雅思阅读真题（Part 2）
母亲在音乐起源中的作用
本篇也叫：妈妈语、母亲语、儿语、母婴语言、妈妈腔、婴儿导向语
Part 2 · 考频：中频 · 最近考试：2024.8.17/2018.5.19
本篇为雅思阅读真题（Part 2）《The role of mothers in the origins of music》，共 12 题，2024.8.17/2018.5.19雅思考试真题回忆，页面提供完整原文、题目、答案与解析，并支持在线机考模式免费练习。本页同时提供 Markdown 版本 供 AI 助手与搜索引擎直接读取。
文章探讨音乐起源，提出音乐源自母亲对婴儿使用的“妈妈语”。研究者Richard Parncutt认为，人类大脑进化导致婴儿早产、更脆弱，母亲用富有节奏和旋律的儿语加强亲子纽带、帮助婴儿生存，这种交流方式具有跨文化的音乐特征，并促进语言习得。
A leading researcher has proposed that the key to understanding the origin of music is in the playful language used between mother and child.
A
In a recent lecture Richard Parncutt, a professor of systematic musicology at the University of Graz, Austria, discussed the idea that music originated from 'motherese' - the playful voices mothers adopt when speaking to infants and toddlers. According to the theory, evolutionary growth in human brain size between one and two million years ago led to earlier births, more fragile infants, and a vital need for stronger bonds between mothers and their newborns. According to Parncutt, 'motherese' arose as a way to strengthen this maternal bond and to help infants survive. 'If babies were born earlier, it is clear they would need better care in order to survive... this would involve the baby communicating its state and needs more clearly to the mother,' he says. Parncutt adds that this makes it very likely that motherese developed as an evolutionary adaptation, and that there is a large body of contemporary empirical evidence supporting the musical characteristics of motherese.
B
Although it might appear amusing - or even nonsensical - at first glance, 'motherese' is actually a complex and refined form of communication. It contains structural musical elements such as rhythm and melody, and codes that babies and mothers understand. It also contains cross-cultural similarities with regard to the physical gestures and movements it incorporates - an important consideration when examining the origin of music. 'The sonic-gestural vocabulary conveys to both mother and infant information about the present physical and emotional condition of each, along with the current nature of interaction between them,' states Parncutt. 'Here, emotions such as surprise and disappointment are learned for the first time in a social and musical context. It is about survival in that it motivates the mother to care for the infant and gives her information about the infant's needs.' For example, mothers can understand when their babies are tired or hungry. Motherese also helps infants to acquire language.
C
Parncutt explains that a fetus begins hearing nearly four months before birth, as it regularly hears its mother's voice, heartbeat, and digestive sounds - all of which provide information about its mother's emotional state. After birth, the baby recognises these sound patterns and its mother's correlating mood. Gary McPherson, head of the University of Melbourne's School of Music, reiterates the importance of this prenatal association, saying that music is the very first form of intelligence to reveal itself - even before birth.
D
However, there are several competing theories about the origins of music. Parncutt developed a grading system to assess these theories, the objective being to measure their validity against a set of criteria which he called 'universal aspects of music'. Some theories suggest music originated as a form of sexual selection, similar to a peacock's tail, used to attract mates. Others propose it evolved to enhance social cohesion and cooperation within larger groups, or that it was a byproduct of other evolutionary adaptations with no specific survival purpose of its own. Parncutt's system graded each theory based on its ability to explain music’s emotional power, its presence in all known cultures, and its apparent lack of a direct survival function compared to language.
E
When evaluated against these criteria, Parncutt argues that the motherese theory provides the most comprehensive explanation. It accounts for the deep emotional connection inherent in music by linking it to the primal bond between mother and child. Furthermore, because caregiving for infants is a human universal, the theory naturally explains why music is found in all cultures around the world. The playful, non-utilitarian nature of motherese also mirrors the aesthetic and seemingly non-functional aspects of music itself, addressing the question of why music exists beyond strict survival needs.
想在线练习这套卷子？进入机考练习
答案：the initial proposal of a maternal source for music
原文定位：In a recent lecture Richard Parncutt, a professor of systematic musicology at the University of Graz, Austria, discussed the idea that music originated from 'motherese' - the playful voices mothers adopt when speaking to infants and toddlers
答案：a sophisticated form of musical communication
原文定位：Although it might appear amusing - or even nonsensical-at first glance, 'motherese' is actually a complex and refined form of communication;It contains structural musical elements such as rhythm and melody, and codes that babies and mothers understand
答案：the first sounds a baby hears
原文定位：Parncutt explains that a fetus begins hearing nearly four months before birth, as it regularly hears its mother's voice, heartbeat, and digestive sounds-all of which provide information about its mother's emotional state
答案：a system for evaluating different theories
原文定位：Parncutt developed a grading system to assess these theories, the objective being to measure their validity against a set of criteria which he called 'universal aspects of music;Parncutt's system graded each theory based on its ability to explain music’s emotional power, its presence in all known cultures, and its apparent lack of a direct survival function compared to language
答案：a universal explanation for music's nature
原文定位：When evaluated against these criteria, Parncutt argues that the motherese theory provides the most comprehensive explanation;Furthermore, because caregiving for infants is a human universal, the theory naturally explains why music is found in all cultures around the world;The playful, non-utilitarian nature of motherese also mirrors the aesthetic and seemingly non-functional aspects of music itself, addressing the question of why music exists beyond strict survival needs
答案：earlier
原文定位：According to the theory, evolutionary growth in human brain size between one and two million years ago led to earlier births, more fragile infants, and a vital need for stronger bonds between mothers and their newborns
答案：adaptation
原文定位：Parncutt adds that this makes it very likely that motherese developed as an evolutionary adaptation, and that there is a large body of contemporary empirical evidence supporting the musical characteristics of motherese
答案：before birth
原文定位：Gary McPherson, head of the University of Melbourne's School of Music, reiterates the importance of this prenatal association, saying that music is the very first form of intelligence to reveal itself-even before birth
答案：C sexual selection
原文定位：Some theories suggest music originated as a form of sexual selection, similar to a peacock's tail, used to attract mates. Others propose it evolved to enhance social cohesion and cooperation within larger groups
答案：B social cohesion
原文定位：Some theories suggest music originated as a form of sexual selection, similar to a peacock's tail, used to attract mates. Others propose it evolved to enhance social cohesion and cooperation within larger groups
答案：A emotional
原文定位：It accounts for the deep emotional connection inherent in music by linking it to the primal bond between mother and child
答案：E aesthetic
原文定位：The playful, non-utilitarian nature of motherese also mirrors the aesthetic and seemingly non-functional aspects of music itself, addressing the question of why music exists beyond strict survival needs