Any foreigner who has tried to learn Chinese can tell how hard it is to master the tones required to speak and understand．And anyone who has tried to learn to play the violin or other instruments can report similar challenges．
Now researchers have found that people with musical training have an easier time learning Chinese．Writing in the online edition of Nature Nenroscieme, researchers from Northwestern University say that both skills draw on the same parts of the brain that help people discover changes in pitch(音调)．
One of the study's authors, Nina Kraus, said the findings suggested that studying music "actually tunes our sensory system"．This means that schools that want children to do well in languages should hesitate before cutting music programs．Dr．Kraus said．She said music training might also help children with language problems．
Mandarin(普通话)speakers have been shown to have a more complex encoding(编码)of pitch patterns in their brains than English speakers do．This is because in Mandarin and other Asian languages, pitch plays a central role．A single syllable word can have several meanings depending on how it is intoned．
For this study, the researchers looked at 20 non Chinese speaking volunteers, half with no musical background and half who have studied an instrument for at least six years．
As they were shown a movie, the volunteers also heard an audio tape of the Mandarin word "mi" in three of its meanings：squint, bewilder and rice．The researchers recorded activities in their brain stems to see how well they were processing the sounds．Those with a music background showed much more brain activities in response to the Chinese sounds．
The lead author of the study, PatrickC．M．Wong, said it might work both ways．It appear? That native speakers of tonal languages may do better at learning instruments．
(1)
When learning Chinese, a foreigner will find ________．
[ ]
A．
he has a difficult time learning music at the same time
B．
he has an easier time learning music at the same time?
C．
it is hard to master the tones required to speak and understand
D．
it is easy to use the brain to help him discover changes in pitch
(2)
Why does Chinese learning have something to do with music training?
[ ]
A．
Because there is the same difficulty in learning Chinese and music．
B．
Because skills to learn the two make use of the same parts of the brain．
C．
Because music training might help people with language study．
D．
Because people who do well in Chinese study do well in music．
(3)
The underlined word "intoned" in the fourth paragraph can be replaced by the word " ________ "．
[ ]
A．
created
B．
spelled
C．
seemed
D．
pronounced
(4)
What would be the best title for this passage?
[ ]
A．
Mandarin Speakers Are Smarter than English Speakers．
BEIJING－Apple Inc is one step closer to beginning sales of iPad2 tablet computers with cellular(手机)network compatibility(兼容)for the first time in the Chinese mainland, where the consumer-electronics giant is in the midst of an aggressive expansion．
According to China's Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center, a device by Apple with third-generation high-speed wireless data capabilities was issued the network access license needed for the company to begin official sales in China．The device, listed under model number “A1396”, is compatible(相容的)with the 3G standard WCDMA, and would work with the cellular network operated by Apple's local iPhone partner, China Unicom(Hong Kong)Ltd．
China Unicom declined(谢绝)to comment．
Apple already offers the 3G iPad2 in Hong Kong through its partners, but currently only offers Wi-Fi versions of the device in the Chinese mainland．Still, consumers in China, which according to research firm IDC surpassed(超过)the US as the world's largest PC market in the second quarter, have been purchasing 3G tablets through unofficial channels．
Separately, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said Sept 6 that the company's first Hong Kong store, set to open this quarter, will be located in the city's central shopping and business district in the International Finance Center's upscale(高档的)IFC mall, a commercial center and sightseeing spot along the city's waterfront．Wu also said that Apple is planning a new store in Shanghai later this quarter, which will be its biggest store in China．She declined to give more details or to comment on the 3G iPad2．
Apple currently has four full-service Apple stores in the mainland, which receive the most traffic of any Apple stores in the world．The company otherwise relies on resellers to get its products into the market．
The new stores reflect Apple's confidence in rising demand for its products such as smart phones and tablet computers．Sales in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan helped boost(增长)the company's third-quarter results, newly appointed Chief Executive Tim Cook said in July．China revenue(收益)surged(激增)six-fold to about ＄3.8 billion during the three months ended June 25．
“This has been a substantial(重大)opportunity for Apple and I firmly believe that we're just scratching the surface right now,” Cook said at the time, referring to strong sales in China．“I see an incredible opportunity for Apple there．”
From China Daily 2011-09-08
(1)
According to the news, which of the following statements is true?
[ ]
A．
WCDMA is not the only 3G standard in the world．
B．
Apple Inc sells its products in the market of the Chinese mainland all by its own stores．
C．
The consumers in China can only get iPad2 of Wi-Fi versions．
D．
Chinese mainland is the second largest PC market in this year's second quarter．
(2)
Which one of the following phrases can replace the underlined word in paragraph 1?
[ ]
A．
in the interests of
B．
in the front of
C．
in the process of
D．
in the case of
(3)
How many full-service Apple stores in China?
[ ]
A．
4．
B．
6．
C．
8．
D．
Unknown．
(4)
What's the probable meaning of “six-fold” in the last but one paragraph?
[ ]
A．
one-sixth
B．
six times
C．
60 percent
D．
26times
(5)
By saying “we're just scratching the surface right now”, Cook means ________．
[ ]
A．
they don't know much about China's market
B．
they will sell more products and gain more profit in China
C．
they need to obtain more permission from China's government
D．
they ignored the rural market in China
阅读理解
The Weekly Telegraph is Britain’s global newspaper, the home-grown quality newspaper that delivers the best of The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph to the British around the world and adds its special articles, features and reports designed to be of real value to foreign readers．Telegraph．co．uk/expat, the website, increases the value of the newspaper, thus creating a complete expatriate(国外的)support system, both online and offline．
Order a gift subscription(订阅)for a friend or relation overseas this Christmas and they will begin to recognize what a useful investment your subscription represents, and you’ll receive a FREE bottle of 10-year-old Tawny Port to enjoy at home in the UK．
Subscriptions will start early January 2010．Port can only be delivered to a UK address and receivers must be over 18 years of age．
For more details or for 6-month subscriptions, please contact our subscriptions department on Tel +44(0)1622 335080 or email weeklytelegraphsubs@telegraph．co．uk Office hours：09∶00-17∶00 GMT)．
Please contact weeklytelegraphsubs@telegraph．co．uk with any questions regarding your subscription．
Your money back if you are not satisfied
Our “no quibble” money-back policy means that we guarantee to return the money for your subscription in full if you are not satisfied with the first four issues．
YOUR PAYMENT
Select a zone of payment．Price is for 52 issues．
United Kingdom 105.00 GBP(Great Britain Pound)
USA 125.00 GBP
Canada/Australia/New Zealand 108.00 GBP
Zambia/Zimbabwe/Tanzania 85.00 GBP
South Africa 80.00 GBP
Middle East/Europe/Rest of the world 80.00 GBP
(1)
The Weekly Telegraph in the advertisement is mainly intended for ________．
[ ]
A．
the British at home and abroad
B．
the British in the UK
C．
the foreigners in Britain
D．
English learners across the globe
(2)
If you want to receive a free bottle of 10-year-old Tawny Port, you must ________．
a．live in the United Kingdom
b．have an overseas friend who is over 18
c．order a subscription of the Weekly Telegraph
d．offer your friend or relation’s address overseas
[ ]
A．
a, b
B．
c, d
C．
a, c
D．
b, c
(3)
What do we know about the Weekly Telegraph from the passage?
[ ]
A．
The content of it can’t be read online．
B．
One can subscribe to it 24 hours a day．
C．
Your money can partly come back if you’re not satisfied．
D．
The prices for different countries are probably different．
(4)
To order a 6-month subscription for a friend in Tanzania, you should ________．
[ ]
A．
contact the subscriptions department
B．
subscribe to the Daily Telegraph for a year
C．
tell your friend to visit telegraph．co．uk/expat
D．
pay 85.00 GBP
(5)
Which of the following statements is true based on the text?
[ ]
A．
Telegraph．co．uk/expat receives support from online readers only．
B．
Subscriptions of the paper can be made starting from January 2010．
C．
Telegraph．co．uk/expat mainly solve your subscription problems．
D．
US and Middle East readers can enjoy equal price for 52 issues．
阅读理解
A few days ago I asked my son's governess(女家庭教师)Julia to come into my study．“Be seated, Julia,”I said, “Let's settle our accounts．I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you're too polite to mention it．Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month…”
“Forty．”
“No, thirty．I made a note of it．I always pay our governess thirty．Well, um, you've been here two months, so…”
“Two months and five days．”
“Exactly two months．I made a special note of it．That means you have sixty dollars coming to you．Take off nine Sundays…you know you didn't work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks．And three holidays…”Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but－not a word．
“Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars．Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied(从事)only with Dick．Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch．Twelve and seven-nineteen．Take nineteen off…that leaves…hmm…forty one dollars．Correct?”
Julia's left eye reddened with tears welling up．Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but－still not a word．
“Around New Year's Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars．The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but － forget it．When didn't I take a loss! Then, due to your neglect(疏忽), Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten．Also due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick's shoes．You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it．So, that means five more dollars off．The tenth of January I gave ten dollars．”
“You didn't．” sobbed Julia．
“But I made a note of it．”
“Well…if you say so．”
“Take twenty seven from forty one－that leaves fourteen．”
Both her eyes were filled with tears．Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose．Poor girl!
“Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife．Three dollars, nothing more．”
“Really? You see now, and I didn't know that! Take three from fourteen－that leaves eleven．Here's your money, my dear．Three, three, three, one and one．Here it is!”
I handed her eleven dollars．She took them and pocketed them．
“Merci(法语：谢谢),”she whispered．
I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room．I was overcome with anger．“For what, this ‘merci'?” I asked．
“For the money．”
“But you know I've cheated you－robbed you! I have actually stolen from you! Why this ‘merci'?”
“In my other places they didn't give me anything at all．”
“They didn't give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you．．．I m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you．．．Is it really possible to be so spineless(懦弱)?Why didn't you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws(爪)－to be such a fool?”
Embarrassed, she smiled．And I could read her expression, “It is possible．”
I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars．She murmured her little “merci” several times and went out．I looked after her and thought, “How easy it is to crush(压榨)the weak in this world !”
(1)
What shocked the writer was Julia's ________．
[ ]
A．
nervousness in front of her boss
B．
acceptance of injustice(不公平)
C．
shyness when talking about money
D．
unwilling to express herself
(2)
The writer said, “Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws?” He was actually telling the governess ________．
[ ]
A．
to be more aggressive(侵略的)
B．
to be more careful in her work
C．
to protect her right
D．
to live independently
(3)
At the end of the story, the writer said, “How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!” to show ________．
[ ]
A．
his understanding of Julia's anxiety
B．
his worry about Julia's future
C．
his concern on the living condition of working - class people
D．
his sympathy(同情)for the mental state of the weak
(4)
From the story, we can tell that Julia's employer was ________．
[ ]
A．
greedy(贪婪)but honest
B．
ill - tempered but warm - hearted
C．
strict but forgiving
D．
none of the above
阅读理解
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel．Green said,“Clearly I am the most important．I am the sign of life and hope．I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves．Without me, all animals would 1 ．”
Blue interrupted,“You only think about the 2 , but consider the sky and the sea． 3 the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be 4 ．”
Yellow chuckled(笑道),“You are all so serious．I bring laughter, fun, and 5 into the world．”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet,“I am the color of health and strength．I may be 6 , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life．When I fill the sky 7 , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another 8 to any of you．”
Red could stand it 9 and he shouted out,“I am the ruler of all of you．I am the color of danger and of bravery．I am willing to 10 truth．I am also the color of passion and of love．”
Then came Purple and Indigo(深蓝)…．
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own 11 ．Their quarreling became louder and louder．Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder．Rain started to pour down 12 ．The colors crouched(蜷缩)down 13 , drawing close to one another for comfort．
In the midst of the clamor(叫嚷), rain began to speak,“You foolish colors, fighting 14 yourselves, each trying to dominate 15 ．Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, 16 ?Join hands with 17 and come to me．”
Doing as they were told, the colors 18 and joined hands．They formed a colorful rainbow．From then on, whenever a good rain 19 the world, a rainbow appears in the sky．They remember to 20 one another．
