A
One of the most popular American singers of the twentieth century was Elvis Presley.He made the rock “n” roll music popular all over the world.He sold millions of records and made many successful films，and he helped change the direction of popular music in the 1960s.
Elvis Presley was born in a poor family in 1935.His parents were simple country people who often took him to church，where he learned to sing，and he never forgot the kind of songs that he used to sing in church as a child.
When he was young，Elvis moved from Toledo to Memphis in Tennessee，where he attended high school，but he was not a good student，his only real interest was singing.He began to sing in the style that is called “country and western”．
In 1955 he recorded some songs for his mother's birthday.The people at the recording studio liked his singing and his music.It was country and western music，but it also sounded a little like the music which black people used to sing in the American South.It was called “blues”．
Shortly after that，Elvis met Tom Parker，who became his manager and arranged (安排) concerts for him across the United States and new recordings as well.Soon Elvis became famous around the country.Later Elvis went to Hollywood and began to appear in films such as Love Me Tender and King Creole.
But Elvis found it difficult to live with success.Like many other famous people，he began to take drugs and his health started to suffer.When he died at an early age of 42 in 1977，his millions of fans were shocked，“The King Is Dead！” the newspaper said.But today his memory and his music live on and will always be remembered as the King of Rock “n” roll.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了猫王Elvis Presley传奇的一生以及他对音乐的贡献。
1．From the passage，we can see ________．
A．the church songs didn't help Elvis develop his own style
B．Elvis forgot his church music at a later age
C．Elvis didn't get any help from his parents
D．the church songs helped Elvis' development in his singing
D [细节理解题。根据第二段中的“His parents were simple country people who often took him to church，where he learned to sing，and he never forgot the kind of songs that he used to sing in church as a child.”可知，Elvis的父母是淳朴的乡下人，经常带他去教堂，在那里他学会了唱歌，他永远不会忘记小时候在教堂里唱的那种歌。由此可知，他童年时期在教堂中学会的歌曲对他有很大的影响。故选D项。]
2．Who was Tom Parker?
A．A manager of a bank.
B．A famous singer.
C．Elvis' manager.
D．Elvis' best friend since childhood.
C [细节理解题。根据第五段中的“Shortly after that，Elvis met Tom Parker，who became his manager and arranged(安排) concerts for him across the United States and new recordings as well.”可知，Tom Parker是Elvis的经纪人。故选C项。]
3．What caused Elvis' death?
A．His singing too much every day.
B．His taking drugs.
C．The pressure from his parents.
D．Tom Parker's punishment.
B [细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“...he began to take drugs and his health started to suffer.When he died at an early age of 42 in 1977，his millions of fans were shocked.”可知，由于吸毒，Elvis在42岁的时候就去世了。故选B项。]
4．What was Elvis' music style like most?
A．Only country and western.
B．Only country and blues.
C．Both western and church music.
D．Not only country and western but also a bit “blues”．
D [细节理解题。根据第四段中的“It was country and western music，but it also sounded a little like the music which black people used to sing in the American South.It was called‘blues’．”可知，猫王的音乐不仅仅是乡村和西部音乐，同时也和黑人的灵魂音乐“blues”很相似。故选D项。]
