2026年真题27

Listen to part of a talk in an art class (woman) Today, we’re going to look at an interesting intersection between art and music. Now, you might have heard of the Russian abstract painter Vasily Kandinsky. What you might not know is how the work of an avant-garde composer, Arnold Schoenberg, influenced Kandinsky’s groundbreaking approach to painting. OK, early in the twentieth century, Vasily Kandinsky was influenced by the music of Arnold Schoenberg, a pioneer in the realm of atonality, a musical approach where there is no key. Atonality is a stark divergence from the conventions of the time where traditional tonal structures were popular. Schoenberg’s rebellion against these norms sparked Kandinsky’s imagination, which prompted him to transcend the confines of realistic representation in his art. Kandinskyt thought that color and form could evoke emotions as powerfully as musical notes played by an orchestra. For example, he believed that a sharp red triangle could feel as tense or exciting as a sudden blast of trumpets. It was Schoenberg’s departure from musical tradition that inspired Kandinsky to experiment with color and form, which led to his pioneering contributions to Abstract Expressionism. This interplay between music and visual art underscores the notion that creativity is not confined within strict boundaries. Creativity can be a dynamic relationship across domains. So, Kandinsky’s artworks, they were inspired by Schoenberg’s compositions, and they serve as a reminder that the essence of art can be as fluid as the melodies that inspire it.

Listen to a talk in an environmental science class (man) Soil isn’t just dirt, it’s alive. IN healthy soil, microorganisms like bacteria and fungi help breakdown organic matter and cycle nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which plants need to thrive. Not only that, but microbes create sticky substances called extracellular polymeric substances that bind soil particles together. Extracellular polymeric substances are important for maintaining soil structure, which means proper water retention, aeration, and root growth. Without microbes, soil becomes compacted, dry, and less able to support life. Now, when we’re trying to reverse damage to a degraded ecosystem, say a forest that’s been logged or farmland that’s been overused, microbes can be key players. Scientists engaged in these efforts often begin by studying a reference site. A reference site is a nearby area that shows what the ecosystem should look like in its healthy state. For example, if they’re restoring a grassland, they’ll look at an untouched patch of native grassland. They’ll analyze the soil there, its nutrients, texture and microbial communities to determine what’s missing in the damaged site. After this research comes the intervention phase. Scientists might introduce microbial inoculants, custom blends of helpful microbes, to the degraded soil. These microbes rebuild structure, cycle nutrients and support plant growth. In one California vineyard, years of chemical use had depleted microbial diversity and compacted the soil, making it hard for vines to thrive. Researchers introduced various fungi and other beneficial microbes. Within a year, the soil structure improved, water retention increased, and grape yield and quality noticeably rebounded.

Listen to a talk in an art history class (man) Today, the Mexican visual artist Frida Kahlo is a household name worldwide. But before her death in 1954, she was mainly known as the wife of another famous artist, Diego Rivera, and critics and the public barely heard of her until decades later, probably not until a Hollywood movie about her life in 2002. These days, Frida Kahlo’s best known artworks are her paintings, especially her self-portraits showing her with a serious expression, thick eyebrows and traditional Mexican cloths. Kahlo’s drawings, however, are rather obscure, even now. One drawing, a self-portrait from 1946, was intended as a gift for a Mexican politician that Kahlo and her husband knew. Similar to her paintings, Kahlo drew herself with a serious facial expression, like she’s asking, “What’s my life’s meaning?” Also, her eyebrows form the shape of a hummingbird, which seems ready to fly onto her forehead where some cloud-like shapes appear. My favorite part of this drawing is Kahlo’s hair. One side is arranged in a modest braid while the other is loose and wild. I think it shows her inner struggle between two ways of being – reserved versus free.

Listen to a talk from a music podcast (man) During the early twentieth century, technology was advancing rapidly, and music was undergoing a transformation of its own. Electrophones were at the forefront of this evolution. All right, so electrophones. They’re the predecessors of today’s synthesizers and electrophones challenged established musical conventions. They create sound using electronic means, a groundbreaking innovation for their time. Take for example, the theremin. The theremin is an instrument that lets you create melodies through the manipulation of electromagnetic fields. You don’t even touch it. There’s no direct physical contact with the instrument. The theremin made its mark on the landscape of music, and its tones became synonymous with experimental compositions. Similarly, the ondes Martenot gave musicians a new and expressive range of sounds. You play it by gliding a ring along a wire, kind of like how you move a bow across the strings of a violin. These electrophones, the thermin and the ondes Martenot, set the stage for the synthesizers that dominate today’s music. Electrophones enabled composers of the early twentieth century to explore new musical ideas. Despite being overshadowed by modern electronics, these early electrophones made an important and lasting mark on music, and they continue to influence music-making. Artists are going to keep looking forward in their quest to redefine musical boundaries, but we can also look back to acknowledge the foundational role these early electrophones played in shaping the history of music.