| Ask Dr ? Jeffers | This month Dr. Jeffers is answering questions about the human brain and how it works． |
| Dear Dr. Jeffers, One of my colleagues, Felix Moeller, told me that scientists are learning to use computer to 'read minds'．Is there any truth to this story? —Jane Leon , New York, USA Dear Ms．Leon, Well, a lot of research is being conducted in this area, but so far, the brain scanning equipment and corresponding computer programs haven't been able to actually read thoughts．In one experiment, test subjects（受试者）were connected to scanning equipment and shown two numbers on a screen．They were then asked to choose between adding or subtracting（减）the two numbers．Using this method, researchers were able to follow brain processes and make the correct assumptions（假设）70 percent of the time．It's not quite mind reading, but it's certainly a first step． —Dr． J． | |
| Dear Dr. Jeffers, My three-year-old son loves it when I dig my fingers into his sides and tickle（胳肢）him until he laughs uncontrollably．The other day I noticed him trying to tickle himself but he couldn't do it．Why not? —Glenn Lewis, Vancouver, Canada Dear Mr. Lewis, It's because of how the brain works．The brain is trained to know what to pay attention to and what to ignore．It causes us to ignore physical feelings we expect to happen, but it causes a mild panic reaction when there is an unexpected feeling．For example, you don't notice how your shoulder feels while you're walking down the street．But if someone comes up behind you and touches you lightly on the shoulder, you may jump in fear．It's that unexpected part that causes the tickle reaction． —Dr． J． | |
1．What can we learn from the answer to the first question?
A．Some equipment is able to read human minds．
B．Some progress has been made in mind reading．
C．Test subjects have been used to make decisions．
D．Computer programs can copy brain processes．
2．People laugh when tickled by others because the feeling is ___________．
A．unexpected B．expected
C．comfortable D．uncomfortable
3．Who has got a little child according to the text?
A．Ms. Leon B．Mr. Lewis
C．Mr. Moeller D．Dr. Jeffers
4．According to the text, Jeffers is probably _______．
A．a computer programmer B．a test subject
C．a human brain expert D．a medical doctor
根据短文内容，从下框的A~F选项中选出能概括每一段主题的最佳选项。选项中有一项为多余项。
| A．Gift giving proven to be valuable． B．Memories from gift giving C．Moments and events for gift giving D．Various functions of gift giving E．Gift giving as a wasteful practice F．Gift giving as a two-way social activity |
Gift Giving
1．_________
There are many occasions（场合）for giving gifts in modern industrialized societies: birthdays, naming ceremonies, weddings, anniversaries, New Year, It is common to give gifts on many of these celebrations in western cultures．In addition, special events, such as one's first day of school or graduation from university, often require gift giving．
2．_________
What is happening when we give gifts? Most important, we are exchanging gifts．If someone gives me a gift for my birthday, I know that I am usually expected to give one on his or her next birthday．A gift builds up or confirms a social obligation（义务）．
3．_________
Gifts tighten personal relationships and provide a means of communication between loved ones．People say that a gift lets the recipient（接受者）know we are thinking of them, and that we want to make the person “feel special．”We want people to feel wanted, to feel part of our social or family group．We give presents to say “I'm sorry．”Sometimes it is difficult for us to find a present that someone will like．Sometimes we give things that we like or would feel comfortable with． In all these cases, the gifts are sending out messages -- often very expressive ones．
4．_________
People tend to talk about presents in a fairly loving way． A woman whose mother had died years ago described the many gifts around her house．These were gifts that her mother had given her over the years: “I appreciate these, and they mean something to me,” the woman said, “because I remember the occasions they were given on, and that they were from my mother, and the relationship we've had．” The gifts remain and keep the relationship alive in mind．This woman felt the same way about the gifts she gave to others．She hoped that the recipients would look at here gifts in years to come and
5．_________
Emotions（情感）like these suggest that a positive spirit still lies behind gift giving．They prove that the anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss was wrong to say that modern western gift giving is highly wasteful．Studies in Canada and elsewhere have also shown that this is not the case．Each gift is unique even if so many are given．The emotional benefit for those who exchange gifts is the very reason for the tradition to continue．