Questions 40-507 ?9 _, {* t; n0 X( X k/ l8 n
Of all modern instruments, the violin is apparently one of the simplest. It consists in" `2 D* w. Q3 a3 f5 Y0 f( Y
essence of a hollow, varnished wooden sound box, or resonator, and a long neck, covered' x+ i7 ]5 I6 D9 o
with a fingerboard, along which four strings are stretched at high tension. The beauty of+ d j9 ~6 Q, s/ n9 q
Line design, shape, and decoration is no accident: the proportions of the instrument are" E, J3 T' \8 W9 J" ?
(5) determined almost entirely by acoustical considerations. Its simplicity of appearance is& U7 j( C# K" ^) d
deceptive. About 70 parts are involved in the construction of a violin, Its tone and its) q. i/ h" h" F8 A
outstanding range of expressiveness make it an ideal solo instrument. No less important.* A% d- D8 v* r4 r- t7 i
however, is its role as an orchestral and chamber instrument. In combination with the s5 m, j4 _1 N6 g/ p: l
larger and deeper-sounding members of the same family, the violins form the nucleus" ?5 b9 w. r; E6 M$ y6 e Y) U9 k
(10) of the modern symphony orchestra.
( h5 v; E& L% I8 p" iThe violin has been in existence since about 1550. Its importance as an instrument
+ e: h- I, o; Y4 S1 T3 \" sin its own right dates from the early 1600's, when it first became standard in Italian4 a* P% X9 U( p5 _
opera orchestras. Its stature as an orchestral instrument was raised further when in 1626
. t/ ^. i0 ?7 W! f: O2 BLouis XIII of France established at his court the orchestra known as Les vingt-quatre: S: [. N0 f2 _0 i. i" p3 O# I* @( U7 L
(15) violons du Roy (The King's 24 Violins), which was to become widely famous later in
& @+ q, s3 C }: R0 B% Pthe century.
0 ? `/ k7 C. A% o% _" ^1 {In its early history, the violin had a dull and rather quiet tone resulting from the fact' y. {4 I' T7 n- w' U
that the strings were thick and were attached to the body of the instrument very loosely.( a5 N; L/ Z! A9 F* ~
During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, exciting technical changes were inspired0 R: g( g% l/ k, U8 ?1 w
(20) by such composer-violinists as Vivaldi and Tartini. Their instrumental compositions+ d* N9 A$ |5 T! W, i5 n; E
demanded a fuller, clearer, and more brilliant tone that was produced by using thinner
: _1 [7 [% o7 K2 Y0 Rstrings and a far higher string tension. Small changes had to be made to the violin's
4 F3 g% g7 a+ U$ Tinternal structure and to the fingerboard so that they could withstand the extra strain.- o7 x' Z" D' c# L; a
Accordingly, ,a higher standard of performance was achieved, in terms of both facility) ?# Z( s. q9 I+ G+ H
(25) and interpretation. Left-hand technique was considerably elaborated, and new fingering' e' |( h( Y' ~3 Y, \0 z
patterns on the fingerboard were developed for very high notes.
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40. The word "standard" in line 12 is closest in meaning to5 i5 H2 o/ L' A! y* ]
(A) practical7 u9 b& U: E5 W3 x% R
(B) customary
, B+ O, f- L y' D Y0 X& p, ~1 ^2 k(C) possible
9 {( L$ i" T! E4 \/ o(D) unusual
. g; d1 e6 N, v% H# y% n% H- y+ b41. "The King’s 24 Violins" is mentioned in line 15 to illustrate
0 d% t' K K8 i A2 m8 g(A) how the violin became a renowned instrument
. h$ _! k4 v9 H9 @(B) the competition in the 1600's between French and Italian orchestras
- c+ P5 v9 L7 q& E7 r( q7 i(C) the superiority of French violins
4 ^, R5 h# G: W, I5 x+ A4 {6 q(D) why the violin was considered the only instrument suitable to be played by royalty
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$ j' o. ]& b+ w5 Y, s1 W42. What is the main idea presented in paragraph 3?
8 h& }- I$ r+ I0 `. ~. ]. J) M(A) The violin has been modified to fit its evolving musical functions.; D! G$ A6 c& h! m
(B) The violin is probably the best known and most widely distributed musical instrument in the4 M, `. b; m# L% k. E5 _. g
world.$ e0 K {& l0 i3 I
(C) The violin had reached the height of its popularity by the middle of the eighteenth century.
' u$ [5 ?) L7 ]- B(D) The technique of playing the violin has remained essentially the same since the 1600's. |