Is there a connection between music and language？According to recent studies，the answer is yes：Music helps develop certain language abilities in the brain．
A study from Northwestern University shows that playing a musical instrument can improve a person's hearing ability． As a part of the study， two groups of people listened to a person talking in a noisy room．The people in the first group were musicians， while those in the second group had no musical training．The musicians were found to be able to hear the talking person more clearly．
Musicians hear better， says study leader Nina Kraus， because they learn to pay attention to certain sounds． For example， when the violinists play in an orchestra（管弦乐队），they must listen closely to what they are playing and ignore（忽视） the other sounds． In this way， musicians can hear certain sounds better， even in a room with lots of noise．
Gottfried Schlaug，a doctor at Harvard Medical School，works with stroke（中风） patients．Because of their illness， these people cannot say their names，addresses， or other information normally．However， they can still sing． Dr. Schlaug was surprised to find singing words helped his patients finally speak． Why does this work？Schlaug isn't sure． Music seems to be able to make different parts of the brain active， including the bad parts． In some way， this helps patients use those parts of the brain again．
So music is not only enjoyable， but also good for us in many other ways． Playing an instrument or singing， says Nina Kraus， can help us do better in school and keep our brain sharp as we get older．
（1）What were the people in the first group asked to do in the study of Northwestern University？
A．Listen to different kinds of music．
B． Make some noise in an empty room．
C． Give the second group musical training．
D． Find out what the talking person was saying．
（2）The writer uses the example of violinists in Paragraph 3 to explain ．
A． how musicians play in an orchestra
B． how musicians ignore certain sounds
C． why musicians have better hearing ability
D． why musicians are not afraid of loud noise
（3）Gottfried Schlaug helps his stroke patients speak by ．
A． playing music for them
B．getting them to sing words
C． teaching them to play instruments
D． joining the bad parts of their brain
（4）What is the main purpose of the passage？
A． To introduce different ways of playing music．
B． To give some advice about making our brain active．
C． To show the relationship between music and language abilities．
D． To share the results of recent studies on treating stroke patients．
Most teenagers feel sad or afraid when their parents fight. They might think their parents don’t love each other any more.
In fact, it is normal for parents to disagree and argue sometimes. They might disagree about important thing like jobs and family decisions. They might even disagree about little thing that don’t seem important at all – like what’s for dinner. Maybe sometimes parents feel so strongly about their differences that it may lead to arguments. However, these arguments are often over quickly. Parents may say sorry and make up , and the family returns to normal
As a family member, you should find out what it really means when your parents fight. When your parents get angry with each other, they might say things they don’t really mean. If your parents are fighting, don’t worry too much about it. Try to find a good way to solve it.
If your parent’s fighting really bothers you, you might find it hard to sleep or got to school. If this happens, try talking to your parents. They may not even realize it until you tell them how their fighting has influenced you. You can also tell other relatives, a teacher or a close friend.
Just remember that no family is perfect and arguments are common in every family.What does it mean when parents fight?
A. They aren’t happy with their family.
B. They don’t love each other any more.
C. They disagree with each other about something.The underlined part “make up” in paragraph 2 means “” in Chinese.
A. 弥补 B. 组成 C. 和解The underlined word “it” refers to “”.
A. your parents’ fighting. B. your parents’ life C. your parents’ differenceWhat should we do when our parents’ fighting bothers us?
A. Talk to them. B. Shout at them. C. Say something nice to them.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Parents’ fighting often lasts a long time.
B. Parents might fight over small things.
C. Teenagers should never argue with their parents.
阅读短文，根据意思，判断所给句子的正误。正确的写T，错误的写F。并在答题卡上将T或F写在对应题号的方格内。
As I am now a middle school student, I have many friends, but there is one I like best. I first met him when I began to go to school.
Though he looks serious, he is interesting. Often he is clever, sometimes even much fun. He knows every language in the world, all the things in history, and the words of all the great articles. Everyone who knows him loves him. To me, he is a great teacher as well as a good friend.
My friend is always ready to help me. Though I may be not very smart, I can ask him for help again and again. When I am bored, he tells me something interesting. When I am lonely, he always stays with me. He is a friend not only to me but to all the people around the world.
Do you want to know his name? His name is “Reading.The writer thinks his best friend looks serious.
The writer’s best friend only knows one language.
The writer’s best friend doesn’t help people who are not smart.
When the writer feels bored, his best friend tells him something interesting.
The writer’s best friend is “Reading”.
Thirty years ago, few Chinese knew about American TV series, though during the 1980s and 1990s, Chinese people got the chance to watch some U.S.A. TV series like Growing Pains.
Now, ______,Chinese people have more chances to enjoy foreign TV series. Some American TV series such as Friends and Prison Break have become very popular among young Chinese English learners. In their opinion, watching American TV series is a good way to learn English and American culture. They have other reasons to support that point of view.
First, it’s easy and convenient for learners to manage their learning time. They don’t have to worry about the place and time to learn. _________,they can start watching and learning. All they need to do is to turn on their computers and put on their earphones.
The stories in the TV series also play an important role in attracting more learners. Different cultures between China and the Western countries and exciting story lines get young people interested in watching and learning . _______.
Besides, watching American TV series can help learners improve their listening and speaking skills. English learners may find it hard to find a native speaker to talk with,________, they can listen to native speakers and follow their conversations as much as they can.
| A. Any time they are free B. They also feel relaxed at the same time C. with the fast development of DVDs and the Internet D. but in the TV series |
Which of the following is true according to the passage.
| A．Thirty years ago, a few Chinese knew about American TV series. |
| B．Learners can’t manage their learning time easily. |
| C．Only exciting story lines get young people interested in watching and learning |
| D．It may be difficult for English learners to find a a native speaker to talk with. |
He was struggling(费劲) to tie his shoes. I was struggling with whether I should help him.
I did, and he was grateful.
“Thank you,” he said.
“I’m glad I could help. I just thought it would be easier for me to reach,” I said.
He was a disabled man, and forced to look down most of the time. His arms and legs were twisted(扭曲的) terribly, and he couldn’t do what the rest of us would consider easy tasks. He always managed to look up to see how you reacted(反应) to his words, however. He had a big smile, making me feel comfortable.
I was still on my knees by his wheelchair.
“ Nice shoes,” he said.
“Thanks. No one ever complimented (赞美) me on them before,” I said.
“No one has the same view of the world as I do,” he replied.
“Tell me about the world as you see it,” I said smiling.
“Most people can see if someone is comfortable with them or not in their eyes. I see it in their feet.” he said. “If people keep moving their feet, I just let them go, because I know they’re impatient with me. I don’t want to make people uncomfortable.
“What about me? I asked.
“I could see your compassion. And then you came down to my level. I was the one who was nervous.” he said. “I don’t normally have someone look me in the eye.”
“They don’t know what they’re missing,” I told him.
“My old face is nothing to brag(自夸) about.” he said.
“But that smile is so big.”
Yes, and it’s not only a big smile but an attitude.The disabled man knew people were impatient mostly by their _________.
| A．words | B．eyes | C．feet | D．smile |
The unlined word “compassion ”means _______in Chinese.
| A．注意 | B．同情 | C．信任 | D．职责 |
We learn that the disabled man _________.
| A．had great difficulty looking after himself |
| B．always asked people for help |
| C．couldn’t have a big smile |
| D．liked to talk about people’s shoes |
The writer felt comfortable because _________.
| A．he had a nice talk to the man | B．the man looked him in the eye |
| C．he didn’t move his feet before the man | D．the man had a big smile on the face |
We can infer （推断）from the passage that _________.
| A．the disable man had something wrong with his mind |
| B．not many people went down to the man’s level |
| C．the man was good at telling people about the world |
| D．the writer would not give the man more help |
| Nick Vujicic was born, without arms and legs, in 1982 in Melbourne, Australia. Nick faced all kinds of problems and troubles in his life. But he never gives up. Now Nick has his own speaking company: Attitude Is Attitude. And he has traveled around the world to give speeches. He shares with his audience the importance of vision and dreaming big. He says attitude (态度) is the most powerful tool in the life and failure (失败) is just a learning experience. |
| Mark Zuckerberg, the boss of Facebook, is only 28. In only 8 years, Zuck turned his small website into a world famous network. Zuck once wrote to his workmates, "We don't build services to make money; we make money to build better services" |
| Jeremy Lin's excellent performances in basketball courts attracted the eyes of both Americans and Chinese this year. Then what has led this young man to such a success? The following may help us understand it. Believe in yourself; Catch the chance when it comes up; Find the system that works for your style; People will love you for being yourself; Stay humble (谦逊). |
Attitude Is Attitude is _______.
| A．the title of Nick's speech | B．Nick's company |
| C．an international organization | D．a machine that can speak |
Which of the following about Nick is wrong?
| A．Nick had no arms or legs when he was born |
| B．He says people can learn from their failures |
| C．He tells his audience to dream big and have vision |
| D．He has never traveled around the world so far |
Facebook is _______.
| A．a world-wide network | B．Zuck's workmate | C．a popular book | D．Zuck's boss |
From what Zuck wrote, We can learn _______.
| A．Facebook doesn't build services |
| B．Facebook doesn't make money |
| C．offering better services is more important than making money |
| D．building services doesn't make money |
From Jeremy Lin's success, we can find _______.
| A．one must have self-confidence | B．catching the chance is the most important |
| C．one should try his best to follow others | D．one must keep the rules all the time |