Once a baby cries, the parents will go to see what happened as soon as possible.According to a new study, a baby's cry can make adults react(反应)very quickly, even if they are not related.
Oxford University researchers used the classic game whack-a-mole for the study.Whack-a-mole(打鼹鼠游戏)requires people to hit one of nine buttons(按钮).The players must react as quickly as they can to whichever of the buttons lights up at random(随机).It is a game that requires speed and accuracy(准确度).
The study included 40 men and women volunteers aged 19 to 59.Some of them had sons or daughters but none had a baby at the time.They played whack-a-mole after listening to different sounds, including babies crying, the crying of adults in trouble and birdsong played at a similar pitch to the babies' cries.
The volunteers' scores were higher after listening to the sound of crying babies.Men and women had similar scores overall.The results showed that a crying baby gets special attention.
"Few sounds make people react quite like the cry of a baby," said Morten Kringelbach of Oxford's psychiatry(精神病学)department, who led the study."For example, it's almost impossible to ignore(忽视,不理)crying babies on planes.This is true even though there are so many other noises around."
He added that a baby's cry can increase adults' heart rate and blood pressure.This is understandable, because in the course of human evolution(进化), taking care of babies has always been an important job for adults.When a baby is hungry or feeling bored or unwell, it will cry.As a result, human brains and bodies develop a special reaction to a baby's cry.
(1)
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
[ ]
A.
There were 80 volunteers who took part in the study.
B.
The youngest volunteer was 19 and the oldest was 59.
C.
Some volunteers had babies at that time in the study.
D.
The volunteers were affected by the sound of a baby's cry.
(2)
The game “whack-a-mole” shows ________.
[ ]
A.
a baby's cry can get special attention from adults
B.
men and women have different reaction speed and accuracy
C.
adults without babies react less quickly to a baby's cry
D.
women react to a baby's cry more quickly than men
(3)
“Whack-a-mole” requires people to hit ________ at a time.
[ ]
A.
one button
B.
one of nine buttons
C.
nine buttons
D.
ten buttons
(4)
According to the passage, a baby's cry ________.
[ ]
A.
has the same pitch as birdsong
B.
is the noisiest sound there is
C.
can increase adults' heart rate and blood pressure
D.
is good for its health
(5)
From the last paragraph, we learn that ________.
[ ]
A.
taking care of the younger babies was the most important thing in the past
B.
human brains and bodies have developed to take care of babies
C.
baby cries are a good way make adults react quickly
D.
baby cries have developed a lot during the course of human evolution
Sack was seven years old,and his sister was five.One day their mother took them to their uncle's to play when she went to the big city to buy some new clothes.
The Children played for an hour,and then at half past four,their uncle took Jack to the kitchen(厨房).He gave him a nice cake and a knife and said,"Now here is a knife,Jack.Cut(切) this cake in half and give one of the pieces to your sister,but remember to do this like a gentleman.""Like a gentleman?"Jack said.“How does a gentleman do it?""They always give bigger one to the other persons",answered his uncle at once.Jack thought about this for a few seconds.Then he took the cake to his sister and said."Cut this cake in half,Mary."
(1)
Jack was __________ than his sister.
A.seven years older
B.two year elder
C.two years older
D.two years younger
[ ]
(2)
Their mother __________.
A.want to the big city to buy hew shoes
B.went to get some shoes
C.went to the big city to buy some new clothes
D.went to see their uncle and then went home
[ ]
(3)
Jack and his sister got to his uncle's at __________.
A.three B.half past three
C.four D.half past four
[ ]
(4)
What did Jack do after thinking abut his uncle's words?
A.Jack cut the cake into halves.
B.Jack cut the cake in half and gave the bigger one to his sister.
C.Jack didn't cut the cake and gave the knife to Mary.
D.Jack didn't cut the cake and gave the knife to his uncle.
[ ]
(5)
Gentleman means __________.
A.工人 B.警察 C.干部 D.绅士
[ ]
阅读理解
You will have a lot of reading to do in this grade this year.You can do more of it in less time if you learn to read rapidly.
Perhaps you have been told about some habits (习惯) which keep a person from reading fast and have been strongly asked to break those habits which you might have.
Do you still have any of these bad habits?Check yourself by answering“yes”or“no”to these questions.
(1) Do you move your lips (嘴唇) when reading silently?
(2) Do you point to words with your finger as you read?
(3)Do you move your head from side to side as you read?
(4)Do you read one word at a time?
If you answer“yes”to any of these questions,start at once to break the habit.If you move your tips,hold your fingers over them,or hold a piece of paper be-tween your lips while you are reading.Then if your lips move,your will know it and can stop them.
If you point to words,hold the two sides of your book,one side with your left hand,the other side with your right hand.Then you won't have a free finger to use in pointing while reading.If you move your head,place your chin (下巴) in one hand and hold your head still (静止不动的).
If you read no more than one or two or three words at a time,you need to work very hard in learning to take in (吸收) more words at each glance (一瞥) as your eyes travel across the lines of words.
Even if you do rather fast now,you can learn to read even faster.As you probably have been told,the secret of fast reading is to take in whole groups of words as each glance.Read in through groups and force (迫使) your eyes along the lines of words as fast as you can to make them go.Anyone who practices doing these things will he able to read faster.
(1)
You may hold your fingers over your lips while reading so as ______.
A.to tell others to be silent
B.to feel whether your lips move or not
C.to hold a piece of paper between them
D.to keep yourself from talking to others
[ ]
(2)
When you read,______.
A.don't keep your head still
B.don't hold your books with your hands
C.don't stand up near a desk
D.don't use your finger to point to words
[ ]
(3)
If you learn to read fast,______.
A.you can read more in less time
B.you can write faster
C.you can understand better
D.you can read less in more time
[ ]
(4)
You must _______ those habits that we are talking about in this reading.
A.remember B.have C.get rid of D.keep
[ ]
(5)
This reading is mainly about ______.
A.the way of reading fast
B.the importance of fast reading
C.the bad habits in reading
D.how to speak quickly
[ ]
阅读理解
When you are learning English,listening,speaking and writing are important,but reading can also be very helpful.When you read,you can not only learn some new words,but also learn how to use these English words.When you read,it gives you a good example for writing.
Good reading tips (建议):
Try to read at the right level (水平).Read something that you can (more or less)understand.If you need to stop every three words to use a dictionary,it is not interesting.
Try to increase the number of your new words.If there are four or five new words on a page,write them in your notebook.But you don't have to write them while you read.Instead try to guess their meaning as you read;mark them with a pen.Then come back when you have finished reading to look them up in a dictionary and write them in your own vocabulary (词汇) book.Then try to remember them.
Try to read regularly (定期).For example,read for a short time once a day.Fifteen minutes every day is better than two hours every Sunday.Fix (固定) a time to read and keep to it.For example,you could read for fifteen minutes when you go to bed,or when you get up or you are at lunchtime.
Read what interests you.Choose a book or a magazine about a subject that you like,because you are going to spend time and money to read it.So choose an interesting book.You can also read newspapers.There are many English newspapers in China.For example,21st Century Teens.It's easy enough for you to understand.There is something interesting in it.
(1)
How many reading tips does the writer give us?
A.Six. B.Three. C.Five. D.Four.
[ ]
(2)
Which of the following is right?
A.When you read,you can only learn some new words.
B.It's interesting for you to stop every three words to use a dictionary.
C.Reading a lot can help write better.
D.Try to read something that you can't understand to make your English better.
[ ]
(3)
If you meet a few words on a page while reading,______.
A.write them down at once
B.guess the meaning at first
C.give up reading
D.don't mark them with a pen
[ ]
(4)
To make your reading better,______.
A.only read a magazine about a subject that you like
B.reading English for tWO hours everySunday is much better than for a short time once a day
C.you should read something that you like for a short time once a day at least
D.it's enough for you to read 21st Century Teens
[ ]
(5)
The best title is ______.
A.Reading is Very Helpful
B.When to Read
C.What to Read
D.How to Make Reading Better
[ ]
阅读理解
Do you know what Oscar is?When did it start?Maybe you can find the background of the awards in the following passage.
The awards started in 1929.Their full title is“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards”.The Academy is a group of people who have worked in the film industry for many years.They decide who will receive the awards.The awards are often referred to as the“Oscar”.This is a nickname given to the awards by a lady called Margaret Herrick.She was once the director of the Academy and she once said that the little gold statue reminded her of her uncle Oscar!
The Oscar is always an exciting event.Each year,at least one unusual thing happens.When the Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni won an Oscar for best foreign film,he danced on stage!When Gwyneth Paltrow.the star of Shakespeare in Love won the Oscar for best actress,she could not make her acceptance speech because she was crying so much with happiness!
In 1987,Roberto Benigni won the award for best director for a film about the last emperor of China.Since then,Chinese film and actors have started to make an impact at the award.Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon was a huge success and it won the award for best foreign language film in 2001.It also won several technical awards for its amazing“flying”people.We expect to see more awards for Chinese film in the near future.
It's time for the Oscar again.Once more,the stars will dress up in their finest and go to Kodar Theater.There,they will find out who had won the awards for best actor,best actress and best director.Millions of people watch the awards every year to find out who the winners are.Some people watch it to see the stars crying and laughing as they receive their awards.
(1)
Who give the awards?
A.In 1927.
B.Oscar.
C.The Academy of Nicknames.
D.A group of people who have worked in the film industry for many years.