EigoPro 2級読解 — The Power of Music

The Power of Music Music is found in every known human culture. Long before people could write, they were already singing, clapping, and beating drums. This raises an interesting question: if music is not strictly necessary for survival, why has it remained so important to us throughout history? Scientists who study the brain are beginning to offer some surprising answers. One reason is the powerful effect music has on our feelings. A sad song can bring tears to our eyes, while a fast, bright tune can make us want to dance. Researchers have found that listening to music we enjoy releases chemicals in the brain that produce pleasure — the same chemicals linked to other rewards such as good food. This may help explain why a favourite song can lift our mood almost instantly. Music also has a remarkable power to bring people together. Singing in a choir, dancing at a festival, or simply enjoying a concert with thousands of strangers can create a strong sense of belonging. Some scientists believe this was one of music's earliest and most valuable roles: by helping early humans feel connected, it may have made groups more united and more likely to survive. In recent years, doctors have begun to use these effects in medicine. "Music therapy" is now used to help patients in various ways — for example, calming those who are anxious, supporting people recovering from a stroke, and bringing comfort to those with memory loss, who often remember songs long after they have forgotten much else. Far from being a mere form of entertainment, music is increasingly seen as something that can genuinely heal.

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この単元の問題を3問、解説つきで公開しています

2級 · 読解 · 全5問

問 1

What is the main idea of the passage?

Music is necessary for basic human survival like food.
Music is universal and powerful, affecting our emotions, social bonds, and even health.
Music is simply a form of entertainment and nothing more.
Music is found only in a few modern Western cultures.

Phrase

if music is not strictly necessary for survival, why has it remained so important?

生存に必須でないのに、なぜ重要であり続けるのか

2級読解芸術科学記事主旨

⚡ひとことで

記事の主旨は「音楽は生存に必須でないのに普遍的で重要であり続ける理由を、感情・結束・医療の観点から探る」。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「Music is universal and powerful, affecting our emotions, social bonds, and even health.」

正解

第1段落の問い "why has it remained so important to us throughout history?" を軸に、感情への効果・人を結ぶ力・医療への応用を論じる。主旨 = 音楽は普遍的で、感情・結束・健康に強く働く。strictly necessary = 「厳密に必須」、throughout history = 「歴史を通じて」。

「Music is found only in a few modern Western cultures, and nowhere else at all.」
= 現代西洋の一部だけにある ━ 本文 "every known human culture" と矛盾。
「Music is as necessary for basic human survival as food, water and shelter.」
= 食料同様に生存必須 ━ 本文 "not strictly necessary for survival" と矛盾。
「Music is simply a form of entertainment and has no other role in our lives.」
= 単なる娯楽にすぎない ━ 本文 "Far from being a mere form of entertainment" と矛盾。

▦Collocation

パターン	意味	例
be found in ~	〜に見られる	found in every culture
strictly necessary	厳密に必須	not strictly necessary
throughout history	歴史を通じて	throughout history
raise a question	問いを生む	raises an interesting question
offer answers	答えを示す	offer some answers

❝例文

Music exists in every culture.
音楽はあらゆる文化に存在する。
It is not necessary for survival.
それは生存に必須ではない。
Yet it remains very important.
それでも重要であり続ける。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

主旨設問の鉄則 ―― 第1段落の問い ("why has it remained so important?") が記事を貫く。誤答は本文と矛盾 (一部文化のみ / 生存必須 / 単なる娯楽) で誘導。感情・結束・健康を包む選択肢が正解。

問 2

How does music affect the brain, according to the passage?

It releases pleasure chemicals in the brain, the same ones linked to other rewards.
It removes all chemicals from the brain completely.
It only affects people who are professional musicians.
It makes people feel worse and lowers their mood.

Phrase

listening to music releases chemicals that produce pleasure, linked to rewards like good food

音楽は快楽の化学物質を放出、食物等の報酬と同じ

2級読解芸術科学記事詳細 (脳への効果)

⚡ひとことで

好きな音楽を聴くと脳内で快楽を生む化学物質が放出され、それは美味しい食事など他の報酬と同じ物質で、瞬時に気分を上げる。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「It releases pleasure chemicals in the brain, the same ones linked to other rewards.」

正解

第2段落 "listening to music we enjoy releases chemicals in the brain that produce pleasure — the same chemicals linked to other rewards such as good food" より、効果 = 快楽を生む化学物質の放出 (食物などの報酬と同じ)。release ~ = 「〜を放出する」、be linked to ~ = 「〜と結びつく」、lift one's mood = 「気分を上げる」。

「It removes all of the pleasure chemicals from the brain completely at once.」
= 脳から全化学物質を除去 ━ 本文は releases (放出)、除去とは逆。
「It only has an effect on people who are trained professional musicians.」
= プロの音楽家だけに作用 ━ 本文は music we enjoy 一般、限定なし。
「It makes people feel much worse and lowers their mood for hours afterwards.」
= 気分を悪化させる ━ 本文 "lift our mood" と逆。

▦Collocation

パターン	意味	例
release chemicals	化学物質を放出する	releases chemicals
produce pleasure	快楽を生む	produce pleasure
be linked to ~	〜と結びつく	linked to other rewards
lift one's mood	気分を上げる	lift our mood
almost instantly	ほぼ瞬時に	almost instantly

❝例文

Music releases pleasure chemicals.
音楽は快楽の化学物質を放出する。
They are linked to rewards like food.
それらは食物などの報酬と結びつく。
A favourite song lifts our mood.
好きな曲は気分を上げる。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

効果設問の鉄則 ―― "releases chemicals that produce pleasure — the same ... as food" の因果と比喩を拾う。誤答は本文の逆 (除去 / 気分悪化) や限定 (プロだけ) で誘導。

問 3

What social role of music does the passage describe?

It makes people feel lonely and want to be alone.
It was useless to early humans and gave no advantage.
It only works when a person listens completely alone.
It creates a sense of belonging and may have helped early human groups stay united.

Phrase

bring people together, a sense of belonging, made groups more united and likely to survive

人を結び、帰属感を生み、集団を結束させ生存に有利に

2級読解芸術科学記事詳細 (社会的役割)

⚡ひとことで

音楽は人を結ぶ力を持ち、合唱や祭りで強い帰属感を生む。初期人類では集団を結束させ生存に有利にした可能性がある。

選択肢の解説Choice Analysis

「It creates a sense of belonging and may have helped early human groups stay united.」

正解

第3段落 "a remarkable power to bring people together ... create a strong sense of belonging" と "by helping early humans feel connected, it may have made groups more united and more likely to survive" より、社会的役割 = 帰属感の創出 + 初期人類の集団結束・生存への寄与。bring ~ together = 「〜を結びつける」、a sense of belonging = 「帰属感」。

「It makes people feel lonely and want to stay alone away from other people.」
= 孤独にし一人にさせる ━ 本文 "bring people together" "sense of belonging" と逆。
「It was useless to early humans and gave their groups no advantage at all.」
= 初期人類に無用で利点なし ━ 本文 "more likely to survive" と矛盾。
「It only works when a person listens to it completely alone in a quiet room.」
= 一人で聴く時だけ作用 ━ 本文は choir/festival/concert など集団場面、逆。

▦Collocation

パターン	意味	例
bring people together	人を結びつける	bring people together
a sense of belonging	帰属感	a sense of belonging
feel connected	つながりを感じる	feel connected
be likely to V	〜しやすい	more likely to survive
united	結束した	more united

❝例文

Singing together creates belonging.
一緒に歌うと帰属感が生まれる。
Music brings people together.
音楽は人を結びつける。
It may have helped groups survive.
集団の生存を助けたかもしれない。

💡Tip · 覚えるコツ

社会的役割設問の鉄則 ―― "bring people together" "sense of belonging" "more likely to survive" が役割の核。誤答は本文と逆 (孤独に / 無用 / 一人の時だけ) で誘導。集団場面の語 (choir/festival) が裏付け。

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この単元の講義を見る 2級の単元一覧 2級の用語集

EigoPro 2級 読解 — The Power of Music

この単元の問題を3問、解説つきで公開しています

if music is not strictly necessary for survival, why has it remained so important?

listening to music releases chemicals that produce pleasure, linked to rewards like good food

bring people together, a sense of belonging, made groups more united and likely to survive

EigoPro 2級読解 — The Power of Music