1 . Piano lessons aren’t just about giving kids an opportunity for musical training. Learning to play the piano has a great ________ on the brain, providing children with a lot of benefits that last a lifetime.

________ education can actually give kids an increased chance of success in life. Kids who ________ music education and training gain major emotional development advantages. Playing the piano is an outlet (发泄) for kids and ________ themselves. Any type of music ________ the spirits. Being able to play a song on an instrument, whether performing ________ or for other people, also builds confidence in kids.

The many hours spent ________ playing the piano create and increase neural (神经的) connections in the brain that last a lifetime. These physical changes in the ________ provide great gains that last well into adulthood, including protecting against cognitive decline (认知能力下降) and memory ________ . Piano lessons also have been shown to ________ affect verbal working memory, hearing and communication.

Children get ________ just as often as adults. Feelings of nervousness and worry ________ a physical response in the body, in which the heart rate and blood pressure ________ and breathing gets faster. Playing the piano can ________ that kind of response, providing a sense of relaxation. This ________ can be felt by kids immediately on sitting at the piano and trying to play, ________ the activity can reduce worry regardless of a person’s skill or ability. Music lessons, ________, provide the greatest benefit, as studies have shown that playing an instrument for an hour per week for at least six weeks is most ________ for reducing the body’s nervous response.

________ all the benefits of music training, it’s not ________ that more and more parents want their kids to learn to play an instrument.

1.

A．depth

B．influence

C．control

D．circle

2.

A．Music

B．Math

C．Early

D．Proper

3.

A．receive

B．show

C．love

D．give

4.

A．value

B．accept

C．express

D．know

5.

A．holds

B．lifts

C．carries

D．adds

6.

A．loudly

B．forever

C．soon

D．alone

7.

A．trying

B．standing

C．practicing

D．listening

8.

A．brain

B．eyes

C．nose

D．ears

9.

A．test

B．analysis

C．response

D．loss

10.

A．quickly

B．negatively

C．shortly

D．positively

11.

A．excited

B．nervous

C．happy

D．confused

12.

A．reduce

B．break

C．cause

D．lead

13.

A．rise

B．disappear

C．remove

D．fly

14.

A．shut down

B．turn out

C．put on

D．get off

15.

A．opinion

B．advantage

C．light

D．increase

16.

A．after

B．until

C．as

D．if

17.

A．anyhow

B．therefore

C．however

D．besides

18.

A．usual

B．common

C．rapid

D．effective

19.

A．With

B．Before

C．In

D．Under

20.

A．puzzling

B．worrying

C．expecting

D．surprising

2 . Ways to Put Down Your Smartphone

For most people, when they wake up in the morning, the first thing coming to their mind is to find their smartphone. If it is the same to you, it is time for you to put your smartphone down.    1    

Pick up a newspaper

Read a newspaper and be amazed at how relaxing it is to read through the day's news. We will find our attention has increased and we will enjoy reading it.    2    Even the New York Times is only $9 a week for home delivery, plus digital access.

    3    

Take your old radio out again, plug it in, and be amazed at how vital radio still can be. More importantly, you won't be attracted to check other apps and websites.

Cut off social media ties

We love Facebook or Twitter to communicate with friends and relations.    4    And turn off app and email information at some other time in any other places, so you aren’t attracted by them. Pile up your phones

Today, it seems nearly impossible to put your phone down for 60 minutes. However, whether dining at home or out on the town, stick to (坚持) a no-device policy.    5    Even better, you can also have a waiter place them out of site, so no one can break the policy.

A．Here are the results of giving up using your smartphone.

B．Here are some quick and easy ways to put them aside.

C．And don’t be worried about the cost.

D．Listen to the news report

E．Just check in at your lunch break or at the gym.

F．To make it stick, you can place phones in the center of the table.

G．Listen to the radio.

3 . The national outpouring of grief(悲痛) at the death of two legendary academicians(院士)over the weekend, as if people had lost beloved members of their own families, offers much food for thought.

At 1:02 pm on May 22nd, 2021, liver surgeon Wu Mengchao, 99, died in Shanghai. He is known as the founder of hepatobiliary surgery(肝胆外科) in the country and was the teacher of roughly 80 percent of the nation's experts and doctors specializing in liver surgery today. Wu operated on thousands of patients, and saved at least 16,000 lives. Five minutes later in Changsha, Hunan province, agricultural scientist Yuan Longping died at the age of 91. He was known as the father of hybrid rice who helped lift the nation out of hunger.

With their dedication to science and commitment to the people, the two devoted their lives to saving lives and improving people's livelihoods. Together with generations of their students, they not only made a big difference to the lives of the Chinese people, but also many living in other developing and least-developed countries.

Wu insisted that medical science is humanity while Yuan's lifelong dream was always to enable the Chinese people to fill their own bowls with rice. What makes Wu and Yuan great is not only their achievements, but also their shared attachment to the people. The public's spontaneous(自发的) outpouring of grief at their deaths, which has been rare in the country for decades, shows how much their down-to-earth dedication to improving people's lives touched hearts throughout the country.

Yuan and Wu are just two representatives of the large numbers of scientific workers that have devoted their lives to their research, giving the country's people-centered development principle with more practical meaning. The country needs more scientists to inherit and carry forward their spirit. Even those in other walks of life can draw inspiration from the two academicians' commitment to their dreams, care for the people, and unconcern about material enjoyment, so as to make the best of what life grants for themselves and others.

1. Which two fields do the Wu Mengchao and Yuan Longping specialize in?

A．Education and agriculture.	B．Medicine and social science.
C．Education and social science.	D．Hepatobiliary surgery and agriculture.

2. What does the underlined word “dedication” in Para 3 mean?

A．devotion

B．influence

C．exploration

D．respect

3. Why did the academicians’ death grieve the whole nation?

A．Because the modern Internet helped to spread the news.

B．Because Wu and Yuan are well known over the country.

C．Because people think it necessary to follow the sorrowful trend.

D．Because they made great contributions and shared selfless love to the people.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．A sorrowful weekend

B．Let their scientific spirit live on

C．Two great academicians passed away

D．The great contributions of two great scientists

4 . Rome can be pricey for travelers, which is why many choose to stay in a hostel (旅社). The hostels in Rome offer a bed in a dorm room for around $25 a night, and for that, you’ll often get to stay in a central location (位置) with security and comfort.

Yellow Hostel

If I had to make just one recommendation for where to stay in Rome, it would be Yellow Hostel. It’s one of the best-rated hostels in the city, and for good reason. It’s affordable, and it’s got a fun atmosphere without being too noisy. As an added bonus, it’s close to the main train station.

Hostel Alessandro Palace

If you love social hostels, this is the best hostel for you in Rome. Hostel Alessandro Palace is fun. Staff members hold plenty of bar events for guests like free shots, bar crawls and karaoke. There’s also an area on the rooftop for hanging out with other travelers during the summer.

Youth Station Hostel

If you’re looking for cleanliness and a modern hostel, look no further than Youth Station. It offers beautiful furnishings and beds. There are plenty of other benefits, too; it doesn’t charge city tax; it has both air conditioning and a heater for the rooms; it also has free Wi-Fi in every room.

Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes

Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes is located just a 10-minute walk from the central city station and it’s close to all of the city’s main attractions. The staff is friendly and helpful, providing you with a map of the city when you arrive, and offering advice if you require some. However, you need to pay 2 euros a day for Wi-Fi.

1. What is probably the major concern of travelers who choose to stay in a hostel?

A．Comfort.	B．Security.
C．Price.	D．Location.

2. Which hotel best suits people who enjoy an active social life?

A．Yellow Hostel.	B．Hostel Alessandro Palace.
C．Youth Station Hostel.	D．Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes.

3. What is the disadvantage of Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes?

A．It gets noisy at night.	B．Its staff is too talkative.
C．It charges for Wi-Fi.	D．It’s inconveniently located.

5 . After a months-long rest due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cinemas in low-risk areas started to reopen on July 20th. Here are 4 films on the screening schedule.

A First Farewell

Set in the scenic Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the story unfolds between a farm boy Isa and his friend Kalbinur. Isa’s mother, deaf and mute（哑的）, relies on her son to look after her.

Kalbinur, though a smart Uygur girl, finds the Chinese language hard to master at the village school. That winter, Isa’s father decides to send his wife to a nursing home, and Kalbinur’s family makes plans to leave the village. Isa will soon experience farewell.

The film won the Asian Future Best Film Award at Tokyo International Film Festival in 2018 and a Crystal Bear at the 2019 Berlinale.

Sheep without a Shepherd

Li Wejjie and his wife, A Yu, have lived in Thailand for 17 years and raised two daughters. At the age of 40, Li runs an Internet company and is well-liked by the townspeople. However, the family’s bright prospects are suddenly interrupted by an unexpected guest. In this borderland town filled with smuggling（走私）and drug trafficking, justice comes to a critical testing moment.

Coco

This Disney-Pixar production offers a heart-warming comedy integrating fantasy, music, family values and charming Mexican culture. Miguel, a little boy from a family of shoemakers, dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. On the way to his dream, he meets trickster Hector and they set off on an extraordinary journey.

Since screened, Coco has brought home two Oscars, one Golden Globe and one BAFTA Award.

The Pursuit of Happyness

This film is based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a “bone density scanner”. However, the devices do not sell well. As Gardner works to make ends meet，his wife leaves him and he loses his apartment. Forced to live out on the streets with his son, Gardner is taken for an unpaid stockbroker, with slim chances for advancement to a paid position.

1. What can we learn about Isa?

A．He is disabled.	B．He looks after his mother.
C．He can speak Chinese well.	D．He plans to leave the village.

2. Which film has won a Golden Globe Award?

A．Coco.	B．A First Farewell.
C．The Pursuit of Happyness.	D．Sheep without a Shepherd.

3. Who has made poor investment?

A．Miguel.

B．Kalbinur.

C．Gardner.

D．Li Weijie.