We like to think our intelligence is self-made; it happens inside our heads, the product of our inner thoughts alone. But the rise of Google, Wikipedia and other online tools has made many people question the impact of these technologies on our brains. Is typing in “Who has played James Bond in the movies?” the same as our knowledge about the names like Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig? Can we say we know the answer as long as we know how to rapidly get the information on Google?
Here the question is about how we define intelligence itself. The answer appears to be interesting, because the evidence from psychological studies suggests that much of our intelligence comes from how we coordinate ourselves with other people and our environment.
An influential theory among psychologists is that we're cognitive misers(认知吝啬者). This is the idea that we are unwilling to do mental work unless we have to. We try to avoid thinking things fully when a short cut is available. If you've ever voted for the presidential candidate(总统候选人) with the most honest smile, or chosen a restaurant based on how many people are already sitting in there, then you are a cognitive miser. The theory explains why we'd much rather type a zip code into Google Maps than memorize and recall the location of a place – it's so much easier to do so.
Research shows that people don't tend to rely on their memories for things they can easily access. Buildings can somehow disappear from pictures we're looking at, or the people we're talking to can be changed with someone else, and often we won't notice – a phenomenon called “change blindness”. This isn't an example of human stupidity – far from it, in fact – this is an example of mental efficiency. The mind relies on the world as a better record than memory.
Philosophers have suggested that thinking is really happening in the environment as much as it is happening in our brains. The philosopher Andy Clark called humans "natural born cyborgs(电子人)", those naturally capable of absorbing and combining new tools, ideas and abilities. In Clark's view, the route to a solution is not the issue – having the right tools really does mean you know the answers, just as much as already knowing the answer.
Rather than being forced to rely on our own resources for everything, we can share our knowledge. Technology keeps track of things for us so we don't have to, while large systems of knowledge serve the needs of society as a whole. I don't know how a computer works, or how to grow vegetables, but that knowledge is out there and I can get to benefit. The internet provides even more potential to share this knowledge. Wikipedia is one of the best examples – an increasingly large database of knowledge from which everyone can benefit.
So as well as having a physical environment – like the rooms or buildings we live or work in – we also have a mental environment, which means that when I ask you where your mind is, you shouldn’t point toward the centre of your forehead. As research shows, our minds are made up just as much by the people and tools around us as they are by the brain cells inside our skull.Why did the writer raise the questions in Paragraph 1?
| A．To find out who has played James Bond in the movies. |
| B．To introduce the topic to be discussed in the passage. |
| C．To show that he knows the answer to the questions. |
| D．To attract readers’ attention by mentioning James Bond. |
What is the writer’s attitude towards the rise of technologies like Google and Wikipedia?
| A．Supportive | B．Objective | C．Indifferent | D．Neutral |
Which of the following might the philosopher Andy Clark agree with?
| A．Intelligence is something that is made by one’s brain itself. |
| B．Intelligence is something that only happens inside one’s head. |
| C．Intelligence is the product of one’s inner thoughts alone. |
| D．Intelligence is a mixture of the environment, people and one’s brain cells. |
It is true about the phenomenon called “change blindness” that human beings____.
| A．are stupid not to notice the changes |
| B．are efficient in mental work |
| C．are blind to changes around them |
| D．rely on memory when dealing with things |
According to the text, how do technologies like Google, Wikipedia affect us?
| A．They make us much more intelligent. |
| B．They make us lazier and more stupid. |
| C．They have little to do with our intelligence. |
| D．They have a negative effect on our intelligence. |
This morning as I was getting the children ready or school, I helped them prepare breakfast and pack their lunches. I reviewed spelling words with them and made sure that their homework was collected in their bags. I had seen the weather forecast for the day and knew it was going to remain cool all day. I suggested they wear sweaters for the walk to the us stop. My kids chose to repulse my advice. My son decided that all he needed was a T-shirt, not a sweater.
I didn’t force(强迫) them to wear sweaters and we went to the bus stop. It is a full kilometer walk to the top of a treeless hill and the wind felt like a knife cutting through the skin. My children endured(忍受) the cold until halfway, when I gave them with the sweaters I had quietly carried under my arm. Then took them without complaint, and I bit my tongue from saying, “I told you so.”
What I was asking my children to do was to trust me. Trust Mom to have their best interests in mind. Trust Mom to know what she is talking about. Even though they didn’t know that I had read the outdoor thermometer (温度计) before they woke up and I had seen the day’s weather forecast, I wanted them to trust me. By ignoring me, they were saying that they didn’t believe I knew what was best for them. What they knew was that yesterday was a warm enough day for shorts. What they knew was that it was warm enough in the house to wear shorts. Therefore, they felt sure enough to make their own decision on what to wear outside.
Too many times we depend on what we know of yesterday, and how we feel today, and so we make decisions based on them. Too many times we think that we know better, so we can deal with things better. But we are wrong.It can be inferred from the first paragraph that .
| A．the author didn’t believe in her children |
| B．the author took her children to school every morning |
| C．the author’s children always followed her advice |
| D．the author had a very busy morning that day |
The underlined word “repulse” in the first paragraph means .
| A．refuse | B．follow | C．seek | D．doubt |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．The author’s children always ignore her. |
| B．The author takes great care of the children in life. |
| C．The author’s children always make wrong decisions. |
| D．The author always force her children to wear sweaters. |
The author writes this passage to .
| A．tell the readers how to ask for advice |
| B．offer advice on how to teach children |
| C．explain the importance of trusting others |
| D．give advice on how to make decisions |
We can express our feelings and needs by using body language. Cats can do that too. The ways that cats use their tails to show their feelings and needs are interesting.
Unlike dogs, which generally wave their tails to express good feelings, cats use their tails to send a lot of signals. When a cat waves its tail strongly from side to side, it may be a sign for us to leave it alone, or we may get scrathed (抓伤). Throwing a little toy for the cat to play with can get it relaxed. When a cat holds its tail upwards with a slight move, it means the animal is very happy to see its owner.
We all like to cuddle (依偎) inside our bed, and cats do that thing, too. Much as little children like to wrap (用……缠绕) their arms around their Teddy Bears, cats like to wrap their own tails around their bodies to get a sense of safety while asleep. If we notice a cat sleeping in such a position, we should not break its peace.
Usually the tip of the cat’s tail doesn’t draw our attention. But its particular position may also show the cat’s feelings. For example, a cat holding the tip of its tail pointed downwards may try to say that it is not feeling comfortable. So at this point, the cat not only feels angry, but also unsafe. This may again be a sign for us not to upset the cat in any way.
In conclusion, cats use their tails in many different, sometimes funny ways to send us messages, and we can learn to know more.According to the text, in which way are cats different from dogs?
| A．Cats draw more attention from humans than dogs. |
| B．Cats are friendlier to humans than dogs. |
| C．Cats have more feelings than dogs. |
| D．Cats show more feelings with tails than dogs. |
When a cat waves its tail strongly from side to side, it probably feels .
| A．safe | B．sleepy | C．anxious | D．hungry |
A cat wraps its tail around its body when sleeping to .
| A．get its tail well relaxed | B．get a sense of safety |
| C．show friendship to its owner | D．warn strangers to keep off |
What does the fourth paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．A cat can use its tail tip to show its feelings. |
| B．We should pay attention to the tip of a cat’s tail. |
| C．Why a cat holds the tip of its tail pointed downwards |
| D．A cat has many ways to express its feelings |
Mother’s Day is the time you say “thank you” to your mom. Stop shopping at the store. Flowers and other things in stores are too common to mention. You can choose a special gift for Mother’s Day! Just try staying close to home—and heart —write a Mother’s Day poem for her.
Use your head. Think of special moments when you were a child, times you’ve shared with your mom, things she did for you, and why you love her. Write down how those moments influenced you. Write down everything you can think of. This is your inspiration for the poem.
Look at what you wrote and pick out those things that are connected(有联系的). See if any words rhyme(押韵). It’s fine to write a free poem(one without rhymes), but many people find poems with rhymes are easier to work with, easier to read and quite catchy(容易记住的). If no words rhyme but you want your poem to, try to find connecting words that can help connect memories.
Once you have a few sentences, put them in a good order. For example, you could start with a childhood memory and end with something you remember from last month.
Add a title that shows the feeling of the poem. Even something as simple as “For Mom” can work, although something more personal might be better.
Write it in pen if you have beautiful handwriting. Read the poem over breakfast on Mother’s Day, and then hand it to your mom. Let’s wait and see the smile and tears of happiness on her face.Why does the author suggest writing down everything you think of?
A. Because it will show your mother’s love.
B. Because it will bring you inspiration.
C. Because it can be shared with others.
C. Because it can help answer questions.It’s better to write a poem with rhymes because .
| A．it is easier to read and remember |
| B．it makes the poem more interesting |
| C．it shows the unforgettable moments |
| D．it shows how things are connected |
The best title for the poem should be one that .
| A．can be read easily and quickly |
| B．includes a few sentences |
| C．has some special words. |
| D．shows the feeling of words. |
The passage mainly tells us .
| A．what to do on Mother’s Day. |
| B．what to buy for Mother’s Day. |
| C．how to write a Mother’s Day poem. |
| D．how to write good poems for Christmas. |
A breathtaking trick potentially left over from our ancestors might be found in us — the ability to sense oxygen through our skin.
Amphibians, animals such as frogs that can live both on land and in water, have long been known to be capable of breathing through their skin. In fact, the first known lungless frog that breathes only through its skin was discovered recently in the rivers of Borneo.
Now the same oxygen sensors found in frog skins and in the lungs of mammals (哺乳动物) have unexpectedly been discovered in the skin of mice.
“No one had ever looked,” explained Randall Johnson, a biologist researcher.
Mice and frogs are quite distant relatives, so the fact they have these molecules (分子) in common in their skin suggests they might well be found in the skin of other mammals, such as humans.
“We have no reason to think that they are not in the skin of people too,” Johnson said.
These molecules not only detect oxygen, but help increase levels of vital red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Normal mice breathing in air that is 10 percent oxygen—a dangerously low level similar to conditions at the top of Mount Everest, and about half that of air at sea level. However, mice that had the oxygen sensor HIF-1a genetically removed from their skin failed to produce this hormone (荷尔蒙) even after hours of such low oxygen.
These findings, if they hold true in humans, suggest one could raise the level of oxygen circulating inside the body. This could help treat lung diseases and disorders such as anemia (贫血症) without injecting drugs, which make up a multibillion-dollar market, Johnson said.
Athletes also often try to get more oxygen delivered to their muscles in order to improve their performance. They often do this by training at high altitudes or in low-oxygen tents. The new study suggests they might want to expose their skin as well as breathing in low-oxygen air to improve their performance. “It’s hard to say what exactly might be done, however—there’s a lot we don’t know yet,” Johnson explained.
The scientists detailed their findings in the April 18 issue of the journal Cell.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．It has long been expected oxygen sensors exist in mice’s skin. |
| B．People have to surf the Internet to read detailed findings. |
| C．It has been proved that these findings help treat lung diseases. |
| D．Johnson believes that Oxygen sensors also exist in human skin. |
One of the functions of the molecules mentioned above is _______.
| A． increasing level of oxygen | B．improving athletes’ performance |
| C．detecting oxygen | D．carrying oxygen around the body |
What is Johnson’s attitude to the application of the findings to the athletes’ training?
| A． Hesitating | B．Doubting | C．Positive | D．Negative |
The best title of the passage may be _______.
| A． Humans Might Sense Oxygen Through Skin |
| B．Frogs And Mice Are Distant Relatives |
| C．First Known Animal Breathes Through Skin |
| D．Great Findings Benefits Athletes A Lot |
Bad teeth can be painful -- and worse. They can even be deadly. Infections (感染) of the gums (牙龈) and the teeth can cause bacteria (细菌) to go into the blood system. Those bacteria can increase the chance of a heart attack and worsen the effects of other diseases. And adults are not the only ones at risk.
For example, in 2007, doctors in the Washington area said a boy died when a tooth infection spread to his brain. They said it might have been prevented had he received the dental care (牙齿保健) he needed. He was twelve years old.
Experts at the National Institutes of Health say good dental care starts at birth. Breast milk, they say, is the best food for the healthy development of teeth. Breast milk can help slow the growth of bacteria and acid production in the mouth.
But dentists say a baby's gums and early teeth should be cleaned after each feeding. Use a cloth with a little warm water. Do the same if a baby is fed with a bottle. Experts say if you decide to put your baby to sleep with a bottle, only give the child water.
When baby teeth begin to appear, you can clean them with a wet toothbrush. Dentists say it is important to find soft toothbrushes made especially for babies and to use them very gently.
The use of fluoride (氟化物) to protect teeth is common in many parts of the world. For example, it is often added to drinking water supplies. The fluoride mixes with enamel (珐琅质) , the hard surface on teeth, to help prevent holes from forming.Which of the following can be used as the title of the passage?
| A．Concerns for Healthy Teeth of the Young |
| B．Causes of Teeth Problem |
| C．Importance of Healthy Teeth of All |
| D．Solutions to Teeth Problem |
What's the main idea of paragraph 4 and 5?
| A．How to develop babies' teeth. | B．How to keep babies' teeth clean |
| C．Why to protect babies' teeth | D．Why to keep babies' teeth clean |
The passage indicates that ______.
| A．Enamel is most widely used to protect teeth in the world |
| B．Breast milk can cure babies' bad teeth |
| C．Bad teeth may affect the health of adults and the young |
| D．Babies' teeth should be brushed once per day |
The writer uses the boy's death as an example to show that ______.
| A．not only adults but the young may suffer from teeth problem |
| B．the doctors should be responsible for the case |
| C．babies with bad teeth can easily die |
| D．the boy was not fed with his breast milk |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号