儿童之声促社会变革

彭向梅

1.choir n. 唱诗班;合唱团

2.apartheid n. 种族隔离

3.multiracial adj. 多种族的

4.riot n. 暴动

Music is shown to improve a childs problem⁃solving skills. Its shown to improve a childs educational experience. Its shown to improve a childs overall mental health. Thats what recent research will tell you. But if you ask Josephine Lee， president and artistic director of the Chicago Childrens Choir， she has found that music can do even more. “Music can bring about social changes，” Lee told The Huffington Post. “From the Civil Rights Movement in the United States to the Anti⁃Apartheid Movement in South Africa， music has played a vital role in uniting people throughout history in the struggle for social justice.”

For that reason， the Chicago Childrens Choir unites thousands of students of diverse backgrounds， aging eight to eighteen， to travel the world and bridge （弥合） cultural divides simply by lifting their voices in song.

This strong social mission has actually been a part of the choir since its founding in 1956.The late Rev. Christopher Moore created the multiracial childrens choir at Hyde Parks First Unitarian Church in response to race riots. But the once 12⁃member choir is now the largest youth choral （合唱的） music education organization in the US， serving more than 3，500 children each year.

“By training singers to connect deeply to music， especially when they sing as a choir— as one voice composed of many—thats how we teach them to connect to the world around them in a meaningful way，” she said. Lee added that she has witnessed the power music has to inspire young people， especially when choir students see first⁃hand that their music surpasses cultural and social boundaries. During the choirs Bridging America tours， singers in the neighborhood choir program travel throughout the country to connect with other young musicians through workshops and performances.

“We are a civic （城市的） treasure，” Lee said. “When the Voice of Chicago travels the world， they are representing our nation， and the music reflects the diversity of our nation—country， jazz， gospel （信仰）， many of which tell stories of struggle.”

1.Whats the meaning of music， according to Josephine Lee？

A.Serving society.

B.Improving childrens health.

C.Promoting childrens education.

D.Helping children to solve the problem.

2.What does the sentence underlined in the last paragraph suggest？

A.Music has played a key place in the struggle.

B.Chicago Childrens Choir has its business value.

C.12⁃member choir becomes the largest education organization in the US.

D.The diversity， the struggle and the unity is spread through childrens voice.

Ⅰ.Important vocabulary in the text

1.bring about 引起

2.in response to 回應

3.compose of 由……组成

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences.

1.历史上，音乐在团结人民争取社会正义的斗争中发挥了至关重要的作用。

Music uniting people throughout history social justice.

2.这个强大的社会使命自1956年合唱团成立以来就一直是合唱团的一部分。

This strong social mission has actually been a part of the choir in 1956.

3.但是这个曾经由12人组成的唱诗班现在是美国最大的青年合唱音乐教育组织，每年为3，500多名儿童提供服务。

But the once 12⁃member choir is now the largest youth choral music education organization in the US， more than 3，500 children each year.