1 . Can you imagine a world without music? Studies show that public schools across the country are cutting back on music classes to save money. Worse, some schools have never had music classes to begin with. But without them, students’ academic(学业的) growth and emotional health could suffer. In fact, music classes are necessary for all students in schools.
A recent study by Brown University has shown that students who had music classes were better in math and reading skills than those without having music classes. Another study by The College Board found that students taking music and art classes got higher points. Students’ academic success seems to depend on taking part in music education.
Music programs in public schools also help to add to a student’s sense of pride and self-confidence. Teens today have too many learning tasks. Besides, they have family problems, self-confidence problems, relationship troubles, and choices about drugs and alcohol. All of these can stop academic success, but music education can help. Students who took part in school music programs were less likely to turn to drugs. Music programs encourage students to work together to produce an excellent performance.
Music crosses language, class cultural and political boundaries(界限). Music allows students from different countries to connect. For example, at a school talent show, a new Japanese student played a piano duet(二重奏) with an American classmate. Although they could not communicate verbally, they were able to read the music in order to play the duet. Two students from different cultures worked as a team with self-confidence and a common purpose through music.
The gift of music is priceless. We need to be sure of having necessary music classes for all students. The world is losing its music, and putting music into schools is the first step to get it back.
1. What can we know about education with music classes?| A．It wastes a lot of money from parents. | B．It leads to a lot of emotional problems easily. |
| C．It helps students improve their school work. | D．It has a bad influence on the quality of education. |
| A．not all students take part in music classes |
| B．students with great success attend music classes |
| C．students having music classes are better in all courses |
| D．music plays an important role in students’ academic success |
| A．Different cultures have different styles of music. |
| B．Music makes cross-country communication possible. |
| C．Japan has a good international relationship with America. |
| D．Japanese and American students are good at playing the piano. |
| A．Music education in schools | B．How to get music back? |
| C．Music—a bridge to understanding | D．The importance of listening to music |
1. What was Andrew like at the concert?
| A．Nervous. | B．Calm. | C．Excited. |
| A．He didn’t make any mistakes. | B．He made some little mistakes. |
| C．He made a lot of mistakes. | |
| A．Pretty sad. | B．A little worried. | C．Quite glad. |
3 . Strangely enough, music is no fun at all for some people. About four percent of the population is what scientists call "amusic", People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes. Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.
As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music set them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. "I used to hate parties," says Margaret, a seventy-year- old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic.
By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.
Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn't involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see certain colors.
Many amusics are happy when their condition is final diagnosed. For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. "When people invite me to a concert, I just say, No, thanks, I am amusic',"says Margaret. "I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy. "
1. Amusics have the following characteristics except that___________| A．they are born without the ability to recognize musical notes |
| B．they hate music and often keep off places where there is music |
| C．they are set apart from others as they fail to enjoy music |
| D．they prefer to make metal noise rather than listen to music |
| A．By sorting documents and data. |
| B．By studying people with amusic |
| C．By making a lot of experiments. |
| D．By drawing on research results of others. |
| A．detective. |
| B．acute. |
| C．imperfect. |
| D．artificial. |
| A．she were seventeen years old rather than seventy |
| B．she hadn't felt embarrassed about her problem |
| C．her problem with music had been diagnosed earlier |
| D．there could be a better name for her condition |
4 . What’s it like to become a music star with millions of fans? These young artists know the feeling. Over the course of their short careers, they have attracted the attention of the biggest stars in the world and taken home prizes from major shows. For now they’re just kids that everyone in music is watching. Check out the next generation of stars below.
FIFTH HARMONY
The 1990s was a brilliant period for girl groups. But after that few groups have been able to make much of an influence. This doesn’t seem to bother Fifth Harmony, who landed the biggest hit of their career in 2016 with “Work from Home”, a pop song that encourages everyone to ask for leave more often. When it climbed to No.4 on the Billboard Hot100, it was the first time that a girl group had entered the top 5 in the past ten years.
LORDE
It’s been four years since the release of Born Heroine ---- the hot selling CD that made her a 16-year-old global sensation and the spokeswoman for a new generation of smart, strong-minded, creative female pop artists. She contributed to The Hunger Games soundtrack (插曲) in 2014, and for this time setting foot in Hollywood production also brought her more opportunities in her following career.
TROYE SIVAN
You might recognize the rising star Troye Sivan from YouTube, where he’s been uploading videos since he was 12 and his channel already has millions of fans, or from the movies, where he played the role of young Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
1. What does the underlined “it” mean in the second paragraph?| A．The girl group. | B．The pop song “Work from Home”. |
| C．The girl group’s career. | D．Fifth Harmony. |
| A．Fifth Harmony. | B．Lorde. | C．Troye Sivan. | D．None. |
| A．Billboard is a price list of singers’ albums and YouTube is a TV station. |
| B．Billboard is a price list of singers’ albums and YouTube is a video website. |
| C．Billboard is a ranking(分等) list of pop songs and YouTube is a video website. |
| D．Billboard is a ranking list of pop songs and YouTube is a TV station. |
