For some time past it has been widely accepted that babies-and other creatures-learn to do things because
certain acts lead to "rewards"; and there is no reason to doubt that this is true. But it used also to be widely
believed that effective rewards, at least in the early stages, had to be directly related to such basic physiological
(生理的) "drive" as thirst or hunger. In other words, a baby would learn if he got food or drink or some sort
of physical comfort, not otherwise.
It is now clear that this is not so. Babies will learn to behave in ways that produce results in the world with
no reward except the successful outcome.
Paousek began his studies by using milk in the normal way to "reward" the babies and so teach them to
carry out some simple movements, such as turning the head to one side or the other. Then he noticed that a
baby who had enough to drink would refuse the milk but would still go on making the learned response with
clear signs of pleasure. So he began to study the children"s response in situation where no milk was provided.
He quickly found that children as young as four months would learn to turn their heads to right or left if the
movement"switched on a display of lights-and indeed that they were able to learn quite complicated turns to
bring about this result, for instance, two left or two right, or even to make as many as three turns to one side.
Papousek"s light display was placed directly in front of the babies and he made the interesting observation
that sometimes they would turn back to watch the lights closely although they would "smile and bubble" when
the display came on. Papousek concluded that it was not primarily the sight of lights which pleased them, it
was the success that they were achieving in solving the problem, in mastering the skill, and that there exists a
fundamental human urge to make sense of the world and bring it under intentional control.
( )1. A. prove ( )2. A. basis ( )3. A. travelers ( )4. A. frightened ( )5. A. trained ( )6. A. shot at ( )7. A. However ( )8. A. difficulty ( )9. A. bullets ( )10. A. surprised ( )11. A. rely on ( )12. A. cut ( )13. A. film ( )14. A. come ( )15. A. wrong | B. analyze B. requirement B. engineers B. amazed B. projected B. looked at B. Indeed B. speed B. tools B. delighted B. deal with B. pulled B. tour B. refuse B. alive | C. protect C. result C. scientists C. upset C. tall C. fought with C. Meanwhile C. care C. medicines C. disturbed C. write down C. collected C. choice C. prefer C. real | D. check D. preparation D. explorers D. inspired D. violent D. ran after D. Anyway D. pleasure D. photographs D. supported D. pass on D. tore D. study D. have D. correct |
阅读理解。 | |||
Before a new type of airplane goes into service, every part of it is tested again and again. But there are two tests that are more important than all the others. The first is called the "tank test". A modern airplane must fly very high in the sky. Air must be pumped into the plane so that the passengers can breathe. The metal structure (结构) of the plane has to be very strong for this reason. When the plane is filled with air, the air presses against the skin of the plane inside. The pressure (压力) on a small window is like a huge foot that is trying to get out. If a small part of the plane were to fail, the plane would explode in the sky. To test the structure of the plane, the plane is lowered into a huge tank or container of water. Then it is filled with air. The pressure inside the plane is greater than it ever will be when it is high up in the air. Finally, there is an explosion. This does not cause so much damage inside the water tank as it would anywhere else. Engineers can discover which part of the plane has broken. Then that part is made stronger. The most dangerous test happens when the new plane is going through test flights in the air. The test pilot must find out exactly what happens when the engines (发动机) are all shut off at once. The plane begins to fall like a stone. It is the pilot"s job to find out how he can get control of the plane again. These two tests are examples of how planes are made safe before they ever carry passengers. | |||
1. By doing the "tank test", the engineers can find out _____. | |||
[ ] | |||
A. the power of the airplane engines B. the amount of air in the plane C. the strength of the plane structure D. the pressure inside and outside the plane | |||
2. What will happen to the plane under the "tank test"? | |||
[ ] | |||
A. It will be tested by pilots. B. It will be broken. C. It will be made stronger. D. It will be filled with water. | |||
3. According to the text, why are test flights most dangerous? | |||
[ ] | |||
A. Too much air may get into the plane. B. The plane may explode in the air. C. The pilot may lose control of the plane. D. The engines may be damaged. | |||
4. What might be the most suitable title for the text? | |||
[ ] | |||
A. How Airplanes Are Made and Tested B. Two Important Tests on Airplanes C. The Importance of Flying Safely D. The Danger of Testing Airplanes |