Question

    We often find that weekends and holidays feel so short while classes and work feel so long. Actually, though, we know that this is not true. But we still wonder where that strange feeling comes from. In fact, this is one of the ways that we’re tricked by time, according to the website All That Is Interesting. The website lists several wrong impressions we often have about time. Let's have a look. First of all, emotions affect our time-keeping abilities: Negative emotions, especially anxiety and boredom, make time seem longer because they make us concentrate more on the passage of time. However, when we are enjoying ourselves, we pay more attention to what we are doing and are likely to lose track of (失去对...的意识) time.

Here is another example. In 2007, a group of scientists carried out a test. In the test, people fell 50 meters into a safety net and were then asked about their experience. Although the experience took shorter than 3 seconds, the people thought it was much longer than it actually was.

This is because of the way our bodies reply to danger, according to the scientists. Our bodies produce a chemical called adrenaline (肾上腺素) when we are faced with danger. It allows us to concentrate better so that we can stay alive. As a result, we are able to remember far more details (细节) over a short period of time, which makes it seem like time is going more slowly.

Another situation when we make mistakes about time is when we take afternoon naps（午觉）. Have you ever had trouble telling what time it is after a long nap? That's because the best amount of time for a nap is 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, you enter a new stage of sleep called slow-wave sleep. If you wake up mid-way in this stage, it will take a while before you can correctly perceive（感知）time again. Yes, time can be mysterious and there is no way to control it. So, perhaps the best thing to do is to make good use of every minute.

1.According to the passage, what possibly makes people feel so long?

A.weekends and holidays B.weekends and work. C.classes and work D.holidays and work

2.Which will not affect our time-keeping abilities according to the website listing?

A.negative emotions B.positive emotions C.adrenaline D.scientists

3.According to the passage, in which situation don’t we make mistakes about time?

A.We wake up after a long nap.

B.We fall down from a high place.

C.We have many problems left in the test paper, but the time is up.

D.We go to school on the school bus as usual on weekdays.

4.According to the passage, what will NOT happen when we are faced with danger?

A.Our bodies will produce a chemical called adrenaline.

B.We are able to feel that time seems to go more slowly.

C.Adrenaline will make us concentrate better to stay alive.

D.We will forget far more details over a short period of time.

5.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A.Negative emotions make time seem longer.

B.We feel like time is going more slowly while having fun.

C.Time can be mysterious and there is no way to control it.

D.If we wake up mid-way after a long nap, maybe we can't correctly perceive time again soon.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.D

4.D

5.B

【解析】

本文主要讲述我们对时间的错觉，负面情绪会让我们感觉时间过得很慢；当遇到危险时，和长时间午休起床时，都会有对时间的误判。时间是很神秘的，没人能够控制。

1.细节理解题。由文章内容“while classes and work feel so long.”可知，上课和工作让我们感觉很长，故选C。

2.推理判断题。由文章内容“First of all, emotions affect our time-keeping abilities…Our bodies produce a chemical called adrenaline (肾上腺素) when we are faced with danger.”可知，情感和肾上腺素都会影响，科学家不会影响，故选D。

3.推理判断题。“First of all, emotions affect our time-keeping abilities…Although the experience took shorter than 3 seconds, the people thought it was much longer than it actually was…Another situation when we make mistakes about time is when we take afternoon naps”可知，当我们情感波动，从高空坠下或午睡起来时，都会对时间有误判，故选D。

4.细节理解题。由文章内容“Our bodies produce a chemical called adrenaline (肾上腺素) when we are faced with danger. It allows us to concentrate better so that we can stay alive. As a result, we are able to remember far more details (细节) over a short period of time, which makes it seem like time is going more slowly.” 当我们面临危险时，我们的身体会产生一种叫做肾上腺素的化学物质。它能让我们更好地集中精力，这样我们就能活下去。因此，我们能够在短时间内记住更多的细节（细节），这使得时间似乎走得更慢。故选D。

5.细节理解题。A. Negative emotions make time seem longer.消极情绪使时间显得更长。由文章内容“Negative emotions, especially anxiety and boredom, make time seem longer”可知，这句话正确；B. We feel like time is going more slowly while having fun. 我们觉得在玩得开心的时候时间过得更慢了。由文章内容“when we are enjoying ourselves, we pay more attention to what we are doing and are likely to lose track of (失去对...的意识) time.”可知，当我们开心时，感觉时间过得很快，故B错误。C. Time can be mysterious and there is no way to control it. 时间是神秘的，没有办法控制它。由文章内容“Yes, time can be mysterious and there is no way to control it. ”可知，本句话正确。D. If we wake up mid-way after a long nap, maybe we can't correctly perceive time again soon. 如果我们在长时间小睡后中途醒来，也许我们很快就不能正确地感知时间了。由文章内容“Another situation when we make mistakes about time is when we take afternoon naps（午觉）.”可知，本句话正确。故选B。