People from East Asia tend to have more difficulty than those from Europe in distinguishing facial expressions — and a new report published online in Current Biology explains why.
Rachael Jack, University of Glasgow researcher, said that rather than scanning evenly(均匀的) across a face as Westerners do, Easterners fix their attention on the eyes.
“We show that Easterners and Westerners look at different face features to read facial expressions,” Jack said. “Westerners look at the eyes and the mouth in equal measure, whereas Easterners favor the eyes and neglect (忽略) the mouth.”
According to Jack and her colleagues, the discovery shows that human communication of emotion is more complex than previously believed. As a result, facial expressions that had been considered universally recognizable cannot be used to reliably convey emotion in cross-cultural situations.
The researchers studied cultural differences in the recognition of facial expressions by recording the eye movements of 13 Western Caucasian and 13 East Asian people while they observed pictures of expressive faces and put them into categories: happy, sad, surprised, fearful, disgusted, angry, or neutral. They compared how accurately participants read those facial expressions using their particular eye movement strategies.
It turned out that Easterners focused much greater attention on the eyes and made significantly more errors than Westerners did. “The cultural difference in eye movements that they show is probably a reflection of cultural difference in facial expressions,” Jack said. “Our data suggest that whereas Westerners use the whole face to convey emotion, Easterners use the eyes more and mouth less.”
In short, the data show that facial expressions are not universal signals of human emotion. From here on, examining how cultural factors have diversified these basic social skills will help our understanding of human emotion. Otherwise, when it comes to communicating emotions across cultures, Easterners and Westerners will find themselves lost in translation.
1.The discovery shows that Westerners .
A. pay equal attention to the eyes and the mouth
B. consider facial expressions universally reliable
C. observe the eyes and the mouth in different ways
D. have more difficulty in recognizing facial expressions
2.What were the people asked to do in the study?
A. To make a face at each other.
B. To get their faces impressive.
C. To classify some face pictures.
D. To observe the researchers’ faces.
3.What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 6 refer to?
A. The participants in the study.
B. The researchers of the study.
C. The errors made during the study.
D. The data collected from the study.
4.In comparison with Westerners, Easterners are likely to .
A. do translation more successfully
B. study the mouth more frequently
C. examine the eyes more attentively
D. read facial expressions more correctly
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
He may not have an "S" across his chest but this dog is most certainly a hero.
Harley, who was rescued from a puppy mill four years ago, was named the American Humane Association's 2015 American Hero Dog. Harley, who is missing an eye and has other medical issues from his time at the mill, is now a "spokes-dog" against puppy mills. He serves as the adorable furry face of the "Harley to the Rescue" campaign, which raises funds for the National Dog Mill Rescue, according to a press release.
The pup was rescued back in 2011 and adopted by Rudi and her husband, Dan. "It was just four years ago that he was pulled from the cage in the puppy mill and left to die," Harley's owner, Rudi, said during the awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles this past weekend, according to Today. com. "We never would have ever thought he would live this long and make such a difference for so many puppies."
The dog was one of eight finalists up for the American Hero Dog and was chosen as the winner through public votes. The finalists all won $ 1,500 to be donated to one of American Humane Association’s charity partners, with Harley receiving another $ 5 ,000 to go toward his charity partner, New Leash On Life.
According to the release, Harley spent 10 years at the puppy mill, and endured rough treatment there, which led to his many medical issues. He lost his eye as a result of his cage being power-washed with him inside.
The dog isn't just the face of his campaign, he also goes on rescue missions and makes public appearances at events and schools to raise awareness for puppy mills.
This incredible work is all due to the dog’s fighting spirit. That spirit is allowing him now to be the voice for dogs who cannot speak for themselves and give everybody hope that tomorrow's going to be a better day.
1.How did the "Harley to the Rescue" campaign function?
A. By saving dogs from a puppy mill.
B. By operating the American Humane Association.
C. By collecting money for the National Dog Mill Rescue.
D. By giving endangered dogs-enough medical treatment.
2.What was the author’s attitude to the puppy mill according to the text?
A. Unsatisfied. B. Sympathetic.
C. Doubtful. D. Tolerant.
3.Why was Harley blind in one eye?
A. She was born with it. B. Her owner treated her roughly.
C. It was caused by a medical issue. D. She was washed heavily in a cage.
4.What can we know about the dog from the text?
A. It would be given to New Leash On Life.
B. It was kept by Rudi's family.
C. It would be taken away by its puppy mill.
D. It returned to the National Dog Mill Rescue.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Like people, plants experience stress. And also, like people, the response to that stress can determine success.
Bad environmental conditions, such as drought, flood, heat and other stresses, affect yields (产量) more than crop pests and diseases. We are trying to find a way to equip plants with the ability to tolerate environmental stress and maintain high yields, said Stephen Howell, a professor of genetics and cell biology.
Plant cells produce proteins (蛋白质) and ship them to different parts of the cell. Under normal conditions, these proteins are folded into their normal, healthy structures as they are produced. When a plant is under stress, its cells produce poorly folded or unfolded proteins. Then a built-in system senses this and “sets off an alarm in the cell,” said Howell.
In response to the alarm, another protein (IRE1) starts working and creates a different process which activates (激活) the stress response genes whose products bring about defensive measures that help the plant survive.
“As it turns out, responses that are activated under stress conditions actually inhibit the growth of plants,” said Howell. “This allows them to preserve their energy to survive the stress conditions.”
For plants in the wild, this response is a help for survival, he said. In production of agriculture crops, however, this response reduces yields.
“You don’t want crop plants to stop growing,” Howell said. “You want them to continue to grow and produce even though they are under stress.”
With the new understanding of this stress response, the next step may be to silence the alarm system, said Howell. “What may be important is to disable some of these stress responses. That may make the plant more productive under stress conditions.”
1.According to the text, what causes an alarm in the plant cells?
A. The folded proteins. B. The changed proteins.
C. The defensive measures. D. The stress response genes.
2.What does the energy preserved in the plants under stress conditions do?
A. It helps the plants to survive. B. It helps to maintain high yields.
C. It keeps the plants growing. D. It helps to produce proteins.
3.Which word is closest to the meaning of the underlined word “inhibit” in Paragraph 5?
A. Prevent. B. Start.
C. Continue. D. Promote.
4.How does Howell intend to make crop plants maintain high yields under stress conditions?
A. By making crop plants keep more energy.
B. By making crop plants stop growing.
C. By making the alarm system stop working.
D. By making the alarm system respond quickly.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Four simple ways to stay positive
Trying to stay positive, both in good times and bad, is a great way to improve your quality of life. Try these four methods on a daily basis.
1. Don’t think a lot about negativity.
Of course, staying positive 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a bit difficult. Letting things get to you is normal, and it’s actually healthy to cry or express frustrations once in a while.
It’s when those negative moments control your life that your emotional balance is at risk. 1. However, don’t give that sadness another second in your day.
2. 2.
What you put into your body directly affects how you feel on the outside. Fill yourself with good, healthy foods like fruits and vegetables and limit snacking. Exercise is equally of great importance. Take a few days out of your week for at least half an hour of activity, and try to stick to a routine. 3.
3. Be kind to others.
4. Making someone’s day a bit brighter not only puts a smile on his or her face, but also yours as well. Remember to smile and treat each person with pity and respect. Good deeds are contagious (传染的) , and your positive attitude may spread among others.
4. Take it one day at a time.
Being positive isn’t an instant thing. It’s a steady effort that we follow every hour of every day. 5. Instead, focus on living in the moment and doing what you can to make each moment better.
A.Eat healthily and stay fit.
B.Take your lunch breaks outside.
C.Don’t worry about what the future may bring.
D.Gratitude helps you appreciate life in bad times.
E.Take a few minutes to feel sad and accept what happened.
F.Good feelings come from acts of kindness and selflessness.
G.Even going outside for a walk and enjoying the sunshine improves your mood.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to____how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I____that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and____friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was____, nothing about my term in France was what I____.
The moment I arrived in Paris, I was____by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting____I received some shocking news from my program-coordinator(协调人): there had been a death in my host parents’ extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to____out of one family’s house and into another. The exchange coordinator told me I’ d have a____this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation to____my native language, I asked not to be____with an English-speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I____myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDs! In just a few hours, we knew we’d be good friends for the rest of the____.
I left France with many____, so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always____to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends____France we enjoyed together. I love how people____seem so different, but end up being so____. The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn’t just to respect the French people____to respect all people, for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful____.
1.A. discuss B. express C. announce D. argue
2.A. approved B. knew C. warned D. denied
3.A. stubborn B. anxious C. universal D. interesting
4.A. boring B. upsetting C. exciting D. promising
5.A. expected B. liked C. doubted D. feared
6.A. sponsored B. witnessed C. greeted D. supported
7.A. until B. when C. since D. while
8.A. move B. travel C. walk D. rush
9.A. housekeeper B. leader C. roommate D. colleague
10.A. learn B. appreciate C. speak D. master
11.A. combined B. fitted C. involved D. placed
12.A. added B. introduced C. devoted D. adapted
13.A. term B. week C. month D. vacation
14.A. presents B. suitcases C. stories D. dreams
15.A. surprised B. disturbed C. embarrassed D. concerned
16.A. analyzing B. exploring C. describing D. investigating
17.A. need B. shall C. must D. can
18.A. generous B. independent C. similar D. distant
19.A. and B. but C. or D. so
20.A. instructions B. friendships C. facts D. data
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Once there was a wise landowner who had two sons. After a few years, the landowner fell ill badly. So he considered 1. (select) one of them to rule the family according to their abilities. He called both of them and gave each one a room. He said，“You must fill your room completely with anything you wish. It can be anything! But there should not be any space 2. (leave) behind and you should not seek advice 3. others! "
The next day, the landowner visited the 4. (old) son's room. The room was completely filled with hay (干草). The landowner sighed on the 5. (foolish) of the son. Then he went to the room given to the younger son. But it 6. (keep) closed. The landowner knocked at the door. The younger son asked 7. (he) father to get in and closed the door again. It was darkness everywhere and the landowner shouted at his son 8. (angry). But the younger son lighted a candle 9. said, “I have filled this room with light! Now the landowner felt very happy and hugged his son proudly. He understood that the younger would be the right person 10. (rule) the family.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据下列各句句意及所给单词的首字母、汉语提示或英文释义，写出该单词的正确形式。
1.The two sisters are very much alike. I always get c_______ about them.
2.She always o_______ her success to good luck.
3.People are used to a_______ China with the Great Wall.
4.S_______ people always care only about themselves and not about other people.
5.It’s bad_______ (礼貌) to spit in the public places.
6.History can be _______ (宽恕) but not forgotten. History should not repeat!
7.We still keep the tradition of________ (交换) gifts at Christmas.
8.He fell off a big tree yesterday and his left leg was badly ________ (伤害).
9.The first time I got in touch with the ________ (an Australian animal that carries its baby in a special pocket of skin), I felt in love with it.
10.You’ll solve the problem if you_______ ( focus attention) on it.
11.The smell of ________ (delicious,yummy) dishes came from the kitchen.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
As we all know, travelling can be an excited experience. Let me give you some advices that you have to pay attention. You can find out more about your destination by surf the Internet before you set out. You needn’t take too many cash. Though it can be very convenient to pay in cash, using cheques are much more trustworthy. In addition, it will be wise of you to take a umbrella in case of it should rain. And if you are to travel abroad, you’d better understand the cultural diversity. Keep this in mind that being polite in foreign countries can help you had a wonderful trip.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假设你是晨光中学的学生会主席李华。一批来自英国的高中生与你校学生开展了为期两周的交流项目。现在，他们即将回国，你将在欢送会上致辞。请根据以下提示写一篇发言稿。
1. 回顾双方的交流项目（如学习、生活、文艺等方面）；
2. 谈谈收获；
3. 表达祝愿。
Dear friends,
How time flies!
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Thank you!
难度: 简单查看答案及解析