Question

Background music may seem harmless, but it can have a powerful effect on those who hear it. Recorded background music first found its way into factories, shops and restaurants in the US. But it soon spread to other parts of the world. Now it is becoming increasingly difficult to go shopping or eat a meal without listening to music.

To begin with, “muzak” (音乐广播网) was intended simply to create a soothing (安慰) atmosphere. Recently, however，it has become big business—thanks in part to recent research. Dr. Ronald Milliman, an American marketing expert，has shown that music can boost sales or increase factory production by as much as a third.

However, it has to be light music. A fast one has no  effect at all on sales. Slow music can increase receipts by 38%. This is probably because shoppers slow down and have more opportunity to spot items they like to buy. Yet, slow music isn't always the answer. Dr. Milliman found, for example, that in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals, which reduced overall sales. So restaurant owners might be well advised to play uptempo_music to keep the customers moving—unless of course, the resulting indigestion (消化不良) leads to complaints!

1.Background music means ________.

A. light music that customers enjoy most

B. fast music that makes people move fast

C. slow music that can make customers enjoy their meals

D. the music you are listening to while you are doing something

2.Restaurant owners complain about slow music because ________.

A. it results in indigestion

B. it increases their sales

C. it keeps customers moving

D. it decreases their sales

3.We can know from the text that ________.

A. background music was first used in big department stores

B. proper music can increase the selling of goods

C. light music has a bad effect on production

D. restaurant owners had better play slow music to comfort their customers

4.The underlined expression “uptempo music” probably means ________.

A. slow music    B. fast music

C. light music    D. classical music

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.B

4.B

【解析】背景音乐作为一种常见的音乐形式，已经渗透到人们生活的方方面面。不同的背景音乐可以产生不同的效果。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段Now it is becoming increasingly difficult to go shopping or eat a meal without listening to music.背景音乐是你在购物或吃饭时听到的音乐。选项中的前三项均只是背景音乐中的一部分，只有D项是完整的概括。故选D。

2.推理判断题。由文章最后一段可以看出，如果播放慢速背景音乐，客人的就餐时间就会变长，这样就会导致营业额的整体下滑。这样的结果餐馆老板自然要抱怨。故选D。

3.推理判断题。由第二段中的has shown that music can boost sales可知，恰当的音乐可以促进销售。故选B。

4.词义猜测题。由上文的in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals可以看出，如果播放节奏慢的音乐，客人吃饭速度会变慢。为了让客人流动得快，自然要播放节奏快的音乐。故选B。