhausted
B. didn’t expect the damage the disease brought about
C. didn’t fully realize the value of her husband’s music
D. brought her husband’s music career to perfection
69. How did Steve feel at the concert held in downtown Portland?
A. He felt concerned about his illness.
B. He sensed a responsibility for music.
C. He regained his faith in music.
D. He got into a state of quiet.
70. What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A. The Kindness of Friends
B. The Power of Music
C. The Making of a Musician
D. The Value of Determination
【答案】65. C 66. B 67. A 68. C 69. D 70. B
【解析】
本文属于记叙文，主要讲述一个钢琴师帮助一个患老年痴呆症的老人录制音乐的故事，其录制过程比较艰苦，但是录制的音乐很成功，也让老人对音乐充满了信心。
【65题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段可知，Steve的专业软件工程，还是一个钢琴的热爱者，是家里唯一的音乐家，音乐是他真正热爱的东西，尽管没有在家以外的地方弹奏过钢琴。根据第三段Melissa, his daughter ,felt it more than worthwhile to save his music.可知他的女儿Melissa觉得保存他的音乐很有价值，故选C。
【66题详解】
推理判断题。根据第十段 “it was beautiful,” Naomi said after listening to the recording. “ the music was worth saving.”可知，听了录音之后Naomi说很美，值得保存，故可以得出Naomi对Steve的音乐印象深刻，故选B。
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【67题详解】推理判断题。根据第十二段He’d move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she’d take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head.以及第十三段Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code: lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it, he just couldn’t play it.可知，Steve会笨拙地把手指放在钢琴上，然后Naomi把手指放在他放的地方，并且Steve努力解释脑海里的内容，所有的这些，都是Naomi在弹奏，而Steve在听，故可知这个录制过程很慢。根据第十六段Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve’s favorite, and most personal songs.可知作品很多。故选A。
【68题详解】
推理判断题。根据第十六段Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn’t. 以及后文Steve取得的成就可知在完成Melancholy Flower之前，他的妻子还没完全意识到丈夫的音乐的真正价值，故选C。
【69题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数第二段He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.可知，他知道自己一生要选择的路，告诉家人他很平静，故可知，家乡的音乐会让他重新坚定了对音乐的信念，故选D。
【70题详解】
主旨大意题。本文主要讲述一个钢琴师帮助一个患老年痴呆症的人录制音乐的故事，其录制过程比较艰苦，但是录制的音乐很成功，也让老人对音乐充满了信心。B项“音乐的力量”概括了全文内容，是最佳标题。故选B。