题目内容
9.Music for Humans and Humpback WhalesAs 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.
63.The underlined words"converge on"in Paragraph 3probably meansA.
A.tend towards B.refer to C.turn into D.put forward
64.Which of the following shows the advanced musical ability in humpback whales?B
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.
65.What is the main idea of the article?D
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 it an ancient activity of both humans and animals.
66.The main purpose of the passage is toB.
A.argue and discuss B.inform and explain
C.compare and advertise D.examine and assess.
分析 本文是一篇科普类说明文,全篇以Humpback Whales(座头鲸)为例阐述了动物和人类一样具备音乐创作的能力.而且座头鲸可以创造出令人愉悦的音乐.
解答 63.A 词义辨析题.根据第三段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,可知深度分析座头鲸会发现,它们都趋向于发出那种悦耳动听、被大众喜爱的声音.由此推知,"converge on"的意思是"趋向于".故选A.
64.B 细节理解题.根据第四段的段意可知座头鲸能够灵活运用节奏、音阶、以及声音的表现形式,使发出的声音优美动听.由此推知,它们可以创造令人愉悦的音乐.故选B.
65.D 主旨大意题.根据第二段music-making is at once an original human"business",and an art form with skillful performers throughout the animal kingdom.可知创造音乐并非专属人类世界,动物世界也同样存在.接下来,全文围绕这一观点进行说明.故选D.
66.B 文章结构题.根据全文可知,前两段提出要阐述的话题,之后以座头鲸为例进一步说明这一事实.故选B.
点评 本文考察学生的理解推断能力以及细心程度,只要抓住文章的关键词,采用寻读的方法查找细节,就能找到正确答案.
A. | for | B. | when | C. | with | D. | while |
A. | makes sense | B. | pays off | C. | takes effect | D. | gets round |