听有声书算阅读吗？

黄连英 钟翠频

Is listening to an audiobook really reading？ We talk to experts about whether audiobooks count as reading. If you type into Google， “Do audiobooks count as reading？” you’ll find arguments both for and against. On one side are those who love the written word and never quite took to their audio counterparts. On the other are the audiobooks fans， who see it as a newly creative way to absorb a book. Or you have the in-betweeners， who go back and forth between both you.

Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on， experts say the difference between both is minimal—your brain works more or less the same way when processing an audiotrack as it does processing words on a page.

“Even though the information is processed differently by our brain， the overall difference between reading and listening in terms of comprehension is negligible，” explains relationship psychologist Mairead Molloy. She adds audiobooks could help the brain activate more images than the written word， but there are advantages to both as reading mediums.

“Audiobooks can help improve our comprehension and vocabulary. Hearing new words can significantly help with comprehension and vocabulary， especially for kids and second-language learners，” she adds. “They also help stimulate the auditory process in the brain. This active listening process helps analyse the information and store it in our memory.”

Reading words on the page has its own advantages from exercising the brain， to improved concentration， literacy， sleep and the ability to focus. Audiobooks offer different advantages， depending on the different needs of the reader.

When it comes to reading， she continues， sweeping statements aren’t the most beneficial way to go because the audiobook versus a traditional book is a very nuanced argument. “I think even if audiobooks aren’t your preference， or you might not necessarily know people who would benefit from audiobooks， it’s important to keep an open mind that maybe it could be the best option for someone rather than ruling it out.”

（材料出自Reader’s Digest，有刪改）

1. What’s the function of the first paragraph？

A. To introduce the topic.

B. To tell us the author’s opinion.

C. To give background information.

D. To arouse the readers’ interest.

2. What does “negligible” underlined in Paragraph 3 most probably mean？

A. Apparent. B. Insignificant.

C. Abnormal.                                 D. Potential.

3. Who can benefit most from audiobooks in comprehension？

A. Good listeners. B. Native speakers.

C. Second-language learners.    D. Language masters.

4. Which of the following isn’t the advantage of reading written words？

A. Training our brains well.

B. Improving our concentration.

C. Enhancing the quality of sleep.

D. Stimulating the auditory process.

【参考答案】

1. A。解析：推理判断题。根据文章第一段的“Is listening to an audiobook really reading？”及其后提到不同人对这个问题的不同看法，我们可知，第一段旨在引入话题，后文则是对这个问题进行论述。故选A。

2. B。解析：词义猜测题。文章第三段第一句中的前一部分是even though引导的让步状语从句，从句和主句的内容存在转折关系。第三段第一句的前半部分提到“尽管我們的大脑处理信息的方式不同”，结合此段最后一句中的“there are advantages to both as reading mediums（有声读物和书面文字都有作为阅读媒介的优势）”，我们可推断“negligible”意思是“微不足道的，不重要的”，这半句的意思是“读书和听书在理解方面的总体差异是可以忽略不计的”。故选B。

3. C。解析：细节理解题。根据第四段的“Audiobooks can help...especially for kids and second-language learners”，我们可知，有声读物可以帮助我们提高理解力和词汇量……特别是对孩子和第二语言学习者来说。故选C。

4. D。解析：细节理解题。根据第五段第一句“...from exercising the brain， to improved concentration， literacy， sleep and the ability to focus.”，我们可知，阅读纸质版文字的优势包括锻炼大脑，提高注意力、读写能力、睡眠和专注能力，因此可以排除A、B、C选项，而D选项是有声读物的优势。故选D。