Music is the art of thinking with sounds. — Jules Combarieu 

Music produces significant and lasting changes in the brain. Schools should add music classes, not cut them. Nearly 20 years ago, a small study advanced the __1__ that listening to Mozart’s Sonata（奏鸣曲）could boost mental functioning. It was not long __2__ trademarked “Mozart effect” products began to __3_ anxious parents aiming to put toddlers（刚学步的孩子）on the fast track to top-ranking universities like Harvard and Yale. Georgia’s governor even __4__ giving every newborn there a classical CD or cassette.

The __5__ for Mozart therapy turned out to be weak, perhaps nonexistent, although the __6__ study never claimed anything more than a temporary and limited effect. In recent years, __7__, scientists have examined the benefits of a continuous __8__ to study and practice music, in contrast to playing a Mozart CD or a computer-based “brain fitness” game __9__.

Advanced monitoring __10__ have/has enabled scientists to see what happens inside your head when you listen to your mother and actually practice the violin for an hour every afternoon. And they have found that music __11__ can produce significant and lasting changes that __12__ the general ability to learn. These results should __13__ public officials that music classes are not a mere decoration, ready for being given up in the budget crises that constantly __14__ public schools.

Studies have shown that __15__ instrument training from an early age can help the brain to __16__ sounds better, making it __17__ to stay focused when absorbing other subjects, from literature to mathematics. The musically experienced are better able to __18__ a biology lesson despite the noise in the classroom __19__, a few years later, to finish a call with a client when a colleague in the next office starts screaming a subordinate（下属）. They can be engaged in several things at once, which is a(n) __20__ skill in this era of multitasking.

1.A. note                              B. notice                                   C. idea                                     D. impression

2.A. until                              B. that                                 C. since                                      D. before

3.A. apply for                 B. appeal to                      C. interfere with                    D. get across

4.A. proposed                B. pushed                           C. submitted        D. permitted

5.A. context                         B. evidence                          C. symptom                          D. witness

6.A. advanced                 B. recent                           C. original                              D. latest

7.A. however              B. moreover                       C. somehow                         D. therefore

8.A. potential                    B. attention                         C. research                         D. effort

9.A. frequently                B. occasionally                C. additionally                           D. optionally

10.A. principles               B. techniques                          C. information                         D. management

11.A. subjects                       B. models                           C. causes                                  D. lessons

12.A. improve                 B. introduce                  C. Ensure                                       D. accelerate

13.A. convey              B. convince                       C. contact                  D. conclude

14.A. disappoint              B. distribute                    C. transform                          D. trouble

15.A. urgent                        B. casual                                    C. hardworking                   D. outstanding

16.A. promote                       B. processs                         C. prefer                                       D. predict

17.A. easier                         B. harder                                   C. tougher                             D. faster

18.A. hold on                    B. concentrate on                C. insist on                             D. count on

19.A. but                     B. so                               C. or                              D. for

20.A. elegant                 B. specific                            C. essential                         D. unique

Hilversum is a medium-sized city between the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Gooi area of North Holland, the Netherlands. Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is actually in a hilly area with the soil mostly consisting of sand. Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, it still attracts travelers to come over to cycle and walk through the surrounding forests. They visit it for a relaxing day off from the urban madness. For Dutch people, Hilversum is all about textile (纺织) and media industries, and modern architecture.

In history, Hilversum was largely an agricultural area. Daily life was marked by farming, sheep raising and wool production. A railway link to Amsterdam in 1874 attracted rich traders from Amsterdam to Hilversum. They build themselves large villas (别墅) in the wooded surroundings of the town. One of the families moving in was the Brenninkmeijers, currently the wealthiest family of the Netherlands. They moved in after big success in the textile industry and aided a substantial textile industry in Hilversum. But the textile boom lasted only several decades. The last factory closed in the 1960s.

The change to a media economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestedllen Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory in Hiversum. Most radio stations called in the large villas in the leafy areas of the town. Television gave another push to the local economy. Hilversum became the media capital of the Netherlands, and Dutch televison stars moved into the leafy neighborhoods surrounding the town.

In the early 1900s, modern architcts W.M. Dudok and J. Duiker placed hundreds of remarkable buildings in Hilversum. These modern architectural masterpieces (杰作) are so many that Hilversum almost feels like an open air museum. Dudok alone shaped most 20th century Hilversum and approximately 75 buildings in 1928-1931. It has wide international fame and is included in many architecture textbooks. The building has a remarkable shape and looks like a combination of “blocks”. Actually, one may start his journey of modern architecture by walking or biking the W.M. Dudok Architectural Route in Hilversum.

21.Hilversum is different from most of the Netherlands in that ______.

A. it has a large population

B. it is cut off from big cities

C. it has many beautiful gardens

D. it is in a hilly area with sandy soil

22.What was the greatest contribution of the Brenninkmeijers to Hilversum?

A. Building a railway link to Amsterdam

B. Helping its textile industry to develop

C. Constructing large villas for the poor

D. Assisting its agricultural industry

23.The beginning of the media industry in Hilversum was marked by the establishment of ______.

A. a radio factory

B. the medial capital

C. a radio station

D. a TV station

24.What is known about W.M. Dudok’s Hilversum Town Hall?

A. It consists of approximately 75 buildings

B. It looks like an open air museum in the city

C. It is a classic example in architecture textbooks

D. It has shaped most of 20th century Hilvesum.

Papa, as a son of a dirt-poor farmer, left school early and went to work in a factory, for education was for the rich then. So, the world became his school. With great interest, he read everything he could lay his hands on, listened to the town elders and learned about the world beyond his tiny hometown. "There's so much to learn," he'd say. "Though we're born stupid, only the stupid remain that way. " He was determined that none of his children would be denied an education.

Thus, Papa insisted that we learn at least one new thing each day. Though, as children, we thought this was crazy, it would never have occurred to us to deny Papa a request. And dinner time seemed perfect for sharing what we had learned. We would talk about the news of the day; no matter how insignificant, it was never taken lightly. Papa would listen carefully and was ready with some comment, always to the point.

   Then came the moment—the time to share the day's new learning.

Papa, at the head of the table, would push back his chair and pour a glass of red wine, ready to listen.

"Felice," he'd say, "tell me what you learned today. "

"I learned that the population of Nepal is .... "

Silence.

Papa was thinking about what was said, as if the salvation of the world would depend upon it. "The population of Nepal. Hmm. Well . . . . " he'd say. "Get the map; let's see where Nepal is. " And the whole familywent on a search for Nepal.

This same experience was repeated until each family member had a turn. Dinner ended only after we had a clear understanding of at least half a dozen such facts.

As children, we thought very little about these educational wonders. Our family, however, was growing together, sharing experiences and participating in one another's education. And by looking at us, listening to us, respecting our input, affirming our value, giving us a sense of dignity, Papa was unquestionably our most influential teacher.

Later during my training as a future teacher /1 studied with some of the most famous educators. They were imparting what Papa had known all along—the value of continual learning. His technique has served me well all my life. Not a single day has been wasted, though I can never tell when knowing the population of Nepal might prove useful.

25.What do we know from the first paragraph?

A.       The author's father was born in a worker's family.

B. Those born stupid could not change their life.

C.       The town elders wanted to learn about the world.

D.       The poor could hardly afford school education.

26.The underlined word "it" in the second paragraph refers to " 

A. one new thing               B. a request            C. the news            D. some comment

27.It can be learned from the passage that the author  .

A.       enjoyed talking about news

B. knew very well about Nepal

C.       felt regret about those wasted days

D . appreciated his father's educational technique

28.What is the greatest value of "dinner time" to the author?

A. Continual learning.       B. Showing talents.

C. Family get-together.           D. Winning Papa's approval.

29.The author's father can be best described as   .

A.       an educator expert at training future teachers

B. a parent insistent on his children's education

C.       a participant willing to share his knowledge

D.       a teacher strict about everything his students did

   Many of the world’s countries have reached or are approaching zero population growth (ZPG) ．Nearly all such lands are economically well developed．They include much of Europe(including Russia)，the United States，Canada，Japan．and Australia．As the rate of natural increase(RNI)declines，two things happen．First，the population begins to decline if the loss is not balanced by immigration．Second，a country’s population ages because there are fewer births．

    Is achieving ZPG good or bad? What happens when a country’s population begins to drop? Many people，after all，believe that population decline is a good thing．But is it good for everyone? Does everyone agree?

    An aging population can create many problems．Senior citizens require more health care and medical attention．Rather than paying into retirement programs，they begin to draw from their pensions．In the US，the Social Security program，according to many experts，will be used up by 2018．It will pay out more money than it takes in．Additionally, a great number of jobs go begging in search of people willing or entry level positions that pay low wages．With an able to do them．Many of these jobs are aging population，who will fill them? At the other extreme，some positions require a large number of training and highly specialized skills．Who will fill these positions as retirees leave the workforce?

    The answer to the problem of declining and aging population is simple：increased migration．Today many people，particularly those from less developed countries，are migrating in search of employment．Many are willing to take jobs that cannot(or will not) be filled by the domestic population．Others are well educated and highly skilled．Both groups contribute to a country’s economy progress in many ways．Further, they add to the richness of a country’s culture．Of greatest importance，perhaps，is the fact that they have become absolutely necessary to the economy of many lands．As you can see，for many countries and for most immigrants，migration is a win—win situation．

30.In the writer’s view，which of the following statements is TRUE?

 A．Not everyone agrees that achieving ZPG is absolutely good．

 B．Achieving ZPG is every country’s aim in spite of its side effects．

 C．Achieving ZPG is bad for senior citizens．

 D．Achieving ZPG is good for employment．

31.According to the passage，the best way to solve the problem of declining and aging population is             ．

 A．to improve the health care system   B．to increase RNI

 C．to increase employment           D．to increase migration

32.The underlined words “the domestic population’’ can be replaced by       ．

 A．people within the country           B．people from developing countries

 C．people without a college education   D．people living abroad

33.The main idea of the last paragraph is       .

 A．the advantages of increased migration

 B．the problem of declining and aging population

 C．how to increase migration

 D．some ways to enrich a country’s culture

The Hunan Satellite TV (HNTV) show "Where are we going, Dad?" is a big hit. Many famous stars brought their children to a strange village alone, where they had to spend 72 hours with their children. The program fully showed us a modern version of "how to be a good father". As the young parents today are too busy to look after their children, this new form of "Lost on the way" played by nanny (保姆) Daddy and cute kids caused a lot of people's emotional resonance (共鸣). Both the kids and their parents will find their hearts are being drawn closer. But this kind of feeling has just proved there is a big spiritual barrier between the modern parents and children.

The TV shows like "Children are hard to support!", "Where are we going, Dad?", "hot mom" and "cute kids" are becoming more and more popular. All of these show the new parents' confusion in children's education and the appeal for the balance between career and family.

In real life, on the one hand the young parents feel helpless because they are too busy to accompany their children under the pressures of work and life; on the other hand they continue to do so. The data collected by HNTV shows that nearly two-thirds of their audience are female, among whom 36% are aged from 25 to 34. We can imagine such a scene that one evening a young mother is watching the show with her young children, while her husband is still at work or trapped in socializing, or maybe is just playing computer games in the bedroom. The story of a child without the company of father is still going on. In fact, it is sometimes the same to mothers. In a modern family, it is often the old who take the responsibility of raising a child. The participation of mother in the children's education is also very low.

It is just this kind of confusion where the parents have gone in the modern family education, and where the parents will guide their children to go that "Where are we going. Dad?" shows us. If a child wants to grow up healthily and safely into a modern citizen with independent personality and free spirit, it is very important for him or her to follow the parents who serve as their first teachers. Maybe this is the real reason why such kind of TV program: could get hot. The truth is that children will go where their parents go; and society will go where the children go.

34.From the first 2 paragraphs, we can know that______.

A. the popularity of TV shows is due to the famous stars

B. the TV program makes many strange villages well-known

C. there is no barrier between the fathers and kids in the show

D. young parents usually don't know how to balance career and family

35.Which of the following statements is true?

A. Parents are too busy to accompany their children.

B. Most of HNTV's audience are young ladies.

C. In modern families, kids are usually taken care of by their mothers.

D. Lack of independence prevents kids growing up healthily.

36.Which of the following is close to the last sentence of this passage in meaning?

A. Children want to go with their parents.

B. Children will determine the future of society.

C. Society has a big influence on the growth of children.

D. Children are usually self-willed (任性的).

37.The best title for the passage is____________.

A. A TV Show, A Big Hit    B. Kids Are Hard to Support

C. How to Raise Children    D. Where Are We Going, Dad?