臺大外語教學暨資源中心英語學習報第 367 期 發行日期 2019-08-01
臺大外語教學暨資源中心

本期焦點 More

  fast food and dementiaRead more on VOA.

At Tehran Symphony, Music Lovers Seek Escape From Reality

樂迷在德黑蘭交響樂團的樂聲中尋覓現實生活的出口

Aficionados of Western classical music have carved out a niche for themselves in Iran, where cultural expression remains tightly controlled by strict rules imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

       伊朗(Iran)的西方古典樂迷(aficionado)已開拓出一片屬於自己的天地(carve out a niche)。自 1979 年發生伊斯蘭革命(Islamic Revolution)以來,當地人民對文藝的表達就大幅受限於政府強制實行(impose)的嚴格法規。

 
 

◎ 英語電子報問卷填答抽獎活動

外語教學暨資源中心為了持續提供更優質的英語電子學習報,想了解廣大的英語電子報用戶群對於中心電子報的想法,以做為持續改進的依據。意者麻煩請您填寫以下問卷。 問卷填答網址:請點擊

◎ 英語自學認證資訊

高階英語字彙達人認證、英語自學認證與英語簡報認證的網址如下:請點擊。歡迎踴躍參與認證考試。

◎ 線上菲律賓語課程

線上菲律賓語課程開課囉~

外語教學暨資源中心專為本校教職員工生、退休教職員工及校友編製了線上菲律賓語課程,內容涵蓋了生活必需的 6 大主題,還有真人情境對話影片帶給您身歷其境的學習體驗,讓您輕鬆學會基礎菲律賓語會話。

詳情請見:東南亞語言暨文化資源網站首頁 → 線上菲律賓語課程

 
Feature of the Week
Ancient History Encyclopedia

Ancient History Encyclopedia - 全球最多人閱讀的線上歷史百科全書

如果您也喜歡歷史,那 Ancient History Encyclopedia 絕對能滿足您探索歷史的需求。網站中不僅有文字資料,還有大量的 3D 圖片及影音資料,讓您不用出門也可以考察歷史文物。

Apps for Learning English
: Deepstash─滑手機也能滑出自我成長

Deepstash

不論是商業上的成功,還是科學上的突破,好的點子與想法是這一切形成的關鍵。在靈光乍現的那個 moment 出現之前,必須要有長時間的淬鍊,而《Deepstash》就是一個可以帶給您新想法、新啟發、新動機的應用程式,讓您每天都變成更好的自己。

English Learning Video
English Learning Video

5 books to read this summer

暑假想找點書來看嗎?比爾蓋茲親自推薦您今年夏天最值得閱讀的 5 本書。

 
周樹華老師英語學習 Q&A
周樹華老師英語學習 Q&A

Goodbye 的五種說法

說英語我們都希望能像「母語人士」(native speaker)一樣,這樣的希望造成一些障礙,因為「母語人士」是一個很空洞的概念,而金髮碧眼的外表更是不可靠的。學英語不需要「母語人士」,善用網路資源就可以學到「母語人士」的用語。  

  https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pXUeji4La10/XMFZ19t4KOI/AAAAAAAABW0/dnAKq8QH7Z0lZC3qKY0twz4Pxinozu-ZACLcBGAs/s320/%25E9%25A4%25A8%25E8%2597%258F%25E7%259B%25AE%25E9%258C%25841.jpg

留學口語從頭學

推薦給即將出國留學及交換學生的同學們一本實用的英語口語書籍《留學口語從頭學》。本書包含「行前事宜」、「宿舍與租屋」、「留學生活」、「求學大小事」、「校園活動」、「校外生活」、「畢業與就業」、「相關文件」 8 大章共 67 單元。不同一般比較強調食、衣、住、行、娛樂的口語會話書,本書著重在以一個學生身份在校園內外所面臨各種狀況的問答練習。比如簽署租約、迎新、選課、上圖書館、使用影印機、校內打工、醫務室、銀行開戶、稅務事宜、實習、就業面試等等,讓您從本書出發,培養自己快速融入留學生活。 

 

 

At Tehran Symphony, Music Lovers Seek Escape From Reality
VOA News|Arts & Culture
July 8, 2019 09:13 PM Associated Press (source)

At Tehran Symphony, Music Lovers Seek Escape From Reality

樂迷在德黑蘭交響樂團的樂聲中尋覓現實生活的出口

July 8, 2019 09:13 PM

Associated Press

TEHRAN, IRAN —

Aficionados of Western classical music have carved out a niche for themselves in Iran, where cultural expression remains tightly controlled by strict rules imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

And perhaps surprisingly, musicians in their 20s and 30s perform for overwhelmingly young audiences.

Last week, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, including female musicians in burgundy headscarves on cello, horn and harp, played works by 19th-century Russian composers for an enraptured crowd in the capital's main concert venue, Vahdat Hall.

A major draw is Shahrdad Rohani, 65, the orchestra's charismatic music director. The Iranian-American composer, musician and conductor who has led orchestras in the United States and Europe, said he is proud of his homegrown crop of young musicians.

Classical music may not have mass appeal, but Rohani said in a backstage interview that there's potential for growth, citing a large turnout during a stadium concert last year in Abadan, a provincial city in southwestern Iran.

"Classical music is growing, and as you see, the audience, they are really supporting the arts and classical music," he told The Associated Press during the intermission of the July 3 sold-out concert.

In four decades of conservative Islamic rule, the space for artistic expression in Iran has expanded or contracted, depending on whether political hard-liners or moderates prevail.

In the first decade after the Islamic Revolution, including the eight-year war with Iraq, pop music disappeared from the public sphere, said Nima Mina of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.

The Tehran Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1933, continued its work after 1979, he said. Live performances were initially rare, but have increased in number since the 1990s.

Even during periods of eased controls, red lines are enforced.

This includes a ban on female singers performing for mixed audiences, considered "haram," or religiously forbidden. In February, female guitarist Negin Parsa sang a solo during a concert by pop singer Hamid Askari. The authorities cut her microphone, and Askari's permission to perform was briefly suspended.

A music cafe in downtown Tehran complies with the ban on female singers during live shows, but not when playing records. On a recent afternoon, a blues recording featuring a soulful female vocalist played in the background, as customers sipped coffee and smoked cigarettes.

"Authorities rarely challenge the playing of recorded music in the cafe, and mainly argue about the hijab issue," said waitress Nillofar Dailami, 29, referring to the headscarf all Iranian women are required to wear. Dailami also professed a love for classical music as a result of her study of guitar.

These days, the influence of hard-liners appears on the upswing again as moderates find themselves on the defensive because of the seeming collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal they negotiated with world powers.

The U.S. walked away from the deal a year ago, instead embarking on a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, including unprecedented economic sanctions.

The sanctions have hurt ordinary Iranians, sending prices for staples and consumer goods soaring and weakening the local currency, while raising the specter of war with the U.S.

For Tehran music lovers, events like Wednesday's concert on the main national stage next to the Russian Embassy offers a momentary escape from reality.

"It is little moments that build up your life in the end," said Shafa Sabeti, a 36-year-old architect whose business has suffered as the result of the economic downturn linked to the U.S. sanctions. "Public spaces have gotten more crowded recently. People are just living the moment — maybe it's some coping mechanism."

Yet tensions and fear of escalation are a "major big black cloud hovering over the country," he said.

Wednesday's concert featured works by Russian composers Alexander Borodin, Sergey Rachmaninov and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

The audience was entranced.

There was no fidgeting or coughing. A young couple in the balcony held hands. A woman nearby recorded the concert on her iPhone. Rohani, the conductor, was greeted by loud applause and addressed the crowd several times, including announcing details about an upcoming concert.

"I love the work of Rohani," said concert-goer Ali Reza, 26, who was introduced to classical music by learning to play the piano. He said most of his friends prefer other styles of music, including rock and pop.

Some said there's a generational divide, with older people tending to prefer traditional Iranian music.

"There is a lot of interest in Western culture among the young urban middle class population," said Mina, portraying it as pushback against the lifestyle and artistic expression promoted by the authorities.

He said that since the 1940s, Tehran's music conservatory has provided a steady supply of musicians, including those who later join the Tehran Symphony Orchestra.

One of the graduates of the conservatory, violinist Ed Nekoo, spent 10 years in the Los Angeles area but returned home to care for his mother.

He said he misses the exchange with peers abroad and complained of the lack of foreign music teachers.

"We have to learn the music by ourselves," said Nekoo, 44.

Still, he's optimistic.

"Our audience is so young," he said. "That's what I like about classical music."

伊朗(Iran)的西方古典樂迷(aficionado)開拓出一片屬於自己的天地(carve out a niche)。自 1979 年發生伊斯蘭革命(Islamic Revolution)以來,當地人民對文藝的表達就大幅受限於政府強制實行(impose)的嚴格法規。

而或許出人意料的是,前來聆聽這群年約 20、30 多歲的音樂家演奏的聽眾大多數(overwhelmingly)都很年輕。

上週(編按:2019 年 6 月 30 日至 7 月 6 日)德黑蘭交響樂團(the Tehran Symphony Orchestra)在伊朗首都德黑蘭主要的音樂會會場(venue)「瓦赫達特禮堂(Vahdat Hall)」演奏 19 世紀俄羅斯作曲家的音樂作品,在場觀眾聽得如癡如醉(enraptured)。樂團成員包含了頭戴酒紅色(burgundy)頭巾(headscarf)的女性音樂家,她們分別演奏大提琴(cello)管樂器(horn)豎琴(harp)

美籍伊朗裔的夏德.羅哈尼(Shahrdad Rohani)現年 65 歲,是這個交響樂團的音樂總監。他充滿個人魅力的(charismatic)風格在音樂會上總是引人矚目(draw)。羅哈尼身兼作曲家、音樂家及指揮家(conductor),在美國和歐洲皆帶領過交響樂團演出。他表示,這群(crop)出身於本土的(homegrown)年輕音樂家令他深感驕傲。

古典樂對廣大(mass)群眾來說可能不見得有吸引力(appeal),不過羅哈尼在幕後訪談中表示,古典樂極具潛力,未來將會有越來越多人喜歡。他以伊朗西南部省(provincial)城阿巴丹(Abadan)為例,指出去年在當地體育場舉辦的音樂會的參與人數(turnout)眾多。

「喜歡古典樂的人數正增加中,就像我們現在看到的,這些觀眾非常支持藝術和古典樂。」他在音樂會中場休息(intermission)時向美國聯合通訊社(Associated Press,AP;簡稱「美聯社」)表示。這場於 7 月 3 號(編按:2019 年)舉辦的音樂會的門票全數售罄(sold-out)

以伊斯蘭教法保守(conservative)統治(rule)的 40 年期間,伊朗在藝術表現的空間上時而擴大時而縮小,端看政權強硬派(hard-liner)還是溫和派(moderate)何者得勢(prevail)

在伊斯蘭革命結束後的 10 年期間,伊朗與伊拉克(Iraq雙方戰爭長達 8 年,流行樂似乎從公眾領域(sphere)消失,英國倫敦大學(University of London)亞非學院(School of Oriental and African Studies,SOAS)的資深講師尼馬.米那(Nima Mina)進一步說明。

他提到,德黑蘭交響樂團於 1933 年創立,在 1979 年之後又繼續演出。直接於現場演奏的表演形式起初較為罕見,但自 1990 年代起場次已逐漸增加。

即使在沒那麼嚴格管制的時期,許多警戒規範(red line)強制執行(enforce)

這些警戒規範包括禁止(ban)女性歌手在男女混和的觀眾前表演,因為這是伊斯蘭教法不允許(haram)或宗教禁止的(forbidden)行為。舉例來說,流行歌手哈米德.阿斯卡里(Hamid Askari)今年(編按:2019 年)二月舉辦的音樂會上,女性吉他手納金.帕薩(Negin Parsa)的獨唱(solo)就遭到有關當局(the authorities)切斷麥克風,並暫時取消(suspend)了阿斯卡里表演的許可資格。

德黑蘭市中心一家音樂咖啡館在有現場表演時會遵守(comply with . . .)規定,禁止女性歌手表演,但如果只是播放唱片就不加限制,比方說最近的一個午後,咖啡館在顧客啜飲(sip)著咖啡、抽著菸的同時,也播放著由女性歌手(vocalist)演唱的充滿情感的(soulful)藍調音樂(blues)

「政府當局很少對咖啡館裡播放的音樂提出質疑,主要都是對女性頭巾(hijab)有意見。」29 歲的女服務生妮洛法爾.達拉米(Nillofar Dailami)指的是(refer to . . .)所有伊朗女性必須配戴的頭巾。達拉米表示(profess)由於(as a result of . . .)學吉他,她也很喜歡古典樂。

近期以來,因為和世界強國(world power)在 2015 年達成的核武協議似乎失敗(collapse)了,使得強硬派的影響力再度占上風,溫和派則處於防衛狀態(on the defensive)

美國於一年前(編按:2018 年)退出協議,取而代之的是開始對伊朗進行(embark on . . .)「高壓」運動,包括施行多項前所未有的(unprecedented)經濟制裁(sanction)政策。

這些制裁對伊朗的平民百姓造成不利的影響:日常主食(staple)生活消費品(consumer goods)的價格飆升(soar),削弱了當地貨幣,同時引起人民對於和美國發生戰爭的恐懼(the specter of . . .)

對德黑蘭的樂迷來說,週三(編按:2019 年 7 月 3 日)在俄國大使館旁國家舞臺舉行的音樂會或是其他類似的活動為他們提供了短暫(momentary)逃離現實的出口。

「大家的生活最終(in the end)就是由這些短暫時光累積而成。」現年 36 歲的建築師沙法.薩貝提(Shafa Sabeti)形容。由美國制裁引起的經濟衰退(economic downturn)使他的事業已困頓許久。「最近外出參與活動的人越來越多了,因為大家就只想活在當下,享受參加活動帶來的小確幸,或許這也是一種應對機制(coping mechanism)吧。」

然而,緊張的局勢以及對情勢惡化的恐懼就像「大片烏雲籠罩在(hover over . . .)伊朗上空。」他描繪道。

週三(編按:2019 年 7 月 3 日)舉辦的音樂會俄羅斯作曲家亞歷山大.鮑羅定(Alexander Borodin)、謝爾蓋.拉赫曼尼諾夫(Sergey Rachmaninov)和尼可拉.林姆斯基柯沙可夫(Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov)的作品為特色(feature . . .)

優美的音樂使觀眾深深陶醉(entrance . . .)

全場沒有人因無聊而煩躁(fidget)或咳嗽,大家都全神貫注。看臺座位(balcony)的一對年輕夫婦牽著手專注聆聽。坐在附近的女士用 iPhone 手機將音樂會錄下來。樂團指揮羅哈尼受到觀眾熱烈掌聲(applause)歡迎,他也多次觀眾對話(address . . .),包括宣布一場即將舉行的音樂會細節。

「我很喜歡羅哈尼的作品。」阿里.李查汗(Ali Reza)陳述著。現年 26 歲的李查汗是音樂會的常客(concert-goer),因為學鋼琴而接觸古典樂。他表示,他的朋友大多喜歡其他類型的音樂,包括搖滾樂和流行樂。

有些人則說,世代之間對音樂的喜好有所分歧(divide),年長者往往更喜歡伊朗傳統音樂。

「都市中產階級(middle class)的年輕人對西方文化很感興趣。」米那解釋著,同時描述(portray)這種興趣的產生其實是反擊(pushback)政府希望的生活和藝術表達方式。

他指出,德黑蘭的音樂學院(conservatory)自 1940 年代以來已穩定培育出許多音樂家,其中有不少在日後參與了德黑蘭交響樂團的演出。

小提琴家艾德.尼庫(Ed Nekoo)是音樂學院的畢業生之一。他曾在美國洛杉磯(Los Angeles)待了 10 年,不過後來為了照顧母親而回到伊朗。

他說,很想念在國外和同儕(peer)交流的經驗,同時也抱怨伊朗缺乏來自外國的音樂師資。

「我們必須靠自己學音樂。」44 歲的尼庫說道。

不過,他仍樂觀看待。

「來聽音樂會的觀眾都這麼年輕。」他描述著。「這正是我喜愛古典樂的地方。」

Language Notes

aficionado [ə͵fɪʃiə`nɑdoʊ] / [ə͵fɪʃə`nɑdoʊ] / [ə͵fisjə`nɑdo] (n) 酷愛 . . . . . . 者;. . . . . . 迷
* 注意本字重音在第 4 或第 5 音節

carve out a niche (v phr) 闖出一片天;占據一席之地
* 本片語可省略副詞 "out",即 "carve a niche" 
* carve something out (for oneself) (v phr) 靠努力開創出;努力贏得,謀得(尤指職位)
* niche [nɪtʃ] / [niʃ] (n)(尤指本人合意的)適合的工作(或職位);稱心的工作;合宜的小環境

impose [ɪm`poʊz] / [ɪm`poz] (v) 推行;強制實行
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;另有「把(尤指信仰或生活方式)強加於」或「勉強;打擾,麻煩」的意思

enraptured [ɪn`ræptʃɚd] (a) 著迷的;心花怒放的;欣喜若狂的;興高采烈的
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節
* enrapture [ɪn`ræptʃɚ] (v) 使著迷;使狂喜

draw [drɔ] (n) 有吸引力的人(或事物)
* 本字也可作動詞,常指「畫,繪畫」或「吸引,引起(興趣、注意)」

charismatic [͵kærɪz`mætɪk] / [͵kærəz`mætɪk] / [͵kerɪz`mætɪk] (a) 充滿個人魅力的;有吸引力的
* 本字由名詞 "charisma"「超凡的個人魅力;吸引力;超凡氣質」和形容詞字尾 "-ic" 組成;注意重音在第 3 音節

crop [krɑp] (n)(同時湧現的)一批,一群,一幫(人或事物)
* 本字另常指「莊稼,作物;收成,收穫量」

mass [mæs] (a) 大量的;大規模的;大批的
* 本字也可作名詞,常指「大量;大批;眾多」;亦可作動詞,意即「集中,聚集」

appeal [ə`pil] (n) 吸引力;感染力;魅力
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;另有「(尤指向公眾的)呼籲,籲請,求助,懇求」或「(尤指為了改變法律或官方裁決而提出的)訴請,異議,申訴」等意;也可作動詞,意指「對 . . . . . . 有吸引力;對 . . . . . . 有感染力;引起興趣」或「(尤指向公眾)呼籲,籲請,求助,懇求」等

turnout [`tɝn͵aʊt] (n) 到場人數;聚集人數;(尤指)投票人數

conservative [kən`sɝvətɪv] (a) 保守的;守舊的
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;亦可指「(外表上)保守的,傳統的,不趕潮流的」

rule [rul] (n) 統治(期);管轄(期)
* 本字另常見意思為「規則;法則;規章;條例」;也可作動詞,即「控制;統治;治理」

hard-liner [͵hɑrd`laɪnɚ] (n) 主張採取強硬路線者;不妥協者
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;亦可拼成 "hardliner"

moderate [`mɑdərət] / [`mɑdərɪt] (n)(尤指政見)溫和派,穩健派
* 本字也可作形容詞,意即「中等的;不過分的,適度的」或「(尤指政見)溫和的,不激烈的,不偏激的」;亦可作動詞(發音為 [`mɑdə͵reɪt] / [`mɑdə͵ret]),指「(使)緩和;(使)適中;減輕,減弱;節制」

prevail [prɪ`veɪl] / [prɪ`vel] (v) 占優勢,占上風
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;另有「流行,盛行」之意

sphere [sfɪr] (n)(知識、工作等的)範圍,領域,圈,界
* 本字也常指「球,圓球;球狀物」

red line (n phr) 警戒規範(指個人行為受社會規範約束的界線,超出界線範圍的行為則不被接受)

enforce [ɪn`fɔrs] / [ɪn`fors] (v) 使服從(法律);(強制)實行,執行,把 . . . . . . 強加於
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節

haram [hə`ræm] / [hə`rɑm] (a) 不被伊斯蘭教法所允許的
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;亦可作名詞,重音則在第 1 音節([`hɑ͵rɑm]),意即「任何不被伊斯蘭教法所允許的事物」

suspend [sə`spɛnd] / [sə`spend] (v) 停止,暫停,中止;暫時取消(或擱置)
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;另有「懸掛」、「懸浮,漂浮」與「(因犯錯而)暫令停職;暫令停學;暫令停止參加活動」等意

comply [kəm`plaɪ] (v)(對要求、命令等)服從;遵守;依從
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;後常接介系詞片語 "with . . .",意即「服從、遵守 . . . . . .」,例如:"There are serious penalties for failure to comply with the regulations."「不遵守規定者將受到嚴懲。」

sip [sɪp] (v) 啜,啜飲

hijab [`hɪdʒæb] / [hɪ`dʒɑb] (n) 頭巾(伊斯蘭教女性出門時用於包裹頭部的頭巾)
* 注意本字重音可在第 1 或第 2 音節

profess [prə`fes] / [prə`fɛs] (v) 表示;聲稱;自稱;謊稱
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節

embark on something (v phr) 開始,著手做(新的或重要的事情)
* 本片語也可作 "embark upon something" 
* embark [ɪm`bɑrk] (v) 上船(或飛機等);從事,著手

unprecedented [ʌn`presə͵dentɪd] / [ʌn`presɪ͵dentɪd] / [ʌn`prɛsə͵dɛntɪd] (a) 史無前例的,空前的;絕無僅有的
* 本字由表示「不,非,無,相反」的字首 "un-" 和形容詞 "precedented"「有前例可循的」組成;注意重音在第 2 音節

sanction [`sæŋkʃən] (n)(國際的)制裁
* 本字另有「(爲維護法律或規定而採取的)強硬措施;(對違反法律或規定者進行的)懲罰,處罰」或「(尤指正式或法律認可的)批准,許可」之意;也可作動詞,指「批准,認可,准許」

soar [sɔr] / [sor] (v) 猛增;驟升;暴漲
* 本字亦有「升至(很高的高度),高達」或「(鳥或飛行器)翺翔,飛翔」的意思

the specter of something (n phr) 對於 . . . . . . 的恐懼(或憂慮)
* specter [`spektɚ] / [`spɛktɚ] (n) 鬼怪;幽靈;恐怖之物

hover [`hʌvɚ] (v)(鳥等)盤旋;(直升機)停留在空中;徘徊;停留
* 本字後常接 "over . . ."、"at . . ." 等介系詞片語,例如:"The helicopter hovered over the house."「直升機停留在那房子上空。」;"A waiter hovered at the table, ready to take our order."「一名侍者守在桌子旁,等著我們點菜。」

entrance [ɪn`træns] / [ɪn`trɑns] (v) 使陶醉;使著迷
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;亦常作名詞,重音則在第 1 音節([`entrəns] / [`ɛntrəns]),常指「入口;大門(口);通道」或「進入;進門」

fidget [`fɪdʒɪt] / [`fɪdʒət] (v)(因無聊、緊張或興奮等)煩躁,坐立不安
* 本字也可作名詞,意即「坐不住的人,坐立不安的人」

balcony [`bælkəni] / [`bælkənɪ] (n)(劇場的)樓座,樓廳,廂房
* 本字亦常指「露臺,陽臺」

applause [ə`plɔz] / [ə`plɑz] (n) 掌聲;鼓掌歡迎,喝采;稱讚,嘉許
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節

divide [dɪ`vaɪd] / [də`vaɪd] (n) 分歧;隔閡
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;另常作動詞,指「(使)分開;(使)分組」、「分隔,隔開」或「(使)産生分歧,(使)意見相左」

portray [pɔr`treɪ] / [por`tre] (v)(用語言)描寫;把 . . . . . . 描繪成;畫(人物,風景等)
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節

pushback [`pʊʃbæk] (n) 抵制;阻力

conservatory [kən`sɝvətɔri] / [kən`sɝvə͵torɪ] (n) 音樂學院;戲劇學院;藝術學院
* 注意本字重音在第 2 音節;也可指「溫室,玻璃暖房」

Check your vocabulary!

Fill in the blanks with a word or phrase from the list above. Make necessary changes. After you finish, highlight the blanks to reveal the hidden answers.

1. The orchestra played before an enraptured audience.
2. From the very first notes they played, the Vienna Philharmonic entranced the audience last Saturday.
3. It's a clever thing to write a book that entertains the expert as much as the ignorant, that amuses the aficionado as much as the amateur.
4. In a very rare, but not unprecedented move, the US Patent Office has nullified a contentious technology patent.
5. Andrew was able to carve out a niche at the market by selling something no one else was—biodegradable drinking straws.

Check your comprehension!

Choose the BEST answer to each of the questions below. After you finish, highlight the parentheses to reveal the hidden answers.

1. ( D ) How do people react to the lifestyle and artistic expression encouraged by the Iranian authorities?
            (A) By changing their lives to conform to such lifestyle and artistic expression.
            (B) By striking a balance between the promoted one and their owns.
            (C) By being dubious about such lifestyle and artistic expression.
            (D) By demonstrating considerable interest and getting involved in Western culture.
2. ( C ) According to the article, why do Iranians seek escape from reality?
            (A) Because the Iranian government has increased taxes on consumer goods several times.
            (B) Because they have been sick and tired of successive civil wars over the recent decades.
            (C) Because their lives are getting harder and harder due to the U.S. economic sanctions.
            (D) Because complying with Islamic law makes their daily lives too constrained and mundane.
3. ( B ) What can be inferred from the article?
            (A) Young Iranians who love classical music do not appreciate other types of music.
            (B) The population of classical music lovers in Iran will be getting larger in the future.
            (C) The Iranian authorities are likely to impose more stringent regulations on cultural expression.
            (D) The playing of recorded music by female vocalists could be banned nationwide in Iran.

編譯:外語教學暨資源中心 編輯小組