常春藤解析英语【44】The "Mozart Effect" Fact or Fict（在线收听）

The "Mozart Effect" Fact or Fiction?　古典乐能让贝比变聪明吗？

by Levi King

Recently, the idea that listening to classical music can increase intelligence, especially in babies, has caught the attention of the media, researchers, and parents around the globe. In the early 1990s, researchers from France and the US published articles that said listening to Mozart for 10 minutes temporarily improved performance on IQ tests and challenging tasks. As a result, the media quickly began reporting on the "Mozart effect."

In 1997, Don Campbell patented the term and published a book about this interesting phenomenon. Campbell claimed that classical music could improve health and memory, counteract mental and physical disorders, and reduce stress and depression. He soon followed with The Mozart Effect for Children, as well as CDs and products for parents of young children. Today, a wide selection of similar products is available, including Baby Mozart and Baby Bach, two bestselling DVDs in the popular Baby Einstein series. There are even music players specially designed for expectant mothers to wear on their tummies. This way, babies can listen to classical music before they're even born.

However, there is some doubt surrounding the Mozart effect. Parents question whether it is a proven reality or just a fad designed to make money. Frances H. Rauscher, a psychologist and author of one of the original studies, is skeptical. Much of the original research pointed to temporary improvements on specific tasks. She believes these findings have been incorrectly portrayed as a general increase in intelligence. "I don't think it can hurt," Rauscher said. Yet she added that parents may still want to think twice before spending a fortune trying to make a genius out of their baby.

1. According to the article, what is meant by the Mozart effect?
(A) Special DVDs can help teach a child to play musical instruments.
(B) Researchers can determine a child's intelligence by studying musical ability.
(C) Singing to an unborn child may inspire a love of classical music.
(D) Listening to classical music may increase intelligence, especially in babies.

2. Which of the following did NOT spread the popularity of the Mozart effect?
(A) Media stories about the Mozart effect.
(B) Books on intelligence and classical music.
(C) Interviews with successful Mozart effect babies.
(D) CDs, DVDs, and devices using the Mozart effect.

3. Most recently, researcher Frances H. Rauscher _____.
(A) expressed doubt about the Mozart effect
(B) developed a music player for pregnant women
(C) reversed her opinion on classical music
(D) patented the term Mozart effect

精解字词词组

1.report on...　　报导……
例: The media spends a lot of time reporting on Paul's celebrity lifestyle.
（媒体花了很多时间报导保罗的名流生活。）

2.counteract vt. 对抗
例: Marcus tried many treatments to counteract the effects of balding.
（马克斯试了很多疗法来对抗秃头。）

3.follow with...　　接着继续（做）……
例: After one hit song, Iris followed with a disappointing album.
（推出一首畅销单曲后，艾莉丝接下来的专辑却让人大失所望。）

4.a wide selection of...　　一系列广泛的……
例: Tony has collected a wide selection of Hello Kitty products.
（东尼收集了一系列的凯蒂猫相关商品。）

5.skeptical a. 怀疑的
be skeptical of/about...　　对……感到怀疑
= be suspicious of...
例: Marsha is skeptical of the salesman's honesty.
（马莎对那名推销员的诚信感到怀疑。）

6.point to...　　指向……（的可能）
例: The evidence in the case pointed to the fact that Aaron was the stalker.
（那件案子的证据指向亚伦就是跟踪狂。）

7.specific a. 明确的
be specific about...　　明确说明……
例: Can you be more specific about when you'd like the project finished?
（你能不能再说明确一点这项企划案要何时完成？）

8.be portrayed as...　　被描绘成……
portray vt. 描绘
例: That pitcher has been portrayed as much better than he really is.
（那名投手被描述成比实际上更厉害。）

9.think twice　　再三考虑
例: You'd better think twice before going outside dressed like that.
（你穿那样出门前，最好再考虑一下。）

10.spend + 表金钱的名词 + V-ing/on sth　　花……（金钱）做……∕在……上
例: The company spent a lot of money buying advanced equipment.
（那家公司花了许多钱买先进设备。）

11.genius n. 天才；天赋
have a genius for...　　有……的天赋
= have a talent for...
例: Debbie showed she had a genius for music at a very young age.
（黛比在很小的时候就展现出音乐天赋。）

12.interview n. 访问；面试
do an interview with...　　接受……的访问
例: The award-winning director did an interview with six different magazines last month.
（那位得奖导演上个月接受了六家杂志社的采访。）

13.reverse vt. 彻底改变
例: After new evidence came out, the judge reversed his decision.
（新的证据出炉后，法官改变了自己的判决。）

单字小铺

1.classical a. 古典的
2.intelligence n. 智能
3.media n. 媒体
4.temporarily adv. 暂时地
=temporary a. 暂时的
5.IQ　　智商（= intelligence quotient）
=quotient n. 商数
6.challenging a. 具挑战性的
7.patent vt. 给予……专利权
8.phenomenon n. 现象（单数形）
=phenomena n. 现象（复数形）
9.disorder n. 失调
10.depression n. 忧郁，沮丧
11.bestselling a. 畅销的
12.expectant mother　　怀孕的准妈妈，孕妇
=expectant a. 期待的
13.tummy n. 肚子
14.surround vt. 围绕
15.question vt. 质疑
16.fad n. 一时的流行
17.psychologist n. 心理学家
18.temporary a. 暂时的
19.incorrectly adv. 错误地
20.instrument n. 乐器；仪器
=musical instrument　　乐器
21.inspire vt. 启发

词组小铺

1.catch the attention of...　　吸引……的注意

2.A as well as B　　A 和 B

中文翻译＆标准答案

听古典乐能增进智力，特别是婴儿的智力，近来引起了全球媒体、研究人员与家长的注意。1990 年代初期，法国与美国的研究人员均发表文章，表示聆听十分钟的莫扎特音乐能暂时提高智力测验的分数，或增进具有挑战性的任务表现。结果，媒体很快开始争相报导『莫扎特效应』。

1997 年，唐．坎贝尔获得『莫扎特效应』这个词的专利权，并出版一本书说明这个令人感兴趣的现象。坎贝尔声称古典乐能改善健康与记忆，对抗身心失调，还能减轻压力与忧郁。他接着很快推出 Mozart Effect for Children 一书、针对幼儿父母发行 CD 及商品。如今，在同性质系列中，可挑选的商品相当广泛，包括大受欢迎的『宝贝爱因斯坦』系列中，《小小莫扎特》与《小小巴哈》这两套畅销 DVD。甚至还有特别为怀孕准妈妈设计的音乐播放器，让她们戴在肚子上。如此一来，宝宝还没出生就能听古典乐了。

然而『莫扎特效应』也引起一些怀疑。父母质疑这究竟是经过证实的事实，还是用来削钱所炒作的潮流。最初研究的作者之一，心理学家法兰西丝．罗彻尔便持怀疑的态度。最早的研究大多指向特定任务的短期成效。她认为这些发现被错误描述成能普遍提高智商。她说：『我不认为听古典乐有什么坏处。』不过她又说，父母在砸钱创造天才贝比前，也许应该再好好想一想。

1. 根据本文，什么是『莫扎特效应』？
(A) 特别的 DVD 能教导孩子如何演奏乐器。
(B) 研究者能藉由研究孩子的音乐天赋得知他们的智商。
(C) 对未出世的孩子唱歌能激发他们对古典乐的爱好。
(D) 听古典乐可能会增进智商，特别是婴儿。
题解: 本文第一段指出，听古典乐能增进智力，特别是婴儿的智力，因为有研究指出，聆听十分钟的莫扎特音乐能暂时提高智力测验的分数，由此可知，故选 (D)。

2. 下列何者没有促成『莫扎特效应』的受欢迎程度？
(A) 媒体报导『莫扎特效应』。
(B) 关于智力与古典乐的书籍。
(C) 访问成功的『莫扎特效应』宝宝。
(D) CD、DVD 与使用『莫扎特效应』的器具。
题解: 根据第二段，唐．坎贝尔出版书籍并发行 CD，之后同性质的产品琳琅满目，包括 DVD，甚至还有特别为准妈妈设计的音乐播放器，惟独 (C) 并未提及，故选之。

3. 最近，研究者法兰西丝．罗彻尔 _____。
(A) 表达对『莫扎特效应』的怀疑
(B) 为怀孕妇女研发一种音乐播放器
(C) 彻底改变她对古典乐的看法
(D) 获得『莫扎特效应』这个词的专利权
题解: 根据第三段，法兰西丝．罗彻尔对『莫扎特效应』抱持怀疑的态度，故选 (A)。

标准答案: 1. (D)　2. (C)　3. (A)