Automatic dishwashers have been around for more than 100 years. It started in 1886 with Josephine Cochrane, a woman in Shelbyville, Illinois. She was a rich woman who could afford servants to wash her dishes, so she really didn’t mind the work. What she did mind was that her servants broke the dishes. She hosted quite a few dinner parties, and after every party the servants broke more of her expensive dishes.
Finally, Cochrane took action. First, she measured her dishes and bent wire into racks to hold them. Next, she put the racks on a wheel in a large copper boiler. Then, the boiler sprayed hot, soapy water on the dishes as a motor turned the wheel. After a hot water rinse(冲洗), the dishes were clean!
Josephine Cochrane’s friends were impressed with the machine and asked her to build more. After that, word got out fast. Soon hotel and restaurant owners who didn’t like broken dishes also were interested. Cochrane then knew that she had a wonderful machine, so she received a patent from the government, which said that only the inventor can make money from an invention. Then in 1893 Chicago held a World’s Fair where inventions from all over the world were shown. Cochrane’s labor-saving machine was a big hit. Her dishwasher won the highest award.
Cochrane’s company came out with a smaller machine in 1914. It was supposed to be for the ordinary home, but it wasn’t an immediate success. Many homes couldn’t produce the extremely hot water it needed. Also, in most homes, dishwashing wasn’t considered very difficult compared to most other housework. In fact some people liked to relax at the sink after a hard day! Sales of the home model finally picked up in the 1950s when people had more money and wanted to have more time to enjoy themselves. Now many homes have electric dishwashers that aren’t very different from the one Josephine Cochrane invented more than 100 years ago.
1. Why did Josephine Cochrane invent the dishwasher?A.To avoid possible damage to the dishes. |
B.To reduce the number of servants. |
C.To host more dinner parties. |
D.To make the dishes cleaner. |
A.The machine wasn’t as efficient as described. |
B.Josephine Cochrane could no longer keep it a secret. |
C.The invention drew immediate attention of the public. |
D.Josephine’s friends soon began to talk about the new machine. |
A.people had more relaxing jobs | B.hot water was not needed |
C.housework became easier | D.people’s living conditions improved |
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【推荐1】Health-tech startup (初创公司) FacePrint hopes to find a new diagnosis (诊断) of Parkinson’s disease from Facebook photos, but it started with a journey down the YouTube rabbit hole. Around three years ago, founder Erin Smith, then a high school student in Kansas, was watching an interview with actor Michael J. Fox, the star of Back to the Future, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Smith noticed something strange about the way Fox smiled: his facial expressions seemed forced. A few years ago, Smith liked watching the TV show Lie to Me, based on the work of psychologist (心理学家) Paul Ekman’s study of facial “micro-expressions”. This led to an idea: could you diagnose Parkinson’s through changes in facial expressions?
Smith decided to run a controlled study. After writing to a local Parkinson’s support group, she spent her spring break recording videos of the facial expressions of local people with Parkinson’s, as well as healthy control subjects (实验对象). Once she had collected the data, she needed to analyze it. “I hadn’t coded (编码) before. I basically locked myself in my house and totally at a loss,” she says.
Later, with the help of Afidex, a facial recognition software package, she was able to show that there was a difference in facial expressions between people with Parkinson’s and people without.
Smith contacted the Michael J. Fox Foundation (基金会) to tell them about her work, and they helped her run two more studies. Her technology is now the basis for FacePrint, which is still based in San Francisco and has made big progress. Smith has put off her offer of a place at Stanford University to work on the company, with the help of $100, 000 from the Thiel Foundation. “I really want to better my personal learning,” Smith says, “as well as the best way I can help shape and build the future of mental healthcare.”
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?A.Why facial expressions differed greatly. |
B.What Smith did to prepare for FacePrint. |
C.How Parkinson’s disease interested Smith. |
D.How a new diagnosis of Parkinson’s was inspired. |
A.Being unable to find enough subjects. |
B.Lacking a start-up fund for her study. |
C.Not knowing how to deal with her data. |
D.Being refused by a local support group. |
A.By taking people’s photos at different times. |
B.By analysing changes in facial expressions. |
C.By comparing psychological changes. |
D.By recording people’s daily activities. |
A.Smith has left the company in San Francisco. |
B.Smith has decided to receive further education. |
C.FacePrint has been supported by two foundations. |
D.FacePrint has been developed at Stanford university. |
【推荐2】Windows are a key component in a building's design, but they are also the least energy- efficient part. According to a 2009 report by the United Nations, buildings account for 40 percent of global energy usage, and windows are responsible for half of that energy consumption. If conventional windows are used to better block sunlight passing into a building, they need expensive coatings. Even so, they can not adjust the indoor temperature effectively.
Scientists at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) have developed a smart liquid window panel that can help. By creating a mixture of micro-hydrogel (水凝胶), water, and a stabilizer, they found that it can effectively reduce energy consumption in a variety of climates. Thanks to the hydrogel, the mixture becomes hard-to-see- through when exposed to heat, thus blocking sunlight, and, when cool, it returns to its original clear state. The high heat capacity of water allows a large amount of heat energy to be stored instead of getting transferred through the glass and into the building during the hot daytime when office buildings mainly operate. The heat will then be gradually cooled and released at night when the staff are off duty.
As a proof of concept, the scientists conducted outdoor tests in hot (Singapore, Guangzhou) and cold (Beijing) environments. The Singapore test revealed that the smart liquid window had a lower temperature (50°C) during the hottest time of the day (noon) compared to a normal glass window (84°C), The Beijing tests showed that the room using the smart liquid window consumed 11 percent less energy to maintain the same temperature compared to the room with a normal glass window. They also measured when the highest value of stored heat energy of the day occurred. This "temperature peak" in the normal glass window was 2 pm, and in the smart liquid window was shifted to 3 pm. If this temperature peak shift leads to a shift in the time when a building needs to draw on electrical power to cool or warm the building, it should result in lower energy charges for users. The research team is seeking ways to cut down the cost of producing the smart window and so far, they have found several industry partners to commercialize it.
1. What is the disadvantage of conventional windows?A.They are expensive. |
B.They are not heatproof. |
C.They contribute less to energy saving. |
D.They can't block light into the building. |
A.By taking in much of heat energy. |
B.By returning to its original clear state. |
C.By getting most of sunlight transferred. |
D.By spreading sunlight in different directions. |
A.It will make the windows long-lasting. |
B.It could help the building users reduce costs. |
C.It makes the buildings rely on no electrical power. |
D.It helps the windows maintain a constant temperature. |
A.It will be unaffordable. |
B.It needs to be further improved. |
C.It will be widely used in the city. |
D.It will come onto the market soon. |
【推荐3】Japanese engineer Masaaki Nagumo had always dreamed of operating a robot from “Mobile Suit Gundam”, a popular animation(动画) TV series.It was Nagumo's favourite show when he was a child. The series features huge, humancontrolled machines in battle.
Now Nagumo has made the show come to life. Inspired by the machines, he has built a large robot called LWMononofu.The farming machinery company Sakakibara Kikai developed it.The robot is 8.5 meters tall, has two legs and weighs more than seven tons.It has a seating area with devices for the pilot to control the robot's arms and legs.
The “Mobile Suit Gundam” series inspired movies, video games and more.And Nagumo thought the robot could be popular as well.“I think this can be turned into a business opportunity.”he said.
Sakakibara Kikai develops robots and entertainment machines in addition to its main agriculture machinery business. At a price of about $930 an hour, people can rent the machines for children's birthday parties and other events. The company has created robots of all sizes. There is the almost 3.5metertall Landwalker, the smaller Kids' Walker Cyclops, and the MechBoxer boxing(拳击) machine.
But the Mononofu stands above them all. It also does more complex movements. It can move its fingers and turn its upper body, and walk forward and backward. However, it moves very slowly—at a speed of less than one kilometer per hour. Although it may be slow, the Mononofu is very powerful.The air gun on its right arm shoots(发射) balls of soft material at 140 kilometers per hour.
“As an animationinspired robot that one can ride, I think this is the biggest in the world,”Nagumo said. But Mononofu might be a bit too large.It is unable to leave the factory without being taken apart because it was built taller than the entrance.
1. What inspired Nagumo to create LWMononofu?A.A machine. | B.A video game. |
C.A movie. | D.An animation series. |
A.It's safer. | B.It's more powerful. |
C.It walks faster. | D.It's more flexible. |
A.Its size. | B.Its popularity. |
C.Its function. | D.Its material. |
A.Movie robots to be remembered |
B.New robots popular with farmers |
C.A Japanese engineer builds a huge robot |
D.Robots step into the daily lives of Japanese |
【推荐1】Teachers’ Day is, interestingly, not celebrated on the same day all over the world. In some countries it is marked by a holiday, in others it is a working day.
International Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5. Being held ever since 1994, it is in honor of teachers’ organizations worldwide. Its aim is to encourage supports for teachers and to meet the needs of students.
China ― In 1939, Teachers’ Day was set for August 27, Confucius’ birthday. In1951, the celebration was stopped. However, it was founded again in 1985, and the day was changed to September 10.
India ― Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5 in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second president of India, whose birthday falls on that day.
Russia ― In Russia, Teachers’ Day was celebrated on the first Sunday of October between 1965 and 1994. Since 1994, the day is observed on the October 5, just the same day as World Teachers’ Day.
The US ― In the US, Teachers’ Day is non-official holiday. It is celebrated on the Tuesday of the first full week of May. A number of activities are organized in schools to honor teachers. The celebrations can continue for the whole week of May.
Thailand ― In Thailand, National Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on January 16. The first Teachers’ Day was held in 1957. The day is a holiday in schools.
1. Which country celebrates Teachers’ Day in October?A.India. | B.Russia. |
C.Thailand | D.The US. |
A.stopped | B.held |
C.celebrated | D.fell |
A.China has celebrated Teachers’ Day since the year 1931. |
B.Teachers’ Day is an official holiday in the United States. |
C.Teachers’ Day is a working day in schools of Thailand. |
D.Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday is in September. |
A.The first Teachers’ Day was held in 1965 in Thailand |
B.Teachers’ Day falls on Confucius’ birthday in China |
C.International Teachers’ Day aims to benefit teachers and students |
D.A lot of activities are held on Teachers’ Day across the world |
Universities minister David Willetts predicted relationships and traditional household structures will be transformed as the female’s power ahead, and women earn more than their male partners.
Successful women will have to “marry down” by choosing partners less qualified than them – and may increasingly select men based on how supportive they might be to their careers, rather than whether they can support them financially.
And experts say women will often become the main breadwinners, with more men staying at home to look after children. Mr. Willetts said there was clear evidence from schools that boys are “lagging behind”, and are being overtaken by female students at university.He said: “I am not against women having those advantages but there is now a rather striking gap, if you look at the statistics, where it looks as if approximately 50 percent of women are graduating from university by the time they’re 30 and perhaps about 40 percent of men.” He added: “It may lead to changes in the patterns of household living.So there are some deep questions here.” The Philadelphia-based Pew Research Centre study, published in The Atlantic magazine, suggests female graduates are being put in similar situation to that faced for some time by black women.In America, 70 percent of black women have no husband and there are twice as many black women as black men with university degrees.
Many educated British women believe there is already a dearth of traditional husbands.Claire Davis, 33, who works in financial services and lives in south London, told The Times: “I have a good job and my own flat and I can pretty much do what I want, but a lot of them I meet aren't really of the right quality. If I look at the friends I went to university with, the men don't tend to be doing as well as the women.”
1. David Willetts’ attitude toward women’s overtaking men in education and in the workplace could be described as .
A.worried | B.positive |
C.supportive | D.excited |
A.a lot of women prefer to be single |
B.black women do not want to be married |
C.women are less excellent than men in general |
D.excellent women have difficulty in looking for a good husband |
A.shortage | B.respect |
C.oversupply | D.pride |
A.Successful Women Forced to “Marry Down” |
B.A Poor Generation of Stay-at-home Fathers |
C.The Marriages’ Influence on Economy |
D.The Advantages of the Traditional Family Pattern |
【推荐3】If you’re a fan of fast fashion, your choices may be narrowing in the near future.
At the end of 2020, fast-fashion giant H&M said it would close 350 stores worldwide. Recently, Spanish fashion giant Inditex announced that it would close all its Bershka, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius stores in China. It all indicates that fast fashion is slowing down, noted the website Fast Company.
A major reason is the shift in the mindset (心态) of consumers. Millennials, those who were born in the 1980s or 1990s, are now the largest consumer group. Unlike their predecessors (前人), millennials are more financially stable,and thus low-priced fast fashion is not their priority. According to The South China Morning Post, more people are starting to care about quality and the stories behind a product.
Another factor is the growing concern over the fashion industry’s effect on the environment. As The New York Times noted, the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters of clean water and three-fifths of clothes produced in a year end up in landfill (垃圾场). As there is more awareness of the climate crisis, younger people are pursuing more eco-friendly choices.
Molly, 22, is one of them. Before she went to college, she used to frequent fast-fashion shops like Forever 21 and H&M. But after taking a class that focused Fast fashion slows down on the environmental impact of clothing production, her preference changed. Now, she tries to shop in a way that is both sustainable (可持续的) and affordable: She shops second-hand. “My friend showed me how easy it was to be thrifty (节约的) and I developed a new personal style that focused less on trends but on basics that don’t go out of style.” she told MTV News.
In order to survive in the competitive market, many fast-fashion brands are making changes as well. For example, Inditex said that the company plans for all of its clothes to be sustainable by 2025.
“Sustainability is a never-ending task in which everyone here is involved.” said Pablo Isla, CEO of Inditex.
1. Why is fast fashion unpopular among millennials?A.Millennials follow former generations’ style. |
B.Millennials prefer cheaper clothes. |
C.Millennials attach more importance to quality. |
D.Millennials like brands with a long history. |
A.Unsold clothes are a threat to the environment. |
B.Low-quality fashion products don’t last long. |
C.Climate change should be blamed on the fashion industry. |
D.More people prefer eco-friendly fashion products. |
A.She likes thrifty brands. |
B.She buys used clothes. |
C.She prefers trendy clothes. |
D.She buys only necessary clothes. |
A.how competition is becoming more fierce in the fashion industry |
B.how sustainability has become the top priority for most fashion brands |
C.how the fast-fashion industry is suffering a big loss |
D.how a major company can change their products to fit the market |
A.Promising. | B.Hopeless. | C.Unclear. | D.Unpredictable. |
【推荐1】JUNIPER INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG WRITERS
Hosted by University of Massachusetts Amherst
June 20-28, 2019
The Juniper Institute for Young Writers(JYW)offers high school students a unique opportunity to participate in intensive creative writing workshops, craft sessions, and studio courses designed especially for young writers. We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting online applications for the 2019 session!
Eligibility(资格)
The Juniper Institute for Young Writers welcomes high school students. We operate on a rolling admissions basis, and we do our best to make admission decisions withinóweeks of receiving applications. Once your application is accepted, enrollment in the JYW is guaranteed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Application Process Overview
Applications are accepted online. The application deadline is March 2, 2019. Early application is encouraged, as admission is competitive and the program fills quickly! Application materials include: $30 application fee a writing sample/ a personal statement.
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $30 is required with each application. Applicants pay the fee by debit or credit card through a secure, site on the online application.
A Writing Sample
The writing sample should be 5-7 pages of fiction. Please include your name & email address as a header or footer in the writing sample
A Personal Statement
This statement of no more than 300 words should describe your interest in the Juniper Institute for Young Writers. Please explain why this would be a meaningful opportunity for you and what you think you can contribute to the institute.
Tuition & Housing
Tuition of $1,350 includes all institute activities(workshops, craft sessions, studio courses and field trips). You will need to pay a $200 non-refundable tuition deposit in order to guarantee your space. Remaining tuition is due in full no later than May 15, 2019.
The cost of housing is 5216 for a shared room in our residence hall. Participant may opt(选择)to stay elsewhere off campus, but the immersive(沉浸式)nature of the program and residence life curriculum encourages on-campus residence.
1. The Juniper Institute for Young Writers program lasts____________.A.5 days | B.9 days |
C.12 days | D.15 days |
A.apply as early as possible | B.live elsewhere off campus |
C.inspect the residence hall | D.pay the tuition in full |
A.News reports. | B.Personal experiences. |
C.Short stories. | D.Business letters. |
A.Studio courses. | B.Craft sessions. |
C.Field trips. | D.Daily meal |
A.the program doesn't accept online application |
B.you can apply for this program before June 20, 2019 |
C.the program is targeted at senior middle school students |
D.you can pay $216 to rent your own room in the residence hall |
【推荐2】If you've ever wondered what the process of becoming an astronaut is like, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) now has an experience that puts visitors in the shoes of a space explorer in training. The center's Astronaut Training Experience (ATE), features four simulations (模拟). They all require teamwork and good communication.
Dee Maynard, manager of education programs at KSCVC, said the experience was designed to keep visitors involved the whole time. ''When we were designing this, one of our concerns was that we wanted to be having an experience and not waiting around, '' Maynard said. ''Also, astronaut training is very much a team effort. ''
Although astronauts go through thousands of hours of training before taking off for space, this training does include some parts that are similar to those of real NASA training.
One simulation helps visitors learn what it takes to launch NASA's Space Launch System rocket. Six people step into the role of launch control and communicate with six others on the Orion capsule.
Visitors take turns reading and passing instructions and sets of data from both sides. In mission control (地面指挥中心), they can step into roles including flight director and spacecraft systems officer. Inside the capsule, people try their hand at such jobs as flight engineer and commander.
Across the room, there are chairs that are similar to the kind of zero gravity chair. With the press of a switch, the chairs fly across a special floor, giving astronauts-in-training an experience that somewhat simulates the zero gravity environment of space. This part of the experience also offers visitors a chance to learn about the management about sleeping, using the toilet and working in space.
Two simulations help participants experience what life on Mars might look like.
1. What are the qualities most required for the astronaut training at KSCVC?①Working together. ②Reading skills.
③Data analyzing. ④Communication skills.
A.①③ | B.①④ | C.②③ | D.②④ |
A.Busy. | B.Bored. | C.Worried. | D.Comfortable. |
A.the readers will get to know more about roles in space. |
B.the zero gravity environment of space will be described. |
C.the author might introduce NASA's Space Launch System. |
D.the ''land and drive on Mars'' simulators might be talked about. |
A.Explore the Future of Space |
B.Realize Your Dream at KSCVC |
C.Experience Life as an Astronaut |
D.Make Yourself a Great Astronaut |
【推荐3】I must have looked deep in thought, or as deep in thought as an 11-year-old man can, when my grandmother glanced up from her weeding to ask, "You have something on your mind, don't you?"
"Yes, I was thinking that someday I want to be an Olympic speed skating champion like my hero, Eric Heiden, I want to be a doctor like my parents and I want to help children in Africa."
I immediately knew I had confided in the right person when a knowing smile broke across her face. "Johann, of course! You can do anything you want to do!" she said simply. And with my grandmother's support, I set out to pursue my passions.
14 years later, I was well ready to take hold of my first dream: becoming an Olympic champion. The Olympics in 1994 were in my home country, Norway. As I entered the Olympic stadium, I wasn't the best athlete, and many had doubts about my ability to perform well. But I had something special working for me. I had a woman in the first row who believed in me following my passions just as much as I did. For the first time ever, my grandmother was going to see me skate.
It happened. Breaking a world record, I won the gold.
As I stood on the podium(领奖台) that I had dreamed about my entire life, a curious question popped into my head. Why me? Why did I win, given all the other incredible competitors out there? The reason had to be more than a grandmother who shared a belief in her grandson's dream. The question led me to only one answer: because I wanted to make a difference in the world, and with all the media attention on my success, I could.
I immediately knew what that difference had to be: hope in the lives of the children in Africa. Six months earlier, I'd been invited to Eritrea as an ambassador for Olympic Aid.
1. When the author spoke out what was on his mind, his grandmother______.A.laughed at him | B.supported him |
C.had no confidence in him | D.felt quite surprised |
A.20 | B.22 |
C.25 | D.28 |
A.His efforts in helping the African children. |
B.His hard training in preparing for the next Olympics. |
C.His successes at other Olympic games. |
D.His grandmother’s attitude towards him. |
A.a young boy who had many dreams |
B.the encouragement from a grandmother |
C.a sportsman who realized his first dream of helping African children |
D.an Olympic hero who made a difference in the world |
【推荐1】Sustainability(可持续性), one of the biggest topics of the last decade, has become the ray of hope to protect the planet. It's a topic we can't ignore and we must act now in a more sustainable way.
What does that mean for the world of technology? E-waste is one of the planet's biggest contributing waste problems.
Not only e-waste, but the materials that go into tech products are part of the problem. Take the smartphone industry for example, dozens of metals, minerals which have to be taken from the earth(including 16 of 17 rare metals) go into making phones. And with demand for mobile phones bigger than ever, it's a problem that needs to be solved.
With a challenge comes an opportunity, and there's already some progress happening - great news for those of us wanting to be more sustainable with our tech. People used to turn their noses up at the idea of a second-hand product, but there's been a huge increase in demand for refurbished tech(翻新技术). For example, refurbished smartphone sales in the US have risen by 28% in the last 12 months while brand new sales have fallen by 21%.
Many communities are making an effort to deal with e-waste as well. Cities, schools, or churches will sometimes hold events to collect e-waste and send it to recycling centers. Some companies even offer buy-back programs where people will be given cash if they turn in old devices.
So the next time you want to deal with your e-waste, whether a smartphone, a laptop, an MP4 player or other, consider the more environmentally-friendly choices. It is possible to be sustainable with your tech after all.
1. What is the main purpose of paragraph 1?A.To explain what is sustainability. |
B.To introduce the topic of the text. . |
C.To give us an example of sustainability. |
D.To show different topics of sustainability. |
A.E-waste is the biggest waste problem. |
B.E-waste can't be dealt with in the end. |
C.People act in a more sustainable way than before. |
D.People would choose second-hand products in the past. |
A.MP4 players | B.e-books |
C.laptops | D.smartphones |
A.Doubtful. | B.Unclear, |
C.Negative. | D.Supportive. |
【推荐2】There are few things in life that are more annoying: You are mid-conversation with a friend. Suddenly he bursts out laughing, making you think you’ve made a brilliant joke. But then he says: “Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you, I just saw something really funny on micro blog.” He even begins replying to a text message or checking his e-mails.
The Guardian described the scene that a friend’s face buried in a screen “a distinct 21st-century problem”. The phenomenon even coins a new word “phubbing”, referring to the act of snubbing others in a social setting by looking at your phone instead of paying attention. According to research by advertising agency McCann in the UK, 37 percent of people feel it is worse not to answer a message than it is to “phub” your friends.
Phil Reed, a professor of psychology at Swansea University who has studied Internet addiction disorder, said many phubbers show symptoms of addiction to their mobile phone.
Like pointing or picking your nose, phubbing is widely considered rude, which can be seen from the popularity of “Stop Phubbing” campaign, which started in Australia by 23-year-old Alex Haigh who wants to shame people who snub friends and family they are with in favor of checking their mobile phone.
The campaign’s website claims that “97 percent of people claim their food tasted worse while being a victim of phubbing” and “92 percent of repeat phubbers go on to become politicians”.
According to Katy Steinmetz, reporter with Time, phubbing “has a much greater potential to hamper real-life connections by making people around us feel like we care more about posts than their presence”. She believes it is the reason why the campaign can resonate with people and is getting press around the world.
In the UK, Glamour magazine even imagined just how Jane Austen would have satirized those in need of social etiquette when it comes to using their smartphone. Or, to paraphrase the novelist, how it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man (or woman) in possession of a good smartphone must be in want of manners.
1. The example in the opening paragraph is used to show ______.A.how people benefit from modern technology |
B.how to reply text messages and e-mails properly |
C.how to avoid hurting your friends’ feelings |
D.how mobile phone addiction damages our social relations |
A.help people realize the rudeness of phubbing behaviors |
B.give professional advice to phubbing victims |
C.persuade people to stop using mobile phones |
D.encourage people to spend more time with their family |
A.People who often phub are more likely to make a successful politician. |
B.Pointing or picking one’s nose are common symptoms of phubbers. |
C.Phubbing is against human nature in that we do need real-life connections. |
D.More than one third British would rather not answer a message than phub their friends. |
A.serious | B.humorous | C.doubtful | D.indifferent |
【推荐3】Over the last 25 years, psychologists have found that personalities center on five basic traits(特性) — the Big Five: agreeableness, conscientiousness (责任心), neuroticism, extroversion and openness. Contrary to common belief, people just aren’t organized into certain personality types. Every trait is a continuous dimension and everyone can be described as having varying levels of each trait. A new research has also found animals from ants to apes all have the Big Five and that the universality of personality points to an evolutionary (进化) origin.
Animals and humans have common problems of survival, which are spelled out beautifully in the Big Five, and that’s why there’s so much continuity in human personality and animal personality. For example, conscientiousness involves behaviors like planning and consideration, which are important among animals for taking care of their young, selecting mates and living in groups. Being neat and orderly — aspects of conscientiousness-also has evolutionary superiority. Bees that like to keep clean and remove more dead group members reduce risk of disease, gain more weight and reproduce more Spiders that make tidy webs catch more insects. Birds that build neater and solider nests attract more mates.
These behaviors may seem primitive, but they’re nevertheless indications of personality. Personality is the expression of all of the behaviors that humans and animals exhibit that allow them to function adaptively in the world.
Evolution can also explain why personalities vary so much. Depending on the situation, each of the Big Five can be advantageous. For example, agreeableness is great for relationships. But if a lion were charging at you, you’d be better off with a less agreeable and more aggressive personality. Because the world is so unpredictable, every aspect of each personality trait could be useful at different times, so instead of evolving a single type of personality that’s best for every situation, we’re left with a wide variety.
1. What do people generally think about personality types?A.Different personality types have respective strengths. |
B.Everyone falls into a particular personality type. |
C.People with common personality types gather, |
D.Everyone has mixed personality types. |
A.To illustrate the advantages of being conscientious. |
B.To analyze survival chances of cooperative animals. |
C.To explain why they are tidy and orderly. |
D.To throw new light on their behavior. |
A.To be free of trouble. |
B.To be adaptive to circumstances. |
C.To compete for equal rights. |
D.To gain advantages over others. |
A.Personality and behavior. |
B.Categories of Big Five. |
C.Contradictory facts on personality. |
D.Diversity and variability of personality. |