1 . While the arts can’t stop the COVID-19 virus or the social unrest we see in the world today, they can give us insight into the choices we make when moving through crises and chaos. The arts invite everyone to think in new ways.
We often experience works of art as something that’s pleasing to our senses without a full understanding of the creative effort. Great art often shows us contradictions and crises, and we can learn a great deal from their resolutions. Through our understanding of art, we can gain a deeper understanding of how we might overcome our own challenges. In understanding extremes of contrast, we can see the beauty in art with themes that are not simply pleasing for their magnificent features or qualities.
Beethoven offers a wonderful example of moving artfully through crises and chaos. He composed his Symphony No.9 as his hearing loss became more and more pronounced. The opening of the symphony seems to come out of nowhere, from near silence in the opening to a full expression of what many consider to be the joy of freedom and universal brotherhood with Schiller’s Ode to joy (欢乐颂). Beethoven appears to have created a work of art that not only freed him from his personal struggles, but one that also speaks to the joy of living together in peace and harmony.
Have a dialogue between the two opposing parts and you will find that they always start out fighting each other until we come to an appreciation of difference—a oneness of the two opposing forces. The arts offer many lessons that can help us gain the knowledge we need to move more confidently in today’s competitive and uncertain environment. An openness to arts-based solutions will give you more control over your future.
1. What value does art have beyond pleasing people’s senses?| A．It brings people inner peace. | B．It contributes to problem-solving. |
| C．It reduces the possibility of crises. | D．It deepens understanding of challenges. |
| A．It celebrates freedom and unity. | B．It aims to show crises and chaos. |
| C．It opens with Schiller’s Ode to Joy. | D．It is unfinished due to his hearing loss. |
| A．Leaving things as they are. | B．Making a choice between them. |
| C．Separating them from each other. | D．Engaging them in a conversation. |
| A．How COVID-19 changes art | B．Moving artfully through crises |
| C．Essentials of Symphony No.9 | D．How to appreciate arts in new ways |
2 . It was a moment carved in her memory. When Liu Jing played the suite of Dream of the Red Chamber, which is based on a novel of the same title written by Cao Xueqin during the Qing Dynasty, in the University of Cambridge as a member of a Chinese ensemble in 2011, something strange happened. As she played A Lovesick Knitted Brow in Vain, which describes the failed love story between two main characters Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu in the novel, an old woman who sat in the first row of the audience burst into tears.
She was curious and asked the woman, at the end of the performance, if she had read the novel. The woman said: “No, but I just felt the melody touched me very much when it was created by your Chinese instrument.”
The experience was one of the inspirations that urged Liu to promote traditional Chinese music and instruments. Many years later, Liu, who is in her thirties now, has shared a series of original music videos featuring traditional Chinese stories and created by Chinese instruments, with her online name Liu Qingyao. They have become hugely popular.
According to Liu, the frequent performances and competitions sharpened her pipa-playing skills. “From grade four at primary school to senior high school, I often completed my homework on my way to other countries during many weekends and vacations,” said Liu.
“In the future, I want to cooperate with more museums, and try to tell the stories of cultural relics in my musical works, so that people enjoy the beauty of both Chinese music and cultural relics, and appreciate Chinese culture,” said Liu.
1. Why did the old woman burst into tears during Liu Jing’s performance?| A．She was moved by the melody. | B．She was saddened by the love story. |
| C．The performance was heartbreaking. | D．The performance was touching. |
| A．She wants to promote traditional Chinese literature. |
| B．She is keen on traditional Chinese music and culture. |
| C．The music videos that she shares online are rarely created by herself. |
| D．She benefited little from her frequent performances and competitions. |
| A．Traditional Chinese instruments | B．Chinese stories |
| C．Music videos created by Liu Jing | D．Chinese cultural relics |
| A．The importance of learning traditional Chinese culture. |
| B．The melody of Chinese cultural relics. |
| C．Liu Jing: A girl of imagination |
| D．Tips on promoting traditional Chinese music and instruments. |
3 . Too much stress can make it more likely for a person to get sick, and so scientists are trying to think of ways to keep people from being overly stressed. In this experiment, scientists studied the effect of music on stress.
Scientists asked women to either listen to relaxing music, nature sounds, or to nothing. Following the music session, they had the women stand in front of an audience and perform two tasks. First, each woman had to give a speech. Second, each woman had to do complex math in her head. These two tasks make up the Trier Social Stress Task, a method scientists use as a sure-fire way to make people feel stressed.
Scientists know that the body responds to stress by releasing cortisol (皮质醇), and so they used it to measure stress. Scientists compared cortisol levels after listening to music and at various times after doing the Trier Social Stress Task. The scientists also measured an enzyme (酶) called alpha-amylase. Alpha-amylase is important to your body as it kills unwanted bacteria and it helps break down the food that you eat. Alpha-amylase is also released by the nervous system in response to stress.
The scientists tested how classical music and nature sounds affect levels of cortisol and alpha-amylase. The alpha-amylase levels of people who listened to classical music went back to normal more quickly compared to the people listening to nature sounds.
The people listening to relaxing music showed a stress response that was shorter compared to the other groups. The shorter response helps to prevent the body from getting worn out. This means that listening to relaxing music might help to improve the stress response and health.
The results of this study were a bit mixed. Scientists still have a lot of work to do to see if listening to music can reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels in the body. Until we know more, maybe play some tunes or listen to some nature sounds when you feel stressed. Even if it doesn't directly help your stress level, it's still nice to hear a good song.
1. Why were the participants asked to do make speeches and do math?| A．To attract more audience. | B．To let them create music. |
| C．To explore their brains. | D．To get them stressed. |
| A．They broke down the food they ate. |
| B．They measured their cortisol levels. |
| C．They helped them kill body bacteria. |
| D．They calmed them down with music. |
| A．Classical music helps to prohibit alpha-amylase. |
| B．Nature sounds prevent the body getting worn out. |
| C．Relaxing music helps the body clam down faster. |
| D．Listening to nature sounds gets cortisol levels higher. |
| A．Does Listening to Music Reduce Stress? |
| B．What Should We Do to Become Relaxed? |
| C．Can Classical Music Beat Nature Sounds? |
| D．Why Can Music Influence People's Health? |
4 . Because of COVID-19, in many places, large gatherings of people aren’t allowed. In some areas, the rules are more strict, and people aren't allowed to leave their homes unless going out is absolutely necessary.
These steps are very important for slowing the disease down. By doing this, governments can make sure doctors and hospitals are better able to deal with all the sick people, and that fewer people suffer in all. Usually, it's called “flattening the curve”.
But if no one can go out, that means businesses which depend on visitors struggle. Many singers, bands, and other musicians would normally be giving concerts now. Instead, they have to find new ways to share their music and connect with their audiences. The Metropolitan Opera in New York has canceled(取消) its season, but it is showing a special live stream of a different opera each day on its website. Other opera companies have made similar moves. Several theater companies are either offering recorded versions of their plays online or posting videos of their actors performing.
Nick Green wrote a musical play that was canceled because of the virus. He set up a website with links that allow people to enjoy the work of artists around the world who have had their projects canceled. He called his project the Social Distancing Festival. He sad it was a time when he should be doing something new, rather than feeling disappointed.
Even TV shows have to find new ways to film their shows. Some late night TV shows have continued, but without audiences. Others are showing reruns.
While their shows are on pause, some TV stars like Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon have been filming short videos at home. Mr. O’ Brien plans to bring his show back on the air soon by filming with his own phone and talking with guests over the Internet.
1. What does the underlined phrase in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Keeping patients staying at home anytime. | B．Speed up the spread of disease. |
| C．Stopping people from often gathering up. | D．Slowing down the spread of the disease. |
| A．Stopping sharing music with audience. | B．Providing live stream services. |
| C．Trying to attract live audiences. | D．Sharing their operas with each other |
| A．Disappointment. | B．Annoyance . | C．Creativity. | D．Anxiety. |
| A．People staying at home . | B．The absence of audiences. |
| C．The efforts of Nick Green . | D．Entertainment going online . |
5 . An unlikely combination of Irish dance and hip-hop music is flying high on the Internet as a young African-American dancer combines her passions in her videos during quarantine.
With fast-paced steps on TikTok, college student Morgan Bullock, 21, has got more than l million views and the hearts of fans worldwide. “It was really unexpected and it happened really fast,” Bullock said in an interview.
Bullock has been dancing since she was 3 and began Irish dance training at the age of 10.She placed 43rd in 2019 at the World Irish Dance Championships, which has been put on hold during the quarantine.
As Morgan's videos became very popular, she faced questions about whether this style of dance is fit for her. “I haven't really had to think about my race as an Irish dancer,” she said. “At the beginning, my mom had reservations just because it was something that we had never heard of and it's not very typical for someone who looks like me to want to do Irish dancing. But after years of competing with Irish dancers across the globe, my mother rejects what others say. You wouldn't tell an English girl she can't do ballet just because she's not French. It's just a form of dance. Because Irish dance is also a dance form, it's such an amazing thing that it is something that people can enjoy all over the world without, you know, shame from the Irish dance community.”
Morgan is grateful that her dancing can educate and inspire a wider audience about Irish culture. “Growing up, I didn't really have someone to look to as an Irish dancer who really looked like me. So it's just really great that I can be that person for young girls and boys or whoever wants to do Irish dancing or do something that's a little bit out of the box for them.”
1. What can we learn about Morgan Bullock from the first two paragraphs?| A．She flew high in the sky. | B．She listened to hip-hop music. |
| C．She became very popular on the Internet. | D．She put pictures of Irish dance on the Internet. |
| A．Whether Irish dance suited her. | B．Whether she had a gift for dancing. |
| C．Whether she could win some awards. | D．Whether she could get her mom's support. |
| A．By training with other dancers. | B．By traveling around the globe. |
| C．By studying other dance forms. | D．By insisting on her dance form. |
| A．Worried. | B．Positive. | C．Doubtful | D．Disappointed. |
Dear friends,
I’m very honored to give you a speech on music.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you!
7 . Music Therapy
Music therapy (疗法) is a form of therapy which utilizes music.
Humans have been making music for thousands of years, and many doctors throughout history have proved the idea that music is beneficial to the mind and body, in addition to being enjoyable.
Some specific applications for music therapy include: pain management, stress management, behavioral therapy, treatment for substance abuse, and work with people who have developmental disabilities.
Like other expressive therapies such as art therapy and dance therapy, the focus of music therapy is not on the end product, such as a musical composition, and people do not need to have prior experience with music to benefit from this type of therapy.
| A．This type of therapy has a number of benefits. |
| B．The measures are tailored to the need of the patient. |
| C．People can practice music therapy in a variety of ways. |
| D．This type of therapy may involve making music or listening to music. |
| E．But there are still many fields of music therapy needing to be learned about. |
| F．In the 20th century, the practice of music therapy improved as researchers conducted studies to learn how music acted on the brain and body. |
| G．What is more focused on is the process of listening to, creating, or thinking about music. |
8 . Top Music Festivals
The festival season is just kicking off, and there is a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months.
Pitchfork Music Festival
Anyone who likes indie (独立的) music and up-and-coming artists will have an amazing time at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago’s Union Park. It is an indie rock heaven where you can explore more underground and lesser-known bands than at the other big Chicago summer festival, Lollapalooza.
Date: July 14-16
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Music Type: Indie rock
Price: $126-$2,700
Essence Music Festival
No matter what time of the year it is, New Orleans is an amazing place if you love live music. The Essence Music Festival is a celebration of well-known artists like Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, and Mary J. Blige.
Date: June 29-July 2
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Music Type: R& B, soul, rock
Price: $75-$365
Sziget Festival
Budapest knows how to hold a party, and Sziget is one of the biggest celebrations of music and culture in all of Europe. You can expect to find favorite artists like Bad Religion and Mac DeMarco playing here during this three-day festival.
Date: August 9-11
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Music Type: Eclectic, Indie rock
Price: $70-$296
Flow Festival
The Flow Festival is a great excuse to explore the city of Helsinki. Artists including Lana Del Rey and The XX will be playing, among many others. Come to this festival to enjoy yourselves with an earth-friendly belief.
Date: August 11-13
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Music Type: Rock, soul, jazz
Price: $106-$199
1. What do the music festivals have in common?| A．They are given in the open air. |
| B．They are held in the USA. |
| C．They include rock music. |
| D．They take place from July to August. |
| A．Essence Music Festival. |
| B．Sziget Festival. |
| C．Flow Festival. |
| D．Pitchfork Music Festival. |
| A．It has the longest cultural tradition in Europe. |
| B．It is home to many well-known bands. |
| C．It is a city of high living cost in all of Europe. |
| D．It is good at organizing parties. |
The Yangko Dance is a traditional Chinese folk dance
Before the Yangko Dance starts, the music
During the dance, the dancers are wagging their body and walking at
During the busy farming season the dancers work in the fields,
10 . If you're planning on hitting up a festival this summer, make sure you check out the latest packing guide to camping music festivals.
Quebec City Summer Festival
When: July 4-14
Where: Toronto, Quebec
300 shows, 10 places and 11 days of music make this festival one of Canada's biggest music festivals. Every year, this festival attracts over one million festivalgoers to Quebec City's historic district for concerts by international superstars and top new talents.
Center of Gravity
When: July 28-30
Where: Kelowna, British Columbia
Canada's hottest beach festival is back! Now in its 10th year, the biggest and exciting festival to hit the Okanagan includes three days packed with extreme sports, sandy beaches, and some of the biggest DJ names in the world.
Future Forest
When: August 5-7
Where: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Future Forest is an outdoor camping festival with a focus on electronic music. The festival originated in 2012 as a fundraiser for a brilliant DJ, Jay Hamilton, who was diagnosed with cancer. Future Forest proudly shows the idea that there are no audience at the event but rather participants who in some way contribute to the overall experience.
Shambhala Music Festival
When: August 9-10
Where: Salmo River Ranch, British Columbia
This is Canada's earliest electronic music festival. Cutting edge talent, lights and sound come together to give life to this event. Seeing it for yourself is the only way to understand exactly what is Shambhala.
1. What can people do in the Quebec City Summer Festival?| A．Enjoy the performances of superstars. | B．Learn about Quebec City's history. |
| C．Do some extreme sports. | D．Play on the sandy beaches. |
| A．To honor brilliant Jay Hamilton. | B．To raise money for a cancer patient. |
| C．To provide outdoor camping activities. | D．To promote electronic music. |
| A．Quebec City Summer Festival. | B．Center of Gravity. |
| C．Future Forest. | D．Shambhala Music Festival. |
