题目内容

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 Neuroscience,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 single­syllable word can have several meanings depending on how it is intoned.

For this study,the researchers looked at 20 non­Chinese 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,Patrick C.M.Wong,said it might work both ways. It appears that native speakers of tonal languages may do better at learning instruments.

40. 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

41.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.

42.The underlined word “intoned” in the fourth paragraph can be replaced by the word “____”.

A.created                           B.spelled     

C.seemed                           D.pronounced

43.What would be the best title for this passage?

A.Mandarin Speakers Are Smarter than English Speakers

B.Skilled Ear for Music May Help Language Study

C.Pitch Plays a Central Role in Chinese Learning

D.Schools Need to Develop Music Programs

40.C

41.B

42.D

43.B

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  With its budget of $80 million , John Woo as director, and an all-star cast, Red Cliff is the most expensive and ambitious Asian-financed film ever.Last week I saw the release of the second part, and boy oh boy does it shows.

  But watching the film as a foreigner I felt I was missing out on something.Not knowing my Cao Cao's from my Zhou Yu's, I was not even sure whom I wanted to win.Certainly after the opening scene, in which Cao Cao is seen watching a game of Cuju, an ancient Chinese variation of football, I knew who had my support.After all, any man who enjoys his football is someone after my own heart.But after Cao Cao resorted to some evilness strategies against his enemies in the south, I wasn't so sure he was the man I should be rooting for.

  And there is a lot more to Red Cliff 2 than just extravagant battle scenes.The film does not take itself too seriously.Conversations between leaders are littered with one-liners, many of which had the audience in laughter.There is even enough to keep fans of more romantic entertainment happy too.This includes a charming relationship between a southern spy(侦探)and an innocent northern soldier.The characters' interaction provides some genuinely heart-warming moments in the middle of the battle.

  Clocking in at(结束于)around two hours, the film certainly does justice to the history story.When I walked out the cinema, I felt as drained as Cao Cao's soldiers must have 1,800 years ago.

(1)

By expressing“boy oh boy”in the first paragraph, the author seems to show that ________.

[  ]

A.

the film characters are like boys who are childish.

B.

the film provides amazing and surprising scenes for audience.

C.

the film is suitable for younger boys to watch.

D.

the film scene is so bloody that boys should’t watch it.

(2)

When did the author change his attitude toward Cao Cao?

[  ]

A.

When he read the history story about Cao Cao.

B.

When he saw Cao Cao was watching a game of Cuju,

C.

When he realized that Cao Cao took some bad measures to beat his enemies.

D.

When he saw the romantic love story of Cao Cao and a southern spy.

(3)

The following factors of the film are all mentioned in the passage except ________.

[  ]

A.

high budget

B.

leading roles

C.

actors and actress

D.

conversations

(4)

From the passage we can infer that ________.

[  ]

A.

the author is a football fan in a foreigne countriy.

B.

Cuju is the name of an ancient Chinese variation of football.

C.

the film Red Cliff 2 lasts about two hours.

D.

the author was very tired after about two hours’ battle.

People living in the UK take quite a few holidays abroad and in the country each year. Choices made about where to go, how to get there and what to do can either benefit or harm the environment.

       While on holiday

       Many of the things you can do to the greener on holiday will be the same things you can do at home—but there are also some extra things too, like avoiding gifts made from endangered plants and animals. Here are some suggestions:

       ●Making the most of locally produced food and drink, and local activities and attractions will support people in the area you are visiting and reduce the need for further environmental influence from transport.

       ●Switching off any air conditioning, heating and lights will help reduce climate change effect.

       ●Save water—some countries suffer from water shortages and saving water can help avoid damage to our natural habitats(栖息地).

Endangered species(物种)

       Some gifts and foods available in some countries can be made from endangered plants or animals. Check before you buy, but if you doubt, avoid animal and plant gifts. More details of the types of products to avoid any illegal trade hotspots can be found on the Souvenir Alert webpage.

       Making a positive contribution to the place you are visiting.

       There are ways in which your holiday can help support local people and the environment.

       ●There are many opportunities to volunteer and help with projects that conserve and improve natural habitats.

       ●When you are away, or if you are looking for somewhere to visit, you can support projects or attractions which protect wildlife, such as nature reserves and conservation projects.

According to the passage, we can        to help reduce climate change effect.

A. make good use of water                 B. buy local food and drink

C. save electricity                        D. go around on foot

We should check the gifts and foods before buying because ______.

A. sometimes they are of poor quality

B. they may not be typical local products

C. some of them will do harm to our health

D. they may be made from endangered animals or plants

We can infer from the passage that ______.

A. it is not easy for people to travel abroad

B. not everyone can tell an illegal souvenir

C. green holidays have been accepted by people

D. volunteer work is a must for protecting natural habitats

The passage is mainly about ______.

A. travel enjoyment                   B. the harm to the environment

C. greener choices for holiday           D. protection of endangered animals

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