# The role of mothers in the origins of music - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 2） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2024.8.17/2018.5.19 - 题目数：12 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/eb43c88b-dcc7-40df-93f0-fae75228d928（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 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. ## 题目与答案 ### 14. paragraph_main - a universal explanation for music's nature - the first sounds a baby hears - a biological change that created a need - comparing the motherese theory to other ideas - a sophisticated form of musical communication - a system for evaluating different theories **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 ### 15. paragraph_main - a universal explanation for music's nature - the first sounds a baby hears - a biological change that created a need - comparing the motherese theory to other ideas - a sophisticated form of musical communication - a system for evaluating different theories **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 ### 16. paragraph_main - a universal explanation for music's nature - the first sounds a baby hears - a biological change that created a need - comparing the motherese theory to other ideas - a sophisticated form of musical communication - a system for evaluating different theories **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 ### 17. paragraph_main - a universal explanation for music's nature - the first sounds a baby hears - a biological change that created a need - comparing the motherese theory to other ideas - a sophisticated form of musical communication - a system for evaluating different theories **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 ### 18. paragraph_main - a universal explanation for music's nature - the first sounds a baby hears - a biological change that created a need - comparing the motherese theory to other ideas - a sophisticated form of musical communication - a system for evaluating different theories **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 ### 19. 19 Parncutt suggests that the growth of the human brain resulted in babies being born _____ . 19 Parncutt suggests that the growth of the human brain resulted in babies being born _____ . **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 ### 20. 20 Motherese is considered a type of evolutionary _____ . 20 Motherese is considered a type of evolutionary _____ . **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 ### 21. 21 According to Gary McPherson, musical intelligence is present even _____ . 21 According to Gary McPherson, musical intelligence is present even _____ . **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 ### 22. Parncutt’s Evaluation of Competing Theories 22 Parncutt created a grading system to assess different theories of music’s origin based on universal aspects of music. Some competing theories propose that music functioned as a mechanism for _____, Parncutt’s Evaluation of Competing Theories 22 Parncutt created a grading system to assess different theories of music’s origin based on universal aspects of music. Some competing theories propose that music functioned as a mechanism for _____, - A emotional - B social cohesion - C sexual selection - D survival function - E aesthetic - F universal **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 ### 23. 23 or that it was useful for building _____ within communities. 23 or that it was useful for building _____ within communities. - A emotional - B social cohesion - C sexual selection - D survival function - E aesthetic - F universal **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 ### 24. 24 Parncutt’s own theory, centred on motherese, received a high grade because it explains music’s _____ connection and its presence across all cultures. 24 Parncutt’s own theory, centred on motherese, received a high grade because it explains music’s _____ connection and its presence across all cultures. - A emotional - B social cohesion - C sexual selection - D survival function - E aesthetic - F universal **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 ### 25. 25 It also aligns with music’s _____ quality, which resembles the playful interaction between a mother and her infant. 25 It also aligns with music’s _____ quality, which resembles the playful interaction between a mother and her infant. - A emotional - B social cohesion - C sexual selection - D survival function - E aesthetic - F universal **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 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。