1 . The arts, especially music, should be part of every school’s lessons at every grade level. Students would be much smarter if they had some musical experience. They could improve their classroom skills, like paying attention and following directions. People develop all these skills when they learn music. Making music also lets children use their imagination. It provides students with a chance to try out their own ideas.

Music not only makes children better students, but also gives them something positive to do. In a music programme, children can be part of a band instead of joining a gang (团伙). Parents can enjoy listening to their children’s music instead of seeing them glued to a computer or TV screen. In a school band, students get to be part of a team. They can get along well with old friends and make new friends through music.

Music builds self-confidence, too. It gives children a sense of achievement and success. Making music is something for them to be proud of, and it lets kids practise performing in front of the audience. Music gives children an opportunity for self-expression, and that helps develop their self-confidence.

Once again, music is important because it can make children better students, give them something positive to do, and build their character. That is why music lessons should be offered in every single grade in every school.

5 . Diana Ross, American pop singer and actress, achieved international popularity, first as the leader singer of the Supremes and later as solo (独唱的) artist. Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. She was the second of six children of Fred and Ernestine Ross, who lived in one of Detroit’s poor districts. Because her family were closely connected with each other, Ross almost didn’t notice the difficult life as she grew up.

Ross’ professional career began in 1959, when she joined several neighborhood friends to form the Primettes. The group was renamed the Supremes after signing a recording contract (合同) with Motown late the following year. The group produced many number-one hit singles (热门单曲) on the US Billboard Hot 100, including Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love and Someday We’ll Be Together. In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, foreshadowing (预示) Ross’ solo career, which she started in 1970.

Beginning with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough from her first solo album, Ross enjoyed more than ten years of great success with her hit singles. Ross also developed a film-acting career in the 1970s, beginning with a starring role as blues singer Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues and continuing with Mahogany, for which she also recorded the theme song Do You Know Where You’re Going To.

However, in the mid-1980s, Ross saw her career begin to wane. Most of her albums were re-recordings of earlier material. In 2006, she produced I Love You, a collection of love songs by many artists, and she started an energetic concert tour the following year to make the album publicly known. Although you can’t find her songs on the US Billboard Hot 100 now, Ross remains popular as one of the leading musical performers of all time.

Israeli singer-songwriter Gilad Segev has devoted himself     1     an ambitious project to present different views of China through music, because of his love for the country. In June 2020, he launched Project 34, through    2     he will release a song for each of the 34 provincial-level regions in China every month.     3     (combine) Chinese music and global folk music, he     4     (post) 17 videos so far on social media platforms, gaining millions of views.

“My     5     (inspire) for the project was the great beauty I discovered in China’ s culture, landscapes, and more.     6     (important), the hearts of Chinese people.” says Segev. He calls     7     (he) a “passer-by” — a traveling artist who tells stories from his encounters with people from various cultures,through music.

Over the past decade, the award-winning musician has travelled to most of the 34 provincial-level regions, and plans to go to     8     rest when travel is not restricted by the COVID- 19 pandemic.

For each music video, he cooperates actively with a Chinese singer or musician, to include characteristics from their own home region. He and his team have listened to various types of Chinese music    9     (figure) out what suitable elements can be used in his works. “I believe when all of our voices    10     (hear) together, true harmony can happen, ” Segev says.

I enjoy listen to music. It helps me calm down after an busy day. I like many different types of music, such for rock, R&B and so on. Last year I went to a pop festival with some friends. It lasted for three days. So we decided camp on a field. The weather was awful and it rain all day. We were totally wet! Although the weather was bad, but the concert continued and the music was great. I particular enjoyed some of the supporting band. I found them performing better than the main stars. It was probably because the concert was their great opportunity to have their music hear. And that was great for them to get cheered by music fans.

Square dancing is a well-known recreational group activity in China. It     1     (start) to gain popularity in the mid-1990s when groups gathered at squares, parks, and other open spaces     2     (dance) in the mornings and evenings. Most of these     3     (individual) are senior citizens in search of new friends and activities to keep themselves     4     (occupy). It’s about more than just dancing; it’s a way about meeting new friends and sharing their life stories,     5     benefits them both mentally and physically.

Ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, when authorities launched the     6     (promote) of national fitness activities, square dancing became     7     (popular) than before. According to official statistics, there are presently over 120 million Chinese who regularly take part in this activity across the nation’s squares. And most participants are content     8     their current living conditions.

    9    , loud music played during square dancing was considered as terrible noises. In recent years, national standards and regulations     10     (introduce) to make the exercising more public-friendly and further ensure its sound development.