【正文】 the Lewis and Clark expedition the size of the continent had been (A) of little interest (B) underestimated (C) known to native inhabitants of the West (D) unpublished but known to most scientists in the passage does the author refer to the explorers39。 failure to find an easy passageway to the western part of the continent? (A) Lines13 (B) Lines78 (C) Lines1618 (D) Lines2124 Questions 4250 For a century and a half the piano has been one of the most popular solo instruments for Western music. Unlike string and wind instrument, the piano is pletely selfsufficient, as it is able to play both the melody and its acpanying harmony at the same time. For this reason, it became the favorite household instrument of the nieenth century. The ancestry of the piano can be traced to the early keyboard instruments of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries – the spi, the dulcimer, and the virginal. In the seventeenth century the an, the clavichord, and the harpsichord became the chief instruments of the keyboard group, a supremacy they maintained until the piano supplanted them at the end of the eighteenth century. The clavichord39。s tone was metallic and never powerful。 nevertheless, because of the variety of tone possible to it, many posers found the clavichord a sympathetic instrument for intimate chamber music. The harpsichord with its bright, vigorous tone was the favorite instrument for supporting the bass of the small orchestra of the period and for concert use but the character of the tone could not be varied save by mechanical or structural devices. The piano was perfected in the early eighteenth century by a harpsichord maker in Italy (though musicologists point out several previous instances of the instrument). This instrument was called a piano e forte(soft and loud), to indicate its dynamic versatility。 its strings were struck by a recoiling hammer with a feltpadded head. The wires were much heavier in the earlier instruments. A series of mechanical improvements continuing well into the nieenth century, including the introduction of pedals to sustain tone or to soften it, the perfection of a metal frame and steel wire of the finest quality, finally produced an instrument capable of myriad tonal effects from the most delicate harmonies to an almost orchestral fullness of sound, from a liquid, singing tone to sharp, percussive brilliance. 42. What does the passage mainly discuss? (A) The historical development of the piano (B) The quality of tone produced by various keyboard instruments (C) The uses of keyboard instruments in various types of positions (D) The popularity of the piano with posers 43. Which of the following instruments was widely used before the seventeenth century? (A) The harpsichord (B) The spi (C) The clavichord (D) The an 44. The words a supremacy in line 12 are closest in meaning to (A) a suggestion (B) an improvement (C) a dominance (D) a development 45. The word supplanted in line 13 is closest in meaning to (A) supported (B) promoted (C) replaced (D) dominated 46. The word it in line 15 refers to the (A) variety (B) music (C) harpsichord (D) clavichord 47. According to the passage, what deficiency did the harpsichord have? (A) It was fragile (B) It lacked variety in tone. (C) It sounded metallic. (D) It could not produce a strong sound. 48. Where in the passage does the author provide a translation? (A) Lines 45 (B) Lines 1315 (C) Lines 1819 (D) Lines 2025 49. According to the information in the third paragraph, which of the following improvements made it possible to lengthen the tone produced by the piano? (A) The introduction of pedals (B) The use of heavy wires (C) The use of feltpadded hammerheads (D) The metal frame construction 50. The word myriad in line 32 is closest in meaning to (A) noticeable (B) many (C) loud (D) unusual 1995年 10月答案： CCBBA DCADA BDCDD AABDB CCDAD BDBAA DCCCD BAABB DABCC DBCAB