A large number of people enjoy listening to various types of music while they paint, write, or draw. Many believe that music helps creativity.
However, an international study conducted by English and Swedish researchers is challenging that opinion. Psychologists from Lancaster University, The University of Gävle, and The University of Central Lancashire say that their findings show music actually blocks creativity.
To come to their conclusions, researchers had participants(参与者) complete verbal insight problems designed to inspire creativity while sitting in a quiet room, and then again while music played in the background. They found that background music “badly affected” the participants’ ability to complete tasks related to verbal creativity.
The tasks were simple word games. For example, participants were given three words, such as dress, dial, and flower. Then, they were asked to find a single word related to all three that could be combined to form a common phrase or word. The single word, in this case, would be “sun” (sundress, sunflower, etc).
Participants completed the tasks in either a quiet room, or while exposed to three different types of music; music with unfamiliar words, instrumental music, or music with familiar words. “We found strong evidence of damaged performance when playing background music in comparison to quiet background conditions,” says co-author Dr. Neil McLatchie of Lancaster University.
To conclude, the findings challenge the popular view that music encourages creativity, and instead prove that music consistently disrupts creative performance in dealing with problems.
1.What’s the main idea of this passage?
A.A new idea about music while working. B.Music encourages creativity while working.
C.Music does harm to creativity while working. D.We’d better not listen to music while working.
2.The underlined word “block” in the 2nd paragraph probably means “________”
A.lift B.strengthen C.raise D.limit
3.How did the researchers get the conclusion according to the paragraph 5?
A.By comparing. B.By following time order. C.By analyzing causes and effects. D.By presenting the process.
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.While working, we can listen to some familiar music.
B.Music has no effect on our creativity while working.
C.To improve our creativity, we should choose to work in quiet background conditions.
D.Music does more good than harm to our health.
It is every kid’s worst nightmare(噩梦) and six-year-old Jaden Hayes has lived it twice. First he lost his dad when he was only at the age of four and then last month his mom died unexpectedly in her deep sleep.
“I tried and I tried and I tried to get her awake , but... I just couldn’t,” said Jaden.
No one could imagine how heartbroken Jaden was.
But there’s another side to his sadness. A side he first made public a few weeks ago when he told his aunt, Barbara DiCola, and now his guardian(监护人) after both his parents died, that he was sick and tired of seeing everyone sad all the time. And he had a plan to fix it.
“And that was the beginning of it,” said Barbara. “That’s where the adventure began.”
Jaden asked his aunt Barbara to buy a bunch of little toys and bring him to downtown Savannah, Georgia near where he lives, so he could give them away to anyone who will smile to him. “I’m trying to make people smile,” said Jaden.
Jaden targets people who aren’t already smiling and then turns their day around. He’s gone out on four different occasions now and he is always successful. Even if sometimes he doesn’t get exactly the reaction he was hoping for.
It is just so overwhelming to some people that a six-year-old orphan would give away a toy — expecting nothing in return — except a smile.
“I’m depending on it to be 33,000,” said Jaden. When asked if he thinks he can make that goal, he answered: “I think I can.”
1.What happened to Jaden when he was 6 years old?
A.He had a nightmare one night. B.His father died unexpectedly.
C.He lost both his mother and his father. D.His mother died suddenly in her deep sleep.
2.Who is Barbara DiCola?
A.She is Jaden’s new mother. B.She is Jaden’s aunt and his guardian as well.
C.She is Jaden’s aunt. D.She is Jaden’s neighbour.
3.Why did Jaden ask Barbara DiCola to buy him toys?
A.To sell them to the people in Savannah, Georgia. B.To make some money.
C.To help those who were in trouble. D.To make people smile.
4.Which of the following words can be used to describe Jaden?
A.Caring and confident. B.Rich and hopeful.
C.Pitiful and kind. D.Hardworking and kind.
Welcome to Holker Hall & Gardens
Visitor Information
How to Get to Holker
By Car: Follow brown signs on A590 from J36, M6. Approximate travel times: Windermere—20 minutes, Kendal—25 minutes, Lancaster—45 minutes, Manchester—1 hour 30 minutes.
By Rail: The nearest station is Cark-in-Carmel with trains to Carnforth, Lancaster and Preston for connections to major cities & airports.
Opening Times
Sunday—Friday (closed on Saturday) 11:00am—4:00pm, 30th March—2nd November. Admission Charges
| Hall & Gardens | Gardens |
Adults | £ 12.00 | £ 8.00 |
Groups | £ 9.00 | £ 5.50 |
Special Events
Producers’ Market 13th April
Join us to taste a variety of fresh local food and drinks. Meet the producers and get some excellent recipe ideas.
Holker Garden Festival 30th May
The event celebrates its 22nd anniversary with a great show of the very best of gardening, making it one of the most popular events in gardening.
National Garden Day 28th August
Holker once again opens its gardens in aid of the disadvantaged. For just a small donation you can take a tour with our garden guide.
Winter Market 8th November
This is an event for all the family. Wander among a variety of shops selling gifts while enjoying a live music show and nice street entertainment.
1.In which period can you pay a visit to Holker Hall & Gardens during the summer holiday?
A.11am-2pm, Saturday B.7am-9am, Friday
C.1pm-3pm, Sunday D.5pm-7pm,Wednesday
2.How much should a tour group of 5 members pay to visit the Gardens?
A.£45.00 B.£27.50 C.£40.00 D.£17.50
3.Which event will you go to if you want to enjoy some street performance?
A.Winter Market B.Holker Garden Festival
C.National Garden Day D.Producers’ Market
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.When will the first trip start?
A.In June. B.In April. C.In March.
2.How will the group travel to Birmingham?
A.By train. B.By bus. C.By plane.
3.What does the speaker advise the group not to take during the first trip?
A.Their cameras. B.Their student cards. C.Their mobile phones.
4.When can the group get copies of an information sheet?
A.Over the weekend B.On Friday. C.This afternoon.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What’s the relationship between the two speakers?
A.Colleagues. B.Classmates. C.Husband and wife.
2.Where does the man expect to go during the one-month vacation?
A.To Europe. B.To the town. C.To the countryside.
3.When will they start their vacation ?
A.Tomorrow afternoon. B.Tomorrow. C.Next Monday.
4.What does the woman remind the man to do before they leave?
A.Fill the car up with gas.
B.Check the weather forecast .
C.Make a list of things to bring.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the man’s terrible day begin with?
A.Picking up his dry cleaning. B.Taking a bus downtown. C.Having breakfast with Nina.
2.Who cut the man’s ear while having a haircut?
A.Jack. B.Nina. C.Tony.
3.In the office, what happened to the man that day?
A.He was fired by his boss.
B.He missed an important meeting.
C.He was too early for work.
