People who have lost the ability to understand or use words due to brain damage are called aphasics(失语症患者). Such patients can be extremely good at something else. From the changing expressions on speakers’ faces and the tones of their voices, they can tell lies from truths.
Doctors studying the human brain have given a number of examples of this amazing power of aphasics. Some have even compared this power to that of a dog with an ability to find out the drugs hidden in the baggage.
Recently, scientists carried out tests to see if all that was said about aphasics was true. They studied a mixed group of people. Some were normal; others were aphasics. It was proved that the aphasics were far ahead of the normal people in recognizing false speeches — in most cases, the normal people were fooled by words, but the aphasics were not.
Some years ago, Dr. Oliver Sacks wrote in his book about his experiences with aphasics. He mentioned a particular case in a hospital. Some aphasics were watching the president giving a speech on TV. Since the president had been an actor earlier, making a good speech was no problem for him. He was trying to put his feelings into every word of his speech.
But his way of speaking had the opposite effect on the patients. They didn’t seem to believe him. Instead, they burst into laughter. The aphasics knew that the president did not mean a word of what he was saying. He was lying!
Many doctors see aphasics as people who are not completely normal because they lack the ability to understand words. However, according to Dr. Sacks, they are more gifted than normal people. Normal people may get carried away by words. Aphasics seem to understand human expressions better, though they cannot understand words.
1.What is so surprising about aphasics?
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A.They can fool other people. |
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B.They can find out the hidden drugs. |
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C.They can tell whether people are lying. |
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D.They can understand language better. |
2. How did the scientists study aphasics?
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A.By asking them to watch TV together. |
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B.By comparing them with normal people. |
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C.By organizing them into acting groups. |
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D.By giving them chances to speak on TV. |
3.What do we learn from this text?
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A.People poor at one thing can be good at another. |
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B.What one says reflects how one feels. |
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C.Aphasics have richer feelings than others. |
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D.Normal people often tell lies in their speeches. |
It was a cool October evening. Excitement and family members (36) the hall. I was only a 7-year-old girl, but I was the center of (37) . Finally, after weeks of preparation, I would (38) all my hard work in a dance of performance. Everything would be (39) —so I thought. I waited backstage all (40 ) in my black tights with a golden belt. In a loud and clear voice, the master of ceremonies (41) that my class was next.
My dance class was doing a routine on wooden boxes two feet by two feet, facing the (42). All I had to do in the next move was to put one foot on the box next to mine and keep my other foot on my box. It really was an (43) move. I was concentrating so much (44) the huge smile on my face and holding my head up that I did not look (45) I was going. I missed my partner’s box altogether and (46) .There I was standing on the stage floor when my classmates were on top of their boxes. I could hear giggles(咯咯笑) coming from the audience, and I felt the (47) rush to my face. I remembered my dance teacher had told us, “If you make a mistake, keep smiling so the audience will not (48) .I did my best to follow her (49) as I continued with the routine.
When the curtain dropped, so did my (50) for the evening. I (51) bitterly, tasting the salt from the tears that streamed down my face. I ran backstage, but no one could (52) me down.
Recently I realized I had been a (53) that night. I was (54) but I fought the urge to run off the stage. (55) I finished the routine with a smile on my face. Now when friends and family laugh about the time I slipped during a dance performance, I can laugh too.
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Not until the 11th century, when a young lady brought a fork to Italy, _______.
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A.and the custom reached Europe. |
B.that the custom reached Europe. |
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C.did the custom reach Europe. |
D.so did the custom reach Europe. |
On August 12,2009, Typhoon Morakot swept across Taiwan island, _____ a lot of villages _____.
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A.leaving; damaged. |
B.left; damaged. |
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C.left; damaging. |
D.leaving; damaging. |
It is so heavy a box _____ no one can move.
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A.that. |
B.which. |
C.as. |
D.what. |
—Why does the lake smell terrible?
—Because large quantities of water _____.
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A.have polluted. |
B.is being polluted. |
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C.has been polluted. |
D.have been polluted. |
