4.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(音域).
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 with their condition.In fact,most people cannot begin to catch 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 purposely stay away from places where there is music.However,this can lead to social isolation(隔绝)."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 enjoy music.The difference is complex(复杂的),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 upset 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."
32.Which of the following is true of amusics?A
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.
33.According to paragraph 3,a person with"defective hearing"is probably one whoC.
A.dislikes listening to speeches
B.can hear anything nonmusical
C.has a hearing problem
D.has limit in a complex hearing system
34. In the last paragraph,Margaret expressed her wish thatA.
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
35.What is the passage mainly concerned with?B
A.Amusics'strange behaviours.
B.Some people are not able to enjoy music.
C.Musical talent and brain structure.
D.Identification and treatment of amusics.
分析 这是一篇说明文,讲述了一群特殊的人--amusic(没有乐感的人),对他们而言,音乐如同噪音一般,没有任何乐趣.没有欣赏音乐的能力给他们的生活带来了诸多不便,不过,令人高兴的是,他们的这种状况目前已得到诊断,他们的大脑与能够欣赏音乐的人的大脑有所不同,而且这种差异很复杂.
解答 32.答案:A.细节理解题.根据"That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music"(那就是许多没有乐感的人有意地远离有音乐的地方的原因),由此可以排除B项"他们喜爱很可能听到音乐的地方".根据"Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs"(没有乐感的人经常不能说出两首歌曲的不同)排除C项"他们能很容易地区别出两首歌".根据文中"It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition"(对于其他人来说,认同他们会很难),因此排除D项"音乐家们很理解他们的境况".最后根据文章的第一句For some people,music is no fun at all.About four percent of the population is what scientists call amusic(对于一些人来说,音乐对他们说没有任何乐趣而言).故选A.
33.答案:C.推理判断题.根据关键词defective hearing定位第三段,根据"…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"(它与听力障碍无关.没有乐感的人能够很好地理解其他非音乐的声音.对于普通的演讲理解起来也没任何问题.科学家们把没有乐感的人比作不能看见某些颜色的人),由此排除A项"不喜欢听演讲的人";B项"能听到任何非音乐的声音"以及D项"缺乏一个复杂的听力系统".故选C.
34.答案:A.细节理解题.根据关键词last paragraph,定位最后一段,找到Margaret说的那句话"I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy"(我只是希望我十七岁而不是七十岁的时候学会说那句话啊),这是一个虚拟语气的句子,可以看出Margaret说这句话的时候,已经七十岁了,因此排除B项"她十七了而不是七十了",同时也排除C项"她的问题很好解释";选项D"她能见到其他的没有乐感的人"从Margaret的愿望中,我们看不出这个意思了,因此排除D项.故选A.
35.答案:B.主旨大意题.要准确深刻地理解一篇文章,则必须对文章的结构有所了解,把握全篇的文脉.文章的第一段告诉读者:大约4%的人音乐对于他们而言,没有任何乐趣可言,他们没有辨别与再现音调的能力;第二段讲述歌曲对于没有乐感的人来说听起来像噪音,以及由此给他们的生活带来的不便;第三段分析了原因,是因为他们的大脑与能欣赏音乐的人的大脑不同造成的,但这又不同于有听力障碍的人;最后一段以Margaret为例,说明他们的这种状况最终得以诊断.因此,可以排除A项"没有乐感的人奇怪行为"C项"音乐才能与大脑结构"以及D项"没乐感的人的区别与治疗".故选B.
点评 本文是一篇文学艺术阅读,题目涉及多道细节理解题,推理判断题,主旨大意题.做题时学生应仔细阅读原文,把握文章主要内容,联系文章上下文内容并结合所给选项含义,从中选出正确答案,一定要做到有理有据,切忌胡乱猜测.