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Our preference for this or that kind of music is obviously a deeply subjective matter. It can also be highly unstable, changing not only during a lifetime, but even on a scale of months, or even days. Yet despite such variety, there are three factors that I think are the main contributors.
The first is our upbringing, or the musical background which surrounded us in our formative years. The kinds of music that we were exposed to as infants and toddlers helped to create very specific mental patterns — schemata — of the most typical melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic progressions. These schemata serve to create expectations when we listen to music, and, as it turns out, we tend to experience greatest pleasure when those expectations are met.
However, even the most stable musical schemata can be overridden by socio-cultural concerns, and these constitute the second contribution to our musical preferences. Music has served to create a sense of belonging, of group cohesion, of inclusion. The same mechanism applies today, where music brings listeners together in different activities. Whether you're into heavy metal, or hip hop, or jazz, your preferences are guided in part by your desire to be a member of some social circle.
These two factors seem to paint a rather mechanical picture of musical preferences, but this is obviously not the case. Nothing is likely to be more important than our own subjective feeling at the time of listening, and this is something that draws on a very complex and irreducible network of biological and cultural influences. Especially today, with nearly unlimited access to all genres and styles of music, we use music as a tool for regulating or maintaining our emotions and our moods. This is why when you want to study, you might reach for something unobtrusive, without words. Or when you're trying to relax before bed, you'll probably listen to something calm.

1.Which of the following is NOT a factor in determining our taste in music according to the text?

A Our upbringing.

B The socio-cultural factor.

C Recommendation from others.

D The musical background in our formative years.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第二、三、四段可知，影响一个人音乐品味的有成长经历，社会文化因素及个人的主观感受，未提及他人的推荐，故选C。

2.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A Music environment has an impact on personal music tastes.

B People’s music tastes can show us their cultural literacy.

C Our preference for music is a deeply subjective matter which will change over time.

D We use music as a tool for regulating or maintaining our emotions and our moods.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据全文可知，音乐偏好的形成受三个因素影响，文章并未提及一个人的音乐品味显示了他的文化素养，故选B。

3.What’s the Chinese meaning of the underlined word “unobtrusive” in Paragraph 4?

A 特别的.

B 引人入胜的.

C 流行的.

D 不引人注意的.

解析：选D。D词义猜测题。根据第四段第四句This is why when you want to study, you might reach for something unobtrusive, without words.可知，学习时播放没有歌词的音乐，是为了集中精力，故选D。

4.Which of the following is not a reasonable approach according to the passage?

A Before sleeping, it is good to listen to rock music.

B When you are going to study, you can listen to light music.

C It is suitable for playing some dance music at the ball.

D When goods in the supermarket are on sale, playing some fast-paced music.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据第四段最后一句Or when you’re trying to relax before bed, you’ll probably listen to something calm.可知，睡前想放松时应该听安静的音乐，故选A。

5.What’s the best title of this passage?

A Music and emotions.

B Cultivation of music hobbies.

C What are the benefits of music?

D What determines people's taste in music?

解析：选D。主旨大意题。根据第一段最后一句主旨句Yet despite such variety, there are three factors that I think are the main contributors.可知，本文主要讲了影响人的音乐品味的三个因素，故选D。