For some people, music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes (音調(diào)). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.

As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music sets them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.

Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn’t involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.

Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed (診斷). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say, ‘No thanks, I’m amusic,’” says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”

1.Which of the following is true of amusics?

A. They can easily tell two different songs apart.

B. Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them.

C. Their situation is well understood by musicians.

D. They love places where they are likely to hear music.

2.According to paragraph3, a person with “defective hearing” is probably one who __________.

A. dislikes listening to speeches

B. can hear anything nonmusical

C. has a hearing problem

D. lacks a complex hearing system

3.What is the passage mainly concerned with?

A. Amusics’ strange behaviours.

B. Some people’s inability to enjoy music.

C. Musical talent and brain structure.

D. Identification and treatment of amusics.

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閱讀理解

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The vast majority of fitness trackers count your steps and are worn around the wrist, but now there’s a device that’s designed to be worn like a necklace and monitors tiny movements to improve your posture.

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It also claims that it is “the world’s first titanium wearable device”. The metal is widely used in fashion stuff that you can wear or carry to match your clothes because it is lightweight, durable and does not tend to cause allergic(過敏的)reactions. It also offers additional features such as shaking to indicate alerts on a user’s smartphone, but it is not currently clear whether it can also be used like bands, to count steps, and so on.

The Fineck has a battery life of around seven days and takes one hour to charge. It is available to pre-order via Kickstarter from ＄69(￡44)and is due to ship in March next year.

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A. An accompanying app. B. A necklace

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3.希望建議被采納。

注意：4.詞數(shù)100左右；

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Yours,

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