The high noise of modern life may affect speech and language development in the
题型：不详难度：来源：
The high noise of modern life may affect speech and language development in the very young, according to a study that found the auditory (听觉的) parts of the brains of young mice are slower to organize properly in the presence of continuous sounds.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, reared a group of rats in an environment of continuous background noise and found that their brain circuits that receive and interpret (解释) sound did not develop at the same rate as animals that were raised in a quieter environment.
Edward F. Chang and Michael Merzenich, co-authors of the study appearing in the journal Science, said that the continuous noise delayed the organization of auditory neurons (神经细胞) during a critical two-to-three-week period after the rat pups were born.
For rats not exposed to the noise, the auditory cortex(皮层) neurons during this period gathered into a smaller area and began developing a selective response to sounds.
But for the noiseexposed rats, this organization was slowed, causing a delay in the development of the ability to discriminate(辨别) specific sound tones. The researchers said it took three or four times longer for the rats raised in a noisy environment to reach the basic bench marks (基准) of auditory development seen in the rat pups not exposed to noises.
Although the rat is not a perfect model for what happens in humans, the authors note, the study does suggest that high levels of noise might possibly affect some language learning in babies.
“These findings suggest that environmental noise, which is commonly present in contemporary child-rearing environments, can potentially contribute to auditory and language-related development delays,”the authors wrote in Science.
The authors noted that although the brain development was delayed in rats exposed to the noise, their brains did eventually mature (成熟的) normally.
小题1:The scientists at California University studied rats_______.| A．of different age groups | B．with different habits | | C．in different environments | D．from different areas |
小题2:The rats exposed to noise, compared to those not exposed, _______.| A．were more sensitive | B．were duller | | C．grew up more slowly | D．gathered together more quickly |
小题3: The result of the research mainly tells us that noise _______.| A．delays brain development | B．stops baby growth | | C．affects speech and language | D．destroys brains |
小题4: The findings of the research are said to have special connections with _______.| A．causes of noises | B．medical science | | C．other living things | D．human babies |
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答案
小题1:C
小题2:B
小题3:A
小题4:D |
解析
小题1:从文章第二段内容可知,加利福尼亚大学的研究者们养了一些老鼠,进行实验。分别在不断的噪音和相对较安静的环境下进行实验。
小题2:从文章第五段可以得出the rats exposed to noise要比the rats not exposed to noise反应迟钝。
小题3:从最后—段内容可以得知,噪音延缓脑的发育。B项是明显错误的。不是毁坏脑子,而是延缓,可知D项是错误的。此题侧重的是对老鼠的实验结果,而C项是对这个结果的进—步推测,所以C是不对的。
小题4: 文中指出“the study does suggest that high levels of noise might possibly affect some language learning...babies.”由此可以得知,这个科研结果与婴儿有关。 |
举一反三
Common indoor plants may prove to be a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. Those plants in your office or home are not only pretty, but NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing possible harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings.
NASA have announced the finds of a 2-year study that suggested the common indoor plants may provide a natural way of helping fight against “Sick Building Syndrome(综合症)”.
Research into the use of biological processes as a means of solving environmental problems, both on Earth and in space habitats, has been carried out for many years by Dr. Bill Wloverton, a senior research scientist at NASA.
Based on preliminary evaluations(初步评估) of the use of common indoor plants for indoor air purification(净化),NASA funded a study using about a dozen popular varieties of attractive plants to determine their effectiveness in removing several key pollutants linked with indoor air pollution. NASA research on indoor has found that living plants are so efficient at absorbing pollutants in the air that some will be launched into space as part of the biological life support system aboard future orbiting space stations.
While more research is needed, Wolverton says the study has shown that common indoor plants can remove certain pollutants from the indoor environment. “We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places,” he concludes.
“Combining nature with technology can increase the effectiveness of plants in removing air pollutants,” he said.
NASA research has always shown that living, green and flowering plants can remove several poisonous chemicals from the air inside buildings. You can use plant in your home or office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to live and work—where people feel better, perform better, and enjoy life more.
小题1:The main idea of the passage is _______.| A．plants are very useful to human beings | | B．indoor plants can help remove indoor air pollution | | C．indoor plants should be raised in both homes and offices | | D．NASA have studied indoor plants for many years |
小题2:Why do you think NASA are very interested in indoor plants?| A．Some indoor plants would be used in space stations. | | B．They want to find a way to cure Sick Building Syndrome. | | C．They need indoor plants to carry out their experiments. | | D．Indoor plants are pretty and attractive. |
小题3:The underlined word “pollutants” refers to _______.| A．some kinds of indoor plants | B．ways to solve air pollution | | C．research on indoor plants | D．poisonous chemicals in the air |
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Forever Young
It"s Girls Night Out:Mom Edition, and I"m a player in a whole new game. It occurs to me that I really don"t know these 36 women. We"ve been circling 37 for about three years, ever since our kids started 38 .We"d bump into each other in the parking 39 ,at Valentine"s Day parties, and later as one or the other shyly 40 we all sign our kids up for softball, gymnastics or dance. Who knows 41 the five of us clumped together more than 42 of us clumped with other mothers. I suppose it happens 43 ,friendship circles spiraling in and around and about and anew.
This is the 44 time we"ve gathered without the kids, and I am having a 45 time saying “Janice”, as opposed to “Zoe"s mom” or “Susan”, 46 “Kaitlin"s mom”, and so I have decided, for tonight, not to 47 any names at all.
The 48 has already taken our drink order. I can"t believe nobody 49 beer.Nope, this is a Diet Coke and iced tea crowd. In the back of my mind I"m 50 if I"m going to be the naughty 51 who corrupts this group.
There is so much 52 to take care of when you are just getting to 53 people as people. One of the things we are doing is 54 dates, the years that each of us 55 from this or that. I see where this is going.
36. A. five B. three C. Four D. two
37. A. each other B. one another C. all of us D. some of us
38. A. primary school B. university C. high school D. preschool
39. A. lot B. Station C. line D. square
40. A. said B. suggested C. informed D. found
41.A. what B. that C. how D. why
42. A. some B. none C. any D. all
43. A. all the time B. all of a sudden C. at the same time D. once and for all
44. A. last B. first C. Usual D. only
45. A. spare B. good C. difficult D. pleasant
46. A. instead of B. as well as C. in case of D. in the name of
47. A. call B. use C. forget D. tell
48. A. kid B. mother C. Friend D. waitress
49. A. brought B. liked C. ordered D. drank
50. A. wondering B. fearing C. Speaking D. asking
51. A. girl B. mother C. One D. kid
52. A. trouble B. business C. time D. food
53. A. regard B. name C. Find D. know
54. A. comparing B. making C. Deciding D. discussing
55. A. came B. changed C. graduated D. got |
From the very beginning, Martin felt that he was bound up with（与……紧紧地在一起）his lovely little patient. One day, following some tests , Betty gave the doctor a big hug（拥抱）.
A few months later the doctor removed not only the tumour（肿瘤）, but also the entire lower left side of Betty’s gum（牙龈）and jawbone. Because Betty was so young, Martin was hopeful that her jawbone might regenerate.
Within three months, Betty’s tumour grew as large as an orange, changing the natural appearance of the left side of her small, delicate （ =" thin;" not strong）face. Soon she couldn’t even close her mouth, and as her eating problems worsened, Betty ‘s weight dropped from 20 kilos to 15. Martin knew from experience that it might invade the brain.
The only other possibility was thorough radiation therapy （放射疗法）. Night after night, Betty"s father gave her injection, but the tumour remained as big as ever. Then one evening. Morgan noticed that the tumour had begun to change. It was actually becoming smaller! For two months her tumour appeared to be going away for ever. In the coming months, Betty’s tumour continued to appear. She was able to eat solid food once again. Her jawbone was regenerating. The tumour was gone.
小题1:If Betty’s jawbone didn’t regenerate, the doctors ________ .| A．would rebuild her jaw | | B．would continue the treatment | | C．would use new medicine | | D．could do nothing else |
小题2:If the brain should be invaded, the result would ________.| A．prevent her growth | | B．reduce her weight | | C．cause her brain damaged | | D．affect her eyesight |
小题3:What did the doctors do two months later?| A．They continued their observations. | | B．They gave up the operation on Betty. | | C．They found out what caused Betty’s strange disease. | | D．They declared that Betty’s strange disease was cured. |
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A true apology is more than just acknowledgement（承认）of a mistake. It’s recognition that something you’ve said or 36 has damaged a relationship - and that you 37 enough about that relationship to want it 38 .
It’s never 39 to acknowledge yon are in the wrong. Being human, we all need the art of apology. Look hack and think how 40 you’ve judged roughly（草率），said 41 things，pushed yourself 42 at the expense（在使某人受损的情况下）of a friend. Some deep thought in us know that when 43 a small mistake has been made, your 44 will stay out of balance until the mistake is acknowledged and your regret is 45 .
I remember a doctor friend, 46 me about a man who came to him with 47 illnesses: headache, insomnia（失眠）,stomachaches and so on. No physical 48 could be found. Finally the doctor said to the man,“ 49 you tell me what’s on your conscience（良心）,I can’t help you.”
After a short silence, the man told the doctor that he 50 all the money that his father gave to his brother, who was 51 His father had died, so only he himself knew the matter. The old doctor made the man write to his brother making an 52 and enclosing（附寄）a 53 .In the post office, the man dropped the letter into the mail box. As the letter disappeared, the man 54 into team. “Thank you, doctor,”he said,“I think I"m all right now.”And he 55 .
36．A. done B. thought C. announced D. expected
37．A. lost B. care C. advise D. heard
38．A. built B. formed C. repaired D. damaged
39．A. difficult B. easy C. foolish D. shy
40．A. long B. often C. much D. soon
41．A. unusual B. harmful C. precious D. unkind
42．A. ahead B. away C. down D off
43．A. still B. even C. only D. such
44．A. sense B. brain C. weight D. feeling
45．A. shown B. explanined C. offered D. expressed
46．A. asking B. telling C. requiring D. setting
47．A. strange B. serious C. various D. much
48．A. signs B. reason C. cause D. marks
49．A. Whenever B. Unless C. Suppose D. Although
50．A. stole B. accepted C. seized D. wasted
51．A. mad B. lost C. abroad D. dead
52．A. order B. excuse C. agreement D. apology
53．A. note B. card C. check D. photo
54．A. joyed B. burst C. laughed D. cried
55．A. should B. did C. had D. was |
Drinking wine in moderation improves the IQ and may boost mental agility in old people,according to Japanese researchers.
A study of the effects of alcohol on the middle aged and elderly found the average IQ of men who drink wine (whether made from grapes or rice) was 3.3 points higher than that of men who do not imbibe.
Similarly,the IQ of women drinkers showed an improvement of 2.5 points over their teetotal sisters.The findings are part of an ongoing study by Japan’s National Institute for Longevity into the links between human intelligence and what we eat and drink.
The tests measured general knowledge,powers of judgment and concentration in drinkers and non-drinkers over 40,all living in Aichi prefecture,central Japan,and sharing the same income level-roughly￡50 000 a year—and educational background.All were university graduates.
But while wine-drinkers appeared to be brighter,the same was not true of those who drank deer,shochu (a local gin) and whisky.
“The benefits of wine and sake (rice wine) in raising IQ could be due to substances they contain,such as polyphenol,which are believed to slow the ageing process,” Hiroshi Shimokata,head of epidemiology research,said.
It was premature to conclude,he added,that drinking wine or sake slowed the deterioration of brain functions in the elderly,or warded off senility.The research does,however,suggest that this is one way to stay mentally alert longer.
But there is a sobering caveat:drinking too much may make you dimmer.“People who drink more than 540 milli-litres (a little over a pint) of sake or wine a day had lower intelligence quotients than those who did not drink at all,”Hiroshi Shimokata said.“Moderation is very important.”
小题1:Which one is the topic of the passage?| A．Drinking wine in a large amount improves the IQ of old people. | | B．Drinking wine in a reasonable amount raises the IQ of old people. | | C．Drinking wine in moderation does good to any one. | | D．Drinking wine helps improve the IQ of women. |
小题2:According to the passage,which of the following is NOT wrong?| A．Every wine drinker’s IQ is 3.3 points higher than that of men who don’t drink. | | B．The IQ of women drinker is 2.5 points lower than that of the non-drinking women. | | C．Drinking beer and whisky cannot improve one’s IQ. | | D．Drinking wine can only do good to the IQ of rich old people. |
小题3:The reason why wine and sake can improve IQ is that _________.| A．wine and sake have special taste | | B．wine and sake can make us excited | | C．wine and sake contain substances considered to slow the ageing process | | D．wine and sake contain something believed to prevent us from ageing |
小题4:From the text,it seems that we can conclude _________.| A．the more wine we drink,the brighter we are | | B．the less wine we drink,the brighter we are | | C．drinking wine less than 540ml a day,we’ll become dimmer | | D．drinking wine in moderation,we’ll become brighter |
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