A
(2020·长沙统一模拟)Kendrick Lamar hasn’t had much luck when it comes to winning a Grammy. But that’s OK：The US rapper has just won a Pulitzer Prize for his music.
In 2014, in 2016, and again in 2018, Lamar was nominated(提名) for an album of the year Grammy. Each time, he was beaten out, first by Taylor Swift, next by Daft Punk, and most recently by Bruno Mars.
But the Pulitzer Prize committee was inspired enough by Lamar’s 2017 album, Damn., to award the Pulitzer Prize in music on April 16. It’s an amazing album that documents the real life of modern AfricanAmericans in South Los Angeles with wildly accomplished beats and rhythms.
Lamar’s win is considered to be historical. The Pulitzers have long displayed their preference towards high art rather than the pop culture of the masses. So it’s not just that no rapper has ever won a Pulitzer: no pop music maker has ever won one in the award’s history.
But Lamar is not just a singer—he’s clever at using language. Like the best writers, his music describes small moments that illustrate larger points. His songs are about his experience as a black man who grew up in California, struggled, got into trouble, and found his way out by working hard and making sense of the history and reality in the US.
“He’s an artist who challenges ideas，” said Ryan Coogler, director of the blockbuster(大片) Black Panther, for which Lamar created music. “One big theme in our film is this idea of ‘What does it mean to be African？’ Lamar in his music is very exactly and directly challenging that question.”
Good artists entertain us, great artists make us think, and exceptional artists help us empathize(产生共鸣)．
There are a lot of good, great, even exceptional artists in rock, pop, country, and hiphop. But only Lamar has won a Pulitzer Prize.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇记叙文。美国说唱歌手Kendrick Lamar以说唱歌手的身份获得了普利策奖。
1．What is Lamar’s album Damn. about?
A．AfricanAmericans’ history and culture.
B．Hardships of the AfricanAmerican artists.
C．The ways the US government deal with problems.
D．The lives of modern black people in South Los Angeles.
D 解析：细节理解题。根据第三段中的“It’s an amazing album that documents the real life of modern AfricanAmericans in South Los Angeles with wildly accomplished beats and rhythms.”可知，Lamar的这张专辑主要讲述的是生活在洛杉矶南部的当代美籍非洲人的真实生活。故选D。
2．Why is Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize win significant?
A．He is the first filmmaker to win the prize.
B．It is considered a milestone for pop music.
C．He is the first black person to win the prize.
D．He has missed Grammy several times before.
B 解析：推理判断题。根据第四段的内容，尤其是“Lamar’s win is considered to be historical.”和“no pop music maker has ever won one in the award’s history”可推知，Lamar获得普利策奖具有重大意义。故选B。
3．What can we learn from Ryan Coogler’s words?
A．Lamar drew inspiration from his own experience.
B．Lamar has the courage to take on big challenges in life.
C．Black Panther is well known because of Lamar’s music.
D．Lamar’s music matches the theme of Black Panther well.
D 解析：细节理解题。根据第六段中Ryan Coogler说的话“One big theme in our film is this idea of ‘What does it mean to be African？’ Lamar in his music is very exactly and directly challenging that question.”可知，Lamar的音乐与电影《Black Panther》主题相一致。故选D。
