Question

Monkeys prefer heavy metal to classical music, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin whose findings are published this week in Biology Letters.

Scientists played a selection of music to a group of South American cotton-top monkeys but the only sound that got a reaction were from the heavy metal band Metallica. They were seemingly disinterested in Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis and Bach, but after the beautiful sound of Master of Puppets by Metallica was played the monkeys calmed down.

"Monkeys interpret rising and falling sounds differently than humans. Oddly, their only response to several samples of human music was a calming response to the heavy-metal band Metallica," said Professor Charles Snowdon, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Rather than making them excited or aggressive, the heavy metal tracks had a comforting effect. Dr Snowdon, who teamed up with National Symphony Orchestra musican David Teie, also played the monkeys music composed specifically for them. Although they enjoyed Metallica, they were much more interested in these pieces.

A melody(樂曲) based on the short calls of scared monkeys led to anxiety levels rapidly growing, researchers found, while one based on long calls the creatures make when they are happy had a calming effect.

Frans B.M. de Waal, a professor of psychology at Emory University who studies animals, said the findings appear to say more about how monkeys respond to the sounds they make than they do about music or the evolution of music.

Dr Snowdon no longer has a monkey colony to use in his research, but he said his co-author David Teie is exploring the concept of music for cats.

"If we understand how we can affect their emotional states through using musical sound and aspects of our speech, maybe those of us living with companion animals can have a better relationship with them, too," Snowdon said.

1.The research mentioned in the passage is mainly about ______.

A. the change of music over time         B. animals’ response to music

C. special music for animals               D. the origin of music

2.When the monkeys heard the music they liked, they ______.

A. looked anxious                       B. became restless

C. felt at ease                             D. made long calls

3.According to the passage, the monkeys are most interested in the music ______.

A. of Led Zeppelin                        B. of Miles Davis

C. of Metallica                            D. specially composed for them

4.The aim of the research, according to Professor Snowdon, is to ______.

A. build better ties between animals and humans

B. compare monkeys and cats in term of music

C. develop new music based on animals’ calls

D. find better ways to keep animals under control

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：文章介紹了一個實驗的結果，猴子對重金屬音樂更感興趣，聽到感興趣的音樂，猴子們會安靜下來，它們還對特別為它們制作的音樂更感興趣，這個研究的目的是為了在人和動物之間建立更好的紐帶。

1.細節(jié)題：從第二段的句子：Scientists played a selection of music to a group of South American cotton-top monkeys but the only sound that got a reaction were from the heavy metal band Metallica. 可知研究人員讓猴子聽不同的音樂是想看它們的反應，選B

2.細節(jié)題：從第二段的：but after the beautiful sound of Master of Puppets by Metallica was played the monkeys calmed down.和第三段的句子：Oddly, their only response to several samples of human music was a calming response to the heavy-metal band Metallica,"可知猴子聽到自己喜歡的音樂就安靜下來了，選C

3.細節(jié)題：從第四段的句子：Dr Snowdon, who teamed up with National Symphony Orchestra musican David Teie, also played the monkeys music composed specifically for them. Although they enjoyed Metallica, they were much more interested in these pieces. 可知猴子對特別為他們作的音樂最感興趣。選D。

4.細節(jié)題：從最后一段的句子："If we understand how we can affect their emotional states through using musical sound and aspects of our speech, maybe those of us living with companion animals can have a better relationship with them, too," 可知根據(jù)Snowdon 教授所說，這個研究的目的是為了在人和動物之間建立更好的紐帶，選A

考點：考查科普類短文