Background music may seem harmless, but it can have a powerful effect on those who hear it. Recorded background music first found its way into factories, shops and restaurants in the USA. Very soon it spread to other parts of the world. Now it is becoming difficult to go shopping or eat a meal without listening to background music.
To begin with, background music was intended simply to create a soothing (舒适的) atmosphere. Recently, however, it's becoming a big business. An American marketing expert has shown that music can boost(提升) sales or increase factory production by as much as a third.
But it has to be the light music. Lively music has no effect at all on sales. Slow music can increase receipts(收入) by 34%. This is probably because shoppers slow down and have more opportunity to spot items they would like to buy. Yet, slow music isn't always the answer. The expert found that in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals, which reduced overall sales. So restaurant owners might be well advised to play faster music to keep the customers moving-unless, of course, the resulting indigestion(消化不良) leads to complaints.
小题1:Background music was first used ________.
A．in the cinemas and theatres in the USA
B．in the offices and hospitals in the USA
C．in the schools and churches in the USA
D．in the factories, shops and restaurants in the USA小题2:An American marketing expert has found background music can __________.
A．increase sales or factory production
B．create a soothing atmosphere
C．make people slow down
D．make people forget their worries小题3:Slow music is useless in ________ in increasing sales.
A．shops
B．restaurants
C．factories
D．cinemas小题4:Restaurant owners are advised to play ________ to increase overall sales.
A．lively music
B．loud music
C．slower music
D．faster music
