early 20th century primarily consisted of the violin, guitar, and banjo. This early country music along with early recorded country music is often referred to as old­time music.

　　According to Bill Malone in Country Music USA, country music was "introduced to the world as a southern phenomenon". In the South, folk music was a combination of cultural types, combining musical traditions of a variety of ethnic groups in the region. For example, some instrumental pieces from Anglo­Celtic immigrants were the basis of folk songs and ballads that form what is now known as old­time music, from which country music descended. It is commonly thought that British and Irish folk music influenced the development of old time music. British and Irish arrivals to the Southern US included immigrants from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and England.

　　When many people think or hear country music, they think of it as a creation of European­Americans. However, a great deal of style - and of course, the banjo, a major instrument in most early American folk songs - came from African­Americans. One of the reasons country music was created by African­Americans, as well as European­Americans, is because blacks and whites in rural communities in the south often worked and played together.

　　语篇解读：美国的乡村音乐闻名于世，文章向我们介绍了乡村音乐在美国的早期发展。

　　5．Where might the immigrants live 300 years ago according to the first paragraph?

　　A．In the mountains.

　　B．Near the sea.

　　C．Along the lakes.

　　D．By the rivers.

　　解析：选B　细节理解题。根据第一段第一句"Immigrants to the coast of southern Appalachian Mountains of North America ..."可知，早期移民主要住在阿巴拉契亚山脉南部的海边。

　　6．Why did early Scottish settlers like to play the violin?

　　A．Because the violin could produce sound sad or cheerful.

　　B．Because the settlers always had nothing to do.

　　C．Because the settlers wanted to win the competitions among them.

　　D．Because the violin could bring about happy feelings in the settlers' life.

　　解析：选A　细节理解题。根据第一段第四句可知，之所以早期的苏格兰移民喜欢拉小提琴，是因为这种乐器既可以发出让人悲伤的声音，也可以发出使人快乐的声音，这样他们就可以表达自己的各种情感。

　　7．What can we learn from the third paragraph?

A．According to Bill Malone, country music was introduced from Africa.