Specialist Music Schools
How to cope with a child who shows outstanding musical ability? It's not always clear how best to develop and encourage their gift. Many parents may even fail to recognize and respond to their child's need until frustration explodes into difficult or uncooperative behavior. And while most schools are equipped to deal with children who are especially able in academic subjects, the musically gifted require special understanding which may not always be available in an ordinary school especially one where music is regarded as a secondary activity. Such children — as well as those whose ability is actively encouraged by parents or teachers — may well benefit from the education offered by a specialist music school.
The five music schools in Britain are a relatively recent introduction. They aim to provide a sympathetic environment in which gifted children aged between seven and eighteen can develop their skills to the full under the guidance of professional musicians.
Children at specialist music schools spend between one third and one half of an average day on musical activities, for example, individual lessons (up to three hours a week on first and second instruments), orchestras, chamber groups, voice training, conducting and theory. They also spend several hours a day practicing in properly equipped private rooms, sometimes with a teacher. The rest of their time is taken up with a restricted academic program, which tends to concentrate on the essential subjects — English, math, basic sciences and languages — ¬although provision can be made for students who wish to study a wider range of subjects. All five British specialist schools are independent, classes are small by normal school standards, with a high teacher/pupil ratio. Most children attending specialist schools tend to be boarders, leaving home to live, eat and sleep full-time at school. This means they spend their formative years in the company of others with similar aims and interests.
What are the disadvantages? An obvious problem is the cost, the fees are high (£ 12,000〜£ 17,000 a year for boarders). However, each school will make every effort with scholarships and other forms of financial assistance, to help parents of outstandingly gifted children to find the necessary fees. Secondly, not all parents want to send their children to boarding school, specially at a very early age. Almost all the directors of the specialist schools express doubts about the wisdom of admitting children as young as seven into such an intense and disciplined environment. They stress, however, that their main aim is to turn out ‘rounded and well-balanced individuals’.
1. If a child's musical ability is not recognized ___.
2. What problem may musically gifted children face in ordinary schools?
3. What makes specialist music schools different from other schools?
4. What do most school directors see as a possible disadvantage for pupils?
5. The underlined word ‘sympathetic’ in paragraph two means___.
第1题:
1.细节事实题。由题干可以定位到文章第一段中 “Many parents may even fail to recognize and respond to their child's need until frustration explodes into difficult or uncooperative behavior.”中文翻译为：许多父母甚至没有意识到并回应孩子的需求，直到挫折感爆发成困难或不合作的行为。可以得知B选项“孩子可能会行为不端”符合题意。
2.细节事实题。由题干关键词 “in ordinary schools” 可以定位到原文第一段“And while most schools are equipped to deal with children who are especially able in academic subjects, the musically gifted require special understanding which may not always be available in an ordinary school especially one where music is regarded as a secondary activity.” 中文翻译为：虽然大多数学校都有能力培养在学科方面特别有能力的孩子，但是音乐天才需要特殊的理解力，这在普通学校是不可能做到的，尤其是在音乐被视为次要活动的学校里。因此可知A选项“音乐不被视为一门重要的学科”为正确答案。
3.细节事实题。由题干可以定位到文章第三段“Children at specialist music schools spend between one third and one half of an average day on musical activities, for example, individual lessons (up to three hours a week on first and second instruments), orchestras, chamber groups, voice training, conducting and theory.” 中文翻译为：个人课程（每周最多三个小时学习第一和第二乐器）、管弦乐、室内乐团、声音训练、指挥和理论。可知C选项“半天以上的时间都花在了音乐上。”错误，以及D选项“提供一系列的音乐培训”符合题意。
4.细节事实题。由题干关键词“school directors”可以定位到文章最后一段“Almost all the directors of the specialist schools express doubts about the wisdom of admitting children as young as seven into such an intense and disciplined environment.” 中文翻译为：几乎所有专业学校的负责人都对让7岁大的孩子进入如此紧张、纪律严明的环境的做法表示怀疑。故选A“他们可能在到达（学校）时还不够成熟。”
5.词汇题。根据题干关键词“sympathetic”可以定位到根据文章第二段“They aim to provide a sympathetic environment in which gifted children aged between seven and eighteen can develop their skills to the full under the guidance of professional musicians.” 中文翻译为：他们的目标是提供一个富有同情心的环境，让7 - 18岁的超常儿童在专业音乐家的指导下充分发展他们的技能。sympathetic意为“富有同情心的”，判断出答案为A项。
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