People in the west make_____a rule to buy Christmas presents for their relatives and friends.
| A．that | B．the thing | C．this | D．it |
Betty has a very tight _____ this weekend so she has turned down the dinner invitation.
| A．schedule | B．headline | C．outline | D．incident |
Think of the last time a song really moved you, or meant something to you．Listening to and playing music affects marry different sections of the brain, affecting us physically as well. Why are we as humans so connected to music?
Making music is something that we are born with. There's a reason we refer to music as the “universal language”；there has been no known human culture without music. Dancing and music came before agriculture, and possibly even before language．The fact that whale music and human music have so much in common suggests that music may exist before humans and that we may be latecomers to the musical scene rather than being the inventors of music．
We begin life being affected by music; babies first begin to respond to music even before their birth. Whether or not it's true, everyone has heard that playing classical music; for your baby supposedly helps him or her become smarter. A study done in the United Kingdom concluded that children were able to recognize and even preferred music that they had heard lip to three months before birth. Although it made no difference whether it was rock music or country music, the babies who were exposed to faster songs showed a stronger preference for that song than those who had heard something slower. Researchers have also found that the playing of soft background music or a mother's soft singing actually helps premature (早产的)babies. Those who were subjected to the music tended to gain weight faster and were able to leave hospitals earlier than those who weren't. However, the study in the UK uncovers no links between babies listening to music and increased intelligence or brain development.
Another experiment at the University of California at Irvine compared the puzzle-solving abilities of 3-year-olds who were given piano lessons with the ability of others who sang, used computers, or did nothing. The children studying piano were better at the puzzles. Also, high school students with a musical background seem to do better on their SATs. Whether it's natural intelligence that helps the children excel in both music and math, or the music that helps develop other areas, you can't deny the benefits of a musical background.
On the other hand, it's possible that some music and lyrics（歌词）could be hard for children and teenagers．The lyrics of today's popular music are stated more and more clearly. A study oil mass media and teenagers showed that a group of 14- to 16-year-olds in 10 different southeastern cities listened to music an average of 40 hours per week. Obviously, the music they are listening to plays a large part in their lives，and especially influences self-identity. So any bad influences in the music will have a very direct effect on the teenagers. Several other experiments mentioned in the American Academy of Pediatrics' policy statement on the "Effect of Music Lyrics and Music Videos on Children and Youth" supported this idea. One study from Sweden found that children who developed a preference to rock music were more likely to be influenced by their peers than by their parents. Others showed links between a predilection for heavy metal and detrimental behaviors, including taking drugs, self-killing risk, and other risk-taking habits. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doesn't support the idea of censorship（检查制度）, but strongly encourages parents to monitor what their children are listening to. Music is regarded as the “universal language” because ______.
| A．music is important for human beings’ mental and physical health |
| B．music is played by people from all over the world |
| C．music is of great benefits to human language |
| D．music is present throughout the development of human culture |
Which of the following proves a musical background benefits children a lot?
| A．An experiment at the University of California. |
| B．A study done in the United kingdom. |
| C．A study on mass media and teenagers. |
| D．A study from Sweden. |
According to Paragraph 3, what affects babies’ preference for songs?
| A．The lyrics | B．The tone | C．The style | D．The speed |
The author mentioned several other experiments in the AAP’s policy statement to prove________.
| A．parents should monitor what their children are listening to |
| B．music can have harmful effects on teenagers |
| C．teenagers are more likely to be affected by their friends |
| D．children shouldn’t be exposed to too much music |
What will the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
| A．More bad effects of music on teenagers’ daily habits. |
| B．Some experiments about music and teenagers. |
| C．Tips for parents on monitoring the music their children prefer. |
| D．Benefits of listening to a variety of music. |
Wondering if you’re overdue? Here are 4 signs. It’s time to rest and recharge yourself with a much-needed getaway, along with our suggestions of where to go.
Working Overtime Is Your Life If long hours are part of your job and you’re not willing to find different work, book off some vacation days. Vacations give us something to look forward to when the daily hard work is weighing us down. • REST up at a destination spa (度假式水疗). • RECHARGE your batteries on a skiing vacation. |
You’ve an Unhealthy Way of Life Only time can mend a broken heart, but spending time with your best friends may speed things along. Plan a girlfriends’ getaway or guys’ weekend immediately! • REST by the fountain at a hot see-and-be-seen LA boutique hotel. • RECHARGE on a shopping trip or at a non-stop party hotspot. |
You’re Nursing a Broken Heart Though it’s possible to kick bad habits like smoking or over-eating at home a trip abroad may make it a bit easier. On a vacation with healthy lifestyle habits at the centre, you’re forced to focus on self-care in a way which would prove impossible at home. It’s not enough to take care of your health on the rare occasion you can go on vacation: use vacations to kick-start a healthier lifestyle which is sustainable on a daily basis when you get back home. • REST a troubled mind at a yoga retreat. • RECHARGE energy levels by the sea. |
You’ve Got No Skills Left To Improve Challenging ourselves to carry out new tasks keeps our bodies and minds active. If you’re an expert at everything and a newbie (新手) at nothing, it’s time to move outside your comfort zone. Travel is renowned for providing that opportunity for growth. • REST your body while challenging your brain, by learning a language abroad. • RECHARGE yourself with a healing art like massage-therapy or a cooking course. |
According to the leaflet, a vacation trip will _____.
| A．cure you of your heart trouble |
| B．help you to learn some new things |
| C．make you interested in your work |
| D．allow you to make some new friends |
If you have an unhealthy lifestyle, _____.
| A．a trip abroad will enable you to get rid of some bad habits easily |
| B．you are likely to restore your old habits once you return from a trip |
| C．you will learn about its harmful effects at the centre on a vacation |
| D．it is difficult for you to show your self-control in your own house |
Where should you go if you want to get rid of your tiredness？
| A．To a fountain | B．To a snowy field. |
| C．To a hotspot. | D．To some stores. |
— I don’t remember having ever seen John since last week. Has he gone somewhere?
— Not really. He ______ his newly-bought apartment.
| A．has decorated | B．decorated |
| C．has been decorating | D．was decorating |
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