内容正文:
外刊阅读
Step 1: Reading
为什么有些歌总在大脑里单曲循环
Why Some Songs Get Stuck in Your Head
改编自:科学警告
Article
Main idea
If you’ve watched the movie KPop Demon Hunters and later see the word “golden”, what happens? People who have never heard the soundtrack notice nothing special. But those who know the song may suddenly hear a tiny fragment (碎片) of the chorus—“we’re goin’ up, up, up”—looping inside their heads. This is involuntary musical imagery, colloquially (俗语地) called an earworm. Surveys show that more than 90 % of us experience earworms at least once a week, and scientists are now mapping how they start, why they persist, and how to silence them—if silence is what you want.
段落大意:通过“golden”一词引出耳虫现象,给出定义并指出其普遍性。
论证方法:举例设问+统计论证(“>90%的人体验过”)。
Psychologists have discovered that earwoms recycle music from the same mental “pocket” of memory. The most powerful trigger is contiguous (连续的) repetition: a phrase that repeats immediately, without interruption. The chorus of Golden is sung four times in 40 seconds; Baby Shark repeats its hook even faster. Mass exposure on TikTok or radio adds familiarity, another essential ingredient.
段落大意:解释耳虫形成的音乐特征——“连续重复”与“大众曝光”。
Once the loop begins, the brain does not play the song from start to finish. Instead, it follows compressed instructions similar to: “skip intro, play verse twice, repeat chorus four times, return to verse.” When the default-mode network (DMN)—a group of regions linked to day-dreaming—takes over, these instructions are edited again. The DMN keeps only the most repetitive chunk and deletes the exit cue, so the fragment circles indefinitely.
段落大意:揭示大脑对音乐的“分段-指令”式存储机制,说明为何片段会无限循环。
Earworms can be started by recent listening, by seeing a single trigger-word, or by habits such as always hearing music on the bus. Inside the brain, the DMN acts like a mischievous (顽皮的) sibling who locks the door and replays one favorite scene all night, while the “parent” networks that know when to stop are left outside.
段落大意:列举触发耳虫的日常情境与习惯线索。
How can you evict (赶走) an unwelcome guest? Singing the tune aloud to a friend works, because social engagement switches off the DMN, though it may also switch on embarrassment. Replacing the loop with a non-repetitive song—Happy Birthday or God Save the King—is less humiliating. Software company Atlassian even released a 40-second anti-earworm track whose melody never repeats; early tests suggest it can squash (压碎) the loop in roughly half of users.
段落大意:提供两种驱赶耳虫的实用策略及其利弊。
Ultimately, earworms reveal how economically the brain stores music, and they can be pleasant if you liked the original song. If you hate the repetition, diversify your playlist and let the DMN graze on new material. In short, make peace with the tiny DJ inside your head—or teach it better songs.
段落大意:升华观点——耳虫既可折磨人也能带来愉悦,关键在于多样化聆听与心态调整。
中心主题:耳虫现象的机制、诱因与应对
├─ 引入:生活化设问→定义+数据
├─ 成因分析
│ ├─ 音乐特征:连续重复+大众曝光
│ ├─ 认知机制:分段-指令存储
│ └─ 神经基础:默认模式网络走神
├─ 触发情境
│ ├─ 近期聆听
│ ├─ 环境/习惯线索
│ └─ 相似旋律
├─ 解决方案
│ ├─ 社交歌唱(打断DMN)
│ └─ 替换低重复旋律/专业音轨
└─ 价值升华:科学启示+心态管理
Step 2: Exercise
基础版题目(适合90分)
1. What is an “earworm” according to the text?
A. A small insect that lives in the ear.
B. A piece of music that repeats involuntarily in the mind.
C. A new style of K-pop dancing.
D. A special sound effect used in movies.
2. Which of the following songs is mentioned as having strong contiguous repetition?
A. God Save the King
B. Happy Birthday
C. Baby Shark
D. Imagine
3. The default-mode network (DMN) is described as a “mischievous sibling” mainly because it
A. helps us remember long melodies exactly.
B. keeps repeating only the most catchy part of a song.
C. protects the brain from noisy environments.
D. teaches children how to sing in tune.
4. What is the easiest way to stop an earworm mentioned in the text?
A. Listen to the same song 20 times in a row.
B. Sing the loop aloud to another person.
C. Take sleeping pills.
D. Wear noise-cancelling headphones.
5. What is the writer’s final attitude toward earworms?
A. They are dangerous and should be cured by doctors.
B. They are annoying but can be managed or even enjoyed.
C. They only happen to people who listen to K-pop.
D. They will disappear completely if we ignore them.
提高版题目(适合130分考生)
1. Which of the following best explains the brain’s storage of music that leads to earworms?
A. It archives entire songs as continuous audio files.
B. It compresses songs into sectional “pockets” and editable instructions.
C. It stores only lyrics without melodic information.
D. It records every detail of timbre and tempo permanently.
2. The word “ingredient” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. flavour.
B. component.
C. obstacle.
D. consequence.
3. Why does the author consider social singing an “effective but not always optimal” cure?
A. It damages vocal cords.
B. It requires expensive equipment.
C. It may cause embarrassment.
D. It increases exposure to the looping song.
4. Which statement is TRUE about the 40-second Atlassian track?
A. It uses contiguous repetition to replace the original earworm.
B. Its melody is designed to lack repetition hooks.
C. It has been proved to work for every listener.
D. It is mentioned merely as commercial advertising.
5. What is the main purpose of the article?
A. To advertise newly released pop songs.
B. To describe neural mechanisms of musical memory and offer practical coping strategies.
C. To argue that earworms should be classified as a mental disorder.
D. To compare Korean and Western musical styles.
答案与解析
基础版答案
1 B 2 C 3 B 4 B 5 B
解析
1. 首段给出定义“involuntary musical imagery… called an earworm”。
2. 第二段明确提到 Baby Shark 的连续重复。
3. 第五段比喻说明 DMN 只循环最重复的片段。
4. 第六段指出“Sing the tune aloud to a friend”可打断循环。
5. 末段作者建议“make peace… or teach it better songs”,态度为可管理甚至可享受。
提高版答案
1 B 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 B
解析
1. 第三段说明大脑把歌曲分段存储并按“指令”跳转,形成循环。
2. “ingredient”指“要素、成分”,与 component 最接近。
3. 第六段提到 social engagement 有效,但会带来 embarrassment。
4. Atlassian 音轨“never repeats”,从而不给耳worm 提供挂钩。
5. 全文用说明文方式解释耳worm 的认知原理并给出应对策略,B 项概括最全面。
Step 3: Learning
1. involuntary
重点:词义辨析:与 “automatic” 区别;词性转换:voluntary → voluntarily → involuntarily
近义:unintentional, automatic
反义:voluntary, deliberate
形近:volume(n. 音量)
拓展:
volunt (意愿)
├── voluntary (adj. 自愿的)
├── involuntary (adj. 非自愿的)
└── volunteer (n./v. 志愿者;自愿)
2. fragment
重点:派生词:fragmentary (adj.), fragmentation (n.);完形常考 “break into fragments”
近义:piece, bit
反义:whole, entirety
形近:fragile (adj. 易碎的)
拓展:
frag/fract (破)
├── fragment (n. 碎片)
├── fracture (n. 骨折)
└── fragile (adj. 易碎的)
3. repeat
重点:词性转换:repetition (n.), repetitive (adj.), repeatedly (adv.);阅读高频指代标志
近义:recur, reiterate
反义:cease, stop
形近:repute (v. 认为)
拓展:
peat (求,驱) ← L. petere
├── repeat (v. 重复)
├── repetition (n. 重复)
└── repeatedly (adv. 反复地)
4. familiar
重点:搭配:be familiar with/to;派生:familiarity (n.)
近义:well-known, acquainted
反义:strange, unfamiliar
形近:family (n. 家庭)
拓展:
familiar (adj. 熟悉的)
├── familiarity (n. 熟悉)
└── unfamiliar (adj. 不熟悉的)
5. exposure
重点:派生:expose (v.), exposition (n.);语法:expose sb. to sth.
近义:contact, disclosure
反义:cover, concealment
形近:expense (n. 费用)
拓展:
pos/pon (放置)
├── expose (v. 暴露)
├── exposure (n. 暴露)
└── exposition (n. 博览会;说明)
6. indefinite
重点:词根:define → definite → indefinitely (adv.);阅读态度题常出“indefinite=不确定”
近义:unlimited, endless
反义:finite, limited
形近:indefensible (adj. 无法防御的)
拓展:
fin (结束)
├── definite (adj. 明确的)
├── indefinite (adj. 无限的)
└── infinitely (adv. 无限地)
7. efficient
重点:派生:efficiency (n.), efficiently (adv.);写作亮点词
近义:effective, productive
反义:wasteful, inefficient
形近:sufficient (adj. 足够的)
拓展:
fic/fact (做)
├── efficient (adj. 高效的)
├── efficiency (n. 效率)
└── insufficient (adj. 不足的)
8. instruction
重点:可数/不可数用法;派生:instruct (v.), instructor (n.)
近义:direction, command
反义:disorder, chaos
形近:construction (n. 建设)
拓展:
struct (建造)
├── instruct (v. 指导)
├── instruction (n. 指示)
└── construction (n. 建筑)
9. trigger
重点:熟词僻义:n. 扳机 → v. 触发;完形常考 trigger a reaction
近义:activate, spark
反义:suppress, inhibit
形近:tiger (n. 老虎)
拓展:
trigger (v./n. 触发;扳机)
├── triggered (adj. 触发的)
└── triggering (adj. 引发反应的)
10. habit
重点:派生:habitual (adj.), habitually (adv.);搭配:form/break the habit of
近义:routine, custom
反义:irregularity, rarity
形近:habitat (n. 栖息地)
拓展:
habit (n. 习惯)
├── habitual (adj. 习惯性的)
└── habitat (n. 栖息地)
11. activate
重点:派生:active → actively → activation (n.);科技文高频
近义:stimulate, turn on
反义:deactivate, inhibit
形近:attract (v. 吸引)
拓展:
act (做)
├── active (adj. 积极的)
├── activate (v. 激活)
└── deactivate (v. 使无效)
12. associate
重点:搭配:associate A with B;派生:association (n.)
近义:connect, link
反义:dissociate, separate
形近:assistance (n. 帮助)
拓展:
soci (同伴)
├── social (adj. 社会的)
├── associate (v. 联系)
└── association (n. 协会;联想)
13. intrusive
重点:派生:intrude (v.), intrusion (n.);态度题负向词汇
近义:interfering, disturbing
反义:welcome, unobtrusive
形近:intuitive (adj. 直觉的)
拓展:
trud/trus (推)
├── intrude (v. 闯入)
├── intrusive (adj. 打扰的)
└── extrusion (n. 挤出)
14. repetitive
重点:派生:repeat → repetition → repetitively;写作负向衔接词
近义:monotonous, tedious
反义:varied, diverse
形近:represent (v. 代表)
拓展:
repeat (v. 重复)
├── repetition (n. 重复)
└── repetitive (adj. 重复的)
15. mental
重点:派生:mentally (adv.), mentality (n.);与 physical 对照写作高频
近义:cognitive, intellectual
反义:physical, bodily
形近:metal (n. 金属)
拓展:
ment (心智)
├── mental (adj. 心理的)
├── mentality (n. 心态)
└── mention (v. 提到)
16. network
重点:派生:networking (n.);科技/社会话题高频
近义:system, web
反义:isolation, unit
形近:notwork (无意义拼写)
拓展:
net (网) + work (运作)
├── network (n. 网络)
└── networking (n. 人际网)
17. focused
重点:派生:focus (v./n.) → unfocused (adj.);阅读态度题标志词
近义:concentrated, attentive
反义:distracted, unfocused
形近:focussed (英式拼写)
拓展:
focus (n. 焦点)
├── focused (adj. 专注的)
└── unfocused (adj. 分心的)
18. replace
重点:派生:replacement (n.);语法:replace A with B
近义:substitute, displace
反义:retain, keep
形近:replay (v. 重播)
拓展:
re (再) + place (放置)
├── replace (v. 替换)
├── replacement (n. 替代品)
└── misplace (v. 放错地方)
19. effective
重点:派生:effect (n.) → effectively (adv.);写作高频衔接词
近义:efficient, productive
反义:ineffective, useless
形近:affective (adj. 情感的)
拓展:
fect (做)
├── effect (n. 效果)
├── effective (adj. 有效的)
└── affect (v. 影响)
20. diversify
重点:派生:diverse (adj.), diversity (n.);读后续写亮点动词
近义:vary, broaden
反义:standardize, narrow
形近:divert (v. 分散注意力)
拓展:
vert/vers (转)
├── diverse (adj. 多样的)
├── diversify (v. 使多样化)
└── diversion (n. 分散)
Step 4: Complex Sentence
长难句 1
原句:
The humble earworm has taught music psychologists that repeated fragments of music are recycled from the same mental storage location.
汉语翻译:
“小小耳虫”告诉音乐心理学家:反复出现的音乐片段是从同一个心理存储位置被循环调用的。
层级结构图:
· The humble earworm (主语)
· has taught (谓语)
· music psychologists (间接宾语)
· → that repeated fragments of music are recycled from the same mental storage location (宾语从句,作直接宾语)
· repeated fragments (从句主语)
· are recycled (从句谓语)
· from the same mental storage location (介宾短语,地点状语)
长难句 2
原句:
The parts of the brain that are involved in focused attention are locked out of the default mode network's room.
汉语翻译:
那些负责专注注意力的大脑区域被关在了“默认模式网络”的房间之外。
层级结构图:
· The parts of the brain (主语)
· → that are involved in focused attention (定语从句,修饰 parts)
· that (关系代词,作主语)
· are involved (系表结构)
· in focused attention (介宾短语,方面状语)
· are locked out of (谓语短语)
· the default mode network's room (介宾宾语)
Step 5: Review
序号
英语
汉语
序号
英语
汉语
序号
英语
汉语
1
repeat
8
habit
15
focused
2
familiar
9
activate
16
replace
3
exposure
10
associate
17
effective
4
indefinite
11
intrusive
18
diversify
5
efficient
12
repetitive
19
vert
6
instruction
13
mental
20
vary
7
trigger
14
network
Step 6: Translate
如果你看过电影《KPop Demon Hunters》,后来再看到“golden”这个词,会发生什么?从没听过原声带的人不会有什么反应;可听过那首歌的人,脑海里可能突然响起一小段副歌——“we’re goin’ up, up, up”——循环个不停。这种现象叫“不自主音乐意象”,俗称 earworm(耳虫)。调查显示,90% 的人每周至少经历一次,科学家们正在描绘它的触发机制、持续原因以及——如果你想要的話——止虫方法。
心理学家发现,耳虫反复使用的音乐片段来自同一块记忆“口袋”。最强力的触发器是“连续重复”:一段旋律毫无间隔地反复出现。Golden 的副歌在 40 秒内唱了四遍;《Baby Shark》的钩子更快。抖音或电台的密集播放带来熟悉度,这是另一关键“配料”。
一旦循环开始,大脑并不会把歌从头播到尾,而是执行压缩后的“指令”:跳过前奏,主歌唱两遍,副歌循环四次……当与走神相关的默认网络(DMN)接管,这些指令被再次剪辑——只留下最重复的那一块,删除结束提示,于是片段无限绕圈。
最近听过、看到触发词,或每天坐公交听歌的习惯,都可能让耳虫上线。在大脑里,DMN 像个顽皮小弟反锁房门通宵重播最爱镜头,而知道何时停播的“家长”系统却被挡在门外。
想赶走不速之客?把歌大声唱给朋友听能奏效,因为社交互动会关闭 DMN,不过也可能顺便打开尴尬开关。换一首不重复的旋律,比如《生日快乐》或《天佑国王》,则体面得多。软件公司 Atlassian 甚至发布了一段 40 秒的“抗耳虫”音频,其旋律从不重复;早期测试表明,它能在约一半使用者身上“压碎”循环。
归根结底,耳虫揭示了大脑存储音乐的惊人效率,而且若你喜欢原曲,它还能带来愉悦。倘若你讨厌重复,那就丰富播放列表,让 DMN 去啃新歌。一句话:和你脑袋里的迷你 DJ 握手言和——或者教它放更好的歌。
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