Question

【题目】For some people, music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes (音调). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.

As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music set them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify识别 with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation隔离. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.

Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn’t involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.

Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed (诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say, ‘No thanks, I’m amusic,’” says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”

【1】Which of the following is true of amusics?

A．Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them.

B．They love places where they are likely to hear music.

C．They can easily tell two different songs apart.

D．Their situation is well understood by musicians.

【2】According to paragraph 3, a person with “defective hearing” is probably one who __________.

A．dislikes listening to speeches

B．can hear anything nonmusical

C．has a hearing problem

D．lacks a complex hearing system

【3】 In the last paragraph, Margaret expressed her wish that __________.

A．her problem with music had been diagnosed earlier

B．she were seventeen years old rather than seventy

C．her problem could be easily explained

D．she were able to meet other amusics

【4】What is the passage mainly concerned with?

A．Amusics’ strange behaviours.

B．Some people’s inability to enjoy music.

C．Musical talent and brain structure.

D．Identification and treatment of amusics.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】C

【3】A

【4】B

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于科普类阅读，介绍了一类不能理解音乐的人“Amusics”，这些人有正常的听力，也能够理解别人所说的话，但是他们无法欣赏音乐，因为音乐对他们来说就像是噪音一样。

【1】A 推理题。根据文章第二段前两句As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other.可知对于amusics来说，音乐就像噪音一样，很多amusics把音乐的声音比作为噪音。那么对他们来说听音乐是很痛苦的事情。故A正确。

【2】C 猜测词义题。根据后一句Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well.可知Amusics可以理解那些没有音调的声音。也就是说这些人并没有听力问题，只是不理解音乐而已。所以本句The difference is complex, and it doesn’t involve defective hearing.中的“defective hearing”指C项含义。

【3】A 推理题。根据文章最后一句“I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”“我只是希望当我17岁而不是70岁的时候，我就学会了这样说。”也就是说她希望自己的疾病能够更早地被诊断出，就不会遇见那么多的尴尬了。故A正确。

【4】B 主旨大意题。本文属于科普类阅读，介绍了一类不能理解音乐的人“Amusics”，这些人有正常的听力，也能够理解别人所说的话，但是他们无法欣赏音乐，因为音乐对他们来说就像是噪音一样。故B正确。ACD三项在文章中并没有被提及。