Question

    It is widely accepted that nightmares (噩梦) are a reaction to negative experiences that happen during waking hours. However, some scientists believe that nightmares do have some real benefits. One 2017 study, for example, found that frequent nightmare sufferers rated themselves as more empathetic (有同理心的). They also displayed more of a tendency to unconsciously mirror other people through things like yawning People who have constant nightmares also tend to think further outside the box on psychoanalysis tasks. Some other researchers have found support for the idea that nightmares might be linked to creativity.

People seeking cure for nightmares were not necessarily more fearful or anxious, but rather had a general sensitivity to all emotional experience. Sensitivity is the driving force behind intense dreams. Heightened sensitivity to threats or fear during the day results in nightmares, whereas heightened passion or excitement may result in positive dreams. And both these forms of dreams may feed back into waking life, perhaps increasing suffering after nightmares, or promoting social bonds and empathy after positive dreams.

The effects go further still. This sensitivity overflows into awareness and thoughts －people who have a lot of nightmares experience a dreamlike quality to their waking thoughts. And this kind of thinking seems to give them a creative edge. For instance, studies show that such people tend to have greater creative talent and artistic express and people who often have nightmares also tend to have more positive dreams than the average person.

The evidence points towards the idea that, rather than disturbing normal activity, people who are unfortunate in having a lot of nightmares also have a dreaming life that is at least as creative, positive and vivid as it can be distressing and terrifying. What’s more, this imaginative richness is unlikely to be limited to sleep, but also is filled with waking thoughts and daydreams. Even after people wake up and shake off the nightmare, in other words, a mark of it stays behind, possessing them throughout the day.

1.Which can best explain the underlined words “think further outside of the box” in Paragraph 1?

A. To think differently. B. To think positively.

C. To think critically. D. To think unconsciously.

2.How can nightmare sufferers probably stop nightmares in theory according to the text?

A. Be more fearful or anxious to nightmares.

B. Try to reduce sensitivity to threats or fear.

C. Avoid excitement as much as possible.

D. Promote social bonds and empathy.

3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. The influence of nightmares is continuing for a long time.

B. People who suffer from nightmares cannot live a normal life.

C. Nightmares are a necessary part of creative thinking.

D. Nightmare is a reflection of waking behavior.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A. The Solution of Nightmares B. The Benefits of Nightmares

C. The Empathy of Nightmares D. The Tendency of Nightmares

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.A

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。噩梦是负面情绪的反应，然而噩梦并非全无是处，噩梦也有好处。

1.词义猜测题。由第一段最后一句话“Some other researchers have found support for the idea that nightmares might be linked to creativity.”可知，其他一些研究人员发现，噩梦可能与创造力有关的观点得到了支持。所以To think differently“以不同的方式思考”最能解释第1段中加下划线的“think further outside of the box”的意思。故A选项正确。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段中的 “Heightened sensitivity to threats or fear during the day results in nightmares, whereas heightened passion or excitement may result in positive dreams.” 可知，白天对威胁或恐惧的高度敏感会导致噩梦，而强烈的激情或兴奋可能会导致积极的梦。所以通过反向推理可以判断出，减少对威胁和害怕的敏感度可以阻止噩梦患者做噩梦。故B选项正确。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“Even after people wake up and shake off the nightmare, in other words, a mark of it stays behind, possessing them throughout the day.”可知，换句话说，即使在人们醒来并摆脱噩梦之后，噩梦的痕迹仍然会留下，伴随他们一整天。所以由关键词“stay behind，throughout the day”可以推断出，噩梦的影响会持续很长一段时间。故A选项正确。

4.主旨大意题。由第一段“However, some scientists believe that nightmares do have some real benefits.”可知，然而，一些科学家认为，噩梦确实有好处。所以短文主要介绍了噩梦的一些好处。故短文的最佳标题为“噩梦的好处”。故B选项正确。