Question

    Pinocchio may be just a children's fairy tale, but Spanish scientists at the University of Granada recently investigated the so-called ''Pinocchio effect'' and found that our noses don't grow when we tell a lie, but actually shrink a bit.

Dr. Emilio Gómez Milán and his team developed a lie detector test that used thermography to tell if people were lying, and found that whenever participants in their research were being untruthful, the temperature of the tips of their noses dropped up to 1.2℃, while the temperature of their forehead increased up to 1.5℃. Scientists also found that drop in temperature at nose level actually caused it to slightly shrink, although the difference is undetected by the human eye.

''One has to think in order to lie, which rises the temperature of the forehead, '' Dr. Gomez Milan explained the findings. ''At the same time we feel anxious, which lowers the temperature of the nose. ''

For this study, researchers asked a number of 60 students to perform various tasks while being scanned by thermal imaging technology. One of these tasks involved calling a 3 to 4 minutes call to their parents, partner or a friend and telling a significant lie. Participants had to devise the lie by themselves during the call, and the thermal cameras picked up this ''reverse Pinocchio effect'' caused by the fluctuation (起伏) in temperature in the nose and forehead.

Interestingly, the thermal lie doctor picked up the temperature difference in 80 percent of test subjects, which is a better rate of success than that of any modern lie doctor.

''With this method we have achieved to increase accuracy and reduce the occurrence of 'false positives', something that is frequently with other methods such as the polygraph (测谎仪) , '' said Dr. Emilio Gómez Milán, who added that law enforcement interviewers could one day combine other lie detection technology with thermal imaging to achieve better results.

The thermal lie doctor has been the most reliable in the world, 10% more than the popular polygraph.

1.Why does the author mention ''Pinocchio'' at the beginning?

A.To tell a fairy story B.To warn us not to lie.

C.To introduce a research. D.To inspire us to doubt old beliefs.

2.According to the research, what might happen if you tell a lie?

A.Your nose gets longer.

B.Your nose becomes smaller.

C.Your temperature gets higher.

D.Your temperature remains stable.

3.What can we learn about the research?

A.Researchers conduct the study by interviewing.

B.Researchers design difference lies for participants.

C.The thermal lie detector will prove a popular one.

D.The thermal lie doctor may assist law enforcement.

4.Which might be the best title for the passage?

A.Will lie detectors tell the truth?

B.Will lying make your nose longer?

C.Will lying make your temperature rise?

D.Will thermal imaging technology be reliable?

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。匹诺曹一说谎鼻子就变长? 文章由匹诺曹为切入点，介绍了一个研究，该研究发现人在撒谎时鼻尖温度会降低，这会导致鼻子稍微变小。这就是“匹诺曹效应”。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段Pinocchio may be just a children's fairy tale, but Spanish scientists at the University of Granada recently investigated the so-called ''Pinocchio effect'' and found that our noses don't grow when we tell a lie, but actually shrink a bit.(匹诺曹可能知识一个孩子们的童话故事，但是西班牙Granada大学的科学家最近进行了一个名叫“匹诺曹”相应的研究，并且发现，我们撒谎时鼻子不会长长，而事实上会稍微缩小)以及下文内容可推测，第一段提到匹诺曹是为了引出一个关于人们说谎时鼻子会稍微缩小的研究。C. To introduce a research.(为了引出一个研究)符合以上推测，故选C项。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段的found that whenever participants in their research were being untruthful, the temperature of the tips of their noses dropped up to 1.2℃, …Scientists also found that drop in temperature at nose level actually caused it to slightly shrink(发现参与者无论什么时候说谎，他们鼻尖的温度会下降多达1.2℃……科学家们发现鼻尖温度的下降实际上会让鼻子稍微缩小)可知，研究发现说谎时鼻子会稍微缩小。B. Your nose becomes smaller.(鼻子会变得更小)符合以上说法，故选B项。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段''With this method we have achieved to increase accuracy and reduce the occurrence of 'false positives', something that is frequently with other methods such as the polygraph (测谎仪) , '' said Dr. Emilio Gómez Milán, who added that law enforcement interviewers could one day combine other lie detection technology with thermal imaging to achieve better results.(“埃米利奥·戈麦斯·米兰博士说：“用这种方法我们提高了测谎准确率，降低了误报的发生率，而用测谎器等方法经常会出现误报。”他还说，执法部门负责审讯的官员有一天将能把热成像技术和其他测谎技术结合起来以达到更准确的结果。)可知，热感测谎医生在将来可能会帮助到执法部门。D. The thermal lie doctor may assist law enforcement.(热感测谎医生可能会帮助到执法部门)符合以上说法，故选D项。

4.主旨大意题。根据文章的主要内容，尤其是第一段的Spanish scientists at the University of Granada recently investigated the so-called ''Pinocchio effect'' and found that our noses don't grow when we tell a lie, but actually shrink a bit.可知，匹诺曹一说谎鼻子就变长? 文章由匹诺曹为切入点，介绍了一个研究，该研究发现人在撒谎时鼻尖温度会降低，这会导致鼻子稍微变小。这就是“匹诺曹效应”。B. Will lying make your nose longer?(撒谎会让你的鼻子变长吗？)可以作为本文标题故选B项。