A
Since I was born, I have been listening to music all the time. Not just any music, but the right kind of music.
It may seem strange to say that, but hearing good music played well by a big music group is something that a lot of people no longer experience. Most people are musically illiterate (了解不多的) simply because they have never had any chance to listen to good music. Many people are unfamiliar with the sound of a symphony orchestra (交响乐团). They only hear orchestra music while watching ads and films. But to me a symphony orchestra is the biggest instrument in the world. To hear a full symphony orchestra on stage and to feel the power of the sound — it is like a big wave. It is an amazing experience and it is one that I was lucky enough to grow up with.
My mother was a wellknown singer. She had been a member of the Vienna State Opera and the Budapest State Opera and as a baby I was taken along to concerts and stages. I was not necessarily listening to classical music but always good music played well.
My mother was the sixteenth child in her family. She was the youngest and by the time she was born, her oldest sister also had a child with whom she shared a bed. With so many loving families around her, my mother grew up happily to be a cheerful woman.
Because I lost my father when I was very young, I do not remember much about him. What I do know is largely what I have been told by my mother. I am like him in many ways. He was obviously a very serious man, always appearing sad. I seem to have inherited (继承) something of that from him. Fortunately, I inherited far more of my mother's happiness — a real show business personality (性格)．
【语篇解读】 本文是记叙文。妈妈作为音乐工作者的身份让作者有机会欣赏高质量的音乐作品。
21．Why does the author think that most people are musically illiterate?
A．They are not interested in music.
B．They don't listen to music very often.
C．They can't tell good music from bad music.
D．They have no chance to listen to wellplayed music.
答案与解析：D 细节理解题。由第二段中的“Most people are musically illiterate simply because they have never had any chance to listen to good music”可知，多数人都没有机会接触高质量高水准的音乐作品。
22．What does the author think of hearing a symphony orchestra on stage?
A．It inspires him to get on stage one day.
B．It makes him feel like getting stuck in a big wave.
C．It's very different from hearing orchestra music in films.
D．It can create the same feeling as watching powerful ads.
答案与解析：C 细节理解题。由第二段中的“They only hear orchestra music while watching ads and films... it is like a big wave”可知，现场听交响乐表演和听电影中的交响乐体验是完全不同的。
23．What can be learned about the author as a baby?
A．He helped his mother a lot.
B．He learned music from his mother.
C．He went to his mother's workplace.
D．He listened to classical music every day.
答案与解析：C 细节理解题。由第三段中的“as a baby I was taken along to concerts and stages”可知，作者常常被妈妈带到工作的地方。
