Question

    After Bernini broke his neck and lost all movements below his shoulders when he was 18, his brain still told his hands how to move - - but the message couldn't get through the injured part that connects his brain to other parts of his body. Now, thanks to recent advances in electrical stimulation (刺激) technology. Bernini can once again grasp, pour, and even play Guitar Hero. To do so, he uses a micro-electrode array (MEA) that reads his brain's signals and sends them through wires to something like a sleeve on his arm that electronically stimulates his muscles.

In the past years, researchers have used several approaches to guide patients like Bernini to move their hands. In some systems, researchers implanted (植人)sensors in shoulder muscles that patients could still control, allowing them to move one hand by contracting muscles in the opposite shoulder. Other systems use brain implants similar to those in the new study, but to control robotic arms, rather than the patient’s own muscles. But never before has a patient been able to precisely move his hand using the same neural (神经的)signals that controlled his hand before his injury.

After implanting the MEA in Bernini 's brain, researchers connected it to a computer. Bernini trained the system to connect patterns of neural signals to specific movements by repeatedly mirroring the movements of an imaginary hand on a computer screen. Soon, Bernini could hold large objects like glasses and lift small objects like straws. He could also move each finger on his own just by thinking about it, which previous systems had never achieved. And it was absolutely an amazing moment.

1.How is Bernini now?

A.He does well in playing the guitar.

B.He has recovered from his neck injury.

C.His thoughts can control his hand movements.

D.His shoulder muscles guide his hand movement.

2.What did researchers want to do through brain implants in the past?

A.Control the patients' hands.

B.Guide robots to help patients.

C.Help patients' own muscles contract.

D.Repair patients' injured neural signals.

3.What's the breakthrough in Bernini 's case compared with previous studies?

A.He can hold and lift objects.

B.He can move each finger independently.

C.He can recognize his specific movements.

D.He can use neural signals for hand moving.

4.Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A.Moving Hands by Contracting Muscles.

B.Using New Systems for Muscle Injuries.

C.Sending Neural Signals by Wires.

D.Linking thoughts to Movements.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了通过电刺激技术，Bernini可以再次通过思想来控制自己的行动。

1.

细节理解题。根据文章第一段中“After Bernini broke his neck and lost all movements below his shoulders when he was 18, his brain still told his hands how to move” 18岁时，Bernini摔断了脖子，肩膀以下的部位失去了活动能力，但他的大脑仍然告诉他的手如何移动。由此可知，他的大脑可以控制他手的运动。故选C。

2.

细节理解题。根据文章第二段中“In the past years, researchers have used several approaches to guide patients like Bernini to move their hands.” 在过去的几年里，研究人员已经使用了几种方法来指导像Bernini这样的病人移动他们的手。由此可知，过去研究人员想通过大脑植入来控制病人的手。故选A。

3.

细节理解题。根据文章第三段中“He could also move each finger on his own just by thinking about it, which previous systems had never achieved. And it was absolutely an amazing moment.” 他还可以通过思考来移动自己的手指，这是以前的系统无法做到的。这绝对是一个神奇的时刻。由此可知，Bernini可以独立地移动每一个手指。故选B。

4.

主旨大意题。根据文章第一段中“Now, thanks to recent advances in electrical stimulation (刺激) technology. Bernini can once again grasp, pour, and even play Guitar Hero. To do so, he uses a micro-electrode array (MEA) that reads his brain's signals and sends them through wires to something like a sleeve on his arm that electronically stimulates his muscles” 现在，多亏了最近电刺激技术的进步。Bernini可以再次抓，倒，甚至弹吉他。为了做到这一点，他使用微电极阵列(MEA)来读取他的大脑信号，并通过电线将它们发送到他手臂上的袖子之类的东西上，从而通过电子方式刺激他的肌肉。由此可知，文章主要讲述了通过电刺激技术，Bernini可以再次通过思想来控制自己的行动。故D项（Linking thoughts to Movements）把思想和动作起来，为短文最佳标题。故选D。