Question

Music is an important part of life today. It is a source of entertainment, and it is a way to express emotions. But music is not only all this, it is also something that can be used to create a strong focus while people are working and is generally beneficial to the human brain and specifically the adolescent brain.

Music can reduce anxiety and depression, as well as improving mood and memory. Adolescents represent a stage in development when stress levels are unsteady. An analysis shows that listening to music lowers the stress hormone in the brain. Ashford University also states that music has also proven to be effective across a variety of treatment ways for conditions ranging from premature birth to depression to Parkinson’s disease.

Music is also a way to stimulate (刺激) the brain and help increase productivity. In Elena Mannes’ study “The Power of Music”through National Public Radio(NPR), she declares the fact that music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function. Tests have also shown that listening to background music can increase productivity, in majors we listen to music as we do our work, "says visual artist, Tow Engel, “It is super helpful because it allows us all to do our own thing to create more art.”

Research done by Dr. Jonathan Burdette, a professor at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Cater, further proves the benefit of music on the brain. Dr. Burdette conducted a study where he and his fellow investigators used a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging(FMRI), to find changes in blood flow in the brain. To summarize, Dr. Burdette’s research shows that listening to music that you like will improve brain connectivity, especially when doing independent work that requires a lot of internal thought and reflection. As adolescents spend a lot of time working on computers or even just doing work on paper done, music can help teens concentrate on their thinking

1.What’s the main idea of paragraph 2?

A. Music is mind medicine.    B. Music is good for the brain’s growth

C. Music helps adolescents free from stress    D. Music helps patients recover from cancer.

2.Why does Tow Engel like listening to music according to the text?

A. It stimulates his body.    B. It helps her lower stress.

C. It gives her more strength.    D. It can improve her creativity,

3.What’s the finding of music in Dr. Burdette’s study?

A. It helps teens play on computer.    B. It lets teens get closer with each other.

C. It helps teens focus on their thinking.    D. It improves the speed of teens reflection.

4.What may be the best title for the text?

A. Music Helps Students Get Rid of Stress    B. Music’s Benefit to the Adolescents Brain

C. Music Makes Adolescents Fond of Art    D. Music’s Function on the Brain Development

Answer

1. A

2. D

3. C

4. B

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。主要说明了音乐对大脑，尤其是青少年的大脑的益处。能够使青少年更加专注，集中精神思考。

1.主旨大意题。文章第二段第三句“An analysis shows that listening to music lowers the stress hormone in the brain.”（分析报告表明，听音乐降低了大脑的压力激素），即音乐可以是一种精神药物，故选A。

2.细节理解题。第三段最后一句says visual artist, Tow Engel,“It is super helpful because it allows us all to do our own thing to create more art.”（音乐非常有帮助，因为它可以让我们全身心做自己的事情，创造出更多的艺术），可知Tow Engel认为音乐有助于提高创造力，故选D。

3.细节理解题。文章最后一段最后一句“…music can help teens concentrate on their thinking”（音乐能够帮助青少年集中精神思考），故选C。

4.主旨大意题。本文主要说明了音乐对于青少年大脑的益处，能帮助他们减小压力，刺激大脑激发他们的创造力，使他们更专注。Music’s Benefit to the Adolescents Brain适合作为文章标题，故选B。