Question

Let's say you took violin lessons all through primary school, but you haven't got the instrument out of its case in years. Were all those lessons a waste of your parents' money because you didn't become a great violinist?

Not at all. Even though it has been a long time since you played the violin, a new study shows that as little as one year of music training can have a positive influence on your brain that will last the rest of your life.

In an experiment comparing children who had taken music lessons to those who hadn't. Laurel Trainor, a researcher of the Institute for Music and the Mind at Ontario's McMaster University, discovered that the musically-trained kids had larger brain responses to the sound recognition exams. Trainor's findings show the possibility that musical education can actually improve the brain's hearing cortex (大脑皮层). “The study's results show that music training affects attention and memory, and helps children develop learning skills. In this way music training might lead to better learning across a number of fields," Trainor said in a statement. The effects of music education are even more obvious on children with difficulty in reading and writing and other language-related disabilities.

The study's results point out that “musical training influences attention and memory, which makes a possibility that musical training might lead to better learning across a number of fields," Trainor said in a report.

The effects of music training are even more easily seen in children with difficulties in language. “A music training that can strengthen the hearing skills of children who have difficulty in reading may also help improve some of their language abilities," said Gottfried Schlaug, who has also studied music training and learning.

So, whether or not you can play a Tchaikovsky symphony part, it's likely that your years of music lessons prepared your brain for all the speeches, emails, and conversations that are part of your life today. To help make sure that kids today have the same chances for music-inspired (激发) brain development, help out by volunteering with or giving away instruments to your school's music training department.

1.What does the writer think of taking violin lessons in primary school?

A.It doesn't help develop children's interest in music. B.It seems to be a waste of parents' money.

C.One year of music training is not enough. D.It'll influence you positively all your life.

2.What did both Laurel Trainor and Gottfried Schlaug discover in their studies?

A.Musical education can actually improve the brain's hearing cortex.

B.Music training has little effect on children's attention and memory.

C.Children with difficulty in language also benefit from music education.

D.Children who have larger brain cortex can learn music better.

3.According to the passage, what is the relation between music training and the abilities in other fields?

A.Music training has nothing to do with abilities in other fields.

B.Music training is more important than other fields.

C.Music training makes it more difficult to learn other fields.

D.Music training can help children learn other fields better.

4.What's the purpose (目的) of writing this article?

A.To tell people the importance of musical education. B.To advertise for musical training schools.

C.To introduce the newest research and findings. D.To explain how to develop your brain.

Answer 1