Question

He wrote that the “human mind is capable of excitement without the application of unpleasant and violent stimulants (刺激物)”. And it appears that simply reading these words by William Wordsworth proves his point.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool found the writing of Shakespeare and Wordsworth and the like had a beneficial effect on the mind, making it active and excited by catching the reader’s attention and leading to moments of self-reflection.

Using scanners, they monitored the brain activity of volunteers as they read pieces of classical English literature both in their original form and in a modem translation. And according to the Sunday Telegraph, the experiment showed the more challenging writing and poetry set off far more electrical activity in the brain than the simple readings.

The research also found poetry, in particular, increased activity in the right brain, an area concerned with “autobiographical memory”, which helped the readers to reflect on their own experiences in light of what they had read. The academics said this meant the classics were more useful than self-help books.

The brain responses of 30 volunteers were monitored in the first part of the research as they read Shakespeare in its original and modern form. In one example, volunteers read a line from King Lear, “A father and a gracious aged man: him have you madded”, before reading the simpler, “A father and a gracious aged man: him you have enraged”. Shakespeare’s use of the adjective “mad” as a verb caused a higher level of brain activity than the straightforward version.

The next part of the research is looking at the extent to which poetry can affect psychology and provide benefit. Volunteers’ brains were scanned while reading four lines by Wordsworth, and four “translated” lines were also provided. The result showed that the first version caused a greater degree of brain activity.

“Poetry is not just a matter of style. It is a matter of deep versions of experience that add the emotional and biographical to the cognitive (认知的),” said Professor Davis, leader of the researchers.

1.The words by William Wordsworth in Paragraph 1 are used to       .

A. prove the poet’s point    B. introduce the topic

C. serve as an example    D. stress the importance of reading

2.What is the beneficial effect of reading classics on the mind?

A. It excites the reader’s mind.    B. It reflects the reader’s experience.

C. It catches the reader’s attention.    D. It monitors the reader’s brain activity.

3.What method is mainly used in the experiment?

A. Comparing responses.    B. Analyzing data.

C. Observing activities.    D. Testing ability.

4.According to Professor Davis, poetry can affect the mind mainly because of       .

A. its style    B. its meaning

C. its depth    D. its writer

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.A

4.C

【解析】经过研究表明，阅读经典名著能刺激大脑，使大脑变得活跃和兴奋。

1.B推理判断题。根据第一段He wrote that the “human mind is capable of excitement without the application of unpleasant and violent stimulants(兴奋剂，刺激物)”. And it appears that simply reading these words by William Wordsworth proves his point.可知，引用William Wordsworth的话是为了引出话题。故选B。

2.A细节理解题。根据第二段Researchers at the University of Liverpool found the works of Shakespeare and Wordsworth and the like had a beneficial effect on the mind, making it active and excited by catching the reader’s attention and leading to moments of self-reflection.可知，阅读古典文学对思维具有裨益，能够吸引读者的注意力，让读者自我反省，使思想变得活跃和兴奋。故选A。

3.A推理判断题。根据第五段第一句The brain responses of 30 volunteers were monitored in the first part of the research as they read Shakespeare in its original and modern form.（实验的第一部分中，30名志愿者阅读了莎比士亚作品的原版和“现代版”，与此同时研究者们监测了他们大脑的反应。）可知，实验使用的是比较的方法。故选A。

4.C推理判断题。根据最后一段“Poetry is not just a matter of style. It is a matter of deep versions of experience that add the emotional and biographical to the cognitive(认知的),” said Professor Davis, leader of the researchers.（诗歌不单单是一种文体。诗歌是一种深层次的经验，这种经验是在认知经验的基础上加上情感经验和生平经历而形成的）可知，很明显诗歌之所以能影响心灵，主要是因为凝聚了写作者的很多经历和感悟。故选C。