题目内容

Music for Humans and Humpback Whales As researchers conclude in Science, the love of music is not only a universal feature of the human species, but is also deeply fixed in complex structures of the human brain, and is far more ancient than previously suspected.

In the articles that discuss the field of bio-musicology, the study of the biological basis for the creation and appreciation of music, researchers present various evidence to show that music-making is at once an original human "business", and an art form with skillful performers throughout the animal kingdom.

The new reports stress that humans hold no copyright on sound wisdom, and that a number of nonhuman animals produce what can rightly be called music, rather than random sound.Recent in-depth analyses of the songs sung by humpback whales show that, even when their organ would allow them to do otherwise, the animals converge on the same choices relating to sounds and beauty, and accept the same laws of song composition as those preferred by human musicians, and human ears, everywhere.

For example, male humpback whales, who spend six months of each year doing little else but singing, use rhythms (节奏) similar to those found in human music and musical phrases of similar length—a few seconds.Whales are able to make sounds over a range of at least seven octaves (八度音阶), yet they tend to move on through a song in beautiful musical intervals, rather than moving forwards madly.They mix the sounds like drums and pure tones in a ratio (比例) which agrees with that heard in much western music.They also use a favorite technique of human singers, the so-called A-B-A form, in which a theme is stated, then developed, and then returned to in slightly revised form.

Perhaps most impressive, humpback songs contain tunes that rhyme."This suggests that whales use rhyme in the same way we do: as a technique in poem to help them remember complex material," the researchers write.

1.The underlined words "converge on" in Paragraph 3 probably means__________.

A.tend towards

B.refer to

C.turn into

D.put forward

2.Which of the following shows the advanced musical ability in humpback whales?

A.They can remember complex material.

B.They can create pleasing patterns of music.

C.They can make sounds like drums continuously.

D.They can sing along with rhythms of western music.

3.What is the main idea of the article?

A.Animals are able to compose and enjoy music like humans.

B.Human beings borrow ideas in music from humpback whales.

C.Humpback whales are skillful performers in the animal kingdom.

D.Music-making is an ancient activity of both humans and animals.

4.The main purpose of the passage is to __________.

A.argue and discuss

B.inform and explain

C.compare and advertise

D.examine and assess

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In our daily life, it is necessary to make small talk in certain situations. It helps to fill time between people when it is completely quiet. You may not feel like talking with someone else or you are very shy at the beginning, but it is sometimes thought to be rude to say nothing.

People use small talk almost every day. It usually takes place when you meet someone you don’t know at all or someone you’re not familiar with. For example, waitresses and hairdressers often make small talk with their customers. If you happen to be outside when the mailman comes to your door, you might make small talk with him, too.

Most often, small talk happens in places where people are waiting for something. For example, you might talk with another person who is waiting for the bus to arrive. People also make small talk in a doctor’s waiting room, or when they are waiting in a line to buy something. At the office, people make small talk in elevators or lunchrooms, especially if there is a line-up. Mingling(交际) is often required among people who don’t know each other very well at a party. In other words, they are expected to walk around and talk with others.

The most common time for small talk to happen is the first time you see or meet someone on a given day. For example, if you see a co-worker in the lounge (休息室) you might say hello and discuss the sports or weather. However, the next time you see each other you might just smile and say nothing. If there is very little noise, it might be the right time to start a pleasant conversation. If someone is reading a book at the bus stop, it is probably not a good idea to start a conversation. Another good time to make small talk is during a break in a meeting when there is nothing important going on. However, it is important to recognize the signal when the other person wants the conversation to stop.

1.Small talk happens most probably except when _____.

A. you’re having your hair cut

B. you’re having a meeting

C. you’re waiting for a bus

D. you’re waiting in a line to buy something

2.It is the right time to make small talk when

A. there is nothing important going on during a break in a meeting

B. the other person doesn’t want to start a conversation

C. On the same day, you see a co-worker in the lounge again

D. someone is reading a book at the bus stop

3.The author develops the last paragraph mainly by _____.

A. giving explanations B. discussing questions

C. telling stories D. providing examples

4.We can learn from the text that small talk _____.

A. won’t happen among strangers

B. can help to break the silence

C. is often thought to be unnecessary

D. always makes people uncomfortable

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