1 . The “Got Talent” crew is one of the pioneers in finding and publicizing music talents and has been giving the world some of its most favorite artists for almost two decades. This year “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) uncovered a musical genius named Malakai Bayoh who amazed the audience with perfect high-note singing. The London-based 13-year-old boy appeared for the show’s audition (试镜) in April, 2023 and was accompanied by his mom and sister. “My big dream is to be a singer. I started singing at 7,” said Bayoh to the BGT team and added jokingly, “My mom made me join the choir (合唱团) because she’s very bossy.” The teenager mentioned she’s his biggest fan.
Bayoh’s mom was shocked as he was about to perform and said, “It scares me because, on his first show, somebody heckled (对……起哄) him. It was bad to think that someone would boo (喝倒彩) a child on stage because it could’ve knocked his confidence completely.” Contrary to his mom’s fear, Bayoh set the stage on fire singing the song “Pie Jesu” and the entire crowd were struck by his beautiful voice. As he ended his song, the audience and the judges gave him a standing applause. Simon Cowell, a judge, had just one word to say and it was “Golden Buzzer”, sending him straight to the semi-finals of the show.
Cowell and the other judges called Bayoh’s performance “flawless” and “heavenly”. His angelic voice made the audience tear up and the judges thanked the teen for coming on the show. Bayoh went on to become one of the finalists of the show.
Bayoh’s audition at the BGT became popular on social media. People loved the boy’s impeccable singing and some musicians even commented on how perfectly he hit the high notes. “I’m a trained singer and a music teacher by profession, and sang this song as a young performer myself. I can say with absolute certainty that this song is most beautifully sung this time. With proper technique and breathing, this boy sang really well,” posted @mayacorinne878.
1. What can be learned about Bayoh from paragraph 2?| A．He comes from a single-parent family. | B．He is humorous in speech. |
| C．His dream was inspired by his fans. | D．His mom used to be a singer. |
| A．Bayoh’s difficulty in singing. | B．The judges’ attitudes to his son. |
| C．Bayoh’s performance on stage. | D．Some audiences’ initial responses. |
| A．Touched. | B．Annoyed. | C．Relieved. | D．Amused. |
| A．To uncover more musical geniuses. | B．To show musicians’ ability to sing well. |
| C．To stress Bayoh’s excellent singing. | D．To contradict some audiences’ comments. |
2 . You have probably heard of the Mozart effect. It’s the idea that if children or even babies listen to music composed by Mozart, they will become more intelligent. A quick Internet search reveals (透露) plenty of products to help you in the task. Whatever your age there are CDs and books to help you taste the power of Mozart’s music, but when it comes to scientific evidence that it can make you more clever, the picture is more mixed.
The phrase “the Mozart effect” was made up in 1991, but it was a study described two years later in the journal Nature that sparked (引发) real media and public interest about the idea that listening to classical music somehow improves the brain. It is one of those ideas that sound reasonable. Mozart was undoubtedly a genius himself; his music is complex and there is a hope that if we listen to enough of it, we’ll become more intelligent.
The idea took off, with thousands of parents playing Mozart to their children, and in 1998 Zell Miller, the Governor of the state of Georgia in the US, even asked for money to be set aside in the state budget so that every newborn baby could be sent a CD of classical music. It was not just babies and children who were exposed to Mozart’s music on purpose, even an Italian farmer proudly explained that the cows were played Mozart three times a day to help them to produce better milk.
I’ll leave the debate on the effect on milk yield to farmers, but what about the evidence that listening to Mozart makes people more intelligent? More research was carried out but an analysis of sixteen different studies proved that listening to music does lead to a temporary improvement in the ability to handle shapes mentally, but the benefits are short-lived and it doesn’t make us more intelligent.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?| A．Mozart composed many musical pieces for children. |
| B．Children listening to Mozart will be more intelligent. |
| C．There is little scientific evidence to support Mozart effect. |
| D．There are few products on the Internet about Mozart’s music. |
| A．the idea was accepted by many people | B．people were strongly against the idea |
| C．the US government helped support the idea | D．Mozart played an important part in people’s life |
| A．people will become more clever if they listen to Mozart’s music again and again |
| B．listening to Mozart’s music can bring us benefits constantly |
| C．we can get some benefits from listening to Mozart’s music |
| D．the author is positive about Mozart’s effect |
| A．To Be or Not to Be? | B．What Music Is Beneficial? |
| C．What Is the Mozart Effect? | D．Listening to Mozart, Necessary? |
3 . Humans aren’t the only animals that move to music. Parrots have been known to do it. And now rats have been observed moving their heads in time with the tunes of Mozart, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson and others, according to a new paper from the University of Tokyo. What’s more, the rats seems to respond (回应) to the same beats that get humans’ feet tapping (轻踩).
The researchers played a sonata by Mozart for lab rats at different changes of the original speed: 75%, 100%, 200% and 400%. Wireless sensors (感应器) on the rats, bodies tracked their movements. Meanwhile, 20 people took part in it and listened to the same music through motion sensor- equipped headphones.
It was observed that the rats’ head movements were the most obvious when the music played at its normal speed, which was around 132 bpm (beats per minute). The same was true for the people taking part in it. The researchers then changed to some pop songs such as Lady Gaga’s “Bora This Way” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”，As with Mozart’s, rats moved their heads along the rhythm (节奏) of pop songs, similar to how people do, at about 120 to 140 bpm.
The study showed that both rats and humane moved their heads along to the beat in a similar rhythm. The level of head moving from both humans and rats decreased as the music sped up. The study suggests that there is something similar about the way human and rat brains respond to rhythm, but rats do not match their motions to the beat like humans do. Humans can tell the timing of a beat in advance and move predictably to it.
Aniruddh Patel, a psychologist who studies brain response to music, says humans and parrots respond to beats with big, voluntary movements such as head shaking, dancing or foot tapping. Patel also stresses that this study does not show that rats have the same emotional associations with music as humans do. Yet he believes it could help show how humans and some other animals developed a sense of rhythm.
1. What does the study focus on?| A．How music influences rats’ brains. |
| B．Whether rats can respond to human music. |
| C．Which types of music is attractive to rats. |
| D．Why rats respond to music like human do. |
| A．75 bpm. | B．100 bpm. | C．132 bpm. | D．150 bpm. |
| A．They seem more interested in pop music. |
| B．They are unable to tell the beat of music in advance. |
| C．They prefer moving their heads with the beat of music. |
| D．They make similar movements to different rhythms. |
| A．Positive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Uncaring. | D．Negative. |
4 . Benefits of attending a concert
There are more reasons than just having a good time why attending a concert can be good for you.
You’ll burn calories
Most concerts involve a lot of standing, jumping and dancing, which can help you to burn calories that you would otherwise hold onto. Attending a concert may not be the most direct form of exercise, but it’s definitely better than sitting on the couch watching TV.
Raise your spirits
Discover new sounds
Most bands will offer an opening act or two to get the crowd excited and on their feet.
If you are still debating whether or not to purchase a ticket that may seem like a large expense, consider the alternative.
| A．These acts may be bands or persons you have never heard of. |
| B．It’s a great way to appreciate the concert that you are dying to see. |
| C．Attending a concert is a fun activity which can help boost your emotions. |
| D．Even the walk from the parking lot to the concert can burn some calories. |
| E．A concert is a great opportunity to be surrounded by people in a safe area. |
| F．You can enjoy all the benefits above or spend another night watching TV. |
| G．If you’re thinking about purchasing a ticket, consider the following reasons. |
5 . Pandamen, Mur cat, old ladies who argue with each other…These are memes (表情包) we often use. But two young women have turned these fun memes into dance moves. They’ve gained about 800,000 fans and millions of views with their exaggerated (夸张的) and funny performances. Asuan, 26, and Lidawang, 29, were graduate students at Beijing Dance Academy when they first made funny dance videos together in 2020. As Asuan majored in Character Dance in Ballet and European Court Dance (芭蕾性格舞种欧洲宫廷舞) and Lidawang majored in Chinese Classical Dance, they wanted to create something different from the formal stage performances that they had learned in school.
“We gradually found our own styles---funny moves, simple stories and catchy (朗朗上口的) music. Whether the inspiration comes from memes, animation (动画), comics, games or daily life, we take the clips (片段) of young people’s pop culture and recreate them,” said Lidawang.
However, being funny doesn’t mean that they can be messy with their dance moves. Memes grow in popularity because of their expressiveness, and reproducing that expressiveness through dance can be very challenging. It usually takes them one to six months to create a two-minute dance video. To improve their moves, they will record their rehearsals (排练) and then look at their moves over and over. Asuan even made a teaching video for one of their most popular dances---the Yellow Alien---based on a meme which came from the Spanish song Dame Tu Cosita. She figured out the secrets of imitating (模仿) the alien---the relaxed shoulder, the deep squat (深蹲) move and the surprised-but-naive eyes. As many fans send them “homework” videos, their meme dances are becoming new memes themselves too. “The nature of dance is to express and communicate. What we communicate and pass on to others is happiness and entertainment.” said Lidawang.
“We’re happy to call ourselves comedians (喜剧演员) in the world of dance.” added Asuan.
1. Why did Asuan and Lidawang start creating dance videos?| A．To promote pop culture. | B．To complete their graduate project. |
| C．To produce something innovative. | D．To introduce formal stage performances. |
| A．Finding the right music. | B．Integrating memes into dance videos. |
| C．Showing meme-like expressiveness. | D．Ensuring their dance moves are not messy. |
| A．It is difficult to create a dance video. |
| B．Asuan and Lidawang take their creation seriously. |
| C．Asuan and Lidawang enjoy watching their own practices. |
| D．Their dance videos are usually about two minutes long. |
| A．Dramatic and informative. | B．Emotional and touching. |
| C．Educational and serious. | D．Entertaining and original. |
6 . Amazing Benefits of Listening to Music
If you love listening to music, you’re in good company. Recent research shows that listening to music improves our mental and physical health.
Music makes you happier.
When you listen to music, your brain produces a special substance called dopamine (多巴胺). It causes listeners to feel emotions like happiness, excitement and joy. So next time you need an emotional increase, listen to your favorite tunes for 15 minutes.
Music lowers stress and improves health.
Music reduces depression.
More than 350 million people suffer from depression around the world. Music can benefit depressive patients, depending on the type of music.
Softening the lighting and music can lead people to eat fewer calories and enjoy their meals better. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your appetite (食欲), try dimming the lights and listening to soft music next time you sit down for a meal.
Music raises IQ and school performance.
Taking music lessons predicts higher school performance and IQ in young children. In one study, children who took singing lessons had learned better than children who took other lessons unrelated to music. If you want to help your children achieve excellence in their studies, you can let them take music lessons.
| A．Music helps you eat less. |
| B．Music gives you hope and confidence. |
| C．Classical and relaxing music lifts people up. |
| D．Here are some amazing benefits of being attracted by music. |
| E．Listening to music you enjoy reduces the stress in your body. |
| F．Or you can encourage them to sing or learn to play an instrument. |
| G．Musical training can help raise our IQs and even keep us sharp in young age. |
7 . For over a decade, Zubin Kanga, a pianist, composer and technologist, has changed the limits of the forms of musical performances. He has both organized and performed shows that have pushed barriers, with motion sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), live-generated 3D visuals and virtual reality among the technological advancements used to unlock new possibilities of music and performances.
Kanga’s approach to employing cutting-edge technology was first informed by the relative limitations of his chosen instrument. “The piano is a very accurate technology,” he says. “From the early 20th century till now it hasn’t really changed at all. It’s an amazing instrument, but it does have certain limitations in terms of the types of sound you can create.”
One of the early works is Steel on Bone, composed by Kanga himself. He performs the piece using MiMU multi-sensor gloves. “I can put up one finger, and that’ll produce a particular sound,” Kanga explains. “And then I can control that sound just by moving my wrist through the air — I can do that with lots of different gestures.”
“For Steel on Bone, I’m actually playing inside the piano with these steel knitting (编织) needles, and getting all these interesting effects on the strings. Then I’m using samples of them. Sometimes I’m using live delays and operating them. The sound can change depending on how my hands are moving. It allows me to make a very theatrical piece, and people can see this immediate connection between how I’m moving — these very big, almost conductor-like gestures through the air — and the way the sound is changing,” said Kanga.
This is just the start, and Kanga goes on to be enthused with the use of motion sensors to make music, the possibilities that AI offers composers as a tool, and how virtual reality could transform performances and more.
1. What do technological advancements do for music and performances?| A．Remove music barriers. |
| B．Bring new performance forms. |
| C．Popularize musical performances. |
| D．Make performances professional. |
| A．To indicate its stability. |
| B．To prove its rare accuracy. |
| C．To show it has a long history. |
| D．To clarify why he uses technology. |
| A．By moving his hands in the air. | B．By pressing the piano keys. |
| C．By beating the steel knitting needles. | D．By making very small gestures. |
| A．Technology: When It Replaces Music |
| B．Virtual Reality: Future of Performances |
| C．Zubin Kanga: When Music Meets Technology |
| D．AI Music: From Composing to Performing |
8 . 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 (积极的) to do. In a music program, children can be part of a band. 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 practice performing in front of audiences. Music gives children an opportunity for self-ex pression, 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 characters. That is why music should be offered in every single grade in every school.
1. How could music make students smarter?| A．By improving their memory and attention. |
| B．By improving their classroom skills and imagination. |
| C．By making them brave, knowledgeable and modest. |
| D．By learning music, making music and trying out their own ideas. |
| A．Unwilling to turn on. | B．Always turning off. | C．Unwilling to leave. | D．Always hating. |
| A．Music brings children success. | B．Music gives children self-expression. |
| C．Music helps children achieve their dream. | D．Music develops children’s self-confidence. |
| A．Music Is a Must as a Course at School | B．Music Builds Children’s Self-confidence |
| C．Music Makes Students Much Smarter | D．Learning Music Is Very Important |
9 . There will be four concerts that are worth expecting this year. Tickets for each concert are just $59. 95 per person when you order all four events. Here is the complete show information for each concert.
Dean Z-The Ultimate Elvis
August 12-15, 2023
Ticket price: $65. 59
Dean Z is the ultimate Elvis! When Dean was three, “This Is Elvis” was being broadcast on television. He immediately jumped on the coffee table and started imitating Presley’s every move. His newest show, Dean Z-The Ultimate Elvis, is the high point of a life-long career paying tribute (致敬) to the man who will always be known as the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley!
December’ 63
August 19-22, 2023
Ticket price: $70. 39
The music of Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons comes to life in this unique concert experience. December’ 63 shows favorite songs from Frankie Valli that have been exciting audiences for decades. This recreation (重现) of a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons concert will have you reaching for the high notes as our performers take you on a musical journey with stops at every phase of their careers!
Piano Men: Generations
August 26-29, 2023
Ticket price: $69. 95
Don’t miss the return of last season’s most popular concert! The amazing father and son team of Terry and Nick Davies celebrate the musical influences of Billy Joel and Elton John. Not only have Billy and Elton written and performed music that has been spread for four decades, but also seated themselves behind the piano! Join Terry and Nick and their incredible band on this journey through their long, successful careers.
Rockin’ Out With Steve Watts
September 9-19, 2023
Ticket price: $73. 69
Fireside favorite Steve Watts and members of the popular Fireside Band bring you a fast-paced, heart pounding concert of Rock and Roll classics to the Fireside stage for two weekends. Steve and the band will play some of his particular favorites from the 1960’s through today including such artists as Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, The Beatles and many more!
1. How much will you pay for each concert when you order all four events?| A．$59. 95. |
| B．$65. 59 |
| C．$70. 39 |
| D．$69. 95 |
| A．Dean Z-The Ultimate Elvis. |
| B．December’ 63. |
| C．Piano Men: Generations. |
| D．Rockin’ Out With Steve Watts. |
| A．All the concerts will be held in August. |
| B．All the concerts will be broadcast on television. |
| C．All the performers will sing Rock and Roll. |
| D．All the concerts will have old songs worth remembering. |
10 . Throughout history, music spread among people of different cultures. In today’s technological advanced society, however, people spread music online, sometimes without an artist’s permission. This can lead to many problems, and music companies are now cracking down on this practice. Sharing music online without permission is theft.
Sharing music online prevents recording companies from making money from their efforts. They say that sharing music online has resulted in a huge drop in profits and sales over the past 10 years. People who find music for free online are not paying for CDs or every piece of music downloaded. To truly understand the influence of music piracy (盗版行为) on creators, one must understand how many people are involved in the recording process. For the sale of each album, profits must be shared among musicians, sound engineers, music producers, managers, advertisers, and the company selling the product. Many people believe sharing music only affects the recording artist, but the reality is that sharing hurts business for all companies involved.
There are many people who don’t see the harm in sharing music online and even think they have the right to do it. One online blogger states that he originally paid for an entire CD and that he should be able to do with the material whatever he wants. While he may have legally paid for the music, he does not have the right to share it without permission, which means people like the blogger are thieves.
Although we don’t spread music the same way we did before, there’s no doubt that people around the world love to share music. However, Internet piracy will prevent musicians from continuing producing albums for fear of theft. Therefore, if people want to continue listening to their favorite artists, they need to buy their music so that artists will make enough profits to continue their music careers.
1. What does the underlined phrase “cracking down on” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?| A．Bringing up carefully. |
| B．Speaking highly of. |
| C．Dealing seriously with. |
| D．Destroying completely. |
| A．All bloggers are acting like thieves. |
| B．Once paying for a CD, you can treat it at will. |
| C．Many people have difficulty understanding CDs. |
| D．People who share music online without permission can be called thieves. |
| A．Sharing music online affects a lot of people. |
| B．Artists are taking action to protect their right. |
| C．Sharing music online increases sales of music CDs. |
| D．A person who buys a CD has the right to share it online with others. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Favorable. | C．Disapproval. | D．Skeptical. |
