1 . “Assume you are wrong.” The advice came from Brian Nosek, a psychology professor, who was offering a strategy for pursuing better science.
To understand the context for Nosek’s advice, we need to take a step back to the nature of science itself. You see despite what many of us learned in elementary school, there is no single scientific method. Just as scientific theories become elaborated and change, so do scientific methods.
But methodological reform hasn’t come without some fretting and friction. Nasty things have been said by and about methodological reformers. Few people like having the value of their life’s work called into question. On the other side, few people are good at voicing criticisms in kind and constructive ways. So, part of the challenge is figuring out how to bake critical self-reflection into the culture of science itself, so it unfolds as a welcome and integrated part of the process, and not an embarrassing sideshow.
What Nosek recommended was a strategy for changing the way we offer and respond to critique. Assuming you are right might be a motivating force, sustaining the enormous effort that conducting scientific work requires. But it also makes it easy to interpret criticisms as personal attacks. Beginning, instead, from the assumption you are wrong, a criticism is easier to interpret as a constructive suggestion for how to be less wrong — a goal that your critic presumably shares.
One worry about this approach is that it could be demoralizing for scientists. Striving to be less wrong might be a less effective motivation than the promise of being right. Another concern is that a strategy that works well within science could backfire when it comes to communicating science with the public. Without an appreciation for how science works, it’s easy to take uncertainty or disagreements as marks against science, when in fact they reflect some of the very features of science that make it our best approach to reaching reliable conclusions about the world. Science is reliable because it responds to evidence: as the quantity and quality of our evidence improves, our theories can and should change, too.
Despite these worries, I like Nosek’s suggestion because it builds in cognitive humility along with a sense that we can do better. It also builds in a sense of community — we’re all in the same boat when it comes to falling short of getting things right.
Unfortunately, this still leaves us with an untested hypothesis (假说): that assuming one is wrong can change community norms for the better, and ultimately support better science and even, perhaps, better decisions in life. I don’t know if that’s true. In fact, I should probably assume that it’s wrong. But with the benefit of the scientific community and our best methodological tools, I hope we can get it less wrong, together.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 3?A.Reformers tend to devalue researchers’ work. |
B.Scientists are unwilling to express kind criticisms. |
C.People hold wrong assumptions about the culture of science. |
D.The scientific community should practice critical self-reflection. |
A.the enormous efforts of scientists at work | B.the reliability of potential research results |
C.the public’s passion for scientific findings | D.the improvement in the quality of evidence |
A.discouraging | B.ineffective | C.unfair | D.misleading |
A.doubtful but sincere | B.disapproving but soft |
C.authoritative and direct | D.reflective and humorous |
2 . Heads or Tails?
Careful: It’s not 50-50
The phrase “coin toss” is a classic synonym for randomness. But since the 18th century, mathematicians have
František Bartoš, currently a Ph.D. candidate studying the research methods of psychology at the University of Amsterdam, became interested in this
With one side initially upward, the flipped coin landed with the same side facing
The leading theory explaining the
For day-to-day decisions, coin tosses are as good as random because a 1 percent bias isn’t
It isn’t difficult to prevent this bias from influencing your coin-toss matches; simply
A.confirmed | B.denied | C.recorded | D.suspected |
A.therefore | B.however | C.for example | D.vice versa |
A.nightmare | B.context | C.intervention | D.delay |
A.coinage | B.discipline | C.challenge | D.phrase |
A.cooperate with | B.round up | C.shrug aside | D.count on |
A.analysis | B.race | C.interview | D.session |
A.upward | B.evenly | C.downward | D.uniformly |
A.volunteers | B.gamblers | C.psychologists | D.statisticians |
A.accidental | B.dominant | C.subtle | D.prejudiced |
A.mechanics | B.relativity | C.geometry | D.chemistry |
A.moreover | B.instead | C.likewise | D.initially |
A.insignificant | B.accessible | C.inclusive | D.perceptible |
A.reversing | B.integrating with | C.backing up | D.rejecting |
A.concealing | B.shifting | C.perceiving | D.anchoring |
A.favourable to | B.opposed to | C.unaware of | D.suspicious of |
3 . You are what you eat-and what you eat may be encoded in your DNA. Studies have indicated that your genes play a role in determining the foods you find delicious or disgusting. But exactly how big a role they play has been difficult to figure out. “Everything has a genetic component even if it’s small,” says Joanne Cole, a geneticist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “We know that there is some genetic contribution to why we eat the foods we eat. Can we take the next step and actually locate the regions in the genome (基因)?”
New research led by Cole has gotten a step closer. Through a large-scale genomics analysis, her team has identified 481 genome regions that were directly linked to dietary patterns and food preferences. The findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, were presented last month at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual conference.
The team based the new study on a 2020 Nature Communications study by Cole and her colleagues that used data from the U.K. Biobank, a public database of the genetic and health information of 500,000 participants. By scanning genomes, the new analysis was able to identify 194 regions associated with dietary patterns and 287 linked to specific foods such as fruit, cheese, fish, tea and alcohol. Further understanding how genetics impact how we eat could reveal differences in nutritional needs or disease risks.
“One of the problems with a lot of these genomics studies is that they’re very small. They don’t have enough people to really be able to identify genes in ways that are credible. This study had a huge group of people, so it’s really powerful.” says Monica Dus, a geneticist at the University of Michigan. “The other thing that I thought was really great is that there are so many different features that they’re measuring related to diet including cholesterol (胆固醇), the body and socioeconomic backgrounds.” As the research advances, Dus says, such genome analysis could potentially assist health care providers and even policymakers to address larger issues that affect food access and health.
It’s definitely true that it may contribute to making sure there aren’t food deserts-areas which have limited access to fresh, healthy and affordable food or to making sure that there’s a higher minimum wage so that everyone can afford to eat, although the journey ahead remains lengthy and challenging.
1. How did researchers conduct the present study?A.By involving a substantial number of participants. |
B.By directly analyzing the data from a public database. |
C.By building on a previous study based on large-scale data. |
D.By identifying genome regions associated with dietary patterns. |
A.Powerful participants were involved in the current study. |
B.The methods employed for the previous studies were credible. |
C.The genome analyses have helped address larger social issues. |
D.Various features linked to diet were considered in the present study. |
A.The benefits of latest large-scale diet-related genome analyses. |
B.The contribution of genes to diet patters and food preferences. |
C.The significance of a newly published diet-related genome discovery. |
D.The introduction of a research on identifying diet-related genome regions. |
A.National Geographic | B.Sports Illustrated for kids |
C.Scientific American | D.The Wall Street Journal |
1. 网络评论不当现象;
2. 如何正确发表评论:
3. 表达希望。
注意:
1. 词数不少于 100;
2. 题目已经为你写好;
3. 不得出现真实的学校名字和学生名字。
How to Correctly Comment on Online Events
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
The Mystery is No Mystery
The area of ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda, known as the Bermuda Triangle, is the source of much mystery. Over the centuries, reports of ships and planes disappearing
The Bermuda Triangle covers a vast 700,000 square-kilometer swathe of ocean. Close to the equator(赤道)and near the United States, it is a particularly busy patch of sea with heavy traffic. According to Lloyd’s of London and the U. S. Coast Guard,
These days, new theories are being put forward, with a bit of scientific truth to them. Some have attributed Bermuda Triangle disappearances to explosive releases of methane (甲烷) gas,
The only problem with this theory is that scientists won’t be able to tell with much certainty if this is a factor
6 . We Need to Think about Conservation on a Different Timescale
Time, perceived by humans in days, months, and years, contrasts with nature’s grander scales of centuries and millennia, referred to as “deep time.” While paleontologists (古生物学者) are trained to think in deep time, conservationists are realizing the challenges it poses. Shortsightedness about time limits modern conservation, with efforts often overlooking past healthy conditions of ecosystems in the context of climate and biodiversity crises.
The shifting baseline syndrome (综合症), where standards in a place change gradually, makes conservation more complex. It involves evaluating ecosystems primarily on their recent past, often with negative consequences.
Recent shifts in California’s forest management practices, from stopping fires to embracing Indigenous knowledge of controlled burns, exemplify the importance of understanding historical ecosystem dynamics. To enhance conservation, adopting a deep-time approach is crucial.
Modern mathematical modeling, combined with long-term data, offers a pathway for preserving ecosystems. In California’s kelp (海带、海藻) forest, researchers identified an overlooked keystone species — the extinct Seller’s Sea Cow (大海牛). By examining past kelp forests, a deeper story impacting regeneration was revealed. The sea cow, a massive plant-cater, contributed to a diverse, vital undergrowth by trimming kelp and letting light reach the area.
The researchers put forward a novel approach to kelp forest restoration: selectively harvesting kelp, imitating the sea cow’s impact. This strategy, considering historical dynamics, challenges assumptions about recent ecosystems and offers new conservation methods.
Rather than only focusing on removing urchins (海胆) or reintroducing sea otters, the researchers suggest employing teams of humans to selectively harvest kelp, as the Steller’s sea cow once did, to encourage fresh growth. This sustainable harvest could benefit both the ecosystem and human consumption.
In short, assumptions based on the recent past may impede the understanding and protection of ecosystems. On the other hand, the application of controlled burns, similar modeling studies, and a deep-time perspective (视角) could significantly transform conservation efforts. Recognizing our role in an ongoing narrative spanning millions of years is essential, urging a comprehensive understanding of ecosystems through time. Embracing this role is crucial for shaping the future and establishing vital connections from the past to the future.
1. What is the “shifting baseline syndrome,” mentioned in the passage?A.A syndrome that affects human beings’ perception of time. |
B.A phenomenon where ecological standards shift in a place. |
C.A psychological disorder common among conservationists. |
D.A condition where ecosystems change gradually over time. |
A.It promotes the prevention of wildfires. | B.It aids in mathematical modeling efforts. |
C.It helps reveal historical ecosystem dynamics. | D.It enhances human consumption of ecosystems. |
A.Reform. | B.Disrupt. | C.Quicken. | D.Deepen. |
A.Shifting baseline syndrome has positive ecological changes. |
B.Mathematical modeling with the latest data can be effective. |
C.Deep-time perspective and historical dynamics are crucial. |
D.Recent history is more preferred in ecosystem restoration. |
1. What happens when you rub a balloon against your hair?
A.It gets sticky. |
B.It becomes positively charged. |
C.It picks up extra electrons and becomes negatively charged. |
A.Because the wall is also negatively charged. |
B.Because opposites attract. |
C.Because the wall becomes positively charged. |
A.Magnetism. |
B.Static electricity. |
C.Gravitational pull. |
A.Magnetization. |
B.Electronization. |
C.Ionization. |
A.Balloons sticking to walls. |
B.Rubbing objects together. |
C.Positive charges in the air. |
A.It becomes neutrally charged. |
B.It becomes positively charged. |
C.It becomes negatively charged. |
A.Magic. |
B.Lightning. |
C.Magnets. |
8 . Art Builds Understanding
Despite the long history of scholarship on experiences of art, researchers have yet to capture and understand the most meaningful aspects of such experiences, including the thoughts and insights we gain when we visit a museum, the sense of encounter after seeing a meaningful work of art, or the changed thinking after experiences with art. These powerful encounters can be inspiring, uplifting, and contribute to well-being and flourishing.
According to the mirror model of art developed by Pablo P. L. Tinio, aesthetic reception corresponds to artistic creation in a mirror-reversed fashion. Artists aim to express ideas and messages about the human condition or the world at large.
In addition, art making and art viewing are connected by creative thinking. Research in a lab at Yale University shows that an educational program that uses art appreciation activities builds creative thinking skills. It showed that the more time visitors spent engaging with art and the more they reflected on it, the greater the correspondence with the artists’ intentions and ideas.
Correspondence in feeling and thinking suggests a transfer — between creator and viewer — of ideas, concepts, and emotions contained in the works of art. Art has the potential to communicate across space and time.
A.The viewers gain a new perspective on the story. |
B.The theory of aesthetic cognitivism describes the value of art. |
C.This helps to create connections and insights that otherwise would not happen. |
D.To do so, they explore key ideas and continually expand them as they develop their work. |
E.After spending more time with the work, the viewer begins to access the ideas of the artist. |
F.For example, in one activity, people are asked to view a work of art from different perspectives. |
G.Participants were more original in their thinking when compared to those who did not take part in the program. |
1.小组观点;
2.陈述理由。
注意:
1.词数80左右;
2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
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10 . “Blame My Brain” by Nicola Morgan, reviewed by Rosalie Warren
As someone who constantly blames my brain for all sorts of things (not my fault — my brain did it!), I was
The subtitle is “The amazing teenage brain revealed” and amazing is, I soon
There are also brain-based explanations of why teenagers need so much sleep, why they don’t tidy their rooms, why they come
Nicola Morgan is not a neurologist or a
There’s plenty of humour and a good few well-deserved digs at the stupidity of parents and other well-meaning but misguided adults, which teenagers will
The illustrations by Andy Baker are great, too. And oh yes — there’s some interesting discussion on the differences between girls’ brains and boys’, if there are any. You’ll have to read it to find out...
1.A.attracted | B.interested | C.invested | D.introduced |
A.intended to | B.aimed at | C.targeted by | D.appealed to |
A.defended | B.dismissed | C.discovered | D.differed |
A.happens | B.projects | C.evolves | D.limits |
A.surprisingly | B.immediately | C.unfortunately | D.regularly |
A.expressing | B.explaining | C.declaring | D.exposing |
A.living | B.lively | C.alive | D.alone |
A.sympathetic | B.pessimistic | C.positive | D.negative |
A.laborious | B.humorous | C.productive | D.professional |
A.consulted | B.conducted | C.converted | D.suggested |
A.complicated | B.simplified | C.contrary | D.demanding |
A.denounce | B.distinguish | C.determine | D.depend |
A.appreciate | B.hate | C.respect | D.reflect |
A.confuse | B.combine | C.unite | D.associate |
A.mind | B.physical | C.mental | D.emotional |