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.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 |
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 |
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 |
The underlined phrase" sheds light on" in the last paragraph means _____.
A.causes somebody to become cheerful |
B.makes something easier to understand |
C.comes upon something by accident |
D.brings something into the broad daylight |
Find Which Direction Is South
Do you have a good sense of direction? If not, please take with you a compass. But if you forget to take a compass, you can still find your way.
It’s never a good idea to imagine that the family member who was entrusted(委
托)with the job of map-reading actually knows where the family is.
You can tell by the slightly confused load on their faces that nothing on the
ground seems to match the map. Never mind. The hun is shining and it’s still morning. If you don’t know the exact time, you can still find out where south is, but you’ll need to be patient.
Find a straight stick and put it in the ground in a place where you can mark its
shadow.
Try to position the stick as vertically(垂直)as you can. You can check this by
making a simple plumb line (铅锤线)with a piece of string and weight. You haven’t got any string? OK, use a thread from your clothes with a button tied at the end to act as a weight.
Mark the end of the shadow cast by the stick.
Wait about half an hour and mark the end of the shadow again.
Keep doing this until you have made several marks.
The mark nearest the stick will represent the shortest shadow, which is cast at midday, when the sun is highest in the sky and pointing to the exact south.
Pick a point in the distance along the line between the shortest shadow and the stick. That point is south of where you are.
Now you can turn the map, like you did before, and find which way you should be travelling.
68. To find the direction, we ought to be patient probably because
A. it is not easy to find a proper stick B. it is not easy to position the stick
C. it takes hours to make the marks D. it takes about half an hour to make the marks
69.The passage would probably be most helpful to.
A. those who draw maps B. those who get lost
C. those who make compasses D. those who do experiments
70. The author presents this passage by .
A. telling an interesting story
B. describing an activity in a lively way
C. testing an idea by reasoning
D. introducing a practical method
71. Which of the following pictures best shows the way of finding the direction of south?
When I was seven my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven’t had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don’t need one. I have a mobile phone and I’m always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices(装置)tell the time—which is why, if you look around, you’ll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007.
But while the wise have realized that they don’t need them, others—apparently including some distinguished men of our time—are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to £250.000 for a piece.
This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra functions—but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years’ school fees for watches that allow you to do these things?
If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented(再投资) the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds’ worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
Watches are now classified as “investments”(投资). A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly? £350, 000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from 15, 000 to 30, 000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It’s a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up-—they’ve been rising for 15 years. But when of fashion. Prices may keep going up—they’ve been rising for 15 years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that £350, 000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Times.
64. The sales of watches to young people have fallen because they__________.
A. have other devices to tell the time B. think watches too expensive
C. prefer to wear an iPod D. hame no sense of time
65. It seems ridiculous to the writer that_______________.
A. people dive 300 metres into the sea
B. expensive clothes sell better than cheap ones
C. cheap cars don’t run as fast as expensive ones
D. expensive watches with unnecessary functions still sell
66. What can be learnt about Swiss watch industry from the passage?
A. It targets rich people as its potential customers.
B. It’s hard for the industry to beat its competitors.
C. It wastes a huge amount of money in advertising.
D. It’s easy for the industry to reinvent cheap watches.
67. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Timex or Rolex? B. My Childhood Timex
C. Watches? Not for Me! D. Watches—a Valuable Collection
A TOUR TO CHINA
14days from just £2,090pp
Fully inclusive from the UK
Price covers international airfares, departure taxes, fuel charge, local transportation all meals, entrance fees, guides, daily tours and visas for UK citizens.
Days 1-3 UK-Shanghai
Fly to the great city of shanghai and in the evening sample traditional shanghai
food. Visit the beautiful YU Garden, Old Town. shanghai Museum ,cross the Grest Nanpu Bridge and tour the Pudong area. Also explore Xintiandi with its 1920’s style Shikumen buildings and end your stay in shanghai with an amazing Huangpu river evening tour.
Days 4-7:Shanghai-Yangtze River Tour
Fly to yichang and change (approx: one hour)to board your Yangtze River ship for the next four nights. Enjoy a tour of the three Gorgee Dam(三峡大坝)before sailing on the grand Yangtze River ,passing through the impressive Three Gorges. We take a side trip to the lesser Three Gorges or travel up the shennong Stream in a peapod boat and enjoy various shore trips along the way.
Day8 :Chongqing—chengdu
Get off in Chongqing and drive to Chengdu for an overnight stay.
Day9-10;Chengdu-xi’an
Visit the famous Panda Reserve to see the lovely animals We then fly to the historic city of xi’an for two nights stay and enjoy traditional Shuijiao. Next day, explore one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century—the Terracotta Warriors(兵马俑),followed by the ancient City wall and a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.
Day11-13:xi’an-beijing
Visit little wild goose pagoda and see the ancient objects at the well-kowm shangxi provincial museum before walking through the lively militia Quarter to see the Great Mosque . Later fly to Beijing for three nights stay and try Peking Duck. During our stay in Beijing, we stroll through Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden city, the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in china, and visit the summer palace. Next day we take a walk on the Great wall, tour the unique Temple of Heaven and enjoy an attractive Chinese Acrzibatio show.
Day14:Beijing-UK
Fly back to the UK, arriving home later the same day filled with happy memories.
60. The underlined word “sample” in the passage probably means “ ”
A. buy B. reserve C. taste D. make
61. The first and last scenic spots we visit in xi’an are .
A. the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Mosque
B. the Terracotta Warriors and shanghai provincial Museum
C. little wild goose Pagoda and Great Mosque
D. Little wild goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter
62. Which of the following is TRUE according to the ad ?
A. The tourists will have to pay extra for fuel and meals.
B. The tourists will visit the 1920’s Shikumen buildings in Beijing
C. The tourists will take a side trip to the Three Gorges Dam during the tour.
D. The tourists will stay in Beijing for three nights before leaving for the UK
63. The ad is mainly intended to .
A. encourage the British to travel in China
B. attract the British to traditional Chinese food
C. offer service of booking air tickets to tourists
D. provide the British with a better understanding of China.
第三部分:阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分, 满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每篇短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
My grandfather came from Hungary and was the only one in his family who settled down in the United States. The rest of his family remained in Europe. When World War I broke out, he seemed to have become another man, downhearted. Such obvious change was not born out of his welfare, but out of fear: if his only son, my uncle, had to go to war, it would be cousin fighting against cousin.
One day in 1918, my Uncle Milton received his draft notice. My grandparents were very upset. But my mother, at the age of 10, felt on top of the world about her soldier brother going off to war. Realizing how he was regarded by his little sister and all of her friends, my uncle brought them all service pins, which meant that they had a loved one in the service. All the little girls were delighted.
The moment came when my uncle and the other soldiers, without any training but all in uniforms, boarded the train. The band played and the crowd cheered. Although no one noticed, I’m sure my grandmother had a tear in her eye for the only son. The train slowly pulled out, but not about a thousand yards when it suddenly paused. Everyone stared in wonder as the train slowly returned to the station. There was a dead silence before the doors opened and the men started to step out. Someone shouted,”The war is over. ”For a moment, nobody moved, but then the people heard someone bark orders at the soldiers. The men lined up in two lines, walked down the steps, and with the band playing, marched down the street, as returning heroes, to be welcomed home. My mother said it was great day, but she was just a little disappointed that it didn’t last a tiny bit longer.
56. What the grandfather was most worried about was .
A. the spread of the world war B. the safety of his living two cousins
C. a drop in his living standards D. his relatives killing each other
57. The underlined phrase “draft notice” means “ “
A. order for army service B. train ticket for Europe
C. letter of rejection D. note of warning
58. What did the “service pins”(in Para. 2)stand for in the eyes of the little girls?
A. Strength. B. Courage. C. Victory. D. Honor.
59. Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?
A. Disappointing. B. Unexpected. C. Uncertain. D. Inspiring.
Advice to “sleep on it” could be well founded, scientists say. After a good night’s sleep, a problem, which couldn’t be solved the night before, can often seem more manageable, although the evidence until now has been anecdotal (个人体验的). But researchers, at the University of Luebek in Germany, have designed an experiment that shows a good night’s sleep can improve insight (顿悟) and problem-solving.
“If you have some newly-got memories in your brain, sleep acts on these memories and restructures (重新组织) them, and as a result, after sleep, the insight into problem which you could not solve before increases,” said Dr Jan Born, a neuroscientist (神经科学家), at the university.
To test the theory, they taught volunteers two simple rules to help them turn a string of (一连串) numbers into a new order. There was also a third, hidden rule, which could help them increase their speed in solving the problem. The researchers divided the volunteers into two groups: Half were allowed to sleep after the training, while the rest were forced to stay awake. Dr Jan Born and his team noticed that the group that had slept after the training were twice as likely to figure out (想出) the third rule as the other group.
“Sleep helped,” Born said in a telephone interview. “The important thing is that you have to have a memory representation (描绘,表现) of the problem you want to solve in your brain and then you sleep, so it can act on the problem.” But Born admitted that he and his team don’t know how restructuring of memories occurs or what governs it.
Pierre Maquet and Perrine Ruby of the University of Liege in Belgium said the experimental evidence supports the anecdotal suggestions that sleep can help develop creative thinking. Although the role of sleep in human creativity will still be a mystery, the research gives people good reason to fully respect their periods of sleep, they added.
57. The underlined phrase “sleep on it” in Paragraph 1 probably means ______.
A. to delay deciding something until the next day
B. to get as much sleep as possible
C. to go on sleeping without being disturbed
D. to sleep till after the time you usually get up in the morning
58. Jan Born and his team carried out the experiment through ______.
A. comparison B. interview C. survey D. imagination
59. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
A. people should sleep so long as they have time
B. sleep is the only way to solve hard problems
C. people have various periods of sleep
D. people know how sleep reconstructs memories
60. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. How Sleep Works B. Sleep Helps Solve Problems
C. No Evidence, But Well Founded D. Born’s Discovery On Sleep