托福访谈题：日常生活中的音乐

I listened to an old playlist while cleaning my dormitory last Sunday. I had been avoiding the job because my desk was covered with papers and empty boxes. The songs reminded me of a trip with my school friends, and I started singing quietly while sorting things. The work did not disappear, but it felt less boring. I finished the room before the playlist ended. Now I sometimes choose a few songs before doing a task that I do not enjoy.

• had been avoiding the job · 说明清理前一直拖着没做，故事有了起因
• while sorting things · 用 while 说整理东西时也在听音乐

Music made cleaning my dormitory feel less like punishment last weekend. My desk had slowly disappeared under notes, takeaway bags, and half-finished craft projects, so I kept putting the job off. I played a playlist from a school trip and started with one corner. The songs brought back conversations from that journey, and before long I was sorting papers without noticing the chore. I don't think the music made me work much faster. It changed the mood enough for me to begin and keep going. Now I use that playlist as a small signal that it's time to reset the room.

• kept putting the job off · 用 kept 说自己一再拖延收拾
• a small signal that it's time to reset the room · 把音乐当作开工提醒，习惯怎么形成就清楚了

I prefer silence when I am studying something difficult. If a song has words, I start listening to them instead of reading my notes. Even quiet music can make me lose the sentence I am trying to understand. I usually go to a quiet floor in the library before exams. I do listen to music when I organise files or draw simple diagrams. For learning new material, though, silence helps me notice when I have stopped paying attention.

• instead of reading · 说出听歌挤掉了阅读的注意力
• For learning new material · 把安静的偏好限在学新知识的时候

For difficult reading, I'd choose silence. Lyrics compete with the words on the page, and instrumental music can also distract me. I discovered this while trying to read a dense history article with my usual playlist on. I kept reaching the bottom of a paragraph without knowing what it had said. Turning the music off didn't make the article easy, but it removed one thing I was switching between. I do like music for organizing folders or sketching a poster, where the task is less verbal. Silence isn't universally better; it suits the concentration I need to understand an unfamiliar argument.

• Lyrics compete with the words on the page · 用 compete 说歌词和书上文字抢注意力
• the task is less verbal · 用 verbal 区分需不需要处理文字的任务

I disagree because enjoyment is also a good reason to learn. I began learning the guitar at university, and I am still slow at changing chords. However, I can play two simple songs with my roommate, and that makes our evenings more interesting. I do not expect to perform on a stage. The lessons give me a break from my main subject and a small goal outside exams. Starting late means I have different aims, not that the activity has no value.

• a small goal outside exams · 给出考试以外的小目标，解释学乐器的乐趣
• different aims · 说明成年后学也可以有不同目标

I don't agree, because that treats music mainly as a route to professional achievement. I started learning guitar at university and still pause awkwardly between some chords. Yet being able to play a simple song with my roommate has given us an enjoyable way to spend an evening. I also like having something where progress is small, audible, and unrelated to my grades. Of course, beginning early can help someone aiming for a demanding performance career. But that's not what I'm trying to do. I don't need to become exceptional at every hobby before I'm allowed to enjoy learning it.

• small, audible, and unrelated to my grades · 用 audible 说进步听得见，不用看成绩
• someone aiming for a demanding performance career · 限定职业表演者，说明谁更需要从小学

I think a few free rooms would be helpful if the university has space. Students in dormitories cannot practise freely because other people need quiet. My roommate plays the guitar, and he often stops when someone wants to study. A booking system could let different groups share the rooms fairly. I would not build a large new centre only for this, but using an empty room with suitable sound control seems reasonable. Students could also give occasional performances for the campus.

• because other people need quiet · 说明宿舍里别人要安静，练乐器会有冲突
• share the rooms fairly · 用 fairly 说明预约要让大家公平用

I'd support a small number of shared rooms for amateur practice. In a dormitory, even a careful musician can disturb someone studying or sleeping. My roommate often cuts a guitar session short for that reason. A room with suitable sound control would solve a real conflict, and a booking limit could prevent a few groups from taking every evening slot. The university should check demand and use existing space where possible. A service can benefit a minority, but its cost should be proportionate. A modest facility that supports hobbies and reduces noise elsewhere seems reasonable.

• cuts a guitar session short · 用 cut short 说练吉他不得不提前结束
• its cost should be proportionate · 说明花多少钱要看需要多大，建议更稳妥