Question

Learning New Vocabulary during Deep Sleep

Sleeping time is sometimes considered unproductive time. This raises the question whether the time spent asleep could be used more productively, e.g. for learning a new language? Up-to-now sleep research focused on the stabilization and strengthening of memories that had been formed during wakefulness. However, learning during sleep has rarely been examined. There is enough evidence for wake-learned information undergoing a revision by replay in the sleeping brain. The replay during sleep strengthens the still weak memory and leaves the newly acquired information in the pre-existing store of knowledge.

If re-play during sleep improves the storage of wake-learned information, then first-play, i.e. the initial processing of new information, should also be possible during sleep.

The research group of Katharina Henke examined whether a sleeping person is able to form new semantic（语义的）associations between played foreign words and translation words during the brain cells’ active states, the so-called “Up-states.” It turned out to be that what they thought was reasonable. When we reach deep sleep stages, our brain cells progressively coordinate their activity. During deep sleep, the brain cells are commonly active for a brief period of time before they jointly enter into a state of brief inactivity. The active state is called “Up-state” and the inactive state “Down-state”. The two states alternate（交替）about every half-second.

New evidence for sleep-learning challenges current theories of sleep and theories of memory. The concept of sleep that we are separated from the physical environment is no longer reasonable. "It’s false that complex learning be impossible during deep sleep," says Simon Ruch, co-first-author. "In how far and with what consequences deep sleep can be applied for the acquisition of new information will be a topic of research in upcoming years," says Katharina Henke.

The research group of Katharina Henke is part of the Interfaculty Research Cooperation (IRC). Thirteen research groups in medicine, biology and psychology are part of the IRC. The aim of these research groups is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms（原理）involved in sleep and consciousness.

1.Which of the followings haven’t sleep researchers achieved so far?

A. People can learn vocabulary during deep sleep.

B. Memories can be stable and strong during sleep.

C. Wake-learned information can appear in the sleeping brain.

D. Re-play during sleep improves the storage of wake-learned information.

2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A. “Up-state” and “Down-state” appear in turn during deep sleep.

B. “Up-states” is another name for the brain cells’ active states.

C. Semantic associations are important for language learning.

D. The brain cells’ active states are central for sleep-learning.

3.What will researchers do within several years according to the passage?

A. Make study in the following fields such as medicine and biology.

B. Separate us from the physical environment.

C. Apply deep sleep for information learning.

D. Discover the concept of sleep.

4.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To introduce a new way of vocabulary learning.

B. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms.

C. To challenge current theories of sleep and theories of memory.

D. To explain the possibility of vocabulary learning during deep sleep.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章通过研究，论证了在睡眠过程中学习新的语言的可能性。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的“This raises the question whether the time spent asleep could be used more productively, e.g. for learning a new language? Up-to-now sleep research focused on the stabilization and strengthening of memories that had been formed during wakefulness. However, learning during sleep has rarely been examined.”可知，到目前为止，有关睡眠的研究中心为：清醒时形成的记忆会保持稳定性，同时会得到增强。然而，睡眠的时间能否被更高效的使用，例如学习一门新语言，几乎没有被研究。故A选项切题。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中的“The research group of Katharina Henke examined whether a sleeping person is able to form new semantic（语义的）associations between played foreign words and translation words during the brain cells’ active states, the so-called “Up-states.” It turned out to be that what they thought was reasonable”可知，研究小组研究了睡觉的人是否能够在脑细胞活动状态下，即所谓的“Up-states”，在被播放的外来词和翻译之间形成新的语义联系。结果证明他们的想法是合理的。这就表明，当大脑处于“Up-states”时，可以进行语言学习。在这个过程中，“Up-states”起着关键作用。故D选项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“…deep sleep can be applied for the acquisition of new information will be a topic of research in upcoming years”可知，在未来几年中，如何运用深层睡眠获取新信息将是研究的主题。故C选项正确。

4.主旨大意题。第一段提出问题：This raises the question whether the time spent asleep could be used more productively, e.g. for learning a new language? 是否可以更有效地利用睡眠时间，例如用于学习一种新语言？第二段回答该问题：then first-play, i.e. the initial processing of new information, should also be possible during sleep.……对新信息的初始处理，在睡眠期间也应该是可能的。第三段通过研究提出证据证明了第二段的理论。最后两段进行了一些补充说明。因此，整篇文章的写作目的就是为了说明：在睡眠中，学习新的语言是可能的。故D选项正确。