For some reason, it takes constant reminders that we primates（灵长目）need nurturing
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For some reason, it takes constant reminders that we primates（灵长目）need nurturing.
In a recent study of 46 baby chimpanzee（黑猩猩）orphans, Kim Bard of the University of Portsmouth in England and her colleagues demonstrated that primate babies that have tight relationships with mother figures do much better on cognitive（认知）tests than babies who receive only food, shelter, and friendship with peers. But this is not breaking mews. In fact, it’s old news.
In the 1950s, Harry Harlow conducted a series of experiments with baby monkeys that showed, without doubt, that lack of love and comfort makes for a crazy monkey.
Harlow constructed a cage that included a wire monkey “mother” topped with a plastic face. In this wire he fixed Mom with a milk bottle. The cage also held another wire mother covered with terry cloth. The baby monkeys spent all their time with the cloth mother and only went to the wire mother to feed, demonstrating that a soft touch beat something to eat any day.
Harlow’s monkey work was important because, at the time, child care “experts” and everybody’s grandmother had a “no touch, no comfort” policy toward children. They advised parents not to respond to crying babies, felt babies should sleep alone to grow up independent, and for God’s sake put those kids down. But Harlow’s work changed all that. Mothers were soon permitted to have their newborns next to them in the hospital.
The current chimp research based on Harlow’s work shows that mother love not only makes for a psychologically well-adjusted child, but also makes for a smart kid. Bard and her colleagues evaluated the abilities of the chimps when they were 12 months old with standard human tests for children of that age, tests that ask little kids to imitate some action.
The highly raised chimps did better than the ones that were not loved, and what do you know, the well-raised chimps did even better than human kids on this small IQ test.
So we hear it once again. We are primates, social animals which need care and love. We need to be held and talked to and made to feel that at least one person wants to be with us all the time. And if we get that kind of connection, we are sure to be fine, even better than fine.
小题1:The study Kim Bard and his colleagues did ______.| A．included 46 baby and mother monkeys | | B．was nothing new to people about the findings | | C．showed that many chimpanzees lacked love when they were young | | D．showed that many chimpanzees had good relationships with their mothers |
小题2:Why was Harlow’s monkey work important?| A．Because the “no touch, no comfort” policy toward children was quite right. | | B．Because parents were advised not to respond to babies’ crying. | | C．Because Harlow’s work changed people’s former belief in child care. | | D．Because mothers were not allowed to have their newborns next to them in the hospital. |
小题3:Harlow built two “mothers” for baby monkeys to ______.| A．make them live comfortably | B．let them have more choices | | C．give them more love | D．make a comparison |
小题4:Which of the following is TURE according to the text?| A．Well-raised chimps always do even better than human kids. | | B．A 12-month chimps is far cleverer than a child of that age. | | C．The newborns were not allowed to be with their mothers in the past in the hospital. | | D．Constantly touching the baby can make it feel safer. |
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答案
小题1:B
小题2:C
小题3:D
小题4:C |
解析
试题分析：文章介绍了一项研究发现，得到关爱多的猴子会更聪明，认知水平更好，这项对猴子的研究很重要，因为可以改变先前人们对照顾孩子的观点。
小题1:细节题：从第二段的句子：But this is not breaking mews. In fact, it’s old news.可知这个发现不是新的，而是旧的。选B
小题2:细节题：从第五段的句子：Harlow’s monkey work was important because, at the time, child care “experts” and everybody’s grandmother had a “no touch, no comfort” policy toward children. 可知这项对猴子的研究很重要，因为可以改变先前人们对照顾孩子的观点。选C
小题3:细节题：从第四段的句子：The baby monkeys spent all their time with the cloth mother and only went to the wire mother to feed, demonstrating that a soft touch beat something to eat any day.可知Harlow用了两个妈妈的形象在做对比，看小猴子会更喜欢和哪个妈妈在一起。选D
小题4:推理题：从第五段的句子：Mothers were soon permitted to have their newborns next to them in the hospital.可以推断出以前，新生儿是不允许和妈妈在一起睡觉的。选C
点评：文章介绍了一项研究发现，得到关爱多的猴子会更聪明，认知水平更好。这篇阅读理解集中考查了细节题，要求考生仔细阅读全文，做好相应的标志，以提高阅读的效率和速度，做题时要审清题干，发觉和把握试题中有效的提示性信息，确认命题的角度、阅读范围和答题方式。 |
举一反三
Scientists have transformed men’s minds into a virtual（虚拟的）woman’s body in an experiment that could throw light upon how humans distinguish themselves form others.
In a study at Barcelona University, men wore a virtual reality headset that allowed them to see and hear the world as a female character. When they looked down, they could even see their new body and clothes.
The “body－swapping” effect was so convincing that the men’s sense of self was transferred into the virtual woman, causing them to react to events in the virtual world they were immersed（沉浸）. “This work opens up another avenue for virtual reality, which is not just to transform your sense of place, but also your sense of self,” said Mel Slater, “If you can temporarily give people the illusion that their bodies are different, then the evidence suggests it also affects their behavior and the way they think. They can have new experiences: a person who is thin can know what it is like to be fat. A man can have an experience of what it’s like to be a woman.”
During the experiment, a “female” approached and hit the face of the character another man was playing. “Their reaction was immediate,” said Slate. “They would take in a quick breath and maybe flinch（退缩）. The more people reported being in the girl’s body, the stronger physical reaction they had.” But in all cases, the feeling was temporary and lasted only as long as the study.
The study shows that our minds have a very fluid picture of our bodies. The research is expected to shed light on the puzzle of how our brain tells the difference between a part of our own body and something else in the wider world. Thus the work might improve the conditions for those who have experienced strokes by placing them in a world that helps them to use their bodies to the full again.
小题1:How can a man’s mind get into a woman’s body?| A．by distinguishing themselves from women | | B．by taking part in an activity actively | | C．by wearing a special device（设备） | | D．by transforming his sense of place |
小题2:Of the following statements, which we can’t infer from the passage?| A．Men in the experiment can temporarily have the wrong feeling that they are women. | | B．When hit, the men in the virtual world will react angrily to it. | | C．As soon as the experiment is finished, the men will return to the normal state | | D．Probably, this study can be applied to medical fields and benefit humans. |
小题3:What is the author’s intention of writing this passage?| A．to introduce an interesting and advanced study | | B．to inform us of the latest development of virtual reality | | C．to illustrate the importance of virtual reality | | D．to build up our confidence to fight stroke |
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An astronomer is making a case for launching pop singer Justin Bieber into suborbital（亚轨道的）space aboard a private rocket ship. The idea is not to rid the world of the Canadian teenager — he would come back down to Earth eventually, after all — but rather to help jump-start the emerging suborbital spaceflight industry.
It would generate a lot of public interest, which would help commercial spaceflight pick up some much-needed momentum, said Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute in Mountain View, California. “If there’s more interest, there are more customers. If there are more customers, there"s more technical development. It"s a positive feedback loop, and obviously that"s good.”
Such missions would return to Earth without completing a full lap around the planet. Instead, the flights would hit the edge of space about 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth, experience a few minutes of weightlessness, then re-enter the atmosphere and land back at a spaceport.
None of these firms are ready to fly customers yet, but some are getting close. For instance, Virgin Galactic hopes to begin powered test flights of its SpaceShipTwo vehicle later this year, with commercial operations perhaps beginning in 2013 or 2014. It is SpaceShipTwo that reportedly grabbed the attention of Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Virgin Galactic has collected deposits from nearly 500 customers willing to pay $200,000 for a ride aboard SpaceShipTwo, and both Virgin and XCOR have inked deals to fly scientists and their experiments on research flights. So a suborbital market already exists — but Shostak is thinking about ways to make it grow.
A celebrity launch isn"t Shostak’s only idea. Suborbital firms should also promote their activities aggressively via social media, Shostak said, and they should make sure their spaceships are bristling（充满）with cameras both inside and out, to give the public dramatic views of every mission.
Some observers view commercial suborbital spaceflight as a potentially transformative industry, saying it could serve as a stepping stone to the exploration and exploitation of space on an unprecedented scale. While the industry’s success is far from assured, Shostak offered some reason for optimism: The American public remains keen on space.
小题1:Why may Justin Bieber be sent into suborbital space?| A．To show his bravery and make him a role model for teenagers. | | B．To arouse the American public’s interest. | | C．To help reform the spaceflight industry. | | D．To film an advertisement about space. |
小题2:What can we learn about suborbital spaceflight?| A．A trip will return to Earth before finishing a lap. | | B．The whole trip will leave passengers weightless. | | C．Each trip can take 500 passengers. | | D．The trip will be too expensive even for celebrities. |
小题3:What can we infer from the text?| A．SpaceShipTwo will be the first to fly. | | B．Famous people will be the main passengers in the future. | | C．The space trip is still in preparation. | | D．Every space trip will be made into a film. |
小题4:The last paragraph suggests that _________. | A．space is too mysterious to explore | | B．the suborbital market is promising | | C．the spaceflight industry is more successful than people think | | D．developing the industry is risky |
小题5:What is the main purpose of the text?| A．To predict a change in the space market. | | B．To discuss a recent launch. | | C．To introduce the status of the spaceflight industry. | | D．To remove public doubt about the spaceflight industry. |
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Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing when you are happy.
Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.
Do you know what a “territory” is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims (声称) as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species are welcome. Your house is your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.
If so, you have actually frightened the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting (筑巢) season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.
小题1:Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually ________.| A．an expression of happiness | B． a way of warning | | C．an expression of anger | D． a way of greeting |
小题2:What is a bird’s “territory”?| A．A place where families of other species are not accepted. | | B．A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice. | | C．An area for which birds fight against each other. | | D．An area which a bird considers to be its own. |
小题3:Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?| A．Because they want to invite more friends. | | B．Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away. | | C．Because they want to find outsiders around. | | D．Because their singing helps get rid of their fears. |
小题4:How does the writer explain birds’ singing?| A．By comparing birds with human beings. | | B．By reporting experiment results. | | C．By describing birds’ daily life. | | D．By telling a bird’s story. |
小题5:What does the underline word “screaming” in paragraph 4 mean? |
Making friends is a skill like most skills. It improves with practice. If you want to meet people and make friends, you must be willing to take some action. You must first go where there are people. You won’t make friends staying home alone.
Joining a club or a group, talking with those who like the same things as you do is much easier. Or join someone in some activity.
Many people are nervous when talking to new people. After all meeting strangers means facing the unknown. And it’s human nature to feel a bit uncomfortable about unknown. Most of our fears about dealing with new people comes from doubts about ourselves. We imagine other people are judging us, finding us too tall or too short, too this or too that. But don’t forget that they must be feeling the same way. Try to accept yourself as you are, and try to put the other person at ease. You’ll both feel more comfortable.
Try to act self-confident even if you don’t feel that way. When you enter a room full of strangers, such as a new classroom, walk tall and straight, look directly at other people and smile.
If you see someone you’d like to speak to, say something. Don’t wait for the other person to start a conversation.
Just meeting someone new does not mean that you will make friends with that person—friendship is based on mutual liking and “give and take”. It takes time and effort to develop.
小题1:The best topic of the passage may be ________.| A．Friendship | B．Making friends | C．Meeting New People | D．Facing the Unknown |
小题2:Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?| A．Making friends needs practicing. | | B．Making friends needs to be more active in getting in touch with people. | | C．When meeting someone, make him feel nice and easy. | | D．Before making friends with someone, judge him if he’s too this or too that. |
小题3:The development of friendship needs ________.| A．a lot of money | B．lots of conversation | | C．time and effort | D．carefully judging |
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A sandstorm, also known as a dust storm, is exactly what it sounds like. A very strong windstorm especially in the desert carries clouds of sand or dust that greatly reduces visibility. This wind is usually caused by convection currents (对流气流), which are created by intense heating of the ground, and is usually strong enough to move entire sand dunes. Air is unstable when heated, and this instability in the air will cause higher winds to mix with winds in the lower atmosphere, producing strong surface winds.
Sandstorms can disturb people’s travel, and can sometimes destroy whole roads, and dry flat areas. Similar dust storms can be found on the planet Mars, and are thought to be seasonal. Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.
In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques. The last recorded destructive sandstorm in American history was the Dust Bowl, which occurred on July 16, 1971 and was widely recorded by meteorologists (气象学家).
To protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective suits. Special equipment can be fixed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sandstorms can cause coughs, and the sand and dust has also been known to carry “infectious diseases”. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will block air passages, and cause a person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may cause an allergic (过敏的) reaction.
小题1:Which of the following plays the first part in forming sandstorms? | A．The instability of the sand. | | B．The instability of the wind. | | C．The intense heating of the ground. | | D．The speed of the wind. |
小题2:From the second paragraph, we can learn that at present _______. | A．sandstorms are more often seen on Mars than on Earth | | B．sandstorms have led to the lack of clean water resources | | C．farming brings more harm than benefits to humans | | D．human activities are a major cause of sandstorms |
小题3:The author will most probably agree that ________. | A．there will soon be no sandstorms in the USA | | B．humans haven’t thought of any way to deal with sandstorms | | C．death caused by sandstorms is increasing all the time | | D．humans should make more efforts to stop soil turning into desert |
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