Ⅰ.阅读理解
School is much more than a place where students gather to learn. For children, school is their first opportunity for social development and introduction to people outside of their family unit. Lessons learned in school go beyond mathematics and language arts. Students learn to develop individual interests and find other people who share their interests.
Music is one of the ways like-minded children come together. When many people talk about the benefits of music education, they\'re quick to point out all of the numerous and measurable results of music education: many studies show the positive impact music programs can have on children in other areas of study.
Dr. Laurel Trainor, a professor of psychology, at McMaster University, has said young children who take music lessons show different brain development and improved memory compared to children who do not receive musical training. Stanford University researchers have found that musical training improves how the brain processes the spoken word, a finding that researchers say could lead to improving the reading ability of children who have dyslexia and other reading problems. Furthermore, in an analysis of data on more than 25,000 secondary school students, researchers at the United States Department of Education found that students who report consistent involvement in instrumental music during middle school and high school perform significantly better in mathematics.
There are many reasons why music education can help to make a child a better student, but there also being involved in music is also a social endeavor that can set the course for lifelong friends and help create social groups that last through school and beyond. Music education breeds familiarity during a school career, when going from class to class or from school to school every year can be nerve wracking and unfamiliar.
文章大意：这是应用文阅读。文章主要讲述了音乐教育帮助孩子更好地发展，开发孩子的智力，增强记忆力，因此音乐教育更有利于孩子的成长。
1．What is the function of the first paragraph? A．To show school is the place for students to learn. B．To stress the importance of learning knowledge. C．To lead to the main topic of the passage. D．To explain what the author really thinks of.
2．According to the researchers, we can know that ________.
A．music lovers tend to use their brain in a wise way B．music training can cure children of many diseases
C．learning music is beneficial to students\' performance in mathematics D．senior students disliked attending music lessons
答案：C 细节理解题。根据文章第四段的students who report consistent involvement in instrumental music during middle school and high school perform significantly better in mathematics可知学音乐有利于孩子的数学学习。A项音乐爱好者趋于聪明地使用大脑；B项音乐训练能治愈孩子的许多疾病；C项学音乐有利于孩子的数学表现；D项高年级的学生不喜欢参加音乐课。故选C。
3．What does the underlined word “dyslexia” mean? A．Having difficulty with reading. B．Receiving training for music. C．Gaining knowledge from learning. D．Losing the ability to read music.
答案：A 词义猜测题。根据该单词后的other reading problems可推断是诵读困难。A项诵读困难；B项为音乐获得训练；C项从学习中获得知识；D项失去阅读音乐的能力。故选A。
4．It can be concluded from the passage that ________. A．music can ensure you have lots of close friends B．changing schools is a bad experience for everyone C．music does offer social and understanding benefits D．few schools really focus on music education
Ⅱ.完形填空
A Welcome Gift
Dario and his mother loved their new apartment.The living room was large enough for their piano.That night, the two of them__1__side by side at the piano.They played jazz music to celebrate their new home.The loud__2__filled the room and made them feel very happy. The next morning，__3__， their happiness disappeared.Someone had left a__4__under their door during the night.One of their neighbors had written to complain(抱怨) about the sound of the piano.Dario\'s mother asked the building superintendent(管理员) if he knew anything about it.But he said that they were all__5__people and he couldn\'t imagine any of them had done that.Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their__6__and apologize for their playing. “Maybe we could go and__7__everyone in person.” his mother said.
“What if we invited them to come here for a__8__instead？” Dario asked.
They both loved the__9__.Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts__10__ their guests.They decorated the apartment with streamers(彩带) and party lights.
Finally, the day of the party__11__.Some guests brought presents.Others brought flowers.Some even brought desserts to__12__.One woman, Mrs.Gilbert，__13__Dario\'s mother with a book of piano music by Chopin. “I heard you playing the other night，” she said.“The sounds woke me out of bed.I__14__ that you might play like this every night.So I wrote a short note.I hope you don\'t think I disliked the playing.”