To err is human. Society is suffering from an inability to acknowledge as much.
For individuals, errors are painful. The trick, then, is to err well: to recognize mistakes and learn from them. Worryingly, humanity may be getting worse at admitting its mistakes.
Few enjoy the feeling of being caught out in an error. But real trouble starts when the desire to avoid a punishment leads to a refusal to deal with contrary evidence. Economists often assume that people are sensible. When faced with a new fact, these people should update their view of the world to take better decisions in future. Yet years of economic research confirms that people frequently disregard information that conflicts with their view of the world.
Why should that be? Last year Roland Benabou, of Princeton, presented a framework for thinking about the problem. In many ways, beliefs are like other economic goods. People spend time and resources building them, and get value from them: some beliefs make owners feel good and show their public identity; other beliefs provide value by shaping behavior—for example, religious asceticism(禁欲主义) can help one avoid unhealthy habits.
Because beliefs, however, are not simply tools for making good decisions, but are treasured in their own right, new information that challenges them is unwelcome. People often engage in “motivated reasoning” to manage such challenges. Mr Benabou classifies this into three categories. “Strategic ignorance” is when a believer avoids information offering conflicting evidence. In “reality denial”， troubling evidence is rationalized(合理化)：real estate investors might make up fanciful theories for why prices should behave unusually, and supporters of a disgraced politician might claim the negative news to be fake. And lastly, in “selfsignalling”， the believer creates his own tools to interpret the facts in the way he wants: an unhealthy person, for example, might decide that going for a daily run proves he is well.
“Motivated reasoning” is a cognitive bias(偏见). Not all the errors it leads to are costly: praising the performance of one's supported football team despite contradictory evidence does little harm. But when biases are broadly shared—within financial world or political parties—danger arises. Motivated reasoning helps explain why viewpoints polarize (两极分化) even as information is more easily available than ever before.
Work by Mr Benabou suggests that groupthink is highest when people within groups face a shared fate: when choosing to break from a group is unlikely to spare an individual the costs of the group's errors or bring much individual benefit. The incentive(动力) to engage in motivated reasoning is high as a result. Even as the fact on a particular issue is obvious, parties can still become increasingly polarized. That, in turn, can make it harder still for a member of one party to get any benefit from breaking from a group. Indeed, the group has an incentive to silence independent voices.
Public statements of regret are risky in a rigidly polarized world. Admissions of error can not only annoy partners but also provide opportunities for opponents. But it is rarely in the interest of those in the right to pretend that they are never wrong.
1.According to the passage, beliefs are similar to economic goods in that ________．
A.both are entertaining and valuable B.both can be shaped by religious faith
C.both can reflect who the owners are D.both promote religious development
2.Which of the following is an example of “selfsignalling”？
A.A fan speaks highly of his team although it has just lost the game.
B.A man covers his ears when stealing a bell, believing the bell won't ring.
C.Supporters of Trump believe the news about his affairs with a lady is fake.
D.Suspected AIDS carriers refuse to be tested though it can be done for free.
3.What can be inferred from Paragraphs 6 and 7?
A.Polarization causes individuals to break from the group.
B.Richer sources of information decrease motivated reasoning.
C.Individuals with independent voices are dismissed from the group.
D.Individuals in a group engage in motivated reasoning for their own interests.
4.Which of the following opinions might the author agree with?
A.Denying errors is unavoidable.
B.Failure to admit errors is harmful.
C.Humans are getting better at erring well.
D.Wise people ignore contrary worldviews.
Cities usually have a good reason for being where they are, like a nearby port or river. People settle in these places because they are easy to get to and naturally suited to communications and trade. New York City, for example, is near a large harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River. Over 300 years its population grew gradually from 800 people to 8 million. But not all cities develop slowly over a long period of time. Boom towns grow from nothing almost overnight. In 1896, Dawson, Canada, was unmapped wilderness(荒野). But gold was discovered there in 1897, and two years later, it was one of the largest cities in the West, with a population of 30,000.
Dawson did not have any of the natural conveniences of cities like London or Paris. People went there for gold. They travelled over snow-covered mountains and sailed hundreds of miles up icy rivers. The path to Dawson was covered with thirty feet of wet snow that could fall without warming. An avalanche(雪崩) once closed the path, killing 63 people. For many who made it to Dawson, however, the rewards were worth the difficult trip. Of the first 20,000 people who dug for gold, 4,000 got rich. About 100 of these stayed rich men for the rest of their lives.
But no matter how rich they were, Dawson was never comfortable. Necessities like food and wood were very expensive. But soon, the gold that Dawson depended on had all been found. The city was crowded with disappointed people with no interest in settling down, and when they heard there were new gold discoveries in Alaska, they left Dawson City as quickly as they had come. Today, people still come and go — to see where the Canadian gold rush happened. Tourism is now the chief industry of Dawson City — its present population is 762.
1.What attracted the early settlers to New York City?
A.Its business culture.
B.Its small population.
C.Its geographical position.
D.Its favourable climate.
2.What do we know about those who first dug for gold in Dawson?
A.Two-thirds of them stayed there.
B.One out of five people got rich.
C.Almost everyone gave up.
D.Half of them died.
3.What was the main reason for many people to leave Dawson?
A.They found the city too crowded.
B.They wanted to try their luck elsewhere.
C.They were unable to stand the winter.
D.They were short of food.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.The rise and fall of a city.
B.The gold rush in Canada.
C.Journeys into the wilderness.
D.Tourism in Dawson.
I first met Paul Newman in 1968, when George Roy Hill, the director of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, introduced us in New York City. When the studio didn’t want me for the film - it wanted somebody as well known as Paul — he stood up for me. I don’t know how many people would have done that; they would have listened to their agents or the studio powers.
The friendship that grew out of the experience of making that film and The Sting four years later had its root in the fact that although there was an age difference, we both came from a tradition of theater and live TV. We were respectful of craft(技艺) and focused on digging into the characters we were going to play. Both of us had the qualities and virtues that are typical of American actors: humorous, aggressive, and making fun of each other — but always with an underlying affection. Those were also at the core(核心) of our relationship off the screen.
We shared the brief that if you’re fortunate enough to have success, you should put something back — he with his Newman’s Own food and his Hole in the Wall camps for kids who are seriously ill, and me with Sundance and the institute and the festival. Paul and I didn’t see each other all that regularly, but sharing that brought us together. We supported each other financially and by showing up at events.
I last saw him a few months ago. He’d been in and out of the hospital. He and I both knew what the deal was, and we didn’t talk about it. Ours was a relationship that didn’t need a lot of words.
1.Why was the studio unwilling to give the role to author at first?
A.Paul Newman wanted it.
B.The studio powers didn’t like his agent.
C.He wasn’t famous enough.
D.The director recommended someone else.
2.Why did Paul and the author have a lasting friendship?
A.They were of the same age.
B.They worked in the same theater.
C.They were both good actors.
D.They han similar charactertics.
3.What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.Their belief.
B.Their care for children.
C.Their success.
D.Their support for each other.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the test?
A.To show his love of films.
B.To remember a friend.
C.To introduce a new movie.
D.To share his acting experience.
As one of the world’s oldest holidays, Halloween is still celebrated today in several countries around the globe, but it is in North America and Canada that it maintains its highest level of popularity. Every year, 65% of Americans decorate their homes and offices for Halloween. Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold and is second only to Christians in terms of total sales.
Austria
In Austria, some people will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before retiring on Halloween night. The reason for this is that it was once believed such items would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night which for the Austrians was considered to be brimming(溢)with strong cosmic energies.
Belgium
The Belgians believe that it is unlucky for a black cat to cross one’s path and also unlucky if it should enter a home or travel on a ship. The custom in Belgium on Halloween night is to light candles in memory of dead relatives.
Canada
Modern Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. Jack- O- Lantern is carved and the festivities include parties, trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes with pumpkins and corn stalks.
France
Unlike most nation of the world, Halloween is not celebrated by the French in order to honor the dead and departed ancestors. It is regarded as an “American” holiday in France and was unknown in the country until around 1996.
1.In which countries does Halloween have its highest level of popularity?
A.France and North America.
B.Canada and North America.
C.Austria and Canada.
D.Belgium and Canada.
2.Why will people leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table in Austria?
A.These items would welcome the dead souls back to earth
B.These items are used to respect ancestors
C.These items are just for fun
D.The other items can replace them
3.In which country does Halloween is not celebrated as the others?
A.Canada. B.Belgium. C.Austria. D.France.
The Homeless Hero
For many, finding an unattended wallet filled with £400 in cash would be a source（来源）of temptation（诱惑）. But the ________ would no doubt be greater if you were living on the streets with little food and money. All of this makes the actions of the homeless Tom Smith __________ more remarkable.
After spotting a ________ on the front seat inside a parked car with its window down, he stood guard in the rain for about two hours waiting for the __________ to return.
After hours in the cold and wet, he __________ inside and pulled the wallet out hoping to find some ID so he could contact（联系）the driver, only to __________ it contained £400 in notes, with another £50 in spare change beside it.
He then took the wallet to a nearby police station after __________ a note behind to let the owner know it was safe. When the car’s owner John Anderson and his colleague Carol Lawrence returned to the car—which was itself worth £35, 000—in Glasgow city centre, they were __________ to find two policemen standing next to it. The policemen told them what Mr. Smith did and that the wallet was __________.
The pair were later able to thank Mr. Smith for his __________.
Mr. Anderson said：＂I couldn’t believe that the guy never took a penny. To think he is sleeping on the streets tonight __________ he could have stolen the money and paid for a place to stay in. This guy has nothing and
__________ he didn’t take the wallet for himself；he thought about others __________. It’s unbelievable. It just proves there are ________ guys out there.＂
Mr. Smith’s act __________ much of the public’s attention. He also won praise from social media users after Mr. Anderson __________ about the act of kindness on Facebook.
Now Mr. Anderson has set up an online campaign to __________ money for Mr. Smith and other homeless people in the area, which by yesterday had received ￡8,000. ＂I think the faith that everyone has shown __________ him has touched him. People have been approaching him in the street; he’s had job __________ and all sorts,＂ Mr. Anderson commented.
For Mr. Smith, this is a possible life-changing __________. The story once again tells us that one good turn deserves another.
1.A.hope B.aim C.urge D.effort
2.A.still B.even C.ever D.once
3.A.wallet B.bag C.box D.parcel
4.A.partner B.colleague C.owner D.policeman
5.A.turned B.hid C.stepped D.reached
6.A.discover B.collect C.check D.believe
7.A.taking B.leaving C.reading D.writing
8.A.satisfied B.excited C.amused D.shocked
9.A.safe B.missing C.found D.seen
10.A.service B.support C.kindness D.encouragement
11.A.when B.if C.where D.because
12.A.rather B.yet C.already D.just
13.A.too B.though C.again D.instead
14.A.honest B.polite C.rich D.generous
15.A.gave B.paid C.cast D.drew
16.A.learned B.posted C.cared D.heard
17.A.borrow B.raise C.save D.earn
18.A.of B.at C.for D.in
19.A.details B.changes C.offers D.applications
20.A.lesson B.adventure C.chance D.challenge
The doctor shares his phone number with the patients ________ they need medical assistance.
A.if only B.as if C.even though D.in case
