中考英语内容包含听力、阅读例句、完型填空、写作等多个部分，其中，中考英语阅读理解所占的比重是很大的。想要在中考英语中拔得头筹，千万不能忽视阅读理解部分的练习。
阅读下面短文，然后从A、B、C、D四个选项中选择一个最好答案。
Nicholas Scottie is a 12-year-old boy who lives in San Francisco. He is known for his love of music and his ability to play the piano beautifully. Nicholas started playing the piano when he was just 5 years old and has been practicing every day since then.
Nicholas's passion for music has led him to perform in many concerts and competitions. He has won several awards for his outstanding performances. despite his young age, Nicholas is already considered one of the best pianists in the country.
Apart from music, Nicholas also loves to explore the city of San Francisco. He enjoys visiting the Golden Gate Bridge and the Alcatraz Island. Nicholas believes that exploring his city helps him gain inspiration for his music.
Questions：
1. How old is Nicholas Scottie?
A. 5 years old.
B. 10 years old.
C. 12 years old.
D. 15 years old.
2. When did Nicholas start playing the piano?
A. When he was 5 years old.
B. When he was 7 years old.
C. When he was 10 years old.
D. When he was 12 years old.
3. What awards has Nicholas won?
A. Several music awards.
B. A gold medal in a piano competition.
C. The title of "Best Pianist in San Francisco".
D. None of the above.
4. What does Nicholas like to do besides playing the piano?
A. Visit the Golden Gate Bridge.
B. Play soccer.
C. Listen to music.
D. Explore Alcatraz Island.
5. according to the passage, which of the following is true about Nicholas?
A. He is the best pianist in the country.
B. He has been playing the piano for 7 years.
C. He believes that exploring his city helps him gain inspiration for his music.
D. He has won awards for his soccer skills.
答案分析：
1. C。依据第一段第二句"He is known for his love of music and his ability to play the piano beautifully."可知，Nicholas Scottie是一位12岁的男生，所以答案为C。
2. A。依据第一段第三句"Nicholas started playing the piano when he was just 5 years old."可知，Nicholas是在5岁时开始学习钢琴的，所以答案为A。
3. A。依据第一段最后一句"He has won several awards for his outstanding performances."可知，Nicholas取得了几项音乐奖，所以答案为A。
4. A。依据最后一段"Apart from music, Nicholas also loves to explore the city of San Francisco. He enjoys visiting the Golden Gate Bridge and the Alcatraz Island."可知，除去弹钢琴，Nicholas还喜欢探索旧金山这座城市，他喜欢参观金门大桥和恶魔岛，所以答案为A。
5. C。依据文章内容，选项A、B、D都与文章内容不符，而选项C与文章最后一段相符，所以答案为C。
