A team of scientists from Ohio State University did experiments on 33 volunteers who were getting better from heart disease following operation.They found that people who exercised while listening to Italian musician Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” did much better on language ability tests than without music.
“Facts suggest that exercise improve the leaning ability of people with heart disease,” said the psychologist Charles Emery, who led the study.“And listening to music is thought to enhance understanding.We just wanted to put the two results together,” he added.
The volunteers said they felt better emotionally and physically after working out with or without the music.But their improvement on the test doubled after listening to music during exercise.Scientists have proved that music can be good for health, education and well-being.It helps reduce stress, sadness and nervousness, encourage relaxation or sleep; wakes up the body and improve memory and thought.
In medical fields, music is used widely for patients who have had head hurts before and after operation.“The Four Seasons” was used because of its moderate tempo(舒缓的节拍)and positive results in earlier research.“ Exercise seems to cause positive changes in the nervous system(神经系统)and these changes may have a direct result on learning ability,” Emery said.
Scientists have been studying the results of music on understanding since the early 1950s.By 1990, psychologists were using Mozart’s music, especially his violin pieces, to help children with speech disorders.Mozart’s was chosen because his music is not over-exciting and has clear structures.A study showed students who listened to Mozart went to score higher marks in an intelligence test.With important exams drawing near, your parents will not probably allow you to listen to music.But now you have good reasons to argue with them.
(1)
The underlined word enhance can be replaced by ________
[ ]
A.
impress
B.
improve
C.
provide
D.
produce
(2)
The text is mainly about that ________.
[ ]
A.
music and exercise lead to relaxation or sleep
B.
33 volunteers work on music in medical fields
C.
exercise to music makes people healthy and bright
D.
Scientists give suggestions on choosing music to exercise.
(3)
It can be learned from the last paragraph(段落)that ________.
[ ]
A.
you are supposed to follow your parents’ words
B.
students should not listen to music before exam
C.
you have some good reasons to exercise to music
D.
music might help you to get higher grades in tests
(4)
Which of the following statements is true?
[ ]
A.
Exercise seems to cause negative changes without music.
B.
Exercise reminds people with head hurts of what they’ve learned.
C.
Scientists often use Mozart’s music, for it is not too exciting.
D.
“The Four Seasons” is used to help children with speech disorders.
Twelve-year-old Kitty O’Neil asked her coach, “Let me try.” She was already on the swim team, but this was different.One of the divers had not arrived, and Kitty needed much help.Her coach looked 1 at her.She had been practicing dives, but could she really stand up to the competition? Besides, 2 was completely deaf.Many people thought a person who was deaf wouldn’t be able to dive well.However, Kitty 3 , and she won first place at that swimming meet and went on to win the Junior Olympics in the area.
Kitty began diving with Dr.Sammy Lee, a famous coach and former Olympic diving champion.The teenager went to school in the morning and then spent most afternoons diving.It was 4 work, and Kitty often hit the water the wrong way.However, she was able to 5 practicing.While she was diving, Kitty won many gold medals, but she wanted 6 .Perhaps she learned something from her 7 .Kitty lost her hearing at the age of four months.Because she wanted Kitty to lead a normal life, Kitty’s mother went to college to 8 about teaching people who are deaf.Kitty’s mother finally started a school for those who are deaf.
Kitty’s life was 9 but normal, and as an athlete, Kitty was much bettter than others.When she gave up diving, she wanted danger and adventure.She raced cars, boats, and motorcycles.Many of these 10 usually require at least some hearing.For example many racers judge their speed by the sound of the engine.Kitty did it by 11 .
In 1972 she began to learn doing dangerous action for movies and television.Soon she became one of the 12 women in Hollywood.In 1976 Kitty O’Neil also became the fastest woman in the world in a rocket-powered car that went more than 512 miles per hour.