試題詳解

46. Which of the following adjectives best describes the author's attitude toward the use of emoji?

(A) Doubtful

(B) Ambitious

(C) Supportive

(D) Pessimistic

**Passage 2: Questions 47-50**

Music is a splendid thing. A number of studies have suggested the positive impacts of music on the mental state and brain. First, music helps fight depression. Depression reduces brain activity and hampers the mind's ability to plan and carry out tasks. Lack of the neurotransmitter, Serotonin, results in a depressed state of mind. Soothing musical notes help increase the Serotonin levels of the brain, thus alleviating mental depression. In addition, music helps relieve anxiety. Anxiety is a feeling of fear or uncertainty that clouds your mind and the feeling is mostly about an upcoming event having an unknown outcome. Increased anxiety levels and stress lead to sleeplessness. Music can calm the body nerves and soothe the mind. Flat musical notes induce sleep.

Music also affects the process of learning and thinking. Listening to quiet and soothing music while working helps you work faster and in a more efficient way. Research has shown that music brings about remarkable improvements in the academic skills of students, who are made to listen to certain kinds of music while studying or working in the lab. Listening to pleasant music, while doing a difficult task, can make it seem easier. In fact, music has a positive effect on the interpersonal skills of an individual. Lack of confidence and very little or no desire to learn is most often the reason behind a failure. Music has the ability to make you positive and feel motivated. It can increase your capacity to believe in yourself.

Moreover, music helps increase your concentration levels. It helps improve memory. It has been found to increase memory levels of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Research has shown that the silence between two musical notes triggers brain cells which are responsible for the development of sharp memory. Flute music, and instruments like santoor and sarod are recommended for the enhancement of concentration

and memory. Classical music improves the ability to recall what's retained in the brain in the form of
memory. Strong beats cause the brain waves to resonate in synch with the beat, thus leading to increased
levels of concentration and increased mental alertness. This also trains the brain to change speeds of
processing easily.

Music also plays a vital role in enhancing creativity. Music has a positive impact on the right side of the
brain. Music triggers brain centers which deal with the enhancement of creativity. Certain ragas are known
to activate the chakras of our body, thus giving us an added advantage in other creative tasks. Music
increases spatial and abstract reasoning skills. These are the skills required in tackling problems, solving
puzzles and taking decisions. Listening to Mozart's music is known to have a positive effect on the
spatial-temporal reasoning.

Last but not least, music speeds the recovery of health ailments. Music helps in the secretion of
endorphins that help in speeding the process of healing. It acts as an effective distraction from pain and
suffering. It not only diverts the mind from pain, but also helps bring about certain chemical changes in the
brain that help speed the healing process. Music therapy is recommended for patients of high blood
pressure, heart diseases and even cancer. Music is therapeutic in pain management. Listening to melodious,
comforting music is sure to have a positive effect on the physical and mental well-being of patients. If not
cure every ailment, music definitely creates hope in the minds of patients – a hope to recover.