Biologists believe that love is fundamentally a biological rather than a cultural construct, because the capacity for love is found in all human cultures and similar behavior is found in some other animals. In humans the purpose of all the desire is to focus attention on the raising of offspring. Children demand an unusual amount of parenting, and two parents are better than one. Love is a signal that both partners are committed, and makes it more likely that this commitment will continue as long as necessary for children to reach independence. But what does science have to say about the notion of love at first sight?

In recent years the ability to watch the brain in action has offered a wealth of insight into the mechanics of love. Researchers have shown that when a person falls in love, a dozen different part of brain work together to release chemicals that trigger feelings of euphoria, bonding and excitement. It has also been shown that the unconditional love between a mother and a child is associated with activity in different regions of the brain from those associated with pair-bonding love.

Passionate love is rooted in the reward circuitry of the brain—the same area that is active when humans feel a rush from cocaine. In fact, the desire, motivations and withdrawals involved in love have a great deal in common with addiction. Its most intense forms tend to be associated with the early stages of a relationship, which then give way to a calmer attachment form of love one feels with a long term partner.

What all this means is that one special person can become chemically rewarding to the brain of another. Love at first sight, then, is only possible if the mechanism for generating long-term attachment can be triggered quickly. There are signs that it can be. One line of evidence is that people are able to decide within a second how attractive they find another person. This decision appears to be related to facial attractiveness, although men may favor women with waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7, no matter what their overall weight is. (This ratio may indicate a woman’s reproductive health.)

Another piece of evidence comes from work by a psychologist at Ben-Gurion University, who found in a survey that a small percentage (11%) of people in long-term relationships said that they began with love at first sight. In other words, in some couples the initial favorable impressions of attractiveness triggered love which sustained a lengthy bond. It is also clear that some couples need to form their bonds over a longer period, and popular culture tells many tales of friends who become lovers.

One might also assume that if a person is looking for a partner with traits that cannot be quantified instantly, such as compassion, intellect or a good sense of humor, then it would be hard to form a relationship on the basis of love at first sight. Those more concerned with visual appearances, though, might find this easier. So it appears that love at first sight exists, but is not a very common basis for long-term relationships.

1.When a person falls in love, _____________.

A. he feels as if he were addicted to cocaine.

B. he will be committed to the beloved as long as necessary.

C. he will experience complex feelings brought on by different regions of his brain.

D. he will experience a calmer attachment form of love before he feels the extreme love.

2.We can infer from the passage that ________.

A. pair-bonding love comes from a long stable friendship.

B. the mechanism for creating long-term attachment ensures love at first sight

C. it is impossible for those ordinary-looking people to fall in love at first sight.

D. men may be attracted by a girl whose figure suggests her admirable reproductive capacity.

3.The underlined word “traits” in the last paragraph probably means ______.

A. characteristics

B. something typical in your temper

C. particular quantities in your personality

D. attitudes that show your moral standards

4.Which of the following may be the best title of the passage?

A. The stages of passionate love

B. The science of love at first sight

C. The biological construct of pair-bonding

D. The mechanism for generating long-term love

Background music may seem harmless, but it can have a powerful effect on those who hear it. Recorded background music first found its way into factories, shops and restaurants in the US. But it soon spread to other parts of the world. Now it is becoming increasingly difficult to go shopping or eat a meal without listening to music.

To begin with, “muzak” (音乐广播网) was intended simply to create a soothing (安慰) atmosphere. Recently, however,it has become big business—thanks in part to recent research. Dr. Ronald Milliman, an American marketing expert,has shown that music can boost sales or increase factory production by as much as a third.

However, it has to be light music. A fast one has no effect at all on sales. Slow music can increase receipts by 38%. This is probably because shoppers slow down and have more opportunity to spot items they like to buy. Yet, slow music isn't always the answer. Dr. Milliman found, for example, that in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals, which reduced overall sales. So restaurant owners might be well advised to play uptempo_music to keep the customers moving—unless of course, the resulting indigestion (消化不良) leads to complaints!

1.Background music means ________.

A. light music that customers enjoy most

B. fast music that makes people move fast

C. slow music that can make customers enjoy their meals

D. the music you are listening to while you are doing something

2.Restaurant owners complain about slow music because ________.

A. it results in indigestion

B. it increases their sales

C. it keeps customers moving

D. it decreases their sales

3.We can know from the text that ________.

A. background music was first used in big department stores

B. proper music can increase the selling of goods

C. light music has a bad effect on production

D. restaurant owners had better play slow music to comfort their customers

4.The underlined expression “uptempo music” probably means ________.

A. slow music B. fast music

C. light music D. classical music

In America,when the eighth graders leave the middle school,they are often worried about moving to the high school.It is a hard time for them,but it can be an exciting one as well.To make it easier,students need to get familiar with their school.

Even though they’ve done this already in the middle school,it’s still important to find where their classrooms are.Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year.And,most schools also have a freshman (新生)speech for parents and students before the first year begins.Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school.This can help students and parents to find different places in the school.

One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport.Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports.Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school.If you are not interested in sports,there are clubs for any interest,such as drama,dance,chess,photography,community service,etc.These clubs allow students from different grades.By joining an activity,students can find new friendships,not to mention improving their chances in future college applications(申请).The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them.

What’s more,to have a great start to a high school year,students can write down some of their worries,and ask for help from teachers and school workers.

1.According to the text,most students feel    when entering the high school.

A. unhappy B. nervous

C. lonely D. disappointed

2.What can be learned about the school clubs?

A. There are fewer students from higher grades in the school clubs.

B. The school clubs in high school mainly welcome sports fans.

C. The school office can help new students join school clubs.

D. Summer activities begin before school starts.

3.When do many schools take students to visit their new high school?

A. Before the eighth grade year starts.

B. Right after the high school year starts.

C. At the beginning of the new term in the high school.

D. By the end of the last year in the middle school.

4.What is the purpose of this text?

A. To describe high school life.

B. To give advice to new high school students.

C. To teach useful experience.

D. To introduce new schools.

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