Old Cremona Violins
Most musicians(音乐家) agree that the best violins(小提琴) were first made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any others. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments(乐器) like the Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Musicians still prefer the old ones.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But not all old violins sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special(特殊的). So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood must be from certain kinds of trees.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape(形状). The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians. Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood.
Size and shape may not be the answer, either. Scientists can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish. Varnish is what covers the wood of the violin. It makes the wood look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish.
【小题1】The passage is about .A．making violinsB．musical instrumentsC．scientific ideasD．the old Italian violins【小题2】Other people think the Italian violin makers .A．did not know much about violinsB．were luckyC．used many kinds of woodD．knew something special【小题3】Violins made today .A．have the same size and shape as the old onesB．sound the same as the old onesC．are better than the old onesD．have the same varnish as the old ones【小题4】Some scientists believe that the secret of the old violins was .A．their soundB．their colourC．their varnishD．the musicD
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(答案→)D
解析：本文介绍了意大利小提琴的密码，但是研究人员通过各种方法都未能弄清为什么现在只做的小提琴不如那些旧的小提琴音质好，人们有各种不同意见。
【小题1】根据短文标题Old Cremona Violins可知选D，有悠久历史的意大利小提琴。
【小题2】根据But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish.描述可知选D。
【小题3】根据Scientists can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape.可知选A。
【小题4】根据Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish.可知选C。