Beethoven
About 150 years ago, a musician sat quietly at the end of his concert in Vienna. He had to
face the audience to know that they were clapping wildly. He was totally deaf. The musician was
Beethoven, one of the greatest composers who ever lived. He wrote about 300 pieces of music.
Beethoven didn’t have a happy childhood. His father, who was a singer in Bonn, Germany,
was lazy and drank a lot. When the boy was four, his father forced him to play the violin and
clavier all day long. Whenever he didn’t work hard, his father was cruel to him.
It was a wonder that the boy didn’t hate music. Beethoven learned so fast and well that he
was able to make a concert tour at the age of 11. A few years later, he went to Vienna to study with
Haydn. Beethoven was such a genius that the great musician Mozart used to praise him.
Beethoven was ugly and had a bad temper, but his talent in music made him become famous.
The wealthy people often invited him to their houses to perform his music. Illness
made him become deaf when he was only 31. It is hard for anyone to be deaf,
especially for a composer. Think of not being able to hear the music you have written.
However, Beethoven was not defeated by the deafness. He continued to compose the
symphonies. Some of his most beautiful pieces were completed after he was deaf. The
nine symphonies are among his great works. Everyone was moved by his music and
his spirit
Beethoven
I. Reading Comprehension
A. Choose the correct answer
選出正確答案
1. At the age of 11, Beethoven was able to _____.
A. dance well
B. master science
C. make a concert tour
D. compose the symphony
2. Illness made Beethoven become _____.
A. blind
B. deaf
C. dumb
D. mute
3. In line 11 , the word “wealthy” could best be replaced by _____.
A. rich
B. poor
C. nice
D. smart
4. Beethoven’s father forced him to play the violin and clavier all day long, but the boy _____.
A. had no idea about music
B. was not interested in music
C. still loved music
D. hated music
5. According to the story, which of the statements is true ?
A. Beethoven’s father worked hard.
B. Beethoven’s father drank a lot.
C. Beethoven’s father was nice and gentle.
D. Beethoven’s father was a teacher.
Answer
1. C 2. B
3. A
4. C
5. B
B. Answer the following questions
回答下列問題
1. How many pieces of music did Beethoven write ?
2. Where was Beethoven born ?
3. Whom did Beethoven go to Vienna to study with ?
4. How many symphonies are there in Beethoven’s great works ?
5. Why did Beethoven have to face the audience to know that they were clapping wildly ?
Answer
1. He wrote about 300 pieces of music.
2. He was born in Bonn, Germany.
3. He went to Vienna to study with Haydn.
4. There are nine symphonies in his great works.
5. Because Beethoven was totally deaf.