英语听力文摘 English Digest 47、音乐有助于幼儿脑部发育

　　Not only does it soothe¹ the savage² beast, but music also makes unruly children calmer while at the same time honing their facilities for cognitive³ skills and physical coordination⁴, according to a leading expert.
A mother's soft lullaby, granddad's whistling or a father singing in the shower－all of these musical activities serve to help an infant not only in acquiring linguistic⁵ skills, but also in learning how human beings interact.
"Experiments have shown that unborn babies in the womb appear to relax in response to certain music and also that they seem to recognize this music after birth," says Professor Michael Schulte-Markwort, head of child psychology⁶ at Hamburg's University Hospital in Germany.
"From the outset, music helps the language centers in the brain to develop so that children who have been exposed to music at an early age tend to learn to speak earlier than those who are born into non-musical homes," Dr. Schulte-Markwort says.
"Music also helps in the development of motor skills while at the same time reducing tension," he adds.
Rhythm and dancing train young muscles so that musical children are healthier and better coordinated⁷ than children whose parents never teach them to sing and dance and play a simple drum or other instrument.
"It is important to remember the fun factor," Schulte-Markwort stresses. "Singing, dancing and playing musical instruments must first and foremost be fun for children."
savage  (adj.)   野蛮的；残酷的
unruly  (adj.)   不守规矩的；任性的
cognitive  (adj.)   认知力的；认知的
lullaby  (n.)   摇篮曲；催眠歌
linguistic  (adj.)   语言的；语言上的
from the outset   开始；开头
to be exposed to   接触；暴露
motor skills   动作技能
rhythm  (n.)   节奏；律动
first and foremost   首先；第一优先

1 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

2 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

3 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

4 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

5 linguistic   

adj.语言的，语言学的

参考例句：

• She is pursuing her linguistic researches.她在从事语言学的研究。
• The ability to write is a supreme test of linguistic competence.写作能力是对语言能力的最高形式的测试。

6 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

7 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法