The next time your face turns red after tripping(绊倒) over your own feet in publi
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The next time your face turns red after tripping(绊倒) over your own feet in public, don’t try to hide it—a new study finds that showing your embarrassment actually makes other people view you as more reliable.
Researchers at the University of California have carried out the study and found that embarrassment is a good signature of a person to whom you can entrust valuable resources.
Not only are the findings useful for people seeking cooperative and reliable team members and business partners, but they also make for helpful dating advice.“Moderate(适度的) levels of embarrassment are signs of virtue. Our data suggests embarrassment is a good thing, not something you should fight.”said Matthew Feinberg, who led the study.
While the most typical gesture of embarrassment is a downward gaze to one side while partly covering the face, a person who feels shame, as distinguished(区别) from embarrassment, will typically cover the whole face, Feinberg said.
The results were got from a series of experiments. In the first experiment, 60 college students were videotaped describing embarrassing moments, such as making incorrect assumptions(假想) based on appearances. The college students also participated in the “Dictator Game” which is used in economics research to measure altruism(利己主义). For example, each was given 10 raffle tickets(奖券) and asked to keep a share of the tickets and give the reminder(提示物) to a partner.
The findings, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, showed that those who showed greater levels of embarrassment tended to give away more of their raffle tickets, indicating(﹦showing) greater generosity.
小题1:According to the passage, which of the following is thought to be reliable?| A．A person who feels shame. | | B．A person who hides his embarrassment. | | C．A person who shows his embarrassment. | | D．A person who gives away more raffle tickets. |
小题2:We can infer from Paragraph 3 that ________.| A．it’s useless to fight our embarrassment | | B．people should try to overcome their embarrassment | | C．embarrassed people are not good at doing business | | D．people who show embarrassment can be good business partners |
小题3:The “Dictator Game ” is used to _________. | A．measure the students’ economic status | | B．test whether a student is generous or not | | C．determine the different levels of embarrassment | | D．record how each student reacts during embarrassing moments |
小题4:We learn from the last paragraph that those who showed greater levels of embarrassment ____.| A．proved to be more generous | B．kept more of the raffle tickets | | C．didn’t care for raffle tickets | D．were less reliable |
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答案
小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:B
小题4:A |
解析
试题分析：下次在公共场合跌倒脸红的号死后，不要试图隐藏它--一项新的研究发现，向他人展示你的尴尬情形，会使他人认为你更可靠。
小题1:细节理解题。由第一段“showing your embarrassment actually makes other people view you as more reliable.”可知，表现出难堪的人会让人觉得值得信任。故选C。
小题2:推理判断题。由第三段可知，表现出尴尬的人会让人觉得值得信任，这一发现对那些想寻找具有合作精神、可靠的团队成员或商业合作伙伴的人有用，故可推知表现出难堪的人能够成为很好的合作伙伴，所以D项正确。故选D。
小题3:细节理解题。由倒数第二段可知，这个游戏测试的是人的利他主义，即是否慷慨。故选B。
小题4:细节理解题。由最后一段可知，表现出更为难堪的人会把更多的奖券送给别人，说明他们更加慷慨大方。故选A。 |
举一反三
How long do you want to live? How many years might be added to a life? Do you want to live another 100 years or more? Some experts say that scientific advances will one day enable humans to last tens of years beyond what is now seen as the natural limit of the human life span.（寿命）
“I think we are knocking at the door of immortality(永生) , " said Michael Zey, a Montclair State University business professor and author of two books on the future. "I think by 2075 we will see it and that"s a conservative estimate(保守的估计)."
At the conference in San Francisco, Donald Louria, a professor at New Jersey Medical School in Newark said advances in using genes as well as nanotechnology(纳米技术) make it likely that humans will live in the future beyond what has been possible in the past. "There is a great push so that people can live from 120 to 180 years," he said. "Some have suggested that there is no limit and that people could live to 200 or 300 or 500 years.
However, many scientists who research into ageing are doubtful about it and say the human body is just not designed to last past about 120 years. Even with healthier lifestyles and less disease, they say the failure of the brain and organs will finally lead all humans to death.
Scientists also differ on what kind of life the super aged might live. "It remains to be seen if you pass 120,you know, could you be healthy enough to have good quality of life?" said Leonard Poon, director of the University of Georgia Gerontology Centre. "At present people who could get to that point are not in good health at all."
小题1:By saying "we are knocking at the door of immortality", Michael Zey means ______.| A．they have got some ideas about living forever | | B．they are sure to find the truth about long living | | C．they believe that there is no limit of living | | D．they are able to make people live past the present life span |
小题2:Donald Louria"s attitude towards long living is that ______.| A．people can live from 120 to 180 | | B．it is possible for humans to live longer in the future | | C．the human body is designed to last past about 120 years | | D．it is still doubtful how long humans can live |
小题3:The underlined word "it"( in Paragraph 4)refers to______.| A．using genes as well as nanotechnology | | B．the idea of living beyond the present life span | | C．a great push | | D．the conservative estimate |
小题4:What would be the best title for this text? | A．No Limit for Human Life | B．Science, Technology and Long Living | | C．Living Longer or Not | D．Healthy Lifestyle and Long Living |
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There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years，and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future.Some of the world’s leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves.
London
London’s flood defences are getting older. Since 1982, the Thames Barrier(水闸) has protected the city from the threat of flooding，but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years. About 21 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions, by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed.
There are 26 underground stations, 400 schools, 16 hospitals, an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London"s flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous.
Paris
Over a sixweek period in July and August 2008，more than 11400 — mainly elderly people — died in France from dehydration (脱水) and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave. Heat waves of similar intensity (强度) are expected every seven years by 2050, so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?
One solution is to have airconditioners installed in elderly care homes. But this is considered a shortterm solution, as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions.
In Paris the local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building “Flower Tower”, which uses a covering of bamboo to act as a natural airconditioner.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth. It has a population of 18 million and is only 4 meters above sea level. Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century.
An estimated 250,000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption. China relies heavily on coalfired power stations, but these emissions increase temperatures and, in turn, warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons.
小题1:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?| A．Big Cities Facing Big Disasters | B．Big Disasters in the Future | | C．The Increase of Natural Disasters | D．Solutions to Natural Disasters |
小题2:What problem should be settled now in London?| A．How to protect the city’s property. | | B．Where to build its flood defences. | | C．How to use the Thames Barrier to protect the city. | | D．How to improve the function of the old flood defences. |
小题3: Which of the following measures can’t solve the heat wave disaster in Paris?| A．Putting up new types of buildings with a covering of bamboo. | | B．Having airconditioners installed in elderly care homes. | | C．Forbidding the city to build “Flower Tower”. | | D．Encouraging architects to design new types of buildings. |
小题4:The major threats to Shanghai are ________.| A．increasing population and coalfired power stations | | B．rising sea levels and typhoons | | C．extremely high temperature and rising sea levels | | D．extra demands on energy consumption and typhoons |
小题5:The purpose of the passage is ________.| A．to tell us how to protect the big cities | | B．to give advice on how to defend natural disasters | | C．to explain what causes flood and heat waves | | D．to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities |
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How many times do you have to fail at something in order to succeed? Did you know that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times while trying to invent the light bulb? He certainly had a “learn and do” attitude! He was able to turn each failed experiment into a successful way to invent the light bulb. So what can we learn from this? You can adopt the “fail forward” strategy too.
In reality, none of us are failures. It’s true that we will experience times of defeat, problems, and disasters, but remember, each one of us is meant to succeed in life. However, we must choose our fate. Henry David Thoreau said, “Men are born to succeed, not to fail.”
We can never be forced into having a happy and successful life. Whether or not you experience success or failure is completely controlled by what you think and do. You are the only one who can choose the thoughts that will keep you from achieving the abundant life and joy that you are meant to have. No matter how difficult things may seem, say to yourself, “I choose to be a happy and successful person.”
Why do some people get what they want and others fail? I believe that getting what you desire in life takes planning, and it doesn’t just happen by luck. So how do we plan for success?
It has been proven that successful people do things more differently than unsuccessful people. They recognize the patterns of success and follow them; one of those patterns is planning. They plan what they think and do, which sets them apart. They know exactly what they desire, have an intelligent plan for getting it, and then work their plan. They know what success will cost them in terms of time, energy, and results, and they devote the right resources toward making their plans happen.
小题1:The writer refers to Thomas Edison to ________.| A．introduce his invention | | B．put forward the topic of the text | | C．praise the inventor | | D．show the way to success |
小题2:What Henry David Thoreau said implies that ________.| A．everyone is able to be a success | | B．most people lack the confidence to succeed | | C．everyone can do nothing but succeed in his life | | D．no one can succeed without difficulty and suffering |
小题3:The main idea of the last two paragraphs is that ________.| A．planning plays an important role in success | | B．successful people differ from unsuccessful ones | | C．successful people have many patterns of success | | D．devoting the right resources can help reach one’s goal |
小题4:Which of the following would match the text?| A．All roads lead to Rome. | B．Think twice before you act. | | C．No pains, no gains. | D．Failure is the mother of success. |
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In South America, the rich soil of the Amazon River basin（流域）in Brazil is known as “black gold”. Scientists found that the secret of this rich soil was charcoal（木炭）. Local people made it from animal bones and tree branches. They mixed the charcoal with the soil about 1.500 years ago.
Now, scientists in the United States have done a modern demonstration. They say charcoal fertilization offers a revolutionary way to improve soil quality for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Mingxin Guo and his team at Delavare State University heated tree leaves, corn stalks（茎）, small pieces of wood and poultry waste into “biochar”（生物碳）. They reported their findings at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans.
Biochar could be good news for farmers with poor soil and hungry populations to feed. Professor Guo says it could even help against global warming. Intensive（集约的） farming and overuse of chemical fertilizer give out carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Biochar does the opposite, he says. It traps carbon in the ground.
The researchers planted winter wheat in containers of soil in a greenhouse — some with biochar, some without. Professor Guo says the wheat grows much better in the pots with biochar. The soil was added two percent charcoal to. But he says even a one percent treatment will increase productivity.
The results demonstrated that biochar can increase organic matter in soil. Loss of nutrients in soil is an increasing problem worldwide as farmers try to grow more food for growing populations.
Next, the team will carry out a five-year study of biochar with spinach（菠菜）, green peppers and tomatoes.
Mingxin Guo says he learns about the “black gold” in Brazil from a magazine story. He explains that it was discovered in the jungle, in the area where waters flow to the Amazon, in the 1960’s. But it was not until recent years that scientists began to bring public attention to it.
小题1:According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?| A．The researchers will go on proving their theory. | | B．The leading researcher learns the theory from the magazine. | | C．Charcoal was discovered 1,500 years ago. | | D．Common farming can produce more carbon dioxide. |
小题2:Biochar has the following advantages EXCEPT that ________.| A．it can improve the condition of the soil | | B．it can be used as a kind of energy | | C．it can help against global warming | | D．it can increase productivity of the corn |
小题3:According to the research, the biochar can help against global warming because it can ________.| A．reduce the carbon dioxide | | B．keep the carbon in the soil | | C．reduce the loss of nutrients in the soil | | D．absorb the carbon dioxide |
小题4:Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?| A．Using Charcoal to Make soil into “Black Gold” | | B．Using Charcoal to Reduce the Carbon Dioxide | | C．How Amazon River Basin Produces “Golden Black” | | D．Guo’s Research on Producing Biochar |
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Do you know that women’s brains are smaller than men’s? The average women’s brain weighs 10% less than men’s. Since researches have shown that the bigger the brain, the cleverer the animal, men must be more intelligent than women. Right? Wrong. Men and women always score similarly on intelligence tests, despite the difference in brain size. Why? After years of study, researchers have concluded that it’s what’s inside that matters, not just the size of the brain. The brain consists of “grey matter” and “white matter”. While men have more of the latter, the amount of “thinking” brain is almost exactly the same in both sexes.
It has been suggested that smaller brain appears to work faster, perhaps because the two sides of the brain are better connected in women. This means that little girls tend to learn to speak earlier, and that women can understand sorts of information from different sources at the same time. When it comes to talking to the boss on the phone, cooking dinner and keeping an eye on the baby all at the same time, it’s women who come out on top every time.
There are other important differences between two sexes. As white matter is the key to spatial(空间的) tasks, men know better where things are in relation to other things. “A great footballer always knows where he is in relation to the other players, and he knows where to go,” says one researcher. That may explain one of life’s great mysteries—why men refuse to ask for directions … and women often need to!
The differences begin when fetuses(胎儿) are about nine weeks old, which can be seen in the action of children as young as one. A boy would try to climb a barrier (障碍物) before him or push it down while a girl would attract help from others. These brain differences also explain the fact that more men take up jobs that require good spatial skills, while more women speech skills. It may all go back to our ancestors, among whom women needed speech skills to take care of their babies and men needed spatial skills to hunt, according to one research. www. .com
If all this disappoints you, it shouldn’t. “The brain changes throughout our lives according to what we do with it.” says a biologist.
小题1:Which of the following is true according to the first paragraph?| A．Women’s brain is 10% less than men’s | | B．Grey matter plays the same role as white matter. | | C．Grey matter controls thinking in the brain. | | D．Both sexes have the same amount of white matter. |
小题2:What can we infer from the second and third paragraphs?| A．Women prefer doing many things at a time. | | B．Men do better dealing with one job at a time. | | C．Women do not need to tell directions. | | D．Men have weaker spatial abilities. |
小题3:Which of the following do you agree with according to the fourth paragraph?| A．Young boys may be stronger than young girls. | | B．More women take up jobs requiring speech skills. | | C．Women may have stronger feelings than men. | | D．Our ancestors needed more spatial skills. |
小题4:What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?| A．Defensive. | B．Persuasive. | C．Supportive. | D．Objective. |
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