1 . The ability of music to evoke (唤起) specific, often powerful feelings is no secret to anyone who has listened to Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No.5”, Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child”, the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated”, Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” or any of the other countless compositions that have found their way onto Western playlists in the past few centuries.
The emotional effects of music are the point, of course. They are also the subject of a fast-growing field of research around the world in which scientists are exploring the nature of the many “subjective experiences” — such as joy, sadness, anxiety and calmness — that music evokes.
In a recent set of experiments, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and their colleagues sought to determine if the feelings that people experience when listening to music “show evidence of universality”. They compared and analyzed how more than 2,800 U. S. and Chinese study participants responded to 2,168 (mostly Western) samples of instrumental music. The team identified 13 distinct and very specific feelings that the Chinese and U. S. subjects shared when listening to music, despite their cultural differences.
The music used in the research, described in the paper as “the richest set of Western music samples ever studied,” included classical, pop, rock, indie, hip-hop, R&B, country, film soundtracks, and more. An additional 189 sample of traditional Chinese music was also used. In all, the researchers gathered 375,230 judgments of the samples from the study participants.
In the first experiment, subjects listened to Western music samples (each of which was just five seconds long) and reported on the specific feelings they evoked, choosing responses from a list of 28 “categories of subjective experience” provided by the researchers. Terms on the list included “victorious/heroic”, “sad/depressing”, “joyful/cheerful”, “awe-inspiring/amazing” and “dreamy”. The team then used data-driven statistical modeling to identify the 13 shared experiences. The second experiment, which included the Chinese music, involved broad evaluations of the samples by participants—such as whether the subjects liked or disliked them or found them exciting or not. A central finding of the study, the researchers write, is that specific feelings “drive the experience of music” more than the broader features.
1. Why does the author mention these songs in the first paragraph?A.Because they all have strong musical emotional effects. |
B.Because their loop playback rates are very high. |
C.Because they have all become world-renowned songs. |
D.Because they have won countless awards. |
A.Music can directly express people’s true emotions. |
B.Music should have a variety of styles. |
C.Music will easily ease people’s various emotions. |
D.Music can produce significant emotional effects. |
A.People’s taste in music. |
B.Differences in Chinese and Western Music. |
C.The universal feelings of different music. |
D.The great influence of music on people. |
A.In the first experiment, people shared their experiences with each other. |
B.In the first experiment, people chose how they felt from a list provided by the researchers. |
C.In the second experiment, people need to write down the types of songs. |
D.In the second experiment, people need to sing the songs. |
2 . Depending on your view, the recorder (竖笛) is an instrument of “incredible functions” or a tool of annoyance that has bothered primary schools for too many generations. But now, it faces extinction, with one of the UK’s top music schools reporting an 80% decline in the number of young people playing it in the last 10 years.
The instrument’s future is so imperilled that the European Recorder Teachers Association is trying to bring it back to life again so it does not go the way of the lute. The ERTA argues that if the recorder was good enough for the Beatles, it has a place in modern music today. Tom Redmond, the principal of Chetham’s school of music in Manchester, said only three of its pupils practised the recorder, compared with 15 a decade ago. “More pupils were taking up the piano or other instruments,” said Redmond. “The ones that became really popular are the ones students spend more time playing alone. With the instruments being more socially or orchestral based, there has been a decline.”
Redmond also said that this problem extended “beyond the recorder itself” and was a mirror of the future of music. “Like removing any plant or animal from an ecosystem, removing the recorder has a huge ripple effect (连锁反应) beyond just the instrument. You need these instruments to create the inspiration for music, and without that, there is less excitement for it and to learn music,” he said. Chris Orton, a recorder tutor and chair of the ERTA, is leading the fight against the instrument’s extinction. He said, “The recorder is increasingly overlooked by students, and yet it has a rich history and incredible attractions. As well as making beautiful sounds, it’s an accessible instrument in that it is low-cost compared to other woodwind instruments, and it’s light and easy to carry.”
1. What does the underlined word “imperilled” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Bright. | B.Distant. | C.Confusing. | D.Endangered. |
A.The piano is easier to learn than the recorder. |
B.Music education is necessary for all students. |
C.The recorder plays an important role in music. |
D.Nature is a rich source of inspiration for musicians. |
A.It needs to be improved. | B.It is very difficult to play. |
C.It deserves more attention. | D.It is a top choice for students. |
A.The Recorder is Heading for Extinction | B.Music is Increasingly Influencing the Youth |
C.Technology Brings New Life to Instruments | D.The UK Fights Against the Recorder’s Fate |
3 . Morning exercises started. The students at Coqen County Middle School in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region eagerly
Under the
This dance, originating from Cishi Township several hundred years ago,
To keep its nearly 700 students
“Many students come from rural areas but only a few are
By
“Not only is the class more cohesive (有凝聚力的), but the
A.played | B.approached | C.rushed | D.gathered |
A.devoted | B.operated | C.accepted | D.related |
A.confirmation | B.guidance | C.declaration | D.account |
A.breath | B.energy | C.behavior | D.conduct |
A.exists | B.requires | C.offers | D.recommends |
A.responsible | B.available | C.beneficial | D.suitable |
A.active | B.sensitive | C.frank | D.patient |
A.live up to | B.kept in contact with | C.gave away to | D.teamed up with |
A.attracted | B.awarded | C.charged | D.permitted |
A.familiar | B.content | C.concerned | D.generous |
A.Typically | B.Remarkably | C.Surely | D.Unfortunately |
A.routes | B.styles | C.categories | D.steps |
A.adopting | B.introducing | C.adapting | D.describing |
A.enthusiasm | B.identification | C.belief | D.principle |
A.challenge | B.impression | C.relationship | D.arrangement |
4 . Have you seen the incredible guitar playing of man born with no arms? The musician who was born without arms is being
Mark Goffeney, 46 of San Diego, who is
Mark devoted every waking hour to searching his town and trying to join a
Things were
Today, Mark
A.praised | B.prepared | C.chosen | D.named |
A.arms | B.hands | C.feet | D.fingers |
A.treated | B.ignored | C.known | D.served |
A.suffering | B.injury | C.courage | D.disability |
A.dealt with | B.took up | C.set down | D.picked out |
A.guitar | B.piano | C.violin | D.drum |
A.doubtful | B.worried | C.curious | D.serious |
A.society | B.band | C.party | D.family |
A.comments | B.activities | C.difficulties | D.chances |
A.encouraging | B.interesting | C.easy | D.tough |
A.paused | B.changed | C.happened | D.formed |
A.stopped | B.began | C.enjoyed | D.finished |
A.figuring | B.working | C.looking | D.trying |
A.connects | B.meets | C.performs | D.communicates |
A.donated | B.required | C.charged | D.raised |
1. Question 1:
A.Ballet. | B.Modern dance. | C.Tango. |
A.Tom. | B.Shelley. | C.Mary. |
A.To improve her dance skill. | B.To teach others to dance. | C.To enjoy the free lessons. |
6 . This is a song millions of Americans will hear this New Year’s Eve. It is called Auld Lang Syne (《友谊地久天长》). It is the traditional music played during the New Year’s celebration. Auld Lang Syne is an old Scottish poem. It tells about the need to remember old friends.
The words “auld lang syne” mean “old long since”. No one knows who wrote the poem first. However, a version by Scottish poet Robert Bums was published (出版) in 1796. The words and music we know today first appeared in a songbook three years later.
The song is played in the United States mainly on New Year’s Eve. The version (译文) you are hearing today is by the Washington Saxophone Quartet. As we end our program with Auld Lang Syne. I would like to wish all of our radio friends a very Happy New Year! This is Buddy Thomas. (from www.zkenglish.com)
1. Where is this passage from?A.A newspaper. | B.A magazine. |
C.A TV program. | D.A radio program. |
A.Robert Bums. | B.The Washington Saxophone Quartet. |
C.Buddy Thomas. | D.The passage doesn’t tell us. |
A.In 1790. | B.In 1793. | C.In 1796. | D.In 1799. |
The virtual choir was the idea of award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. Born in the USA on 2 January 1970, Whitacre began
In 2009, Whitacre received a video of a girl who was singing one of his works.
Many people while they are at home alone imagine having the opportunity
9 . Music is arguably the most life-enriching academic subject.
Increase language capabilities
Music and language have a far-reaching relationship. Musical training stimulates the same part of the brain that deals with understanding language. Children who have some exposure to music al education will, therefore, have a greater understanding of tones and how different phrases are arranged.
Improve hand-eye coordination (协调)
Music is a great way for your child to meet new people and create lasting friendships. If they decide to take up music as an extracurricular (课外的) activity, they’ll be bonding with like-minded children who share their passion. In a time when children are increasingly interested in communicating online and focusing on digital skills, music is a refreshing return to face-to-face contact.
Bring about a sense of achievement
When your child does achieve a musical goal, they get the incredible satisfaction that comes from working hard to obtain something.
A.Develop social skills |
B.Encourage teamwork |
C.In that sense, music is a great confidence builder |
D.Hand-eye coordination is important in many sports |
E.Learning an instrument to a high level is no easy task |
F.It activates emotional responses and creativity like no other |
G.It can be incredibly useful if your child is learning a second language |
1. What is the woman’s main interest for the future?
A.To teach music in school. |
B.To become a pop singer. |
C.To sing in a band. |
A.He’ll lend her some money. |
B.He’ll give her a career contract. |
C.He’ll introduce her to influential people. |