Do you know how it is when you see someone yawn and you start yawning too? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons (神经元）in our brains.
Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate (模仿)it, whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further: mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions, they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people.
Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to (for example: "The hand took hold of the ball"), the same mirror neurons were triggered as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball).
Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much research suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders.
Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with even more information concerning how humans behave and interact (互动). Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent (相等物)for neuroscience of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does—well, perhaps you'll understand why.
1.Mirror neurons can explain _________.
A．why we cry when we are hurt
B．why we cough when we suffer from a cold
C．why we smile when we see someone else smile
D．why we yawn when we see someone else stay up late
2.The underlined word "triggered" in the third paragraph probably means “_________”.
A．set off B．cut off C．built up D．broken up
3.We can learn from the passage that mirror neurons _________.
A．relate to human behavior and interaction
B．control human physical actions and feelings
C．result in bad behavior and social disorders
D．determine our knowledge and language abilities
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A．Ways to find mirror neurons. B．Problems of mirror neurons.
C．Existence of mirror neurons. D．Functions of mirror neurons.
Fastest Time to Run 100 Miles on a Treadmill (跑步机) BROKEN
The fastest time to run 100 miles on a treadmill by a team (of 12) is claimed at 9hr 5 min 17 sec by a team consisting of staff and prisoners at the Young Offenders Institute in Wigan to raise money for Children in Need.
Largest Game of Chinese Whispers UNBROKEN
Sadly, the record attempt for the largest game of Chinese Whispers was unsuccessful on 13 November 2008. The existing record of 1330 children still remains.
Fastest Mile with an Egg/Spoon in both hands BROKEN
The fastest mile egg and spoon race with both hands is 8 min 25 sec and was achieved by Ashrita Furman (USA) in an attempt broadcast by ESPN 260, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 13 November 2008.
Longest Mexican Wave UNBROKEN
The record for the Longest Mexican Wave was attempted by 250,000 people on the streets of Adelaide on 8 November 2008 – sadly, the wave was not completed by all participants and the attempt was unsuccessful. The current record of 157, 574 remains.
Largest Kebab (烤肉串) BROKEN
The longest kebab measures 2047.47 m (1.27 miles) and was achieved by the ArcelorMittal Newcastle Works on occasion of the company’s annual Community Day, in Newcastle, South Africa.
1.The above information is _________.
A．a series of sports events
B．a list of broken and unbroken records
C．a report of funny sports items
D．a description of challenging human limits
2.Which of the following can NOT be found in the information?
A．The countries where the attempts were made.
B．The persons who made the attempts.
C．The reasons why some attempts failed.
D．The present record for each item.
3.Which item was attempted individually?
A．Fastest Time to Run 100 Miles on a Treadmill
B．Largest Game of Chinese Whispers
C．Fastest Mile with an Egg/Spoon in both hands
D．Longest Mexican Wave
A major new development in system of work in Britain is taking place. Flexible working hours, or “Flextime”, are catching on fast, and trend is continuing. In 1973, over 500 organizations had adopted the idea, and by 1974, this number had risen to over 200,000.
Flexible working hours were invented in Germany in the late 1960’s, but reached Britain only in 1972. The system allows workers to start and finish work whenever they want, with only two requirements. These are, firstly, that all workers must present for certain “key” times in the day, and secondly, that all workers must work an agreed total number of hours per week.
The system had proved a total success wherever it has been tried. A survey of 700 workers on flexible hours showed three main advantages: a better balance between working and private life, avoidance of the need to travel during rush hours and the ability to finish a certain task before leaving.
From the employer’s point of view, the system tends to increase productivity, reduce labour turnover and give workers a greater sense of duty. At first, “Flexible” was mainly confined to white-collar workers, but it is now being applied to manual workers too.
1.According to “Flextime” system, workers need not _________.
A．work at the same time B．work all the weekdays
C．work hard D．ask for leave when being absent
2.“Key” time is a period when _________.
A．visitors come to the plants
B．all workers must be at work
C．employers go round in the workshop
D．rush hours are over
3.No matter where it is used, this system has proved _________.
A．entirely effective B．totally correct
C．a complete failure D．quite difficult
4.One of the great advantages of “Flextime” for workers is that they _________.
A．have a great sense of duty B．can avoid busy traffic
C．can get higher pay D．can avoid working hard
Google Inc. introduced plans in June to offer 3-D maps of major cities and other new features for its popular Google Maps and Google Earth services.
New features include the ability to _____50_____ portions of Google Maps onto phones and other _____51_____ devices, with detailed data, so users can find their way around _____52_____ areas even if they don’t have an active Internet connection.
Perhaps the most _____53_____ new feature was the detailed three-dimensional images that Google plans to offer for major cities in coming months.
Google product manager Peter Birch explained that the company is using _____54_____ to obtain detailed images of every street and building in an area, from different _____55_____, which are then compiled into images that appear to show height, depth and even architectural details of buildings and streets, _____56_____ landscape features such as trees.
“We are trying to create the effect that you are flying _____57_____ the city, almost as if you were in your own personal helicopter,” said Birch.
Compiling those images _____58_____ extensive photographing and processing of images, however. _____59_____ Birch promised to have images _____60_____ for several major cities in coming months, he and other Google officials did not offer a detailed timetable.
Industry blogs have reported that Apple is preparing to _____61_____ its own maps and navigation service, including 3-D images. Analysts say the _____62_____ is part of a larger race between the two tech giants to offer services that keep users _____63_____ and allow each company to deliver advertising or other products targeted to specific locations and other data on ____64______ interests.
1. A．buy B．download C．use D．apply
2. A．expensive B．useful C．portable D．cheap
3. A．familiar B．unfamiliar C．quiet D．busy
4. A．interesting B．impressive C．ridiculous D．surprising
5. A．computers B．cameras C．phones D．planes
6. A．angles B．parts C．sides D．areas
7. A．except B．except for C．including D．as well as
8. A．over B．below C．through D．in
9. A．spends B．costs C．obtains D．requires
10. A．When B．As C．While D．As long as
11. A．sold B．available C．accessible D．vivid
12. A．introduce B．make C．draw D．sell
13. A．image B．competition C．service D．map
14. A．busy B．convenient C．attractive D．engaged
15. A．children’s B．users’ C．managers’ D．students’
Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A. desperation B. authorities C. diligently D. confusion E. enrolled
F. violently G. financial H. conclusion I. devoted J. graduation
Seventeen years ago, when I was in military college, I was known as “the worrying wreck from Virginia Tech”. I worried so ____1_____ that I often became ill. In _____2_____, I poured out my troubles to Professor Baird, professor of business administration. The fifteen minutes that I spent with Professor Baird did more for my health and happiness than all the rest of the four years I spent in college. “Jim,” he said, “you ought to sit down and face the facts. If you _____3_____ half as much time and energy to solving your problems as you do to worrying about them, you wouldn’t have any worries. ”
I figured that I had failed physics because I had no interest in the subject. But now I changed my attitude. I said to myself, “If the college _____4_____ demand that I pass my physics examination before I obtain a degree, who am I to question their wisdom?”
So I ______5____ for physics again. This time I passed because instead of wasting my time in worrying about how hard it was, I studied _____6_____.
I solved my ____7_____ worries by taking on some additional jobs, such as selling punch at the college dances, and by borrowing money from my father, which I paid back soon after ____8______.
As I look back at it now, I can see that my problem was one of _____9_____, a lack of willingness to find the causes of my worry and face them realistically.
______ well in an interview made him lose the position in that company.
A．Not doing B．Not to have done
C．Having not done D．Doing not
