After 10 years in the spotlight, country-music star Carrie Underwood is still enjoying herself, still growing and still staying true to who she is. But these personal accomplishments are not easy, even when you're living 
Growing up in small-town Oklahoma, Underwood currently lives a life that is many miles removed from her childhood, literally and figuratively (象征性地). She grew up comfortably on a cattle farm, but her interest in performing was clear from the beginning as she sang in church and talent shows. Proving to be a more than competent singer, she was offered a record deal at 14, though it fell through.
Underwood's proper music career began with her audition on the TV singing competition American Idol at age 21 in 2005. After impressing the judges, Underwood competed in Hollywood. Show producer Simon Cowell made a prediction: "Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner." Indeed, Underwood did win that year's competition and has managed to outsell even Idol winner Kelly Clarkson.
After winning American Idol, Underwood debuted (首发) the album Some Hearts, which was a great success, now seven times platinum (白金). She has released four other albums, most recently Greatest Hits: Decade #1, implying she's far from finished, though she's not interested in stepping on familiar ground. "I don’t want to make the same album over and over again... Then I've gotta decide which version am I gonna be tonight – country Carrie or Pop Carrie? I'd rather just make country music that anybody can get into no matter what they listen to."
As Underwood continues to grow her fan base (Australia and the U.K. have become significant followers), she knows her situation is rare. "...If I hadn't made my place in country music via American Idol, I probably could have tried to make it for the rest of my life and never made any progress," she says. Country singer Brad Paisley has also heard her express that she feels she is a star for no reason, that others are annoyed about her smooth success. "I told her she was one of the greatest gifts we have been given in Nashville," says Paisley.
78. According to the passage, Underwood's present life and her childhood are _______________.
79. How do you find Underwood's first record deal?
80. What does Simon Cowell's prediction mean?
81. Underwood named her latest album Decade #1 because ______________.
(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN TEN WORDS)
正确答案
78. Different
解析
78.此题的解题关键在于文中Underwood currently lives a life that is many miles removed from her childhood, literally and figuratively (象征性地).这句话。currently译为“现在，目前”，表明Underwood现在的生活和她童年时期的生活相去甚远，literally指的是地域上远，而figuratively指的是生活内容上的不同。因此本题的答案的关键词为different。
79.此题难度不大，定位到原文Proving to be a more than competent singer, she was offered a record deal at 14, though it fell through.这句话。只要能理解fall through这一词组译为“失败，落空”的意思，就不难看出此题答案为It was a failure.
80.此题难度适中，根据题干中的Simon Cowell's prediction定位到Show producer Simon Cowell made a prediction: "Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner."这句话。预测内容为：“Carrie Underwood不仅能够赢得比赛的胜利，而且还比之前《美国偶像》冠军（专辑）卖得更好”，后半句也验证了这一预测的准确性。因此，Simon Cowell的预测预示着Carrie Underwood将来会在音乐这条路上大获成功。本题的难点在于需要学生自己总结。
81.此题难度不大。解题关键是定位She has released four other albums, most recently Greatest Hits: Decade #1, implying she's far from finished这句话。最近专辑命名为Decade #1隐含的意思是Carrie Underwood的路才刚刚起步，她将走的更远。因此，答案为she's far from finished。
考查方向
78.本文主要讲述了美国当红乡村音乐歌手Carrie Underwood的成长经历。
79. 本文主要讲述了美国当红乡村音乐歌手Carrie Underwood的成长经历。
80. 本文主要讲述了美国当红乡村音乐歌手Carrie Underwood的成长经历。
81. 本文主要讲述了美国当红乡村音乐歌手Carrie Underwood的成长经历。
解题思路
78.此题的解题关键在于文中Underwood currently lives a life that is many miles removed from her childhood, literally and figuratively (象征性地).这句话。currently译为“现在，目前”，表明Underwood现在的生活和她童年时期的生活相去甚远，literally指的是地域上远，而figuratively指的是生活内容上不同。因此本题的答案的关键词为different。
79. 此题难度不大，定位到原文Proving to be a more than competent singer, she was offered a record deal at 14, though it fell through.这句话。只要能理解fall through这一词组译为“失败，落空”的意思，就不难看出此题答案为It was a failure.
80. 此题难度适中，根据题干中的Simon Cowell's prediction定位到Show producer Simon Cowell made a prediction: "Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner."这句话。预测内容为：“Carrie Underwood不仅能够赢得比赛的胜利，而且还比之前《美国偶像》冠军（专辑）卖得更好”，后半句也验证了这一预测的准确性。因此，Simon Cowell的预测预示着Carrie Underwood将来会在音乐这条路上大获成功。本题的难点在于需要学生自己总结。
81. 此题难度不大。解题关键是定位She has released four other albums, most recently Greatest Hits: Decade #1, implying she's far from finished这句话。最近专辑命名为Decade #1隐含的意思是Carrie Underwood的路才刚刚起步，她将走的更远。因此，答案为she's far from finished。
易错点
78.本题容易填 difference
79. 本题容易写成It was a success
80. 本题容易填It means that Carrie Underwood will have a long way to success
81. 本题容易填写she’s finished