穆扎克音乐（muzak）
什么是穆扎克音乐？
所谓“穆扎克音乐”，就是安静柔和的背景音乐；这样的音乐过去被称作“电梯音乐”，因为我们经常在电梯里听到它。但是近来我们会在越来越多的地方听到它，而它也有了一个新的名字：“衬托音乐”。美国大约有三分之一的人每天听到“衬托音乐”。这种音乐每次播放15分钟，然后是短暂的停顿。它总是在上午的10:00和11:00之间以及下午的3:00和4:00之间听起来更加活泼，而在这两个时段里人们是比较疲劳的。这种音乐给他们增加额外的精力。2012-5-28
2010年高考英语北京卷阅读理解 E篇
从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Muzak 背景衬托音乐：
The next time you go into a bank, a store, or a supermarket, stop and listen. What do you hear? 71______ It's similar to the music you listen to, but it's not exactly the same. That's because this music was especially designed to relax you, or to give you extra energy. Sometimes you don't even realize the music is playing, but you react to the music anyway.
下次你走进银行、商店或超市时，停下脚步听一听。你听见什么了？背景中有音乐在播放。它类似于你常听的音乐，但又不完全相同。这是因为这种音乐是专门设计出来让你放松心情，或者让你增加活力。有时候你甚至没有意识到正在播放音乐，但这种音乐总是会让你有所反应。
Quiet background music used to be called "elevator music" because we often heard it in elevators. But lately we hear it in more and more places, and it has a new name "Muzak". About one-third of the people in America listen to "Muzak" every day. The music plays for 15 minutes at a time, with short pauses in between. It is always more lively between ten and eleven in the morning, and between three and four in the afternoon, when people are more tired. 72_______
安静柔和的背景音乐过去被称作“电梯音乐”，因为我们经常在电梯里听到它。但是近来我们会在越来越多的地方听到它，而它也有了一个新的名字：“衬托音乐”。美国大约有三分之一的人每天听到“衬托音乐”。这种音乐每次播放15分钟，然后是短暂的停顿。它总是在上午的10:00和11:00之间以及下午的3:00和4:00之间听起来更加活泼，而在这两个时段里人们是比较疲劳的。这种音乐给他们增加额外的精力。
If you listen to Muzak carefully, you will probably recognize the names of many of the songs. Some musicians or songwriters don't want their songs to be used as Muzak, but others are happy when their songs are chosen. Why? 73_______
如果你仔细倾听衬托音乐，你很可能会辨别出许多歌曲的名字。有些音乐家和歌曲作者不愿意让他们的作品被用作衬托音乐，但也有另外一些作者很高兴他们的歌曲被选中。为什么呢？他们的歌曲如果被用作衬托音乐，他们每年的收入高达400万美元。
Music is often played in public places because it is designed to make people feel less lonely when they are in an airport or a hotel. It has been proven that Muzak does what it is designed to do. Tired office workers suddenly have more energy when they hear the pleasant sound of Muzak in the background. 74_______ Supermarket shoppers buy 38 percent more groceries.
音乐经常被播放在公共场所，因为它的设计意图是为了让机场或宾馆里的客人减轻孤独寂寞。人们已经证明，衬托音乐确实达到了它的设计效果。当听到轻松愉快的衬托音乐在工作背景中响起时，心神疲惫的办公室职员们会一下子感到精神焕发。工厂里工人们的生产率增长了13%。超市的顾客则多买了38%的商品。
75_______ They say it's boring to hear the same songs all the time. But other people enjoy hearing Muzak in public places. They say it helps them relax and feel calm. One way or another, Muzak affects everyone. Some farmers even say their cows give more milk when they hear Muzak!
有些人不喜欢衬托音乐。他们说一直听着相同的歌曲是枯燥乏味的。但是另外有些人却很喜欢听到公共场所里的衬托音乐。不管怎样，衬托音乐影响着每个人。有些农场主甚至还说，他们的奶牛听了衬托音乐以后增加了产奶量。
A. Some people don't like Muzak. B. The music gives them extra energy.
C. Music is playing in the background. D. Factory workers produce 13 percent more.
E. Muzak tends to help people understand music better.
F. They get as much as $4 million a year if their songs are used.
G. Muzak is played in most of the big supermarkets in the world.
答案：71—75: CBFDA
71. C. Music is playing in the background.
背景中有音乐在播放。
72. B. The music gives them extra energy.
这种音乐给他们增加额外的精力。
73. F. They get as much as $4 million a year if their songs are used.
他们的歌曲如果被用作衬托音乐，他们每年的收入高达400万美元。
74. D. Factory workers produce 13 percent more.
工厂里工人们的生产率增长了13%。
75. A. Some people don't like Muzak.
有些人不喜欢衬托音乐。
E. Muzak tends to help people understand music better.
衬托音乐可以帮助人们更好地理解音乐。
G. Muzak is played in most of the big supermarkets in the world.
