Question

    From Mozart to pop music, tons of people enjoy listening to various types of music while they paint, write, or draw. Many believe that music helps improve creativity. But an international study is challenging that viewpoint. 1.

To come to their conclusions, researchers had participants complete verbal (文字的) problems designed to inspire creativity while sitting in a quiet room. 2. They found that background music significantly hurt the participants^, ability to complete tasks associated with verbal creativity.

The tasks were simple word games. 3. Then, they were asked to find a single word associated with all three that could be combined to form a common phrase or word. Participants completed the tasks in either a quiet room, or while exposed to three different types of music: music with unfamiliar lines, instrumental music, or music with familiar lines.

Dr. McLatchie and his colleagues conclude that music interferes with (干扰) the verbal working memory of the brain. 4.Also, as far as the library background noises having seemingly no effect, the researchers believe that is the case because library noises create an environment of steady state that doesn't interrupt concentration.

"5.Instead, they demonstrate that music, regardless of the presence of its content, consistently interrupts creative performance in insight problem solving," the study reads.

A. And this in turn holds back creativity.

B. It has nothing to do with the positive reaction.

C. Then again, they were tested while music was played in the background.

D. Psychologists say that their findings indicate music actually blocks creativity.

E. For example, participants were given three words, such as dress, dial, and flower.

F. Before the experiment, the participants didn't study the music they would listen.

G. To conclude, the findings here challenge the popular view that music builds up creativity.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.E

4.A

5.G

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。有的人喜欢在有背景音乐的环境下工作。然而，研究表明，音乐会干扰人们解决问题的创造性。

1.根据上文Many believe that music helps improve creativity. But an international study is challenging that viewpoint.可知，许多人认为音乐有助于提高创造力。但一项国际研究正在挑战这种观点。由此可知，一项新的国际研究并不认为音乐有助于提高创造力，故D选项“心理学家说，他们的发现表明，音乐实际上阻碍了创造力”符合上下文语境，故选D。

2.根据前文To come to their conclusions, researchers had participants complete verbal problems designed to inspire creativity while sitting in a quiet room.可知，为了得出结论，研究人员让参与者坐在安静的房间里完成一些旨在激发创造力的语言问题。由此可知，本句承接上文继续说明研究的过程，上文中researchers与C选项中they形成对应，故C选项“然后，他们再次在播放音乐的背景音乐中接受测试”符合上下文语境，故选C。

3.根据后文Then, they were asked to find a single word associated with all three that could be combined to form a common phrase or word.可知，然后，他们被要求找出一个与这三个词相关的词，这些词可以组合成一个共同的短语或词。由此可知，参与者被给予了三个单词，并要求找出一个与这三个词相关的词。故E选项“例如，参与者被给予三个词，如衣服，电话和鲜花”符合上下文语境，故选E。

4.根据第二段最后一句They found that background music significantly hurt the participants, ability to complete tasks associated with verbal creativity.可知，他们发现，背景音乐会显著损害参与者完成与语言创造力相关的任务的能力。由此可知乐会干扰大脑的语言工作记忆，而这反过来又阻碍了创造性。故A选项“这反过来又抑制了创造力”符合上下文语境，故选A。

5.根据后文Instead, they demonstrate that music, regardless of the presence of its content, consistently interrupts creative performance in insight problem solving," the study reads.可知，相反，他们证明了音乐，不管它的内容是什么，在解决问题的过程中不断地打断创造性的表现。由此可知，研究人员的发现成功挑战了音乐可以培养创造力这种流行观点。故G选项“总而言之，这里的发现挑战了流行的观点，即音乐可以培养创造力”符合上下文语境，故选G。