Passage 3

Violin prodigies (神童), I learned, have come in distinct waves from distinct regions. Most of the great performers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were born and brought up in Russia and Eastern Europe. I asked Isaac Stern, one of the world’s greatest violinists, the reason for this phenomenon. “It is very clear,” he told me. “They were all Jews (犹太人) and Jews at the time were severely oppressed and ill-treated in that part of the world. They were not allowed into the professional fields, but they were allowed to achieve excellence on a concert stage.” As a result, every Jewish parent’s dream was to have a child in the music school because it was a passport to the West.

Another element in the emergence of prodigies, I found, is a society that values excellence in a certain field and is able to nurture (培育) talent. Nowadays, the most nurturing societies seem to be in the Far East. “In Japan, a most competitive society with stronger discipline than ours,” says Isaac Stern, “children are ready to test their limits every day in many fields, including music. When Western music came to Japan after World War II, that music not only became part of their daily lives, but it became a discipline as well.” The Koreans and Chinese, as we know, are just as highly motivated as the Japanese. That’s a good thing, because even prodigies must work hard.

Next to hard work, biological inheritance plays an important role in the making of a prodigy. J. S. Bach, for example, was the top of several generations of musicians, and four of his sons had significant careers in music.

11. Jewish parents in Eastern Europe longed for their children to attend music school because ______.

A. it would allow them access to a better life in the West

B. Jewish children were born with excellent musical talent

C. they wanted their children to enter into the professional fields

D. it would enable the family to get better treatment in their own country

12. Nurturing societies as mentioned in the passage refer to societies that ______.

A. are highly motivated in the education of music

B. treasure talent and provide opportunities for its full development

C. encourage people to compete with each other

D. promise talented children high positions

13. Which of the following causes the emergence of musical prodigies according to the passage?

A. Distinct regions. B. Extensive knowledge of music.

C. Strict training. D. A prejudice-free society.

14. The success of J.S. Bach and his sons show that ______.

A. most musical prodigies are Jews

B. people in the Far East are far more sensitive in music

C. genic factors play an important role in making prodigies

D. a great musician must grow up in a family of musicians

15. Which of the following titles best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

A. Jewish Contribution to Music

B. Training of Musicians in the World

C. Music and Society

D. The Making of Prodigies

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