2 . Is there a friend of yours who always sings out of tune (曲调) but never realizes it? Don’t be so hard on them — they may have amusia — the inability to tell the difference in tunes.

Apart from singing out of tune, people with amusia may also find it hard to recognize music they’ve heard before without the help of song lyrics. Besides, people who suffer from Amusia can have difficulty in recognizing melodies and a total inability to tell between different musical sounds, according to Live Science. However, people with amusia can recognize common environmental sounds as well as the high and lows sounds in human voices, meaning that this inability can be specially related to music.

In many cases, people who have amusia are born with it, as 46 percent of these individuals’ family members were found to have similar conditions, according to a 2017 study. Brain imaging shows that their brains receive and respond to music pitch (音高) information, but it is not reaching conscious awareness, meaning that the mind can’t understand the information.

Scientists at the University of Otago in New Zealand also think that amusia is related to people’s special processing skills. They invited people with amusia, musicians and students from non-musical backgrounds to perform a task related to spacial imagination. They were asked to decide whether pairs of images are the same object moving around or mirror images.

The result showed that the amusia group made more mistakes than the other two groups. Amusia might be related to the way brain stores information about the high and low sounds in songs, according to the study.

Although those who aren’t confident about their singing skills often say they’re “tune-deaf”, people with amusia only make up about 1.5 percent of the population, as shown in the 2017 study. “Like dyslexics (诵读困难者) can learn how to read, those with amusia should be able to better their ability to recognize tunes if they start early enough,” Isabelle Peretz, a professor of psychology from the University of Montreal in Canada, told Live Science.

1. According to the article, what is the main difficulty faced by people with amusia?

A．Recognizing tunes.	B．Identifying human voices.
C．Understanding song lyrics.	D．Noticing common sounds in nature.

2. What did the 2017 study tell us about amusia?

A．Amusia is common among children.

B．Amusia is a result of brain damage.

C．Many individuals with amusia are born with it.

D．Those who are tune-deaf often suffer from amusia.

3. What did the study by scientists at the University of Otago show?

A．People with amusia have strong spa cial imagination skills.

B．People with amusia struggle to decide the shape of images.

C．Amusia may be affected by one’s level of music education.

D．Amusia may be related to how the brain stores sound information.

4. How can people with amusia improve their musical ability, according to Peretz?

A．Go for medical treatment.	B．Sing frequently with friends.
C．Learn how to read earlier in life.	D．Start to explore and learn music early.

3 . We are often told that there’s no _________ limit when it comes to pursuing our goals, but it’s truly _________ to see someone achieve them later in life-especially if they are 95 years old.

Angela Alvarez is a Cuban-born singer and songwriter who finally _________ her first album in 2021. Now, she has just won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist.

Growing up surrounded by music, Alvarez once told her father she wanted to become a (an) _________ singer. However, life wasn’t easy for their family then and she had to _________ her dream of pursuing a career in entertainment for decades, but music was always there to keep her company and bring her _________.

With time, her kids had kids, and one of her grandchildren, Carlos Jose Alvarez, _________ found out that his grandma had _________ over 50 songs throughout her life, he knew that something had to be done. He asked her if she would be interested in going to a studio and _________ her songs. “And her answer was ‘Carlos, my dream is to __________ this life knowing that somehow my music would emerge and last.’ And that was the __________,” Carlos said in an interview.

Alvarez’s story __________ caught the attention of actor Andy Garcia, who decided to become the producer and narrator of Miss Angela, a documentary about this amazing woman. “Her story just blew me away. She __________ a generation, perhaps our generation of Cubans,” said the actor.

The dream reached new __________ as she became nominated (被提名) for a Latin Grammy. When she took to the stage to accept her award, she gave an inspiring speech, “To those who have not achieved their dream, I promise, with __________ and love you can achieve it, it’s never too late.”

1.

A．sex

B．age

C．identity

D．race

2.

A．exciting

B．understanding

C．inspiring

D．surprising

3.

A．released

B．searched

C．created

D．increased

4.

A．ambitious

B．unique

C．professional

D．temporary

5.

A．take up

B．get into

C．bring in

D．put aside

6.

A．comfort

B．concept

C．trouble

D．emotion

7.

A．intentionally

B．accidentally

C．actually

D．obviously

8.

A．hidden

B．cited

C．heard

D．written

9.

A．grasping

B．adapting

C．recording

D．polishing

10.

A．leave

B．continue

C．keep

D．bear

11.

A．conclusion

B．peak

C．ending

D．beginning

12.

A．still

B．never

C．ever

D．even

13.

A．defends

B．represents

C．makes

D．strengthens

14.

A．draft

B．insights

C．heights

D．aspect

15.

A．faith

B．trick

C．competence

D．qualification

4 . When Belquer first joined a team to make a better live music experience for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, he was struck by how they had developed workarounds to enjoy concerts. “What they were doing at the time was holding balloons to feel the vibrations (震动) through their fingers,” Belquer said. He thought the team could make something to help hard-of- hearing people enjoy live music even more with the technology now available.

Belquer, who is also a musician and theater artist, is now the “Chief Vibrational Officer” of Music: Not Impossible, which uses new technology to address social issues like poverty and disability access. His team started by tying vibrating different cell phone motors to bodies, but that didn’t quite work. The vibrations were all the same. Eventually, they worked with engineers to develop a light haptic (触觉的) suit with a total of 24 vibrating plates. There are 20 of them tied to a vest that fits tightly around the body like a hiking backpack, plus one that ties to each wrist and ankle. When you wear the suit, it’s surprising how it feels.

The vibrations are mixed by a haptic DJ who controls the location, frequency and intensity of feeling across the suits, just as a music DJ mixes sounds in an artful way. “What we’re doing is selecting and mixing what we want and send it to different parts of the body,” said the DJ. The haptic suits were just one component of the event. There were American Sign Language interpreters; the music was captioned on a screen on the stage.

The suits are the star attraction. Lily Lipman, who has auditory processing disorder, lit up when asked about her experience. “It’s cool, because I’m never quite sure if I’m hearing what other people are hearing, so it’s amazing to get the music in my body.”

1. What surprised Belquer about people with hearing problems?

A．The way they enjoyed music.

B．The attitude they held to life.

C．The love they had for balloons.

D．The frequency they vibrated fingers.

2. Why did the team’s initial attempt fail?

A．The motors were the same.

B．The vibrations lacked variety.

C．The motors hardly worked.

D．The vibrations were irregular.

3. What did the DJ do?

A．He interpreted the sign language.

B．He captioned the music on stage.

C．He selected suits for the attendees.

D．He helped people feel the music.

4. What does Lily Lipman think of the suit?

A．Comforting.

B．Challenging.

C．Satisfying.

D．Encouraging.

5 . It was a warm evening in August in 1995. Robert Blocker was driving to Yale University after being appointed as the university’s Dean (院长) of Music. He didn’t expect to see many people, but a couple of students met him and showed him around.

“When I looked at the history of the university and how people are devoted to the school’s art programs, I was honored by the chance to work there. I could not wait for the next day to start my job. And that excitement never changed because every day was different. My job as dean was not scheduled. I walked around the campus and students talked to me. I went to rehearsals (排演) by the students and teachers and got inspired by them,” he adds.

After nearly three decades as the Dean of Music at Yale, the 77-year-old retired from the position on Aug 31. Also an expert pianist, he remains a professor of piano at the music school, as well as professor of leadership strategies at Yale School of Management. Among his countless contributions as dean, Blocker developed long-term relationships with fellow musicians in China. He once toured cities, including Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hangzhou, giving lectures to the youngsters.

“China is a very special place for me. I am very happy to be back after the pandemic (疫情) to meet my friends and colleagues,” Blocker says, adding that he is particularly excited about being with young students.

Yang Suxian, director of the Shenzhen Piano Music Festival, says, “He has been very supportive and has participated in the Shenzhen Piano Music Festival for years, even during the pandemic.”

Blocker’s vision of a more hopeful world is reflected in his belief that music bridges the understanding between people.

“Music brings hope. People may speak different languages and have different ideas but music speaks to each other’s heart, and that’s why we keep this work going on and why the work never ends,” he says, “Our job is to let music heal the world by allowing us to understand and find a common place in our hearts.”

1. How did Robert Blocker feel after being appointed as the university’s Dean?

A．Anxious.

B．Thrilled.

C．Terrified.

D．Challenged.

2. What is included in Robert Blocker’s work at Yale?

A．Teaching leadership skills.	B．Reviving art programs of the school.
C．Giving concerts when touring cities in China.	D．Organizing rehearsals for students and teachers.

3. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning Yang Suxian’s words?

A．To advertise the festival in Shenzhen.	B．To stress Robert’s preference for music.
C．To review the hardships during the pandemic.	D．To show Robert’s care about Chinese musicians.

4. What do we know about musicians’ job from the last paragraph?

A．Spreading music to the whole world.

B．Translating music into a common language.

C．Helping people to reach an agreement on music.

D．Guiding people to know themselves better through music.

8 . Kao chia-yu’s journey into music began at the age of 3, and he started violin lessons at 6 and piano at 10. According to Kao, Taiwan doesn’t have graded exams for music education as the mainland does. Instead, children from age 8 can choose government-organized exams, which give access to specialized music classes at school.

“I entered the music program in the 3rd grade through the exam. Students from this program have additional coursework related to music theory,” Kao told Teens. In high school, he still signed up for the music class, which allowed him to skip other subjects like math to devote more hours to music courses.

“This specialized and systematic nature of music education in Taiwan has trained many musical talents, such as Jay Chou and Ouyang Nana. They received strict music training at school,” Kao said.

The most challenging thing for Kao is finding a balance between music and academics. “People say that music keeps kids out of trouble, but we simply don’t have time for mischief(恶作剧)，” Kao joked. His days are carefully structured: completing homework during lunchtime or breaks, resting briefly at home after school, and then practicing the violin and piano. On holidays, he doubles his practice hours or seeks guidance from professional teachers.” But the many opportunities to perform on behalf of my school add joy and motivation into my sometimes boring routine，”Kao said.

After 14 years of music learning, Kao has found that the true essence (本质) of music lies in discovering one’s unique voice, allowing both the musician and listener to bury themselves in a musical world crafted through personal performance.

This summer, Kao joined the music program at New England Conservatory of Music(新英格兰音乐学院)in the US and performed with students from all over the world. Kao’s passion for music only continues to grow, displaying his technical practice for the craft and lasting love for it as an outlet for personal expression.

1. How did Kao get into the music program?

A．By joining an overseas music program.	B．By passing the government-run exam.
C．By receiving strict music training at home.	D．By showing his talent at a personal concert.

2. What is the biggest difficulty for Kao to deal with?

A．Making time for mischief.	B．Seeking professional guidance.
C．Managing music and academics.	D．Representing his school in performances.

3. According to Kao, what is the nature of music?

A．Creating personal performances.	B．Exploring our special or unusual voice.
C．Adding joy into our dull daily lives.	D．Having the specialized and systematic training.

4. Which of the following options best describes Kao?

A．Modest and funny.	B．Confident and reliable.
C．Hardworking and devoted.	D．Determined and responsible.

9 . A group of middle-aged dads formed a dance team to perform at their kids’ school but unexpectedly gained popularity on social media, having over 300, 000 followers—one of them is famous actor Hugh Jackman. The “Outta” Puff Daddys first came together in 2012 in Brighton for a surprise performance at their children’s annual dance show.

Having never danced as a job before and ranging in age from 42 to 60, the dads were taught by their kids’ street dance teacher for the surprise performance. They received a good reception, so they decided to carry on permanently.

Paul Jukes, 48, said dancing together has enabled the members to get through unemployment and anxiety. “Even though I’m the leader and artistic director of the team, I’m not normally the most confident guy,” said Jukes, whose team name is Jukebox. “If we’re in a party situation, we’re off at the side, but when we’re together those inhibitions (拘束感) are lost, and we just accept life to the fullest.”

The dance team members remember the moment when they surprised their kids at the dance show. “We performed at the Brighton Dome which seats 2, 000 people, so for our first live dance performance, it was quite something. We took the roof off,” Jukes said. “The noise was crazy and of course, the kids in the audience were blown away. They were shouting, ‘Hang on a second; that’s your dad.’ Most people might think our kids would be embarrassed by us but none of them had that feeling. All our families and kids were really supportive and really loved it. And it has been considered cool by them to have such a large following on Instagram.” The team has to adapt to its members’ changing bodies as they get older, but that has not stopped them from continuing to dream big, which sets a good example to their kids.

1. What’s special about the dance team?

A．It helps with school dance instructions	B．Its members are all inexperienced
C．It regularly posts videos on social media	D．Its members are guided by famous dancers.

2. How has the dance team influenced Paul Jukes?

A．It has inspired him to take up new hobbies.

B．It has improved his health and leadership skills

C．It has strengthened his relationship with his family

D．It has helped him build confidence in a tough time

3. How did the kids react to their dads’ dance performance?

A．They were amazed and proud of their dads.

B．They were embarrassed but showed understanding.

C．They considered following Jukebox on social media.

D．They joined their dads to complete the performance together.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Dancing is beneficial to people of all ages

B．Talented dads celebrate their kids’ interest

C．A dance team consisting of middle-aged dads goes viral

D．A dance team is winning popularity among adults