1 . From Mozart to pop music, tons of people enjoy listening to different types of music while they paint, write or draw. Many believe that music helps improve creativity. But an international study by a group of psychologists is challenging that viewpoint.
To come to their conclusions, researchers had participants complete verbal (文字的) problems designed to inspire creativity while sitting in a quiet room.
The tasks were simple word games.
Dr. Melatchie and his colleagues conclude that music interferes with (干扰) the verbal working memory of the brain.
“
| A．And this in turn holds back creativity. |
| B．It has something to do with the positive reaction. |
| C．They say that their findings indicate music actually blocks creativity. |
| D．Then again, they were tested while music was played in the background. |
| E．Before the experiment, the participants didn’t study the music they would listen. |
| F．For example, participants were given three words, such as dress, dial, and flower. |
| G．To conclude, the findings here challenge the popular view that music builds up creativity. |
2 . Many of us listen to music while we work, thinking that it will help us to concentrate on the task at hand. And in fact, recent research has found that music can have beneficial effects on creativity. When it comes to other areas of performance, however, the impact of background music is more complicated.
The idea that listening to music when working is beneficial to output probably has its roots in the so-called “Mozart effect”. Put simply, this is the finding that spatial rotation performance(空间旋转能力) is increased immediately after listening to the music of Mozart, compared to no sound at all.
How sound affects performance has been the topic of research for over 40 years, and is observed through a phenomenon called the irrelevant sound effect. To study irrelevant sound effect, participants in the research are asked to complete a simple task which requires them to recall a series of numbers or letters in the exact order in which they saw them. The tricky thing is being able to do this while ignoring any background noise.
Two key characteristics of the irrelevant sound effect are required for its observation. First, the task must require the person to use their rehearsal abilities(复述能力), and second, the sound must contain acoustical variation(声学变化). Where the sound does not vary much acoustically, the performance of the task is much closer to that observed in quiet conditions.
The irrelevant sound effect itself comes from attempting to process two sources of ordered information at the same time—one from the task and one from the sound. Unfortunately, only the former is required to successfully perform the recall task, and the effort in ensuring that irrelevant order information from the sound is not processed actually hinders(阻碍) this ability.
A similar conflict is also seen when reading while in the presence of lyrical music. In this situation, the two sources of words—from the task and the sound—are in conflict. The cost is poorer performance of the task in the presence of music with lyrics.
What this all means is that whether having music playing in the background helps or hinders performance depends on the task and on the type of music, and only understanding this relationship will help people maximize their productivity levels.
1. “Mozart effect” is mentioned to ________.| A．explain how music can relax people |
| B．show music can improve performance |
| C．advise people to listen to Mozart music |
| D．stress Mozart music gains wide attention |
| A．have improved their rehearsal ability |
| B．perform better in the quiet conditions |
| C．ignore the background noise successfully |
| D．prefer the music with great sound variation |
| A．support an idea | B．make a contrast |
| C．introduce a topic | D．describe a fact |
| A．Music shapes your life |
| B．Music develops your creativity |
| C．Choose quiet music for your work |
| D．Does music make you concentrate? |
3 . In Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, you can find Jamey Turner playing an unusual musical instrument, the glass harp（竖琴）. A glass harp is made up of different sized drinking glasses, each filled with water.
Turner makes music by running his fingers over the tops of the glasses. By doing so, each glass makes a different musical sound. Visitors to Alexandria like what they see and hear. They thank Turner by leaving a dollar or more in his box for donations. Jamey Turner is 78 years old. Turner became interested in playing the glass harp at the age of six, when he heard his father playing with a glass of water at the dinner table. He has been playing it for 50 years.
Today Turner puts together his instrument by placing 60 different glasses on a wooden soundboard. He holds the glasses in place with rubber bands, which keeps them from breaking. He then adds different amounts of water to each one to create different musical notes. Adding or taking away just a little water will change the sound. Adding water to a glass will make a lower sound. The smaller bowls of water produce a higher sound, while the larger ones produce a lower, deeper sound.
Turner always uses low-priced glass because it sounds better than costly crystal(水晶) and he has more control over the sound. Before buying new glasses, he will test them in stores. He decides if they produce the right sound by rubbing his finger over the top of them.
The glass harp was popular 300 years ago when composers like Wolfgang Mozart wrote music for the instrument. There have been about 400 pieces of music written just for the glass harp. But Turner plays all kinds of music, even popular music from China. Few people play the glass harp these days, but Turner says he sees videos of people experimenting with the instrument on YouTube. He hopes the next generation will continue making its music.
1. What do visitors think of Jamey Turner's performance?| A．Boring. | B．Attractive. | C．Special. | D．Common. |
| A．By beating the glasses in different parts. | B．By placing the glasses on a wooden board. |
| C．By adding or reducing water in the glasses. | D．By holding different glasses with rubber bands. |
| A．Little music is written for the instrument. |
| B．People are trying to play the instrument online. |
| C．Few people are playing the instrument these days. |
| D．The instrument cannot produce some beautiful sounds. |
| A．Making Music by Playing Glasses | B．Special Sounds from Glasses |
| C．Devotion to Playing Glasses for Fun | D．Fingers over the Tops of the Glasses |
4 . If you're planning on hitting up a festival this summer, make sure you check out the latest packing guide to camping music festivals.
Quebec City Summer Festival
When: July 4-14
Where: Toronto, Quebec
300 shows, 10 places and 11 days of music make this festival one of Canada's biggest music festivals. Every year, this festival attracts over one million festivalgoers to Quebec City's historic district for concerts by international superstars and top new talents.
Center of Gravity
When: July 28-30
Where: Kelowna, British Columbia
Canada's hottest beach festival is back! Now in its 10th year, the biggest and exciting festival to hit the Okanagan includes three days packed with extreme sports, sandy beaches, and some of the biggest DJ names in the world.
Future Forest
When: August 5-7
Where: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Future Forest is an outdoor camping festival with a focus on electronic music. The festival originated in 2012 as a fundraiser for a brilliant DJ, Jay Hamilton, who was diagnosed with cancer. Future Forest proudly shows the idea that there are no audience at the event but rather participants who in some way contribute to the overall experience.
Shambhala Music Festival
When: August 9-10
Where: Salmo River Ranch, British Columbia
This is Canada's earliest electronic music festival. Cutting edge talent, lights and sound come together to give life to this event. Seeing it for yourself is the only way to understand exactly what is Shambhala.
1. What can people do in the Quebec City Summer Festival?| A．Enjoy the performances of superstars. | B．Learn about Quebec City's history. |
| C．Do some extreme sports. | D．Play on the sandy beaches. |
| A．To honor brilliant Jay Hamilton. | B．To raise money for a cancer patient. |
| C．To provide outdoor camping activities. | D．To promote electronic music. |
| A．Quebec City Summer Festival. | B．Center of Gravity. |
| C．Future Forest. | D．Shambhala Music Festival. |
5 . Art, Culture & Performances in Arizona
Art on the Wild Side
Three of Arizona’s favorite painters will exhibit their latest works inspired by the natural world in their unique styles. Through this exhibit, guests can engage in the Zoo’s mission to care for the natural world.
Date: February 1-April 31, 2020
Location: 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Price: $90
Always... Patsy Cline
Always... Patsy Cline is a musical play, complete with country humor, true emotion, and even some audience participation, includes many of Patsy’s unforgettable hits such as “Crazy” “I Fall to Pieces”, “Sweet Dreams”, and “Walking After Midnight”... 27 songs in all!
Date: June 14-21, 2020
Location: Hale Theater, 50 West Page Avenue, Gilbert, AZ 85233
Price: $65
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Best friends Valentine and Proteus choose different paths in life only to run into each other again when they both fall in love with the same woman. The Two Gentlemen of Verona is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays, his first comedy and also one of the most rarely performed plays in the canon.
Date: July 18-25, 2020
Location: Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, 7014 E Camelback Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Price: $28
Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore is giving a concert in our city! She is touring to support her upcoming album. Mandy's seventh studio work Silver Landings set to be released on September 6.
Date: September 27-October 3, 2020
Location: 111 N 3rd St Phoenix, AZ 85004
Price: $42
1. When can you go to an exhibition of paintings?| A．In March. | B．In June. | C．In July. | D．In September. |
| A．Art on the Wild Side. | B．Always... Patsy Cline. |
| C．The Two Gentlemen of Verona. | D．Mandy Moore. |
| A．$28. | B．$42. | C．$65. | D．$90. |
6 . Research indicates that some orchestral(管弦乐的) instruments are in danger of dying out. YouGov research, asked by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) to find the most popular instruments among schoolchildren, has revealed the increasing popularity of the ukulele (尤克里里琴), with one in eight expressing a desire to learn, making it the highest ranked instrument behind the typical rock-band grouping of the guitar, piano, keyboards, drums and bass guitar.
But younger generations’ interest in “more complex instruments” is decreasing, with the three least popular being the French horn, the double bass and the trombone.
James Williams, managing director of the RPO, believed the changes reflect the increasing pressure schools are under to provide music education, and went on to say that more needs to be done to interest secondary school students in the wider range of instruments. His concern was for the composition of future orchestras , should the trend towards instruments like rock-band grouping be allowed to continue. But there may be yet another death, one that few would be quick to sorrow over: the recorder (竖笛).
Cheap, convenient, easy to learn, and suitable for individual and group performances, the recorder was once the go-to instrument for children’ s early musical education. But in many schools it has been replaced by the ukulele, which, for teachers, offers many of the same benefits with none of the lasting damage to hearing. Plus, from a student’s viewpoint: you can play Metallica on one.
Not all hope is lost for the cream-colored, 10-pound Yamaha recorder with a long history, however. About 13% of girls and 4% boys surveyed by YouGov said they wanted to learn the recorder.Surprisingly high! Unlikely as it may be, these children’s interest in the recorder must be inspired.
1. What does YouGov research suggest?| A．Schoolchildren determine the popularity of music. |
| B．The ukulele is the most popular with students. |
| C．Students generally prefer rock-band instruments. |
| D．Orchestral instruments will disappear in the future. |
| A．Stop teaching children to play rock and roll. |
| B．Find means to inspire students’ interest in them. |
| C．Spend much more school time on music education. |
| D．Offer free orchestral instruments to the public. |
| A．Because users can enjoy more advantages from it. |
| B．Because the music played on it is more appealing. |
| C．Because it is much cheaper and easier to learn. |
| D．Because it stands for the world’s music tendency. |
| A．Many children choose recorders as expected. |
| B．It’s time for younger learners to save music. |
| C．We should respect children’s choices for instruments. |
| D．Recorders still have the potential for a bright future. |
7 . Throughout history, music spread among people of different cultures. In today’s technological advanced society, however, people spread music online, sometimes without an artist’s permission. This can lead to many problems, and music companies are now cracking down on this practice. Sharing music online without permission is theft.
Sharing music online prevents recording companies from making money from their efforts. They say that sharing music online has resulted in a huge drop in profits and sales over the past 10 years. People who find music for free online are not paying for CDs or every MP3 downloaded. To truly understand the influence of music piracy (盗版行为) on creators, one must understand how many people are involved in the recording process. For the sale of each album, profits must be shared between musicians, sound engineers, music producers, managers, advertisers, and the company selling the product. Many people believe sharing music only affects the recording artist, but the reality is that sharing hurts business for all companies involved.
There are many people who don’t see the harm in sharing music online and even think they have the right to do it. One online blogger states that he originally paid for an entire CD and that he should be able to do with the material whatever he wants. While he may have legally paid for the music, he does not have the right to provide permission, which means people like the blogger are thieves.
Although we don’t spread today’s music the same way we did before, there’s no doubt that people around the world love to share music. However, internet piracy would prevent musicians from continuing producing albums for fear of theft. Therefore, if people want to continue listening to their favorite artists, they need to buy their music so that artists will make enough profit to continue their music careers.
1. The underlined phrase “cracking down on” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ___________.| A．bringing up carefully | B．speaking highly of |
| C．dealing seriously with | D．destroying completely |
| A．Artists are taking action to protect their right. |
| B．Sharing music files online affects a lot of people. |
| C．Online music sharing increases sales of music CD. |
| D．A person who bought a CD has the right to share it online. |
| A．Topic—Argument—Explanation. |
| B．Opinion—Discussion—Description. |
| C．Main idea—Comparison—Supporting statements. |
| D．Introduction—Supporting statements—Conclusion. |
| A．Music piracy is kind of theft. | B．Sharing music is Acceptable. |
| C．Downloading music should be punished. | D．Music piracy is good for music lovers. |
8 . For some people,music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes(音调). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.
As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music sets them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret,a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.
Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn't involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see. certain colors.
Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed(诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say,” No thanks, I'm amusic,'“says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”
1. Which of the following is true of amusic?| A．Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them. |
| B．They love places where they are likely to hear music. |
| C．They can easily tell two different songs apart. |
| D．Their situation is well understood by musicians. |
| A．dislikes listening to speeches |
| B．can hear anything nonmusical |
| C．has a hearing problem |
| D．lacks a complex hearing system |
| A．her problem with music had been diagnosed earlier |
| B．she were seventeen years old rather than seventy |
| C．her problem could be easily explained |
| D．she were able to meet other amusics |
| A．Amusics' strange behaviours. |
| B．Some people's inability to enjoy music. |
| C．Musical talent and brain structure. |
| D．Identification and treatment of amusics. |
9 . Find your new favorite West End musicals, from heartwarming adaptations and award-winning scores to extremely funny musicals and must-see London shows.
 | The Lion King Enjoy songs such as Circle Of Life. The award-winning adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King features music by Elton John, plus outstanding costumes and wonderful special effects. The Lion King delights all ages with rhythms of Africa and touching stories of love and life. Prices from £43.05 Call 077-533-0589 for Booking! |
 | The Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical, The Phantom of the Opera, tells the tale of a shadowy character who attempts to make Christina the leading lady of the Paris Opera. With a fantastic plot and breathtaking scene, this long-running show is one of the must-see musicals in London. Prices from £30.75 Call 077-916-4545 for Booking! |
 | Thriller–Live See Thriller–Live, a musical in memory of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. The show joined London’s West End after three UK tours and popularity across Europe. Celebrate the career of the King of Pop during non-stop hits at this top London theatre show. Prices from £32.72 Call 077-816-3148 for Booking! |
 | School of Rock Rock out at this award-winning new musical. Based on the 2003 movie, School of Rock follows the story of Dewey Finn and his discovery to transform a class of A-grade students into a real rock group. But will they make it to the Battle of the Bands? Booking until Feb. Prices from £18.00 Call 077-317-8315 for Booking! |
 | Matilda The Musical Be wowed by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning production of Matilda The Musical. Roald Dahl’s celebrated story bursts into life in this West End musical by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin. Children and adults alike will be delighted by the little girl with an extraordinary imagination. Prices from £24.00 Call 077-517-8367 for Booking! |
1. The Phantom of the Opera is special because of its _____.
| A．excellent costumes | B．experienced actors |
| C．attractive story | D．beautiful songs |
| A．The Phantom of the Opera. | B．Matilda The Musical. |
| C．School of Rock. | D．Thriller–Live. |
| A．To analyze musicals. | B．To criticize musicals. |
| C．To advertise musicals. | D．To evaluate musicals. |
10 . As you move out of your teens and into your 20s and 30s, your musical tastes start to solidify and you likely quit keeping up with popular music. Now, research has found the average age at which your music library is unlikely to change: 33.
The study's author reached this conclusion by analyzing data on U. S. Spotify users and comparing it to artist popularity data from music intelligence company The Echo Nest.
To determine the age at which we stop seeking out new tunes, the author gathered self-reported age data from Spotify and looked at users' " Taste Profiles," which tracks how many times listeners have streamed individual artists. These artists were then matched to their popularity rank on The Echo Nest.
The average teen listens almost only to music among the Billboard, the 200 highest-ranking albums in the country, but this music represents a smaller part of their streaming as they age. In their teens, they listen to a lot of the same music, over and over again. Frank T. McAndrew, a professor of psychology at Knox College, explains that's the "mere exposure effect" at work, and it basically means, the more we're exposed to something, the more we like it.
There are many reasons why a person may stop streaming the current top musical hits, and the author looked into one by identifying Spotify listeners with large amounts of children's music and nursery rhymes in their libraries. In other words, when users may have become parents.
But the study concludes with some good news for parents: “If you're getting older and can't find yourself staying as relevant as you used to, have no fear — just wait for your kids to become teenagers, and you'll get exposed to all the popular music of the day once again!”
1. What happens after teens grow older?| A．They quit listening to music. | B．Their interest in music fades. |
| C．They change their music libraries. | D．Their musical tastes become stable. |
| A．Interviews. | B．Analyzing data. |
| C．Observation. | D．Tracking popularity. |
| A．They listen to what they like repeatedly. |
| B．They act like their favorite popular stars. |
| C．They experience different styles of music. |
| D．They like high-ranking music worldwide. |
| A．Parents will regain their faith in music. |
| B．Parents will influence their teens in music. |
| C．Parents will hear their favorite music again. |
| D．Parents will enjoy the music for teens again. |
