While some scientists overlook the existence ...

While some scientists overlook the existence of a sixth sense for danger, a new research from Washington University in St. Louis has discovered a brain area that clearly acts as an early warning system and helps us adjust our behavior to avoid dangerous situations.

"Our brains are better at picking up not obvious warning signs than we previously thought," said Joshua Brown, a PhD in psychology in the issue of the journal Science.

The findings offer exact scientific evidence for a new way to form a concept of the complex control processes taking place in and around the ACC, a brain area located near the top of the frontal lobes(耳垂) and along the walls that divide the left and right hemispheres(大脑半球).

"In the past, we found activity in the ACC when people had to make a difficult decision, or after they make a mistake," Brown said. "But now we find that this brain area can actually learn to recognize when you might make a mistake, even before a difficult decision has to be made. So the ACC appears to act as an early warning system—— it learns to warn us in advance when our behavior might lead to a negative outcome, so that we can be more careful and avoid making a mistake."

By providing a clearer picture by which we self monitor and control our behavior, the study is an important step in efforts to develop more effective treatments for mental illnesses. It also provides a new way of understanding inappropriate behaviors that often accompany mental illnesses.

"Our results suggest how injury of the ACC can lead to breakdowns in the early warning system, so that the brain fails to stop or control inappropriate behavior ahead of time," said Brown. "On the other hand, in those persons with mental disorder, the ACC might warn us of an upcoming problem even when no problem is in the existence."

Known to be an important part of the brain's control system, the ACC is believed to help adjust between cold, hard, fact-based reasoning and emotional responses, such as love, fear or expectation.

1.According to the passage, the ACC____________.

A. refers to the sixth sense for danger

B. deals with obvious warning situations

C. connects the left and right hemispheres

D. sends warning messages in advance

2.The new research is beneficial because it ________ .

A. provides a new way of avoiding mistakes

B. adjusts emotional responses in time of danger

C. helps find better treatments for mental illnesses

D. assists people in predicting and avoiding danger

3.The new research helps us understand _________.

A. why we are likely to make mistakes when the ACC is badly injured

B. why people with illnesses usually have so many strange behaviors

C. how the ACC works when something dangerous happens

D. how our brain warns us of failure in advance

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The sixth mass extinction of life on the Earth is unfolding more quickly than feared, scientists have warned. More than 30 percent of animals with a backbone — fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals — are declining in both range and population, according to the first comprehensive analysis of these trends.

Around a decade ago, experts feared that a new range wipeout of species was appearing. Today, most agree that it is underway — but the new study suggests that the die-out is already growing fast.

The loss of biodiversity has recently accelerated. Several species of mammals that were relatively safe one or two decades ago are now endangered, including cheetahs, lions and giraffes, the study showed.

There is no mystery as to why: our own ever-expanding species — which has more than doubled in number since 1960 to 7.4 billion — is eating, crowding and polluting its planetary cohabitants out of existence. By comparison, there are as few as 20,000 lions left in the wild, less than 7,000 cheetahs, 500 to 1,000 giant pandas.

The main drivers of wildlife decline are habitat loss, over-consumption, pollution, other species, disease, as well as hunting in the case of tigers, elephants, rhinos and other large animals prized for their body parts.

Climate change is thought to become a major threat in the coming decades, with some animals — most famously polar bears — already in decline due to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns.

1.What does the underlined word “accelerated” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A. Made up.　　 B. Put up.

C. Sped up.　　 D. Used up.

2.Why has the loss of biodiversity sped up?

A. The mankind’s population is growing fast.

B. The air pollution is too severe.

C. There are fewer species in larger areas.

D. Man causes wider water pollution.

3.Which is not the main driver of wildlife decline?

A. Outside animals.

B. Loss of living areas.

C. Various illnesses.

D. Lack of water.

4.How is the future of polar bears?

A. Uncertain.　　 B. Hopeful.

C. Doubtful.　　 D. Unsatisfying.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

So far no life has been found outside the earth, but while some scientists are actively searching for living things in outer space, others firmly believe there ____ .

A. mustn’t be                B. may not be               C. can’t be             D. won’t be

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

So far no life has been found outside the earth, but while some scientists are actively searching for living things in outer space, others firmly believe there ____ .

A. mustn’t be                      B. may not be

C. can’t be                        D. won’t be

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

So far no life has been found outside the earth, but while some scientists are actively searching for living things in outer space, others firmly believe there ______.

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

It puzzles the scientists _____ some mammals produce their young _____ others lay eggs．

A．that; while　 B．what; while C．that; as　 D．what; as

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

It puzzles the scientists _____ some mammals produce their young _____ others lay eggs．

A．that; while　 B．what; while

C．that; as 　　 D．what; as

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The idea of “law” exists in every culture. All societies have some kind of law to keep order and to control the interactions of people with those around them. The laws of any culture tell people three things: what they can do (their right), what they must do (their duties), and what they may not do. In addition, there are usually specific types of punishment for those who break the law.

Although all societies have laws, not all have the same idea of justice—which is “right” and “wrong” and how “wrong” should be punished. In most Western cultures, it is thought that punishing criminals will prevent them from committing other crimes. Also, it is hoped that the fear of punishment will act as a deterrent(威慑) that prevents other people from committing similar crimes; in other words, people who are considering a life of crime will decide against it because of fear of punishment. In most non-Western cultures, by contrast, punishment is not seen as a deterrent. Instead, great importance is placed on restoring balance in the situation. A thief, for example, may be ordered to return the things he has stolen instead of, as in Western societies, spending time in prison.

Another difference in the concept of justice lies in various societies’ ideas of what laws are. In the West, people consider “laws” quite different from “customs”. There is also a great contrast between “sins” (breaking religious laws) and “crimes” (breaking laws of the government). In many non-Western cultures, on the other hand, there is little separation of customs, laws, and religious beliefs; in other cultures, these three may be quite separate from one another, but still very much different from those in the West. For these reasons, an action may be considered a crime in one country, but be socially acceptable in others. For instance, although a thief is viewed as a criminal in much of the world, in a small village where there is considerable communal（公共的） living and sharing of objects, the word thief may have little meaning. Someone who has taken something without asking is simply considered an impolite person.

Most countries have two kinds of law: criminal and civil. People who have been accused of acts such as murder or theft are heard in the criminal justice system, while civil justice deals with people who are believed to have violated others’ rights. The use of the civil system reflects the values of the society in which it exists. In the United States where personal, individual justice is considered very important, civil law has become “big business.” There are over 600,000 lawyers in the United States, and many of them keep busy with civil lawsuits; that is, they work for people who want to sue others. If a man falls over a torn rug in a hotel and breaks his arm, for instance, he might decide to sue the hotel owners so that they will pay his medical costs. In a country like Japan, by contrast, there is very little use of the civil justice system. Lawsuits are not very popular in Japan, where social harmony is even more important than individual rights, and where people would rather reach agreement outside court.

1. The main point of paragraph 1 is that____.

2. Which is TRUE in most Western cultures?

3.Which statement is NOT true according to the article?

4.Which of the following cases are not heard in the criminal justice system?

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Some of the world’ s biggest companies—Apple, Amazon, Facebook—didn’ t exist 30 years ago. So what firms are we working for in 2050? That’ s a question put forward by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his new book “21 Lessons for the 21st Century”.

He argues that because technology is changing so fast, it’ s one of the first times in human history when we don’t know what jobs will look like in the coming three decades.　 “So the best bet is to focus on emotional intelligence（EQ） ,” he said. “Information is the last thing the kids need. They have too much of it.”

In this book, he focuses on the various challenges facing us today. As he writes in the book’ s introduction: “What are today’s greatest challenges? What should we pay attention to? What should we teach our kids?” One area where these questions crop up is artificial intelligence （AI）. Harari believes that AI will completely affect the job market for the next generation of workers.

His first two books—“Sapiens” and “Homo Deus”—became international bestsellers, selling more than 12 million copies worldwide. They were praised by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama and Bill Gates. Harari’ s books, about the past and future of humanity, attract a great number of fans. Fellow Israeli, actress Natalie Portman, is a fan. So is American R&B star Janelle Monae.

As for Bill Gates, he might be Harari’ s biggest fan.　 So when the New York Times asked him to review Harari’ s latest books, he jumped at the opportunity. “All the three books wrestle with some version of the same question: What will give our lives meaning in the decades and centuries ahead?” Gates wrote in his review. “So far, human history has been driven by a desire to live longer, healthier, happier lives. If science is eventually able to give that dream to most people, and large numbers of people no longer need to work, what reason will we have to get up in the morning?”

1.What is the best way to help students face the uncertain future according to Harari?

A. Teaching them advanced technology.

B. Providing them with more information.

C. Improving their emotional intelligence.

D. Reminding them of fierce competitions.

2.What does Harari stress in his new book?

A. The bright future of the future workers.

B. Different challenges in face of people.

C. Lessons humans should learn from history.

D. The disadvantages of artificial intelligence.

3.What can we learn about Harari?

A. He is Bill Gates’ good friend. B. He has a deep understanding of AI.

C. He is highly thought of by everyone. D. His books are well received in the world.

4.What is talked about in all of Harari’ s three books?

A. The desire to enjoy life. B. The limitless opportunities in the future.

C. The driving force of human history. D. The source of life meaning in the future.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Similarly, active places exist around the globe, with some even ________ a new kind of tourists.

A．attracted　 B．to attract　 C．attract　 D．attracting

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析