实用英语综合教程第一册课文选读3

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PRE-READING TASK

Exercise 1

You are going to read a passage entitled (标题为) "The First American Music". Which of the questions do you think may probably be answered in the passage?

1. How did the first American music begin?

2. Why do so many people around world love American music?

3. What role does modern science play in the development of American music?

4. When and where did the word "music" first appear in the American history?

Now read the passage to check your answers.

The First American Music

1. The first Europeans came to America in 1492 with Christopher Columbus. Since that time people have come to America from all over the world,from Europe,Africa,and Asia,and they have brought their music with them. This mixing of people and music has created American music.

2. Music is a very important part of our lives. Music is for dancing,drinking,eating,loving,and thinking. Some songs remind us of our childhood or youth. Others remind us of the people we love. Many important occasions,like weddings and funerals,have special music. Every nation has a national song like the American song "The Star-Spangled Banner". In the U.S.,high schools and colleges have school songs too.

3. Music is a part of the history of America. It expresses the problems and feelings of its people. As the years pass,the music grows and changes.

4. Modern science has also changed music. Inventions like records,radio,movies,electric instruments,tape recorders,and videos have changed the way we play and listen to music. They have helped to make music an important form of international communication.

5. American music,from the earliest folk songs to modern "pop",is known around the world. Music is one of America's most important exports. It brings the people of the world together. Even when people cannot understand the same language,they can share the same music. Many people learn and practice English by singing songs. Understanding American music can help you understand American people,their history and culture.

6. So,as the song says,"Put a dime in the juke box,baby." Let's listen to the music!

7. Native Americans lived in America before Columbus arrived. They had songs for many occasions and they used drums and other musical instruments. Dancing and music was an important part of their life and their religion. You can still hear native American music and see dancing at special festivals.

8. The first British people who came to America were very religious. They came for religious freedom. Their songs were simple and they did not use musical instruments in the church.

9. Soon other people with different forms of the Christian religion arrived in America. They brought different kinds of church music from Europe and they used musical instruments,like the organ and the piano,in the church.

10. Not all early music was church music. Some people liked to drink and dance. Many drinking places opened and fiddle (violin) music and European songs entertained the people.

11. American farmers soon left the east coast to begin new farms further west. The farms were big and far apart. There were not many towns or churches. Religious leaders,called preachers,rode horses around the country and brought religion to the farm people.

12. To bring the country people together in a lar

ge group,these preachers held "camp meetings". These religious meetings were held in big tents. Sometimes thousands of people went to hear the preachers. Camp meetings often went on for several days. Popular religious songs were sung and the music was very lively. People clapped their hands and tapped their feet to the music. The first camp meeting was held in 1800 and they are still held today. Many pop stars,for example Elvis Presley,first learned to sing and to love music at these meetings.

New Words

create

v. to produce (something new) 创造，创作

remind

v. to tell or cause (someone) to remember (a fact,or to do something) 提醒，使想起

childhood

n. the time or condition of being a child 幼年(时代)，童年

occasion

n. a time when something happens 场合，时刻

wedding

n. 婚礼

funeral

n. 葬礼

spangle

v. 使闪烁

banner

n. 1. a flag 旗，旗帜

2. (写有标语等的)横幅

invention

n. 1. 发明物

2. 发明，创造

tape

n. 1. 磁带，录音带

2. 狭带，线带

recorder

n. 1. 录音机，录音器

2. 记录员，记录者

video

n. 电视，视频，影像

a. 电视的，视频的

international

a. having to do with more than one nation 国际的，世界的

communication

n. 1. 交流，联系

2. 传递，传达

folk

a. 民间的

n. 人们

pop

n. 流行音乐，流行艺术

export

n. 输出品

v. 输出，出口

dime

n. (美国和加拿大的)1角银币

juke

n. 1. 自动唱机音乐

2. (丢进硬币按钮选唱片的)自动唱机

drum

n. 鼓

musical

a. of,like or producing music 音乐的，悦耳的

Christian

a. 基督教的，信基督教的

religion

n. 宗教，信仰

festival

n. 1. (音乐，戏剧)节

2. 节日，喜庆日

religious

a. 宗教的，虔诚的

organ

n. 1. 风琴

2. 器官

violin

n. 小提琴

entertain

v. 1. 使娱乐，使欢乐

2. to provide food and drink in one's house (for) 招待，款待

coast

n. an area next to the sea,seashore 海岸，海滨(地区)

apart

ad. 1. separate; away; distant相隔，相距

2. in or into a state of separation (from each other) 离开，拆开

a. separate 分开的，拆开的

leader

n. a person or thing that leads or is in advance of others 领袖，领导

preacher

n. 传道士，说教者

tap

v. to strike (the hand,foot,etc.) lightly against something (连续)轻打，轻敲

Phrases and expressions

all over the world

世界各地

remind ... of

使想起，提醒

bring ... together

使...在一起

go on

持续

Proper Names

Christopher Columbus

克里斯托弗.哥伦布(1451-1506，意大利航海家、新大陆发现者)

the Star-Spangled Banner

星条旗之歌(美国国歌)

British

英国的，英国人的

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