If there is one group of Workers across the Western world who wm be glad that Christmas is over that group is shop workers.
It is not that they like to complain.They realize that they are going to be rushed off their feet at Christmas.They know that their employers need happy customers to make their profits that pay their wages.But there is one thing about working in a Shop over Christmas that is too bad to tolerate.
That thing is music.These days，au Shops and many offices have what is known as “Piped music1” or “muzak” playing for au the hours that they are open.Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment.It was found that COWS which listened to simple，happy music produced more milk.Perhaps workers and customers who listened to simple， happy music would be more productive and spend more money.
In fact，nobody knows what effect playing muzak in shops has on profits.It is simply something that everybody does.But we are learning more about the effect of constantly repeated hearings of songs on the people who have to hear them all the time.
Research shows that repeated hearings of complex pieces of music bring greater enjoyment before becoming tiresome.And that point come mach sooner with simple songs2.
“That’s especially the case with tunes that arc already familiar one that tipping point3 is reached，repeated listening become unpleasant，says professor John Sloboda of UK’s Keele University’s music psychology group.“And the less control you have over what you hear, the less you like it”
That′s why police forces in the US often try and resolve hostage situations by playing pop songs over and over again at high volume.Eventually, it becomes too mach for the criminals to stand and they give up.
The problem gets particularly bad at Christmas，when the muzak consists entirely of the same few festive tunes played over and over again. What makes it worse for the shop workers is that they already know these tunes.They get bored very quickly.Then they get irritated.Then they get angry.
Shop workers in Austria recently threatened to go on strike for the right to silence.“shop workers can’t escape the Christmas muzak. they feel as if they are terrorized au day.Especially ‵Jingle Bells4.It arouses aggressive feelings，”said Gottfried Rieser, of the Austrian shop worker′s union.
It is not just shop workers who complain.A survey this year by UK recruitment website Retailchoice.com found that Christmas is not only the most testing time for shop workers，but that almost half had complaints from customers about muzak.And the British Royal National Institute for the Deaf estimates that some stores play jingle Bells 300 times each year
“That’s acoustic torture，”says Nigel Rodgers of Pipedown，a group against muzak.″It′s not loud but the repetitive nature causes psychological stress.”
The group wants the government to legislate against unwanted music in stores, hospitals， airports，swimming pools and other public places，claiming it raises the blood pressure and depresses the immune system.
Perhaps groups like Plpedown don't really have much to complain about.After all，surely the real point is that people have money to spend.Why complain about a bit of music?
詞匯：
muzak n.背景音樂(lè)
immune adj.免疫的
注釋：
1.piped music 通過(guò)線路輸送的音樂(lè)
2.And that point come much sooner with simple songs.那一點(diǎn)(時(shí)刻)在聽(tīng)簡(jiǎn)單的歌曲時(shí)來(lái)的更快。That point指上一句中講到的聽(tīng)復(fù)雜的音樂(lè)時(shí)先覺(jué)得好聽(tīng)，然后就會(huì)感到厭煩這個(gè)出現(xiàn)變化的時(shí)刻。
3.tipping point 從量變到產(chǎn)生質(zhì)變的那一刻。這里指反復(fù)聽(tīng)已經(jīng)熟悉的曲調(diào)，從喜愛(ài)變?yōu)橛憛挼哪且豢獭?BR> 4.Jingle Bells 《鈴兒響叮當(dāng)》，西方國(guó)家十分流行的一首圣誕節(jié)歌曲。
1.The shop workers in the Western world are glad when Christmas is over because they don’t have to
A)rush their feet off all day.
B)listen to the music playing au the time in the shop.
C)work overtime to make more profits for the boss.
D)try to please the customers.
2.It has been proved that listening to simple，happy has a good effect on
A)cows.
B)workers.
C)customers.
D)bosses.
3.Which of the following statements is true，according to the research findings reported in paragraph 6?
A)Repeated hearings of complex pieces of music are enjoyable and not tiresome.
B)Repeated hearings of complex pieces of music are tiresome at first and then become enjoyable.
C)Repeated hearings of simple songs are more enjoyable than those of complex pieces of music.
D)Repeated hearings of simple songs become tiresome sooner than those of complex pieces of music.
4.In hostage situations the US police forces repeatedly play pop songs at high volume in order to
A)put pressure on the criminals.
B)distract the attention of the criminals.
C)keep the criminals awake.
D)please the criminals.
5.According to the article，which of the following most appropriately indicates the nature of the effect repeated hearing of the same tune produces on the hearer?
A)Social.
B)Physical.
C)Psychological.
D)Both physical and psychological.
參考答案：
1.B. 該題可以根據(jù)文章主題直接判斷選項(xiàng)B正確。 也可以利用問(wèn)題句中的細(xì)節(jié)信息詞(shop workers)，和特征詞(Christmas)作為答案線索，同時(shí)還可以考慮利用備選項(xiàng)中的一些細(xì)節(jié)信息詞(C：boss; D: customers)共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
If there is one group of Workers across the Western world who will be glad that Christmas is over that group is shop workers.
It is not that they like to complain.They realize that they are going to be rushed off their feet at Christmas.They know that their employers need happy customers to make their profits that pay their wages.But there is one thing about working in a Shop over(在...的期間) Christmas that is too(太...而不能...) bad(壞的， 嚴(yán)重的) to tolerate(仍受).
That thing is music(音樂(lè)).These days(目前)，all shops(商店) and many offices(辦公室) have(讓) what is known as (被稱為)“Piped music(通過(guò)線路輸送的音樂(lè))” or “muzak” playing for all the hours (一直)that(when) they are open(營(yíng)業(yè)著的). Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment.It was found that COWS which listened to simple，happy music produced more milk.Perhaps workers and customers who listened to simple， happy music would be more productive and spend more money.
根據(jù)文章中的答案相關(guān)句(第2段最后1句，第3段前兩句)判斷商店里播放的背景音樂(lè)是店員們盼望圣誕節(jié)結(jié)束的原因。
2.A. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用問(wèn)題句中帶有細(xì)節(jié)信息的詞語(yǔ)(simple happy music)及被選項(xiàng)中的細(xì)節(jié)信息詞(A：cows; B: workers; C: customers; D: bosses)共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
It is not that they like to complain.They realize that they are going to be rushed off their feet at Christmas.They know that their employers need happy customers to make their profits that pay their wages.(第1題答案相關(guān)句)But there is one thing about working in a Shop over Christmas that is too bad to tolerate.
(第1題答案相關(guān)句)(第3段) That thing is music.These days，au Shops and many offices have what is known as “Piped music1” or “muzak” playing for au the hours that they are open.Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment. It was found(在過(guò)去被發(fā)現(xiàn)) that cows (母牛)which listened to(聽(tīng)) simple，happy music produced(生產(chǎn)， 結(jié)(果實(shí))，引起) more milk(牛奶). Perhaps(或許) workers and customers (顧客)who listened to(聽(tīng)) simple， happy music would be more productive(多產(chǎn)的)and spend(花費(fèi)) more money.
答案相關(guān)句的內(nèi)容表明：奶牛聽(tīng)了音樂(lè)會(huì)多產(chǎn)奶，這是早在二十世紀(jì)四十年代就被實(shí)驗(yàn)證明的了.但聽(tīng)音樂(lè)對(duì)工人、顧客和利潤(rùn)有沒(méi)有正面的效應(yīng)，并沒(méi)有得到科學(xué)的驗(yàn)證。
3.D. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用備選項(xiàng)中的細(xì)節(jié)信息結(jié)構(gòu)：complex pieces of music和simple songs共同作為答案線索，在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
That thing is music.These days，au Shops and many offices have what is known as “Piped music1” or “muzak” playing for all the hours that they are open.Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment.(第2題答案相關(guān)句) It was found that cows which listened to simple，happy music produced more milk.Perhaps workers and customers who listened to simple， happy music would be more productive and spend more money.
In fact，nobody knows what effect playing muzak in shops has on profits.It is simply something that everybody does.But we are learning more about the effect of constantly repeated hearings of songs on the people who have to hear them all the time.
(第5段) Research(研究) shows(顯示， 指示) that repeated hearings of complex pieces of music bring greater enjoyment(快樂(lè)) before becoming tiresome(煩人的).And that point(時(shí)刻， 地點(diǎn)， 分?jǐn)?shù))come(到來(lái)，出現(xiàn)) much sooner (更快)with simple songs.
答案相關(guān)句說(shuō)：重復(fù)收聽(tīng)復(fù)雜得音樂(lè)會(huì)出現(xiàn)先覺(jué)得好聽(tīng)，然后覺(jué)得厭煩的情況， 而出現(xiàn)厭倦這一時(shí)刻，聽(tīng)簡(jiǎn)單的歌曲比聽(tīng)復(fù)雜的音樂(lè)出現(xiàn)的更快.
4. A. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用問(wèn)題句中的特征詞(US police forces)， 細(xì)節(jié)信息結(jié)構(gòu)(pop songs)及被選項(xiàng)中的共有詞criminals共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
(第3題答案相關(guān)句)Research shows that repeated hearings of complex pieces of music bring greater enjoyment before becoming tiresome.And that point come mach sooner with simple songs2.
“That’s especially the case with tunes that arc already familiar one that tipping point3 is reached，repeated listening become unpleasant，says professor John Sloboda of UK’s Keele University’s music psychology group.“And the less control you have over what you hear, the less you like it”
(第7段)That′s why police forces in the US often try and resolve(解決， 決心) hostage(人質(zhì)) situations by playing(播放) pop songs over and over again (反復(fù)地)at high volume. Eventually(最后), it becomes(變得) too(太...而不能...) much for the criminals to stand(站立，忍受) and they give up(放棄).
答案相關(guān)句說(shuō)：在人質(zhì)被劫持的情況下，美國(guó)警察常常對(duì)罪犯用大音量播放流行歌曲， 目的是讓罪犯最終難以承受而放棄劫持。
5.D. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用被選項(xiàng)中的修飾結(jié)構(gòu)(social, physical, psychological)共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
(第4題答案相關(guān)句) That′s why police forces in the US often try and resolve hostage situations by playing pop songs over and over again at high volume.Eventually, it becomes too mach for the criminals to stand and they give up.
The problem gets particularly bad at Christmas，when the muzak consists entirely of the same few festive tunes played over and over again. What makes it worse for the shop workers is that they already know these tunes.They get bored very quickly.Then they get irritated.Then they get angry.
Shop workers in Austria recently threatened to go on strike for the right to silence.“Shop workers can’t escape the Christmas muzak. they feel as if they are terrorized all day.Especially ‵Jingle Bells4.It arouses aggressive feelings，”said Gottfried Rieser, of the Austrian shop worker′s union.
It is not just shop workers who complain.A survey this year by UK recruitment website Retailchoice.com found that Christmas is not only the most testing time for shop workers，but that almost half had complaints from customers about muzak.And the British Royal National Institute for the Deaf estimates that some stores play jingle Bells 300 times each year
“That’s acoustic(有關(guān)聲音的) torture(折磨， 痛苦)，”says Nigel Rodgers of Pipedown，a group against(反對(duì)) muzak.″It′s not loud(高聲的) but the repetitive(重復(fù)的) nature(本質(zhì))causes (造成)psychological stress(壓力).”
The group wants the government(政府) to legislate against (立法反對(duì))unwanted(不必要的，討厭的) music in stores, hospitals， airports，swimming pools and other public places， claiming(聲稱， 主張) it raises(提高， 飼養(yǎng)，募集) the blood pressure (血壓) and depresses(壓低，使沮喪/) the immune(免疫的) system
Perhaps groups like Pipedown don't really have much to complain about.After all，surely the real point is that people have money to spend.Why complain about a bit of music?
It is not that they like to complain.They realize that they are going to be rushed off their feet at Christmas.They know that their employers need happy customers to make their profits that pay their wages.But there is one thing about working in a Shop over Christmas that is too bad to tolerate.
That thing is music.These days，au Shops and many offices have what is known as “Piped music1” or “muzak” playing for au the hours that they are open.Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment.It was found that COWS which listened to simple，happy music produced more milk.Perhaps workers and customers who listened to simple， happy music would be more productive and spend more money.
In fact，nobody knows what effect playing muzak in shops has on profits.It is simply something that everybody does.But we are learning more about the effect of constantly repeated hearings of songs on the people who have to hear them all the time.
Research shows that repeated hearings of complex pieces of music bring greater enjoyment before becoming tiresome.And that point come mach sooner with simple songs2.
“That’s especially the case with tunes that arc already familiar one that tipping point3 is reached，repeated listening become unpleasant，says professor John Sloboda of UK’s Keele University’s music psychology group.“And the less control you have over what you hear, the less you like it”
That′s why police forces in the US often try and resolve hostage situations by playing pop songs over and over again at high volume.Eventually, it becomes too mach for the criminals to stand and they give up.
The problem gets particularly bad at Christmas，when the muzak consists entirely of the same few festive tunes played over and over again. What makes it worse for the shop workers is that they already know these tunes.They get bored very quickly.Then they get irritated.Then they get angry.
Shop workers in Austria recently threatened to go on strike for the right to silence.“shop workers can’t escape the Christmas muzak. they feel as if they are terrorized au day.Especially ‵Jingle Bells4.It arouses aggressive feelings，”said Gottfried Rieser, of the Austrian shop worker′s union.
It is not just shop workers who complain.A survey this year by UK recruitment website Retailchoice.com found that Christmas is not only the most testing time for shop workers，but that almost half had complaints from customers about muzak.And the British Royal National Institute for the Deaf estimates that some stores play jingle Bells 300 times each year
“That’s acoustic torture，”says Nigel Rodgers of Pipedown，a group against muzak.″It′s not loud but the repetitive nature causes psychological stress.”
The group wants the government to legislate against unwanted music in stores, hospitals， airports，swimming pools and other public places，claiming it raises the blood pressure and depresses the immune system.
Perhaps groups like Plpedown don't really have much to complain about.After all，surely the real point is that people have money to spend.Why complain about a bit of music?
詞匯：
muzak n.背景音樂(lè)
immune adj.免疫的
注釋：
1.piped music 通過(guò)線路輸送的音樂(lè)
2.And that point come much sooner with simple songs.那一點(diǎn)(時(shí)刻)在聽(tīng)簡(jiǎn)單的歌曲時(shí)來(lái)的更快。That point指上一句中講到的聽(tīng)復(fù)雜的音樂(lè)時(shí)先覺(jué)得好聽(tīng)，然后就會(huì)感到厭煩這個(gè)出現(xiàn)變化的時(shí)刻。
3.tipping point 從量變到產(chǎn)生質(zhì)變的那一刻。這里指反復(fù)聽(tīng)已經(jīng)熟悉的曲調(diào)，從喜愛(ài)變?yōu)橛憛挼哪且豢獭?BR> 4.Jingle Bells 《鈴兒響叮當(dāng)》，西方國(guó)家十分流行的一首圣誕節(jié)歌曲。
1.The shop workers in the Western world are glad when Christmas is over because they don’t have to
A)rush their feet off all day.
B)listen to the music playing au the time in the shop.
C)work overtime to make more profits for the boss.
D)try to please the customers.
2.It has been proved that listening to simple，happy has a good effect on
A)cows.
B)workers.
C)customers.
D)bosses.
3.Which of the following statements is true，according to the research findings reported in paragraph 6?
A)Repeated hearings of complex pieces of music are enjoyable and not tiresome.
B)Repeated hearings of complex pieces of music are tiresome at first and then become enjoyable.
C)Repeated hearings of simple songs are more enjoyable than those of complex pieces of music.
D)Repeated hearings of simple songs become tiresome sooner than those of complex pieces of music.
4.In hostage situations the US police forces repeatedly play pop songs at high volume in order to
A)put pressure on the criminals.
B)distract the attention of the criminals.
C)keep the criminals awake.
D)please the criminals.
5.According to the article，which of the following most appropriately indicates the nature of the effect repeated hearing of the same tune produces on the hearer?
A)Social.
B)Physical.
C)Psychological.
D)Both physical and psychological.
參考答案：
1.B. 該題可以根據(jù)文章主題直接判斷選項(xiàng)B正確。 也可以利用問(wèn)題句中的細(xì)節(jié)信息詞(shop workers)，和特征詞(Christmas)作為答案線索，同時(shí)還可以考慮利用備選項(xiàng)中的一些細(xì)節(jié)信息詞(C：boss; D: customers)共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
If there is one group of Workers across the Western world who will be glad that Christmas is over that group is shop workers.
It is not that they like to complain.They realize that they are going to be rushed off their feet at Christmas.They know that their employers need happy customers to make their profits that pay their wages.But there is one thing about working in a Shop over(在...的期間) Christmas that is too(太...而不能...) bad(壞的， 嚴(yán)重的) to tolerate(仍受).
That thing is music(音樂(lè)).These days(目前)，all shops(商店) and many offices(辦公室) have(讓) what is known as (被稱為)“Piped music(通過(guò)線路輸送的音樂(lè))” or “muzak” playing for all the hours (一直)that(when) they are open(營(yíng)業(yè)著的). Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment.It was found that COWS which listened to simple，happy music produced more milk.Perhaps workers and customers who listened to simple， happy music would be more productive and spend more money.
根據(jù)文章中的答案相關(guān)句(第2段最后1句，第3段前兩句)判斷商店里播放的背景音樂(lè)是店員們盼望圣誕節(jié)結(jié)束的原因。
2.A. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用問(wèn)題句中帶有細(xì)節(jié)信息的詞語(yǔ)(simple happy music)及被選項(xiàng)中的細(xì)節(jié)信息詞(A：cows; B: workers; C: customers; D: bosses)共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
It is not that they like to complain.They realize that they are going to be rushed off their feet at Christmas.They know that their employers need happy customers to make their profits that pay their wages.(第1題答案相關(guān)句)But there is one thing about working in a Shop over Christmas that is too bad to tolerate.
(第1題答案相關(guān)句)(第3段) That thing is music.These days，au Shops and many offices have what is known as “Piped music1” or “muzak” playing for au the hours that they are open.Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment. It was found(在過(guò)去被發(fā)現(xiàn)) that cows (母牛)which listened to(聽(tīng)) simple，happy music produced(生產(chǎn)， 結(jié)(果實(shí))，引起) more milk(牛奶). Perhaps(或許) workers and customers (顧客)who listened to(聽(tīng)) simple， happy music would be more productive(多產(chǎn)的)and spend(花費(fèi)) more money.
答案相關(guān)句的內(nèi)容表明：奶牛聽(tīng)了音樂(lè)會(huì)多產(chǎn)奶，這是早在二十世紀(jì)四十年代就被實(shí)驗(yàn)證明的了.但聽(tīng)音樂(lè)對(duì)工人、顧客和利潤(rùn)有沒(méi)有正面的效應(yīng)，并沒(méi)有得到科學(xué)的驗(yàn)證。
3.D. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用備選項(xiàng)中的細(xì)節(jié)信息結(jié)構(gòu)：complex pieces of music和simple songs共同作為答案線索，在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
That thing is music.These days，au Shops and many offices have what is known as “Piped music1” or “muzak” playing for all the hours that they are open.Muzak has an odd history. During the 1940s，music was played to cows as part of a scientific experiment.(第2題答案相關(guān)句) It was found that cows which listened to simple，happy music produced more milk.Perhaps workers and customers who listened to simple， happy music would be more productive and spend more money.
In fact，nobody knows what effect playing muzak in shops has on profits.It is simply something that everybody does.But we are learning more about the effect of constantly repeated hearings of songs on the people who have to hear them all the time.
(第5段) Research(研究) shows(顯示， 指示) that repeated hearings of complex pieces of music bring greater enjoyment(快樂(lè)) before becoming tiresome(煩人的).And that point(時(shí)刻， 地點(diǎn)， 分?jǐn)?shù))come(到來(lái)，出現(xiàn)) much sooner (更快)with simple songs.
答案相關(guān)句說(shuō)：重復(fù)收聽(tīng)復(fù)雜得音樂(lè)會(huì)出現(xiàn)先覺(jué)得好聽(tīng)，然后覺(jué)得厭煩的情況， 而出現(xiàn)厭倦這一時(shí)刻，聽(tīng)簡(jiǎn)單的歌曲比聽(tīng)復(fù)雜的音樂(lè)出現(xiàn)的更快.
4. A. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用問(wèn)題句中的特征詞(US police forces)， 細(xì)節(jié)信息結(jié)構(gòu)(pop songs)及被選項(xiàng)中的共有詞criminals共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
(第3題答案相關(guān)句)Research shows that repeated hearings of complex pieces of music bring greater enjoyment before becoming tiresome.And that point come mach sooner with simple songs2.
“That’s especially the case with tunes that arc already familiar one that tipping point3 is reached，repeated listening become unpleasant，says professor John Sloboda of UK’s Keele University’s music psychology group.“And the less control you have over what you hear, the less you like it”
(第7段)That′s why police forces in the US often try and resolve(解決， 決心) hostage(人質(zhì)) situations by playing(播放) pop songs over and over again (反復(fù)地)at high volume. Eventually(最后), it becomes(變得) too(太...而不能...) much for the criminals to stand(站立，忍受) and they give up(放棄).
答案相關(guān)句說(shuō)：在人質(zhì)被劫持的情況下，美國(guó)警察常常對(duì)罪犯用大音量播放流行歌曲， 目的是讓罪犯最終難以承受而放棄劫持。
5.D. 細(xì)節(jié)題。 利用被選項(xiàng)中的修飾結(jié)構(gòu)(social, physical, psychological)共同作為答案線索， 在文章中查找答案相關(guān)句：
(第4題答案相關(guān)句) That′s why police forces in the US often try and resolve hostage situations by playing pop songs over and over again at high volume.Eventually, it becomes too mach for the criminals to stand and they give up.
The problem gets particularly bad at Christmas，when the muzak consists entirely of the same few festive tunes played over and over again. What makes it worse for the shop workers is that they already know these tunes.They get bored very quickly.Then they get irritated.Then they get angry.
Shop workers in Austria recently threatened to go on strike for the right to silence.“Shop workers can’t escape the Christmas muzak. they feel as if they are terrorized all day.Especially ‵Jingle Bells4.It arouses aggressive feelings，”said Gottfried Rieser, of the Austrian shop worker′s union.
It is not just shop workers who complain.A survey this year by UK recruitment website Retailchoice.com found that Christmas is not only the most testing time for shop workers，but that almost half had complaints from customers about muzak.And the British Royal National Institute for the Deaf estimates that some stores play jingle Bells 300 times each year
“That’s acoustic(有關(guān)聲音的) torture(折磨， 痛苦)，”says Nigel Rodgers of Pipedown，a group against(反對(duì)) muzak.″It′s not loud(高聲的) but the repetitive(重復(fù)的) nature(本質(zhì))causes (造成)psychological stress(壓力).”
The group wants the government(政府) to legislate against (立法反對(duì))unwanted(不必要的，討厭的) music in stores, hospitals， airports，swimming pools and other public places， claiming(聲稱， 主張) it raises(提高， 飼養(yǎng)，募集) the blood pressure (血壓) and depresses(壓低，使沮喪/) the immune(免疫的) system
Perhaps groups like Pipedown don't really have much to complain about.After all，surely the real point is that people have money to spend.Why complain about a bit of music?