Dogs have an understanding of fair play and become angry if they feel that another dog is getting a better deal, a new study has found.
The study looked at how dogs react when a companion is rewarded for the same trick in an unequal way. Friederike Range, a famous researcher, and her colleagues did a series of experiments with dogs who knew how to respond to the command “give the paw”. The dogs were normally happy to repeatedly give the paw, whether they got a reward or not.
But that changed if they saw that another dog was being rewarded with a piece of food, while they received nothing. The dogs hesitated significantly longer when obeying the command to give the paw. Eventually, the unrewarded dogs stopped cooperating.
Researchers always assumed that only humans pay close attention to unfairness. That changed in 2003 when Frans De Waal, a professor of psychology, and a colleague named Sarah Brosnan did a survey on monkeys. Monkeys had to hand a small rock to researchers to get a piece of cucumber(黄瓜) in return. However, the monkeys would suddenly become angry when receiving the piece of cucumber if they saw another monkey receive a more delicious reward, such as a grape, for doing the same job. The monkey that got the cucumber would eventually throw away the food and the rock, and would later just stop performing.
In that experiment, the monkeys considered the fairness of two different types of payment, but when Range and her colleagues did a similar study with their trained dogs, testing to see if dogs would become upset if they only got bread when other dogs received sausage, they found that dogs did not make that kind of subtle (细微的) distinction. As long as the dogs got some kind of food payment, even if it wasn’t the most delicious kind, they would play along. The dogs refused to give their paws when they _____________________.
A.were given too much reward |
B.realized they received less food |
C.found another dog was given nothing |
D.felt they were being treated unequally |
The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 3 probably refers to “__________________”.
A.the dogs obeyed the command happily |
B.the dogs waited for a reward |
C.the dogs hesitated to give the paw |
D.the dogs stopped cooperating |
The monkeys would become angry if they found _____________________.
A.they were being given the same type of food |
B.another monkey did much less work |
C.another monkey was offered tastier food |
D.other monkeys threw food and rocks |
Range finds that, compared with monkeys, dogs __________________.
A.enjoy playing interesting games with humans |
B.prefer to do the same jobs as humans |
C.pay little attention to the type of reward received |
D.aren’t sensitive to the stimulation (刺激) of food |
Last winter, when I was heavily pregnant, I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law's house and had to park in a nearby parking lot because they didn't have accessible parking. The snow was extremely heavy and there was lots of ice on the ground --- not many people had ventured out that evening!
When I returned to my car around 11pm, I noticed that I was the only car left. Nervously, I hopped into the car and let it warm up a bit. When I finally tried to drive away, my wheels began to spin. I was stuck! I spun and spun and wondered what to do.
All of a sudden, in my rear view mirror, I saw four teen-aged boys approaching my car. They were walking side by side in a line and dressed a bit like gang members --- at least I thought that's what they looked like. My car was in a very isolated area and I began to panic. I was certain they were coming to my car to harm me. Terrified, I just froze. One of the young men tapped on my window and said "Excuse me, Ma'am, can we help you? You seem stuck." Still afraid and fearing the worst, I said "I am stuck." And the young man said "It's okay, stay in your car and we'll push you out of the snow." And they did!
When they finally got me out of the snow, they smiled and waved. I rolled down my window and thanked them, embarrassed to have judged them so poorly.Why did the author just freeze when the four young men walking toward her car?
A.Because she was afraid of being harmed. |
B.Because she sat in her car for too long a time. |
C.Because she was cold indeed in that freezing evening. |
D.Because she knew they would rob her of the car. |
Which of the following words can best describe the four young men?
A.Impolite. |
B.Ill-mannered. |
C.Unfriendly |
D.Warm-hearted. |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
A.One of the four teenagers was a gang member. |
B.The kids wanted to help the author out of trouble. |
C.The author would have a baby in her car. |
D.The young men enjoyed pushing cars out of the snow. |
The best title for the text would be___________.
A.Every man has his faults |
B.Fortune favors those who use their judgment |
C.Don't judge a book by its cover |
D.Think twice before you do. |
An old woman walked into a clothes shop. She asked the salesgirl to let her have a look at a new dress, but the girl stood still behind the counter(柜台),taking no notice of the request. The old woman spoke to the girl again, raising her voice a bit, but still received no answer. The old woman looked at the girl and nodded to herself, “ I am too old to see well. I can’t even tell a plastic model from a real girl!” On hearing this, the salesgirl shouted to the old woman, “What? Did you call me a plastic model? ”The old woman was greatly surprised. “Oh, dear me, ” she said. “The model can speak!” What did the old woman go to the shop to do?
A.To choose a dress. | B.To buy a dress for herself. |
C.To show off her dress. | D.To pick a quarrel with the salesgirl. |
The salesgirl did not make a reply __________.
A.because she didn't see the old woman |
B.because she didn't think the old woman had enough money for a new dress |
C.because she was too busy to notice the old woman |
D.for some reason unknown in this story |
It was not until that woman spoke for the _____ time that the salesgirl said something.
A.first | B.second | C.third | D.fourth |
When the old woman said, “I am too old to see well,” she _______.
A.meant to say that she really had poor eyesight |
B.wanted the salesgirl to excuse her |
C.was simply telling a lie |
D.was, in fact, trying to make the salesgirl open her mouth |
What do you think the salesgirl would do on hearing this? She would_____.
A.be too angry to say a word for a moment |
B.run and tell the shop owner about it |
C.apologize to the old woman and do what she had been asked to do |
D.turn back and cry |
After her husband had gone to work, Mrs Richards send her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any housework that morning.
In the evening she would go to a fancy dress party with her husband. She wanted to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was really splendid. After putting it on, She went downstairs to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear.
Just as Mrs Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, she quickly hid in the small store-room under the stair. She heard the front door opened and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly the door of the store-room was opened and in came a man. Mrs Richards realized it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, saying “It’s only me. ” but it was too late, the man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs Richards walked towards him, he fled, losing the door heavily behind him.The reason for Mrs Richards’ excitement that day was that____.
A.she had sent her children to school |
B.she was to attend an evening party |
C.she wouldn’t do any housework that morning |
D.she had made a special costume the night before |
Mrs Richards went downstairs with the costume on so as to____.
A.made sure that the costume fitted her well |
B.frighten the person who was knocking on the door |
C.find out if she had finished the costume |
D.receive the bread and do some cooking |
The man who was knocking at the door was____.
A.a baker | B.a thief | C.her husband | D.an electricity man |
What did the man do after he knocked on the front door?
A.He entered just as Mrs Richards had told him to. |
B.He did not do anything as Mrs Richards had expected him to. |
C.He stepped directly towards the meter. |
D.He went straight in so as to find Mrs Richards. |
The man ____ and that made him cry out and run away.
A.thought he must have met a ghost |
B.recognized Mrs Richards |
C.found out Mrs Richards was walking towards him |
D.thought that Mrs Richards must have recognized him |
It was already dark when an old man came to a small town. He found an inn and wanted to stay there for the night. After he had gone to his room, the owner said to his wife, “Look at his bag, dear. I’m sure there are lots of valuable things in it. I want to steal it when he is asleep.”
“No, no,” said the woman. “He must look for his bag tomorrow morning. Then he’ll take you before the judge.” They thought and at last the woman had an idea. “We have forgetful grass,” said the woman, “Why not put some into his food? If he has the food, he will forget to take his bag away.” “How clever you are!” said the owner, “Don’t forget it when you prepare supper for him.”
The old man had the food with the forgetful grass and went to bed. The next morning, when the owner got up, he found the door was open and the old man had left with his bag. He woke his wife up and said angrily, “What a fool! Your forgetful grass isn’t useful at all.” “No, no,” said the woman. “I don’t think so. He must forget something.” “Oh, I’ve remembered!” The owner cried out suddenly, “He forgot…” The old man came to the inn _______.
A.in the morning | B.in the afternoon |
C.in the evening | D.at night |
The owner and his wife wanted to _______.
A.get the man’s bag | B.steal the man’s money |
C.make the man pay them more | D.hide the man’s bag |
The owner and his wife put the forgetful grass into the food because _______.
A.the old man always forgot something |
B.they wanted to make the food better |
C.they hoped the old man would leave the bag in the inn |
D.they wanted to know if the grass was useful |
According to the passage the old man forgot _______.
A.to take his bag away |
B.to tell the owner when he left |
C.to close the door when he went to sleep |
D.to pay them the inn money |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Both the owner and his wife were clever. |
B.The owner of the inn got nothing from the old man. |
C.The old man left the inn without his bag. |
D.The woman forget to put the grass into the food. |
Confucius (551BC~479BC), a Chinese philosopher,one of the most influential men in the history of China. Confucius was born in a noble family in the state of Lu. However,his parents were poor. His father died when Confucius was only three years old. In 527 BC he began his life as a teacher,usually traveling about and teaching the followers that were around him. Confucius worked as an official of the state of Lu. However,he soon left office to travel and teach. In 484 BC he returned to Lu,where he lived until his death.
Living in the turbulent(动荡的)period,Confucius believed that people must go back to the principles of the ancient wise men. He therefore lectured to his pupils on the classics and taught them how to behave properly in society. Confucius did not write down the principles of his philosophy. The Analects (《论语》),a work written by some of his followers,is considered the most faithful source of information about his life and teachings.
The teachings of Confucius were practical and moral,rather than religious. He said that man's behavior should be based on five virtues:kindness, uprightness(义),decorum(礼),wisdom and faithfulness(信).He asked everyone to fulfill their duties carefully toward the state. In the centuries after his death,his teachings,known as Confucianism,had a more powerful influence on the Chinese nation.At about what age did Confucius begin his teaching?______
A.51. | B.27. | C.48. | D.24. |
The Analects is________.
A.considered to have been written by Confucius |
B.about the principles of the ancient wise men |
C.about Confucius' life and his teachings |
D.considered to be practical in tricks and evils |
It can be inferred that________.
A.Confucius was born in a very rich family |
B.Confucius served as an official in his lifetime |
C.the teachings of Confucius are religious |
D.Confucianism was more popular after Confucius died |