C
The Four Seasons, written by the Italian musician Antonio Vivaldi, was first played about 300 years ago. Since then, it has enjoyed worldwide popularity.
The great musical work includes four parts: “Spring”, “Summer”, “Autumn” and ‘‘Winter”. Each part brings to mind the season it is meant to describe. “Summer”, for example, begins slowly. Listeners can easily picture a hot, lazy summer day when nobody wants to move. When you listen to “Autumn”, a harvest (收获) celebration will readily come to mind.
But now, Hache Costa, a music director in Spain, has decided to give the old work a fresh feel. He says the climate (气候) today is very different from what it was in the 1700s. The Four Seasons would be “a lot dirtier” if it were written now.
Costa has “updated” the musical work to make it match the realities of the modern world. The ‘“updated” musical work has been played in Madrid, Spain. The performance takes place in front of a screen. As the musicians play, a video shows the effects (影响) of climate change, such as forest fires and unusually dry weather.
After enjoying it, people find the new “Summer” now sounds noisier and more powerful. Because of global warming (全球变暖), the other three seasons have become shorter. Costa says he expects people to feel “really sad” after listening to the new Four Seasons.
“I really want more people to become truly aware of (意识到) what is happening to our planet,” says Costa. “And I believe Vivaldi would not be angry with my changes.”
7. What do we know about The Four Seasons?
A. It is still unpopular now.
B. It was written by Hache Costa.
C. It was first played about 300 years ago.
8. What will come to mind when we listen to the old “Autumn” according to the passage?
A. Forest fires and dry weather. B. A harvest celebration. C. A hot lazy day.
9. Which is close to the underlined word “updated” in meaning in paragraph 4?
A. 提上日程 B. 追根溯源 C. 赋予新意
10. Why did Hache Costa give the old work a fresh feel?
A. To call on more people to love music.
B. To raise public awareness of climate change.
C. To present the story of Antonio Vivaldi’s colorful life.
答案解析：
7. C
解析：根据第一段中的“The Four Seasons, written by the Italian musician Antonio Vivaldi, was first played about 300 years ago.”可知，《四季》是大约300年前首次演奏的，因此选项C正确。
8. B
解析：根据第二段中的“When you listen to ‘Autumn’, a harvest celebration will readily come to mind.”可知，当我们听《秋》时，会联想到收获庆典，所以选项B正确。
9. C
解析：根据第四段中的“Costa has ‘updated’ the musical work to make it match the realities of the modern world.”可知，Hache Costa更新了这部音乐作品，使其符合现代世界的现实，因此“updated”在这里的意思是“赋予新意”，选项C正确。
10. B
解析：根据最后一段中的“I really want more people to become truly aware of what is happening to our planet...”可知，Hache Costa更新这部作品的目的是为了让更多人真正意识到我们星球正在发生的事情，即提高公众对气候变化的意识，所以选项B正确。
