B

We might think we know which colours do what.The idea that red wakes us up or blue calms us down is deeply rooted in Western culture.But do they really change our behaviour in the ways that we assume?

When it comes to scientific research, the results are mixed and at times contested.Some studies have found that people do better on cognitive tasks when faced with red rather than blue or green; others show the opposite.The idea is that if you repeatedly have a particular experience surrounded by a certain colour, then you eventually begin to associate that colour with the way you were feeling or behaving.A school career spent reading your teacher’s red writing circling your mistakes forever makes you link red with danger.Blue meanwhile is more likely to be associated with calmer situations like marvelling at a big blue expanse of sky.

Of course there will always be exceptions --- the comment from the teacher saying “well done” is also written in red.It is true that people do make different associations with different colours, but whether this translates into behaving in a certain way or succeeding at a particular task is a different question.

In 2009 researchers tried to clarify the situation.They sat their participants at computer screens colored blue, red or “neutral” and tested them on various tasks.With a red screen people did better on tasks requiring attention to detail, but when the screen was blue they did better on creative tasks.In practice this might be tricky.In a classroom you might want to think creatively some of the time and pay attention to detail at others.

However, when another team tried to repeat the study with a larger group of people in 2014, the effect of color disappeared.The initial study consisted of just 69 people.In this new, bigger study, of 263 volunteers, background color made no difference.

So colors might well have an effect, but so far those effects have been difficult to demonstrate consistently and sometimes don’t seem to exist at all.

1.What’s the major function of the first paragraph?

A.To present a widely held view

B.To raise a question of behavior change

C.To introduce the theme of the passage

D.To summarize the whole passage

2.The author mentions the exception in Paragraph 3 in order to show _____.

A.there are exceptions to every rule

B.people tend to associate colors with behaviors

C.colors don’t necessarily mean particular behaviors

D.colors do matter to those who desire success

3.It can be concluded from the results of the studies in 2009 and 2014 that _____.

A.the research findings are practical in indoor decoration

B.solid evidence is inadequate to prove how colors affect us

C.a larger study may help confirm colors’ effects on our behaviors

D.walls should be painted different colors depending on different tasks

信息匹配(共1小题)

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Moving abroad can be a challenging experience.You leave your family, friends and everything you know behind.You enter a new culture where the customs and sometimes the languages are different. 1. .It’s a time to discover new things, make new friends and begin a new adventure.

So what are the best ways to involve yourself in the new culture while living abroad?

Live with a native speaker

__2. .First, you have a friend! Living alone can be a lonely experience, especially if you’re far from home.I’ve also had the opportunity to meet my housemate’s friends and socialize(交往) with them.3. .In addition, you have someone to tell you about the cultural customs and interesting places in the area.

Socialise with the local people

The thought of making friends and mixing with the local people may seem scary at first but it’s worth it. 4. , attending an evening class or participating in a language exchange with people that are interested in learning your native language.

5. .

The food in France is amazing and discovering new food is a fun experience.I’ve tried things that I’ve never tried before and my knowledge of the different bread and cheese types has grown greatly.

A.Try the local food.

B.But it’s also exciting.

C.I currently volunteer with homeless people

D.You can also speak the local language every day.

E.Improve my French vocabulary and understanding.

F.You can meet other people in the area by joining a club

G.There are many advantages to living with a native speaker

The new high-speed railway line between Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur self-governing region, and Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, has cut train travel time by half to less than 12 hours.

The dramatic improvement will benefit many families planning reunions for Spring Festival.

"For the first time, I feel home is not that far away after all," said Liang Shaofu as he boarded a high-speed train in Urumqi with six members of his family.

The 35-year-old left Lanzhou to set up a dry fruit business in Xinjiang eight years ago, and he has now settled in Urumqi.

The 1,776-km line, which passes through Qinghai province and is the country's first high-speed railway to be built in a high-altitude region, came into service on Dec 26.

"We normally drive home for Spring Festival to avoid the difficulties of buying seven train tickets for the whole family during the peak season," Liang said."Driving can be very tiring and dangerous sometimes, so one year we even decided not to go back to Lanzhou simply to avoid the trip.

More than 600,000 passengers traveled on the line during its first month, and the Urumqi Railway Bureau said the introduction of high-speed services will ease transport pressure during the Spring Festival peak season.

The existing usual railway line could no longer support Xinjiang's development.All passenger trains will gradually shift to the new link, leaving the old one to be used for goods.As a result, Xinjiang's annual goods ability could reach 200 million metric tons from the current 70 million.

The line passes through areas that experience high winds, and it also crosses parts of the deserted Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the bone-dry sands of the Gobi Desert.

The project could help China to promote its high-speed railway technology abroad, said Ma Xizhang, director of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway project's management department in Xinjiang.

1.How long did it take to go from Urumqi to Lanzhou by the usual train before?

A.about 12 hours.

B.About 6 hours.

C.About 18 hours.

D.About 24 hours.

2.What’s the main advantage of the new high-speed railway?

A.It takes more time to go to Urumqi to Lanzhou.

B.It will be more convenient for people all over the country to Xinjiang.

C.All the people in Lanzhou can return home on festivals.

D.It helps to improve Xinjiang’s development.

3.From the passage we can learn _______.

A.Xinjiang’s annual goods ability can increase nearly four times

B.the new railway technology may help more railway lines to be built abroad

C.the high-speed railway lines can’t be built across the bone-dry sands

D.the old railway lines can only carry goods now

4.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A.The new high-speed railway line is good for all people to go home.

B.The new high-speed railway line benefits businessmen to carry goods.

C.Taking the new train is safer than driving home from Urumqi to Lanzhou.

D.Businessmen seldom went home for Spring Festival before.

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网