3 . Music has existed since the beginning of time. People have always sung songs, danced to music, and played musical instruments together.     1    , yet it’s often taken for granted. In this text, we’ll explore why music is important and how it can be used in various ways to help improve our lives.

First of all, music has no borders or boundaries(界线).     2    , so it’s easy for us with our differences to find common ground. Besides, it also helps us understand different cultures better by exposing(让……接触) listeners to music from other countries.

    3    . There’s nothing quite like putting on your favorite song when you feel stressed. Studies have shown that listening to music can help reduce stress levels. When we listen to music, our brain releases(释放) dopamine, which helps control our mood.

What’s more, it has been proven that music plays a key role in brain development. This is because it helps with the development of language, motor skills, and emotional intelligence.     4    . It’s been found that music can help you remember things better by connecting them with familiar or meaningful pieces of music.

There’s nothing worse than being nervous before a big event or performance.     5    . Luckily for us, listening to music can help us with that too. As mentioned earlier, music can be great at helping you relax, so using it to calm your nerves before you undertake something stressful can be hugely beneficial.

A．Music is a necessary part of our lives

B．Music brings various communities closer

C．Music also has a positive effect on our memory

D．It really can leave us feeling worried and frightened

E．Music is a perfect way to help you relax and reduce your stress

F．It’s a universal language that connects people all over the world

G．The way music affects the brain is through a process called entertainment

5 . Rock and roll music developed in the United States in the early nineteen-fifties. It was based on the music called rhythm and blues that was performed by African American musicians.

Early rock and roll singers developed their own kinds of music. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan were the most popular rock and roll musicians in the early 1960s. All were American. Then, in 1964, a new rock and roll group from England invaded America: the Beatles.

Some people say the Beatles’ shook America like an earthquake. The Beatles changed rock and roll forever. Their early songs were influenced by American rock and roll musicians, including Chuck Berry. But the Beatles looked different and sounded different from many musical group before them.

The Beatles released their first album in the United States in 1964, when all of the top five records in America were by the Beatles. America were by the Beatles. In 1967 they released an album called “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” It was one of the first “concept” albums. That is, all the songs were linked by a common story or idea.

By the 1970s, rock and roll music became known as rock music. Experts say rock music regained some of the energy of early rock and roll. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band became popular with their album “Born to Run”. Springsteen’s music was like the lively rock and roll music of the early nineteen-sixties. Many of his songs were about social issues. He sang about the effects of unemployment and the war in Vietnam.

1. The main topic of this passage is ________.

A．the history of American music	B．the development of rock and roll music
C．the famous rock and roll groups	D．the new forms of rock and roll music

2. What does “the Beatles’ music shook America like an earthquake” mean?

A．The Beatle’s music was as violent as an earthquake in America.

B．The Beatles looked differently because an earthquake hit America.

C．The Beatle’s music had great effect on the rock and roll music in America.

D．The Beatle’s music were greatly influenced by American rock and roll music.

3. Whose songs were mainly about social problems like unemployment and war?

A．Elvis Presley’s.

B．Bob Dylan’s.

C．Chuck Berry’s.

D．Springsteen’s.

4. From the passage, we can know that ________.

A．one of the Rolling Stones’ albums was called “concept”

B．all of the top five records in America were by the Beatles in 1964

C．the Rolling Stones was the only band that became popular in America

D．all the most popular rock and roll musicians in the 1960s were American

6 . How similar are language and music?

Language is part of our daily lives, no matter where we live in the world.     1     Both language and music play a huge role in our culture and here are some of their similarities.

Both language and music have a writing system.

In English we record language using the alphabet, which is a collection of letters. Similarly, we use notes (音符) to keep a record of music. Musicians read notes and create meaning in the form of music.     2     By writing pieces of text or music, we are able to share experiences through time. We can read the ideas or hear the composition (作品) of someone who lived hundreds of years ago.

    3    

You can make a good guess at where someone is from by listening to the language he uses. In the same way, we know that styles of music are different around the world, giving us the opportunity to explore many different cultures through their music and providing us with music for every situation.

Both share emotion.

    4     Of course you may be able to see it in my face, but you will know for sure through my words. Similarly, music can sound angry, sad or happy. Music can show you exactly how the composer was or is feeling, and allows us to share that emotion. When you feel happy, you might want to sing and dance to a happy song to celebrate your happiness.     5     I think we have all used music to express or process our emotions, often combining it with language in the form of song lyrics (歌词).

A．Both are expressive.

B．Both vary with culture.

C．How do you know that I am angry?

D．We use language to express our thoughts.

E．Similarly, music is part of many people’s lives.

F．So just as you read English, you can read music.

G．In contrast, you probably also listen to sad music when you are feeling down.

9 . 假定你是李华，上周你校举办了中国古典音乐演奏会。请你为校英文报写一篇报道，内容包括：
1.时间和地点；
2.演奏内容；
3.音乐会反响。
注意：词数应为80左右。

A Chinese Classical Music Concert

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Music is an international language. The songs that are sung or played by instruments are beautiful to all people everywhere.

Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers (扬声器) and play the music loud as they drive on the street.

Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, politics, and activities of the American people. But most of the radio broadcast is music.

Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state. Once the popular singer is heard throughout the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.

Besides pop music, there are two other kinds of music that is important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. The other is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music.

Serious music for the concert halls is called classical music. Music for instruments is called orchestra music, such as the symphonies (交响乐) of Beethoven.There is opera for singers, ballet for dancers like the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai in China.

1. In what way can music be regarded as an international language?

A．Popular music is what everyone enjoys.

B．The wonderful songs are popular with the world people.

C．When music is played, it seems as if it were speaking to us.

D．Music is too popular for everyone to be able to play it.

2. What can we know about music and people in America?

A．Adult drivers listen to news as well as music when they drive to work.

B．Adult drivers never listen to music when they drive to work.

C．Student drivers carry small radios with earphones when they drive on the streets.

D．Students always listen to music before class, in class and after class.

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．All people in America like popular music.

B．Pop singers can get all the money from the tapes.

C．Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is a kind of pop music in China.

D．Now, western or country music is a little different from its beginning.

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．International language

B．Music in America

C．Pop music

D．Music listeners