Passage Two
Beethoven probably began to go deaf in 1797, but he tried to keep it a secret, while consulting doctors and trying various remedies, such as the application of almond oil. [29]He was extremely anxious about its possible effect on his career as a musician, and embarrassed by its effect on his social life. In the summer of 1801 he wrote to two friends expressing the anxiety that his best years would pass "without my being able to achieve all that my talent and my strength have commanded me to do". Although tempted to kill himself, "the only thing that held me back was my art. For indeed it seemed to me impossible to leave this world before I had produced all the works that I felt the urge to compose". It could be argued that Beethoven's deafness helped the development of his art: isolated from the world, and unable to perform, he could devote all his time to composing. [30]In 1804 his friend Stephan von Breuning, with whom he briefly shared lodgings, wrote to Franz Wegler about the terrible effect his gradual loss of hearing was having on Beethoven: it had caused him to distrust his friends, and he was becoming very difficult to be with. But above all else, Beethoven was dedicated to his art and the urge to compose remained with him throughout his life. [31]It may be that he shielded away from the commitment of marriage because he knew it would interfere with his art.

Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard.
29. Why did Beethoven try to conceal his going deaf?
正確答案：D
解析：短文開頭就說貝多芬不愿透露自己耳聾的消息，并緊接著說明了原因：“他極為擔心這個消息對他作為一位音樂家的事業可能帶來的影響，他也不知道該如何處理該消息對他的社交生活產生的影響?！盌（他對它的負面影響極為擔心）全面概括了相關內容，故正確。
30. What was the result from Beethoven's gradual loss of hearing in 1804?
正確答案：C
解析：短文中提到，1804年，貝多芬的朋友在信中說：“失去聽力使他（貝多芬）不相信朋友，他變得非常難以相處?！惫蔆正確。由選項中共同的時間可知，本題問1804年發生在“他”身上的事情。聽到“In 1804”即當留意選項中對應的關鍵詞。C為原詞再現。
31. What do we know about Beethoven in this passage?
正確答案：B
解析：短文最后說：“情況可能是這樣：因為他知道結婚會影響他的藝術創作，所以他逃避了婚姻的承諾。”言下之意是，貝多芬一輩子未婚，故B正確。四個選項主語都是He，但具體內容互不相干，須聽記所有相關信息并做出相應標記。