If you lose your wallet, how often do you think someone will be kind enough to r
题型：不详难度：来源：
If you lose your wallet, how often do you think someone will be kind enough to return it to you, with cash and credit cards?
Some people may be greedy, and others are simply too lazy to bother(打搅) with the trip to the post office to send back a wallet to a stranger. But according to a psychology study by Dr. Richard Wiseman, there’s one thing that’ll greatly increase your odds of being reunited with a lost wallet: a photograph of a cute baby.
In the study, hundreds of wallets were scattered(分散) around the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. The psychologists wanted to see how many strangers would take the trouble to return them to the addresses listed on the drivers’ licenses inside—but more than that, they wanted to find out what would make a person more likely to help out a stranger.
To finish this, they included personal things in most of the wallets: some included a photo of a happy elderly couple, some contained a cute puppy, some contained a family portrait, and some held a photo of a lovely baby. Others had receipts(发票) showing that the wallet’s owner had recently donated to a charity（慈善）. Some contained no personal details.
As the psychologists soon discovered, the sight of a smiling baby is enough to warm nearly any heart: only one in ten of the strangers who retrieved such wallets did not return them. In contrast, the second most successful image, the puppy, had a 53% return rate. When the wallet included no photograph, it stood only a one in seven chance of being returned to the owner.
The success of the baby photograph shows a human compassion(同情) for the young that’s been passed down through the ages, according to Dr. Wiseman. “The baby kicked off a caring feeling in people, which is not surprising from an evolutionary perspective(进化的角度),” he told the Times.
To ensure our species’ survival, scientists think that we must feel empathy and compassion for our young. Scientists say that this study supports the argument that we won’t feel compassion only for our own babies, but for any that we see—hence, the strong desire a stranger would feel to return a wallet to the baby’s parent.
On a more basic level, the study also provides a great tip to help ensure that if your wallet is ever lost, you’re more likely to get it back. “If you want to increase the chances of your wallet being returned if lost, gain a photograph of the cutest baby you can find and ensure that it is clearly displayed,” said Dr. Wiseman.
小题1:The main purpose of the psychologists’ leaving hundreds of wallets around was to find out________.| A．whether people were as honest as before | | B．what made people willing to help strangers | | C．what kind of feelings could be caused by a smiling baby | | D．how evolution influenced human beings |
小题2:The underlined word “retrieved” in Para. 5 probably means “________”.| A．picked up | B．spread out | C．found out | D．looked for |
小题3:Why did people return a wallet with a photograph of a cute baby in it?| A．Because the wallet was not attractive enough to keep. | | B．Because the sight of a baby could cause a caring feeling in them. | | C．Because they were curious to know the parents of the baby | | D．Because the sight of a cute baby reminded them of their own children. |
小题4:If there are 30 lost wallets with a photograph of a cute baby, how many of them will probably be returned?| A．Only 3. | B．About 15. | C．20 or so. | D．About 27. |
小题5:We can learn from the last two paragraphs that________.| A．humans usually have compassion for the young | | B．the caring feeling in people is gone during evolution | | C．scientists believed that people only feel compassion for their own babies | | D．a wallet with a cute baby’s picture in it cannot be lost |
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答案
小题1:B
小题2:A
小题3:B
小题4:D
小题5:A |
解析
试题分析：本文讲述的是一个调查报告：掉了钱包以后，有多少钱包还能被还回来？
小题1:B 推理题。根据文章第二段But according to a psychology study by Dr. Richard Wiseman, there’s one thing that’ll greatly increase your odds of being reunited with a lost wallet: a photograph of a cute baby.
In the study, hundreds of wallets were scattered(分散) around the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. The psychologists wanted to see how many strangers would take the trouble to return them to the addresses listed on the drivers’ licenses inside—but more than that, they wanted to find out what would make a person more likely to help out a stranger.可知这个研究的目的就是为查明究竟是什么让人们愿意把钱包还给别人。故B正确。
小题2:A 推理题。根据本句only one in ten of the strangers who retrieved such wallets did not return them.说明这里的 retrieved 是指捡起钱包这件事情，故A正确。
小题3:B 推理题。根据文章最后一段前4行To ensure our species’ survival, scientists think that we must feel empathy and compassion for our young. Scientists say that this study supports the argument that we won’t feel compassion only for our own babies, but for any that we see—hence, the strong desire a stranger would feel to return a wallet to the baby’s parent.可知这样的照片让人们想起了自己的孩子，所以才会更有同情心，故B正确。
小题4:D 细节题。根据As the psychologists soon discovered, the sight of a smiling baby is enough to warm nearly any heart: only one in ten of the strangers who retrieved such wallets did not return them.只有十分之一的没有换，故30个这样的钱包大约有27个被还了过来。故D正确。
小题5:A 推理题。根据文章最后一段1,2行To ensure our species’ survival, scientists think that we must feel empathy and compassion for our young.可知A正确。
点评：本文讲述的是一个调查报告：掉了钱包以后，有多少钱包还能被还回来？测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力，要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释。考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点。 |
举一反三
D
One of the main challenges facing many countries is how to maintain their identity in the face of globalization and the growing multi-language trend. “One of the main reasons for economic failure in many African countries is the fact that, with a few important exceptions, mother-tongue education is not practiced in any of the independent African states.” said Neville Alexander, Director of the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa at the University of Cape Town.
In response to the spread of English and the increased multi-language trends arising from immigration, many countries have introduced language laws in the laws in the last decade. In some, the use of languages other than the national language is banned in public spaces such as advertising posters. One of the first such legal provisions was the 1994 “Toubon law” in France, but the idea has been copied in many countries since then. Such efforts to govern language use are often dismissed as futile by language experts, who are well aware of the difficulty in controlling fashions in speech and know from research that language switching among bilinguals is a natural process.
It is especially difficult for native speakers of English to understand the desire to maintain the “purity” of a language by law. Since the time of Shakespeare, English has continually absorbed foreign words into its own language. English is one of the most mixed and rapidly changing languages in the world, but there has not been a barrier to acquiring prestige and power. Another reason for the failure of many native English speakers to understand the role of state regulation is that it has never been the Anglo-Saxon way of doing things. English has never had a state-controlled authority for the language, similar, for example, to the Academic Francaise in France.
The need to protect national languages is, for most western Europeans, a recent phenomenon—especially the need to ensure that English does not unnecessarily take over too many fields. Public communication, education and new modes of communication promoted by technology, may be key fields to defend.
小题1:Neville Alexander believes that .| A．mother-tongue education is not practiced in all African countries | | B．lack of mother-tongue education can lead to economic failure | | C．globalization has led to the rise of multi-language trends | | D．globalization has resulted in the economic failure of Africa |
小题2:The underlined word “futile” (in paragraph 2) most probably means “ “. | A．useless | B．practical | C．workable | D．unnecessary |
小题3:Why do many English-speaking countries not support the language protection efforts described in the passage?| A．They think language protection laws are ineffective. | | B．They want their language to spread to other countries. | | C．They have a long history of taking words from other languages. | | D．It reduces a language’s ability to acquire international importance. |
小题4:What can we infer from the last paragraph?| A．English has taken over fields like public communication and education. | | B．Europeans have long realized the need to protect their national languages. | | C．Most language experts believe it is important to promote a national language. | | D．Many aspects of national culture are threatened by the spread of English. |
小题5:The main idea of the passage is . | A．Fighting against the rule of English | | B．Globalization and multi-language trends | | C．Protecting local languages and identities | | D．To maintain the purity of language by law |
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E
When I was growing up, 16 was always a magical age, a symbol of maturity, responsibility and of course more independence and freedom. I sat through the hours of Driver’s Ed classes eager to get out on the road. I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license.
But it’s a different story for today’s teens. In January, the U.S. Department Transportation released 2012 data that showed only 30.7 percent of U.S. teens got their license at age 16, Twenty years before, that number was almost 45 percent.
There are numbers of reasons for the fall – off. The growing responsibilities like paying for insurance and high gas prices discourage teens from getting behind the wheel. Plus, many teens today are so busy with homework, endless hours of activities and part-time jobs, that finding the time for Driver’s Ed classes may be more difficult that ever.
In addition, many states have raised the driving age, or restricted when teens can drive and who they can have in the car. Parents may also be making their own personal restrictions until they feel their teens are responsible enough to drive safely.
Driving is part of the American culture, but it’s not the central focus like it was 25 years ago. They have so many other things to do now. One of the more interesting factors delaying teens driving might be the change of their social life. Today, teens need to look no further than Face book or other social networking sites to connect with their friends. There is simply less need, maybe less desire, to be able to grab the keys and go.
Michelle Wei got her license as a senior in high school because her digital social life made it easy no to drive. “If I couldn’t get a ride to see my friend who lives a town over,” the 19-year-old said, “I could talk on IM or Skype.”
Research has shown that these online relationships can lead to higher quality friendships, so it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, it’s important to find a balance. If old face-to-face friendships are good, why not drive to find them?
小题1:We can infer from the first paragraph that .| A．Driver’s Ed classes allowed teens to know what maturity was | | B．getting a driving license at 16 was a must for American teens | | C．16 was considered an age when one could get his driver’s license | | D．teens could drive on the road without taking Driver’s Ed classes |
小题2:What does the passage mainly talk about?| A．Desire to drive on the road declines among American teens. | | B．Getting a license costs much more than ever before. | | C．Social networking sites are changing the life of American teens. | | D．American teens are becoming more responsible than ever. |
小题3:Michelle’s Wei’s example is used to explain ________.| A．why American teens are crazy about digital social life | | B．what social networking websites are bringing to American teens | | C．to what degree the Internet is affecting the American car culture | | D．what the Internet does to help teens to get a driving license |
小题4:The last paragraph is reminding the readers that .| A．the Internet h as a bad effect on the teen’s social life | | B．teens should keep a balance in choosing their lifestyle | | C．actual contacts can be replaced by talking on line | | D．face-to-face friendship is always the best choice |
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Millions of British people have ditched the traditional “thank you” and replaced it with the less formal “cheers”, according to a survey.
Although the average person will say “thank you” nearly 5,000 times a year, one in three are more likely to throw in a “cheers” or “ta” where it’s needed, rather than risk sounding old fashioned.
One in 20 now say “nice one” instead, while younger generations are more likely to offer a “cool” than a “thank you”. “Merci”, “fab” and even “gracias” were also listed as common phrases to use, as was “much appreciated”.
One in twenty who took part in the survey of 2,000 people by the Food Network UK for Thank You Day, which is marked on November 24, 2011, said a formal “thank you” was now not often needed in everyday conversation. More than one in ten adults said they regularly wouldn’t say “thank you” if they were in a bad mood.
Most people declared that saying “thank you” was something drilled into them by their parents. A huge 70 percent of those questioned will say “thank you” to a person’s face without even meaning it, while a fifth avoid saying it when they know they should — on at least two occasions every day.
It seems our friends and family get the brunt (压力) of our bad manners with half admitting they’re not good at thanking those closest to them — many justifying (为……辩解) the lack of thanks because their family “already know I’m grateful”.
When spoken words won’t do, it falls to a nice text to do the job for most people. A thank you email is also popular, while a quarter turn to social networks to express gratitude. A quarter of British people say thank you with food, with 23 percent cooking a meal to show their appreciation to someone. Another 15 percent bake a cake. A third will still send a handwritten thank-you note — but 45 percent admit it’s been more than six months since they bothered to send one.
It follows that 85 percent of people will be annoyed at not getting the gratitude they feel they should receive.
小题1:Most of the people who took part in the survey say that they say “thank you” _____.| A．when they are in good mood | B．completely out of habit | | C．when they feel truly grateful | D．purely out of politeness |
小题2:The underlined word “ditched” in Paragraph 1 means “_____”.| A．abandoned | B．used | C．shared | D．grasped |
小题3:It can be learned from the passage that _____.| A．different ways of expressing gratitude are all fashionable | | B．people should avoid saying “thank you” nowadays | | C．a thank-you note is still appreciated by most people | | D．people in a bad mood never say “thank you” |
小题4:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Most people express their gratitude to others by buying food for them. | | B．About fifty percent of people try not to say thank you when they should. | | C．Most people may feel natural when they fail to receive others’ gratitude. | | D．Many people think it unnecessary to say thanks to their family members. |
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Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet．Basically，Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first.
The first thing to do if you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile which can include your hobbies，hopes for the future，and so on．A photograph is optional，but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile. Many Internet dating sites will charge a one-time registration fee to use their services.
Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world. You call even narrow the search down to your area by zip code．Another advantage is that you can communicate by email before you meet in person．Thousands of people have met，fallen in love，and married through Internet dating．It is an excellent way for shy people to meet．It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others，and an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Just as in conventional dating and love，there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating．The person you have been talking to on the net may not be who they say they are. Be very aware that there are some people who misrepresent their appearance or private details，such as marital status，income，and so on，for their own reasons．It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in, and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time．Nevertheless，taking a few simple precautions should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun.
小题1:The purpose of writing the passage is to _____. | A．persuade readers to go dating on the Internet | | B．inform us how to date on the Internet | | C．warn readers against web love | | D．introduce Internet dating to us |
小题2:Which of the following is a must to make an Internet dating possible?| A．A photo . | B．A profile． | C．Registration fee. | D．Business experience． |
小题3:One advantage of Internet dating is that _____. ．| A．you can avoid a face-to-face meeting in the beginning | | B．you’re sure to find a partner with the same interests | | C．you"ll find absolutely reliable information of others | | D．you"ll gain fame and money overnight |
小题4:What is probably talked about following the last paragraph?| A．Traditional dating． | B．Hidden advantages． | | C．Safety measures． | D．Romantic love． |
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D
Americans are pound of their variety- and individuality(多样性与个性), yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform（制服）, whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?
Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian (百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity (身份) than to step out of uniform ?
Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are tax-deductible (可减税的). They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.
Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.
Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also dear to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.
小题1:It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality________.| A．still judge a man by his clothes | | B．hold the uniform in such high regard | | C．enjoy having a professional identity | | D．will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform |
小题2: People are used to thinking that a man in uniform________.| A．suggests quality work | | B．discards his social identity | | C．appears to be more practical | | D．looks superior to a person in civilian clothes |
小题3:The chief function of a uniform is to________. | A．provide practical benefits to the wearer | | B．make the wearer catch the public eye | | C．inspire the wearer’s confidence in himself | | D．provide the wearer with a professional identity |
小题4:According to the passage, people wearing uniforms________.| A．are usually helpful | | B．have little or no individual freedom | | C．tend to lose their individuality | | D．enjoy greater popularity |
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