Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere (半球) alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks.
Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds. The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves. The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert. Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once.
Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily. Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions. Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze direction.
Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did. Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time.
“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.
The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures scanned for enemies. The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts. He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.
Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals. Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.
Studies of birds may offer unique insights into sleep. Jerome M. Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg.” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species.
1.According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______.
A. they have to watch out for possible attacks
B. their brain hemispheres take turns to rest
C. the two halves of their brain are differently structured
D. they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions
2.What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?
A. An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security.
B. Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security.
C. The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread.
D. A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror.
3.While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______.
A. alert themselves to the approaching enemy
B. emerge from water now and then to breathe
C. be sensitive to the ever-changing environment
D. avoid being swept away by rapid currents
4.By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______.
A. half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather
B. the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved
C. most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers
D. half-brain sleep may exist among other species
高三英语阅读理解困难题
Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere (半球) alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks.
Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds. The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves. The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert. Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once.
Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily. Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions. Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze direction.
Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did. Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time.
“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.
The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures scanned for enemies. The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts. He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.
Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals. Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.
Studies of birds may offer unique insights into sleep. Jerome M. Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg.” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species.
1.According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______.
A. they have to watch out for possible attacks
B. their brain hemispheres take turns to rest
C. the two halves of their brain are differently structured
D. they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions
2.What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?
A. An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security.
B. Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security.
C. The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread.
D. A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror.
3.While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______.
A. alert themselves to the approaching enemy
B. emerge from water now and then to breathe
C. be sensitive to the ever-changing environment
D. avoid being swept away by rapid currents
4.By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______.
A. half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather
B. the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved
C. most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers
D. half-brain sleep may exist among other species
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere(半球)alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks.
Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds.The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves.The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert.Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once.
Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily.Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions.Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze(注视)direction.
Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did.Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time.
“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.
The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved(发展)as creatures scanned for enemies.The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts.He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror.The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.
Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals.Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.
Studies of birds may offer unique insights(深刻的理解)into sleep.Jerome M.Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg.” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species.
1.According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______.
A.they have to watch out for possible attacks
B.their brain hemispheres take turns to rest
C.the two halves of their brain are differently structured
D.they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions
2.What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?
A.An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security.
B.Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security.
C.The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread.
D.A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror.
3.While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______.
A.alert themselves to the approaching enemy
B.emerge(浮现)from water now and then to breathe
C.be sensitive to the ever-changing environment
D.avoid being swept away by rapid currents
4.By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______.
A.half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather
B.the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved
C.most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers
D.half-brain sleep may exist among other species
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Birds are the only animals with feathers, although some other animals, such as insects and bats, also have wings.Nearly all birds can fly, and even flightless birds, such as ostriches (鸵鸟), penguins, evolved from flying ancestors.
Birds are found worldwide in many habitats.They can fly over some of the highest mountains on earth as well as both of the earth’s poles, dive through water to depths of more than 250m, and occupy habitats with the most extreme climates on the planet, including arctic tundra (冻土地带) and the Sahara Desert.Certain kinds of seabirds are commonly seen over the open ocean thousands of kilometers from the nearest land, but all birds must come ashore to raise their young.
Highly developed animals, birds are sensitive and responsive, colorful and graceful, with habits that excite interest and inquiry.People have long been fascinated by birds, in part because birds are found in the same habitats in which humans live.And like people, most species of birds are active during daylight hours.Humans find inspiration in birds’ capacity for flight and in their musical calls.Humans also find birds useful---their flesh and eggs for food, their feathers for warmth, and their companionship.Perhaps a key basis for our friendliness with birds is the similarity of our sensory worlds: Both birds and humans rely more heavily on hearing and color vision than on smell.Birds are useful indicators of the quality of the environment, because the health of bird populations mirrors the health of our environment.The rapid decline in birds populations and the accelerating extinction rates of birds in the world’s forests, grassland, wetlands, and islands are therefore reasons for great concern.
1.Which of the following would be the best title of the text?
A.Animals with Feathers and Wings
Our friendliness with birds
C.An introduction to Birds
D.Bird’s life
2.What does the second paragraph mainly tell us ?
A.Bird’s friendship Bird’s habitats
C.Bird’s raising D.Bird’s environment
3.Which of following is NOT true according to the passage ?
A.Bird’s flying abilities and musical calls inspire humans greatly.
Birds live in the same surroundings in which humans live.
C.Both birds and humans rely more heavily on hearing and smell than on color vision.
D.Bird’s flesh and eggs for food, bird’s feathers for warmth, and their companionship are useful to us.
4.From the text it may imply but NOT state that __________.
A.the environment is being damaged seriously
if you want to raise birds, you should pay attention to environment
C.the environment affects the human beings
D.bird populations decrease rapidly
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Scientists are not sure how the brain follows the tracks of time.One theory holds that it has a group of cells specialized to record the intervals (间隔)of time, while another theory holds that some neural processes (神经突)act as an inside clock.
Whichever theory it may be, studies find, the cells have a poor grasp of longer interval.Time does seem to slow during an empty afternoon and race when the brain focuses on challenging work.Stimulants (兴奋剂), including caffeine, tend to make people feel as if.time is passing faster; complex jobs, like doing taxes, can seem to drag on longer than they actually do.And emotional events — a breakup, a promotion, a transformative trip abroad —tend to be sensed as more recent than they actually are, by months or even years.In short, some psychologists say, the findings support the philosopher Martin Heidegger' s observation that time "persists merely as a consequence of the events taking place in it."
Now researchers are finding that the opposite thing may also be true: if very few events come to mind, then the sense of time does not persist; the brain shortens the interval that has passed.
In one classic experiment, a French explorer named Michel Siffre lived in a cave for two months, cut off from the rhythms of night and day and man-made clocks.He appeared then, convinced that he had been isolated for only 25 days.Left to its own devices, the brain tends to shorten time.
In earlier work, researchers found that a similar case at work in people’s judgment of intervals that last only moments.Relatively infrequent stimuli, like flashes or tones, tend to increase the speed of the brain' s internal pacemaker.
On an obvious level, these kinds of findings offer an explanation for why other people' s children seem to grow up so much faster than one's own.Involved parents are all too well aware of first step in their own children; however, seeing a cousin's child once every few years, without bothering memories, shortens the time.
1.What can we infer from the first paragraph?
A.Scientists have agreed about how the brain records time.
B.Scientists all think that some cells record the intervals of time.
C.Scientists haven't agreed on how the brain records time.
D. Scientists all hold the theory that neural processes are an inside clock.
2.According.to Paragraph 3, if we have few things to do, the brain will____.
A.make the intervals of time long
B.make the intervals of time short
C.keep a state of rest
D.stop working
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Michel Siffre didn' t think he had stayed in the cave for as long as two months.
B.Parents tend to think their own children grow faster than others.
C.Michel Diffre actually stayed in the cave for twenty-five days.
D.Children usually bring bad memories to their parents.
4.In which column of a newspaper can we find this passage?
A.Social news B.Community activities
C..Science D.Children s life
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
On __________ latitude of South Hemisphere (半球) and North Hemisphere, the seasons are just the opposite, for example, summer and winter.
A. the same B. different C. similar D. opposite
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
They are the sort of friends who are so close that they trust each other with their lives. If one falls, the other is there to catch him.
They are Wellman, whose legs were permanently injured nine years ago in a rock-climbing accident, and Corbett, an experienced rock climber. Together, they climbed up Half Dome, the famous 2, 000-foot rock in the Yosemite National Park, through one of the most difficult routes(路线).
During the climb, Corbett took the lead, hit in the metal spikes(尖状物)that guided the ropes, and climbed up. Then, after Wellman pulled himself up the rope, Corbett went down to remove the spikes and climbed up again. This process was repeated time and again, inch by inch, for 13 days. Wellman’s job was not easy either. He got himself up the rope through upper body strength alone. In all, Wellman figured that he had done 5, 000 pull-ups up the rope on the climb.
However, when the two men first met, they never talked about climbing. “He knew that was how I got injured. ”Wellman said. Until one day Wellman decided that he wanted to climb again and they started training.
Their climb of Half Dome was not all smooth. At one point, pieces of rock gave way, and Corbett dropped down quickly. Wellman locked their rope in place, stopping the fall at 20 feet. His quick action probably saved his friend’s life.
“Your partner can save your life—you can save your partner’s life. ”Wellman said as the pair received congratulations from friends. “There are real close ties. ”
1. Which of the following was a challenge for Corbett in climbing Half Dome?
A. To climb up to remove the spikes.
B. To climb it twice.
C. To do 5, 000 pull-ups up the rope.
D. To lock the rope in place.
2. Why did the two men never talk about climbing when they first met?
A. Corbett was poorly trained.
B. Wellman had lost interest in climbing.
C. Corbett didn’t want to hurt Wellman.
D. Wellman hadn’t decided whether to climb again or not.
3. What do we know about Wellman?
A. He climbed Half Dome by himself.
B. He was disabled in a traffic accident.
C. He stopped rock-climbing for some time.
D. He was saved by Corbett during the climb.
4. The main idea of the text is that .
A. two heads are better than one
B. friendship is precious in life
C. the disabled should never give up
D. a man can be destroyed but cannot be defeated
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
An ideal job should be one that _____ what you are good at with what you are interested in.
A. combines B. connects
C. contacts D. concentrates
高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we "fit" in society. As we go about our everyday lives,we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses. For example,we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian,whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman,whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or a meter reader,and so on.
The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter, and change throughout life. Most of us can, at very high speed, assume the statuses that various situations require. Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us. This means that we fit our actions to those of other people based on a constant mental process of appraisal and interpretation. Although some of us find the task more difficult than others,most of us perform it rather effortlessly.
A status has been compared to readymade clothes. Within certain limits, the buyer can choose style and fabric. But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince. We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society. Furthermore, our choice is limited to a size that will fit, as well as by our pocketbook . Having made a choice within these limits we can have certain alterations made, but apart from minor adjustments, we tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks. Statues too come ready made, and the range of choice among them is limited.
51. In the first paragraph,the writer tells us that statuses can help us ______.
A. determine whether a person is fit for a certain job
B. behave appropriately in relation to other people
C. protect ourselves in unfamiliar situations
D. make friends with other people
52. According to the writer,people often assume different statuses ______.
A. in order to identify themselves with others
B. in order to better identify others
C. as their mental processes change
D. as the situation changes
53. The underlined word "appraisal"(Para.2) most probably means "______".
A. involvement B. appreciation C. judgment D. presentation
54. In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the pronoun "it" refers to "______".
A. fitting our actions to those of other people appropriately
B. identification of other people’s statuses
C. selecting one’s own statuses
D. constant mental process
55. By saying that "an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince" (Para.3), the writer means _______.
A. different people have different styles of clothes
B. readymade clothes may need alterations
C. statuses come ready made just like clothes
D. our choice of statuses is limited
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Statuses are wonderful human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we "fit" in society. In our everyday lives whenever we meet people, we always try to judge them in terms of their statuses. For example, we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian, whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman and so on.
Our statuses often vary with the people we meet, and change through life. Most of us can, at very high speed, assume(表现出) the different statuses that various situations require. Much of social communication consists of recognizing and selecting among proper statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us. This means that we fit our actions to those of other people, based on a constant mental process of assessment and understanding. Although some of us find the task more difficult than others, most of us perform it rather easily.
A status has been compared to ready-made clothes. Within certain limits the buyer can choose style and material. But an American is not free to choose the clothes of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince. We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society.
Furthermore, our choice is limited to a size that will fit, as well as by our wallet. Having made a choice within these limits, we can have certain changes made. But apart from small adjustments, we tend to be limited to what the stores have on their shelves. Statuses too come ready-made, and the range of choice among them is limited.
1.According to the writer, people often assume different statuses______.
A. in order to distinguish themselves from others
B. in order to better recognize other people
C. as their mental processes change
D. as the situation changes
2.In the last sentence of the second paragraph, “it” refers to “___”
A. constant mental process
B. selecting one’s own statuses
C. recognition of other people’s statuses
D. fitting our actions to those of other properly
3.What can be the best title for this text?
A. Proper Relations.
B. Limited Choices.
C. Judgment of Statuses.
D. Comparison of Clothes.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读表达(共5小题;满分10分)
Statuses(身份) are part of human inventions that help us get along with one another and determine where we “fit” in society. As we go about our daily routines, we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses. For example, we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian, whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman, and so on.
The statuses we take often vary with the people we meet and change throughout life. Most of us can quickly adjust our statuses that various situations or occasions require. Most of social interaction(互动) consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to take their statuses in relation to us. This means that we fit our actions to those of other people based on a constant mental process of judgment. Although some of us find the task more difficult than others, most of us perform it rather effortlessly.
A status has been compared to ready-made clothes. Within certain limits, the buyer can choose style and fabric (衣料). But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince. We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society. Furthermore, our choice is limited to a size that will fit, as well as by our pocketbook(钱包). Having made a choice within these limits we can make certain changes, but apart from minor adjustments, we tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks(衣架). Statues too come ready made, and the range of choice among them is limited.
1.What is the function of statuses ? (not more than 15 words)
2.What do we do as the situation changes? (not more than 5 words)
3.In Paragraph 2 which word do you think can replace “identifying”? (1 word)
4.Besides society what are the other two factors (因素)that limit our choice of statuses? (not more than 3 words)
5.What is the main idea of Paragraph 3? (not more than 7 words)
高三英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析