劍7第四套試題，閱讀部分 Passage 3真題原文部分：

READING PASSAGE 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3below.

EFFECTS OF NOISE

In general, it is plausible to suppose that we should prefer peace and quiet to noise. And yet most of us have had the experience of having to adjust to sleeping in the mountains or the countryside because it was initially ‘too quiet', an experience that suggests that humans are capable of adapting to a wide range of noise levels. Research supports this view. For example, Glass and Singer (1972) exposed people to short bursts of very loud noise and then measured their ability to work out problems and their physiological reactions to the noise. The noise was quite disruptive at first, but after about four minutes the subjects were doing just as well on their tasks as control subjects who were not exposed to noise. Their physiological arousal also declined quickly to the same levels as those of the control subjects.

But there are limits to adaptation and loud noise becomes more troublesome if the person is required to concentrate on more than one task. For example, high noise levels interfered with the performance of subjects who were required to monitor three dials at a time, a task not unlike that of an aeroplane pilot or an air-traffic controller (Broadbent, 1957). Similarly, noise did not affect a subject's ability to track a moving line with a steering wheel, but it did interfere with the subject's ability to repeat numbers while tracking (Finkelman and Glass, 1970).

Probably the most significant finding from research on noise is that its predictability is more important than how loud it is. We are much more able to ‘tune out' chronic background noise, even if it is quite loud, than to work under circumstances with unexpected intrusions of noise. In the Glass and Singer study, in which subjects were exposed to bursts of noise as they worked on a task, some subjects heard loud bursts and others heard soft bursts. For some subjects, the bursts were spaced exactly one minute apart (predictable noise); others heard the same amount of noise overall, but the bursts occurred at random intervals (unpredictable noise). Subjects reported finding the predictable and unpredictable noise equally annoying, and all subjects performed at about the same level during the noise portion of the experiment. But the different noise conditions had quite different after-effects when the subjects were required to proofread written material under conditions of no noise. As shown in Table 1 the unpredictable noise produced more errors in the later proofreading task than predictable noise; and soft, unpredictable noise actually produced slightly more errors on this task than the loud, predictable noise.

Table 1: Proofreading Errors and Noise

Apparently, unpredictable noise produces more fatigue than predictable noise, but it takes a while for this fatigue to take its toll on performance.

Predictability is not the only variable that reduces or eliminates the negative effects of noise. Another is control. If the individual knows that he or she can control the noise, this seems to eliminate both its negative effects at the time and its after-effects. This is true even if the individual never actually exercises his or her option to turn the noise off (Glass and Singer, 1972). Just the knowledge that one has control is sufficient.
The studies discussed so far exposed people to noise for only short periods and only transient effects were studied. But the major worry about noisy environments is that living day after day with chronic noise may produce serious, lasting effects. One study, suggesting that this worry is a realistic one, compared elementary school pupils who attended schools near Los Angeles's busiest airport with students who attended schools in quiet neighbourhoods (Cohen et al., 1980). It was found that children from the noisy schools had higher blood pressure and were more easily distracted than those who attended the quiet schools. Moreover, there was no evidence of adaptability to the noise. In fact, the longer the children had attended the noisy schools, the more distractible they became. The effects also seem to be long lasting. A follow-up study showed that children who were moved to less noisy classrooms still showed greater distractibility one year later than students who had always been in the quiet schools (Cohen et al, 1981). It should be noted that the two groups of children had been carefully matched by the investigators so that they were comparable in age, ethnicity, race, and social class.

Questions 27-29

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 27-29 on your answer sheet.
27 The writer suggests that people may have difficulty sleeping in the mountains because

A humans do not prefer peace and quiet to noise.
B they may be exposed to short bursts of very strange sounds.
C humans prefer to hear a certain amount of noise while they sleep.
D they may have adapted to a higher noise level in the city.
28 In noise experiments, Glass and Singer found that
A problem-solving is much easier under quiet conditions.
B physiological arousal prevents the ability to work.
C bursts of noise do not seriously disrupt problem-solving in the long term.
D the physiological arousal of control subjects declined quickly.
29 Researchers discovered that high noise levels are not likely to interfere with the

A successful performance of a single task.
B tasks of pilots or air traffic controllers.
C ability to repeat numbers while tracking moving lines.
D ability to monitor three dials at once.

Questions 30-34

Complete the summary using the list of words and phrases, A-J, below.
Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 30-34 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
Glass and Singer (1972) showed that situations in which there is intense noise have less effect on performance than circumstances in which 30 ………… noise occurs. Subjects were divided into groups to perform a task. Some heard loud bursts of noise, others soft. For some subjects, the noise was predictable, while for others its occurrence was random. All groups were exposed to 31 ………… noise. The predictable noise group 32 ………… the unpredictable noise group on this task.
In the second part of the experiment, the four groups were given a proofreading task to complete under conditions of no noise. They were required to check written material for errors. The group which had been exposed to unpredictable noise 33 ………… the group which had been exposed to predictable noise. The group which had been exposed to loud predictable noise performed better than those who had heard soft, unpredictable bursts. The results suggest that 34 ………… noise produces fatigue but that this manifests itself later.

A no control over
B unexpected
C intense
D the same amount of
E performed better than
F performed at about the same level as
G no
H showed more irritation than
I made more mistakes than
J different types of

Questions 35-40

Look at the following statements (Questions 35-40) and the list of researchers below.
Match each statement with the correct researcher(s),A-E.
Write the correct letter, 4-E, in boxes 35-40 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
35 Subjects exposed to noise find it difficult at first to concentrate on problem-solving tasks.
36 Long-term exposure to noise can produce changes in behaviour which can still be observed a year later.
37 The problems associated with exposure to noise do not arise if the subject knows they can make it stop.
38 Exposure to high-pitched noise results in more errors than exposure to low-pitched noise.
39 Subjects find it difficult to perform three tasks at the same time when exposed to noise.
40 Noise affects a subject's capacity to repeat numbers while carrying out another task.
List of Researchers

A Glass and Singer
B Broadbent
C Finkelman and Glass
D Cohen et al.
E None of the above

READING PASSAGE 3 真題解析

篇章結(jié)構(gòu)
體裁：說明文
主題：噪聲影響

結(jié)構(gòu)
第一段：人對噪音有自我調(diào)節(jié)能力。
第二段：調(diào)節(jié)能力的局限性。
第三段：噪音可預(yù)測性對人的影響的實驗。
第四段：實驗結(jié)論：不可預(yù)測性噪音更易讓人疲憊。
第五段：人對控制噪音能力的認知可以減少噪音影響。
第六段：長期生活于高噪音環(huán)境的危害。

必背詞匯

第一段
plausible adj. 貌似真實的，貌似有理的 work out v. 解決；設(shè)計出；計算
adjust v. 調(diào)整，使……適于 physiological adj. 生理的，生理學(xué)的
countryside n. 鄉(xiāng)村，農(nóng)村 reaction n. 反應(yīng)
initially adv. 最初 disruptive adj. 搗亂的，破壞性的，制造混亂的
capable adj. 有能力的
adapt v. 使……適應(yīng)；改編 subject n. 科目，主題
expose v. 使暴露于，使接觸到 control v. & n. 克制，控制
burst n. 破裂，突然出現(xiàn) arousal n. 激勵，鼓勵

第二段
adaptation n. 改編；適應(yīng) pilot n. 飛行員，領(lǐng)航員，引航員
troublesome adj. 令人煩惱的，討厭的 air-traffic n. 空中交通
concentrate v. 集中，專心；濃縮 track v. 跟蹤，追蹤
interfere v. 妨礙；沖突；干涉 steer v. 引導(dǎo)；駕駛；航行
monitor v. 監(jiān)視，監(jiān)聽，監(jiān)督

第三段
significant adj. 有意義的，意味深長的；重要的，重大的
overall adj. 全部的，總體的
random adj. 任意的，隨便的，胡亂的
predictability n. 可預(yù)測性 interval n. 間隔
tune out 關(guān)掉，不理會 annoying adj. 惱人的，討厭的
chronic adj. 長期的；慢性的 portion n. 部分，份；命運
circumstance n. 環(huán)境；狀況；事件 after-effect n. 后果；余波
intrusion n. 闖入，侵擾 proofread v. 校對，?？?br> space v. 隔開，分隔 error n. 錯誤，過失

第四段
apparently adv. 顯然 toll n. 代價
fatigue n. 疲乏，疲勞

第五段
variable n. 變量 individual n. 個人，個體
eliminate v. 除去，排除，剔除 exercise v. 鍛煉；操練；練習(xí)；運用；行使
negative adj. 否定的；消極的；負面的 sufficient adj. 足夠的，充分的

第六段
so far 迄今為止 adaptability n. 適應(yīng)性
transient adj. 短暫的 distractible adj. 易于分心的，不專心的
lasting adj. 永久的，永恒的 follow-up adj. 繼續(xù)的
realistic adj. 現(xiàn)實的，現(xiàn)實主義的 investigator n. 研究者，調(diào)查者，審查者
elementary adj. 初級的，基本的 comparable adj. 可比較的，比得上的
blood pressure 血壓 ethnicity n. 種族劃分；種族特性
distract v. 轉(zhuǎn)移，分心 social class 社會地位

難句解析

1. In general, it is plausible to suppose that we should prefer peace and quiet to noise.
參考譯文：總體來說，人們應(yīng)該更喜歡和平寧靜而不喜歡噪音——這種想法貌似有些道理。
語言點：
(1) in general: usually or in most situations
In general, about 10% of the candidates are eventually offered positions.
(2) plausible: adj. reasonable and likely to be true or successful
His story certainly sounds plausible.
a plausible explanation

2. But there are limits to adaptation and loud noise becomes more troublesome if the person is required to concentrate on more than one task.
參考譯文：但如果要求試驗對象同時專注幾項任務(wù)時，他對噪音的適應(yīng)能力就會達到極限，噪音也會變得更加讓人心煩意亂。
語言點：
(1) concentrate on: to give most of your attention or effort to one thing
Doctors are aiming to concentrate more on prevention than cure.

3. Apparently, unpredictable noise produces more fatigue than predictable noise, but it takes a while for this fatigue to take its toll on performance.
參考譯文：顯然，非可預(yù)測性噪音會讓人更疲勞，不過疲勞導(dǎo)致工作上的錯誤還是需要一段時間。
語言點：
(1) toll: n. a very bad effect that something has on something or someone over a long period of time
Years of smoking have taken their toll on his health.
a heavy toll on the environment
(2) take some time to do sth.
It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark.
Repairs take time to carry out.

4. The studies discussed so far exposed people to noise for only short periods and only transient effects were studied.
參考譯文：到目前為止，所討論的研究都是將人們短時間置于噪音環(huán)境中，也只是研究了由此帶來的瞬間影響。
語言點：
(l) so far: until now
So far we have not had to borrow any money.
They're delighted with the replies they've received from the public so far.
(2) expose sb. to sth.
The report revealed that workers had been exposed to high levels of radiation.

試題解析

Questions 27-29
題目類型：Multiple Choices

題目解析：

27題
定位詞：sleeping in the mountains
題目：
作者指出人們在山里睡覺可能有困難的原因是：
A. 人們喜歡噪音而不喜歡寧靜。
B. 他們可能會聽到瞬間產(chǎn)生的奇怪聲音。
C. 人們在睡覺時更愿意聽到一定量的噪音。
D. 他們可能已經(jīng)適應(yīng)了城市中更大的噪音。
文中對應(yīng)點：
對應(yīng)第一段前兩句：先指出人類似乎(plausible意為“貌似真實的”)更喜歡安靜，然后利用yet轉(zhuǎn)折引出在山區(qū)睡覺會因為太安靜而難以入睡。此題使用排除法能很快解題：A中的“喜歡噪音不喜歡寧靜”文章并未提及；B中的“瞬間產(chǎn)生的奇怪聲音”在定位句中也未提及；C中的“人喜歡睡覺時聽噪音”也未提及；只有D 選項符合文意，其中adapted to a higher noise level對應(yīng)文中的adjust(調(diào)節(jié))，因為城市噪音較大，所以在山里睡覺時需要調(diào)節(jié)適應(yīng)。正確答案：D。

28題
定位詞：Glass and Singer
題目：在噪音實驗中，Glass和Singer兩人發(fā)現(xiàn)：
A. 在安靜環(huán)境中解決問題更加簡單。
B. 生理反應(yīng)抑制了工作能力。
C. 長期來看，瞬間產(chǎn)生的噪音并不會嚴(yán)重干擾解決問題。
D. 對照實驗組的生理反應(yīng)快速消退。
文中對應(yīng)點：
對應(yīng)第一段最后兩句：起初，噪音讓人心煩意亂。但在大約四分鐘后，被研究者就能像那些未處于噪音之中的對照實驗組一樣很好地工作。他們的生理反應(yīng)也迅速的消退到與對照實驗組相當(dāng)?shù)乃?。正確答案：C。

29題
定位詞：high noise levels, not...interfere with
題目：研究者發(fā)現(xiàn)高分貝噪音不太可能干擾：
A. 單項任務(wù)的成功執(zhí)行。
B. 飛行員或空中交通協(xié)調(diào)員的任務(wù)。
C. 追蹤移動軌跡的同時重復(fù)數(shù)字的能力。
D. 同時監(jiān)視三個刻度盤的能力。
文中對應(yīng)點：
第二段首句：但如果要求試驗對象同時專注幾項任務(wù)時，其對噪音的適應(yīng)能力就會到達極限，噪音也會變得更加讓人心煩意亂。
從第二句開始就開始舉例(For example)，因此例子之前的引導(dǎo)句就是解題句。噪音干擾同時專注多項任務(wù)的人，則A選項就可能不被干擾，為正確答案。其他三個選項都是原文出現(xiàn)的內(nèi)容，但都是包含多項任務(wù)的選項，考生可按照“排除與原文一致的選項”的原則先將其排除，剩余選項也為A。正確答案：A。

Questions 30-34
題目類型：Summary
解題方法：
1. 對于帶有詞庫的summary，除按常規(guī)步驟解題外，應(yīng)該先對詞庫中的單詞按詞性進行分類，并利用詞庫中單詞的詞義劃分來填某些空格。
2. 注意分析干擾選項，如E & F以及H & I；但須注意此題不可使用排除法，因為題中NB指出選項可以復(fù)選。
3. 對于無標(biāo)題的Summary，應(yīng)在Summary每段首句中尋找定位詞定位。

題目解析：

30題
定位詞：Glass and Singer, circumstances
文中對應(yīng)點：第三段，We are much more able to ‘tune out’chronic background noise, even if it is quite loud, than to work under circumstances with unexpected intrusions.
題目解析：
空格所填詞為noise的修飾詞，于是答案只限于BCDGJ。由題目所在句句意分析，可得出空格所填詞應(yīng)與intense構(gòu)成反義關(guān)系。經(jīng)過篩選可以確定答案為B選項：unexpected。另外，通過比較題目和文中定位處的對應(yīng)關(guān)系，可得出題中in which occurs對應(yīng)文中with unexpected intrusions，也能選出正確答案B。

31題
定位詞：all
文中對應(yīng)點：第三段，F(xiàn)or some subjects, the bursts were spaced exactly one minute apart (predictable noise); others heard the same amount of noise overall...
題目解析：
按照順序原則在第30題后掃描定位詞可以迅速定位?？崭袼钤~為noise的修飾詞，答案也只可能為BCDGJ，在這五個選項中只有D選項與原文the same amount一致，故正確答案為D。
另外，通過理解題目，按照上下文意：“實驗組中一部分人接觸的噪音為可預(yù)測性的，其他人接觸的為隨機產(chǎn)生的，所有人聽到的噪音都是 ”也能推出空格里只能填D選項。

32題
定位詞：predictable group, unpredictable group
文中對應(yīng)點：第三段，Subjects reported finding the predictable and unpredictable noise equally annoying, and all subjects performed at about the same level during the noise portion of the experiment.
題目解析：
此題定位同樣可按照順序原則。該題空格前后為兩類人，因此中間應(yīng)填詞為比較關(guān)系，故答案只能為EFHI。通過掃描文中對應(yīng)點可發(fā)現(xiàn)兩種人performed at about the same level，因此只能選擇F 選項。

33題
定位詞：written material
文中對應(yīng)點：第三段，As shown in Table 1 the unpredictable noise produced more errors in the later proofreading task than predictable noise...
題目解析：
通過分析空格前后內(nèi)容，可知空格內(nèi)須填寫處在可預(yù)測性噪音和非可預(yù)測性噪音中的兩類人的比較關(guān)系，答案只能為EFHI?？梢栽谖闹袑?yīng)點后掃描出相關(guān)比較關(guān)系：produced more errors，選項中只有I中的關(guān)鍵詞made more mistakes與之相符，故答案為I。

34題
定位詞：fatigue

文中對應(yīng)點：第四段，Apparently, unpredictable noise produces more fatigue than predictable noise...
題目解析：
此題定位詞在文中原詞出現(xiàn)，且題目空格所填詞為造成疲勞(fatigue)的噪音類別，顯然對應(yīng)原文中的unpredictable noise，正確答案為B。

Questions 35-40
題目類型：Matching
解題方法：
1. 此題為人名與其研究的搭配題，應(yīng)先定位人名再仔細分析其研究結(jié)果，進而在題干中進行篩選。
2. 考生可在掃讀文章時將文中人名大寫字母進行標(biāo)記以方便定位，且應(yīng)先定位出現(xiàn)次數(shù)較少的人名。此題中A選項在文中出現(xiàn)三處，BC選項各出現(xiàn)一處，D選項出現(xiàn)兩處，應(yīng)按照BCDA的順序進行定位。
3. 解題時劃出題干關(guān)鍵詞，與原文進行比較即可。
4. 此題中出現(xiàn)了獨特的E選項：“以上選項都不對”，考生應(yīng)該使用排除法判定。

題目解析：

35題
定位詞：difficult at first
文中對應(yīng)點：
35.Subjects exposed to noise find it difficult at first to concentrate on problem solving tasks.
起初，處于噪音中的實驗對象很難集中精力來解決問題。
此題的定位順序應(yīng)該排在第五(之前定位了BC各一處和兩處D)，為第一次定位A選項Grass and Singer。定位于第一段倒數(shù)第四行：The noise was quite disruptive at first, ...
譯文：起初，噪音讓人心煩意亂。
在文中對應(yīng)點掃描到定位詞disruptive at first，與第35題相符。故答案為A。

36題
定位詞：long-term exposure, changes
文中對應(yīng)點：
36.Long-term exposure to noise can produce changes in behaviour which can still be observed a year later.
長期處在噪音中能產(chǎn)生行為變化。這種變化在一年后仍能被觀察到。
此題的定位順序應(yīng)該排在第三和第四(之前定位了BC各一處)，為定位D選項Cohen et al. 。首先定位處為末段第三行：One study, suggesting that this worry is a realistic one... 。此句中出現(xiàn)指代詞this worry，按照“遇指代，向前看一句”原則，得到最終定位句為末段第二行：
But the major worry about noisy environments is that living day after day with chronic noise may produce serious, lasting effects.
譯文：但是噪音環(huán)境所引起的主要憂慮是，日復(fù)一日地長期生活在噪音環(huán)境中可能會產(chǎn)生嚴(yán)重、持久的影響。
通過掃描題干關(guān)鍵詞初步判定為36題，但是其中關(guān)鍵詞a year later仍未出現(xiàn)，于是進行二次定位D選項。末段倒數(shù)第五行：
A follow-up study showed that children who were moved to less noisy classrooms still showed greater distractibility one year later than students who had always been in the quiet schools.
譯文：另外一項跟蹤研究表明，和那些一直在安靜學(xué)校上學(xué)的孩子相比，即使喧鬧學(xué)校的孩子們搬到安靜一些的學(xué)校待上一年以后，他們還是難以集中注意力。
至此，36題中關(guān)鍵詞在D選項研究者的研究結(jié)果中全部出現(xiàn)，且含義一致，故答案為D。

37題
定位詞：make it stop
文中對應(yīng)點：
37. The problems associated with exposure to noise do not arise if the subject knows they can make it stop.
如果實驗對象知道他們能夠使噪音停止的話，由于處在噪音中而產(chǎn)生的問題就不會發(fā)生。
此題的定位順序應(yīng)該排在第七(之前定位了BC各一處、兩處D以及兩處A，其中第二處A位于第三段且無信息可對應(yīng)題目)，為第三次定位A選項Grass and Singer。定位于第五段第二行：
If the individual knows that he or she can control the noise, this seems to eliminate both its negative effects at the time and its after-effects.
譯文：如果一個人知道自己可以控制噪音的話，這一點似乎可以消除當(dāng)時噪音的消極影響和副作用。
定位處關(guān)鍵詞control與第35題中make it stop對應(yīng)，故答案為A。

38題
定位詞：high-pitched, low-pitched
文中對應(yīng)點：
38. Exposure to high-pitched noise results in more errors than exposure to low-pitched noise.
處在高分貝的噪音中比處在低分貝的噪音中能使人犯更多的錯誤。
在解此題之前，通過定位ABCD四個選項已經(jīng)將其余各題完成，且文中對應(yīng)處均未提及噪音分貝高低問題，故此題通過排除法只能選擇E。

39題
定位詞：three tasks
文中對應(yīng)點：
39. Subjects find it difficult to perform three tasks at the same time when exposed to noise.
當(dāng)處于噪音環(huán)境時，實驗對象很難同時做三項工作。
此題的定位順序應(yīng)該排在第一(詳見解題方法2)，為定位選項B選項Broadbent，定位于第二段第二行：For example, high noise levels interfered with the performance of subjects who were required to monitor three dials at a time...
譯文：例如，如果每個試驗對象需要同時監(jiān)視三個刻度盤，那么高分貝噪音就會嚴(yán)重干擾他們完成工作。
定位處monitor three dials at a time與第39題中perform three tasks at the same time 相對應(yīng)。故答案為B。

40題
定位詞：repeat numbers, another task
文中對應(yīng)點：
40. Noise affects a subject's capacity to repeat numbers while carrying out another task.
譯文：當(dāng)實驗對象在做另一項工作時，噪音會影響其重復(fù)數(shù)字的能力。
定位于第二段倒數(shù)第一行：...but it did interfere with the subject's ability to repeat numbers while tracking.
譯文：但如果讓實驗對象在追蹤的同時重復(fù)數(shù)字，那么噪音對他們的影響就很大了。
定位處tracking對應(yīng)第40題中carrying out another task。故答案為C。

參考譯文

噪音影響

總體來說，人們應(yīng)該更喜歡和平寧靜而不喜歡噪音——這種想法貌似有些道理。我們大多數(shù)人都有過這樣的經(jīng)歷：如果在深山或者鄉(xiāng)村睡覺，必須作一些調(diào)整才能睡得著，因為這些地方起初“太安靜”了。這一例子說明人類有能力去適應(yīng)不同程度、分貝跨度較大的各種噪音。研究也證實了這一點。例如，Glass和Singer(1972)將人們置于瞬間發(fā)出的非常刺耳的噪聲環(huán)境之中，然后測量他們解決問題的能力和由此產(chǎn)生的生理反應(yīng)。起初，噪音讓人心煩意亂。但大約四分鐘后，將置于噪音下的實驗對象與處于正常環(huán)境中的人們相比發(fā)現(xiàn)，前者在完成任務(wù)方面做得很不錯，而且他們對噪音的生理反應(yīng)也會迅速降低到與后者持平的水平。

但如果要求試驗對象同時專注幾項任務(wù)時，其對噪音的適應(yīng)性能力就會達到極限，噪音也會變得更加讓人心煩意亂。例如，如果一個實驗對象需要同時監(jiān)視三個刻度盤，那么高分貝噪音就會嚴(yán)重干擾他們完成工作。同時監(jiān)視多個刻度盤其實和飛行員或者空中交通調(diào)解員的工作別無二致(Broadbent, 1957)。同理，噪音并不會影響實驗對象追蹤一個旋轉(zhuǎn)輪子形成的不斷移動的軌跡，但如果讓實驗對象在追蹤的同時重復(fù)數(shù)字，那么噪音對他們的影響就很大了(Finkelman and Glass, 1970)。

或許，此項關(guān)于噪音的研究最重大的發(fā)現(xiàn)，就是噪音的可預(yù)見性要比它分貝的大小更為重要。我們完全有能力對長期存在的背景噪音“聽而不聞”，即使它們確實很吵；而如果人們工作時受到突如其來的噪音的侵襲，他們就會很不適應(yīng)。在Glass和Singer的研究中，當(dāng)實驗對象正做一項工作時，把他們置于突然發(fā)出的噪音環(huán)境中，有些人聽到的聲音非常大，而有些人聽到的聲音卻要柔和得多。實驗對象中一部分人聽到的噪音是嚴(yán)格按照一分鐘的時間間隔產(chǎn)生的(可預(yù)測性噪音)；其他人聽到的噪音總量是不變的，但是產(chǎn)生時間卻是隨機的(非可預(yù)測性噪音)。實驗組稱，可預(yù)測性噪音和非可預(yù)測性噪音都很惱人，而所有實驗對象在噪音測試部分的表現(xiàn)都處在同一水平線上。然而，在無噪音環(huán)境下要求實驗對象校對書面材料時，不同噪音條件帶來的副作用是迥然不同的。如表l所示，和可預(yù)測性噪音相比，非可預(yù)測性噪音使試驗對象在校對時出現(xiàn)更多錯誤；柔和的非可預(yù)測性噪音實際上比吵鬧的可預(yù)測性噪音讓人出現(xiàn)更多錯誤。

表格1：校對錯誤與噪音

顯然，非可預(yù)測性噪音會讓人更疲勞，不過疲勞導(dǎo)致工作上的錯誤還需要一段時間。

預(yù)測性不是唯一可以減少或者消除噪音負面影響的變量。另一個變量是噪音的可控性。如果一個人知道自己可以控制噪音的話，這一點似乎可以消除當(dāng)時噪音的負面影響和副作用。即使人們沒有真正實踐他的想法，去關(guān)掉噪音，這種效果也是可以達到的。僅知道自己有控制噪音的能力就足夠了。

到目前為止，所討論的研究都是將人們短時間置于噪音環(huán)境中，也只是研究了由此帶來的瞬間影響。但是噪音環(huán)境所引起的主要憂慮是，日復(fù)一日地長期生活在噪音環(huán)境中可能會產(chǎn)生嚴(yán)重、持久的影響。一項研究表明，此擔(dān)心是有現(xiàn)實性的。將在洛杉磯最繁忙的機場旁邊上學(xué)的小學(xué)生和那些在安靜環(huán)境中上學(xué)的小學(xué)生相比較(Cohen et al., 1980)，就會發(fā)現(xiàn)噪音地區(qū)的小學(xué)生血壓較高，更容易轉(zhuǎn)移注意力。此外，并沒有跡象表明孩子們會逐漸適應(yīng)噪音。事實上，孩子們在喧鬧的學(xué)校待的時間越久，他們越難以集中注意力。另外一項跟蹤研究表明，和那些一直在安靜學(xué)校上學(xué)的孩子相比，即使喧鬧學(xué)校里的孩子們搬到安靜一些的學(xué)校待上一年以后，他們還是難以集中注意力。有一點需要說明的是，兩組孩子都是經(jīng)過研究人員精心匹配的，他們在年齡、民族習(xí)性、種族和社會階層上都具有可比性。?