Learning to play a musical instrument can change your brain, with a US review finding musical training can lead to improved speech and foreign language skills.
Although it was suggested in the past that listening to Mozart’s music or other classical music could make you smarter, there has been little evidence to show that music can boost(使增长) brain power.
But a data-driven review by Northwestern University has pulled reaserch together that links musical training to learning that spills over into (波及) skills including language, speech, memory, attention and even vocal emotion.
Researcher Nina Kraus said the data strongly suggested that the nervous connections made during musical training also prepared the brain for other aspects of human communication.
“ The effect of musical training suggests that, like physical exercise and its effect on body fitness, music is a resource that tones the brain for auditory fitness and thus requires society to re-examine the role of music in shaping individual development, ” the researchers said in their study.
Kraus said learning musical sounds could improve the brain’s ability to adapt and change and also enable the nervous system to provide constructing patterns that are important to learning.
The study, published in Nature Review Neuroscience , looked at the explosion of research in recent years focusing on the effect of musical training on the nervous system which could have impacts for education.
The study found that playing an instrument prepares the brain to choose what is related in a complex process that may involve reading or remembering a score, timing issues and coordination with other musicians.
1.What is the text mainly about ?
A. The effect of physical exercise. B. The researcher named Kraus.
C. The benefit of musical training. D. Musicians’ improved skills.
2.The underlined word “ auditory ” in Paragraph 5 probably means “ __________”.
A. of the body B. connected with seeing
C. of the mind D. connected with hearing
3.It was believed but not proved that listening to classical music could __________.
A. add to your intelligence B. improve your speech
C. boost your memory D. make you think faster
4.According to Kraus, musical training contributes to the following EXCEPT __________.
A. body fitness B. the way to speak
C. langugage learning D. mental concentration
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Learning to play a musical instrument can change your brain, with a US review finding musical training can lead to improved speech and foreign language skills.
Although it was suggested in the past that listening to Mozart’s music or other classical music could make you smarter, there has been little evidence to show that music can boost(使增长) brain power.
But a data-driven review by Northwestern University has pulled reaserch together that links musical training to learning that spills over into (波及) skills including language, speech, memory, attention and even vocal emotion.
Researcher Nina Kraus said the data strongly suggested that the nervous connections made during musical training also prepared the brain for other aspects of human communication.
“ The effect of musical training suggests that, like physical exercise and its effect on body fitness, music is a resource that tones the brain for auditory fitness and thus requires society to re-examine the role of music in shaping individual development, ” the researchers said in their study.
Kraus said learning musical sounds could improve the brain’s ability to adapt and change and also enable the nervous system to provide constructing patterns that are important to learning.
The study, published in Nature Review Neuroscience , looked at the explosion of research in recent years focusing on the effect of musical training on the nervous system which could have impacts for education.
The study found that playing an instrument prepares the brain to choose what is related in a complex process that may involve reading or remembering a score, timing issues and coordination with other musicians.
1.What is the text mainly about ?
A. The effect of physical exercise. B. The researcher named Kraus.
C. The benefit of musical training. D. Musicians’ improved skills.
2.The underlined word “ auditory ” in Paragraph 5 probably means “ __________”.
A. of the body B. connected with seeing
C. of the mind D. connected with hearing
3.It was believed but not proved that listening to classical music could __________.
A. add to your intelligence B. improve your speech
C. boost your memory D. make you think faster
4.According to Kraus, musical training contributes to the following EXCEPT __________.
A. body fitness B. the way to speak
C. langugage learning D. mental concentration
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Playing a musical instrument can be a fun and rewarding hobby. It’s a good way to express feelings and develop confidence in your abilities. 1. Here are a few questions to help you decide.
What kind of music do you like?
What you are interested in will encourage you to play. 2. Traditional orchestra musical instruments are what you hear in classical music. Modem music calls for modem instruments, like electric guitars.
Where are you going to practice?
3. Think about where and when you are going to practice, as well as the patience of the people you live with or near. Some instruments like the guitar give you the chance of playing in the night using earphones, while your housemates sleep in peace. Also, you may need to consider going to a school or a music center to practice.
4.
This is quite a big problem. A lot of instruments can be bought in different price ranges. But this doesn’t change the fact that many instruments, such as the piano, are always expensive. If you can’t afford your chosen instrument,will you be able to borrow someone else’s?
Are there any physical limitations?
If you are small and don’t like lifting heavy objects,you won’t want to carry around a cello (大提琴). If you don’t have great lung power, think twice about the saxophone. 5. But remember that with the right coaching, everyone can develop the right skills.
A. How much money can you spend?
B. How easy will it be to find a teacher?
C. Don’t let your physical shortcomings put you off.
D. A piece of music might move you more than another.
E. Talk to people who already play musical instruments.
F. Practicing the drums, for example, will drive your neighbors crazy.
G. If you want to learn a musical instrument, you might face a problem: what to play?
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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 loudly 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 statement 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.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
After retirement, learning a musical instrument may be harder than ______ when you were a kid.
A.it may | B.it was | C.it does | D.it did |
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Long-time exposure to air pollution can lead to physical changes in the brain and cause trouble in learning and memory, and even anxiety. This is suggested by the results of new research on mice.
While other studies have shown the harmful effects of polluted air in the lungs and heart, this is the first to show the negative effect on the brain.
The team of Laura Fonken, Randy Nelson, from the Ohio State University, USA, has spread to the brain a previous line of research which found that fine particulate (微粒) matter floating in the air mainly because of air pollution caused by humans, causes swelling in much of the body, and may be related to high blood pressure problems, and some other diseases.
In the research Fonken and his colleagues exposed mice to polluted air for six hours each day, five days a week, over a period of 10 months, almost half the average life length of mice.
Polluted air contains fine particles created by cars, factories and natural dust. Fine particles of this kind are tiny, about 2.5 micrometers in diameter, or about one-thirtieth the width of a human hair. These particles can go deep into lungs and other organs.
The concentration of this particulate material to which they exposed mice is equal to the concentration at which people can be exposed in some polluted urban areas.
After a period of 10 months, the researchers got the animals to have a series of behavioral tests. Both the behavior of mice and the results of neurological(神经的) tests done to them show that those within the polluted air had more problems in learning and memory, and higher levels of anxiety.
The results suggest that long-time exposure to polluted air can have measurable negative effects on the human brain and can cause a variety of mental health problems. This could have important consequences for those living and working in polluted urban areas.
1.The results of new research on mice first suggest that polluted air mainly does harm to ________.
A. normal organs B. lungs and heart
C. mental health D. blood pressure
2.The bad effects of tiny particles in polluted air are those except ________.
A. high blood pressure problems
B. making human hair thinner
C. different kinds of diseases
D. swelling in much of the body
3.From the last sentence we can infer that people living in polluted urban areas ________.
A. are likely to suffer from mental problems
B. can measure the negative effect on them
C. show little concern for air pollution
D. can be exposed to polluted air longer
4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Long-time Exposure to Air Pollution
B. Evidence and Concern of Air Pollution
C. Measurable Effect on Human Brain
D. Mental Problems Caused by Air Pollution
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Best Smartphone Games to Put Your Brain to Test
I am a fan of NMORPGs. But sometimes I play brain games. Here are four games for you that will surely put your brain to test.
Real Chess
Chess has been bursting brains for many centuries, and this virtual(虚拟的) change of chess really brings a new taste. It’s not an ordinary game, for it’s a 3D virtual chess that lets you play with users from all around the world.
You can chat with opponents, play with AI, get newbie(新手) tips and much more. The animations and 3D structures are really cool as well.
Juice Cubes
Juice Cubes is a light and colorful game full of fruity juice cubes that you need to connect to pop and clear levels. There are multiple types of challenges, power-ups, and more than 550 levels to keep you addicted.
It might seem easy at the start, but it will burst your brain when you reach higher levels.
WorldBrain2
WorldBrain 2 is really a fun word game where you need to guess words based on the number of letters provided. Each word puzzle has a theme category, such as food, human body, color or even space.
And you can also use hints (暗示) to solve the level when you get stuck. Your vocabulary is sure to be challenged in it.
Puzzlerama
Puzzlerama basically joins some of the top puzzles in one single app, making it a perfect app for puzzle lovers. It lets you play popular puzzle games such as flow, jigsaw, unblock, pipes,tangram and more. There are hundreds of levels available for each puzzle type and things get really tough as you advance.
The game interface(界面) is also very colorful, and smooth animations make the game fun to play.
1.What is special about Real Chess?
A. It is a light and colorful game. B. It is a funny word game.
C. It is a 3D virtual chess game. D. It has hundreds of levels.
2.If you’re good at guessing words, which game is the best choice?
A. Real Chess. B. Juice Cubes.
C. WordBrain 2. D. Puzzlerama.
3.Which games are likely to have bright and different colors in the interface design?
A. Real Chess & WordBrain 2. B. Juice Cubes & WordBrain 2.
C. WordBrain 2 & Puzzlerama. D. Puzzlerama & Juice Cubes.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
As a child, I started learning to play the piano, my favorite musical ________, but I was forced to give up when I started my middle school ________ I could concentrate more on my studies.
It’s one of my biggest ________ to stop practicing the piano when I recall sadly today. During the following years, I kept telling my piano teacher that I would ________. However, I didn’t keep my promise because I was ________ with my study. ________ I lost touch with my teacher. Some years later, my teacher died. I was very sad because I lost such a good teacher. She was a very warm and gentle person. It hurts me to think she may have been ________ that I never returned. I haven’t taken lessons since then but to be honest, I ________ to. Sitting at the piano, I couldn’t help recalling many ________ — times of my practising at home and playing before my teacher and one time my teacher ________ me after I played entire pieces of music wrong in front of her colleagues. I was so ________ that I could hardly say anything. But her ________ helped me ease my shame. These memories, ________, good or bad, never caused my ________ for playing the piano again.
This thought then led me to think that ________ is like music, and that we all try to play different ________ in the instrument of our life. Sometimes the pitch(音高) is ________ when we play it well, but sometimes we are out of tone. However, we all continue to create our own ________ style of music. No matter what style our music is, it is ________ that we sing the songs of joy, quietness and love. Though I may never make it back to piano lessons, it doesn’t ________ that I’ve stopped making music.
1.A. instrument B. performance C. room D. stage
2.A. in that B. so that C. now that D. except that
3.A. successes B. regrets C. decisions D. hobbies
4.A. play B. graduate C. leave D. return
5.A. occupied B. angry C. satisfied D. patient
6.A. Actually B. Constantly C. Suddenly D. Gradually
7.A. astonished B. glad C. disappointed D. amazed
8.A. liked B. needed C. wanted D. decided
9.A. dreams B. expressions C. words D. memories
10.A. instructed B. hurt C. punished D. respected
11.A. frightened B. moved C. embarrassed D. excited
12.A. happiness B. satisfaction C. comfort D. sigh
13.A. instead B. meanwhile C. therefore D. however
14.A. hope B. courage C. feeling D. effect
15.A. life B. learning C. attitude D. enjoyment
16.A. cards B. sports C. roles D. games
17.A. hard B. wonderful C. surprising D. complex
18.A. unique B. boring C. common D. similar
19.A. necessary B. strange C. possible D. important
20.A. matter B. mean C. report D. appear
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
As a child, I started learning to play the piano, my favorite musical ________, but I was forced to give up when I started my middle school ________ I could concentrate more on my studies.
It’s one of my biggest ________ to stop practicing the piano when I recall sadly today. During the following years, I kept telling my piano teacher that I would ________. However, I didn’t keep my promise because I was ________ with my study. ________ I lost touch with my teacher. Some years later, my teacher died. I was very sad because I lost such a good teacher. She was a very warm and gentle person. It hurts me to think she may have been ________ that I never returned. I haven’t taken lessons since then but to be honest, I ________ to. Sitting at the piano, I couldn’t help recalling many ________ — times of my practising at home and playing before my teacher and one time my teacher ________ me after I played entire pieces of music wrong in front of her colleagues. I was so ________ that I could hardly say anything. But her ________ helped me ease my shame. These memories, ________, good or bad, never caused my ________ for playing the piano again.
This thought then led me to think that ________ is like music, and that we all try to play different ________ in the instrument of our life. Sometimes the pitch(音高) is ________ when we play it well, but sometimes we are out of tone. However, we all continue to create our own ________ style of music. No matter what style our music is, it is ________ that we sing the songs of joy, quietness and love. Though I may never make it back to piano lessons, it doesn’t ________ that I’ve stopped making music.
1.A. instrument B. performance C. room D. stage
2.A. in that B. so that C. now that D. except that
3.A. successes B. regrets C. decisions D. hobbies
4.A. play B. graduate C. leave D. return
5.A. occupied B. angry C. satisfied D. patient
6.A. Actually B. Constantly C. Suddenly D. Gradually
7.A. astonished B. glad C. disappointed D. amazed
8.A. liked B. needed C. wanted D. decided
9.A. dreams B. expressions C. words D. memories
10.A. instructed B. hurt C. punished D. respected
11.A. frightened B. moved C. embarrassed D. excited
12.A. happiness B. satisfaction C. comfort D. sigh
13.A. instead B. meanwhile C. therefore D. however
14.A. hope B. courage C. feeling D. effect
15.A. life B. learning C. attitude D. enjoyment
16.A. cards B. sports C. roles D. games
17.A. hard B. wonderful C. surprising D. complex
18.A. unique B. boring C. common D. similar
19.A. necessary B. strange C. possible D. important
20.A. matter B. mean C. report D. appear
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
What musical instrument does the man play?
A. The piano. B. The violin. C. None.
高二英语短对话中等难度题查看答案及解析
Clothes can make phone calls, play music, dial your pal's number, keep you warm during cold weather and operate your computer.
This is not a fantasy. A British company, called Electrotextiles, has created a wide range of clothes—clothes that have minds of their own! Scientists, working for the company, have invented a kind of fabric that can be blended (混合) with flexible electronic materials to create intelligent clothing. The results are electronic garments.
If you think the wearer has to be wired to different devices, think again. These designer clothes are wire-free, soft to touch and washable! Like any electronic device, these high-tech clothes have to be powered. Currently, a tiny nine-volt battery serves the purpose. But the researchers hope that in the near future the clothes will generate electricity by using body heat. These clothes are 100% shock proof, they say.
The Electrotextiles team has also created the world's first cloth keyboard. This keyboard can be sewn into your trousers or skirt. To use this device, you will have to sit down and tap on your lap! These “lap-tap” gadgets (器具)are all set to take over laptop computers!
Another useful garment is the shirt-cum-mobile phone. This handy invention enables drivers to chat comfortably with others at the wheel! Other popular electronic wear include the denim(牛仔布) jacket with flexible earphones sewn into the hood(风帽) and the electronic ski jacket with a built-in heater. The ski jacket is also programmed to send signals to a satellite. This technology is known as global positioning system and can be used to track lost skiers and wandering kids.
Having completed the cloth keyboard, scientists have already started to work on a new project—a necktie that can be used as a computer mouse. What is the next? Do you have any idea?
1.The electronic garments are similar to other electronic devices in that________.
A.they use electricity to generate power
B.they feel smooth and soft
C.they can be washed in water
D.they are made from flexible materials
2.How will researchers improve these high-tech clothes?
A.A tiny nine-volt battery will work.
B.The wearer will not get shocked.
C. Body heat will be used to generate electricity
D.They will get charged automatically.
3.What does the underlined phrase “This handy invention” in Paragraph 5 refer to?
A.The laptop computer.
B.The electronic ski jacket.
C.The shirt-cum-mobile phone.
D.The world's first cloth keyboard.
4.If you are going on a ski adventure, which device do you need?
A.The cloth keyboard.
B.The electronic ski jacket.
C.The necktie to be used as a mouse.
D.The denim jacket with earphones.
5.The main purpose of the text is________.
A.to advertise for an English company
B.to predict the future trend of science
C.to show how rapidly science develops
D.to introduce some intelligent clothing
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析