Question

We all know what a brain is. A doctor will tell you that the brain is the organ of the body in the head. It controls our body’s functions, movements, emotions and thoughts. But a brain can mean so much more.

A brain can also simply be a smart person. If a person is called brainy, she is smart and intelligent. If a family has many children but one of them is super smart, you could say “She’s the brains in the family.” And if you are the brains behind something, you are responsible for developing or organizing it. For example, Bill Gates is the brains behind Microsoft.

Brain trust is a group of experts who give advice. Word experts say the phrase “brain trust” became popular when Franklin D. Roosevelt first ran for president in 1932. Several professors gave him advice on social and political issues facing the U.S. These professors were called his “brain trust.”

These ways we use the word “brain” all make sense. But other ways we use the word are not so easy to understand. For example, to understand the next brain expression, you first need to know the word “drain”. As a verb, to drain means to remove something by letting it flow away. So a brain drain may sound like a disease where the brain flows out the ears. But, a brain drain is when a country’s most educated people leave their countries to live in another. The brains are, sort of, draining out of the country.

However, if people are responsible for a great idea, you could say they brainstormed it. Here, brainstorm is not an act of weather. It is a process of thinking creatively about a complex topic. For example, business leaders may use brainstorming to create new products, and government leaders may brainstorm to solve problems.

If people are brainwashed, it does not mean their brains are nice and clean. To brainwash means to make someone accept new beliefs by using repeated pressure in a forceful or tricky way. Keep in mind that brainwash is never used in a positive way.

1.Why did Roosevelt successfully win the election according to the passage?

A．Because word experts were popular.

B．Because he got his brain trust.

C．Because he was smart at giving advice.

D．Because he was the brains behind Americans.

2.According to the text, if you’re the CEO of Bai Du you can be called ________.

A．the organ of Bai Du

B．the brain drain of Bai Du

C．the brains behind Bai Du

D．Bai Du’s brain trust

3.Which of the following expressions is always used in a negative way?

A．Brainstorm.B．Brain trust.C．Brainwash.D．Brain drain.

4.What’s the main idea of this article？

A．The origin of the word “brain”.

B．The word “brain” and its stories.

C．What is the brain.

D．The difference between “brain trust” and “brainwash”.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了“brain”这个单词的含义以及它引申出来的几个单词的意思。

1.】B 细节理解题。根据第三段“Several professors gave him advice on social and political issues facing the U.S. These professors were called his ‘brain trust.’”可知，Roosevelt成功地赢得竞选是因为他有brain trust（一个给他建议的团队）。故答案为B。

2.】C 推理判断题。根据第二段的描述，及最后给的例子For example, Bill Gates is the brains behind Microsoft.可推断，如果你是百度的CEO，那么你可以被叫做the brains behind Bai Du。故选C。

3.】C 细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句Keep in mind that brainwash is never used in a positive way.可知，brainwash（洗脑）不用于正面的方式，而是负面的方式，故选C。

4.】B 主旨大意题。根据文章内容特别是第一段概括了本文的大意。本文讲述了“brain”这个单词的含义以及它引申出来的几个单词的意思，故选项B正确。

考点：考查文化类短文阅读

【名师点睛】

关于细节理解题

用细节定位法：细节理解题属直接解答性问题，是阅读理解题中最简单的一种，多数属中低难度的送分题。但由于高考所占的比例很大，应特别引起注意。事实和细节题的命题特点是：把某词语、某个句子或某具体事实用不同于原文的另一方式或句型表达，即同义改写。解答这类题的窍门是：A)注意掌握英语的多种表达法；B)正确分析词语在句中的作用；C)熟练运用英语的句型转换；D)读懂题干所提出的问题，并准确地找到文中涉及该问题的句子。

比如文章第28题Why did Roosevelt successfully win the election according to the passage?就需要快速定位第三段内容“Several professors gave him advice on social and political issues facing the U.S. These professors were called his ‘brain trust.’”可知，Roosevelt成功地赢得竞选时因为他有brain trust（一个给他建议的团队）。故答案为B。