William Wordsworth wrote that “the human mind is capable of excitement without the application of violent stimulants(刺激)”. And it appears that simply reading those words proves his .
Researchers at the University of Liverpool found the works of Shakespeare and Wordsworth and had a beneficial effect on the mind. It can the reader’s attention and trigger moments of self-reflection.
Using scanners, they the brain activity of volunteers as they read pieces of classical English literature both in their form and in a modern translation.
And, according to the Sunday Telegraph, the experiment showed the more prose and poetry far more electrical activity in the brain than the easier versions.
The research also found poetry, , increased activity in the right part of the brain, an area with “autobiographical(自传式的) memory”, which helped the reader to 45 on their own experiences. The academics said this meant the were more useful than self-help books.
The brain of 30 volunteers were watched in the first part of the research as they read Shakespeare in different .
In one example, volunteers read a line from King Lear, “A father and a gracious aged man: him have you madded”, before reading the : “A father and a gracious aged man: him you have enraged”. Shakespeare’s use of “mad” as a(n) caused a higher level of brain activity than the straightforward prose.
The next stage of the research was looking at the to which poetry could affect and provide therapeutic(治疗的) benefit. Volunteers’ brains were scanned while reading four lines by Wordsworth, and four “translated” lines were also provided.
The first version caused more brain activity, not only the left part of the brain connected with language, but also the right part that relates to autobiographical memory and emotion.
“Poetry is not just a of style. It is also about deep versions of experience that the emotional to the cognitive(认知的),” said Prof Davis, who will present the findings at the North of England education conference in Sheffield this week.
1.A. attitude B. point C. mind D. advice
2.A. the like B. the way C. the likely D. the kind
3.A. break B. focus C. catch D. fix
4.A. examined B. monitored C. interrupted D. controlled
5.A. original B. traditional C. conventional D. ancient
6.A. attractive B. beneficial C. challenging D. emotional
7.A. set off B. put off C. take off D. call off
8.A. for example B. on occasion C. in particular D. in contrast
9.A. concerned B. mixed C. fixed D. conflicted
10.A. reflect B. agree C. depend D. take
11.A. average B. modem C. academic D. classic
12.A. records B. recalls C. responses D. receptions
13.A. moods B. manners C. forms D. types
14.A. shorter B. simpler C. better D. deeper
15.A. adjective B. noun C. adverb D. verb
16.A. amount B. degree C. extension D. scale
17.A. philosophy B. biology C. psychology D. sociology
18.A. waking up B. raising up C. taking up D. making up
19.A. matter B. mark C. manner D. mass
20.A. cater B. add C. prefer D. refer
____ you believe him when he said he made it to Eason’s concert! He doesn’t like pop music at all.
A. Do B. Did C. Don’t D. Didn’t
That’s all for today’s programme. Please stay ____ to CCTV International’s Chinese Channel this time next week.
A. turned B. tuned C. toned D. tended
We don’t need magic to change the world____we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: the power to imagine better, said J K Rowling.
A. though B. unless C. before D. when
【I felt I would never____the shock of his being worked to death.
A. get off B. get through C. get by D. get over
The measure of a man’s real character is what he ____ if he ____ he would never be found out.
A. would do; knew B. may do; knew
C. might do; knows D. should do; had known
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