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The Science of Risk-Seeking
Sometimes we decide that a little unnecessary danger is worth it because when we weigh the risk and the reward, the risk seems worth tasking. __1.__ Some of us enjoy activities that would surprise and scare the rest of us. Why? Experts say it may have to do with how our brains work.
The reason why any of us take any risks at all might have to do with early humans. Risk-takers were better at hunting, fighting, or exploring. _2._ As the quality of Risk-taking was passed from on ration to the next, humans ended up with a sense of adventure and a tolerance for risk.
So why aren’t we all jumping out of airplanes then? Well, even 200,000 years ago, too much risk-taking could get one killed. A few daring survived, though, along with a few stay-in-the-cave types. As a result, humans developed a range of character types that still exists today. So maybe you love car racing, or maybe you hate it. __3.__
No matter where you are on the risk-seeking range, scientists say that your willingness to take risks increases during your teenage years. _4.__ To help you do that, your brain increases your hunger for new experiences. New experiences often mean taking some risks, so your brain raises your tolerance for risk as well.
_5._ For the risk-seekers a part of the brain related to pleasure becomes active, while for the rest of us, a part of the brain related to fear becomes active.
As experts continue to study the science of risk-seeking, we’ll continue to hit the mountains, the waves or the shallow end of the pool.
A. Those are the risks you should jump to take.
B. It all depends on your character.
C. Being better at those things meant a greater chance of survival.
D. Thus, these well-equipped people survived because they were the fittest.
E. This is when you start to move away from your family and into the bigger world.
F. However, we are not all using the same reference standard to weigh risks and rewards.
G. New brain research suggests our brains work differently when we face a nervous situation.
“Heaven (天堂) is where the police are English, the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by the Swiss. Hell (地狱) is where the police are German, the cooks are English, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss, and everything is organized by the Italians.”
Obviously the national stereotypes (模式化的思想) in this old joke are generalizations (普遍化), but such stereotypes are often said to “exist for a reason”. Is there actually a sliver (裂片) of truth in them? Not likely, an international research team now says.
“National and cultural stereotypes do play an important role in how people see themselves and others, and being aware that these are not dependable is a useful thing,” said study author Robert McCrae of the National Institute on Aging. “These are in fact unfounded stereotypes. They don’t come from looking around you,” McCrae said.
If national stereotypes aren’t rooted in real experiences, then where do they come from? One possibility is that they reflect national values, which may become known from historical events. For example, many historians have argued that the spirit of American individualism (个人主义) has its origins in the experiences of the pioneers on the Old West.
Social scientists such as psychologist Richard Robins have given several other possible explanations for stereotypes and why they may be incorrect. Robins notes that some stereotypes may have been correct at one point in history and then remained unchanged while the culture changed.
We may be “hard-wired”, to some degree, to keep incorrect stereotypes, since we are less likely to notice and remember information that is different from our stereotypes. Generally, according to Robins, when we meet people who are different from our stereotypes, we see them as unique individuals rather than typical national or cultural groups.
1.The stereotype about Italians is ________.
A. romantic but disorganized
B. friendly and good-tempered
C. dreamy and impractical
D. strict but thoughtful
2.National stereotypes are not always correct because ________.
A. they are formed by individual historians
B. what was true in the past may not be true at the present
C. generalizations are made through personal experience
D. people tend to have false idea about other cultures
3.According to the research team led by McCrae, national stereotypes are ________.
A. interestingB. harmfulC. humorousD. unreliable
4.The underlined word “hard-wired” in the last paragraph probably means ________.
A. forgetfulB. anxiousC. fixedD. helpless
We all have ideas about what kinds of foods are good or bad to eat. As a result, people from one culture often think the foods that people from another culture eat are unacceptable. Many people would find it terrible to eat rats, but there are forty-two different cultures whose people regard rats as proper food.
Food likes and dislikes do not always seem related to nutrition. For example, broccoli (花椰菜) is first on a list of the most nutritious common vegetables, but it is twenty-first on a list of vegetables that Americans like most to eat. Tomatoes are sixteenth on the list of most nutritious vegetables, but they are first on the list of vegetables that Americans like most to eat.
But dislikes is not the only reason why some cultures will not eat a certain food. In some cultures, certain foods are taboo. Taboo is a word from the language of the Fiji Islands that is used to describe something that is forbidden. We do not usually think about why certain things are taboo in our culture.
One example is that Americans do not eat dogs, although people from some other cultures regard them as good food. In the United States, dogs are very important to people as pets. They are usually regarded as part of the family, almost like a child in some cases. In addition, dogs have value as protection against criminals (罪犯). Actually, the dog’s place in society as a companion makes the dog taboo as food.
Scientists believe that most food likes and dislikes are a result of the ways of life of different people. People will not eat pets such as dogs. Americans eat a lot of beef because there is plenty of land for raising cattle and their meat can be shipped cheaply for long distances by railroads.
1.The writer uses the example of rat as food to show that ________.
A. some cultures may seem rather strange
B. understanding between different cultures is easy
C. people may eat very different things
D. eating properly is very difficult
2.What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. People don’t often consider nutrition as important.
B. Some vegetables are more nutritious than others.
C. Broccoli and tomatoes are common vegetables.
D. Americans like broccoli better than tomatoes.
3.Why is eating dogs a taboo in America?
A. It is a taboo from the Fiji Islands.
B. It is against American laws.
C. Dogs are needed by the police.
D. Dogs are close to human life.
4.What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A. Nutritions and Beliefs.
B. Food and Culture.
C. Taboo about Food.
D. Science in Eating.
Vancouver. B.C.—For six months. Ted Schredd and Deanna Kopel cycled around North America to show others a way to help the environment. “Nobody wants to breathe dirty air—but for the air to change. People have to stop driving cars,” says Ted, “If more people start riding bikes, the air will be cleaner.”
Ted started his trip alone. He had $160 in his pocket and plans to cycle around North America. He left his hometown of Vancouver, and when he arrived in San Diego he got the chance to make some extra money for the rest of his 13, 000 km trip. A cyclist he met asked him to speak at an environment meeting in Texas. Within a few hours, Ted was on a plane to the meeting and a big surprise.
When he met Deanna at the meeting, they talked for six hours straight. It was love at first sight. The next day, he called her to ask if she wanted to finish the trip with him. She said yes, sold everything in her flat, gave her notice at work, and was on the road with Ted three weeks later.
Deanna found Ted’s timetable difficult because he got up early in the morning. Deanna was a nurse and usually worked at night. “All of a sudden, I was up at six when I wanted to sleep until noon,” said Deanna.
As the couple cycled to Florida and up to Montreal and then back to Vancouver, every day was an adventure. They got free meals in restaurants, and slept in people’s yards. When they ran out of money, people gave them extra cash. Sometimes people gave away $50 or $100.
And like all good stories this one has a happy ending. On the way back to Vancouver, they stopped in Edmonton to visit Ted’s relatives. During the visit, they got married. People tied ten cans and a “Just Married” sign to the back of their bikes.
They now want to write a book about their trip. “We want people to know that you can protect our earth and still have fun,” Schredd said.
1.What did Ted Schredd believe to be a way to protect the environment?
A. Driving less.B. Breathing clean air.
C. Saving waste tin cans.D. Staying healthy by cycling.
2.Why did Ted speak at an environmental meeting?
A. He could get a big surprise.
B. He was in the city of the meeting.
C. He hoped to find someone to help him.
D. He wanted more people to know more about his opinion.
3.What difficulty did Deanna meet after starting the trip with Ted?
A. Getting free meals in restaurant.
B. Sleeping in people’s yards.
C. Getting up very early.
D. Missing her friends.
4.In what way does the story have a happy ending for Ted and Deanna?
A. They got married during their trip.
B. They got together with their relatives.
C. They became very famous in America.
D. They wrote a book about their experience.
Basketball Statistician Help Wanted
The Athletic Department is looking for students to help assist staff during the Fall 2016, Winter 2016-17 and Spring 2017 semesters. Students in this position will be keeping live statistics during basketball games. Students must meet all of the following requirements:
Good computer skills
Available evenings and weekends
Knowing basketball rules and statistics
Students interested in working for the Athletic Department should contact the Athletic Coordinator at their respective(各自的) campuses.
TP/SS Athletic Coordinator, Michael Simone,240-567-1308
Rockville Athletic Coordinator, Jorge Zuniga,240-567-7589
Springfield Athletic coordinator, Gary Miller,240-567-2273
Germantown Athletic Coordinator, Gavri Chavan, 240-567-6915
1.When will the job start?
A. In May 2016.B. In September 2016.
C. In May 2017.D. In September 2017.
2.Who is more likely to get job?
A. Sam, English major, member of the college basketball team.
B. Judy, IT staff with night classes, children’s basketball team coach.
C. Ted, computer major, basketball fan, free on evenings and weekends.
D. Molly, part-time programmer, high school basketball player, new mother.
3.Whom should you contact if you want to apply for the job in Rockville?
A. Michael.B. Jorge.C. Gavri.D. Gary.
书面表达
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1. 时髦；2. 听英语焕发精神；3. 听英语提高英语水平。 |
1. 浪费时间、影响学习；2. 总听对听觉有害；3. 浪费金钱。 |
1. 合理利用；2. 控制时间。 |
