2．
阅读理解
Most musicians agree
that the best violins were first made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago.
These violins sound better than any other violin. They even sound better than
the violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments
like the Italian violins. But they aren't the same. Musicians still prefer the
old ones.
Some people think it is
the age of the violins. But not all the old violins sound wonderful. Only the
old violins from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the correct answer.
Other people think the
secret to those violins is wood. The wood must be from certain kinds of trees. But
the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood
in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be
the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the
violin. Musicians sometimes think that
it is the secret of the Italians. Possibly they understood more than us about
how to cut the wood.
Size and shape may not
be the answer either. Scientists can make new ones which are exactly the same
size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones.
Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish (清漆). Varnish is what covers the wood of the
violin. It makes the wood look shiny. It also helps the sound of the
instrument. But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their
varnish.
