Working with a group of baboons (狒狒）in the Namibian desert, Dr. Alecia Carter of
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Working with a group of baboons (狒狒）in the Namibian desert, Dr. Alecia Carter of the Department of Zoology，Cambridge University set baboons learning tasks involving a novel food and a familiar food hidden in a box. Some baboons were given the chance to watch another baboon who already knew how to solve the task, while others had to learn for themselves. To work out how brave or anxious the baboons were, Dr. Carter presented them either with a novel food or a threat in the form of a model of a poisonous snake.
She found that personality had a major impact on learning. The braver baboons learnt, but the shy ones did not learn the task although they watched the baboon perform the task of finding the novel food just as long as the brave ones did. In effect, despite being made aware of what to do, they were still too shy to do what the experienced baboon did.
The same held true for anxious baboons compared with calm ones. The anxious individuals learnt the task by observing others while those who were relaxed did not, even though they spent more time watching.
This mismatch between collecting social information and using it shows that personality plays a key role in social learning in animals, something that has previously been ignored in studies on how animals learn to do things. The findings are significant because they suggest that animals may perform poorly in cognitive (认 知的）tasks not because they aren’t clever enough to solve them，but because they are too shy or nervous to use the social information.
The findings may impact how we understand the formation of culture in societies through social learning. If some individuals are unable to get information from others because they don’t associate with the knowledgeable individuals，or they are too shy to use the information once they have it，information may not travel between all group members, preventing the formation of a culture based on social learning.
小题1:What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The design of Dr. Carter’s research. | | B．The results of Dr. Carter’s research. | | C．The purpose of Dr. Carter’s research. | | D．The significance of Dr. Carter’s research. |
小题2:According to the research, which baboons are more likely to complete a new learning task?| A．Those that have more experience. | | B．Those that can avoid potential risks. | | C．Those that like to work independently. | | D．Those that feel anxious about learning. |
小题3:Which best illustrates the “mismatch” mentioned in Paragraph 4?| A．Some baboons are intelligent but slow in learning. | | B．Some baboons are shy but active in social activities. | | C．Some baboons observe others but don’t follow them. | | D．Some baboons perform new tasks but don’t concentrate. |
小题4:Dr. Carter’s findings indicate that our culture might be formed through .| A．storing information | | B．learning from each other | | C．understanding different people | | D．travelling between social groups |
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答案
小题1:A
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:B |
解析
【文章大意】这是一篇夹叙夹议的议论文。文章通过阐述研究狒狒如何获得食物的信息来讲述社会生活中的文化是通过相互的学习来获取的。
小题1:A考查主旨要义。根据文章第一段其主要阐述的是研究项目的主要内容，对象与方法也就是这个研究的设计，故A正确。
小题2:D考查细节理解。 根据文章第三段“The anxious individuals learnt the task by observing others”可知选D。
小题3:C考查判断推理。根据文章第三段最后 “while those who were relaxed did not, even though they spent more time watching.”可知划线部分的内容指的是“光看不做的”，故C正确。
小题4:B考查细节理解。 根据文章最后一段第一句“The findings may impact how we understand the formation of culture in societies through social learning”回归文章的研究主题上即文化的获取是通过相互的学习，故B正确。 |
举一反三
Travis is the manager of G&G where he is responsible for forty employees (雇员)and profits (利润) of over $2 million per year. He"s never late to work. He does not get upset on the job. When one of his employees started crying after a customer screamed at her, Travis took her away. "Your working uniform is your shelter," he told her. "Nothing anyone says will ever hurt you. You will always be as strong as you want to be."
Travis picked up that lecture in one of his G&G training courses, an education program that began on his first day and continues throughout an employee"s occupation. The training has, Travis says, changed his life. G&G has taught him how to live, how to focus, how to get to work on time, and how to master his emotions (情绪). Most importantly, it taught him willpower.
At the center of that education is an extreme focus on an all-important habit; willpower. Dozens of cases show that willpower is the single most important habit for a person"s success.
And the best way to strengthen willpower is to make it into a habit. "Sometimes it looks like people with great self-control aren"t working hard—but that"s because they"ve made it automatic," Angela Duckworth, one of the University of Pennsylvania researchers said. "Their willpower occurs without them having to think about it."
The company spent millions of dollars developing programs of study to train employees on self-control. Managers wrote workbooks that serve as guides to how to make willpower a habit in workers" lives. Those courses arc, in part, why G&G has grown from a sleepy company into a large one with more than seventeen thousand stores and profits of more than $10 billion a year.
小题1:We loam from Paragraph 2 that employees in G&G must .| A．learn to give lectures | | B．attend education programs | | C．design a working uniform | | D．develop a common hobby |
小题2:Willpower will become a habit when employees can .| A．focus on the profits | | B．benefit from the job | | C．protect themselves well | | D．control their feeling well |
小题3:What can we infer from the passage?| A．G&G has grown into a large company. | | B．G&G will spend half its profits training employees. | | C．G&G may become more successful in the future. | | D．G&G has to produce more workbooks for managers. |
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Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.
小题1:The passage is mainly about ________.| A．communication types | | B．the workplace atmosphere | | C．customs and social manners | | D．living conditions and standards |
小题2:Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?| A．They put efficiency in the first place. | | B．They dislike face-to-face communication. | | C．They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible. | | D．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank. |
小题3:In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?| A．When greeting seniors. | | B．When meeting the host alone. | | C．When attending a presentation. | | D．When dining with business partners. |
小题4:In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?| A．In Brazil. | B．In Singapore. | | C．In the United Arab Emirate. | D．In Switzerland. |
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Cultural differences occur wherever you go. When visiting another country, you should be aware of those differences and _______ them. Here are some _______ on how to fit in.
Every traveler to a foreign country feels _______ at some point. What you do can make locals laugh. Your best defense is a sense of _______. If you can laugh off eating with the wrong hand in India, locals will warm to you as “that crazy foreigner.”
Wearing proper cloths is important too, _______ locals will judge by what you wear. In some Middle Eastern countries, exposing your flesh is _______, especially if you are a woman. So leave your torn jeans at home.
Also be cautious about expressing _______. Getting angry in Southeast Asia just makes you look silly. In some countries it is _______ to kiss in public.
| 小题1: | | A．reject | B．recite | C．respect | D．remove |
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| 小题2: | | A．plans | B．tips | C．arguments | D．choices |
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| 小题3: | | A．unsafe | B．excited | C．satisfied | D．awkward |
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| 小题4: | | A．relief | B．belonging | C．humor | D．direction |
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| 小题6: | | A．forbidden | B．allowed | C．expected | D．tolerated |
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| 小题7: | | A．emotions | B．concern | C．interest | D．views |
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| 小题8: | | A．natural | B．advisable | C．unwise | D．unnecessary |
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Thomas Alva Edison (爱迪生)was awarded more patents（专利） on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931, Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him. One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout(关闭，中断). All electric power(电源) would be shut off in homes, streets, and factories. Perhaps his suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion（混乱）. A blackout was out of the question.
On the day of Edison’s funeral (葬礼),many people silently dimmed(使暗淡) their lights. In this way they honoured the man who had done more than anyone else to the great force of electrity
小题1: This says that Thomas Edison __________.| A．was the only important American inventor | | B．received the first American patent | | C．received more patents than any other American | | D．was the first American inventor |
小题2: People decided to honor Edison when ________.| A．he made the first electric light | B．electric power was 100 years | | C．the country realized electricity’s importance | D．he died in 1931 |
小题3: The suggested plan was to _________.| A．turn off the lights in factories | B．observe a few minutes of total silence | | C．dim all electric lights | D．shut off all electricity for a short time |
小题4: The plan was never carried out because________.| A．not everyone wanted to honor Edison | | B．it was too difficult | | C．electric power was too important to the country | | D．it honored only one of Edison’s inventions |
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The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick. “We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
小题1:The underlined word “Advocates” in the text probably means” .| A．Supporters | B．Objectors | C．Teachers | D．Learners |
小题2: How many languages are mentioned in this passage?| A．Six. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
小题3:In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.| A．the competition between Latino and Asian students | | B．the global economy | | C．the interesting way to engage with China | | D．the Chinese learning |
小题4: What CANNOT be learned from this passage?| A．Most students at McCormick can speak three languages. | | B．Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago. | | C．French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago. | | D．Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese. |
小题5:Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?| A．The Chinese learning in Chicago. | | B．The ways to learn Chinese. | | C．McCormick Primary School. | | D．Globalization and Chinese learning. |
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