In all the world’s cultures, people sing, play instruments, and celebrate with music. It plays such an important role in our lives that whole fields work hard at its study, including one looking at the biology of music. Experts are finding that because of the way our brains process(处理)  music, learning to play an instrument or just listening to music can have a wide range of benefits.

Music education has received a lot of attention. Learning to play an instrument can help children improve math, science, and language skills. One study in Canada tracked （追踪）children’s IQ scores for nine months, discovering that children who studied music had the biggest test score improvements. The secret may lie in the way reading music and playing notes uses several areas of the brain, helping develop our ability to learn school subjects.

   Music is also used for medical purposes, such as the treatment of diseases which affect memory. Scientists explain that one area near the forehead connects music with memories. That’s why an old song can remind you of something that happened years ago. For patients suffering from certain diseases, listening to music can help unlock memories by building up musical pathways to memories.

Studies of the music-brain connection often concentrate on classical music, since it activates both the left and right sides of brains. One study found the brain activity was the highest during the short breaks between the movements of a piece of music. During each break, the person’s brain predicted what would come next, while organizing what he had just heard. This process is similar to the way our brain organizes information. It may explain why classical music can help improve memory. Some people take the music- brain connection to another level by listening to personalized “brain music.” which can help a person concentrate and prepare for a difficult task.

It’s amazing how attuned our brains are to music. Some scientists even think we’re born with the ability to learn music, just as we all have the skills to learn language. After all, children without any training often make up songs while playing. With the evidence of music’s benefits pouring in, it’s no wonder some countries make music study a part of their education systems. People are realizing that music is more than just a form of entertainment.

56. In the study in Canada, who had the biggest IQ score increase?

   A. The children who did well in science.

   B. The children who had good memories.

   C. The children who had fun learning languages.

   D. The children who studied music for some time.

57. The writer probably agrees that                 .

   A. we get a lot from teaching children to make up songs.

   B. it takes steps to make full use of music-brain connection.

   C. memory can be improved by training to organize information

   D. music treatment helps build up unlocked pathways to memories

58. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

   A. It’s great that our brains go well with music.

   B. It’s wonderful for us to listen to brain music.

   C. It’s surprising that music makes our brains active.

   D. It’s fantastic to know how brains work with music.

59. What may be the best title for the passage?

A. Music and Memory           B. Music and the Mind

C. The Biology of Music         D. The Benefits of Music

The junior high school graduates have to take a P.E. test in many places around China. The full marks are usually 30 points and it means much in the senior high school entrance exam.
In Nanjing, the test is held in April. Students have the test in their own schools. Each student is tested on three sports. They can choose long jump, basketball dribbling (运球) or volleyball. The pull-up is for boys and girls can choose the sit-up. Both boys and girls must skip in the test.
Most students find the test easy and more than 90％of them can get full marks. That’s because they have been training for it during the three whole years. Students in Junior Three usually do lots of practice in P.E. classes. The training makes the test easier than it seems to be.
Students in Nanjing don’t need to run a lot for the test, but students in Beijing must do lots of running for the test. Running is one of the sports in test. So in P.E. classes, they usually run a lot. Sometimes they have to run 3,000 meters in one class. Most teachers and parents welcome the P.E. test. They say it helps students build up their health.
【小题1】The P.E. test in Nanjing includes all of these sports except __________.

The junior high school graduates have to take a P.E. test in many places around China. The full marks are usually 30 points and it means much in the senior high school entrance exam.
In Nanjing, the test is held in April. Students have the test in their own schools. Each student is tested on three sports. They can choose long jump, basketball dribbling (运球) or volleyball. The pull-up is for boys and girls can choose the sit-up. Both boys and girls must skip in the test.
Most students find the test easy and more than 90％of them can get full marks. That’s because they have been training for it during the three whole years. Students in Junior Three usually do lots of practice in P.E. classes. The training makes the test easier than it seems to be.
Students in Nanjing don’t need to run a lot for the test, but students in Beijing must do lots of running for the test. Running is one of the sports in test. So in P.E. classes, they usually run a lot. Sometimes they have to run 3,000 meters in one class. Most teachers and parents welcome the P.E. test. They say it helps students build up their health.
【小题1】The P.E. test in Nanjing includes all of these sports except __________.

阅读下列短文，然后从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出能回答所提问题或完成所给句子的最佳选项。

1 All the information about the writer must be included except his/her     .

      A. school name   B. e-mail address    C. year of birth    D. telephone number

2 What is required for the articles wanted according to the passage?

    A. They must be fully created by the writers themselves.

    B. They must be typed in single space and on both sides.

    C. They must be provided with photos and descriptions.

    D. They must be sent with the copies of texts and pictures.

3 According to the passage, you can send your articles______.

    A. within 3 weeks   B. in July   C. all the year round   D. during the whole term

4  How many ways can you find in the passage to contact School Life?

    A. 1.          B. 2.               C. 3.             D. 4.

5  Who do you think will write articles for School Life?

    A. Parents who wish their kids to be popular writers.

    B. Teachers who love writing and taking photos.

    C. Students who are interested in writing.

    D. Readers who had a happy time in their childhood.