We pick the upbeat tunes for parties and workouts, and save the low-key songs for romantic or sad moments. It’s hardly a new idea that music is mixed with our emotions. But how have our favorites changed over the decades, and what do these changes say about America’s shifting emotional landscape (景象)?
Researcher E. Glenn Schellenberg set out to examine songs popular in America during the last five decades, using a selection from Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 charts, hoping to learn how emotional cues (提示) in music, such as tempo (slow to fast) and mode (major or minor key), have changed since 1960.
The most striking finding is the change in key. Songs written in a major key tend to sound warm and high-spirited, while songs in a minor key can sound darker and more melancholic (忧郁的). Over the last few decades, popular songs have switched from major to minor keys. Broadly speaking, the sound has shifted from bright and happy to something more complex. The study also finds America’s popular songs have become slower and longer. Even more interesting, is that our current favorites are more likely to be emotionally ambiguous, such as sad-sounding songs being fast or happy-sounding songs being slow.
A possible explanation for the changes is that the more contemporary music reflects the hardships that our society has gone through. However, Schellenberg believes that the steady increase in length and decrease in tempo doesn’t support the idea of growing difficulties fully because it would mean our problems have increased steadily over the last fifty years. He suggests that popular songs have become more complex over time because Americans are becoming more diverse and individualized in their musical tastes.
Though we can only guess about the specific causes of this evolution in music, Schellenberg’s initial observations have helped to open the door to research on the link between emotion and music consumption. Perhaps someday we’ll learn more of the secrets behind the music we love and the times we live in.
1.Why did Schellenberg start the study?
A.To change music styles. B.To explore changes in music.
C.To select America’s favorite music. D.To examine the creation of music.
2.What can we learn from the findings?
A.Older songs were often more sad-sounding.
B.Popular songs have become warmer and shorter.
C.Recent hits are likely to be longer and more complex.
D.Current favorites tend to be composed in a major key.
3.What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?
A.The influences of the study. B.The diversity of musical tastes.
C.The causes of the music changes. D.The features of America’s society.
4.What is the author’s attitude to the study?
A.Positive. B.Doubtful.
C.Disapproving. D.Ambiguous.
高三英语阅读理解困难题
We pick the upbeat tunes for parties and workouts, and save the low-key songs for romantic or sad moments. It’s hardly a new idea that music is mixed with our emotions. But how have our favorites changed over the decades, and what do these changes say about America’s shifting emotional landscape (景象)?
Researcher E. Glenn Schellenberg set out to examine songs popular in America during the last five decades, using a selection from Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 charts, hoping to learn how emotional cues (提示) in music, such as tempo (slow to fast) and mode (major or minor key), have changed since 1960.
The most striking finding is the change in key. Songs written in a major key tend to sound warm and high-spirited, while songs in a minor key can sound darker and more melancholic (忧郁的). Over the last few decades, popular songs have switched from major to minor keys. Broadly speaking, the sound has shifted from bright and happy to something more complex. The study also finds America’s popular songs have become slower and longer. Even more interesting, is that our current favorites are more likely to be emotionally ambiguous, such as sad-sounding songs being fast or happy-sounding songs being slow.
A possible explanation for the changes is that the more contemporary music reflects the hardships that our society has gone through. However, Schellenberg believes that the steady increase in length and decrease in tempo doesn’t support the idea of growing difficulties fully because it would mean our problems have increased steadily over the last fifty years. He suggests that popular songs have become more complex over time because Americans are becoming more diverse and individualized in their musical tastes.
Though we can only guess about the specific causes of this evolution in music, Schellenberg’s initial observations have helped to open the door to research on the link between emotion and music consumption. Perhaps someday we’ll learn more of the secrets behind the music we love and the times we live in.
1.Why did Schellenberg start the study?
A.To change music styles. B.To explore changes in music.
C.To select America’s favorite music. D.To examine the creation of music.
2.What can we learn from the findings?
A.Older songs were often more sad-sounding.
B.Popular songs have become warmer and shorter.
C.Recent hits are likely to be longer and more complex.
D.Current favorites tend to be composed in a major key.
3.What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?
A.The influences of the study. B.The diversity of musical tastes.
C.The causes of the music changes. D.The features of America’s society.
4.What is the author’s attitude to the study?
A.Positive. B.Doubtful.
C.Disapproving. D.Ambiguous.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
We just went Christmas shopping this weekend, just to pick up a little here and there for the kids. 1.. We have discovered how to save time and money through a little research. Follow me and you can find some excellent tips.
First thing that you want to do is to make a list of what you are looking for exactly. 2.. This will make your shopping experience less painful and time-wasting. It will also help with making it less expensive. You won’t be persuaded to buy things that you don’t need or want because it is on sale.
3.. If you are familiar with the stores that you are buying things from, you will already know how they work. For example, Wal-Mart gives excellent pricing only for online sales, as well as free shipping.
When leaving your favorite stores, you want to look for exactly what is on your list. Compare prices and availability. 4.. Don’t just depend on your favorite stores. Sometimes you will come across things at prices you never knew in your familiar store.
After pricing shopping, go back to the stores that have the best price for the thing you want and buy it. 5. You may get it for a great price, but the shipping and handling costs will make you spend more if you are not careful.
A. We have to go shopping in our daily life.
B.We were shocked by the crowds and the costs.
C.Don’t forget to go online to your favorite stores.
D.Know what it is that you are in need of before you go shopping.
E.Don’t be persuaded to buy you don’t need at all at home.
F.Something you need badly may not be sold online or in the store.
G.Care about not only the cost of the thing, but also the shipping cost.
高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
---Do you have ______ for the party, Mary?
---No, we still have to get another five chairs and some fresh flowers.
A. something B. everything C. anything D. nothing
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
As it tuned out to be a small house party, we ____ so formally.
A. needn’t dress up B. couldn’t have dressed up
C. didn’t need dress up D. needn’t have dressed up
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
The holiday season means friends， family， parties﹣﹣and lots of unhealthy food．1.
Save your pocket money．
If you're going to relax a few times over the season， concentrate on foods that are special or unique to this time of year ﹣ not the ones you can get year﹣round to avoid holiday weight gain， says Gary Foster， PhD， chief scientific officer for Weight Watchers． That means letting yourself enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving，2. The seasonal focus means when the holidays are past， the temptations will go with them and you can return to healthy eating．
Wait to enjoy．
"We recommend you delay your drink until you have food in your stomach，"says Elizabeth Politti， RD， nutrition director for the Duke Diet and Fitness Center． She explains that food can help delay the absorption of alcohol． "Set some limits for yourself about alcohol such as that you won't have more than one or two drinks．" 3. If one glass of wine makes you completely lose your eating inhibitions（抑制），maybe it's better to hold in the face of food temptation．
4.
If you're a regular gym rat， great． But if not， you can still avoid holiday weight gain by taking every opportunity to stay physically active． That means taking the stairs instead of the elevator， or getting off the bus a few stops early﹣﹣ 5. And add bits of intensity， short bursts of more activity， whenever you can． These are the best workouts for people who hate exercise．
A．Stay active．
B．And know yourself．
C．When you're tired， your defenses go down
D．but not a stack of chocolate chip cookies at the office Christmas party．
E．Thanksgiving and New Year's aren't really 12weeks of nonstop eating
F． all the little tricks for adding activity to your day you've read before．
G． These expert tips will help you avoid holiday weight gain without compromising the fun．
高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
Don’t worry if you can’t come to________ party — I’ll save________ cake for you.
A．the; some B．a; much
C．the; any D．a; little
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
In the middle of the night, we ______signals for help from another ship.
A. picked out B. picked up C. picked on D. picked at
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
We couldn’t have picked ______ day for the picnic — it rained nonstop.
| A．a worse | B．a worst |
| C．the worse | D．the worst |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
We made a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up cupcakes for my daughter Norah’s fourth birthday. As an older gentleman walked by， Norah __________and waved， "Hi old person!
It’s my birthday today!" I apologized to him embarrassedly for her __________.
"Hello little lady! And how old are you today?" he asked. They _________ for a couple of minutes， with Norah __________him in on the details of her birthday， and we went our _________ways. But a few minutes later， Norah _________she really wanted a __________with him. Uh， my cutest baby!
We back found him at the __________. "Excuse me， sir? She’d like to know if you’d take a photo with her，" I asked， _________the man to be annoyed at my daughter’s strange request. _________， I got the completely opposite response!
He looked _________. "A photo? With me?" So they posed together and then they _______ each other like they were long lost friends. The precious scene _________other shoppers， but no one cared.
We _________ Mr. Dan (I knew his name later on) for his __________. His eyes filled with tears and he said， "No， thank YOU. It is YOU who made me __________ ."
Now， Norah and Mr. Dan are more than just friends. We make __________ visits to see him because she worries about his being _________. Mr. Dan says that his friendship with Norah helped to _________his broken heart for his wife’s sudden death.
Sometimes talking to __________ turns into the most beautiful thing in the world.
1.A. communicated B. responded C. smiled D. escaped
2.A. noise B. sorrow C. interruption D. impoliteness
3.A. chatted B. stood C. waited D. discussed
4.A. dropping B. filling C. calling D. putting
5.A. separate B. narrow C. long D. crowded
6.A. reminded B. predicted C. decided D. remembered
7.A. talk B. reunion C. moment D. picture
8.A. street B. store C. restaurant D. community
9.A. expecting B. allowing C. requiring D. causing
10.A. Lastly B. Besides C. Instead D. Suddenly
11.A. annoyed B. delighted C. disappointed D. prepared
12.A. greeted B. hugged C. supported D. encouraged
13.A. educated B. attracted C. delayed D. blocked
14.A. memorized B. paid C. thanked D. excited
15.A. time B. permission C. friendship D. experience
16.A. cheer up B. get along C. take off D. hold on
17.A. special B. new C. quick D. regular
18.A. tired B. busy C. lonely D. ill
19.A. attend B. sew C. open D. touch
20.A. shoppers B. friends C. passengers D. strangers
高三英语完形填空困难题查看答案及解析
Only with a reasonable examination system _____ pick out _____ we think is qualified for the task.
A.we can; any who B.can we; whoever C.we can; anyone D.can we; who
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析