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.
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
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
One of Britain's bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected police killer David Bieber -- and was thanked 21 flowers by the police. It was also said that she could 22___ a share of up to ￡30,000 reward money.
Vicki Brown, 30, played a very important role in 23 the nationwide manhunt. Vicki, who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years, told of her terrible 24 when she had to steal into Bieber's bedroom and to watch him 25 . Then she waited alone for three 26 while armed police prepared to 27 the building.
She said, "I was very nervous. But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen
28 in the car park I was so glad they were there.”
The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious of the guest who 29 in at 3 pm the day before New Year's Eve with little luggage and 30 sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his 31 . She said, "He didn't seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact." Vicki, the only employee on duty, called her boss Margaret, 64, and husband Stan McKale, 65, who phoned the police at 11 pm.
Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston, Gateshead, at about 11:30 pm to make sure that this was the 32 man. Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki
33 15 minutes.
"It was about ten past two in the morning 34 the phone went again and a policeman said ‘Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside?'. My heart missed a 35 ."
Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers 36 passages and staircases to the top floor room and 37 over the key.
"I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel, so I went to watch. I could not see into the man's room, 38 I could see the passage. The police kept 39 at the man to come out with his hands showing. Then suddenly he 40 have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed (带上手铐)。
1. A. to B. with C. in D. at
2.A. charge B. pay C get D. reward
3.A. beginning B. interrupting C. pausing D. ending
4.A. stories B. experience C. moment D. day
5.A. secretly B. happily C. interestedly D. unexpectedly
6.A. seconds B minutes C. hours D. days
7.A. burn B. destroy C. step D. storm
8. A. come up B. crowded up C. lined up D. taken up
9.A. checked B. signed C. ordered D. handed
10. A. stealing B. getting C. wearing D. moving
11.A. shoulder B. face C. stomach D. ankle
12.A. charged B. escaped C. wanted D. found
13.A. each B. other C. every D. another
14. A. when B. while C. which D. that
15.A. knock B. hit C. beat D. slap
16.A. across B. over C. into D. through
17.A. turned B. handed C. stretched D. reached
18. A. and B. or C. therefore D. but
19.A. speaking B. whispering C. shouting D. scolding
20.A. would B. could C. must D. might
Mr. Green's tight _______ made him put off his trip to China.
A. transport B. attitude C. schedule D. appointment
---I'm sorry, were you waiting to be served?
--- No, no, _______.
A. forget it B. after you C. no way D. so long
Last week, my kids along with other kids from the neighbourhood _______ to help me wash
my car.
A. commanded B. contributed C. preferred D. volunteered
He looks so weak and pale ________ suffering from a serious illness.
A. as if B. as long as C. now that D. even if
