1 . SarahRose Black isn’t a doctor or a nurse. Since 2013 she has played an important role for patients at the center as a music therapist (治疗师). One day, a nurse at a medical centre asked her if she could reach out to a patient who refused to take part in any activities. “He’s angry with us, and we wonder if you might have an interest in it.” the nurse told her.
The next day, Black offered to play music for the patient. “If you don’t like it, you can tell me to leave.” she said. After thinking for a while, the man wrote down the names of some music he liked and then looked out the window. However, as Black began to play one of his favorites, he cried. She stopped playing, saying, "Do you want me to continue?" "Certainly," he said through tears.
“It was as if the music went places," recalls Black.” He shared afterwards that he’d been holding in so much and had been unable to talk about anything —but the music felt like a hug."
It has been shown that music can be medicine. A study conducted in Barcelona’s Hospital del Mar found patients receiving music therapy experienced obvious decreases in anxiety and breathing difficulties, as well as an increase in feelings of well-being.
At the Dr Bob Kemp Hospice in Hamilton, Ont., music therapy is widely used. Doug Mattina experienced a music-therapy program when his father spent his last days there. "During the treatment, my mom and I danced around my dad’s bed. He would request high kicks from us as he clapped along. He was so weak that he sometimes fell asleep, but he was happy. It meant a lot to us." Mattina says.
Music has an especially important effect on sick children. Ruth Hunston, a music therapist at a children’s hospital, says her program gives patients back some sense of control. "When children are in hospital, their worlds get much smaller," she explains. "Music allows them to create something themselves."
Music does count in treatment, but Black notes that people actually connect with music for their whole lives.“ We have a heartbeat, so we have a drum inside us; we are born to be musical,”she says,“ Music relieves our sadness in ways words cannot.”
1. How did the patient react to Black’s appearance?A.He asked her to leave. | B.He cried and hugged her. |
C.He handed her a list of songs. | D.He turned away and walked to the window. |
A.Got faster. | B.Went wrong. | C.Worked well. | D.Slowed down. |
A.He often did high kicks. | B.He was once a music therapist. |
C.He didn’t like talking about his illness. | D.He fell in and out of sleep in the treatment. |
A.It improves their social ability. | B.It helps them create something. |
C.It helps them enjoy a sound sleep. | D.It excites their interest in medical treatment. |
A.Thoughtful and helpful. | B.Strong and talented. |
C.Intelligent and honest. | D.Hardworking and humorous. |
A.At a bus stop. | B.In a car. | C.On a bus. |
1. What mainly made the man hesitate to visit the White House?
A.Lack of interest. | B.The tight security. | C.The historical atmosphere. |
A.From the website. | B.From the local paper. | C.From the travel guide. |
A.In the White House. | B.In a dining hall. | C.At an airport. |
A.Serious. | B.Humorous. | C.Careful. |
A.By taking a subway. | B.By taking a bus. | C.By driving a car. |
A.By bus. | B.By train. | C.By air. |
A.The weather is too hot. |
B.The time is very tight. |
C.Their car is being repaired. |
7 . Thomas was a well-known wise man. One day, he wandered in a beautiful small town. Because of his fame, people from nearby towns who heard of his arrival all came to visit and seek his advice.
Many who came sought help with difficulties in daily life, and Thomas, unable to bear turning them away, patiently offered suggestions. Word spread quickly, and more and more people came to see Thomas for guidance.
One day, dozens of people crowded outside Thomas’s door, all clamoring (大声地要求) that their problems were the most serious and urgent, each insisting that Thomas address their concerns first, with no one willing to yield (让步).
After a moment of thought, Thomas took out some paper and a pen and said, “I can’t hear clearly with everyone talking at once. How about everyone write down your problem on a piece of paper and place it in this basket beside me?”
Once everyone had placed their notes in the basket, Thomas shook the basket and said, “Please each take a piece of paper from the basket and read what it says.”
As everyone read a note from someone else, they all realized that indeed, each person has their own troubles, and every household has its own challenges. Then Thomas spoke up, “Now, whose problem is the most urgent to solve?” Hearing that question, no one spoke again, because now no one dared to claim that their problem was the most severe.
Often, we are bound by our immediate feelings. When difficulties and problems strike, it feels as though we are caught in a vortex of pain. But if we shift our focus from ourselves and look towards others, we might discover that the problems we face are not so significant. Perhaps others are the ones who need help more urgently, or maybe there is something within our power that we can do for them.
1. Why did people visit Thomas?A.For advice. | B.For a meeting. |
C.For a competition. | D.For introductions. |
A.He ignored them. | B.He listened to each one individually. |
C.He prioritized the problems himself. | D.He asked them to write down their problems. |
A.The complexity of their difficulties. | B.The similarity of their situations. |
C.Their need for more advice. | D.Their living conditions. |
A.Competition. | B.Sympathy. | C.Prioritization. | D.Self-confidence. |
8 . Feasts for Museum-goers
Museums have become the latest must-see destinations for both locals and tourists alike all over China and let’s take a quick look at what some of them have in store for enthusiastic museum-goers.
Gentle View
Paintings and sculptures from across the country are on display at the ongoing exhibition, Colors, at the Shandong Art Museum in Jinan, Shandong province. The event is held in celebration of International Women’s Day, which falls on Friday. The Shandong Artists Association launched the annual exhibition in 2017 to encourage women artists and to offer them a platform for their talents and their unique ways of viewing the world.
Cultural Peak
Ink artist Huang Binhong (1865 — 1955), considered one of the major figures of modern Chinese art, spent a lifetime carrying on his country’s cultural heritage while also maintaining a modern spirit and a universal outlook. Immortal Legacy is an ongoing exhibition at the Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy that sheds light on Huang’s belief in cultural tradition. His landscape paintings indicate his appetite for the scenery of southern China, where he grew up and spent most of his life.
Timeless Beauty
In celebration of Chinese New Year, Immortal Brushwork of Danqing, the Tianjin Museum staged a long-term exhibition starting in early February, bringing together dozens of paintings ranging from the Song (960 — 1279) to Qing (1644 — 1911) dynasties. Examples include a portrait of an aristocratic woman by Leng Mei, a pioneering figure of Chinese portraiture in the 17th and 18th centuries. Leng’s paintings successfully convey the atmosphere and situations his subjects experienced, revealing their moods and emotions.
Calligraphic Sage
Hailed as the “modern sage of caoshu script”, Lin Sanzhi is recognized as one of the leading calligraphers of the 20th century. My Admiration of Ancient Masters, an exhibition at the Anhui Art Museum, reviews Lin’s efforts in calligraphy, poetry and Chinese painting through which he built a connection with the spiritual worlds of past artists and sought new dimensions for the art form. Also on display are landscape paintings, showing how he made use of calligraphic techniques to present the vastness of nature.
1. Which show would satisfy visitors’ desire to appreciate art from female’s perspectives?A.Colors. | B.Immortal Legacy. |
C.Immortal Brushwork of Danqing. | D.My Admiration of Ancient Masters. |
A.Artworks by women artists. | B.Classical figure paintings. |
C.Paintings from modern times. | D.Painting subjects analysis. |
A.They feature Chinese calligraphy. |
B.They exhibit landscape paintings. |
C.They employ calligraphic techniques. |
D.They show the scenery of southern China. |
9 . Family: Poems — by Mr. Keith Keenan
Kindle $0.00; Hardcover $12.50; Paperback $7.00.
The poet describes personal thoughts and feelings in a lyrical journey to understand and celebrate his family. “Family” looks at living honestly in places, not illusions. Figurative (形象的) language, a love of metaphor and sharp images all make the poems work.
Time to Heal — by Aleandra Vasiliu
Kindle $9.99; Hardcover $21.94; Paperback $12.64.
From the bestselling author comes an inspirational poetry book about love, healing, and growth. It is a reminder to strive to change for the better. Featuring more than 130 uplifting poems and black-and-white illustrations, it’s a great companion when you need to embrace self-love and personal transformation.
Seeds from a Birch Tree — by Clark Strand
Kindle $9.99; Hardcover $26.80; Paperback $16.95.
Seeds from a Birch Tree makes nature into a spiritual path. Its message was simple: Haiku teaches us to return to nature by following the seasons — seventeen syllables at a time. With its mix of poetry and memoir (回忆录), the book guides us to the joy hidden in plain sight, leading us to get into a good state of body and mind.
A Poem for Every Day — by Allie Esiri
Kindle $9.99; Hardcover $28.05; Audio CD $18.05.
This audio book is a collection of 366 poems which link to events on key dates—funny for April Fools’ Day, festive for Christmas. This is the perfect gift for poetry lovers of all ages. These poems are informative, peaceful, and energetic!
There are a large number of poetry collections on Amazon. More information, please click here.
1. How much will you pay if you are to buy a hardcover edition of a book on haiku?A.$12.50. | B.$21.94. | C.$26.80. | D.$28.05. |
A.Family: Poems features plain language. |
B.Time to Heal features colorful illustrations. |
C.Seeds from a Birch Tree focuses on human nature. |
D.A Poem for Every Day focuses on festive celebrations. |
A.A marketing website. | B.A literature magazine. |
C.A book review. | D.A news report. |