题目内容
When it comes to finding their way back home, mice are definitely in the first place. In fact, they find their way around in much the same way we do!
Recently scientists at Oxford University found that wood mice have a rare ability. They actually create a type of “road sign” to tell themselves which way to go. Until now, most people did not think animals could do this.
Wood mice live in large open fields. One part of the field looks much like the next. Scientists wondered how wood mice kept from getting lost without landmarks. How did they remember where they hid their food? By studying a group of these mice, researchers learned that these clever mice pile seeds, leaves and other materials at places they want to remember.
What is truly remarkable is that these markers are visual. Wood mice have large eyes. They rely on their vision to fine their way. House mice, by contrast, follow their own smell to get back to their nests. However, leaving a small trail in an open field could be very dangerous. Enemies might use it to track down the little mice. Wood mice do not have to worry about this. Other animals do not know what their markers mean.
Researchers wanted to learn more about this unusual behavior. To do so, they needed to study the mice more closely. They decided to place a group of mice inside a box and film their activity. They also put some small plastic discs and a small amount of food in the box. Soon the mice began moving the discs. They used them to hide food. They also shifted them from place to place as they moved farther and farther away from their nesting area.
Researchers believe this new information may change how people think about these little creatures, and one of the first steps in realizing that mice are not as silly as we probably originally thought. One thing seems certain that these remarkable road signs will be a focus of scientific research for some time to come.
(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN TEN WORDS.)
81. How are wood mice different from house mice?
82. The rare ability wood mice have is _______________________.
83. Researchers found when wood mice moved farther and farther away from their nesting place, they _______.
84. Why do scientists study wood mice?
(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN TEN WORDS.)
81. Wood mice use visual clues/markers.
82. to know which way to go / to recognize the way
83. also changed their food from place to place
84. They wanted to know how wood mice know the way.
Gallows humor(黑色幽默) may seem like a mistake, or at least in poor taste. But psychologists say that gallows humor can be an important way to relieve stress.“Humor makes you feel in control and it can give you that feeling that everything is okay even when it’s not,”says James M.Jones, a psychology professor at the University of Delaware.
Psychologists say that just because you’re laughing doesn’t mean you’re wasting time. Occasional tease among colleagues, particularly if it is associated with the job, can inspire creativity, departmental cohesiveness(凝聚力) and performance.
“There are a lot of stresses out there,”says Ed Dunkelblau, a psychologist in Chicago.“Gallows humor is a way of making difficult things a little less difficult.”
This is as long as the humor is used for the right purpose. The main point of it should be inspiring people—not laughing at them. “Anything that would lift morale(士气) in terms of the company would be good humor,”says Thierry Guedj, a professor.
You want to give your employees and co-workers a sense of belonging, so don’t make observations that are aggressive. Most obviously, Dr. Guedj says, don’t make comments about people’s physical appearance or faith. If you have any doubt about its appropriateness, don’t go through with it.
Or you can take aim at the person that you know won’t be offended(冒犯): yourself. “If there’s going to be a joke or story, it should be you,”Mr Dunkelblau says.
“People with the ability to laugh at themselves can give other people permission to laugh at themselves, too,”Mr Jones says.“And if you can laugh at yourself, you feel better about yourself.”
1.According to the passage, gallows humor has the following functions EXCEPT .
A.leading to a big mistake |
B.reducing pressure |
C.making people more creative |
D.improving performance |
2.What is Ed Dunkelblau’s attitude towards gallows humor?
A.Negative. |
B.Positive. |
C.Neutral.(中立的) |
D.Uncertain. |
3.When people use gallows humor, they should .
A.observe who is aggressive |
B.show a sense of belonging |
C.doubt about the result of humor |
D.try to avoid involving private things |
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A.People tend to laugh at others rather than themselves. |
B.Laughing at yourself can make others free from stress. |
C.People can’t avoid offending others with gallows humor. |
D.People who laugh at themselves are easy to gain others’ permission. |
Most people feel lonely sometimes,but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours,This kind of loneliness is not serious.In fact,it is quite normal.For some people,though,loneliness can last for years.Now researchers say loneliness comes in three different types.
The first kind of loneliness is temporary.This is the most common type.It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention.The second kind is situation,for example,family problem,the death of a loved one,or moving to a new place.Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems,such as headaches and sleeplessness,it usually does not last for more than a year.The third kind of loneliness is the most serious.Unlike the second type, chronic (the opposite of‘temporary’) usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause.People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others.Unfortunately,many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
Psychologists(心理学家) agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person’s social contacts,for example,friends,family members,co-workers,etc.We depend on various people for different reasons.For instance.our family give us emotional support,our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our fiends share similar interests and activities.
However,psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts,they sometimes feel they should have more.They question their popularity.
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons:they are unhappy and unable to socialize arid there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease,while temporary and situational loneliness can be a sad,and sometimes dangerous condition.
1.How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage?
A.Talk to friends. |
B.Go to see a doctor. |
C.Just ignore it. |
D.Ask your teacher for guidance. |
2.Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people?
A.Chronic loneliness can cause family problems. |
B.Chronic loneliness is incurable. |
C.Chronic loneliness can not be overcome. |
D.Chronic loneliness call cause serious illness. |
3.Loneliness is divided according to ________.
A.the time it lasts |
B.the places where it appears |
C.different people it happen to |
D.different seasons when it appears |