Robert Todd Duncan was born in 1903 in the southern city of Danville.Kentucky.Hi

Robert Todd Duncan was born in 1903 in the southern city of Danville，Kentucky.His mother was his first music teacher.As a young man，he continued his music study in Indianapolis，Indiana.

In 1930，he completed more musical education at Columbia University in New York City.Then he moved to Washington.For fifteen years，he taught music at Howard University in Washington.At that time，not many black musicians were known for writing or performing classical music.Teaching at Howard gave Duncan the chance to share his knowledge of classical European music with a mainly black student population.He taught special ways to present the music.These special ways became known as the Duncan Technique.

Besides teaching，Duncan sang in several operas with performers who were all black.But it seemed that he always would be known mainly as a concert artist.However，his life took a different turn in the middle 1930s.At that time，the famous American music writer George Gershwin was looking for someone to play a leading part in his new work Porgy and Bess.The music critic (评论家) of the New York Times newspaper suggested Todd Duncan.Duncan had almost decided not to try for the part as he knew it would not be easy to get it.But he changed his mind.He sang a piece from an Italian opera for Gershwin.He had sung only a few minutes when Gershwin offered him the part.He became famous because of the part in Porgy and Bess.

Todd Duncan gained fame as an opera singer and concert artist.But his greatest love in music was teaching.When he stopped teaching at Howard，he continued giving singing lessons in his Washington home until the week before his death.

50．What is this passage mainly about?

A．What Robert Todd Duncan loved most.

B．How Robert Todd Duncan became famous.

C．Robert Todd Duncan and his works of music.

D．A brief introduction to Robert Todd Duncan.

51．According to Paragraph 2，while teaching at Howard University，Duncan________.

A．found special ways to present music

B．opened doors for other black classical singers

C．had the chance to know many famous black musicians

D．became known for writing and performing classical  music

52．What happened to Duncan in the middle 1930s?

A．He gave up teaching at Howard University.

B．He was introduced by the New York Times in detail.

C．He was asked to be in charge of the opera Porgy and Bess.

D．He was given a big opportunity to become an opera singer.

53．We can infer that Robert Todd Duncan didn’t at first want  to try for the part mainly because________.

A．he was too busy to do it

B．he was not interested in it

C．he was not confident enough

D．he didn’t want to become famous

试题答案

【语篇解读】　本文介绍了美国音乐家Robert Todd Duncan。

50．D　主旨大意题。通读全文，可知是对美国音乐家Robert Todd Duncan的简介，故选D。

51．B　细节理解题。根据第二段的Teaching at Howard gave Duncan the chance to share his knowledge of classical European music with a mainly black student population.可知在霍华德大学教音乐，Duncan可以帮助别的黑人学习欧洲经典音乐，故选B。

52．D　细节理解题。通读第三段，可知1930年中旬，Duncan得到了一个唱歌剧的机会，故选D。

53．C　推理判断题。根据第三段的Duncan had almost decided not to try for the part as he knew it would not be easy to get it.可知Duncan一开始不想去尝试，是因为他觉得很难成功，说明他当时不是很相信自己能得到这个机会，故选C。