Christian Bucks may be young, but he sure knows how to be a good friend. When the York, Pennsylvania, second-grader noticed that some of his schoolmates didn’t have anyone to play with during the break time, he came up with a way to help them. He suggested having something called a “buddy bench” put in on his school’s playground.

　　A buddy bench is a special bench where students can sit if they are feeling bored or lonely. It’s usually brightly colored with “BUDDY BENCH” in big letters. Other students can then go to the bench and ask them if they would like to play or talk.

　　“We show we care about others when we ask others to play,” Christian told reporters.

　　Christian first learned about buddy benches when his family was considering moving to Germany. He saw a buddy bench in a handbook for a German school and thought it would be a great way to fight loneliness on the playground at his own school, Roundtown Elementary School.

　　Christian told Roundtown’s headteacher, Matthew Miller, about his idea at the end of last school year. Miller immediately decided to get a buddy bench. He had Christian pick out its style and bright colors.

　　“I was the first person who got to sit on the bench when it arrived at Roundtown,” says Christian. He hopes the bench will help “grow our dream circle of friends”.

　　1. Christian Bucks suggested having a buddy bench to help ______.

　　A. his teachers B. his students C. his parents D. his schoolmates

　　2. Christian learned about the buddy bench ______.

　　A. in a textbook B. from his father

　　C. in a handbook D. from his headteacher

　　3. What can we learn from the passage?

　　A. The buddy bench can help to develop friendships.

　　B. The buddy bench is designed and made in Germany.

　　C. Students can realize their dreams on the buddy bench.

　　D. Students love the style and the color of the buddy bench.

　　You change the channels for the fourth time and realize that once again there’s nothing on television that gets your attention. Not a problem! Throw on some running shoes and comfortable clothes and go for a run.

　　One of the coolest things about the sport of running is that you don’t need expensive equipment(装备). All you need is a good pair of running shoes and a safe environment. But just because you don’t need much equipment don’t be fooled into thinking the sport of running is easy. No one wakes up and decides to run a marathon without training.

　　Running makes your heart, lungs, and muscles stronger. It makes you know more about your body. Running also gives you energy by increasing your oxygen(氧气) intake, so you don’t get sick easily. It can even help you keep your mind on school work because exercise helps you to think more clearly.

　　How do you take part in the sport if you don’t know much about it? Most schools offer cross-country and track programs, but there are also running clubs open to all ages. A simple Internet search can help you find some in your area. The programs show you how running can offer competition or just be for fun. They also teach runners to set realistic goals and take care of their bodies.

　　Runners have great respect for each other because they know how difficult the sport can be. If you go to a race, you’ll see people cheering for all the runners, from the first place finisher to the last place finisher. Running isn’t always about how fast you are or how far you’re going. It’s about getting out there and doing it. Taking part is more important than competition, and effort is recognized over gift.

　　If you’re looking for more than just a sport, running may be the perfect choice for you.

　　4. Which of the following is true?

　　A. Running helps you win a marathon.

　　B. Running helps you improve your study.

　　C. Running helps you think more about yourself.

　　D. Running helps you set realistic goals in your life.

　　5. What is the most important for runners in a race?

　　A. Having fun. B. Receiving respect.

　　C. Trying their best. D. Winning the competition.

　　6. What is probably the best title for this passage?

　　A. Running and Runners

　　B. Running: Easy or Difficult

　　C. Running and Watching TV

　　D. Running: a Sport or a Way of Life

　　Beyond Baby Mozart, Students Who Rock

　　Music education hasn’t changed much since the 1970s. Students are still taught to read notation(乐谱) so they can recite compositions that they would never listen to on their MP3 players or play with friends. Playing music enriches life. The question is: Why do schools teach music in a way that turns off so many young people rather than catch their imagination? Can we do a better job of using the power of music to get kids excited about school?

　　The experience of an organization called Little Kids Rock suggests the answer is yes — if we change the way music is taught. Little Kids Rock has helped music programs in over a thousand public schools and served 150,000 children. The organization has given 30,000 free instruments out, mainly guitars, and trained 1,500 teachers to run music classes in which students quickly experience the joys of playing their favorite songs, performing in bands(乐队), and writing their own music.

　　The key to Little Kids Rock is that it teaches children to play music the way many musicians learn to play it — not by notation, but by listening, imitation(模仿) and meaningful experimentation. “The knowledge you need to get started playing rock music is very limited,” explains Dave Wish, the founder of Little Kids Rock. “In high school, my friend Paul taught me a couple of chords(和弦) and my life was changed forever. On the first day of class, Little Kids Rock teachers place guitars in the hands of their students and get them practicing chords that will enable them to play thousands of songs. The kids decide what songs they want to learn and the class is off and running. Their progress is surprising. Within a year, eight and nine-year-olds are playing musical instruments, and giving concerts, even performing their own songs.

　　One of the biggest advantages that music offers is the ability to encourage students who are otherwise bored by school. “I’ve had students start coming back to school because of this program,” said Adkison Thomas, who heads up music for the Dallas Independent School District. He added, “One of the best things is that the teachers discover a new side of their students. They see kids become successful who weren’t before.”

　　7. The expression “turn off” in Paragraph 1 means “______”.

　　A. make kids feel cool B. make kids feel bored

　　C. make kids feel confident D. make kids feel nervous

　　8. How did Little Kids Rock help the school?

　　A. By writing music for kids. B. By playing kids’ favorite songs.

　　C. By making instruments for school. D. By training teachers for music classes.

　　9. Little Kids Rock is successful because ______.

　　A. it encourages kids to experience music

　　B. it helps kids learn from great musicians

　　C. it allows kids to decide how to learn music

　　D. it offers musical programs all over the country

　　10. What does the writer want to tell us?

　　A. Learning music is a good way to become successful.

　　B. Teaching in a proper way benefits students’ development.

　　C. It’s necessary for students to practice a lot in learning music.

　　D. It’s important for teachers to discover the new sides of students.

　　参考答案：1. D 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. C 6. D

　　7. B 8. D 9. A 10. B

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