Why do people listen to music? The answer may seem simple: making and hearing music is a pleasure. But music touches our lives in many other ways, too.
Music changes our moods (心情)
My brother doesn’t choose music according to what he wants to hear. Instead, he decides what he wants to feel and picks music depending on it. Upbeat (乐观的), bright-sounding music generally makes people feel happy. But some people enjoy listening to sad music. It can be like talking with a friend who understands your sadness. But for some people, sad music can make them feel even sadder.
Music helps us get things done
Do you ever listen to music while you work? I do, and I find that it sometimes helps me concentrate (全神贯注). According to one expert, music can help you pay attention to boring or repeated tasks. But when you are doing tasks that require more thought, music can make them harder.
My mom, a preschool teacher, uses music to manage her class. When she wants to call a child, instead of shouting the child’s name, she sings it. This creates a more active environment, while still getting the child’s attention.
Music brings people together
Music can also bring people closer to each other. This is especially true of music played live (现场直播). Live music often features (以……为特色) a group of people playing different instruments, which makes it a shared experience. Listeners can share the feelings that the song expresses. They also create memories together.
When they hear a certain song, they can be taken back to some points in the past. Therefore music can connect people not only to present people but also to people from their past.
Music is more than just entertainment; it’s a powerful force that influences us in many ways.
1. Which of the following music will not make you happy?| A．Rabbit Dance. | B．Merry Christmas. | C．Moon Reflected on Second Spring. |
| A．Sad music. | B．Listening to sad music. | C．Listening to upbeat music. |
| A．you are doing repeated tasks |
| B．you are doing easy tasks |
| C．the tasks require more thought |
| A．Singing children’s names is impolite. |
| B．Listening to live music can make listeners share their feelings. |
| C．Music can make people become closer. |
| A．doubtful | B．active | C．uncertain |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Hip-hop dancing（街舞）is popular with many young people today. They like it because they can invent their own moves. They use this dance to show their love for life. It also shows that they feel good about life, that they just want to be themselves and enjoy life, and that they are not afraid of problems.
Hip-hop dancing has a history of more than 40 years. It first began in the 1980s in the USA. In early times, in New York and Los Angles, many young black people often danced to the music in the streets. They used their legs, arms, heads and even shoulders to dance. Many young people still use most of these moves today.
Hip-hop dancing became popular all over the world because of the 1983 film Flash Dance. Some people performed（表演）Hip-hop dancing in the movie. People enjoyed their performance. They began to dance like them. Then it became popular There are two kinds of Hip-hop dancing: new school and old school. More and more young people are learning Hip-hop dancing. People believe that it is a good way to exercise their bodies, and that it is good for their health.
1. Young people like Hip-hop dancing because ________.| A．they can make friends while they are dancing |
| B．they think it is modern |
| C．they can invent their own moves |
| D．many young white people often dance it |
| A．in China | B．in the USA | C．in Japan | D．in Australia |
| A．Many old men. | B．Many old women. |
| C．Many old white people. | D．Many young black people. |
| A．in the 1960s | B．in 1983 | C．20 years ago | D．in 1993 |
| A．It’s a bad way to exercise. |
| B．It shows that young people feel bad about life. |
| C．Young people use their dance to show their love for life. |
| D．There are three kinds of Hip-hop dancing. |
【推荐2】In American street dancing is a great outdoor sport for young people to do with a group of friends. Many people bring their radios out onto the streets, and then wait for others to join in.
Step 1：Wear comfortable clothes. Also wear comfortable running shoes that allow you to jump easily. Dancing needs a lot of movements，so it is smart to take care of your feet.
Step 2: Get some music that you can dance to and bring a radio or a CD player.
Step 3: Invite some friends to street dance. Put some music on and start dancing to it. Use your feet as much as possible and make quick movements.
Step 4: Put your arms up to the right, and then move them quickly to the left while turning your body. This will make others start street dancing.
Step 5: Try different movements if possible. Street dancing is all about free-style dancing. You can enjoy yourself while getting exercise by street dancing.
1. Street dancing is a kind of sport for young people.| A．indoor | B．outdoor | C．ball | D．water |
| A．wear comfortable clothes | B．have a radio or a CD player |
| C．invite some friends | D．ask your parents to dance with |
| A．The Steps for Street Dancing | B．Good Ways to Relax after Work |
| C．Young People and Street Dancing | D．How to Keep Safe while Dancing |
【推荐3】Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly as they drive on the street.
Adult (成年的) drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, and the life of American people. Most of the radio programs are music.
Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in many places. Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tape. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.
There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is folk (民间) music. It tells stories about the common (普通) life of Americans. Another is western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music.
1. _______ kinds of music are mentioned (提到) in this passage.| A．Two | B．Three | C．Four |
| A．Music. | B．Sports. | C．The weather. |
| A．make much money |
| B．make a CD or tape |
| C．are loved by all the young people |
| A．common life of Americans |
| B．country life and love stories |
| C．life of cowboys |
| A．Most students in America like popular music. |
| B．Students with cars in America like to listen to music while driving. |
| C．Adult drivers in America listen to music all the time while driving. |
【推荐1】Why do We Yawn?
①Do you yawn? There are about 20 reasons that scientists think are possible for yawning（打哈欠） after research. They do not know exactly why yawning happens, but they do know many facts about yawning.
②We know that everyone yawns in the same way. First you open your mouth slowly. Your mouth stays open for about five seconds. You take in a lot of air and then push it out. Then you quickly close your mouth. We also know that yawning is contagious（有传染性的）. When you see someone yawn, you yawn, too.
③Many people say they yawn because they are bored or tired. That might be true. People do often yawn before they sleep and after they wake up. However, we know that people also yawn when they are excited or nervous. Olympic runners, for example, often yawn before a race. Why is that? In 2007, scientists noticed that a yawn could help a warm brain cool down.
④Some scientists believe that yawning makes you notice things more quickly. When you yawn, you breathe deeply. You also stretch（拉紧） the muscles（肌肉） in your face, mouth, and neck. Your eardrums stretch, too. Maybe this helps you to be quicker to notice things.
⑤In some countries, people think yawning is not nice. People put their hands over their mouths to cover a yawn. In other countries, people think yawning is healthy. They think that opening the mouth very big can let good things in. When they breathe out, they think that bad things go out of the body with the air.
⑥Facts about Yawning are interesting, but scientists do not spend much time studying it. That is probably because yawning does not hurt. It is just something we do.
1. Why do Olympic runners often yawn before a race?| A．A yawn can make them bored or tired. |
| B．A yawn can let good things in. |
| C．A yawn can help them calm down. |
| D．A yawn can stretch the muscles in their faces. |
| A．People use different ways to yawn |
| B．It’s hard to notice things quickly while yawning. |
| C．Scientists will do further research on yawning |
| D．Yawning is contagious |
| A．Reasons for yawning. | B．Advantages of yawning. |
| C．Disadvantages of yawning. | D．Different ideas about yawning. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
【推荐2】These days, teenagers have a lot to deal with, from study pressure and family expectations to concerns about social media and self-image. When pressure takes over, it’s easy to neglect self-care. Here are some tips for keeping your body and mind healthy.
Set aside some time each day to do pressure-reducing activities.
Meditation (冥想) is a good choice because it increases relaxation and concentration. You could add yoga to it too. Yoga helps reduce physical tension and strengthen the mind-body connection. If meditation and yoga aren’t your cup of tea, then try strength training or running. Such exercises have benefits of improving your physical fitness and reducing your anxiety.
Find creative ways to direct your thoughts and emotions.
You could draw, paint, dance, play an instrument, or write poetry, to name a few activities—the choice is yours. But focus on the creative process, which can help you relax, instead of aiming for perfection.
Try to get enough sleep.
Most young adults require eight to nine hours of sleep a night to function at their best. Sleep and wake up at regular times as well so that your body can follow a regular sleep schedule.
Spend time communicating with others.
Self-care activities that involve socializing are also beneficial for mental and physical health. According to scientists, talking with friends about what’s happening in one’s life gives off chemicals in the brain that help improve health. But socializing doesn’t have to be limited to conversations. You could also play board games, work on group art projects, or do volunteer work with your friends.
Connect with nature.
Time spent outdoors can help you lift your mood and look at life from a different angle. So go on a hike, ride your bike, or simply take a walk in the park. Take your eyes off your phone and look at the trees and sky.
Pay attention to your diet.
When it comes to self-care, you should pay special attention to the importance of proper nutrition. A poor diet can leave you feeling weak and unhappy, while a good one energizes you. Try to cut snacks and fast food from your diet, which are typically loaded with salt, sugar, and solid fats. Eat more energy boosting foods like fresh nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
These self-care steps don’t require a lot of time or effort. However, they will do wonders for improving your mental and physical health.
1. According to scientists, why should teenagers spend time talking with friends?| A．It helps improve the relationship between each other. |
| B．It can give off health-improving chemicals in the brain. |
| C．It is helpful for lifting mood and looking at life from a different angle. |
| D．It has the dual benefits of improving teenagers’ physical fitness. |
| A．Cutting down on plastic waste. | B．Going on a hike through a forest. |
| C．Doing volunteer work as part of a team. | D．Playing board games with friends. |
| A．A person. | B．Self-care. | C．Diet. | D．Pressure. |
| A．To show some examples of poor physical and mental health. |
| B．To introduce some ways for teens to better take care of themselves. |
| C．To prove that the benefits of yoga are mostly experienced by young people. |
| D．To offer a choice between activities that help the body and activities that help the mind. |
【推荐3】We all need to exercise. Doctors say exercise is good for us. It makes our heart and body strong. It also gives us more energy. And we will feel better about ourselves. It’s best to exercise three times a week. Twenty minutes each time is enough.
There are many ways to exercise. We can walk, run, play sports, or swim. Many people go to special places to exercise. They are called “fitness centers”. These places have a lot of equipment（设备）. Some people buy equipment for their homes. But it is very expensive.
Exercising can be fun. Friends can exercise together at a fitness center. Or they can play sports together. How do you exercise?
1. What is the main idea?| A．Exercise equipment is expensive |
| B．Playing sports is a good way to exercise. |
| C．Every person should exercise. |
| A．every day | B．30 minutes a week | C．three times a week |
| A．people can buy expensive equipment |
| B．people can do many kinds of exercise |
| C．equipment is very cheap |
| A．Rowing. | B．Swimming. | C．Sports. |
| A．Exercise is expensive. | B．Exercise is good for health. | C．Only doctors exercise. |
