文章大意:这是一篇说明文。全文介绍了从3500年前、2500年前到2000年前三个不同时期,古埃及人、古希腊人和古罗马人对大脑还是心脏是精神生活的中心进行了探索。
Everything you know is in your brain. For what you don’t, you can ask the web. However, as you can imagine, in the past there were no computers and no web at all. Think about people living 3,500 years ago, in places where pyramids towered above them, instead of the modern buildings you can see around you. The lack of explanations about how things worked inspired the ancients to make discoveries and feed their curiosity.
But do not think they knew nothing: in fact, we still wonder how the Egyptians could build the pyramids using their own, rather rudimentary equipment. They wrote down their knowledge on books (called papyrus scrolls) so that later people could benefit from their skills.
Living safer and healthier was a top priority for the ancients: when they hurt their heads in battles, they used to heal their wounds using the cures, some of which were recorded on a papyrus now known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus. Interestingly, this is the oldest written evidence of the word “brain” we have on Earth, and it dates back to 3,500 years ago!
However, writing the word “brain” on a papyrus did not solve all the curiosities and questions about it. Around 2,500 years ago, for example, ancient Greeks wondered whether mind and soul lay in the brain or in the heart.
2,000 years ago, Roman physician Galen of Pergamon was sure he had solved the question: it was the brain, not the heart, that was the center of mental life. However, Galen had to convince the people around him that what he had discovered was true. It was not easy, mostly because people held their earlier beliefs. Every neuroscientist, just like Galen did, has to carefully observe reality, focus on something that is really interesting, think about how it can work, perform experiments, and discuss the data they get. This way, they can obtain convincing evidence to be shared with others.
8. What encouraged the ancients to make discoveries?
A.The hope for keeping curiosity. | B.The need for writing books. |
C.The search for explanations. | D.The wish to work faster. |
9. Which word can best replace “rudimentary” underlined in paragraph 2?
A.Complicated. | B.Primitive. | C.Electrical. | D.Protective. |
10. What can be learned about the
Edwin Smith Papyrus?
A.It was probably a medical text. | B.It was finished 2,500 years ago. |
C.It was considered useless at first. | D.It was written by Galen of Pergamon. |
11. How did Galen convince people of his discovery?
A.By finding evidence from papyrus scrolls. | B.By asking many scientists to support him. |
C.By following strict scientific methods. | D.By teaching people to do experiments. |