晚练册 第9周-【晨读晚记】2023-2024学年高二上学期英语阅读强化训练

Week Nine 第9周 晚练 的阅读理解A For anyone connected with a school,the last couple of weeks should have been a pile-up of plays,choir per- formances,and talent shows.But a report found,alarmingly,that 53%of primaries and 63%of secondaries that normally hold a festive concert at the end of the first term did not do so. It is deeply troubling that music is no longer being taught to 11-to-14-year-olds in more than half of state secondaries.And some children get as little as one day of music lesson a year.If this situation is allowed to con- tinue,music-making will become the preserve of those who can afford it.And the intense competition for better academic performance has only sped up this trend.A survey published this month of more than 1,300 music teachers found that a third of British primary schools are not singing,while a quarter have ceased instrumental lessons.Almost three-quarters of primary and two-thirds of secondary schools have cancelled extracurricular music.Though a sharp decline of music provision is due to various social factors,Ofsted(英国s教育标准办公室) appeared to put this down to schools themselves,rather than pointing the finger at the government's silence to educators'appeal. This is very sad and shortsighted.On the most basic level,music aids academic achievements.Research suggests that music-making improves speech and literacy.But academic progress is too narrow a standard of success.In her book,Joan Koenig argues that music is fundamental to a well-functioning society.Besides that, music-making nurtures sympathy and belonging."People stand a much better chance of finding meaning and happiness in their lives if they feel that they belong,"as Koenig puts it."Studies show that group musical prac- tice can create and enhance this feeling.It is when people don't have a sense of belonging that things go wrong." In this time of uncertainty and fear,ensuring that all children can access music-making is a cause deserv- ing meaningful support and attention from minist