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 (潛意識(shí)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

In 1955, a man named Raymond Kroc entered a partnership with two brothers named Mcdonald. They operated a popular restaurant in California which sold food that was easy to prepare and serve quickly. Hamburgers, French fries, and cold drinks were the main foods on the limited menu. Kroc opened similar eating places under the same name, “McDonald’s” and they were a quick success. He later took over the company and today it is one of the most famous and successful “fast-food” chains(連鎖店) in America and the world.
Why was his idea so successful? Probably the most important reason was that his timing was right. In the 1950s, most married women stayed home to keep house and take care of their children. During the 1960s, the movement for equality(平等) between men and women and an economy(經(jīng)濟(jì)) that needed more families to have two money-earners resulted in many women returning to the workplace. This meant that they had less time and energy to do housework, so they depended more on fast-food restaurants.
Single parents also have little time to spend in the kitchen. People living alone because of divorce(離婚) or a preference for a “single lifestyle” also depend on this type of food, since cooking for one is often more trouble than it is worth.
Fast food is not part of the diet of all Americans. Another of the 1960s was called back-to-nature movement. More and more Americans based their diets on natural foods. This preference for natural foods continues to this day. These products can now be found not only in the special health food store but also in many supermarkets.
【小題1】The passage is mainly about ____.