快速阅读2011

Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning)Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions.For questions 1 ~ 7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).For questions 8 ~ 10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.ONERight and Left-handedness in HumansWhy do human, quite different from the other animal species, display a distinct left or right-handedness? Not even our closest relatives among the apes (猿) possess such decided lateral (横向的) asymmetry (不对称), as psychologists call it. Yet about 90 per cent of every human population that has ever lived appears to have been right-handed. Professor Bryan Turner at Deakin University has studied the research literature on left-handedness and found that handedness goes with sidedness. So nine out of ten people are right-handed and eight are right-footed. He noted that this distinctive asymmetry in the human population is itself systematic. ―Humans are able to think about things in categories; black and white, up and down, left and right. It‘s a system of signs that enables us to categorize phenomena that are essentially ambiguous.‖The Genetic or Inherited ElementResearch has shown that there is genetic or inherited (继承的) element to handedness. But while left-handedness tends to appear in families, neither left nor right handers will automatically produce children with the same handedness; in fact about 6 per cent of children with two right-handed parents will be left-handed. However, among two left-handed parents, perhaps 40 per cent of the children will also be left-handed. With one right and one left-handed parent, 15 to 20 per cent of the children will be left-handed. Even among identical twins who have exactly the same genes, one in six pairs will differ in their handedness.Researchers Turning to the BrainWhat then makes people left-handed if it is not simply because of genetic cause? Other factors must be at work and researchers have turned to the brain for clues. In the 1860s the French surgeon and anthropologist (人类学家), Dr Paul Broca, made the remarkable finding that patients who had lost their powers of speech as a result of a stroke (a blood clot in the brain) had paralysis (瘫痪) of the right half of their body. He noted that since the left hemisphere (半球) of the brain controls the right half of the body, and vice versa, the brain damage must have been in the brain‘s left hemisphere. Psychologists now believe that among right-handed people, probably 95 per cent have their language centre in the left hemisphere, while 5 per cent have right-sided language. Left-handers, however, do not show the reverse pattern but instead a majority also have their language centre in the left hemisphere. Some 30 per cent have right hemisphere language.The Evolution of Speech Went with Right-handed PreferenceDr Brinkman, a brain researcher at the Australian National University in Canberra, has suggested that evolution of speech went with right-handed preference. According to Brinkman, asthe brain evolved, one side became specialized for fine control of movement (necessary for producing speech) and along with this evolution came right-handed preference. According to Brinkman, most left-handers have left hemisphere dominance but also some capacity in the right hemisphere. She has observed that if a left-handed person is brain-damaged in the left hemisphere, the recovery of speech is quite often better than a right-handed one is. And this is explained by the fact that left-handers have more capacity for speech function in the right hemisphere. In her studies of macaque monkeys (短尾猴) Brinkman has noticed that primates (monkeys) seem to learn a hand preference from their mother in the first year of life but this could be one hand or the other. In humans, however, the specialization in function of the two hemispheres results in differences in the structure of human brain; areas that are involved with the production of speech are usually larger on the left side than on the right. Since monkeys have not acquired the capacity for speech, one would not expect to see such a difference, but Brinkman claims to have discovered a trend in monkeys towards the asymmetry that is clearly observed in the human brain.Development of the Brain May Lead to HandednessTwo American researchers, Geschwind and Galaburda, studied the brains of human and discovered that the difference between left and right asymmetry exists before birth. But as the brain develops, a number of things can affect it. Every brain is initially female in its organization and it only becomes a male brain when the male fetus (胎儿) begins to produce hormones (荷尔蒙). Geschwind and Galburda knew that different parts of the brain mature at different rates; the right hemisphere develops first, then the left. Moreover, a girl‘s brain develops somewhat faster than that of a boy. So, if something happens to the brain‘s development during pregnancy, it is more likely to be affected in a male and the hemisphere more likely to be involved is the left. The brain may become less different and this in turn could result in left-handedness and the development of certain superior skills that have their origins in the left hemisphere such as logic, rationally and abstraction. It should be no surprise then that among mathematics and architects, left-handers tend to be more common and there are more left-handed males than females.Prejudice against Left-handed PeopleThe results of this research may be some consolation(安慰) to left-handers who have for centuries lived in a world that is designed to suit right-handed people. However, what is alarming, according to Mr. Charles Moore, a writer and journalist, is the way the word ―right‖ reinforces its own advantages.Subliminally (下意识地) he says, language tells people to think that anything on the right can be trusted while anything on the left is dangerous or even evil. We speak of left-handed advantages, and on the other hand according to Moore, ―it is certain that left-hand, often develop a stammer(口吃) as they are robbed of their freedom of speech.‖However, as more research is undertaken on the causes of left-handedness, attitudes towards left-handed people are gradually changing for the better. Indeed when the champion tennis player Ivan Lend was asked what the only factor had improved his game, he said he would like to become a left-hander.teral asymmetry is a term used by psychologists to refer to the fact that _____.A)there are both left and right handed peopleB)there are distinctive left and right handed peopleC)less than half of the population is left-handedD)the overwhelming number of the people are right-handed2._____ proposed that handedness goes with sidedness, evidenced by that fact that most peopleare right-handed and right-footed.A) Professor Bryan Turner B) Dr Paul BrocaC) Dr Brinkman D) Geschwind and Galaburda3.With one right and one left-handed parent, _____ of the children are likely to be left-handed.A) about 40% B) about 30%C) less than 20% D) less than 15%4.How many of the left-handed people have their language center in the left hemisphere?A) 5% B) 30% C) 70% D) 95%5.In case of suffering damage to the left hemisphere, _____ fare better in the recovery ofspeech.A) right-handed people B) left-handed peopleC) most right-handed people D) most left-handed people6.What is discovered as the trend in monkeys according to Dr. Brinkman?A)Some monkeys have acquired the capacity for speech.B)Some monkeys display hand preference.C)Monkeys would not develop asymmetry in their brains.D)Monkeys seem to be picking human asymmetry.7.How does the brain develop according to Geschwind and Galaburda?A)The male‘s brain develops faster than the female‘s brain.B)Male brains are more likely to be affected in pregnancy.C)It is hard to determine what affects the growth of the brain.D)Hormones play a decisive role in developing the brain.8.About _____ per cent of children with two right-handed parents will be left-handed.9.With two left-handed parents, about _____ per cent of children will be right-handed.10.The right half of the body is controlled by ____________________ of the brain.TWOUsing the Mind to Fight DiseasesPsychology has a new application in the field of medicine. Many doctors, together with their patients, are looking for alternative methods of treatment of physical problems. In large hospitals and research centers, modern methods of therapy seem to focus on the physical disease without considering the patient‘s mental state. Patients may feel that they are being treated impersonally, like broken machines. Some doctors have recognized this as a problem. They are now using psychological therapy with patients to use their own minds to fight their diseases. Because the patient is working with the medicine and the doctors against the disease, his or her attitude changes. The patient does not wait for the medicine and treatment to cure him or her, but instead the patient joins in the fight.Mental therapyThe doctor knows that a disease affects a patient‘s body physically. The body of the patient(in this case, a man) changes because of the disease. He is not only physically affected, but as the physician knows, he also has an emotional response to the disease. Because his mind is affected, his attitude and behavior change. The medical treatment might cure the patient‘s physical problems, but the patient‘s mind must fight the emotional ones. For example, the studies of one doctor, Carl Simonton, M.D., have shown that a typical cancer patient (in this case, a woman) has predictable attitudes. She typically feels depressed, upset, and angry. Her self-image is poor and she feels self-pity. As a result, her behavior changes. Because of her constant depression, she acts unfriendly toward her family, friends, doctors, and nurses. Such attitudes and behaviors prevent the patient from getting well. Therefore, a doctor‘s treatment must help the patient change her attitudes. Simonton‘s method emphasizes treatment of the whole patient by treating both the body and the mind.The attitude of a cancer patient who is receiving radiation therapy, an X-ray treatment, can become more positive. The physician who is following Simonton‘s psychological treatment plan suggests that the patient imagine that he or she can see the tumor (肿瘤) in the body. In the mental picture, the patient ―sees‖a powerful beam of radiation like a million bullets of energy. The patient imagines the beam hitting the tumor cells and causing them to shrink. For another cancer patient, Dr. Simonton might make another suggestion. This patient, with a different kind of cancer, needs to take capsules and pills several times a day. The doctor asks the patient to imagine the medicine going from the stomach into the bloodstream and to the cancer cells. The patient imagines that the medicine is like an army fighting the diseased cells and sees the cancer cells gradually dying. His or her blood carries away the dead cells. Both the medical therapy and the patient‘s positive attitude fight the disease.Doctors are not certain why this mental therapy works. However, this use of psychology does help some patients because their attitudes about themselves change. They become more confident because they use the power within their own minds to help stop the disease.Suggestion therapyAnother application of using the mind to help cure disease is the use of suggestion therapy. Before making the suggestion, the doctor helps the patients to concentrate deeply. The patient (in this case, a man) thinks only about one thing. He becomes so unaware of other things around him that he seems to be asleep. He is said to be in trance(昏睡). Then the physician makes ―a suggestion‖to the patient about the medical problem. The patient‘s mind responds to the suggestion even after the patient is no longer in the trance. In this way, the patient uses his mind to help his body respond to treatment.Suggestion therapy helpful for both adults and childrenDoctors have learned that this use of psychology is helpful for both adults and children. For example, physicians have used suggestion to help adults deal with the strong pain of some diseases. Furthermore, sometimes the adult patient (in this case, a woman) worries about her illness so much that the anxiety keeps her from getting well. The right suggestion may help the patient to stop being anxious. Such treatment may help the patient with a chronic disease. Asthma (哮喘) is an example of a chronic disorder. Asthma is a disease that causes the patient to have difficulty in breathing. The patient starts to cough and sometimes has to fight to get the air that he or she needs. Psychology can help relieve the symptoms of this disorder. After suggestion therapy,the asthma patient breathes more easily.Physicians have learned that the psychological method is very useful in treating children. Children respond quickly to the treatment because they are fascinated by it. For example, Dr. David R. Collison has worked with 121 asthmatic children in Sydney, Australia, and had good results. Twenty-five of the children had excellent results. They were able to breathe more easily, and they did not need medication. Another forty-three were also helped. The symptoms of the asthma occurred less frequently, and when they did, they were not as strong. Most of the children also felt better about themselves. Doctors have also used suggestion to change habits like nail-biting, thumb-sucking and sleep-related problems.Response from the medical worldMany professional medical groups have accepted the medical use of psychology because they recognize its value. Nobody knows how suggestion works; however, doctors have learned that psychology has important applications in medicine.1.What is the possible fault of modern methods of therapy according to the passage?A)They fail to take into consideration the patient‘s mental state.B)They seem to be confused about the patient‘s mental state.C)They have misunderstanding about the physical disease.D)They have too much concern for the patient‘s mental state.2.Working with the medicine and the doctors, patients are highly likely to experience significantchanges in their _____.A) physical states B) attitudesC) emotional states D) recovery3.What is NOT mentioned as a predictable attitude of a typical cancer patient?A) Energized. B) Angry.C) Depressed. D) Upset.4.The method advocated by Dr Simonton focuses on _____.A)treating the patient as a healthy personB)treating the patient like a friendC)treating the whole patient both the body and the mindD)treating the mind of the patient5.The cancer patient is asked to imagine the tumor being attacked by radiation in _____ asprovided by Dr. Simonton.A) a cancer removal operation B) a psychological treatmentC) a suggestion therapy D) a radiation therapy6.It is implied from paragraph four that the reaction of some doctors to the effect of mentaltherapy is generally _____.A) affirmative B) suspiciousC) reserved D) supportive7._____ is a condition that affects the airways of the patient, causing breathing difficulties.A) A trance B) AsthmaC) A tumor D) Mental disorder8.From the last part of the passage, we can see both adults and children can benefit from________________________.9.Physicians have found that children make a quick response to suggestion therapy because_____________________________.10.Many professional medical doctors have recognized the value of psychological treatment andtherefore they willingly _________________________.ThreeGeothermal EnergyWhat does the word “geothermal” mean?―Geothermal‖comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and thermo (heat). So, geothermal means earth heat.What is geothermal energy?Our earth‘s interior – like the sun – provides heat energy from nature. This heat – geothermal energy – yields warmth and power that we can use without polluting the environment.Geothermal heat originates from Earth‘s fiery (炽热的) consolidation of dust and gas over 4 billion years ago. At earth‘s core – 4,000 miles deep – temperature may reach over 9,000 degrees F.How does geothermal heat get up to Earth’s surface?The heat from the earth‘s core continuously flows outward. It transfers (conducts) to the surrounding layer of rock, the mantle(地幔). When temperature and pressures become high enough, some mantle rock melts, becoming magma (岩浆). Then, because it is lighter (less dense) than the surrounding rock, the magma rises, moving slowly up toward the earth‘s crust, carrying the heat from below.Sometimes the hot magma reaches all the way to the surface, where we know it as lave (熔岩). But most often the magma remains below earth‘s crust, heating nearby rock and water (rainwater the has seeped deep into the earth) – sometimes as hot as 700 degrees F. Some of this hot geothermal water travels back up through faults and cracks and reaches the earth‘s surface as hot springs or geysers, but most of it stays deep underground, trapped in cracks and porous (有孔的) rock. This natural collection of hot water is called a geothermal reservoir (库).How have people used geothermal energy in the past?From earliest times, people have used geothermal water that flowed freely from the earth‘s surface as hot springs. The oldest and most common use was, of course, just relaxing in the comforting warm waters. But eventually, this ―magic water‖was used (and still is) in other creative ways. The Romans, for example, used geothermal water to treat eye and skin disease and, at Pompeii, to heat buildings. As early as 10,000 years ago, Native Americans used hot springs water for cooking and medicine. For centuries the Maoris of New Zealand have cooked ―geo-thermally‖, and, since the 1960s, France has been heating up to 200,000 homes using geothermal water.How do we use geothermal energy today?Today we drill wells into the geothermal reservoirs to bring the hot water to the surface. Geologists, geochemists, drillers and engineers do a lot of exploring and testing to locate underground areas that contain this geothermal water, so we‘ll know where to drill geothermal production wells. Then, once the hot water and/or steam travels up the wells to the surface, they can be used to generate electricity in geothermal power plants or for energy saving non-electrical purposes.What are some of the advantages of using geothermal energy to generate electricity?Clean. Geothermal power plants, like wind and solar power plants, do not have to burn fuels to manufacture steam to turn the turbines (涡轮机). Generating electricity with geothermal energy helps to conserve nonrenewable fossil fuels, and by decreasing the use of these fuels, we reduce emissions that harm our atmosphere. There is no smoky air around geothermal power plants – in fact some are built in the middle of farm crops and forests, and share land with cattle and local wildlife.For ten years, Lake County California, home to five geothermal electric power plants, has been the first and only country to meet the most strict governmental air quality standards in the U.S.Easy on the land. The land area required for geothermal power plants is smaller per megawatt than for almost every other type of power plant. Geothermal installations don‘t require damming of rivers or harvesting of forests – and there are no mine shafts, tunnels, open pits, waste heaps or oil spills.Reliable. Geothermal power plants are designed to run 24 hours a day, all year. A geothermal power plant sits right on top of its fuel source. It is resistant to interruptions of power generation due to weather, natural disasters or political rifts that can interrupt transportation of fuels.Flexible. Geothermal power plants can have modular (模块的) designs, with additional units installed in increments (增额) when needed to fit growing demand for electricity.Keeps Dollars at Home. Money does not have to be exported to import fuel for geothermal power plants. Geothermal ―fuel‖– like the sun and the wind – is always where the power plant is; economic benefits remain in the region and there are no fuel price shocks.Helps Developing Countries Grow. Geothermal projects can offer all of the above benefits to help developing countries grow without pollution. And installations in remote locations can raise the standard of living and quality of life by bringing electricity to people far from ―electrified‖population centers.How much electricity is from geothermal energy?Since the first geothermally-generated electricity in the world was produced at Larderello, Italy, in 1904, the use of geothermal energy for electricity has grown worldwide to about 7,000 megawatts in twenty-one countries around the world. The United States alone produces 2,700 megawatts of electricity from geothermal energy, electricity comparable to burning sixty million barrels of oil each year.How much geothermal energy is there?Thousands more megawatts of power than are currently being produced could be developed from already-identified hydrothermal(热液的) resources. With improvements in technology,much more power will become available. Usable geothermal resources will not be limited to the ―shallow‖ hydrothermal reservoirs at the crustal plate boundaries. Much of the world is underlain (3-6 miles down), by hot dry rock –no water, but lots of heat. Scientists in the U.S.A., Japan, England, France, Germany and Belgium have experimented with piping water into this deep hot rock to create more hydrothermal resources for use in geothermal power plants. As drilling technology improves, allowing us to drill much deeper, geothermal energy from hot dry rock could be available anywhere. At such time, we will be able to tap the true potential of the enormous heat resources of the earth‘s crust.1.The word of ―geothermal‖ originated from _____.A) Germanic B) Egyptian C) Greek D) Latin2.When magma rises towards the earth‘s crust, it _____.A) becomes hotter B) becomes denseC) brings heat from below D) brings rocks from below3.When magma reaches the surface of the earth, it becomes _____.A) hot springs B) geysers C) a reservoir D) lava4.Most commonly, people used geothermal water for _____.A) relaxation B) electricity C) producing energy D) scientific research5.People in _____ used geothermal water for the same purpose.A) Rome and Pompeii B) Pompeii and FranceC) France and New Zealand D) New Zealand and Rome6.Geothermal power plants can be built in the middle of forests thanks to their advantage of_____.A) being clean B) being renewable C) being easy to run D) being space-efficientke County California has been the only county that is approved by the government for its_____.A) housing standards B) living standards C) water quality D) air quality8. A geothermal power plant is economically beneficial because it gets its ____________ fromwhere it is.rderello in Italy was the city where the earliest ________________________ wasproduced.10.With the improvement in drilling skills, we will be able to get more geothermal energy bypiping water into the ____________________________.FOURHealthy EatingHealthy eating and being physically active are keys to a healthy lifestyle. You may reduce your risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and certain cancers, and increase your chances of living longer. This article helps you navigate the maze of new Food Pyramids and guidelines available and helps you develop a healthy diet plan that is best for your needs.What are the benefits of a healthy diet?A healthy diet is one of the most important ways you can maintain an active lifestyle and protect against health problems. Healthy eating increases energy, improves the way your body functions, strengthens your immune system and thwarts (挫败) weight gain.A healthy diet helps you:Meet your nutritional needs. A varied, balanced diet provides the nutrients you need to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Non-nutrients, such as fiber, are also necessary to a healthy diet.Prevent and treat certain diseases. Healthful eating can prevent the risk of developing certain diseases such as cancer and heart disease. It is also helpful in treating diabetes and high blood pressure. Following a special diet can reduce symptoms, and may help you better manage an illness or condition.Enjoy life. Food is the mainstay of many social and cultural events. Not only does it provide nutrition, it helps facilitate connections between people. Cooking fresh, healthy meals can also be an enjoyable way to spend time, either on your own or with others.Feel energetic and manage your weight. A healthy diet can help you feel better, provide you with more energy, and help you fight stress.What are some general guidelines for healthy eating?Don’t skip meals. Plan your daily meals and snacks. For healthy eating, if your weight is normal, enjoy three meals and two additional snacks if you‘re hungry in between mealtimes.Learn simple ways to prepare food. Healthy eating doesn‘t have to mean complicated eating. Keep meal preparation easy, eat more raw foods such as salads and vegetable juices, and focus on the pleasure of eating healthy food rather than the calories.Avoid eating more sugar. If you feel tired in the afternoon, reach for fruits, veggies or a high protein snack rather than sweets, which actually rob your body of energy.Listen to your body. Stop eating when you feel full. This will help you remain alert, relaxed and feeling your best.How do dietary guidelines such as the USDA Food Pyramid and Harvard Health Healthy Eating Pyramid classify food groups?Grains – Whole grains include whole wheat, brown rice, oatmeal, whole grain barley, millet, and popcorn. Whole grains are more nutritious than refined grains which include many breads, pastas, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits.Vegetables –Go for the brights: the deeper the color, the greater the concentration of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Dark green and orange vegetables, from broccoli, kale and mustard greens to butternut squash and sweet potatoes, are several excellent choices. Dried beans and peas, such as black beans, kidney beans and tofu, count in the vegetable category as well as the meat group. 100 percent vegetable juice counts, too.Fruits–Fruits can be enjoyed in a number of ways: fresh, canned, frozen, dried, whole, cut-up, or pureed(做成泥或羹的). Go easy on the fruit juices, though; they contain a lot of natural sugars. Besides the standards such as apples, bananas, oranges, peaches, pears and plums, try mangoes, blackberries, papayas, hybrid melons and avocados.Milk and other dairy– As part of a healthy diet, the USDA recommends choosing fat-free or low-fat dairy products. If you‘re lactose-intolerant(不适应乳糖的), there are lactose-free and lower-lactose products, such as hard cheeses and yogurt. Harvard Health suggests a dairy orcalcium supplement as an alternative to milk and cheese, which can contain a lot of saturated fat.Meat and beans– This group includes fish, poultry, eggs, beans, peas, nuts and seeds, so it‘s easy to vary your healthy eating choices. Harvard Health suggests avoiding red meats because they contain a lot of saturated fat.Oils–Oils are a major source of fats in your diet. Common plant and fish oils include: canola oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil. Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated (PUFA) or monounsaturated (MUFA) fats.Discretionary (自由决定的) calories–The USDA Food Pyramid includes a discretionary calories classification which include ―the extras‖like solid fats, added sugars, and alcohol, or more food from any food group. Alternatively, Harvard Health suggests that alcohol is okay in moderation and that sweets should be avoided.What is a healthy diet for women?Women require more calcium and iron than men do, but what constitutes a healthy diet for a woman depends a great deal on where she is in the life cycle, the amount of exercise she gets, whether she is pregnant or lactating (哺乳), and other lifestyle factors.What is a healthy diet for seniors?Every year over the age of 40, our Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) (基础代谢率) slows down. This means that even if we continue to follow our current healthy eating pattern, we are likely to gain weight as we age. In general, seniors need to consume more calcium and vitamin D for bone health, eat more fiber to prevent constipation (便秘), cut back on salt and sugar, and make sure they get the recommended daily allowance of important vitamins and minerals. Seniors also need to increase their water intake and participate in regular physical activity. See Helpguide‘s Eating Well As We Grow Older: Guide to Senior Nutrition and Creative Meal Sharing for more information.What is a healthy diet for weight loss?Maintaining proper weight is one of the best steps you can take to prevent many health conditions and diseases. Weight loss is a complex issue, and involves emotional and mental components along with physical ones. In addition, your age and general health play important roles in what and how you should eat in order to lose weight. For more information, see Helpuide‘s Healthy Weight Loss: Guide to the Popular Plans and Tips for Managing Your Weight.1.Fiber is regarded by the author as _____.A) a source of nutrition B) inessential to our dietC) a kind of non-nutrients D) a cause of malnutrition2.It is mentioned in the passage that healthful eating can help treat _____.A) pneumonia B) diabetes C) influenza D) insomnia3.If your weight is normal, you should at most have _____ every day.A) two meals B) two meals and three snacksC) three meals D) three meals and two snacks4.According to the author, a healthful diet should include more _____.A) raw foods B) salty foods C) processed foods D) low-calories foods。