Question

【題目】For many, music is as important to the human experience as eating and breathing. We hear music everywhere—at home, the gym, parties and stores. But what kind of music do we prefer to listen to, and when and why do our musical preferences change?

The relationship between the change of seasons and musical preferences was the focus of a study led by psychologist Terry Pettijohn. He and his team based their research on a previous study that examined the relationship between popular music preferences and the Environmental Security Hypothesis(假設(shè)). The results showed that over time, when social and financial conditions were more risky, the songs of the year that were slower, longer, more comforting and serious were most popular. And during periods in which social and financial conditions were generally stable, the result was opposite.

Building on these findings, Pettijohn and his team wondered if the Hypothesis could also be applied to the change of seasons. For college students, the participants in this study, autumn begins at the start of the school year. Gone are the carefree days of summer, when school is out. Winter means colder temperatures, shorter days, and, in many places in the country, snow. Spring, however, is a different story. It represents a fresh start and when clocks spring forward, we gain an extra hour of daylight. As students walk into summer, they’re absorbed in the sunshine and social activities—and enjoy a break from school.

But do changing seasonal conditions influence musical preferences? To answer this question, the researchers designed two studies. What did they find? Both groups of college students favored more serious music during the seasons of fall and winter, and more active and energetic music during the spring and summer seasons. And these findings, Pettijohn argues, have practical significances.

【1】The purpose of the question raised in Paragraph 1 is to ________.

A. present a different opinion on music

B. prove where to listen to music matters

C. stress the importance of music to humans

D. introduce the topic on musical preferences

【2】What influences a person’s choice of music types according to the previous study?

A. Whether one has enough free time.

B. Whether one lives in a stable situation.

C. Whether one is exposed to sunlight.

D. Whether one chooses to change his life.

【3】What does Paragraph 3 imply?

A. Students aren’t fond of school in any season.

B. Spring has a special meaning to people.

C. The Hypothesis disagrees with Pettijohn’s studies.

D. The length of summer time is longer than that of winter time.

【4】How does Pettijohn feel about the findings of his studies?

A. It’s unexpected. B. It’s humorous.

C. It’s discouraging. D. It’s significant.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】 D

【2】 B

【3】 B

【4】 D

【解析】

本文是一篇說明文，主要介紹了四季的變化影響一個人的音樂喜好。

【1】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段中的“the relationship between the change of seasons and musical preferences was the focus of a study led by psychologist Terry Pettijohn.”可知，第一段提的問題就是為了引出文章話題——四季變化和音樂喜好之間的關(guān)系，選D。

【2】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段中的“And during periods in which social and financial conditions were generally stable, the result is opposite.”可知，以前的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)一個人是否生活在一個穩(wěn)定的環(huán)境中影響他所喜歡的音樂類型，選B。

【3】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第三段中的“Spring, however, is a different story. It represents a fresh starts and when clocks spring forward, we gain an extra hour of day light.”可知，春天對一個人來說有著特別的意義，選B。

【4】推理判斷題。根據(jù)最后一段中的“And these findings, Pettijohn argues, have practical significances.”可知，Pettijohn認為這個研究的發(fā)現(xiàn)很有意義，選D。