Question

Music for Humans and Humpback Whales

As researchers conclude in Science, the love of music is not only a universal feature of the human species, but is also deeply fixed in complex structures of the human brain, and is far more ancient than previously suspected.

In the articles that discuss the field of bio-musicology, the study of the biological basis for the creation and appreciation of music, researchers present various evidence to, show that music-making is at once an original human "business", and an art form with skillful performers throughout the animal kingdom.

The new reports stress that humans hold no copyright on sound wisdom, and that a number of nonhuman animals produce what can rightly be called music, rather than random sound. Recent in-depth analyses of the songs sung by humpback whales show that, even when their organ would allow them to do otherwise, the animals converge on the same choices relating to sounds and beauty, and accept the same laws of song composition as those preferred by human musicians, and human ears, everywhere.

For example, male humpback whales, who spend six months of each year doing little else but singing, use rhythms (节奏) similar to those found in human music and musical phrases of similar length—a few seconds. Whales are able to make sounds over a range of at least seven octaves (八度音阶), yet they tend to move on through a song in beautiful musical intervals, rather than moving forwards madly. They mix the sounds like drums and pure tones in a ratio (比例) which agrees with that heard in much western music. They also use a favorite technique of human singers, the so-called A-B-A form, in which a theme is stated, then developed, and then returned to in slightly revised form.

Perhaps most impressive, humpback songs contain tunes that rhyme. "This suggests that whales use rhyme in the same way we do: as a technique in poem to help them remember complex material," the researchers write.

1.The underlined words "converge on" in Paragraph 3 probably  means__________.

A. tend towards  B. refer to

C. turn into    D. put forward

2.Which of the following shows the advanced musical ability in humpback whales?

A. They can remember complex material.

B. They can create pleasing patterns of music.

C. They can make sounds like drums continuously.

D. They can sing along with rhythms of western music.

3.What is the main idea of the article?

A. Animals are able to compose and enjoy music like humans.

B. Human beings borrow ideas in music from humpback whales.

C. Humpback whales are skillful performers in the animal kingdom.

D. Music-making it an ancient activity of both humans and animals.

4.The main purpose of the passage is to __________.

A. argue and discuss        B. inform and explain

C. compare and advertise    D. examine and assess

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于科普类说明文，全篇以Humpback Whales（座头鲸）为例阐述了动物和人类一样具备音乐创作的能力。

1.A 词义推断题。该词在文章第三段，联系前后文可知，深入分析Humpback Whales 会发现：它们都趋向于发出那种动听悦耳、被大众喜爱的声音。故A正确。

2.B 细节理解题。根据第四段可知Humpback Whales 能够灵活运用节奏、音阶，以及声音的表现形式，使发声动听优美。故B正确。

3.D 主旨大意题。第二段最后一句引出全篇要说明的话题：创作音乐并非专属人类世界，动物世界也同样存在。接下来，全文围绕这一观点进行说明。

4.B 文章结构题。根据全文可知，前两段提出要阐述的话题，之后以Humpback Whales 为例进一步说明这一事实。故B正确。

【名师点睛】

英语阅读理解篇章结构题的主要解题策略常有：

(1)了解文章结构的组织形式。从段落组织方式上讲，常见的文章结构有三种：总分式结构(总→分；总→分→总；分→总)、并列式结构(段落之间是平行关系，并且相对独立)、对照式结构(结构形式上是一正一反)。

(2)了解文章的写作手法 在高考阅读理解中主要考查下定义(definition)、分类说明(classification)、列举例证(listing examples)和对比(making comparison，contrast),过程，程序（process）等写作手法。其中， “引用”（quote，quotation）和“例证”是议论文和说明文中最常用的写作手法之一，是历年高考阅读试题中必不可缺的命题方向。“引用”和“例证”的共同目的就是增强说服力，以更好地达到说理、说明的目的。“引用”和“例证”的共同功能就是服务于段落或篇章的主题。

（3）了解文章的体裁

1. 说明性体裁Description.（描述）Explanation（解释）discussion（讨论）

说明性体裁结构的文章目的在于传播信息，表达方式以事实为主，观点为辅，细节详细（包括人物、地点、时间、情景、特点等）。阅读时要尽量记忆文章所介绍的各条信息，可以根据内容进行分析，提纲挈领地记住短文的中心思想，也可以运用想象力设想所介绍的事物或情景的各个方面。

2. 议论性体裁

a. 现象解释类：现象（phenomenon）→分析（analysis）→结论（conclusion）， 或现象（phenomenon）→结论（conclusion）→分析（analysis）

b.观点论证类：提出观点——分析观点——重申观点

Put forward a question →Analyze the question → Solve the question 即“提出问题、分析问题、解决问题”的过程；

Argument/Idea/opinion → Evidence → Conclusion/ Restating the idea 即“由论点到论据到结论/强调论点”的过程。

这是论说文常用的一种结构模式。这类文章往往有个结论，或放在开头，或放在结尾，余者为数据、科学观察、实验结果和引用权威等事实论据。

c. 匹配对比类：分别阐述两种观点——得出结论

matching类型文章结构模式是：两种论点概述——一种论点——另一种论点；或者是现象——一种事物——另一种事物——得出结论。

考点：考查科普类阅读