Question

Listening to music can help me focus better. Since I discovered it two years ago, I’ve used music to get through boring work or to focus creatively. I’ve found that it can make even the dullest jobs enjoyable and help clear mental blocks to creativity.
I first noticed the good effects of music while playing video games. It was a few days before Christmas in 2005 and I was playing online video games. My parents had just given me a new MP3, so I decided to listen to music through the headphones while I played. After a few minutes I noticed a great change in my style of play. I was playing more naturally. The music relaxed me, and, to a certain extent, distracted me from the game, allowing my subconscious (潜意识的) talent to come through. The music also helped me block out the outside world. With those headphones on I was like a machine, moving from one task to the next without unnecessary thoughts or actions.
Music can also have a great effect on mood. If I’m in a bad mood at work, I’ll listen to some of Bob Marley’s and get down to business. It always takes my mind off what I’m doing and makes me a happier person. The same is true for classic rock. One summer, I did a boring job collecting bottle openers by hand. Without a radio playing classic rock in the background, I would have hated life.
Listening to music with relaxing rhythms and a positive message helps you forget your work and think happy thoughts. But the results you see will depend heavily on your personal tastes. Experiment with the types of music you listen to during certain tasks. By trial and error you’ll finally discover your best choice. I’m always looking for new concentration aids, so I’d love to know what type of music works best for me.

1. 1.
   We can infer that the passage was written in __________.
   1. A.
      2005
   2. B.
      2006
   3. C.
      2007
   4. D.
      2008
2. 2.
   The author first discovered the effects of music __________.
   1. A.
      from his parents
   2. B.
      by chance
   3. C.
      at work
   4. D.
      when he was a child
3. 3.
   Which of the following statements is NOT an effect of music for the author?
   1. A.
      It helps him block out the outside world.
   2. B.
      It arouses his subconscious talent.
   3. C.
      It helps his mind relax.
   4. D.
      It makes him work without any thought.
4. 4.
   The author mentions the experience of collecting bottle openers in Paragraph 3 to ________.
   1. A.
      tell us that life is dull
   2. B.
      prove that music affects mood
   3. C.
      tell us how to seek happiness
   4. D.
      tell us bad mood can affect work
5. 5.
   In order to get the greatest effect of music, you are advised to ________.
   1. A.
      listen to some of Bob Marley’s
   2. B.
      only choose relaxing music
   3. C.
      test all kinds of music
   4. D.
      listen to classic rock

Answer 1

CBDBC
工作时听音乐可以使你更加集中注意力，提高工作效率。而且，当情绪不好的时候，你可以听听音乐，这样可以帮助你忘掉烦恼，增加愉悦感。
1.根据文中的信息作出判断推理。根据第一段Since I discovered it two years ago … 可知，作者两年前发现了听音乐的好处；根据第二段It was a few days before Christmas in 2005 … 可知，作者指的两年前是2005年，因此写这篇文章的时间是2007年。
2.理解文中具体信息。根据第二段 … I was playing online video games … After a few minutes I noticed a great change in my style of play可知，作者是在玩游戏时听音乐偶然发现音乐的巨大作用的。
3.理解文中具体信息。根据第二段 … moving from one task to the next without unnecessary thoughts or actions可知，D项表述不准确，故答案为D。
4.根据文中的信息作出判断推理。第三段的主题句为第一句，下面举的例子是为了证明这个观点的，故答案为B。
5.理解文中具体信息。根据最后一段Experiment with the types of music you listen to during certain tasks可知，答案为C。