New research in monkeys may provide a clue about how the brain manages vast amounts of information and remembers what it needs.
The researchers found that when monkeys were taught to remember computer clip art pictures, their brains reduced the level of detail by sorting the pictures into categories for recall, such as images that contained "people," "buildings," "flowers," and "animals." The categorizing cells were found in the hippocampus, an area of the brain that processes sensory information into memory. In the experiment each monkey was shown one clip art picture, and after a delay of one to 30 seconds, picked the original out of two to six different images to get a juice reward.
By recording cell activity during hundreds of these trials in which the pictures were all different, the researchers noticed that certain cells were more active when the pictures contained similar features, such as images of people – but not other objects. They found that different cells coded images that fit different categories. The category cells grouped images based on common features – a strategy to improve memory. For example, the same cell responded to both tulips and daisies because they are both flowers."
“While such categorization is a highly efficient memory process, it may also have a downside,” said Deadwyler Ph.D., “ when the trials included more than one picture with people in it, instead of different images, the monkeys often confused the image with a picture of other people." So learning more about how the brain remembers could have far-reaching benefits. "If we can understand in advance how the brain works when decisions are made, we can predict when the brain will make a mistake, and correct it," said Tim Pons, Ph.D., "This finding about how large amounts of information are processed by the brain will help us to ultimately achieve that goal."
1.The purpose of the experiments on monkeys is to find out _________.
A. how the brain processes amounts of information into memory
B. the area of the brain that processes sensory information into memory
C. how the monkeys respond to different things
D. what is the monkeys most likely to remember
2.The research indicates numerous information can be remembered more easily by ________.
A. remembering the details
B. separating it into categories
C. showing a lot of pictures
D. remembering all features
3.According to the research, which of the following images may confuse the monkeys?
A. Books, toys and cars
B. Plants, animals and people
C. Tulips, daisies and roses
D. People, buildings and flowers
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Further study on how the brain remembers has more benefits
B. Categorization is the best way to improve memory
C. We can predict when the brain will make a mistake
D. How the brain remembers has been found out
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
New research in monkeys may provide a clue about how the brain manages vast amounts of information and remembers what it needs.
The researchers found that when monkeys were taught to remember computer clip art pictures, their brains reduced the level of detail by sorting the pictures into categories for recall, such as images that contained "people," "buildings," "flowers," and "animals." The categorizing cells were found in the hippocampus, an area of the brain that processes sensory information into memory. In the experiment each monkey was shown one clip art picture, and after a delay of one to 30 seconds, picked the original out of two to six different images to get a juice reward.
By recording cell activity during hundreds of these trials in which the pictures were all different, the researchers noticed that certain cells were more active when the pictures contained similar features, such as images of people – but not other objects. They found that different cells coded images that fit different categories. The category cells grouped images based on common features – a strategy to improve memory. For example, the same cell responded to both tulips and daisies because they are both flowers."
“While such categorization is a highly efficient memory process, it may also have a downside,” said Deadwyler Ph.D., “ when the trials included more than one picture with people in it, instead of different images, the monkeys often confused the image with a picture of other people." So learning more about how the brain remembers could have far-reaching benefits. "If we can understand in advance how the brain works when decisions are made, we can predict when the brain will make a mistake, and correct it," said Tim Pons, Ph.D., "This finding about how large amounts of information are processed by the brain will help us to ultimately achieve that goal."
1.The purpose of the experiments on monkeys is to find out _________.
A. how the brain processes amounts of information into memory
B. the area of the brain that processes sensory information into memory
C. how the monkeys respond to different things
D. what is the monkeys most likely to remember
2.The research indicates numerous information can be remembered more easily by ________.
A. remembering the details
B. separating it into categories
C. showing a lot of pictures
D. remembering all features
3.According to the research, which of the following images may confuse the monkeys?
A. Books, toys and cars
B. Plants, animals and people
C. Tulips, daisies and roses
D. People, buildings and flowers
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Further study on how the brain remembers has more benefits
B. Categorization is the best way to improve memory
C. We can predict when the brain will make a mistake
D. How the brain remembers has been found out
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
New research shows that the healthy brain may hold memories which we don’t even remember. In The Journal of Neuroscience, experts report that the brain might hold more memories than people realize, but that restoring those memories can be tricky.
Memory Check
First, participants saw a list of 120 real words mixed with 80 nonsense words. Next, they saw another word list and tried to remember which words had been on the first list. Meanwhile, their brains were scanned with functional magnetic resonance(核磁共振) imaging.
While participants reviewed the second word list, their brain scans showed more activity in a certain brain area -- the posterior（后部的） median temporal lobe(脑叶) -- when they saw words that had been on the first word list.
But participants didn’t always remember that they’d seen those words before. Sometimes, they goofed and said they hadn’t seen those words before. In other words, the posterior median temporal lobe was more sensitive to memory than participants’ consciousness, the researchers note.
“Album”of Memories
Another part of the median temporal lobe also attracted the scientists’ attention. The anterior（前面的）median temporal lobe showed more activity when participants thought they were seeing a new word, the study shows.
So, why did participants sometimes mess up their memory recall? It might be that two parts of their brain -- the posterior and anterior median temporal lobes -- might be dueling(决斗) for the upper hand in deciding what actually happened in the past, the study notes.
In other words, memories might have a photo album in the brain, but sometimes we forget what’s on all of the photo album’s pages.
1.A person sometimes has difficulty recalling because .
A. he is unconscious when he gets his memories
B. he forgets what is on the pages of the photo album
C. there are two parts in his brain dueling for the upper advantage
D. the anterior median temporal lobe is more active than the posterior
2.According to the passage the researchers are .
A. studying how a person remembers things
B. studying a magazine The Journal of Neuroscience
C. examining posterior and anterior median temporal lobes
D. doing experiments to find out what disturbs a person’s memory
3.What did the experts discover when the participants saw the words on the first word list appear on the second word list?
A. The instrument worked faster.
B. The participants were more conscious.
C. The posterior median temporal lobe was more active.
D. The anterior median temporal lobe was more active.
4. The underlined wordgoofedin the fourth paragraph means .
A. made a mess of B. made an answer for
C. made out of D. made the best of
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Following the crowd may not always be in a person’s best interest.But new research suggests that teens who go along with their friends may end up healthier as adults.
Scientists have known that close friendships help boost health.That’s true for both teens and adults.The finding inspired Joseph Allen,a psychologist at the University of Virginia,and his team to study whether experiences during teen years would influence adult health.So they followed 171 teens,starting when the kids were just 13.They interviewed each one every year for five years,and also spoke to these teens’ closest friends,who provided additional information about the quality of their friendships.The same 171 people were interviewed again at ages 25,26 and 27. This time,the questions surveyed each person’s overall health.When the researchers analyzed the data they found a strong connection between a teen’s behavior and adult health.Teens who had close friends grew up to be the healthier adults.Whether teens held back their feelings or expressed them to a close friends also influenced later health.Those who held back were more likely to be sick as adults.The connection held up even after the scientists accounted for other possible influences on health.Weight,family income and drug use were all examined.So were mental health issues,such as anxiety and depression.And in these people,such other factors did not explain adult health as well as teen friendships did.
Going along with the crowd may have benefits,says Allen,but there are also drawbacks.Teens who are more independent tend to do better at school and work.And peer pressure may lead some kids to engage in risky behavior, such as smoking,drinking or using drugs.Dealing with it is an ongoing challenge,Allen acknowledges.“Finding the right balance is the key.Teens shouldn’t lose heart for not finding this easy.”And,he adds,“Parents need to be understanding about the pressures teens face.”
1.Where can you probably read this passage?
A. Science fiction B. Health column
C. Fashion magazine D. Entertainment newspaper
2.We can learn from Allen’s study that _________.
A. many other factors have a greater influence on adult health than teen friendships
B. mental health issues have nothing to do with adult health
C. the same 171 teens were interviewed each year from 13 to 27
D. the teens who couldn’t express themselves grew up to be unhealthier
3.According to what Allen said,we can know that _________.
A. in order to do better at school,teens should not follow the crowd
B. though it’s challenging for teens to deal with peer pressure,they should not give up
C. teens will engage in smoking,drinking or using drugs when facing peer pressure
D. parents should understand their teens and stop them going with friends
4.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. There is nothing bad for teens to follow the crowd.
B. Close friendships are the most important for people’s health.
C. Teen friendships may turn out healthier adults.
D. Adult health is only influenced by teen friendships.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Following the crowd may not always be in a person’s best interest．But new research suggests that teens who go along with their friends may end up healthier as adults．
Scientists have known that close friendships help boost health．That’s true for both teens and adults．The finding inspired Joseph Allen，a psychologist at the University of Virginia，and his team to study whether experiences during teen years would influence adult health．
So they followed 171 teens，starting when the kids were just 13．They interviewed each one every year for five years，and also spoke to these teens’closest friends，who provided additional information about the quality of their friendships．The same 171 people were interviewed again at ages 25，26 and 27．This time，the questions surveyed each person’s overall health．When the researchers analyzed the data they found a strong connection between a teen’s behavior and adult health．Teens who had close friends grew up to be the healthier adults．Whether teens held back their feelings or expressed them to a close friends also influenced later health．Those who held back were more likely to be sick as adults．The connection held up even after the scientists accounted for other possible influences on health．Weight，family income and drug use were all examined．So were mental health issues，such as anxiety and depression．And in these people，such other factors did not explain adult health as well as teen friendships did．
Going along with the crowd may have benefits，says Allen，but there are also drawbacks．Teens who are more independent tend to do better at school and work．And peer pressure may lead some kids to engage in risky behavior，such as smoking，drinking or using drugs．Dealing with it is an ongoing challenge，Allen acknowledges．“Finding the right balance is the key．Teens shouldn’t lose heart for not finding this easy．”And，he adds，“Parents need to be understanding about the pressures teens face.”
1.Where can you probably read this passage?
A. Science fiction
B. Health column
C. Fashion magazine
D. Entertainment newspaper
2.We can learn from Allen’s study that _______________.
A. many other factors have a greater influence on adult health than teen friendships
B. mental health issues have nothing to do with adult health
C. the same 171 teens were interviewed each year from 13 to 27
D. the teens who couldn’t express themselves grew up to be unhealthier
3.According to what Allen said，we can know that _______________.
A. in order to do better at school，teens should not follow the crowd
B. though it’s challenging for teens to deal with peer pressure，they should not give up
C. teens will engage in smoking，drinking or using drugs when facing peer pressure
D. parents should understand their teens and stop them going with friends
4.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. There is nothing bad for teens to follow the crowd．
B. Close friendships are the most important for people’s health．
C. Teen friendships may turn out healthier adults．
D. Adult health is only influenced by teen friendships．
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Personal computers and the Internet give people new choices about how to spend their time．
Some may use this freedom to share less time with certain friends or family members, but new technology will also let them stay in closer touch with those they care more about．I know this from my personal experience．
E-mail makes it easy to work at home, where I now spend most weekends and evenings．My workinghours aren’t necessarily much shorter than they once were but I spend fewer of them at the office．This let me share more time with my young daughter than I might have if she’d been born before E-mail became such a practical tool．
The Internet also makes it easy to share thoughts with a group of friends．Say you do something fun—see a great movie perhaps—and there are four or five friends who might want to hear about it．If you call each one, you may be tired of telling the story．
With E-mail, you just write one note about your experience, at your convenience, and address it to all the friends who you think might be interested．They can read your message when they have time, and read as much as they want to．They can reply at their convenience, and you can read what they have to say at your convenience．
E-mail is also an inexpensive way to stay in close touch with people who live far away．More than a few parents use E-mail to keep in touch, even daily touch, with their children at college．
We just have to keep in mind that computers and the Internet offer another way of staying in touch．They don’t take the place of any of the old ways．
1.The purpose of this passage is to ___________．
A．explain how to use the Internet．
B．share the writer’s joy of keeping up with the latest technology．
C．tell the usefulness of the Internet．
D．introduce the basic knowledge about personal computers and the Internet．
2.The use of E-mail has made it possible for the writer to ____________．
A．spending less time working．
B．have more time to spend with his children．
C．work at home on all weekends．
D．work at a speed comfortable to him．
3.According to the writer, E-mail has no obvious advantage over the telephone because the former helps one_______________．
A．reach a group of people at one time conveniently．
B．keep his communication as personal as possible．
C．pass on much more information than the latter．
D．get in touch with his friends faster than the latter．
4.The best title for the passage is “__________________”．
A．Computer—New Technological Advances
B．Internet—New Tool to Maintain Good Friendship
C．Computer—Have Made Life Easier
D．Internet—a Convenient Tool for Communication
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Personal computers and the Internet give people new choices about how to spend their time.
Some may use this freedom to share less time with certain friends or family members, but new technology will also let them stay in closer touch with those they care most about. I know this from personal experience.
E-mail makes it easy to work at home, which is where I now spend most weekends and evenings. My working hours aren’t necessarily much shorter than they once were but I spend fewer of them at the office. This lets me share more time with my young daughter than I might have if she’d been born before electronic mail became such a practical tool.
The Internet also makes it easy to share thoughts with a group of friends. Say you do something fun or see a great movie, perhaps there are four or five friends who might want to hear about it. If you call each one, you may get tired of telling the story.
With E-mail, you just write one note about your experience at your convenience, and address it to all the friends you think might be interested. They can read your message when they have time, and read only as much as they want to. They can reply at their convenience, and you can read what they have to say at your convenience.
E-mail is also an inexpensive way to stay in close touch with people who live far away. Quite a few parents use E-mail to keep in touch, even daily touch, with their children off at college.
We just have to keep in mind that computers and the Internet offer another way of staying in touch. They don’t take the place of any of the old ways.
1.The purpose of this passage is to ________.
A. explain how to use the Internet
B. describe the writer’s joy of keeping up with the latest technology
C. tell the merits(价值) and usefulness of the Internet
D. introduce the reader to basic knowledge about personal computers and the Internet
2.The use of E-mail has made it possible for the writer to ________.
A. spend less time working
B. have more free time with his child
C. work at home on weekends
D. work at a speed comfortable to him
3.According to the writer, E-mail has an obvious advantage over the telephone because the former helps one ________.
A. reach a group of people at one time conveniently
B. keep one’s communication as personal as possible
C. pass on much more information than the later
D. get in touch with one’s friends faster than the later
4.The best title for this passage is ________.
A. Computer: New Technological Advances
B. Internet: New Tool to Maintain Good Friendship
C. Computers Have Made Life Easier
Internet: a Convenient Tool for Communication
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
It is thought that meteories (陨星)may hold clues about the ________of life on Earth .
| A．origin | B．reserve | C．basis | D．evidence |
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Changing the design of a new product may ____ the risk of its production in the market．
A．bring about B．come about
C．bring up D．come up
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
－How do you usually find out about new software?
－In the magazines like Popular Electronics. That’s ________computer companies usually advertise.
A．which B．where C．what D．why
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
If maths is the language of the universe, bees may have just uttered their first words. New research suggests these busybodies of the insect world are capable of addition and subtraction (减法)—using colors in the place of plus and minus symbols.
In the animal kingdom, the ability to count—or at least distinguish between differing quantities—isn’t unusual: It has been seen in frogs, spiders, and even fish. But solving equations (方程式) using symbols is rare, so far only achieved by famously brainy animals such as chimpanzees and African grey parrots.
Building on previous research that says the social insects can count to four and understand the concept of zero, researchers wanted to test the limits of what their tiny brains can do.
Scientists trained 14 bees to link the colors blue and yellow to addition and subtraction, respectively. They placed the bees at the entrance of a Y-shaped maze (迷宫), where they were shown several shapes in either yellow or blue. If the shapes were blue, bees got a reward if they went to the end of the maze with one more blue shape (the other end had one less blue shape); if the shapes were yellow, they got a reward if they went to the end of the maze with one less yellow shape.
The testing worked the same way: Bees that “subtracted” one shape when they saw yellow, or “added” one shape when they saw blue were considered to have aced the test. The bees got the right answer 63% to 72% of the time, depending on the type of equation and the direction of the right answer—much better than random guesses would allow—the researchers report today in Science Advances.
Though the results came from just 14 bees, researchers say the advance is exciting. If a brain about 20,000 times smaller than ours can perform maths using symbols, it could pave the way to novel approaches in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Just don’t ask the bees to do your homework anytime soon.
1.Why do the scientists conduct the research?
A. To teach them maths. B. To test the power of tiny brains.
C. To explain the meaning of colors. D. To get access to machine learning.
2.What does the underlined word “aced” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?
A. Given up. B. Entered for.
C. Got through. D. Checked over.
3.What might the research make contributions to?
A. Language acquisition. B. Arithmetic learning.
C. Protection of animals. D. Development of AI.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Bees “Like” Counting
B. Bees “Tell” Colors Apart
C. Bees “Perform” Maths Using Shapes
D. Bees “Get” Addition and Subtraction
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析