研究生英语阅读教程(基础级2版)课文08及其翻译.doc

The Functions and Effects of MusicBy Samuel L. BeckerGiven name: sirname/ Christian name? Family name/ last name1 You are well aware of (=realize) the fact that books, newspapers, magazines, motion pictures (film/ movie), radio, and television have been used for persuasive purposes: to sell beer and soap ( watch), ideas and political candidates; to bring about (cause/ lead to) social change or to quell a revolution. Few of us think about music or recordings being used for these purposes, but they are and have been for a long time.2 Every war has had its songs that whipped up (arouse) patriotic fervor or, in the case (example) of the Vietnam War, that encouraged protest against it. Some titles of records popular in this country during World War II suggest (show) the extent (degree) of the mobilization of the recording industry for the war effort: Remember Pearl Harbor, Have to Slap That Dirty Little Jap, Theres a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere, Any Bonds Today, and Round and Round Hitlers Grave.Bonds: C bond (between A and B) something that forms a connection between people or groups, such as a feeling of friendship or shared ideas and experiences: e.g. A bond of friendship had been forged between them. E.g. The agreement strengthened the bonds between the two countries. E.g. the special bond between mother and child3 The anti-Vietnam protests of the sixties and early seventies brought forth (=brought about) quite another kind of song. One was Big Muddy, about a group of soldiers blindly following their commanding officer into a river where many were drowned. Those (=those people) who sang and heard the song knew that the Big Muddy referred to Vietnam and the commander to President Lyndon Johnson, and their antiwar passions were intensified (=strengthened). Where Have All the Flowers Gone, The Times, They are A-Changin, and Give Peace a Chance were other popular songs whose recordings were widely played and used to build (arouse) resistance to the war.4 Music is used not only to add (increase) persuasive bits of information for the messages in our heads about war. Persuasive music plays an important role (part) in peacetime also (too). We Shall Overcome was a tremendously (great) important force in the civil rights movement, just as the folk (people) songs of Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie have been important to the peace movement. In recent times, music has been used to raise money as well as (=and) consciousness (conscience) for various causes. The Live Aid (help), Farm Aid, Band Aid, and USA for Africa concerns (worries) and recording sessions raised funds for such causes as famine relief in Africa and destitute (poor) American farmers.5 Somewhat (a little/somehow=for reasons unknown) further back in this countrys history, the radical left adopted (used / made use of) many old Negro spirituals (songs) to communicate its message effectively. We Shall Not Be Moved, for example, was adopted as the official song of the radical Southern Tenant Farmers Union in the 1930s. In the 1930s also, Gimme That Old Time Religion was transformed into Gimme That New Communist Spirit. That sort (kind) of adaptation of songsgiving them new lyrics (words)-has been a favorite tactic (strategy) of many groups who want to use music for persuasive purposes. The idea (belief) is to take a song that people like or that has particular meaning or emotional association for them and use it with new words, hoping that some of the liking, meaning, or emotional associations will transfer to the new ideas being communicated. And it often works. Threats of Censorship6 Such political uses of music have never caused much controversy in this country. There has been some pressure at times (often) to keep certain anti-war songs or songs associated with the radical left off the air, but this pressure has been neither strong nor persistent. Far more pressure and controversy (Resistance) has been aroused by the lyrics of some of the popular songs of the last twenty or thirty years. Many critics have charged (be in charge of sth.) that certain rock-and-roll songs encourage sexual promiscuity and the use of drugs. Rightly or wrongly, the dress and antics (unusual behavior) of some of the rock music stars, both on and off the stage, reinforce (confirm) these beliefs. As a result, a number of community and national groups have applied pressure on stations to keep these songs and performers off the air. These charges also stimulated investigations by the Federal Communications Commission, the regulatory agency charged with overseeing (supervising) broadcast practices. The FCC has taken the position, unpopular with many broadcasters, that the station licensee has the same public service responsibility in selecting and rejecting music to be played on the station as it has in selecting and rejecting any other content of the station. The FCC position is that the station should exercise the same supervision of what is sung on the station as of what is said. In a general sense (=generally speaking), this is a reasonable position and the only one the FCC could take, given (=if consideration is given to the fact that) present law. A problem arises (occurs) with the interpretation (explanation) of this injunction, however. Does it mean a station should permit no language or ideas in a song that it would not permit on the news or in a sports program? Or does it mean the station should recognize (realize) that different forms of communication or entertainment, or programs designed for different kinds of audiences, should have different standards concerning (about) language and ideas? This issue (problem) is still far from (being) settled.7 Having been largely unsuccessful in keeping sexually suggestive songs or songs that seem to be promoting drug use off the air, some parents groups in recent years have been attempting (trying) to force (make) companies to label their recordings in the same way film companies now label motion pictures. The assumption (belief) is that such labels will provide parents with information they need to control the kinds of music to which their young children are exposed (be exposed to sth.). One of the major pressure groups involved in this attempt (try) is the Parents Music Resource Center based in Washington, D. C. The leaders in this group include the wives of some powerful congressmen and other government officials, so it is taken seriously by leaders in the music industry. The concern (worry) of many people in the music business, though, is that the labeling being advocated could be just a first step toward other forms of control or censorship.take sth. seriouslytake it easyThe Impact (influence) of Recordings on Our Perceptions (perceive/ understanding)8 Whatever the direct effects of musical recordings on our attitudes and behaviors (are), they are certainly an ever-present (everlasting) and important part of our communication environment, and they contribute to the realities in our heads. No one who listened to popular music during the 1980s could escape (=avoid) the perception (understanding) that drugs were a major factor in the lives of many people. Popular music of the early 1970s contributed to (led to) the belief that most people opposed the war in Vietnam. These messages, sneaking into consciousness from the background music around us, formed an important part of our communication mosaics, just as the messages in todays music form an important part of our present communication mosaics. The Role of Music in Identification and Rebellion(ID card: Identity Card)9 Popular music has two other major functions or effects. It provides each generation of young people a common and cherished (valued) experience. Years later, the sound of that music can bring strangers together and stimulate memories of that earlier era (time). Vivid evidence of the meaningfulness of such experiences can be seen by watching the tourists who are attracted to Graceland, Elvis Presleys former home and now the site of his grave in Memphis. A common sight there is the middle-aged married couple bringing their children to see and, they hope, to feel some of the special magic Presley created for them during their courtship and early married years.10 Another major function popular music serves is the (provide) provision of a relatively harmless source of rebellion for the young. Each generation of young has its own music, almost invariably (always) unappreciated (unenjoyed) by parents, just as parents favorite music was unappreciated by their parents. This music is important in part (=partially) because older people do not like it, and in part because demonstrating ones love of it is part of the ritual of affiliation (connection) with peers.11 One author has suggested (said) that popular music also serves a rite of passage function for young girls. The teenage singing idols may serve as non-threatening substitutes for actual boys until boys maturation catches up with that (maturation) of girls and some semblance of easy boy-girl relationships can be established. (1, 316 words)ABOUT THE AUTHOR Samuel L Becker (Ph. D. University of Iowa) is a professor in the University of Iowa and the chairman of the University of Iowa Foundation and Distinguished Professor Emeritus (honorable) of Communication Studies. His professional life centered on (focus on) educational process, and especially on students. A lecturer-ship in his honor was launched by the University in 2001-2002.Emeritus: (often Emeritus) used with a title to show that a person, usually a university teacher, keeps the title as an honor, although he or she has stopped working: e.g. the Emeritus Professor of Biology; In NAmE the form Emerita/imert/is used for women: Professor Emerita Mary Jcessed foodEXERCISES I . Reading ComprehensionAnswer the following questions or complete the following .statements.1. In the first paragraph the author points out that _.A. music is different from other means of mass mediaB. music or recordings have not been used for persuasive purposeC. music has the same function in persuasion as other mass mediaD. the common purpose of mass media is for advertising2. From the information presented in this reading, you can infer that the recording industry _. A. prefers to remain politically neutralB. was forced by the public to release patriotic songsC. has remained anti-war over the past fifty yearsD. has taken a political stand in past wars3. Adapting old familiar songs with new lyrics is intended to _.A. transfer feelings or associations from old to newB. bring back fond memoriesC. create new folk heroesD. reestablish familiar environments4. According to the first part of the text, music has played an important role in the _.A. political campaigns of many leadersB. civil rights movementC. establishment of new lawsD. economic development5. The Federal Communications Commissions position on censorship of music states that it is _.A. the artists responsibilityB. the stations responsibilityC. the program directors responsibilityD. the listeners or parents responsibility6. Which of the following best defines the word mosaics as used at the end of third section?A. Artistic models.B. Attitudes and behaviors.C. Social skills.D. Various forms.7. Which of the following conclusions can be most clearly drawn from this article?A. Music will continue to be a form of social and political expression.B. The Federal Communications Commission will soon change its position on censorship.C. Music will cease to distinguish one generation from another.D. Elvis Presley will still be popular with successive generations.8. From the last paragraph of the reading, it is reasonable to infer that _. A. singing idols are important in the establishment of boy-girl relationshipsB. boys emotional maturation is equal to that of girls of the same ageC. boys prefer not to become involved with girlsD. girls mature more rapidly than boys during early teenage years9. The passage suggests that the functions of music are _. A. uniqueB. questionableC. diverseD. extraordinary10. The authors primary purpose in writing the passage is to _. A. discuss the functions of music in our societyB. argue that music has been used by age groupsC. urge censorship of controversial lyricsD. describe music as a political toolII. VocabularyA Read the following .sentences and decide which of the four choices below each sentence is closest in meaning to the underlined word.1. The company began aggressive advertising campaigns, increased its variety (categories) of beers, and further expanded its markets. By 1991 Coors beer was available (=on sale) in all 50 states. It also worked to improve its image and quell（制止, 结束, 镇压）ongoing (ever-lasting) boycotts.A. investigateB. condemnC. crushD. forbid2. With his strong right-wing views, and close affiliation（联系，隶属） to the military, hed long been regarded as a (swear) sworn enemy of the people.A. emotionB. associationC. communication D. reaction3. Adams supported what became known as the Boston tea party, and thereafter he firmly supported the patriotic（爱国的）measures that led step by step to American independence.A. passionateB. moderateC. radicalD. nationalistic4. The best hope is that we will have a rapid mobilization（动员） of international opinion insupport of the movement.A. calling up(on)B. bringing upC. catching up (with)D. getting up5. When he was there (be present/ witness sth.), he often gave food and coins to the destitute（贫苦的）children who lived on the street.A. desertedB. poorC. homelessD. despaired (-desperate: adj.)6. Combining social commentary with rhythmic lyrics(词), heavy bass beats, and remixed or original melodies, rap is one of the most controversial of black musical forms. A. wordsB. musicC. bandD. dance7. The history of newspapers, magazines, and other publications in the country has varied, depending upon the level of censorship(书报审查制度) in the ruling government. A. supportB. sponsorC. controlD. restoration8. The cause of the incidence has been kept off the air in the radio by the administration.A. secretB. not broadcastedC. publicizedD. not known9. He took out a court injunction (法令，判决) against the newspaper demanding the return of the document.A. sentence (sb. to death)B. biasC. suspension (bridge)D. order10. A great cheer went up from the crowd as (=when) they caught sight of (noticed) their idol(偶像). A. figureB. ideaC. heroD. foe(敌人)B. Choose the best word or expression from the list given for each blank. Use each word or expression only once and make proper changes where necessary.whip upbring forthkeep. off the airreinforcepersistentcatch up withpersuasivetremendoustacticintensify1. The congressmen accused politicians of(=charge sb. with sth.) whipping up anti-foreign sentiment (-sentimentalism) in order to win right-wing votes. (capital, The Capitol, government)2. It was a tragic love affair that brought forth (brought about/ led to) only pain. (extra affairs)3. His competence (=ability) as an economist had been reinforced (=strengthened/ confirmed) by his successful fight against inflation.*4. The cause of the incidence has beenkept off the air in the radio by the administration.5.The improvement in standards has been steady and persistent, but has attracted little comment from educationalists. (persist in=insist on)6. Others are using secure Internet connections to intensify relations with some of their trading partners.7. Those ideas were persuasive and the Legislature gave us the appropriation(拨款funds).8. There was a tremendous (great/ serious) lack of communication between us. We sometimes misunderstood each other.9. Children in underachieving schools finally caught up with students in other schools with extra tutoring and help. (achieve=accomplish)10. He was always straightforward (=frank) and did not understand about strategy (strategic missile) andtactics.III. ClozeThere are ten blanks in the following passage. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer from the four choices given below the passage.Popular Music is music produced for and sold to a broad 1 audience. Types of popular music include jazz, music from motion pictures and musical comedies, country-and-western music, rhythm-and-blues music (R&B), rock music, and rap (or hip-hop). 2 Shaped by social, economic, and technological forces, popular music is closely 3 linked to the social identity of its performers and audiences. Early musical styles were also very 4 influential in shaping popular music.Another important development at the close of the 20th century was the influence of digital 5 technology, including storage media such as recordable compact discs and DVDs (Digital Video Discs), the Internet, and MP3 compression, which allows 6 sound files to be compressed to less than 10 percent of their original size. The transformation of musical sound into digital files allowed music to be transmitted (convey/ transfer), reproduced, and 7 manipulated in a virtual form, easily passing from one computer to another in a different part of the world in just minutes (or seconds). This has raised legal and technological questions which will no doubt shape (form) the 8 course of American popular music for years to come: What kind of rights does a consumer 9 purchase (buy) when they buy a copy of a recording? What does it mean when a consumer licenses the right to dow