Decoding the young brain
There was a funny experiment to see how a young child would answer a specific question compared to an adult.After the adult had spent some time speaking with the child, he asked the child, “What do you think about me？” The child answered, “You talk too much.” When the adult performed the same experiment with another adult, the reply to the same question was, “I think you're a very interesting person.” Even if the adult felt the same way as the child, his brain allowed him to take a moment，consider the question, and come up with an answer. He could have been annoyed, but his answer didn't reflect it because he was being polite.
The secret lies in the science of the developing brain.The child's honest answer was reflected in the fact that his brain wasn't equipped to filter(过滤) information before answering the question.As a result, he was honest, but he said something that may have been hurtful.However, the child did not intentionally hurt the adult; it's just the way his brain works.As a child grows into adolescence and then into adulthood, that changes.
The human brain is made up of billions of neurons(神经元). In order for our body to execute a command, like getting up from a chair and walking to the other room, the neurons in the brain have to communicate with each other. They also help us employ our senses like taste and touch and help us remember things.
When the neurons send messages, perhaps one sensation(感觉) the person feels is excitement about eating a cookie because it is so delicious. Later, if that person smells a cookie or hears someone talking about a cookie, it can spark the electrical signals that call up the memory of eating the delicious cookie. In an adult, he or she may remember that eating too many cookies can have consequences, like weight gain.But because the younger brain is more impulsive(冲动的), the desire to feel the pleasure of the sweet treat outweighs the consequences.
That is because when a child is young, his brain is “wired” in such a way that he seeks pleasure and is more willing to take risks than an adult.This affects his decision-making process and it is why younger people tend to be more impulsive. Sometimes parents have to tell their children over and over again before the child remembers that something is dangerous or risky. How many times have we heard a parent say, “I tell her this all the time, but she never listens！”
To conclude, what we know about the young brain is that children are more likely than adults to be impulsive.It isn't always necessarily because they are being naughty; it may very well be because of their brains. So the next time you ask a child what he really thinks of you, be prepared for any kind of answer.
Decoding the young brain | |
An experiment on a young child | A young child answered the question 1. the top of his head while an adult paused, and 2. twice before he found an answer. |
Causes of the 3. reflected in the experiment | The developing brain of the young child contributed to his honest answer. ◆He was more likely to hurt or offend others 4. he didn't intend to do so. ◆It's just the way his brain works and with him growing up, that changes. |
Billions of neurons 5.up the human brain have their own mechanism for functioning. ◆The neurons have to communicate with each other, helping us employ our senses and remember things. ◆A person may 6. the smell of a cookie with the memory of eating it. ◆A younger brain is more impulsive compared with an adult's. | |
A young child's having a natural 7. to seek pleasure and take risks results from his young brain. ◆This affects his decision-making process and it is why younger people act in an impulsive way. ◆Warned many times before, a young child will still try something 8. or risky. | |
A conclusion drawn from the experiment | An adult's ability to control his impulses is much 9. and a young child is not 10. being naughty when they make hurtful or offensive answers. |
No one knew Prince Edward Street as well as Pierre Dupin. He had delivered milk to the families on the street for thirty years. For the past fifteen years a large white horse named Joseph pulled his milk wagon. Joseph was a gentle horse with beautiful spirit shining out of its eyes, so Pierre named him after Saint Joseph.
Every morning at five, Pierre arrived at the milk company's stables to find Joseph waiting for him, Pierre would call, “Good morning, my old friend.”， as he climbed into his seat, while Joseph turned his head toward the driver. And the two would go proudly down the street. Without any order from Pierre, the wagon would roll down three streets. Then it turned right for two streets, before turning left to Saint Catherine Street. The horse finally stopped at the first house on Prince Edward Street. There, Joseph would wait perhaps thirty seconds for Pierre to get down off his seat and put a bottle of milk at the front door.
Pierre knew every one of the forty families that got milk. The cooks knew that Pierre could not read or write; so, instead of leaving orders in an empty milk bottle, they simply sang out if they needed an extra bottle.
Pierre also had a wonderful memory. When he arrived at the stable he always remembered to tell Jacques, the foreman(领班) of the stables, “The Pacquins took an extra bottle this morning; the Lemoines bought a pint of cream ...” Most of the drivers had to make out the weekly bills and collect the money. But Jacques, liking Pierre, never asked him to do this.
One day the president of the milk company came to inspect the early morning milk deliveries.Jacques pointed to Pierre and said:”See how the horse listens and how he turns his head toward Pierre? See the look in that horse's eyes? You know, I think those two share a secret. I have often felt it. He is getting old. Maybe he ought to be given a rest, and a small pension.”
“But of course，” the president laughed. “He has been on this job now for thirty years. All who know him love him. Tell him it is time he rested. He will get his pay every week as before.”
But Pierre refused to leave his job. He said his life would be nothing if he could not drive Joseph every day. “We are two old men，” he said to Jacques. “Let us wear out together. When Joseph is ready to leave, then I too will do so.”
Then one cold morning Jacques had terrible news for Pierre. Jacques said，”Pierre, your horse, Joseph, didn't wake up. He was very old, Pierre.” Jacques said softly. “He is over in his stall, looking very peaceful. Go over and see him.” Pierre took one step forward, then turned. “No ... no ... I cannot see Joseph again. You ...， you don't understand, Jacques.”
For years Pierre had worn a large heavy cap that came down low over his eyes.It kept out the bitter cold wind. Now, Jacques looked into Pierre's eyes and he saw something that shocked him. He saw a dead, lifeless look in them.
“Take the day off, Pierre，” Jacques said. Pierre walked to the corner and stepped into the street.There was a warning shout from the driver of a big truck ... there was the screech(尖锐的刹车声) of rubber tires as the truck tried to stop. But Pierre heard nothing.
Five minutes later a doctor said, “He's dead ...， killed instantly.”
“I couldn't help it，” the truck driver said. “He walked in front of my truck. He never saw it, I guess. Why, he walked as though he were blind.”
The doctor bent down. “Blind？Of course, this man has been blind for five years.” He turned to Jacques, “Didn't you know he was blind？”
“No ...no ...” Jacques said softly. “None of us knew. Only one ... only one knew－a friend of his, named Joseph ... It was a secret, I think, just between those two.”
1.According to the first three paragraphs, we can know that ________.
A. Joseph was named after an unknown man
B. Pierre knew all the small streets in the city better than anyone else
C. Joseph managed to deliver milk by itself even without Pierre's company
D. Pierre and Joseph seemed to understand each other and cooperated very well
2.Why did Pierre refuse to leave his job?
A. He thought he was not old enough to retire.
B. The pension was too small to support his life.
C. He was unwilling to be separated from Joseph.
D. He wanted to get promoted to foreman.
3.Which of the following can best describe Pierre?
A. well-received and trustworthy B. cruel and greedy
C. sensitive and humorous D. creative and enthusiastic
4.The underlined sentences imply that ________.
A. Jacques had known the fact that Pierre was blind for a long time
B. the death of Joseph drove Pierre to despair of life
C. Pierre wanted to commit suicide because of his blindness
D. Jacques was afraid to see Pierre's empty eyes
5.Which of the following does NOT indicate Pierre's blindness?
A. Pierre knew every one of the forty families that got milk.
B. You know, I think those two share a secret. I have often felt it.
C. I cannot see Joseph again. You don't understand, Jacques.
D. For years Pierre had worn a large heavy cap that came down low over his eyes.
6.What is the best title for the passage?
A. A caring friend B. A caring milk company
C. A secret of a horse D. A secret for two
The latest IPCC report does not mince words(直言不讳地) about the state of our planet: we must act now to achieve global change at a scale that has “no documented historical precedent(先例)” in order to avoid the climate disaster that would result from a 2 degree C rise in average global temperature. Climate change already affects the world's most helpless people including poor rural communities that depend on the land for their livings and coastal communities. Indeed, we have already seen the clear asymmetry(不对称) of suffering resulting from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires and more.
So far, advocates and politicians have tended to focus on reducing fossil fuel(矿物燃料) consumption through technology and/or policy, such as a sharp carbon tax, as climate solutions. These proposals are, of course, essential to reducing manmade carbon emissions(排放)-71 percent of which are produced by just 100 fossil fuel companies.
Yet the international focus on fossil fuels has overshadowed(使......显得不重要) the most powerful and cost-efficient carbon-capture technology the world has yet seen: forests. Recent scientific research confirms that forests and other “natural climate solutions” are absolutely essential in reducing climate change. In fact, natural climate solutions can help us achieve 37 percent of our climate target, even though they currently receive only 2.5 percent of public climate financing.
Forests' power to store carbon dioxide through the simple process of tree growth is staggering:_one tree can even store an average of about 48 pounds of carbon dioxide in one year. Recent research show undamaged forests are capable of storing the same amount of the carbon dioxide emissions of entire countries such as Peru and Colombia.
For this reason, policy makers and business leaders must create and strengthen ambitious policies to prevent deforestation, and support the sustainable management of standing forests in the fight against climate change. Protecting the world's forests ensures they can continue to provide essential functions aside from climate stability, including producing oxygen, filtering water and supporting biodiversity. Not only do all the world's people depend on forests to provide clean air, clean water，oxygen, and medicines, but 1.6 billion people rely on them directly for their livelihoods.
1.According to the passage, climate change ________.
A. will surely achieve at a scale that is more serious than ever before
B. will only affect people living in the poorest rural regions
C. is likely to lead to more frequent extreme weather events
D. is entirely determined by fossil fuel consumption
2.What's the finding of the new research?
A. Reducing fossil fuels is the most powerful and cost-efficient technology.
B. Forests are vital to reducing climate change due to their storage power.
C. Most of our climate targets can be accomplished with the help of natural climate solutions.
D. Natural climate solutions have proved less efficient than conventional solutions.
3.The underlined word “staggering” in Paragraph 4 means ________.
A. astonishing B. speeding C. embarrassing D. shrinking
4.What's the author's purpose of writing this article?
A. To compare two different approaches to dealing with climate change.
B. To argue against the view that focus on fossil fuels reduction counts.
C. To urge scientists to do more research into natural climate solutions.
D. To point out forests are the most powerful weapon for fighting climate change.
We've all heard the saying: practice makes prefect! In other words, acquiring skills takes time and effort. But how exactly does one go about learning a complex subject such as tennis, calculus, or even how to play the violin? An age-old answer is: practice one skill at a time. A beginning pianist might rehearse scales(音阶) before chords(和弦). A young tennis player practices the forehand before the backhand. Learning researchers call this “blocking”， and because it is common and easy to schedule, blocking is dominant in schools, training programs, and other settings.
However another strategy promises improved results. Enter “interleaving”， a largely unheard-of technique that is catching the attention of cognitive(认知) psychologists and neuroscientists. Blocking involves practicing one skill at a time before the next (for example, “skill A” before “skill B” and so on, forming the pattern “AAABBBCCC”), while in interleaving one mixes practice on several related skills together (forming for example the pattern “ABCABCABC”).
Over the past four decades, a small but growing body of research has found that interleaving often outperforms blocking for a variety of subjects, including sports and category learning. Yet there have been almost no studies of the technique in unplanned, real world settings-until recently. New research in schools finds that interleaving produces dramatic and long-lasting benefits for an essential skill: math. Not only does this finding have the potential to transform how math is taught, it may also change how people learn more generally.
Researches are now working to understand why interleaving produces such impressive results. One important explanation is that it improves the brain's ability to tell apart between concepts. With blocking, once you know what solution to use, or movement to do, the hard part is over. With interleaving, each practice attempt is different from the last, so rote(死记硬背) responses don't work. Instead, your brain must continuously focus on searching for different solutions. That process can improve your ability to learn critical features of skills and concepts, which then better enables you to select and produce the correct response.
A second explanation is that interleaving strengthens memory associations. With blocking, a single strategy，temporarily held in short-term memory, is sufficient. That's not the case with interleaving-the correct solution changes from one practice attempt to the next. As a result, your brain is continually engaged at regaining different responses and bringing them into short-term memory. Repeating that process can strengthen neural connections between different tasks and correct responses, which improves learning.
Both of these accounts imply that increased effort during training, either to discriminate correct responses or to strengthen them, is needed when interleaving is used. This corresponds to a potential drawback of the technique, namely that the learning process often feels more gradual and difficult in the beginning. However, that added effort can have better, longer-lasting results.
1.What can we learn from the new strategy of “interleaving”？
A. Studying related skills together has many impressive results.
B. Learning relevant skills together contributes to people mastering skills quickly.
C. Focusing on different skills at a time saves people time and efforts in the beginning.
D. Mixing up skills distracts people's attention, thus lessening efficiency.
2.Why does interleaving produce impressive results?
A. It can be scheduled easily.
B. It focuses on rote responses.
C. It is temporarily held in short-term memory.
D. It enables you to learn critical features of skills and concepts.
3.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. Blocking involves practicing one skill at a time before the next.
B. Correct solution often changes from one practice attempt to the next.
C. Practising one skill at a time plays an important role in learning a complex subject.
D. Studying related skills or concepts together is an effective way to train your brain.
Over the past few years, smart home tech has become more and more accessible and it's increasingly easy to find that you've bought a product that includes smart home features. So what does a modern smart home look like, and how can you start building one? You could get to start making your home smarter by the following gadgets.
Ecobee 4
*Measuring both occupancy and temperature, its sensors signal your Ecobee to automatically switch to the right mode.
*It only takes about 30 minutes, thanks to an easy-to-follow installation guide and an in-app step-by-step walkthrough.
*Easily adjust temperature using your voice with built-in Alexa or from wherever you are using your mobile devices.
Amazon Smart Plug
*Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa to add voice control.
*Schedule lights, fans, and appliances to turn on and off automatically, or control them remotely when you're away.
*It's simple to set up and use. Plug in, open Alexa app, and start using your voice.
The Philips Hue White Smart Bulb
*It works with Amazon Alexa to support dimming through voice control.
*Schedule your own custom lighting scenes. Set the smart bulbs to turn on and off at a pre-set time.
*To install, simply screw(拧) the smart bulbs into your desired light location.
*Control smart-bulb-equipped lamps and overhead lights via the Philips Hue App.
August Smart Lock Pro
*It works with Alexa for voice control(Alexa device sold separately).
*Control keyless access. It locks automatically behind you, and unlocks as you approach.
*Install in about 10 minutes with just a screwdriver(螺丝刀).
1.What do the four gadgets have in common?
A. Useful Philips Hue App. B. Beautiful lighting scenes.
C. Easy installation and simple set-up. D. Pleasant temperature.
2.This passage is intended to ________.
A. introduce the gadgets of smart home B. provide advice for home decoration
C. compare the gadgets with others D. show the popularity of the gadgets
Last summer I went on a two-day river rafting trip with my teenage daughter as the river guide. I was proud to see my baby girl ________ and confidently moving our raft through a variety of ______ white-water conditions. I also found it________to have my daughter giving commands and barking ______ as to when and how to paddle(用桨划船).
As we approached the largest ______ on the river I could feel my heart beating faster. Upon ______ the turbulent(湍急的) water, our boat got ________ on a large rock. I was in the front of the boat and reached ______ with my paddle, thinking I would help ______ us away from the rock. In the next instant I could feel myself falling out of the boat and into the river. I did have my moments of ______ and terror.
This resistance disappeared quickly, ______ I landed in the cold, powerfully turbulent water. ______ my high-quality flotation vest, I was pulled underwater, ______ thankfully, within seconds I popped(冒出) back up to the ______. A few moments later one of the other trip leaders called for me to ______ toward his boat, where I was quickly pulled up and in. I was shaken, out of breath, and quite ______to be out of the turbulent water.
An equivalent of this experience happens all the time in our lives. This is life. You cannot count on things going ______. When we do, we often ______ disappointed and unhappy. Resisting ______， which often arrives suddenly and unexpectedly, keeps us from ______ the scenario(可能要发生的事) unfolding before us clearly, and it can keep us from acting in ways that are smart and effective and that lead to results that make us feel good and proud of ourselves.
1.A. painfully B. gradually C. extremely D. skillfully
2.A. freezing B. challenging C. fascinating D. thrilling
3.A. ashamed B. annoying C. unbearable D. troublesome
4.A. opinions B. lectures C. orders D. lessons
5.A. rapid B. rock C. gap D. target
6.A. pouring B. pumping C. entering D. covering
7.A. occupied B. stuck C. rescued D. damaged
8.A. backward B. down C. forward D. across
9.A. scare B. hide C. pull D. push
10.A. excitement B. performance C. suffering D. resistance
11.A. before B. while C. because D. as
12.A. With B. Despite C. In D. Below
13.A. but B. therefore C. so D. or
14.A. boat B. surface C. water D. terror
15.A. wander B. flow C. float D. swing
16.A. shocked B. relieved C. disturbed D. embarrassed
17.A. potentially B. randomly C. smoothly D. quickly
18.A. wind up B. hurry up C. think up D. come up
19.A. change B. temptation C. pressure D. effort
20.A. assessing B. seeing C. appreciating D. minding
