艺术有着不可估量的作用

蓝利霞

To make sense of difficult science， Michael Esson， a second-year student at the Medical College of Wisconsin， often turns to art. When hes struggling to understand the immune（免疫的） system or a rare disease， music serves as a comforter. It helps calm him down， so he can actively choose what to focus on. And his brain is better at absorbing all that science because of the years he spent playing the violin. He thinks there has to be some kind of greater connectivity that art influences his brain.

The idea that art has a measurable effect on the brain and its structure gains support from a growing number of scientific studies. “Creativity is making new connections，” says Ivy Ross， who is the president of hardware design at Google and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art： How the Arts Transform Us. Ross co-wrote the book with Susan Magsamen， a director of the International Arts and Mind Lab.

In Your Brain on Art， Magsamen and Ross describe how a persons neural circuitry（神经回路） changes in response to activities like learning a new song， or a new dance step， or how to play a character onstage.

Magsamen says arts effect on the brain is most dramatic in children. When children are playing music， their brain structure actually changes and their cerebral cortex actually gets larger. Children engaging in arts are better learners. Students with access to art education are five times less likely to drop out of school and four times more likely to be recognized with high achievement.

Music， dance， drawing， storytelling—all of these have been a part of human cultures for tens of thousands of years. As a result， “were really eager for art，” Magsamen says. When People make art， it can increase their brains ability to adapt in response to new experiences. And the art activity also causes the brain to release “feel-good” substance.

（材料出自“NPR”網站，有删改）

1. What will Esson do to understand difficult science？

A. Act as a comforter.

B. Observe his violin.

C. Play his instrument.

D. Refer to the immune system.

2. What can we infer from the second paragraph？

A. Ross is good at designing hardware.

B. Magsamen and Ross are good friends.

C. Ross and Magsamens book has become popular.

D. Magsamen founded the International Arts and Mind Lab.

3. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about？

A. Good structure of the brain.

B. Benefits of kids learning art.

C. Better learners of art schools.

D. Explanation of Magsamens book.

4. What can art activity make people feel？

A. Sad.   B. Moved.    C. Anxious.   D. Pleased.

1. C。解析：推理判斷题。根据材料第一段的第二句“When hes struggling to understand the immune system or a rare disease， music serves as a comforter.”和第四句“And his brain is better at absorbing all that science because of the years he spent playing the violin.”，我们可知，埃森遇到科学方面的困难时，会向音乐求助，拉起他的小提琴。故选C。

2. C。解析：推理判断题。根据材料第二段中的“Ivy Ross， who is the president of hardware design at Google and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art： How the Arts Transform Us. Ross co-wrote the book with Susan Magsamen， a director of the International Arts and Mind Lab.”，我们可知，罗斯和马格萨门共同编写了一本书，它入选了《纽约时报》畅销书排行榜，这说明这本书很受欢迎。故选C。

3. B。解析：主旨大意题。根据材料第四段，我们可知艺术对大脑有着积极的影响，特别是对儿童的大脑。同时，学习艺术的孩子更善于学习；他们的辍学率也更低，未来也可能取得更大的成就。由此可知，第四段的大意是“孩子学习艺术的好处”。故选B。

4. D。解析：细节理解题。根据材料最后一段的最后一句“And the art activity also causes the brain to release ‘feel-good substance.”，我们可知，艺术可以让大脑分泌出让人感觉良好的物质。故选D。