Upper Intermediate Test 5-6A
Upper Intermediate Test 5-6A
Upper Intermediate Test 5-6A
6
Music and Mood
The helpful effects of music on mental
health have been known for thousands of
Vocabulary total 20
years. Ancient philosophers from Plato to
Confucius sang the praises of music and
PRONUNCIATION
used it to help deal with stress. (----- 1 -----)
8 Match the words with the same sound.
Military bands use music to build
amazed proud devastated astonished
confidence and courage. Sporting events
refuse stunned
provide music to build up enthusiasm.
Example: ashamed amazed
Modern research carried out by several
1 gutted ________
psychologists supports what most people
2 confusing ________
believe about music benefiting mood and
3 down ________
confidence.
4 delighted ________
5 grateful ________
Because of our unique experiences, we
5 develop varied musical tastes and
9 Underline the stressed syllable. preferences. (----- 2 -----) Babies, for
Example: o|ffen|ded example, love lullabies. Maternal singing is
1 de|vas|ta|ted particularly calming, even if a mother has no
2 dis|a|ppoin|ting formal musical talents. Certain kinds of
3 des|pe|rate music make almost everyone feel worse –
4 o|ver|whelmed even when they say they enjoy it. A study of
5 ho|rri|fy|ing 144 adults and teenagers who listened to
6 ar|chi|tec|ture four different kinds of music showed that
7 phi|lo|so|phy their emotions changed according to the
8 or|che|stra music. Grunge music, which has a lot of
9 in|som|ni|a guitar and drums, for example, led to
10 hy|po|chon|dri|ac significant increases in negative emotions
such as sadness, tension, and fatigue across
10
the entire group, even in the teenagers who
English File 3rd edition Upper Intermediate test 5-6A
said they liked it. In another study, college stress. Calming background music can help
students reported the opposite when they patients in hospital feel less bad-tempered.
listened to pop, rock, classical music, and It can also help elderly patients in nursing
oldies – songs from more than 15 years ago. home who are very ill feel calmer. Music,
They said it helped them feel happier and wisely chosen, lowers stress hormone
more optimistic, friendly, relaxed, and calm. levels. (----- 5 -----) Knowing that certain
Everyone who has learned the alphabet kinds of music can reduce stress is one
knows that it is easier to memorize a list if it thing. Being attentive in choosing what kind
is set to music. Scientific research supports of music to listen to is another. So, choose
what many people believe – that pairing your music as carefully as you choose your
music with a musical rhythm improves food and friends.
learning and helps people to remember
things. (----- 3 -----) First of all, it can be used
as a reward when someone behaves in the A Music helps decrease worries in the
required way. For example, for paying elderly, new mothers, and children too.
attention to homework for ten minutes, a B And in modern times, shopping malls play
child can be given the opportunity to listen music to attract customers and keep them
to music for five minutes. Second, it can be in the store.
used to help increase attention to “boring” C This can be used to help children and
academic tasks such as memorization, using teenagers with attention problems in
songs, rhythms, and dance or movement to several ways.
enhance the interest of the lists to be D However, it’s difficult to explain how
memorized. Instrumental music is great for exactly it works.
improving attention and reasoning and for E On the other hand, parents of teenagers
students, playing background music is not know that certain kinds of music,
distracting. Lastly, music can be used to help particularly at high volumes, can cause
organize activities – one kind of music for stress.
one activity (studying), another for a F Despite these differences, however, there
different activity (eating), and a third kind are some common responses to music.
for going to bed.
Reading total 10
Many people find familiar music comforting
and calming. In fact, music is so effective in WRITING
reducing anxiety, it is often used in by You recently attended a concert in your
dentists or by doctors just before town. Write an email to your friend
performing an operation to help patients telling him / her about the concert.
cope with their concerns. (----- 4 -----) Any Write 140-180 words. Include the following
kind of relaxing, calming music can information:
contribute to calmer moods. It is often • tell him / her what kind of music was played
combined with cognitive therapy to lower at the concert
anxiety. Some studies suggest that specially • explain why you like that kind of music
designed music, which includes certain
• say whether the concert was as good as you
tones, can help improve symptoms in
had hoped it would be.
anxious patients even more than music
without these tones; listening to this music Writing total 10
without other distractions (not while
Reading and Writing total 20
driving, cooking, talking, or reading)
promotes the best benefits.
LISTENING
1 Listen to five people talking about what
they would do if they found a wallet.
Choose from the list (A-F) what each
speaker says annoys them. Use the
letters only once. There is one extra letter
which you do not need to use.
Speaker 1 []
Speaker 2 []
Speaker 3 []
Speaker 4 []
Speaker 5 []
5
Listening total 10