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(乐曲) 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
Cultural Center Adds Classes for Young Adults
The Allendale Cultural Center has expanded its arts program to include classes for young adults. Director Leah Martin announced Monday that beginning in September, three new classes will be offered to the Allendale community. The course titles will be Yoga for Teenagers; Hip Hop Dance: Learning the Latest Moves; and Creative Journaling for Teens: Discovering the Writer Within. The latter course will not be held at the Allendale Cultural Center but instead will meet at the Allendale Public Library.
Staff member Tricia Cousins will teach the yoga and hip hop classes. Ms. Cousins is an accomplished choreographer (舞蹈教师) as well as an experienced dance educator. She has an MA in dance education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she wrote a thesis on the pedagogical (教学法的) effectiveness of dance education. The journaling class will be taught by Betsy Milford. Ms. Milford is the head librarian at the Allendale Public Library as well as a columnist for the professional journal Library Focus.
The courses are part of the Allendale Cultural Center’s Project Teen, which was initiated by Leah Martin, Director of the Cultural Center. According to Martin, this project is a direct result of her efforts to make the center a more essential part of the Allendale community. Over the last several years, the number of people who have visited the cultural center for classes or events has steadily declined. Project Teen is primarily funded by a generous grant from The McGee Arts Foundation, an organization devoted to bringing arts programs to young adults. Martin oversees the Project Teen board, which consists of five board members. Two board members are students at Allendale’s Brookdale High School; the other three are adults with backgrounds in education and the arts.
The creative journaling class will be cosponsored by Brookdale High School, and students who complete the class will be given the opportunity to publish one of their journal entries in Pulse, Brookdale’s student literary magazine. Students who complete the hip hop class will be eligible to participate in the Allendale Review, an annual concert sponsored by the cultural center that features local actors, musicians, and dancers. All classes are scheduled to begin immediately following school dismissal, and transportation will be available from Brookdale High School to the Allendale Cultural Center and the Allendale Public Library. For more information about Project Teen, contact the cultural center’s programming office at 988-0099 or drop by the office after June 1 to pick up a fall course catalog. The office is located on the third floor of the Allendale Town Hall.
1.Which of the following statements is correct?
A. Tricia Cousins will teach two of the new classes.
B. The new classes will begin on June 1.
C. People who want a complete fall catalogue should stop by the Allendale Public Library.
D. The cultural center’s annual concert is called Pulse.
2.According to Leah Martin, what was the direct cause of Project Teen?
A. Tricia Cousins was available to teach courses in the fall.
B. Community organizations were ignoring local teenagers.
C. The McGee Arts Foundation wanted to be more involved in Allendale’s arts programming.
D. She wanted to make the cultural center a more important part of the Allendale community.
3.Which of the following factors is implied as another reason for Project Teen?
A. The number of people visiting the cultural center has declined over the last several years.
B. The cultural center wanted a grant from The McGee Arts Foundation.
C. The young people of Allendale have complained about the cultural center’s offerings.
D. Leah Martin thinks classes for teenagers are more important than classes for adults.
4.This article is organized in which of the following ways?
A. In time order, from the past to the future.
B. Most important information first, followed by background and details.
C. Background first, followed by the most important information and details.
D. As sensational news, with the most controversial topic first.
You put a great deal of effort into reaching the college of your choice. It’s time to get started. But what’s next? Beginning college can be an exciting but awkward time. Follow these tips to adjust to your new life rapidly and make the most of your college experience.
● To save time and money, use the college’s bus system. Taking the bus to school is quick, easy and free in most college towns. You won’t have to locate or afford a place to park either. It’s also a good way to be environmentally aware.
● Save pennies on books by waiting until class starts. You might not even need all of the recommended books. New textbooks cost an arm and a leg. Try buying used textbooks — it’s a surefire way to save money and serves the purpose as well.
● Do never look at college life as an endless series of parties and social activities. But there is a whole lot more to college if you’re serious about graduating. Having a good college experience is all about balancing work and fun.
● Be aware that your living environment can largely affect your academic success. If the dorm doesn’t suit you, consider living at home with your family or renting your own apartment. The best location for your studies isn’t always your dorm. Find a quiet area, like the library, to do your work. Alternatively, buy some headphones that block out noise.
● Be mindful of your diet. Make healthy food choices and watch what you eat. Avoid foods that are processed or high in sugar. The “freshman 15” is real. Many college students gain at least 15 pounds during their freshmen year.
● While electives (选修课) can be helpful when figuring out your major, you shouldn’t entirely rely on them. Clubs and other organizations exist around. Get involved. Make sure, though, that you still have time to study. Having too much on your plate can hurt your grades.
1.Which of the following ideas can be financially wise?
A. Driving your own car. B. Buying used books.
C. Renting an apartment. D. Attending activities.
2.In the text, freshmen are repeatedly warned against ______.
A. academic failures B. physical problems
C. traffic accidents D. social activities
3.The “freshman 15” tells the fact that some freshmen ______.
A. attend limited activities on campus
B. have little regular physical exercise
C. focus less on their academic work
D. take relaxed attitudes to their diets
4. The underlined phrase “having too much on your plate” probably refers to ______.
A. using too much money for meals
B. eating too many unhealthy foods
C. taking part in too many after-class activities
D. taking an elective that has too many students
We all have our ways of marking time. As a photographer, my life is measured from one story to the next. My oldest son was born in the middle of a long story about the Endangered Species Act. My daughter came along with a pack of gray wolves.
Twenty stories later, though, it’s the story in Alaska that I’ll remember best. It was the story about the loss of wilderness — and the story during which my wife Kathy got cancer. That’s the one that made time stand still. I stopped taking pictures on the day when she found that tumor (肿瘤). Cruelly, it was Thanksgiving. By Christmas, she had become very weak. Some days she was so sick she couldn’t watch TV.
Early examination saves time. But ours was not early. By the time you can feel it yourself, it’s often bigger than the doctor want it to be.
Cancer is a thief. It steals time. Our days are already short with worry. Then comes this terrible disease, unfair as storm at harvest time. But cancer also has the power to change us, for good. We learn to simplify, enjoying what we have instead of feeling sorry for what we don’t. Cancer even made me a better father. My work had made me a stranger to my three kids. But now I pay attention to what really matters. This is not a race. This is a new way of life and new way of seeing, all from the cancer.
In the end each of us has so little time. We have less of it than we can possibly imagine. And even though it turns out that Kathy’s cancer has not spread, and her prognosis (诊断) is good. We try to make it all count now, enjoying every part of every day.
I’ve picked up my camera again. I watch the sky, searching for beautiful light. When winter storms come, Kathy and I gather our children and take the time to catch snowflakes (雪花) on our tongues. After all, this is good. This is what we’re living for.
1.As a photographer, the author used to ______.
A. leave his daughter with a pack of gray wolves
B. express his love for his family in a special way
C. miss a great many important historical moments
D. devote much more to his career than his family
2.Why did the author decide to stop taking pictures?
A. To cure his own disease. B. To spend more time with his wife.
C. To seek a better position. D. To leave the wilderness alone.
3.What is the biggest change the cancer has brought to the author?
A. He treasured every bit of time with his family.
B. He has become a stranger to his children.
C. He takes his work more seriously.
D. He focuses more on medical care.
4.The author and his family catch snowflakes on their tongues probably because ______.
A. the snowflakes taste very good
B. snowflakes are what they feed on
C. they regard that as a way to enjoy life
D. there is beautiful light in the snowflakes
A black car rushed around the busy street corner, towards the courthouse. The dark window rolled down and a semi-automatic stuck out.
Pauly Gillespie, a government protected witness (目击者), stood , seeing death walking toward him. Pauly’s FBI bodyguards themselves on top of him, but two were fired and Pauly was hit the shoulder.
The car across two lanes (车道) of traffic. Then it turned left down a path and got __ behind a large truck. The two men in the car out and raced away --- into the arms of four policemen.
Special agent (特工) Brown was new to the police unit and was told to __ the car out of the path so that the traffic could return to . Brown changed the position of the rearview (后视) mirror _ and drove it around to __ his boss was questioning the two men.
Brown stood and watched. One of the men was tall and thin, and _ was five inches shorter, about Brown’s .
Agent Fordney asked the two men who had done the shooting. They __ to tell him. Then Brown smiled and said, “I know who the shooter was.” His boss was surprised. How could Brown know that without getting any answer from the two men?
When Brown got into the car, he had to adjust the rearview mirror. That meant the previous driver had been of a height. Since the shorter man was close to Brown’s height, he knew the taller man must have been the _. Therefore, the shorter man had done the .
1.A. driver-side B. passenger-side C. right-hand side D. left-hand side
2.A. hand B. camera C. handgun D. knife
3.A. frozen B. calm C. quiet D. still
4.A. put B. rushed C. jumped D. threw
5.A. bullets B. shots C. guns D. shoots
6.A. on B. at C. over D. in
7.A. sped B. rolled C. moved D. went
8.A. damaged B. destroyed C. stuck D. injured
9.A. came B. hurried C. walked D. crawled
10.A. suddenly B. right C. quickly D. immediately
11.A. clear B. ride C. carry D. push
12.A. common B. ordinary C. usual D. normal
13.A. up B. down C. in D. out
14.A. where B. there C. which D. what
15.A. another B. other C. the other D. one
16.A. size B. length C. age D. height
17.A. decided B. refused C. had D. pretended
18.A. same B. large C. different D. small
19.A. murderer B. shooter C. driver D. killer
20.A. killing B. shooting C. driving D. murdering
______ the incorrect operation of the driver in the emergency, the terrible December 8th accident on the Chengzilu Freeway in Sichuan could have been avoided.
A. Apart from B. Except for C. Due to D. But for
