Endless playing of songs like All I want for Christmas in shops during the festive season doesn’t just drive us mad —the songs also make us more careless with our money, research has warned.
While repeated performance of Jingle Bells may seem like an innocent attempt to raise customers’ spirits during the nightmare of Christmas shopping, the songs also have a more delicate impact.
“Background music, or “Muzak”, can be used by marketers to impose cultures ---such as the commercialization of Christmas--- onto consumers and influence their behaviour,” experts said.
Dr. Alan Bradshaw of Royal Holloway, University of London, said, “Festive jingles are force-fed to Christmas shoppers in a bid to change their mood, influence their sense of time and what sort of products they buy. In other words, this is an attempt to control your shopping habits in a way that you might hardly be aware of.”
“Often we are told that we have the freedom to choose where we want to shop, but during Christmas the use of music in this way is so common that our freedom to choose disappears.”
Dr. Bradshaw and Prof Morris Holbrook of Columbia University examined the phenomenon and found that retailers often “dumb down” the music played in shops to relax customers, meaning it is easier to control their behaviour.
It is thought that slowing down the rhythm of music in shops can trick customers into thinking less time has passed, and therefore spend more time examining the shelves, for example.
Some providers of background music have been known to promote their services by claiming they can boost profits by controlling the behaviour of customers.
“A common trick is to take a popular current song and record an instrumental version which can be slowed down or sped up at different time of the day to influence behaviour in different ways,” Dr. Bradshaw said.
Background music is often classed as “Muzak” in honor of the Seattle-based company which began producing its soft-sounding melodies in the 1930s.According to Dr. Bradshaw, in what ways does Christmas music influence customers?
①their mood ②their income ③their sense of time ④ the sort of products they buy
| A．①②③ | B．①③④ | C．②③④ | D．①②④ |
Shopkeepers slow down the rhythm of music in shops to ___________.
| A．let customers spend more time shopping |
| B．make customers and sales assistants relaxed |
| C．let customers enjoy the beautiful music |
| D．help customers find what they really want |
What kind of music is now often adapted to influence customers in shops?
| A．Classical music | B．Popular modern songs. | C．Folk songs. | D．Jazz music. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．Music makes happy Christmas |
| B．Christmas “Muzak” |
| C．How to make Christmas music? |
| D．Christmas music makes us spend more |
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
He was a funny—looking man with a cheerful face，good—natured and a great talker．He was described by his student，the great philosopher Plato，as“the best and most just and wisest man”．Yet this same man was sentenced to death for his belief．
The man was the Greek philosopher，Socrates．He was sentenced for not believing in the recognized gods and for corrupting young people．The second charge arose from his association with many young men, who came to Athens from all over the civilized world to study under him．
Socrates’ method of teaching was to ask questions and, by pretending not to know the answers，to press his students into thinking for themselves．His teaching had great influence on all the Greek and Roman schools of philosophy．Yet, for all his fame and influence, Socrates himself never wrote a word．
Socrates encouraged new ideas and thinking in the young, and this was frightening to the people who held traditional views．They wanted him silenced．Yet, many were probably surprised that he accepted death so readily．
Socrates had right to ask for less punishment, and he probably could have won over enough of the people who had sentenced him before．But Socrates, as a firm believer in law, reasoned that it was proper to accept the death sentence．So, he calmly accepted his fate and drank accept of poison in the presence of his sorrow-stricken friends and students．
56．Which of the following statements does NOT agree with the passage?
A．Socrates had a strong character．
B．young people in those days admired Socrates very much．
C．Socrates’ teaching methods had little influence on schools of philosophy．
D．Socrates attached importance to the development of his, students creative thinking．
57．Socrates was sentenced to death because．
A．he did not respect law B．he was a philosopher
C．he published philosophical articles D．his beliefs were not accepted
58．By mentioning that Socrates himself never wrote anything，the author implies that．
A．Socrates was different from many other philosophers
B．Socrates was not so learned as people thought
C．Socrates used the works of his students in teaching
D．the government forbad publishing Socrates’ works
59．Socrates accepted the death sentence to show．
A．his determination to fight against the rulers to the end
B．his recognition of the legal system
C．that he looked down upon the lawmakers
D．how brave he was
E
“You will remember this night forever,” he told me. My friend was taking me dumpster(垃圾桶)diving for the first time. We both needed costumes for a party so he decided to show me around a few of the city’s finest waste baskets. After finding costume materials in the thrift store(旧货店)dumpsters, we stopped at a grocery store. There we found a dumpster half filled with potatoes and bread. We collected bags of potatoes to share with friends and to use for cooking with Food Not Bombs(a group that shares free vegetarian food and speaks against war and poverty). I was later told that using the dumpsters could earn me the title of an urban pirate(海盗)-what a great honour!
My first dumpster dive opened new doors for me. I had struggled with spending money. Now I think it will prove difficult to buy anything after seeing what people throw away. Something about all those wasted resources is not right. It seems we are constantly buying more and more and throwing away perfectly usable items, while many cannot meet their basic needs.
People who have never done their shopping in a dumpster believe it is dirty, dangerous, and humiliating. In reality, a diver with an old pair of jeans, a flashlight and a little common sense (wear boots and gloves to guard against sharp objects)should not have any trouble staying safe and can feel good about being a resourceful and responsible consumer. Dumpstering is a good way to save money, labour, and lessen our environmental impact.
From that dumpster tour, I had a new opinion on garbage. I found I can do something in this wasteful society. By living simply and taking what little I need from others’ unwanted goods, I am able to begin to break the habits of wastefulness. The influence of that first urban pirate adventure created a continuing impact on my life.
72. What is the attitude of the author to the title of an urban pirate?
A. Tolerant B. Proud C. Respectful D. Humiliating
73. “My first dumpster dive opened new doors for me.” means .
A. it has led to a better life for me and made me wealthier
B. it has made me buy nothing later and break the habits of wastefulness
C. it has changed my views and attitudes to consumers and living
D. it has brought me good senses to be a responsible and a resourceful consumer
74. The main idea of the third paragraph is .
A. only the poor goes in for dumpstering
B. how to keep safe while dumpstering
C. the benefit and value of dumpstering
D. how to save money and lessen environmental impace
75. In the writer’s opinion, .
A. there are many objects to be recycled in the dumpster
B. there are too many people looking down upon the divers
C. the little of an urban pirate is a prejudice
D. the influence of the first urban pirate adventure had an ill effect on his life
D
Tales From Animal Hospital
David Grant
David Grant has become a familiar face to millions of fans of Animal Hospital. Here Dr Grant tells us the very best of his personal stories about the animals the has treated, including familiar patients such as the dogs Snowy and Duchess, the delightful cat Marigold Serendipity Diamond. He also takes the reader behind the scenes at Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital
as he describes his day, from ordinary medical check-ups to surgery(外科手术).Tales From Animal Hospital will delight all fans of the programme and anyone who has a lively interest in their pet, whether it be cat, dog or snake!
￡14.99 Hardback 272pp Simon Schuster
ISBN 0751304417
Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer
Michael White
From the author of Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science, comes this colourful description of the life of the world’s first modern scientist. Interesting yet based on fact, Michael White’s learned yet readable new book offers a true picture of Newton completely different from what people commonly know about him. Newton is shown as a gifted scientist with very human weaknesses who stood at the point in history where magic(魔术)ended and science began.
￡18.99 Hardback 320pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857024168
Fermat’s Last Theorem
Simon Singh
In 1963 a schoolboy called Andrew Wiles reading in his school library came across the world’s greatest mathematical problem: Fermat’s Last Theorem(定理). First put forward by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century, the theorem had baffled and beaten the finest mathematical minds, including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out the problem, and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole Polytechnique. Through unbelievable determination Andrew Wiles finally worked out the problem in 1995. An unusual story of human effort over three centuries, Fermat’s Last Theorem will delight specialists and general readers alike.
￡2.99 Hardback 384pp Fourth Estate
ISBN 1857025210
68. What is Animal Hospital?
A. A news story. B. A popular book.
C. A research report. D. A TV programme.
69. In Michael White’s book, Newton is described as .
A. a person who did not look the same as in many pictures
B. a person who lived a colourful and meaningful life
C. a great but not perfect man
D. an old-time magician
70. Which of the following best explains the meaning of the word “baffled” as it is used in the text?
A. To encourage people to raise questions.
B. To cause difficulty in understanding.
C. To provide a person with an explanation.
D. To limit people’s imagination.
71. What is the purpose of writing these three texts?
A. To make the books easier to read.
B. To show the importance of science.
C. To introduce new authors.
D. To sell the books.
C
Maybe ten-year-old Elizabeth put it best when she said to her father, “But, Dad ,you can’t be healthy if you’re dead.”
Dad, in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run, had forgotten to wear his safety belt- a mistake 75% of the US population make every day. The big question is why.
There have been many myths about safety belts ever since their first appearance in cars some forty years ago. The following are three of the most common.
Myth Number One: It’s best to be “thrown clear” of a serious accident.
Truth: Sorry ,but any accident serious enough to “throw you clear” is also going to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing. And chances are you’ll have traveled through a windshield(挡风玻璃)or door to do it. Studies show that chances of dying after a car accident are twenty five times greater in cases where people are “thrown clear”.
Myth Number Two: Safety belts “trap” people in cars that are burning or sinking in water. Truth: Sorry again, but studies show that people knocked unconscious(昏迷)due to not
wearing safety belts have a greater chance of dying in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having a clear head to free themselves from such dangerous situations, not to be trapped in them.
Myth Number Three: Safety belts are not needed at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour
(mph) .
Truth: When two cars traveling at 30mph hit each other, an unbelted driver would meet the windshield with a force equal to driving headfirst into the ground from a height of 10 meters.
64. Why did Elizabeth say to her father, “But Dad, you can’t be healthy if you’re dead?”
A. He was driving at great speed.
B. He was running across the street.
C. He didn’t have his safety belt on .
D. He didn’t take his medicine on time.
65. According to the text, to be “thrown clear” of a serious accident is very dangerous because you_____________
A. may be knocked down by other cars
B. may get seriously hurt being thrown out of the car
C. may find it impossible to get away from the seat
D. may get caught in the car door
66. Some people prefer to drive without wearing a safety belt because they believe______.
A. the belt prevents them from escaping in an accident
B. they will be unable to think clearly in an accident
C. they will be caught when help comes
D. cars catch fire easily
67. What is the advice given in the text?
A. Never drive faster than 30 miles an hour.
B. Try your best to save yourself in a car accident.
C. Never forget to wear safety belt while driving.
D. Drive slowly while you’re not wearing a safety belt.
B
As a teenager of the digital era, it is really hard to say no to fantastic electronic gadgets(电子产品). Many of us can’t get through a day without using our mobile phones or checking our e-mails. No matter if we’re “@home”, “@school” or“@play”, living without technological toys seems more and more unthinkable.
However, although gadgets bring convenience, many of us can start to feel stressed out by them. And, a lot of electronics are fairly expensive. Fashionable gadgets come and go in the digital age in the blink of any eye. So, think twice before you pulling out your wallet.
Here are some of the most popular gadgets and their pros and cons:
Pros: Laptops have made our lives much easier. You can take your books, movies, music and homework everywhere.
Cons: They cost at least 4,000 yuan! If you only want to share photos or games with your friend, then a flash memory stick is a great cheap alternative.
Pros: As well as carrying your favourite music, a video MP3 player can play up to 150 hours of movies and TV programmes.
Cons: The price—sometimes more than 2,000 yuan—is the first concern. Secondly, though music is really important to young people, ask yourself if video is really necessary. A regular MP3 player is a lot cheaper. And remember, don’t let the loud volume damage your hearing.
Pros: New mobile phones combine traditional functions with a digital camera, MP3 player and even a radio. Some can also send and receive e-mails.
Cons: Always trying to keep up with the latest model can be a waste of money. There are always new, improved phones coming out. Don’t be a fool. Do you really need all these functions? Think twice before you buy.
60. According to the writer, which of the following statements is true?
A. Teenagers can’t live through a day without fantastic electronic gadgets.
B. Teenagers can hardly live happily without electronic gadgets.
C. Teenagers’ life is full of expensive electronic gadgets.
D. It’s all but impossible for many teenagers to live without fantastic electronic gadgets.
61. What conclusion can we draw from the passage?
A. Never buy the most updated gadgets.
B. You should buy the gadgets with as many functions as possible.
C. We needn’t always pay the most part to buy the most up-to-date gadgets with many functions.
D. Never buy the latest model, it’s much too expensive.
62. Choose the statement most similar in meaning to the underlined sentence in Paragraph2.
A. Fashionable gadgets are updated in the digital times in a flash.
B. Fashionable gadgets are transported everywhere in the digital age in the blink of any eye.
C. People keep buying and throwing away expensive fashionable gadgets in the digital age in the blink of any eye.
D. People use all kinds of fashionable gadgets all the time in the digital age.
63. What do the words “pros and cons” mean in the selection?
A. Agreements and disagreements.
B. The views that are favoured and not favoured by people.
C. Benefits and bads.
D. Advantages and disadvantages.