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UNIT 2
Text A
PRE-READING TASK
Exercise 1
Before reading the passage, decide whether the statements are True or False.
1. Rock and Roll comes mainly from black African music.
2. An electric guitar is a necessary instrument in Rock and Roll music.
3. The King of Rock and Roll is John Winston Lenon（约翰.列农）.
Now read the passage to check your answers.
Rock and Roll
1. It is difficult to say exactly how the music we call "rock" or "rock and roll" began. Its roots go back to many different countries and many different kinds of music and musicians.
2. Rock music developed mainly from the interaction of black African and white European music. The Europeans and the African slaves who came to America during the seventeenth century each had their own different kinds of music. Black Africans used heavy drumbeats, a rough singing voice, and the calling of a melody and answer of a chorus. The white Europeans, mostly English and Scots, used a stronger melody, a less heavy beat, and instruments such as guitars, horns, and fiddles. The history of rock and roll is the history of how rock evolved from these two traditions.
3. From the seventeenth to the twentieth century, musicians in the southern United States developed two new forms of music: the blues, usually played by blacks, and country music, played by whites. Black musicians sang the blues accompanied by a guitar. This music was similar to work songs: stories of troubles and pain, with lines that were repeated several times. The words "rock and roll" probably came from the black churches in the South, where people sang spiritual music and danced to the strong rhythms, which they called "rocking and reeling". At the same time, whites were playing country music, which was mostly traditional dancing music and slow songs that told sad stories. The singers were accompanied by string instruments such as fiddles and guitars.
4. During this time blues and country musicians had some influence on each other, but the influence grew stronger after phonograph records became popular in the late nineteenth century. The birth of the electric guitar changed country and blues music in the 1940's. The sound of the electric guitar would become the sound of rock and roll. No one thinks of early rock and roll without thinking of Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll". Elvis was an ordinary boy. He grew up poor, learned to sing in church, and became a truck driver when he graduated from high school.
5. No one thought that this young man with the guitar would change popular culture. But after he recorded two blues songs in Memphis, everything changed. He sang throughout the South, and teenagers went crazy over his amazing voice and his attractive performances. His music was an exciting mixture of white country and black blues. With his long hair and tight pants, he became a teenage idol. In two years, he was a national phenomenon.
6. Elvis's career then went downhill. He went into the army, then stopped performing and made a series of bad movies. He continued to record, but his music rarely had the life of his early songs. He remained the symbol of rock and roll, however, not only in the United States but also around the world. He died in 1977, at the age of 42, but his music did not die with him. Rock music continues to develop and change, but the heart and soul of rock is the same heart and soul that Elvis expressed.
New Words
root
n. 1. cause, central part or base 根源，根本
2. 根，根茎
v. to (cause to) be fixed or unmoving 使扎根，使固定
musician
n. 音乐家，作曲家
interaction
n. 相互作用，相互影响
drumbeat
n. 鼓的一击（声）
melody
n. 歌曲，旋律，曲调
chorus
n. something said or sung by many people at one time 合唱，齐声
mostly
ad. 几乎全部地，多半
instrument
n. an object used to help in work 仪器，器具，乐器
guitar
n. 吉它，六弦琴
horn
n. 1. （管乐器）喇叭，号，管，（角制的）号角
2. （牛、羊、鹿等动物的）角，触角
fiddle
n. 小提琴（非正式名称），提琴类乐器
evolve
v. to (cause to) develop bit by bit （使）发展，（使）进化
tradition
n. 传统
accompany
v. 1. to make supporting music for 为...伴奏
2. to go with, as on a journey 伴随，陪同
similar
a. like or alike, partly or almost the same 相似的，类似的
spiritual
a. 1. 宗教的，神圣的
2. 精神（上）的，心灵的
rhythm
n. 节奏，节拍
reel
v. 摇晃，摇摆
string
n. 1.（乐器的）弦
2. 线，细绳
influence
n. 影响，感化
phonograph
n. 留声机，唱机
popular
a. enjoyed or liked by many people 大众喜爱的，流行的
driver
n. a person who drives 驾驶员，司机
graduate
v. 毕业
n. 毕业生
culture
n. 文化，修养
teenager
n. a young person of between 13 and 19 years old (13至19岁的）青少年
crazy
a. 1. widely excited; very keen or interested 着迷的，狂热爱慕的
2. mad; ill in the mind 发疯的，疯子的
amazing
a. causing great surprise or wonder 令人惊异的
attractive
a. 有吸引力的，引起注意的
performance
n. 1. 演出，表演
2. 行为，工作
mixture
n. 混合，混合物
tight
a. closely fastened, firmly fixed in place 紧的，紧固的
pants
n. (pl.) trousers 裤子
teenage
a. 青少年的，十几岁的少年的
idol
n. someone or something admired or loved too much 偶像
phenomenon
n. 1. 奇迹，杰出人物
2. (pl. phenomena) 现象
career
n. 生涯，专业
downhill
ad. 如下坡路般，趋向衰退
perform
v. 1. 演出，表演
2. to carry out (a piece of) work 完成，执行
movie
n. a film 电影
rarely
ad. not often 很少，难得
symbol
n. 象征
Phrases and Expressions
go back to
追溯到
such as
例如，比如
come from
产生于，生于
be similar to
和...相似
have influence on/upon
对...有影响
grow up
长大，成长
not only...but also...
不但...而且...
at the age of
在...岁时
Proper Names
Scot
苏格兰人
Elvis Presley
埃尔维斯.普莱斯利(1935-1977，美国摇滚乐歌手)
Memphis
孟菲斯（美国城市）
Text B
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 large 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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