【题目】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(假设). 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.
在线课程【答案】
【1】 D
【2】 B
【3】 B
【4】 D
【解析】
本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了四季的变化影响一个人的音乐喜好。
【1】推理判断题。根据第二段中的“the relationship between the change of seasons and musical preferences was the focus of a study led by psychologist Terry Pettijohn.”可知，第一段提的问题就是为了引出文章话题——四季变化和音乐喜好之间的关系，选D。
【2】细节理解题。根据第二段中的“And during periods in which social and financial conditions were generally stable, the result is opposite.”可知，以前的研究发现一个人是否生活在一个稳定的环境中影响他所喜欢的音乐类型，选B。
【3】推理判断题。根据第三段中的“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，春天对一个人来说有着特别的意义，选B。
【4】推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“And these findings, Pettijohn argues, have practical significances.”可知，Pettijohn认为这个研究的发现很有意义，选D。