1 . It is universally believed that playing an instrument or singing in a choir may boost your brain. Generations of parents have told their children to practice their musical instruments. Parents have good reason to keep on top of their children’s musical education, since learning an instrument is not only associated with better educational achievement but also cognition (认知) and even intelligence scores in children. But does this musicality contribute to better cognition later in life?

A new study in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry investigated this question by asking middle-aged and older people to complete a questionnaire on their lifetime musical experience before completing cognitive tests. The results showed that musical people had better memory and ability to stay focused on tasks and plans than those with less or no musicality.

But how about being musical without playing an instrument? According to the study findings, singing can result in better executive (决策的) function but not memory, suggesting that playing an instrument has additional brain health benefits. Why singing would help us with our executive function is not clear and requires further investigation. However, singing has a strong social benefit when done in choirs, and there is good evidence that being involved in social activity is good for our brain health.

Playing an instrument or singing seems to have benefits to our brain health in ageing, according to the study. What is yet to be established is whether this would also help prevent future cognitive decline (下降) or dementia. The study provides no evidence for this yet and it is also not clear how the findings apply to the general population, since most people in the study were female, well-educated and well-off.

2 . La Voce Ballo (LVB) which means “the dancing voices” in Italian is an all-women show choir at Bemidji High School in Minnesota, US. Established in 2004, the group has captured many awards, including Best Choreography, Best Vocals, and Best Band. Show choir programs in Bemidji draw in over 250 students to participate every year.

Walking into the choir room during an LVB rehearsal (排练), you’d surely feel an atmosphere full of laughter, smiles and warm-ups. One of the marked differences between LVB and the other choirs, Director Emily Paine said, is the sister-like relationship the members share. During full distance learning, for example, the group participated in a “Secret Sister” gift exchange, similar to a “Secret Santa”, within the choir and dropped gifts at each others’ homes. The captains, Thompson and Kanani, agreed. “We’re kind of like a big family.”

Last year, for some reason virtual rehearsals became the norm (常态) for LVB. “We have a computer set up in the middle of the room with students tuning in,” Paine explained. “Especially when we were hybrid (混合的), we’d have half of our students coming in person, and half joining online.”

Kanani said the hardest part of online rehearsals was not being able to hear the other students singing, as they generally turned off their individual microphones during these video sessions. However, one perk of this, Kanani noted, was that she felt she had learned the music much more thoroughly than in other seasons. “I know the music a lot better than I have in past years,” she said. “You couldn’t rely on someone else.”

Luckily, the group has gotten the chance to be back on stage recently. Members performed during the BHS spring concerts and then held their own LVB concert on March 20.

5 . Isadora Duncan is considered by many to be the progenitor of modern dance. To Duncan, classical ballet, with its strict rules of posture and formation, was “ugly and against nature”. She refused to accept traditional ballet steps, preferring to emphasize improvisation(即兴创作), emotion, and the human form. She said, “I spent long days and nights in the studio seeking that dance which might be the expression of the human spirit through the body’s movements.” By making connections between human emotion and the movements of dance, Duncan hoped to make dance a form of high art rather than simple entertainment. She developed free and natural movements inspired by the classical Greek arts, folk dances, social dances and natural forces. She drew on a number of sports moves, including skipping, running, jumping, leaping, and tossing. The athleticism and classical roots of her style are reflected in her innovative costume choice of a Grecian tunic(束腰外衣) and bare feet, which allowed for a physical freedom that could not be achieved in the traditional ballet costumes and pointed shoes that limited dancers. With time, she gained a very wide following and set up several schools in Europe and the United States.

Duncan’s fame, however, did not bring her wealth. In the later years of her life, her financial situation worsened, and finally she had to live in apartments rented by friends and supporters. Duncan also received criticism for some of her personal opinions.

In spite of the problems, Duncan is remembered today for her artistic achievements: the creation of modern dance and its high place among the arts. While Duncan’s own schools no longer exist, her style of dance continues to be practiced. Her life inspired novels, ballets, and films, and her likeness was included in the sculpture created by Antoine Bourdelle over the entrance of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

6 . Fine Arts Students Deliver Magical Performances

As the winter holidays approach,Brookhaven School students presented an array of extraordinary performances showcasing immense talent within our fine arts community. From the band concert to the choral concerts, each event highlighted the dedication and exceptional gifts of our students.

The December 12 Eagles Band Concert filled Woodruff Auditorium with melodies that captured the festive spirit.On December 14, the Foundations Christmas Choral Concert featured spirited performances by our 7th graders. The finale of seasonal fine arts showcases occurred on December 18 in Brady Theater with the Senior Chior Concert,spotlighting high school singers.

A highly anticipated tradition,the school-wide Holiday Assembly on December 19, hosted by esteemed Fine Arts Department Chair Mr.Kaminer, embodied the true essence of the holiday season. Angelic songs filled Young Gym, followed by joyous laughter and cheers as the “best costume” winners received their awards. Even the youngest War Eagles,the children in the Brookhaven Early Learning Center, attended the celebrations.Following the event, students merrily left school for the holiday break.

Looking toward 2024, anticipation builds for the Brookhaven theater spring productions. “Something Rotten!” promises high-energy comedic performances by theater students, while “Tuck Everlasting” assures a moving portrayal by talented Foundations students. Furthermore,the Brookhaven Dance Company will hold their showcase April 11-12 in Woodruff Auditorium. Tickets will soon be available for purchase.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Driven by a great passion for guqin,     1     is an ancient Chinese instrument, Li Xiangting, a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing     2     (devote) nearly 70 years to mastering and promoting it since his first encounter with it.

In 1958, Li became the only gugin major in the Traditional Chinese Instruments Department. Given that guqin was     3     (relative) unknown, Li was often ignored. Everyone considered it out of date,     4     he thought it deserved an important position and was determined to make it     5     (appreciate) by everyone.

In order to introduce it     6     a global audience, Li innovated while honoring the instrument’s rich traditions. Later, he also produced teaching videos,     7     (publish) books, and released albums, significantly boosting the instrument’s     8     (popular).

In the following years, more enthusiasts and musicians like Li worked on the art. With     9     (they) efforts, the UNESCO recognized the art as an intangible (非物质的) heritage of humanity in 2003. Moreover, his daughter, Li Pengpeng, has followed in her father’s footsteps,     10     (serve) as an ambassador in promoting traditional Chinese culture.

8 . MUSICAL HERITAGES FROM ANCIENT CHINA

Since remote antiquity, Chinese people have used music to record their lives and describe the ideals in their hearts. Catchy tunes are not only played on precious instruments, but also visualized in carvings, paintings, and buildings. Feel free to explore here!

Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220)

This period marked the significant development of the manufacturing of gugin and its music. The example unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tomb in Changsha, Hunan province, proves that gugin had developed into the form known today during that period. It shows 7 strings and 13 markers indicating the pressing positions of overtone series.

Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534)

Buddhism and its musical culture spread extensively during this period. Buddhist temples provided places for musical activities, which were recorded in many of the existing stone carvings. Located in Gongyi, Henan province, the Grotlo Temple is famous for its reliefs representing musical events. They are precious historical materials reflecting the music characteristics of the dynasty.

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

With economic development, a variety of musical cultures emerged to meet the entertainment needs of different social classes. Part of the painting Life along the Bian River al the Pure Brightness Festival vividly reveals a storytelling performance. The painter adopted delicate techniques to truly record a street performer, whose superb skills are reflected by each listener’s show of appreciation.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

At this time, traditional Chinese operas developed rapidly, promoting the formation of many singing styles. People began to enjoy operas and drama stages were built. Covering a construction area of more than 160 square meters, the Fancun village drama stage in Shanxi province provides rich materials for the study of the local folk culture.

9 . It’s happened to all of us: a song comes on the radio, and we are immediately transported back to a time in our past.     1    

There are a few things that connect tunes with our memories. Music is often a necessary element of many important life events, and it is also very effective in arresting our attention.     2     Besides, the emotional nature of music helps make it particularly memorable.

We often become familiar with a piece of music because we hear it as background music. The more familiar a piece of music is, the more effective it is in bringing back memories.     3     The reason is that we are far more likely to hear a song over and over again than to watch a film or a TV programme in the same way.

Tiffany Jenkins, writing for a culture column, has a different opinion:     4     She tells us how throughout history oral cultures have passed important knowledge from generation to generation through songs because of this characteristic. The rhythm (韵律) and rhyme in lines of songs all serve as memory aids.

    5     This fact corresponds with what many experts call the “reminiscence bump (怀旧性记忆)”, where older adults (over forty) have increased recollection of events that occurred during their adolescence and early adulthood.

It’s clear that our memories and music are closely linked — to the point that music is being used to help Alzheimer’s disease sufferers access memories that they thought they had lost.

Playing an instrument or singing in a choir may boost your brain. For generations, parents     1     (encourage) their children to practice playing musical instruments. Parents have good reason to prioritize their children’s musical education. Learning an instrument is not only associated with     2     (good) educational attainment but also with improved cognitive (认知的) abilities and intelligence (智力) scores in children.

The results of a recent study     3     (investigate) this question showed that musical people had better memory and the ability to stay     4     (focus) on tasks than those with less or no musicality.

However,     5     made a difference among those who played an instrument was whether they continued to play     6     had only played in the past. Current amateur musicians exhibited the highest cognitive performance among participants.

Continued engagement     7     cognitively stimulating activities, like playing an instrument, is likely     8     (lead) to sustained brain health. In contrast, playing the recorder for only three years in primary school may not     9     (significant) impact our cognitive performance later in life.

Given the overall benefits of learning an instrument or participating in a choir, engaging in such a cognitive     10     (stimulate) as we age could be beneficial.