Sound meditation is a form of focused awareness type of meditation. One kind that has become more popular is called “sound baths”, which uses Tibetan singing bowls, quartz bowls, and bells to guide the listener. These practices highlight themes of how the experience of sound manifests not only through hearing but through tactile physical vibrations and frequencies. Science is still catching up to understanding how sound heals, but the current research is promising. A review of 400 published scientific articles on music as medicine found evidence that music has mental and physical health benefits. In fact, rhythm in particular can provide physical pain relief. One study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that an hourlong sound meditation helped people reduce tension, anger, fatigue, anxiety, and depression while increasing a sense of spiritual well-being.
There are many different theories that attempt to explain why sound experiences can be linked with deep relaxation and physical pain relief. One theory is that sound works through the vibrational tactile effects on the whole body. Sound could stimulate touch fibers that affect pain perception. One study of people with fibromyalgia found that ten treatments (twice per week for five weeks) of low-frequency sound stimulation improved sleep and decreased pain, allowing nearly three-fourths of participants to reduce pain medication. Sound-based vibration treatment has been shown to help people with pain from arthritis, menstrual pain, postoperative pain, knee replacement pain. Another theory on the benefits of sound rests on the concept of “binaural beats” which hypothesizes that listening to certain frequencies can synchronize and change one’s brainwaves.
Different states of alertness and consciousness in different parts of the brain generate varying frequencies of brainwaves. Beta waves are the fastest type of brainwave and occur when the brain is active and engaged mentally. Alpha waves occur when the brain is in a state of non-arousal, such as when a person has finished a task and is resting. Theta brainwaves are associated with daydreaming and rapid eye movement (REM) dreaming phase of sleep. Theta brainwaves occur when you are in a state like driving on the freeway or are running for a long time. Delta brainwaves are the slowest and associated with deep dreamless sleep.
The premise of binaural beats is that the brain synchronizes its brainwave frequency to the difference in hertz between tones played in each ear, which, depending on the frequency, can lead one to states of deep relaxation associated with beta waves or meditative trance-like theta waves. Researchers are still trying to determine the mechanism of the healing benefits of sound, but sound in the form of vibrational therapy or meditation offers potential therapeutic benefits with low to minimal side effects.
1. What can we learn about “sound baths”?
2. According to the passage, which of the following is correct about the researches?
3. What does the study of people with fibromyalgia suggest?
4. According to the passage, what brain-wave are you producing when you are marathoning?
5. Why binaural beats can help people relax and decrease pains?
问题1选项
A.They work through hearing basically to heal people.
B.Science has found the mystery of sound baths.
C.Modern musical instruments are used in the sound baths.
D.Both hearing and touching are used in the healing.
问题2选项
A.The research interviewed 400 people to find out the healing power.
B.The current research has provided enough evidence to prove sound baths.
C.One study shows the different effect of all kinds of instruments.
D.Studies show that music is good for people mentally and physically.
问题3选项
A.It suggests sound works through the vibrational effects on the whole body.
B.It suggests 10 treatments of low-frequency sound healing work.
C.It suggests sound healing works on the people with specific ailments.
D.It suggests not everyone will be cured by sound stimulation.
问题4选项
A.Alpha.
B.Theta.
C.Delta.
D.Beta.
问题5选项
A.They can make people relax and forget the pains.
B.They can make brain transfer to Beta or theta brain wave.
C.They can encourage people to fight against the pains.
D.They can decrease the side effects down to zero.
第1题:D
第2题:D
第3题:A
第4题:B
第5题:B
第1题:
【选项释义】
What can we learn about “sound baths”? 我们可以从“声音浴”中了解到什么？
A. They work through hearing basically to heal people. A. 它们基本上是通过听觉来治疗人的疾病。
B. Science has found the mystery of sound baths. B. 科学已经发现了“声音浴”的奥秘。
C. Modern musical instruments are used in the sound baths. C. 现代乐器被用在声音浴中。
D. Both hearing and touching are used in the healing. D. 听觉和触觉都被用在治疗中。
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词sound baths可以定位到文章第一段第二句“其中一种更受欢迎的是‘声音浴’，它使用藏式唱钵、石英钵和铃铛来引导听者（uses Tibetan singing bowls, quartz bowls, and bells to guide the listener）。这些实践突出了声音体验如何不仅通过听觉（not only through hearing），而且通过触觉物理振动和频率（through tactile physical vibrations and frequencies）体现的主题”，说明听觉和触觉都被使用于声音浴中。因此D选项“听觉和触觉都被用在治疗中。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“它们基本上是通过听觉来治疗人的疾病。”，由manifests not only through hearing but through tactile physical vibrations and frequencies（不仅通过听觉，而且通过触觉物理振动和频率体现）可知，除了听觉还会通过触觉来治疗，属于以偏概全；
B选项“科学已经发现了‘声音浴’的奥秘。”，由Science is still catching up to understanding how sound heals（科学仍在努力了解声音是如何治愈的）可知，科学还没有发现“声音浴”的奥秘，属于反向干扰；
C选项“现代乐器被用在声音浴中。”，由uses Tibetan singing bowls, quartz bowls, and bells to guide the listener（使用藏式唱钵、石英钵和铃铛来引导听者）可知，它使用的是传统乐器，而不是现代乐器，属于反向干扰。
第2题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, which of the following is correct about the researches? 根据这篇文章，以下关于研究的哪项是正确的？
A. The research interviewed 400 people to find out the healing power. A. 该研究采访了400人，以了解治疗能力。
B. The current research has provided enough evidence to prove sound baths. B. 目前的研究已经提供了足够的证据来证明声音浴。
C. One study shows the different effect of all kinds of instruments. C. 一项研究显示了各种乐器的不同效果。
D. Studies show that music is good for people mentally and physically. D. 研究表明，音乐对人们的精神和身体都有好处。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词researches可以定位到文章第一段第五句“一项对400篇已发表的关于音乐药用的科学论文的综述发现，有证据表明音乐对身心健康有益（music has mental and physical health benefits）”，说明研究表明音乐对身心健康都有好处。因此D选项“研究表明，音乐对人们的精神和身体都有好处。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“该研究采访了400人，以了解治疗能力。”，由A review of 400 published scientific articles（一项对400篇已发表的科学论文的综述）可知，文章说的是对400篇论文的综述，而不是采访了400人，属于偷换概念；
B选项“目前的研究已经提供了足够的证据来证明声音浴。”，由Science is still catching up to understanding how sound heals（科学仍在努力了解声音是如何治愈的）可知，研究还没有找到足够的证据来证明声音浴，属于反向干扰；
C选项“一项研究显示了各种乐器的不同效果。”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有。
第3题:
【选项释义】
What does the study of people with fibromyalgia suggest? 对纤维肌痛患者的研究表明了什么？
A. It suggests sound works through the vibrational effects on the whole body. A. 它表明声音通过对整个身体的振动作用而起作用。
B. It suggests 10 treatments of low-frequency sound healing work. B. 它表明10个疗程的低频声音治疗的效果。
C. It suggests sound healing works on the people with specific ailments. C. 它表明声音治疗对有特殊疾病的人起作用。
D. It suggests not everyone will be cured by sound stimulation. D. 它表明并不是每个人都能通过声音刺激得到治愈。
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词fibromyalgia可以定位到文章第二段第二句“一种理论认为，声音是通过振动的触觉效应作用于整个身体的（works through the vibrational tactile effects on the whole body）”，接着举了针对纤维肌痛患者的研究证明这一点，说明声音通过触觉的作用对全身起作用。因此A选项“它表明声音通过对整个身体的振动作用而起作用。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“它表明10个疗程的低频声音治疗的效果。”是研究的事实结果，不是它要表明的内容，属于张冠李戴；
C选项“它表明声音治疗对有特殊疾病的人起作用。”和D选项“它表明并不是每个人都能通过声音刺激得到治愈。”在文中没有提及，属于无中生有。
第4题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, what brain-wave are you producing when you are marathoning? 根据这篇文章，当你在进行马拉松运动时，你会产生什么脑电波？
A. Alpha. A. 阿尔法。
B. Theta. B. 西塔。
C. Delta. C. 德尔塔。
D. Beta. D. 贝塔。
【考查点】事实细节题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词marathoning可以定位到文章第三段倒数第二句“当你处于某种状态，比如在高速公路上开车或长时间跑步（running for a long time）时，就会出现西塔脑电波”，说明跑马拉松时会产生西塔脑电波。因此B选项“西塔。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“阿尔法。”，C选项“德尔塔。”和D选项“贝塔。”是在其他情况下出现的脑电波，属于张冠李戴。
第5题:
【选项释义】
Why binaural beats can help people relax and decrease pains? 为什么双耳节拍可以帮助人们放松和减少疼痛？
A. They can make people relax and forget the pains. A. 它们可以使人们放松并忘记疼痛。
B. They can make brain transfer to Beta or theta brain wave. B. 它们可以使大脑转为贝塔或西塔脑电波。
C. They can encourage people to fight against the pains. C. 它们可以鼓励人们与疼痛作斗争。
D. They can decrease the side effects down to zero. D. 它们可以将副作用减少到零。
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据题干关键词binaural beats可以定位到文章最后一段第一句“双耳节拍的前提是，大脑将其脑电波频率与每只耳朵中播放的音调之间的赫兹差同步，根据频率的不同，可以导致一个人进入与贝塔波相关的深度放松状态或冥想恍惚的西塔波状态（lead one to states of deep relaxation associated with beta waves or meditative trance-like theta waves）”，说明双耳节拍可以将人的脑电波转为贝塔波或西塔波，这两种脑电波可以让人进入放松和冥想状态，从而帮助人们放松和减少疼痛。因此B选项“它们可以使大脑转为贝塔或西塔脑电波。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“它们可以使人们放松并忘记疼痛。”，C选项“它们可以鼓励人们与疼痛作斗争。”和D选项“它们可以将副作用减少到零。”在文中均没有提及，属于无中生有。
