Do you play a musical instrument? If so, you may be getting smarter. A recent study shows that taking music lessons can raise a person’s IQ.
Scientists studied 132 children in Canadian schools. At the beginning of the school year, these children took an IQ test. Then they were divided into four groups. One group took singing lessons. Another group took weekly piano lessons. The third group took classes in drams(戏剧). And the last group did no special activities at all.
At the end of the school year, the 132 children took an IQ test again. In all four groups, the average score went up. However, the piano players’IQs went up 7.0 points on average. The average increase for the other three groups was only 4.3 points.
The researchers say that the difference is small and it may not result in better grades for the piano players. However, they still consider the results important. Learning an instrument helps kids becomes better at concentrating and at memorizing things. Therefore, the researchers say, it may be good for brain development in young people.
If you have a chance to learn to play a musical instrument, never miss it. Remember it can make you smarter.
【小题1】 Which of the following is NOT true of the study?

Do you want to know something about chil­dren in Africa? What to they do for fun every day? Find out here:
Education
School is expensive for many African children. Lots of families can’t afford school uniforms or ex­ercise books even though they don’t have to pay for school.
For those lucky enough to go to school , they have a lot to learn. Some take two language clas­ses: English or French, and their first language. There is also math, science, history, social studies and geography. Chores take up much of children’s time after school. They have to get water and fire­wood for the family every day. Also there’s clean­ing , washing and helping Mum with the meal.
Daily fun
It’s not all work and no play. Sports are very popular. Children can make goals with twigs ( 嫩树枝)and their own footballs with plastic and bits of string ( 绳子 ). They play in the country and the streets of old towns. There’re many football teams for teenagers in Africa.
Internet
It’s really expensive to get on the Internet. To surf the net for 20 hours costs over 600 yuan. This is more than the average (平均的) monthly pay per person.
Egypt and South Africa are the top two users of the Internet in Africa. All of the capital cities there can get on the Internet.
Some schools offer computer lessons but few students can enjoy computer fun at home.
【小题1】 The underlined word "Chores" probably means

Do you like to sit in front of the computer and play computer games hour after hour? Have you ever thought of what that may be doing to your health? More and more children are becoming overweight(肥胖的) and growing less creative because they spend too much time in front of the computer according to a survey.

    Last week Child Protective Services(儿童保护组织)in America organized an activity. The aim of the activity was to encourage children to do some outdoor activities instead of playing computer games at home. Many American children spend about 1,000 hours a year playing computer games — more time than they spend in school. As a result, they are overweight. Some of them have very poor eyesight, and they can’t see clearly.

   Everyone should pay attention to his health and try to keep healthy. The doctor says that the longer children play computer games, the more overweight they may become. And the junk food children eat while they’re playing computer games makes the weight problem more serious.

   To keep fit, children need to take exercise regularly, play outside with friends, and explore the world around them. Can you spend two weeks without playing computer games? It might be difficult for computer lovers, but why not have a try?

1.Children may become______ if they play computer games all day.

A. much younger     B. much lighter        C. less creative      D. less careful

2.American children may spend______ hours in school a year according to the passage.

A. less than 1,000    B. more than 1,200     C. about 1,500      D. about 2,000

3.The underlined word “eyesight” means “______” in Chinese.

A.凝聚力          B. 想象力            C. 记忆力          D. 视力

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Playing computer games has caused some health problems.

B. Playing computer games can make children cleverer and more creative.

C. Child Protective Services in America organized an activity for parents.

D. Child Protective Services asked children to study at home and not to play outdoors.