When students and parents are asked to rate subjects according to their importance, the arts are unavoidably at the bottom of the list. Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is viewed as mere entertainment, but certainly not an education priority（优先）. This view is shortsighted. In fact, music education is beneficial and important for all students.   ks5u

Music tells us who we are. Because music is an expression of the beings who create it, it reflects their thinking and values, as well ad the social environment it came influence that George Gershwin and other musicians introduced into their music is obviously American because it came from  American musical traditions. Music expresses our character and values. It gives us identity as a society.   ks5u

Music provides a kind of perception（感知）that cannot be acquired any other way. Science can explain how the sun rises and sets. The arts explore the emotive（情感的）meaning of the same phenomenon. We need every possible way to discover and respond to our world for one simple but powerful reason: No one way can get it all.   ks5u

The arts are forms of thought as powerful in what they communicate as mathematical and scientific symbols. They are ways we human beings “talk” to each other. They are the language of civilization through which we express our fears, our curiosities, our hungers, our discoveries, our hopes. The arts are ways we give form to our ideas and imagination so that they can be shared with others. When we do not give children access to an important way of expressing themselves such as music, we take away from them the meanings that music expresses.   ks5u

Science and technology do not tell us what it means to be human. The arts do. Music is an important way we express human suffering, celebration, the meaning and value of peace and love.   ks5u

So music education is far more necessary than people seem to realize.   ks5u

68. According to Paragraph 1, students   ks5u

A. regard music as a way of entertainment   ks5u

B. disagree with their parents on education   ks5u

C. view music as an overlooked subject   ks5u

D. prefer the arts to science   ks5u]

69. In Paragraph 2, the author uses jazz an example to   ks5u

A. compare it with rock music   ks5u

B. show music identifies a society   ks5u

C. introduce American musical traditions   ks5u

D. prove music influences people’s lifestyles   ks5u

70. According to the passage, the arts and science      .   ks5u

A. approach the world from different angles   ks5u

B. explore different phenomena of the world   ks5u

C express people’s feelings in different ways   ks5u

D. explain what it means to be human differently  

71. What is the main idea of the passage?   ks5u

A. Music education deserves more attention.   ks5u

B. Music should be of  top education priority.   ks5u

C. Music is an effective communication tool.   ks5u

D. Music education makes students more imaginative.   ks5u

A mysterious illness, referred to as “ a typical phenomena”, has been brought under control, the government said on Wednesday, ______ no cause of it has been made public.

A. though       B. when        C. that        D. because

请认真阅读下列短文, 并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。
The word science is heard so often in modern times that almost everybody has an idea of its meaning. However, its definition is difficult for many people. The meaning of the term is confusing, but everyone should understand its meaning and objectives (目标). Just to make the explanation as simple as possible, suppose science is defined as classified knowledge or facts.
Even in the true science, distinguishing fact from fiction is not always easy. For this reason great care should be taken to distinguish between beliefs and truths. There is no danger as long as a clear difference is made between temporary and proved explanations. For example, hypotheses(假设) and theories are attempts to explain natural phenomena. From these positions the scientist continues to experiment and observe until they are proved or discredited. The exact status of any explanation should be clearly labeled to avoid confusion.
The objectives of science are primarily the discovery and later the understanding of the unknown. Man cannot be satisfied with recognizing that secrets exist in nature of that questions are unanswerable; he must solve them. Toward that end, specialists in the field of biology and related fields of interest are directing much of their time and energy.
Actually, two basic approaches lead to the discovery of new information. One, aimed at satisfying curiosity, is referred to as pure science. Sometimes practical-minded people miss the point of pure science in thinking only of its immediate application for economic rewards. However, one should remember that the construction of the microscope had to come before the discovery of the cell. The host of scientists devoting their lives to pure science are not apologetic about ignoring the practical side of their discoveries; they know from experience that most knowledge is eventually applied.
The other is aimed at using knowledge for specific purposes--for instance, improving health, raising standards of living, or creating new consumer products. In this case, knowledge is put to economic use. Such an approach is referred to as applied science.

It is widely known that any English conversation begins with The Weather.Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr.Johnson’s famous comment that“When two English meet，their first talk is of weather.”Though Johnson’s observation is as accurate now as it was over two hundred years ago，most commentators fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weather?speak.

Bill Bryson，for example，concludes that，as the English weather is not at all exciting，the obsession with it can hardly be understood.He argues that“To an outsider，the most striking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.” Simply，the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost unknown in the British Isles.

Jeremy Paxman，however，disagrees with Bryson，arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive.Bryson is wrong，he says，because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena.“The interest is less in the phenomena themselves，but in uncertainty.”According to him，the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsider.

Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weather?speak among the English.Both commentators，somehow，are missing the point.The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all.English weather?speak is a system of signs，which is developed to help the speakers overcome the natural reserve and actually talk to each other.Everyone knows conversations starting with weather?speak are not requests for weather data.Rather，they are routine greetings，conversation starters or the blank “fillers”．In other words，English weather?speak is a means of social bonding.

1.The author mentions Dr.Johnson’s comment to show that________.

A．most commentators agree with Dr.Johnson

B．Dr.Johnson is famous for his weather observation

C．the comment was accurate two hundred years ago

D．English conversations usually start with the weather

2.What does the underlined word “obsession” most probably refer to?

A．A social trend.

B．An emotional state.

C．A historical concept.

D．An unknown phenomenon.

3.According to the passage，Jeremy Paxman believes that________.

A．Bill Bryson has little knowledge of the weather

B．there is nothing special about the English weather

C．the English weather attracts people to the British Isles

D．English people talk about the weather for its uncertainty

4.What is the author’s main purpose of writing the passage?

A．To explain what English weather?speak is about.

B．To analyse misconceptions about the English weather.

C．To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman.

D．To convince people that the English weather is changeable.

When I was an education official in Palo Alto, California, Polly Tyner, the president of our school board, wrote a letter that was printed in the Palo Alto Times. Polly’s son, Jim had great difficulty in school. He was classified as educationally disabled and required a great deal of patience on the part of his parents and teachers. But Jim was a happy kid with a great smile that lit up the room. His parents acknowledged his academic difficulties, but always tried to help him see his strengths so that he could walk with pride. Shortly after Jim finished high school, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. After his death, his mother submitted this letter to the newspaper.

Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known when I talked to him last that it would be the last time. If I had only known I would have said, “Jim, I love you and I’m very proud of you.”

        I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he brought to the lives of the many who loved him. I would have taken the time to appreciate his beautiful smile, the sound of his laughter, his genuine love of people.

       When you put all the good qualities on the scale and try to balance all the irritating phenomena such as the radio which was always too loud, the haircut that wasn’t to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., your angry feelings won’t amount to much. 

        I won’t get another chance to tell my son all that I would have wanted him to hear, but, other parents, you do have a chance. Tell your young people what you would want them to hear as if you knew it would be your last conversation. The last time I talked to Jim was the day he died. He called me to say, “Hi, Mom! I just called to say I love you. Got to go to work. Bye.” He gave me something to treasure forever. 

       If there is any purpose at all for Jim’s death, maybe it is to make others appreciate more of life and to have people, especially family members, take the time to let each other know just how much we care. 

According to the passage, we know that ________. 

A. Jim kept to himself

B. Jim did very well in his studies

C. Jim’s parents were patient with him

D. Jim failed to finish his high school.

The underlined word “irritating” in Paragraph 4 means _________.

A. annoying  B. aggressive   C. impatient    D. thrilling

By writing the letter printed in the Palo Alto Times, the mother intends to ______________.

A. mourn her son’s sudden death in a traffic accident

B. remind people to be cautious of motorcycles

C. advise people to take the chance to express their love in time

D. appreciate more of life than ever before

What can be the best title of the passage?

A. Love your Family             B. Do it Today

C. Walk with Pride              D. Appreciate Smiles