Many people think of the brain as a mystery. They don"t know much about intellig
题型：不详难度：来源：
Many people think of the brain as a mystery. They don"t know much about intelligence and how it works. When they do think about what intelligence is, many people believe that a person is born smart, average, or dumb — and stays that way in the whole life. But new research shows that the brain is more like a muscle — it changes and gets stronger when you use it. And scientists have been able to show just how the brain grows and gets stronger when you learn.
Everyone knows that when you lift weights, your muscles get bigger and you get stronger. A person who can"t lift 20 pounds when he/she starts exercising can get strong enough to lift 100 pounds after working out for a long time. That"s because the muscles become larger and stronger with exercise. And when you stop exercising, the muscles shrink and you get weaker. That"s why people say “Use it or lose it！”
But most people don"t know that when they practice and learn new things, parts of their brain change and get larger a lot like muscles do when they exercise. Inside the cortex (皮层) of the brain are billions of tiny nerve cells, called neurons. The nerve cells have branches connecting them to other cells in a complicated network. Communication between these brain cells is what allows us to think and solve problems. When you learn new things, these tiny connections in the brain actually multiply and get stronger. The more you challenge your mind to learn, the more your brain cells grow. Then, things that you once found very hard or even impossible to do — like speaking a foreign language or doing algebra (代数) — seem to become easy after learning them for a period of time. The result is a stronger, smarter brain.
Scientists started thinking that the human brain could develop and change when they studied animals" brains. They found out that animals that lived in a challenging environment were more “perspicacious” — they were better at solving problems and learning new things.
小题1:According to the first paragraph，________.| A．the function of our brain is like that of the muscle | | B．until now it"s impossible to explain the brain"s mystery | | C．many people believe one"s intelligence is naturally determined | | D．one"s brain grows stronger as the age increases |
小题2:Training muscles is compared to ________.| A．using the brain | | B．connecting things in your brain | | C．lifting weights | | D．doing research about the brain |
小题3:What is Paragraph 3 mainly about_________?
The complex structure of the brain.
B. How changes in the muscles affect the brain.
C. The importance of the brain.
D. How the brain becomes stronger by learning new things.
小题4:What does the underlined word “perspicacious” in the last paragraph probably mean_________?| A．Strong. | B．Smart. | C．Popular. | D．Active. |
小题5:The paragraph that follows the passage will most probably talk about _______.| A．the differences between animals’ brains and humans’ brains | | B．the relation between human brains and muscles | | C．scientists’ findings about animals’ brains | | D．how to make your brain smarter through self-development |
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答案
小题1:C
小题2:A
小题3:D
小题4:B
小题5:D |
解析
试题分析：通常情况下，很多人都认为人的智力是与生俱来的，是由先天的遗传条件决定的。但是，科学研究发现，人类大脑也可以像肌肉一样，通过学习得到发展。
小题1:根据第一段“When they do think about what intelligence is, many people believe that a person is born smart, average, or dumb”可知，许多人认为，一个人的智力是与生俱来的，有的人天生聪明，有的智力一般，有的天生智力低下，故选C。
小题2:根据第一段“But new research shows that the brain is more like a muscle — it changes and gets stronger when you use it.”可知，大脑就像肌肉一样，会随着不断的使用而变得更加强大，故选A。
小题3:根据“When you learn new things, these tiny connections in the brain actually multiply and get stronger. The more you challenge your mind to learn, the more your brain cells grow.”可知，第三段主要讲的是如何通过学习使大脑变强大，故选D。
小题4:根据“they were better at solving problems and learning new things”可知，生活在挑战性环境下的动物，它们更善于解决问题和学习新事物，科学家认为，人类大脑也可以发展并发生变化。根据破折号后面的解释可以推断，生活在挑战性环境下的动物更聪明，故选B。
小题5:根据最后一段“Scientists started thinking that the human brain could develop and change when they studied animals" brains.”可知，科学家认为人类大脑与动物大脑一样，也可以得到锻炼并变得更加聪明，最后一段介绍了动物变聪明的条件--生活在挑战性环境中，下一段有可能介绍人类如何让大脑变得更聪明，故选D。 |
举一反三
Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are a major cause of climate change, and now a new study has confirmed that atmosphere CO2 is also affecting the ocean chemistry and potentially harming sea life.
Montana State University scientist Robert Dore has been researching the water in the Pacific Ocean for almost two decades. “We’ve been going to the same spot in the Pacific Ocean, and we try and characterize long-term change in the open ocean environment. And one of the key things that we measure is CO2 levels. And we’ve been able to record this increasing quantity of atmosphere CO2 into the ocean.”
Scientists expected that as atmosphere CO2 increased, more and more of the carbon dioxide would be absorbed into the ocean, affecting the chemical balance of the sea water, with a potentially harmful impact on shellfish and coral in particular.
“As carbon dioxide dissolves in the water or seawater in this case, it forms a weak acid, carbonic acid,” Dore explains. “And therefore, as the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere goes up and that exchanges with the surface seawater, it drives the pH down, and makes it more acidic.”
The seawater samples Dore and his colleagues have analyzed confirm what the theory predicts.
The effect was particular striking at about 250 meters down, and again at 500 meters. Dore and his colleagues came up with two possible explanations. It could be that surface water picked up CO2 and then moved to those depths. Or there could be a biological explanation.
“It’s important to realize that the oceans are really becoming acidic. And it can have negative impacts on a whole variety of sea life from fish to coral. It’s potentially catastrophic.”
小题1:What can be the best title of the passage?| A．Scientist Researching Seawater | | B．Sea Life Facing Danger | | C．Oceans Becoming More Acidic | | D．Climate Change Affecting Seawater |
小题2:With the increase of atmospheric CO2, _______.| A．more corals will appear in the sea | | B．the chemical balance of the seawater is affected | | C．the surface water is becoming warmer | | D．the pH of the ocean out here has been increasing |
小题3:Which of the following shows the process of the impact of atmospheric CO2 on sea life?
a. Sea life is endangered.
b. CO2 goes into the surface water.
c. The ocean chemistry is affected.
d. CO2 decreases the pH and makes the seawater more acidic.
e. CO2 levels in the atmosphere go up.| A．a→b→c→d→e | B．e→b→c→d→a | | C．a→e→b→c→d | D．e→d→c→b→a |
小题4:Scientist Robert Dore came to the conclusion based on_______.| A．the expectation of other scientists | | B．some former theory | | C．his research and analysis | | D．a major cause of climate change |
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Humans might be the most highly-evolved species on the planet, but most animals possess skills we can only dream of having. Imagine how much electricity we could save if we could see in the dark the way cats do. Imagine leaping from tree to tree like a monkey. Giraffes, which are otherwise calm and good-natured, sleep only 4.6 hours a day.
We realized a long, long time ago that nature provides the best blueprint for invention. We’ve borrowed canals from beavers and reflectors from cat’s eyes. Although the words “bionics”(仿生学) became popular only after the 1960s, history shows that nature has always provided ideas on solving everyday problems. Our archives(档案) don’t go back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci and his bird-like flying machines, but we can take you to the late 19th century, where we applied those same principles for building our first practical airplanes.
To prepare for their flight at Kitty Hawk, the Wright brothers studied the movements of pigeons to figure out how they stayed high up when they were heavier than air. Their success inspired scores of successors to improve on the airplane by studying various aspects of nature. One of Orville Wright’s pupils caught and stuffed seagulls to examine their wingspan. Meanwhile, two French inventors examined spinning sycamore(梧桐) seeds in an effort to apply those same motions, reversed, to a helicopter .
Some examples are more obvious than others. The outside of the airplane designed by the Wright brothers looks like a minimalistic(简单抽象艺术) structure. On the other hand, Barney Connett’s fish submarine actually looks like a fish.
Some bio-inspired concepts have yet to be invented. In the 1960s, the US Army commissioned several university professors to conduct research on the motor skills animals in hope of applying those same abilities to tanks. Tanks that run like horses or jump like grasshoppers(蚂蚱)-sounds shocking, doesn’t it? But imagine how life would change if we could achieve that.
小题1:“Cats”, “monkeys” and “giraffes” mentioned in paragraph 1 are examples to show______.| A．they are highly-evolved species as humans | | B．animals have skills that humans do not possess | | C．humans can learn animals’ skills | | D．they are skillful in different ways |
小题2:What happened after the Wright brothers’ success?| A．People carried out a systematic study on pigeons. | | B．People studied more animals and plants to develop the airplane. | | C．People could fly their airplane for fun. | | D．People kept their airplane at a French gallery. |
小题3:Which of the following is true about the research carried out by the US Army?| A．It has cost a large sum of money. | | B．It has changed our life. | | C．It has improved the abilities of tanks | | D．It has not succeeded yet. |
小题4:What does the writer want to tell in the passage?| A．many inventions get ideas from nature. | | B．Some animals possess unique skills. | | C．People should protect nature. | | D．Bionics is far from perfect |
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Many parents take on the role of being their children’s preschool teacher and the responsibility of readying them for kindergarten. To achieve this goal, it is important for parents to introduce a variety of subjects in a positive and playful manner.
“Learning should not be forced,”says Marion Godwin, who has taught first grade in Moorestown, N. J. for more than 30 years.“ It should be taught according to what they know and do best—and that is‘ play’. When teaching them, play games and have fun with the subject. And parents should always be looking for‘teachable moments’.”
“You want a child to be a lifelong learner, so you want to show them learning is everywhere,”she says.“If parents take the time to lay a strong educational foundation, their children will keep building on it.”
Introduce children to science with hands-on activities that interest them, such as growing plants from seeds, discussing animals and how to care for pets, and observing the chemical changes that occur during cooking”, she says.
“Sorting activities, simple patterns and counting games are a great way to teach children the basics of math, and taking them on field trips, singing songs and reciting rhymes also are ways to prepare them for the first day of school”, she says.
“I think children are naturals when it comes to computers,” she says.“Let them play educational games on the computer and teach them how to type their first names using the keyboard. When they are more familiar with using the computer, let them find pictures of animals and places on the web. ”
“Don’t criticize the child,” she says. “You can’t force them to learn something. If they don’t get something right, so what? Smile and be happy and make the experience joyful. Parents need to understand that if a child gets something wrong, they may think something is wrong with them. Keep working with them and when they get the right answer make sure you tell them how hard they worked to get the correct answer. ”
小题1:Marion Godwin tells us that we should teach the children according to their_____ .| A．subjects and needs | | B．level and interest | | C．teachable moments | | D．strong educational foundation |
小题2:According to Godwin, children should ____________________ .| A．keep a pet each and care for it | | B．do some cooking every day | | C．learn science with interesting hand-on activities | | D．learn from the farmers and grow plants from seeds |
小题3:In Godwin’s opinion, children should be encouraged to_________ .| A．learn all by themselves | | B．play more computer games | | C．learn to type their first names | | D．learn online under instructions |
小题4:What’s the best title of the passage?| A．How to prepare your children for kindergarten | | B．Learning should not be forced | | C．How to be a lifelong learner | | D．Learning is everywhere |
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The increase in tuition fees(学费) has led to a “clear drop” in the number of English students applying for university places this autumn. There are 15,000 “missing” applicants this academic year, according to the Independent Commission on Fees. Chairman Will Hutton said: “We’re asking our young men and women to have more debt than any other country in the world — it’s higher than the average debt in the US. It’s not clear whether those lost students this year will return next year, or if it’s a storm warming of a worrying trend.”
But the commission’s report says there does not seem to be an impact on poorer communities. The commission found there was no significant change in the application rate to the key universities, such as Oxford or Cambridge. The decline （下降）in England has not been mirrored in other parts of the UK where fees have not been raised, and the drop can only partly be explained by falling numbers of young people in the population. Students from Scotland attending Scottish universities do not pay fees, while the Welsh Assembly says it will pay fees above ￡3,465 for Welsh students attending UK institutions.
The average tuition fee at English universities this year is ￡ 8,385, rising to ￡ 8,507 next year. UK and EU students have access to govemment-backed loans to pay the fees. And the survey of 1,000 pupils aged 15-18, carried out this April, found that the majority expected to go on to higher education as people continue to understand that university remains a good long term investment in their future.
A spokeswoman at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which is responsible for universities, said:“Students shouldn’t be forced to put off going to university for financial reasons. Most students will not have to pay in advance, and no one will have to start paying back their student loan until they start to earn at least ￡ 2l,000 per year.”
小题1:From the first paragraph, we know that __________________ .| A．it’s a trend that English students are dropping out of school | | B．the rising tuition fees have a great effect on English students | | C．the lost English students will find their way back | | D．many English students are missing the final examinations |
小题2:Why is there still a drop of applicants though fees have not been raised?| A．Because the students live in poor communities. | | B．Because Welsh students will pay fees above￡3,465. | | C．Because education is free for Scottish students. | | D．Because there are less young students in the area. |
小题3:What’s the students’ attitude to universities in the survey?| A．Most of them are willing to go to university. | | B．They feel universities takes up too much time. | | C．They will stop applying for university places this autumn. | | D．They are anxious to go to a key university. |
小题4:The spokeswoman in the last paragraph advises students to ______________| A．put off going to university | | B．reduce the anxiety about the rising fees | | C．pay for the fees in advance | | D．pay back their loan soon after graduation |
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In our world today, the media and entertainment industries are constantly focusing on beauty over brains. Movies, television shows, commercials, and magazines all make use of models and actors whose physical attributes(特性) will sell their product.
As our country is trying to reduce the obesity numbers, eating disorder statistics continue to increase due to the push for thinner people. While obesity is a serious medical condition that can lead to many health problems, many of us try to lose weight for appearance purposes. Children as young as elementary school age have begun to worry about the numbers that appear on the scale. In my opinion, it seems that “fat” has become the new“ugly”.
Two weeks ago, 37-year-old Wisconsin television reporter Livingston, who is 235 pounds, received an email from a man named Krause. In the email Krause attacked her, writing,“Your physical condition hasn’t improved for many years. Surely you don’t consider yourself a suitable example for this community’s young people, girls in particular.”
Today, it seems that a vast majority of people care more about how they look and appear to their peers rather than what is inside. The truth is that every person is built differently; we all come in different shapes and sizes. Just because someone is heavier, that doesn’t mean they eat large amounts of junk food around the day. Likewise, even though a person is thin, that doesn’t mean they are necessarily healthy and fit.
If you are reading this and you struggle with your weight or your appearance, please recognize that you are beautiful and special in your own way. You are worth so much more than you realize, and even if I don’t know you, understand that I respect and support you. Beauty is not defined by size; it is defined by how we treat others and respect ourselves. In the words of the talented film actress Kirstie Alley, “There’s a lot more to life than how fat or thin you are.”
小题1:With so many people losing weight, it will end in .| A．models’ and actors’ appearance in ads | | B．the fall of media and entertainment industries | | C．more and more people becoming obesity | | D．more people’s suffering from eating disorder |
小题2:The underlined phrase “the numbers that appear on the scale” in the second paragraph may mean .| A．intelligence | B．weight | C．patience | D．strength |
小题3:The writer used the example of Jennifer Livingston to show .| A．people think “fat” looks ugly | | B．fat people are becoming cleverer | | C．physical condition is good | | D．young people never follow example |
小题4:What Kirstie Alley said means .| A．people should pay attention to the appearance | | B．there is no need for any people to go on diet | | C．people are beautiful when they concern others | | D．there’s always someone who understands and supports you |
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