Questions 40-50& U! m! ? ^$ Q
Of all modern instruments, the violin is apparently one of the simplest. It consists in: @( a& e; U. o2 p: B# o. R
essence of a hollow, varnished wooden sound box, or resonator, and a long neck, covered$ F% _/ K) H0 X2 T
with a fingerboard, along which four strings are stretched at high tension. The beauty of. Q: N1 u2 m! K+ ^# I( B, l, h
Line design, shape, and decoration is no accident: the proportions of the instrument are. m# F4 `; |4 x0 [
(5) determined almost entirely by acoustical considerations. Its simplicity of appearance is
1 J8 x! r" k1 q6 P: ]& Zdeceptive. About 70 parts are involved in the construction of a violin, Its tone and its
$ p1 v( m- n2 V5 g6 u M. J, H# Boutstanding range of expressiveness make it an ideal solo instrument. No less important.
9 C2 }5 R! U# J1 yhowever, is its role as an orchestral and chamber instrument. In combination with the0 h8 h' j+ {7 ?9 K' {6 t
larger and deeper-sounding members of the same family, the violins form the nucleus9 `) y1 j+ a3 {1 i* B; v
(10) of the modern symphony orchestra.
$ Y! w5 H+ |% Q$ _4 s5 U. } ?The violin has been in existence since about 1550. Its importance as an instrument
8 K) U# T# Z R; cin its own right dates from the early 1600's, when it first became standard in Italian, Q9 Q, c# X" e# w* {
opera orchestras. Its stature as an orchestral instrument was raised further when in 1626/ N; Y! T% L( C) R9 s, w7 ^9 d
Louis XIII of France established at his court the orchestra known as Les vingt-quatre
2 P! i U! q P(15) violons du Roy (The King's 24 Violins), which was to become widely famous later in5 t7 @+ h: D5 |/ e2 m6 [. i
the century.
/ y$ C; t* ~; Q/ o; K4 o( tIn its early history, the violin had a dull and rather quiet tone resulting from the fact- k" F6 K9 f) }# @5 X0 D! P) O
that the strings were thick and were attached to the body of the instrument very loosely.+ S0 A# l0 z7 ~' Y
During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, exciting technical changes were inspired
; m6 [8 @. U- m6 W( B(20) by such composer-violinists as Vivaldi and Tartini. Their instrumental compositions
! i& v4 n: X0 k5 J! v& Sdemanded a fuller, clearer, and more brilliant tone that was produced by using thinner
0 c0 ~( D+ Z! S6 I) a- \strings and a far higher string tension. Small changes had to be made to the violin's
% N+ U; X' U$ O6 E `$ Ginternal structure and to the fingerboard so that they could withstand the extra strain.. S; C" Z$ w$ P, ~) u& d: o
Accordingly, ,a higher standard of performance was achieved, in terms of both facility
; P2 ]( E# d( r% Y+ l7 d(25) and interpretation. Left-hand technique was considerably elaborated, and new fingering
4 T1 S* b0 u& y- xpatterns on the fingerboard were developed for very high notes. A7 K# p5 T8 _ j1 V- f
' h! {) X) n5 l+ Z9 Z u40. The word "standard" in line 12 is closest in meaning to+ `0 L5 W; r" Y+ u) Y+ K( k5 @
(A) practical
, G5 F4 Q1 \# B# X2 z(B) customary; @$ y' p& R) C
(C) possible+ I8 K: ^) Q( o
(D) unusual& g* X1 b2 f1 w# I% @+ x$ n# m4 h
41. "The King’s 24 Violins" is mentioned in line 15 to illustrate
; n1 _3 T0 ~: a(A) how the violin became a renowned instrument+ `; V' k# k5 \# ]' _ ~$ N
(B) the competition in the 1600's between French and Italian orchestras* x8 y- H5 m' n* \7 ?, Q: N
(C) the superiority of French violins/ d2 O& v5 t/ c( C
(D) why the violin was considered the only instrument suitable to be played by royalty
. ]8 V/ \5 l( c: Y ( ~& T- W( o) R, U' l1 r9 j
42. What is the main idea presented in paragraph 3?! ^9 t! P+ N0 Y8 v
(A) The violin has been modified to fit its evolving musical functions.
; D8 _, c7 ~9 _4 }$ h# f(B) The violin is probably the best known and most widely distributed musical instrument in the- j( r! I) d. X& Z0 Y7 k! r) x# q* K* F
world.
& Y3 }8 I% d1 g" n; L(C) The violin had reached the height of its popularity by the middle of the eighteenth century.; y$ v9 u$ L J# a, i( z
(D) The technique of playing the violin has remained essentially the same since the 1600's. |