Honesty may well be the policy, but it often deserts us when no one is watching, psychologists report today. Experiments with an honesty box to collect payments for hot drinks show that people are better at paying up when under the gaze(注视) of a pair of eyes. The surprise was that the eyes were not real, but photographed.
Researchers at Newcastle University set up the experiment in secret. They attached a poster to a cupboard of mugs above an-honesty box alongside a kettle, with tea, coffee and milk. Over 10 weeks, they alternated each week between images of eyes and pictures of flowers.
Dr. Bateson, a behavioral biologist and leader of the study, said that even though the eyes were not real they still seemed to make people behave more honestly. They effect may arise from behavioral characteristics that developed as early humans formed social groups that increased their chances of survival. Individuals had to co-operate for the good of the group, rather than act selfishly.
"If nobody is watching us it is in our interests to behave selfishly. But when we think we're being watched we should behave better, so people see us as co-operative and behave the same way towards us, "Dr. Bateson said.
"We thought we'd get a slight effect with eyes, but it was quite striking how much difference they made. Even at a subconscious(潜意识的) level, it seems people respond to eyes, and that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved(进化) to respond to."
The finding, which researchers believe sheds light on our evolutionary past, could be turned to practical use. The psychologists say images of eyes could promote ticket sales on public transport and improve monitor systems to prevent antisocial behavior.
1. This passage is mainly about _______________.
A. the policy of honesty B. an honesty box to collect money
C. evolution on honesty D. an experiment on honesty
2. The reason for doing the experiment secretly is that the researchers _____________.
A. wanted to get a comparatively more exact result
B. had known they wanted to do something illegally
C. meant to get the co-operation of their colleagues
D. intended to sell the hot drinks at a higher price
3. People behave honestly under watchful gaze of eyes because _____________.
A. they want to leave a good impression B. they fear to be laughed at by others
C. they've got the nature through evolution D. they take the photo for a real pair of eyes
4. Images of a pair of eyes can be applied to all except _____.
A. tickets sales on public transport B. cold drink sales in public places
C. places with “No spitting!” signs D. Christmas decorations in one’s home
Copywriting is the art of sending a message in writing, especially in advertisements, for the purpose(目的) of persuading someone to do something. This is especially true when writing descriptive(描述性的) copy. Why? Because customers’(顾客) senses don’t work on paper. They only work in person. That’s why copywriters have to create a sensory experience for their customers through their words.
When copywriters create descriptions, they often leave a lot to be desired. There is no interaction(互动) or experience. Descriptions should be descriptive. Successful descriptions should fill the gap of what customers would see, hear, smell, taste or feel as if they were standing before the product. Successful descriptions should also draw customers’ attention and create an actual event as if they could be right there.
Do you make cinnamon rolls(肉桂卷)?You wouldn’t want to describe them simply as “delicious” or “smell great”. Instead, you’d want to bring your customers to the experience of enjoying them. Something like this will work better: Completely NOT your grandma’s cinnamon rolls! Freshly bake them right in your own oven. As the strong pleasant smell of these excellent rolls begins to float in the air, your nose will start to feel excited and you’ll immediately know they are worth the wait.
When writing descriptive copy, choose the senses that are most proper and focus on them. If describing food, certainly you’ll think about not only what you’re tasting, but also what you smell and see. If you’re writing travel copy, you’ll focus on sights, sounds as well as feelings. Your goal i
s to have your readers close their eyes and imagine they are in the same experience as you are.
The purpose of copywriting is to .
A.create a pleasant experience |
B.develop customers’ five senses |
C.persuade people to do things |
D.give people rich imagination |
The writer develops the third paragraph mainly .
A.by cause and effect(因果) | B.by order in space |
C.by order in time | D.by examples |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A.People’s five senses |
B.Copywriting and advertisements |
C.Descriptive copywriting |
D.Copywriting and the five senses |
I had been rather proud of myself when my friends and family got the ticket, whether it was for speeding, parking or stop sign violations(违反). It was something that happened to others. But last Friday I joined the club.
I was asked to do a new project last week. On Friday morning on my way to work, I suddenly remembered that I had spent the past six weeks without considering that I had a week’s vacation planned during that time. I was very disappointed with myself for not remembering it.
The truth is that I was not paying enough attention to my driving and I did not come to a complete stop at the stop sign in front of a school. I was so distracted(思想不集中的) that I didn’t even notice I had a policeman on my tail with his lights flashing. Finally I looked in my mirror and caught on.
The policeman was rude and took my papers. Luckily, I had everything up to date and since I had never had a ticket before, there was nothing for him to do but write me a ticket. While I was sitting there in the seat of “shame”, I felt bad. If I had been that distracted and a child had run onto the road, perhaps I would have not reacted as well as I could have. It was a wake-up call.
People at work asked me if I tried to talk my way out of it. Frankly, it never occurred to me. I felt guilty(有罪的). Now I no longer have a clean driving record. Please be careful out there, as a moment’s distraction can lead to tragedy(悲剧).What is this passage mainly about?
A.The writer’s most unforgettable experience. |
B.How the writer got her first ticket. |
C.An accident caused by the writer. |
D.Why the writer is always so careful. |
We can infer that the underlined part “the club” in Paragraph 1 here refers to .
A.people who are crazy about driving cars |
B.a club for drivers without much experience |
C.people who get tickets for breaking traffic rules |
D.a club for people to talk about their driving stories |
What made the writer unable to focus on(集中思想) her driving?
A.Planning how to spend the vacation. |
B.Thinking of the forgotten vacation. |
C.Thinking about her work. |
D.Missing her children. |
When the writer received the ticket, she .
A.felt lucky that she was an experienced driver |
B.was so nervous that she shook all over |
C.was ashamed of herself for being distracted |
D.was worried about being laughed at |
Sophia Richardson: Both my parents are really important to me. My parents are really more than friends. They’re the people I can open up and talk to. Talking to them is like talking to one of my friends. They’ve been there for me and given me good advice on a lot
of my problems.
Stacey Avnes: My Jewish big sister is important to me. Her name is Lauren. We’ve been together for two years. My mom is a single mom and she is very busy. Lauren is someone who helps me deal with all this stuff because she’s someone I can talk to. She’s like a second mom to me and also a best friend. If I have any problem, I can call her and she’ll come and pick me up a
nd we’ll go to a park and talk.
Jean Park: It’s my uncle who is important to me. When I’m with him, I’m grateful(感激的) for the small things—being alive and healthy; having a good family and friends. He’s also very grateful for the small things and gives back to his community(社区).
Melaku Shierfaw: My father is important to me. He came here from a rich family in Africa. But when he came, he didn’t t
ake any money and started fresh. He showed that he could do everything by himself without the help of others and he’s successful. It shows me that I can do anything as long as I try.
Kalin Scott-Wright: My great grandmother is in charge of our whole family. She was born in 1920. I know she went through a lot in her life. She was a very strong woman and she raised my mom and took her in. She had a kind spirit and loved me and my brother. She’ll always be there for me although she’s not alive any longer.We can infer that Sophia .
A.is always in trouble |
B.has few friends |
C.gets along well with her parents |
D.depends too much on her parents |
What do we know about Stacey’s big sister?
A.She is very lonely. |
B.She is a single mother. |
C.She is Stacey’s only friend. |
D.She often helps Stacey. |
What does Jean’s uncle teach her?
A.To be grateful for the small things in life. |
B.To be ready to help her community. |
C.To treat others like friends. |
D.To have a good family. |
From his father, Melaku has learnt that .
A.not everyone can be successful |
B.money is not important in one’s life |
C.one should never ask others for help |
D.he can do anything as long as he tries |
OLYMPIA, March 24—Luo Xuejuan, a swimming gold medalist at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, became the first Chinese person to relay the Olympic Flame in Greece on Monday, receiving the flame from the first Olympic torchbearer(火炬手), Greek Alexandros Nikolaidis.
Despite her previous experience as a torchbearer in the Beijing leg of the Athens 2004 torch relay, Luo felt honored and proud of being chosen as the first Chinese torchbearer, the Xihua News Agency reported Luo as saying in an interview.
She talked about the great responsibility that she felt, as she believed she was representing every Chinese athlete and even Chinese person by running her leg of the relay.
Regarding missing the torch lighting ceremony because she had to be in an assigned location to wait for the flame, Luo felt no regret. “Even though I couldn’t see it, I was able to feel the flame light and knew that it was happening at a place nearby,” she said.
Luo expressed her belief that even if people couldn’t communicate with words, the Olympic Flame enables the transmission of the Olympic spirit and brings smiles wherever it might go. In Luo’s mind, the Olympic spirit represents purity, competition, friendship, enthusiasm, peace and harmony.Why didn’t Luo see the torch lighting ceremony?
A. She was late for the ceremony. |
B. She was not allowed to go there. |
C. She waited for the flame as the next torchbearer. |
D. The ceremony took place at a place far away. |
Choose the best explanation for the underlined word “leg” in Paragraph Three.
A. One of the long parts that connect the feet to the rest of the body. |
B. The part of a pair of trousers. |
C. One of the long thin parts on the bottom of a table. |
D. One part of a journey or race. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Luo Xuejuan was the first Olympic torchbearer in Greece. |
B. Luo had never been selected as a torchbearer before. |
C. Luo believed that the Olympic flame helped communication among people. |
D. Luo felt regretful because she missed the torch lighting ceremony. |
What’s the best title of the passage?
A. Luo Xuejuan: A Swimming Gold Medalist. |
B. The Torch Lighting Ceremony |
C. The Torch Relay Had Begun |
D. Luo Xuejuan: the First Chinese Torchbearer of Athens Torch Relay |
This passage is most likely to be seen in a .
A. novel |
B. newspaper |
C. magazine |
D. textbook |
In many parts of the world,cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them. So the idea that in 20 years’ time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by car manufacturers.
The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized, which will mean much saving,no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself, and it will not be owned by one individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.
According to Dr. David Davis,who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture, which had blocked up our cities, polluted our air, and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.
Davis says cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices to regulate the distance between one car and another. The car will automatically speed up, or slow down, to match the speed of the car in front. Computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people. By 2010, Dr. David Davis believes, car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road, whatever the weather conditions, by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car’s windscreen. And by 2020, cars will travel in convoy linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form “road-trains”. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount.” says Davis. “But all the others in the train would bum about ten percent 0f the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.” We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers .
A. do not believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020 |
B. are devoted to the technological revolution in car industry |
C. consider the predictions seriously |
D. have put the super-intelligent car into mass production |
Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2020?
A. The car will speed up out of control. |
B. We will own as many cars as we want. |
C. All cars will be driven by computers. |
D. Cars will produce more pollution than present ones. |
The leader of the research team believes that the present car culture will change because .
A. cars play a very important role in daily life |
B. many societies would stop functioning without cars |
C. cars should not be owned by one individual |
D. it causes many deaths to human society |
The expression closest in meaning to the phrase “in convoy” in the last paragraph is .
A. in line B. sidelong |
C. side by side D. shoulde![]() |
What will happen if cars are joined to each other electronically in 2020?
A. Motorists will get a clear view of the road. |
B. The weather condition will not have effect on motorists. |
C. There will be less pollution caused by car. |
D. All trains will burn less fuel than present. |