A team led by Professor Theoder Berger, from the University of Southern California, can now manipulate(操纵) brain cells in rats so that memories stored in the hippocampus, a brain area crucial for memory formation, are activated or suppressed(抑制). It’s said that the technology could one day have medical applications.
In the study, researcher first trained rats to remember which of two levers(杠杆) they pressed first, then to press the other lever.
As the rats performed the task, the scientists carefully monitored the electrical activity in each creature’s hippocampus to find the pattern of nerve-cell activity involved in making a solid memory.
Using the same glass needles they had used to record the nerve activity, they stimulated (刺激) nerves in the same pattern and found that the animals’ performance in the task got even better. The rats made fewer errors and were able to remember which lever was the“correct”one for a longer period of time.
The scientists went a step further and suppressed the rats’ memories with a drug called Mk801, which caused them to forget their task. When the animals’ brain cells were later stimulated with the“correct”pattern, they remembered again which lever to press.
“What’s really exciting about this study is that when they played back the‘good’ patterns—the patterns when the animal got the task right—it did appear to improve memory,”said Dean Buonomano, an associate professor at the University of California.
The final goal, Berger said, is to help people with stroke(中风) and epilepsy(癫痫症) and the like strengthen memories and to help doctors treat them. The technology might even help sufferers of post-traumatic(创伤后) stress disorder.
But first, researchers would have to show that they can stimulate or suppress far more complex memories than the ones in the rat experiment.
“Here ,it’s a simple task,”Buonomano said. In contrast, humans’ memories are very rich and specific…
“We have very many steps to go before this can be achieved,”he said.
1.How does“the technology”in Paragraph 1 act?
A.It manipulates brain cells.
B.It stores memories in the hippocampus.
C.It activates memories stored in the brain.
D.It suppresses memories stored in the brain.
2..In what order did the researchers conduct the rat experiment?
a.Monitor the electrical activity in the rat’s hippocampus.
b.Suppress the rat’s memory with a drug called MK801.
c.Stimulate the rat’s nerves in the same pattern.
d.Stimulate the rat’s nerves in the same pattern for a second time.
e.Train the rats to remember the order of the two levers they pressed.
A.a, e, b, c, d B.a, e, c, d, b
C.e, a, c, d, b D.e, a, c, b, d
3.When their nerves were stimulated, the rats .
A.forgot their task
B.completed the task better
C.made no errors in their task
D.remembered which lever they had pressed for a shorter time
4.What can we infer from the article?
A.MK801 is a drug that can be used to stimulate nerves.
B.The study is expected to be used to help stroke and epilepsy patients recover completely.
C.Using the study to improve humans’ memories still face many challenges.
D.Researchers have studied far more complex memories than the ones in the rat experiment.
While most of us are happy to take the credit when things go well, few of us are willing to take the blame when things go wrong. Rather than trying to hide our shame or embarrassment, experts found that we are simply less aware when our actions result in a negative outcome.
The research may explain why we often feel it hard to take the blame for our actions.“Our result suggests that people may really experience less responsibility for negative than for positive outcomes,” said Patrick Haggard, leading researcher and professor of the institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London.
In a series of tests, participants were asked to press a key. A sound then followed, either disapproving, neutral or approving, and they were then asked to estimate the time between the action and when they had heard the sound.
Researchers found that individuals experienced different levels of responsibility depending on the outcomes. They also discovered they were significantly slower to recognize if their actions had resulted in a bad consequence, compared to when they had done well.
“Effectively, we have found that we experience a negative outcome differently, not just retell it differently. We make a weaker connection when there is a bad result. And respond much more strongly when something good happens,”said Professor Haggard. When something goes right, everyone wants to take the credit, and when things go wrong, nobody is interested in putting their hands up.
The researchers said our brain is“very much concerned”with reward, as good results are key to survival. Although our own perception(认知) of whether we are guilty of something or not is changed by the outcomes, this does not provide a defense if we have done something wrong.“Our experience of our own responsibilities can be misleading and can be strongly colored by the outcomes of our actions.”said Professor Haggard.“We have to take responsibility for what actually do, not just for how we experience things.”
1.People who don’t take the blame for their actions .
A.always try to hide their shame or embarrassment.
B.are only willing to take the credit when things go well
C.feel less responsible for negative than for positive outcomes
D.are less aware of what to do when a negative outcome happens
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Our level of responsibility can be strongly affected by the outcomes of our actions.
B.When something bad happens, nobody is interested in dealing with the problem.
C.People were quicker to recognize if their actions had resulted in a bad consequence.
D.Participants were asked to count the time between pressing a key and hearing the sound.
3.How is the passage developed?
A.By giving examples.
B.By quoting research findings.
C.By analyzing cause and effect.
D.By providing data.
4.According to the passage, a person who is concerned with reward is .
A.awkward B.natural C.absurd D.stubborn
Below are the best four applications to help you organize your closet(橱柜)—and trust us, there really is something for everyone.
Closet
If you’re looking to create your own digital closet, then this app is for you. Closet helps you categorize your outfits and keeps you up-to-date on what you’ve already worn.
PROS:Very simple and user-friendly. Great for helping you look at your own closet without feeling overwhelmed.
CONS: No social interactions. This app is strictly for having a mobile version of your closet.
Pose
The app makes things insanely easy for the indecisive shopper. So if you’re debating whether or not to buy something, you can get a second opinion. The app also gathers photos of items that you wish to buy and items you already own, so they are all in one spot.
PROS: When you sign up, you fill out a short survey that helps identify your personal style and subsequently finds people with similar taste that you can follow for inspiration.
CONS:The phone application is more visually appealing than the actual website.
Stylitics
it allows you to categorize your clothes by color, brand, pattern and more. And if you’re wondering whether you have already worn an outfit, simply check your style calendar.
PROS:The app comes with a“Today in Fashion History”tip so you can brush up on your style knowledge.
CONS:You can’t view your style profile using the app yet unless you log on to the site.
Walk in My Closet
If you’re browsing the Internet, looking for something to buy, you can instantly add the item to your virtual closet so that your wish list items are all one place. Besides sharing your closet with other users, you can also sell items you no longer want.
PROS:The“Moodboard”is a great way to gather inspiring looks that you like from other users and fashion experts.
CONS:The luggage feature, which allows you to prepare outfits for an upcoming trip, is only available on the site; it would be useful if it were on the app.
1.Which of the following can replace the underlined word?
A.Instantly. B.Accurately.
C.Deliberately. D.Incredibly.
2.Which of the following is designed for people who often hesitate when buying clothes?
A.Closet. B.Pose.
C.Stylitics. D.Walk in My Closet.
3.What can we learn about Walk in My Closet from the passage?
A.It is a simple and user-friendly app.
B.It helps you confirm your personal style.
C.It combines both shopping and organizing your closet.
D.It requires you to log on the site to view your style profile.
4.The passage mainly tells us .
A.about the four best fashion apps to help organize your closet
B.how to use these fashion apps
C.that everyone can find their own personal style
D.that we should share our closet with friends
As I grew older, my dad and I grew further apart. We always had totally different opinions. He thought that college was a waste of time, but for me it was important to finish college. He wanted me to work my way to the top as he had done in his field, but I wanted a different life. There was a time when we did not talk with each other.
A few months ago, I heard that my 84-year-old dad was in poor health. When he called and asked whether I could move from Colorado back to Tennessee to help him, I knew he was seriously ill. I am his only child and so it was time to meet my father’s requirement.
Two weeks after moving back, we bought a boat and started fishing again. Fishing was one of the few things that we did while I was young and that we both enjoyed. It is strange but true that as we are fishing we are able to put things that have kept us apart for so many years behind us. We are able to talk about things that we have never talked about before. Fishing has been healing the old wounds that have kept us apart.
It is not important how many fish we catch. It is about enjoying the relationship that we have not had for years. I’m 62 and he is 84. When we are on the lake fishing, it is like enjoying life. It is far better to find a way to put the unhappy past behind. I am so lucky to spend the happy time with my father in his last years. Now my heart is filled with love. A smile always graces my lips.
1.The author and his father became further apart because .
A.they lived very far from each other
B.they seldom saw each other
C.they only communicated by phone
D.they had different views on things
2.For the author, fishing with his old father .
A.helps cure his father’s disease
B.makes him realize the importance of relaxation
C.is a good way to get close to nature
D.provides a chance for them to communicate
3.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.Fishing Brings Us Together
B.Forgiving I s Difficult
C.Memories of Old Days
D.My Beloved Father
书面表达
假如你是校学生会主席李华，你校的一位外教Tom想在你市寻找一套80平米左右的公寓居住。几日前，你在四季花园小区内看到一处。下面是小区位置及周边情况简图。请用英语给他写一封信，向他介绍一下情况。
内容包括：1. 小区的地理位置； 2. 小区的地理优势；
注意：①字数100字左右； ②可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
③开头，结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
四季花园：Seasonal Garden
Dear Tom，
You wrote in your letter that you wanted to rent an apartment in our city.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Are you satisfied with it? If so, I will arrange it for you.
Yours
LiHua
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下短文。
短文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号∧，并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线＼划掉。
修改：在错词下面划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1、每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2、只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Last weekend I visited my best friend in London, which was supposed to be excited. Melina, whom I have not seen for three years, offered to take me on a sighting tour by car. Unfortunate, she ended up doing everything but that! First, she showed me around the building where she had gotten her first job. Then she drove me to the café where she had met first boyfriend . Before I could say everything, she smiled at me and said she wanted to take me to another place where was special to her. I was very disappointed when we got on the place where she had bought her car! Besides, she kept talk about herself all day long! I was fed up with it, but I couldn’t make her to stop. When she finally decides to call it a day, she turned around and found me asleep!
