You try to keep your eyes wide open while watching a basketball match or a marvelous firework show in case you might miss something exciting in just the blink of an eye. But in fact, humans blink about 15 times per minute on average. Have you ever missed anything because you blinked? Probably not. Why is that?
According to a new study published in journal Current Biology in September, our brain has the ability to “skip” the temporary darkness that we see when we blink. It can keep visual information for a short period of time and then put it together to form a conclusive image without interruption.
In order to understand how this works, a group of scientists at the German Primate Center and the University Medical Center Gottingen in Germany conducted an experiment.
In the study, the participants were asked to look at patterns on a screen whose orientation(方向)could be shown in different ways, such as horizontally( 水平的) or vertically( 垂直的).When one pattern was about to disappear and the next one was about to come, the participants had to indicate the direction that the next pattern would be oriented in.
The researchers found that when the orientations of two patterns didn’t match, the medial prefrontal cortex(内侧前额叶皮层)--- the area in our brain which is responsible for visual memory---was activated. This same area showed less activity when two patterns were in the same direction.
“The medial prefrontal cortex adjust current visual information with previously obtained information, and thus enables us to see the world with more stability, even when we briefly close our eyes to blink,” Caspar Schwiedrzik explained in Science Daily. He is the first author of the study and also a scientist at the German Primate Center.
1.What ‘s the author’s intention to write the first paragraph?
A.To bring out the topic.
B.To show the importance of blink.
C.To show some interesting event in his life.
D.To give suggestions on when we should blink.
2.Why can’t we miss anything when blinking?
A.Because the time of the blink of an eye is too short.
B.Because our brain has the ability to “skip” the darkness.
C.Because our eyes can keep information and put it together.
D.Because the medial prefrontal cortex has a special function.
3.The underlined word “activated” probably means .
A.be injured B.be useless
C.start working D.start being noticed
World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated annually by consumer organizations worldwide.It honours the historic declaration on March 15,1962 by John F.Kennedy,the former US President,of the basic rights of consumers,which include:”the right to safety”“the right to be informed”“the right to choose”,and “the right to be heard”.
This declaration has led to international recognition by governments and the United Nations that all citizens,regardless of their incomes or social standing,have certain basic rights as consumers.Officially, World Consumer Rights Day was first observed on March 15 ,1983 and has since become an important occasion for mobilizing( 动员) citizen action ,with recognition of consumer rights taking off around the world.On April 9,1985,the United Nations General Assembly(联合国大会) adopted the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection that provide a framework for strengthening national consumer protection policies around the world.
The guidelines include Kennedy’s four basic consumer rights plus another four : the right to satisfaction of basic needs,the right to redress(赔偿),the right to education ,and the right to a healthy environment.Currently,the fundamental consumer rights are recognized globally.
World Consumer Rights Day normally has a theme associated with an activity or development that is relevant to consumers. Whatever its objectives , it shares the same underlying aim of bringing about important and needed benefits to consumers.
In recent years , progress has been made for recognition and protection of consumer rights in developing countries. At least, March 15 is a day when consumers are filled with pride and satisfaction. However , there are many reports on violation of consumer rights by unethical( 不 道 德 的 ) marketing practices.
1.When was World Consumer Rights Day first celebrated?
A.On March 15,1962. B.On March 15,1983. C.On March 15,1985. D.On March 15,1986.
2.How many basic consumer rights are there in the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection?
A.Four. B.Six. C.Eight. D.Ten.
3.The underlined phrase “taking off” in the second paragraph probably means .
A.becoming popular B.removing quickly C.flying away D.leaving soon
4.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Consumers in different countries have different basic rights.
B.Consumers still have some difficulty in protecting their basic rights.
C.On March 15,consumers don’t need to worry about their basic rights.
D.It was John F.Kennedy who declared that March 15 was the World Consumer Rights Day.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[BMGF] said this week it will provide up to $100 million to support action against the 2019 novel coronavirus. It says the money will help strengthen efforts to test people for the virus, separate healthy individuals from the sick and find treatment for them.
Controlling the epidemic: The donation will help speed development of the “tools to bring this epidemic under control,”the chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation; Mark Suzman said.
Worldwide emergency:The Gates Foundation is giving money and working with other donors to help the World Health Organization (WHO), Chinese medical workers and others worldwide.It noted the need for an organized international effort to fight the virus.
Increased efforts to find and treat the coronavirus:The foundation promised $20 million right away to hurry the process of identifying those who are sick, keeping them separate, and helping them get better. The goal is to stop the disease from spreading to more people and places. Money is also going to public health officials in China and other countries with coronavirus patients to help them pay the start-up cost of medical workers and supplies.
Protecting at-risk groups in Africa and South Asia:Recent epidemics, such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009, have had a big effect on people living in extreme poverty. Most of those people live in African countries south of the Sahara Desert or parts of South Asia. Another $20 million is going to public health officials in these areas to improve their emergency operations and to treat confirmed cases. One partner is the African Field Epidemiology Network, a non-profit service that currently operates in more than 30 African countries.
Developing Vaccines:Of the total donation, $60 million will go to speed the process of making vaccines to protect against the novel coronavirus. One organization working on developing the anti-coronavirus vaccines is the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations with Chinese public- and private-sector researchers; trying to find ways to stop the spread of the virus.
1.The money donated by the BMGF will be used in the following aspects except
A.to test people for the virus B.to separate the healthy from the sick
C.to build a new hospital in China D.to find treatment for the virus -infected
2.How many main targets will the large sum of donated money serve for?
A.One B.Five C.Two D.Countless
3.Which of the following statements is true?
A.The money is specially donated to China’s public health department.
B.Another $20 million will be used to help African people suffering from starvation.
C.The African Field Epidemiology Network is a non- profit medical service organization only in western Africa.
D.Most of the donated money will be put into the developing and innovating vaccines.
4.The passage is most probably digested from .
A.a news report B.a magazine C.a text book D.a poster
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What will the listeners do first at the Cookery School?
A.Make some pizza. B.Eat chocolate cakes. C.Learn to grow vegetables.
2.What’s the price of the bus ticket?
A.$3.55. B.$6.00. C.$9.55.
3.What should the listeners take?
A.Sandwiches. B.A notebook. C.A pencil.
4.How are the parents advised to contact the speaker?
A.By e-mail. B.Through the phone. C.Face to face.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where does the conversation take place?
A.At a cafe. B.At an airport. C.On the phone.
2.How does Nick sound?
A.Worried. B.Curious. C.Excited.
3.Why will Mary go to San Diego?
A.To study in a university. B.To spend a vacation. C.To see her sister.
4.What time is it now?
A.About 6:00. B.About 7:00. C.About 8:30.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers most probably doing?
A.Booking a hotel.
B.Writing a hotel review.
C.Reading a brochure of a hotel.
2.What does the man like most?
A.Open fires. B.Afternoon tea. C.The bedroom.
3.What do the speakers decide to do?
A.Send a letter. B.Ask for a price list. C.Bargain over the price.
