Most people feel that dreams are unique to humans, but many dog owners will likely disagree. They have noticed that their dogs at various times during the sleep may shake legs, snort (哼) and sometimes growl (低声吼叫) which gives the impression that they are dreaming. These things may wonder us about whether dogs dream.
Scientists confirm that dogs probably do dream. It turns out that dog brains and human brains have many similarities during sleep cycles. Researchers used special machines to measure electrical activity in a dog’s brain and a human’s brain. Scientists already knew that when humans dream, a certain part of the brain is active during sleep. Researchers discovered that the same part of the brain is active in sleeping dogs. Scientists have other data that back up these findings.
Many people dream that they are trying to move but cannot. Interestingly, part of that experience is not a dream. When people sleep, the brain produces a chemical that causes the dreamer to become temporarily paralyzed (使麻痹). Researchers think this happens so that people cannot physically act out dreams while they are sleeping. Dog brains make the same chemical. In one study during which this chemical was blocked, sleeping test dogs performed physical activities, such as standing up, sniffing around the room for imaginary rabbits, or chasing imaginary balls.
Because of these similarities, researchers believe that the content of a dog’s dream might come from the same source as a human’s dream. “People’s dreams are usually based on things they did that day,” says Dr. Samantha Hudspith. “So we have reasons to believe that dogs dream about the things they’ve done that day. Of course, there will never be a way to prove this. Dogs cannot describe their dreams the way that humans can.”
1. Which statement is TRUE?A.Only humans dream. |
B.The dogs’ shaking legs during the sleep means that they must be dreaming. |
C.The contents of dogs’ dream is the same as those of humans. |
D.Whether dogs dream of the things they’ve done that day can not be confirmed. |
A.It woke up. | B.It stopped dreaming. |
C.It acted out its dream. | D.It couldn't move its body. |
A.The guide | B.The report | C.The magazine | D.The brochure |
A.Similarities Between Humans and Dogs | B.Do Dogs Dream? |
C.Signs of Dog Dreams | D.Why Do Dogs Dream? |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】We all know that birds use their feathers to line their nests. But have you ever heard of a bird eating its own feathers? It is a bird which lives in water and is called the great crested grebe(风头䴘). It eats its own feathers and feds them to her young ones too. And it always prefers soft feathers, which it loses throughout the year.
Scientists believe that its feather-eating habit has something to do with the process in which it throws waste. The grebe has an unusual throwing waste system, It throws out one or two balls of waste through its mouth on every two days. The main food of grebes is fish. So the ball of waste has fish bones apart from parasites(寄生虫). It is important for the grebe to throw these parasites out. If it didn’t, they would attack the grebe and make it sick.
According to scientist, the feathers add hard things to its waste. They make it easier to form the ball of waste and throw it out. The grebe’s feathers are silky to touch and are black or gray in colour. Sometimes, it may be red on top with white parts. The great crested grebe is usually 7 to 10 inches long, and has short wings and a pointed beak.
Another peculiar part about the bird is its toes(脚趾). They form a web, helping it to swim. In fact, the grebes are excellent swimmers and they use their feet only for rising under water.
The grebe makes its nest on floating leaves or plants and lays about two to ten eggs in it. Although the eggs are white in the beginning, they begin to get dirty as the leaves on which the nest is made become bad. Both the male and female grebes hatch(孵) the eggs and care for the young ones, However, although there are 18 to 20 species of grebes living around the world, some of them are endangered.
1. What is special about the great crested grebes?A.They eat their own feathers. |
B.They produce soft feathers |
C.They lose their feathers all year round. |
D.They use their feathers to line their nests. |
A.By increasing their waste to be thrown out quickly. |
B.By helping them form a common throwing system. |
C.By helping them form and throw out the ball of waste |
D.By keeping them from throwing parasites in their body out. |
A.Solid. | B.Organic | C.Massive | D.Unusual. |
A.The grebe lays eggs directly on floating leaves or plants. |
B.Effective measures should be taken to protect species of grebes. |
C.The female grebes hatch the eggs while the male attend to babies. |
D.Grebe’s eggs can easily go bad shortly after they get dirty. |
【推荐2】Humans have sailed the oceans’ surfaces for millennia (千年), but their depths remain effectively uncharted. Only about a quarter of the seafloor has been mapped at high resolution. Maps of most regions display only approximate depths and often miss entire underwater mountains or canyons (峡谷).
So a group of researchers has recruited some deep-diving experts: Elephant Seals and Weddell Seals. Scientists have been placing trackers on these blubbery marine mammals around Antarctica for years, gathering data on ocean temperature and salinity. For a new study, the researchers compared these dives’ location and depth data with some of the less detailed seafloor maps. They spotted places where the seals dove deeper than should have been possible according to the maps-meaning the existing depth estimates were inaccurate.
In eastern Antarctica’s Vincennes Bay, the diving seals helped the scientists find a large, hidden underwater canyon. An Australian research ship called the RSV Nuyina later measured the canyon’s exact depth using sonar, and the researchers have proposed naming their find the Mirounga-Nuyina Canyon — honoring both the ship and the involved Elephant Seals, genus (动植物的属) Mirounga.
But seals can’t map the entire ocean floor. The trackers used in the study could pinpoint a seal’s geographical location only within about 1.5miles. Plus, because the seals don’t always dive to the bottom of the ocean, they can reveal only where the bottom is deeper than in existing maps — not shallower. McMahon notes that scientists could improve on these data by using more precise GPS trackers and analyzing the seals’ diving patterns to determine whether they have reached the seafloor or simply stopped descending.
The current seal-dive data can still be valuable for an important task, says Anna Wåhlin, an oceanographer. The deep ocean around Antarctica is warmer than the frigid waters at the surface, and seafloor canyons can allow that warmer water to flow to the ice along the continent’s coast, Wåhlin explains. To predict how Antarctica’s ice will melt, scientists will need to know where those canyons are and how deep they go.
1. What problem is mentioned at the beginning of the text?A.Lack of the map. | B.Not enough tools. |
C.Ineffective charts. | D.Inaccurate measurement. |
A.By observing the seals. | B.By comparing different data. |
C.By using advanced equipment. | D.By analyzing the existing maps. |
A.The canyon. | B.The ship. | C.The seals. | D.The genus. |
A.The present data is of little use. |
B.Seal’s swimming pattern influences the data. |
C.The ocean’s surface around Antarctica is warmer. |
D.The seal can’t reach deep ocean because of temperature. |
【推荐3】Coral reefs (珊瑚礁) are an integral part of sea life and sustain it by providing shelter and habitat to various organisms. They also supply and recycle nutrients as well as enable a growing fish population, along with other species, for a healthy and diverse ecosystem. However, the rise in average water temperatures due to climate change has resulted in more frequent and longtime coral bleaching (白化现象) events that damage their health, causing fish and other sea species to abandon them.
In order to restore this delicate ecosystem, scientists from the UK and Australia conducted a study that involved using loudspeakers underwater near damaged coral reefs to make them sound healthy and attract fish, potentially kick-starting the natural recovery process of coral reefs and their dependent life forms. The location for this experiment was the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, found alongside the east coast of Queensland, Australia. The site is noted to have the largest coral reef system in the world.
“Healthy coral reefs are remarkably noisy places-the crackle of snapping shrimp and the whoops and grunts of fish. Young fish concentrate on these sounds when they're looking for a place to settle,” said Steve Simpson, study co-author and a professor at the University of Exeter, UK.
By using loudspeakers to copy such sounds, parts of dead coral reefs were found to attract twice as many fish, compared to places where no sounds were played. “These returning fish, are crucial for coral reefs to function as healthy ecosystems. Boosting fish populations in this way could help to kick-start natural recovery processes, preventing the damage we're seeing on many coral reefs around the world,” said lead author, Tim Gordon.
1. What causes the phenomenon of coral bleaching?A.Diverse species. | B.Noise pollution. |
C.Fishing industry. | D.Climbing temperatures. |
A.Removing damaged coral reefs. | B.Using loudspeakers to keep fish away. |
C.Building new homes for sea species. | D.Playing certain sounds to appeal to fish. |
A.To provide some findings of the study. | B.To show the progress of the experiment. |
C.To explain reasons for the new approach. | D.To give another solution to the problem. |
A.The attempts are in vain. | B.Natural recovery is impossible. |
C.Initial success has been achieved. | D.The coral reefs have returned to normal. |
【推荐1】People who often eat nuts appear to live longer, according to the latest study of its kind. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggested the greatest benefit was in those eating them on their daily diet.
Eating nuts was linked to a healthier lifestyle including being less likely to smoke or be overweight and more likely to exercise. The British Heart Foundation said more research was needed to prove the link, “While this is an interesting link, we need further research to make sure if it’s the nuts that protect heart health, or other sides of people’ lifestyle.”
The study followed nearly 120,000 people for 30 years. The more regularly people ate nuts, the less likely they were to die during the study. People eating nuts once a week were 11% less likely to have died during the study than those who never ate nuts. Lead researcher Dr. Charles Fuchs, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and B rig ham and Women’ Hospital, said, “The most obvious benefit was a decrease of 29% in deaths from heart disease, but we also saw a significant reduction — 11% — in the danger of dying from cancer.” They suggest nuts are lowering cholesterol(胆固醇). And insulin resistance (胰岛素抗性). Nuts contain unsaturated fat(不饱和脂肪), protein and several kinds of vitamins and minerals and they can take the place of snacks like chocolate bars, cakes and biscuits.
Victoria Taylor, senior expert at the British Heart Foundation, said, “This study shows close connection between regularly eating a small handful of nuts and a lower risk of death from heart disease.” Choosing plain, unsalted foods rather than sweet, salted, or chocolate-covered will keep your salt and sugar intake down.
1. According to the passage, what kind of people benefit most from eating nuts?A.Those who suffer from a cancer. |
B.Those under medical treatments. |
C.Those who eat nuts on their daily diet. |
D.Those cages to lower cholesterol. |
A.Heart disease. |
B.Stomach disease. |
C.Cancer. |
D.Unknown. |
A.opening a debate |
B.giving examples |
C.listing data |
D.comparing the difference |
A.Science section. |
B.Health section. |
C.Entertainment section. |
D.Teach section. |
【推荐2】The United States space agency, NASA. says its Mars exploration vehicle recently recorded a high level of methane (甲烷) gas on the planet. The discovery is exciting because the presence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars.
NASA's Curiosity vehicle recently recoded the largest level of methane ever measured during its seven-year Mars mission.
Methane has no color or smell. A special instrument on Curiosity's Man Science Laboratory recorded the increased gas level. The device measures levels of chemical elements and gases in the Marian atmosphere. In addition to methane, the instrument can record levels of water and carbon dioxide.
Nearly all the methane gas found in Earth's atmosphere is produced by living thing. It usually comes from animal and plant life. But it can also be formed by geological(地质的) processes, such as interactions. between rocks and water.
It was not the first time Curiosity had found methane gas in the Martian atmosphere. About a year ago, NASA announced that Curiosity had discovered sharp seasonal increases in the gas. This time, NASA said the measured methane gas level was clearly larger than any others observed in the past. "It's exciting because microbial (微生物的) life is an important source of methane on Earth," NASA said in a statement announcing the discovery.
However, Curiosity's team carried out a follow-up methane experiment that showed a sharp drop in levels of the gas. That number was "close to the background levels Curiosity sees all the time." NASA said. The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers.
"The methane mystery continues," said Ashwin Vasavada. Curiosity's project scientist, "We're more motivated than ever to keep measuring and put our brains together to figure out how methane behaves in the Marian atmosphere."
1. What do we know about methane go?A.It is a must to living things. | B.It can be found everywhere. |
C.It smells like carbon dioxide. | D.It's mainly from biological activity. |
A.Humans have known much about Mars. |
B.There will be more methane gas on Mars. |
C.There is no progress in the 7 year's research. |
D.The level of methane gas on Mars is not stable. |
A.There may exist life on Mars. |
B.Methane gas on Mars has a sudden increase. |
C.The mystery about Mars will be solved soon. |
D.They're known how methane as is formed on Mans. |
A.Aimless. | B.Confident. |
C.Stressed. | D.Serious. |
【推荐3】Have you ever found that you were able to sleep better with an air conditioner or fan running or perhaps with the sound of rain falling outside?
One of the things that makes noise annoying is that the mind notices changes in the sounds of the environment. No doubt this ability helped keep our ancestors alive, by warning them of the faint sound made by a fierce animal.
White noise changes the background sound. The overall level of sound in the environment is higher, which raises the volume boundary over which noises must pass in order to be noticed.
Many office environments install white noise systems to help minimize distractions for office workers, and also to maintain speech privacy. A specialized use for white noise is in treating tinnitus (耳鸣).
A.White noise has many benefits. |
B.Besides, the sound quality has no special characteristics. |
C.What types of sounds are exactly included in white noises? |
D.If so, then you're already familiar with the concept of white noise. |
E.To us, however, becoming sensitive to every tiny noise can be a problem. |
F.White noise can often bring immediate relief from the annoying sounds of tinnitus. |
G.Studies suggest that using sound masking in the workplace leads to higher productivity. |
【推荐1】Across cultures, we write different songs for different purposes. A new study examines how music travels around the world, despite its incredible diversity within cultures.
Sam Mehr, a psychologist at Harvard, kept reading a statement that said, "Music is universal." But every time there was nothing to back it up. To see if there was any proof to this claim, he and his fellow researchers created two databases: one with descriptions from anthropologists of what happened when music from the 60s was playing, and another of 118 audio recordings from 86 different societies. He found that there were three characteristics of behavior that consistently characterized music: formality, arousal (or how calm or exciting a song was), and religiosity. Most societies had music that fell into more than one category.
“People did a good job guessing the themes. Music appears in this huge diversity, but it does so similarly across societies,” says author Manvir Singh, a Harvard Ph. D. student in the department of human evolutionary biology.
Daniel Levitin, who's done similar research on music and evolution, believes this kind of systematic approach to understanding music is long overdue. He also says that the study points to an evolutionary history between music and humans.
For Mehr and his team, the hunt for data is just the beginning. The lab is running more detailed quizzes to dig into how people respond to what they hear. They also hope to do studies on different populations to see how they react to tunes from faraway societies.
“Exploring the lyrics allows us to better understand how music can call for these emotional or behavioral responses,” says Singh, “but also, in a broader way, the world view of the people who are singing.”
1. Why did Sam Mehr start his research?A.To support his statement of music. | B.To find evidence for "Music is universal". |
C.To prove the diversities of music worldwide. | D.To examine music at different periods. |
A.By giving quizzes. | B.By observing objects. |
C.By looking up documentaries. | D.By interviewing music writers. |
A.Tune. | B.Version. | C.Catalogue. | D.Style. |
A.the necessity of continuing the research | B.the significance of exploring lyrics |
C.the function of music in evolution | D.the benefit of understanding music |
【推荐2】Considering the temperate climate in England, most tourists like to visit London between April and September. Tourists also enjoy what London has to offer during Christmas.
Getting around London
Transportation in London is divided into zones, meaning the further you intend to go, the more expensive it will cost you. You’ll find one of the best subways here, with single rides starting at about $ 2.5. You can also use taxis (keep in mind that black cabs do not accept smart cards), boats, buses as well as commuter trains (市郊火车). To avoid any trouble, you can get yourself a smart card and perhaps load it with $ 50 dollars to cover your weekly travel budget.
London Weather
To enjoy warm weather in London, plan your visit in July as it is the hottest month. January is the coldest month in London.
What you should Know Before Visiting London
Unlike most cities in Europe, life in London is a bit more expensive. Also, make sure you plan ahead so that you don’t miss out on the best tickets, hotels and offers.
BEST OF LONDON
SEALIFE London Aquarium
Enjoy a spectacular experience with underwater creatures at SEALIFE London aquarium. It is perfect for a family fun day.
The Coca-Cola London Eye
A major feature of London’s skyline, the The Coca-Cola London Eye boasts some of the best city views from its 32 capsules. You’ll definitely enjoy the breathtaking experience.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
A perfect place to visit if you love books and music.
1. The peak month to visit London is most likely to be _____A.January | B.March | C.May | D.October |
A.It can be paid for any transport means. | B.It can cover any expenses. |
C.It is available online. | D.It is convenient. |
A.SEALIFE London Aquarium | B.The Coca-Cola London Eye |
C.Sherlock Holmes Museum | D.London Canal Museum |
【推荐3】Like the move from horse-drawn carriages to vehicles powered by internal-combustion engines, the change from cars powered by fossil fuels to electric vehicles (EVs) will have a profound effect on personal transport. The Epidemic worldwide caused a 20% drop in global light vehicle sales in 2020, to about 70m, but they pick up in 2021. And the proportion of vehicles powered by batteries will grow quickly.
The increasing share price of Tesla, provides a big motivation for newcomers to catch up. Tesla may lead in battery technology and software, but to make those advantages stick, it must prove that “production hell” is behind it. Scaling up manufacturing has caused Tesla its biggest headaches.
Big name carmakers face an equally discouraging challenge: Learning how to write software. Electric cars require integrated software, not just to ensure that batteries and motors work together to provide the best performance, but to connect the car to the outside world.
And what of the Tesla followers, from China’s li, Nio and Xpeng to American firms such as Fisker, Lucid and Nikola? Cash from excitable investors has poured in and it is the same with big name carmakers—as are tech giants, keen to get involved as transport goes digital. Can the followers persuade investors that they have patent technology that will give them a long-term advantage?
Eye-catching Advertisements of vehicles are one thing, but as the industry’s trouble shows, working out how to make cars at scale, when softwares are as important as brakes and bodywork, is quite another. The coming year will make clearer which of Tesla’s competitors, new and old, can stay in race.
1. What is the trend of electric cars industry?A.Uncertain. | B.Challenging. | C.Promising. | D.Disappointing. |
A.Learning how to write the software. | B.Expanding its production capacity. |
C.Connecting the car to the outside world. | D.Competing with many newcomers. |
A.Their share prices are catching up with those of Tesla. |
B.They are mostly established companies. |
C.Their biggest problem is technical one like improving brakes and bodywork. |
D.They are attracting investment. |
A.The Battle Within the Electric-Vehicle Industry |
B.Expanding Production Capacity—the Headache of Electric Cars Industry |
C.New Companies Are Catching up in Electric-Vehicle Industry |
D.Electric Cars—Your Future Choice |
【推荐1】“Fighting like cats and dogs” is a common phrase that people use to mean people argue, fright or don’t get along. If you like cartoons, you’ve probably seen many that describe cats and dogs fighting like sworn enemies (不共戴天的仇敌). There have even been movies made that describe cats against dogs.
As with many questions in life, there’s simply no easy answer to the question of whether dogs and cats can get along. Dogs and cats are different in many ways that can make it difficult for them to get along. However, with patience and the right circumstances, cats and dogs can be best buds (兄弟).
For example, dogs tend to be social animals that are naturally playful. Cats, on the other hand, tend to be more independent. A dog that wants to play might seem aggressive and frightening to a cat. This may lead the cat to defend itself against an attack although that’s really just a desire to play. Similarly, dogs—especially puppies—like to chase each other. It’s a fun game. Chasing cats can be just as fun as chasing other dogs. Again, cats may interpret such playful behavior as a threat.
Even there’s something dogs and cats have in common, tails, but tails can make things confusing. When dog wags (摇摆) its tail, it’s sending a friendly message: “I’m happy. Let’s play.” Cats, however, wag their tails when they are angry. You can see how this might lead cats and dogs to become confused if they’re facing each other with wagging tails!
Although dogs and cats aren’t really sworn enemies dogs are hunters by nature. This means that they might hunt and chase anything that moves-including a cat. This natural behavior that could cause problems between dogs and cats can be controlled by special training called socialization when the animals meet for the first time.
1. By saying “fighting like cats and dogs”, parents most probably mean that ________.A.they like neither cats nor dogs |
B.their kids don’t get on well with each other |
C.cats and dogs fight like sworn enemies |
D.the fights between cats and dogs are often made into movies |
A.Dogs become tired out. | B.Cats are very happy. |
C.Dogs feel enjoyable. | D.Cats get injured easily. |
A.They couldn’t understand each other. | B.They are worried about their behaviors. |
C.They enjoy exactly the same hobbies. | D.They wag their tails too often. |
A.Dogs are good at hunting animals. |
B.Dogs don’t like cats naturally. |
C.Cats usually like playing with dogs. |
D.Dogs and cats can possibly live in harmony. |
【推荐2】Lucy Hughes, a 24-year-old English inventor, has used skin and scales (鳞)from fish to create a new kind of plastic that will break down in about six weeks. Her invention won this year's James Dyson Award.
Ms. Hughes was very aware of how wasteful many products are. Plastic items (物品),for example, are often made from new plastic, used once for a short time, and then thrown away. She decided to challenge herself to make something out of waste instead.
Fishing is a big business in England, and the University of Sussex where Ms. Hughes studied wasn't far from the coast. She spent some time studying the fishing business, and the things that were thrown away. She was amazed by the amount of waste from fish that gets thrown away.
After some tests, Ms. Hughes decided that the fish skin and scales seemed like the most likely parts for her product. But then she needed something to bind (hold the material together) with. She found that red algae (红藻)was the best binder.
Ms. Hughes called her finished product “MarinaTex”, which is clear and feels like plastic, but stronger than regular plastic of the same thickness. MarinaTex is also cheap to make since it's made from fish waste. Ms. Hughes says that the waste from one Atlantic cod (a fish) could make 1,400 bags. The process of making MarinaTex also doesn't use much energy. Most importantly, MarinaTex doesn't take hundreds of years to break down.
Ms. Hughes thinks that one of the best uses for MarinaTex will be in some kinds of food packaging where plastic is currently being used. Ms. Hughes is looking forward to moving ahead with her idea. She wants to try to make her recipe for making her plastic even better. She hopes the award money will help her with the process of getting MarinaTex into use as quickly as possible.
1. Why did Lucy Hughes invent MarinaTex?A.To turn waste into treasure. |
B.To win James Dyson Award. |
C.To gain people's wide attention. |
D.To help the local fishing business. |
A.It is of higher quality. |
B.It is more convenient to use. |
C.Its production cost is fairly low. |
D.It can break down in a short time. |
A.MarinaTex has been put to practical use. |
B.Lucy Hughes hopes for more fund support. |
C.Lucy Hughes intends to improve her invention. |
D.MarinaTex will replace regular plastic in food packaging. |
A.Red Algae: the Best Binder to Hold Materials |
B.Young Inventor Creates Plastic from Fish Skin |
C.Fish Waste Has Affected the Environment Seriously |
D.Lucy Hughes: an English Inventor Won James Dyson Award |
【推荐3】Any actor would admit that it's tricky to play roles based on real people. They need to do mountains of research to make sure they're staying as true to life as possible. Besides, they try to add their own touches to the performance so that their work can be called their own.
American actor Andrew Garfield, 33, faced that dilemma when playing Desmond Doss in the film Hacksaw Ridge. Doss was a US army doctor during World War II who refused to carry a gun because of his beliefs, but saved 75 lives without firing a single shot. His actions made him the first conscientious objector —a person who objects to serving in the armed forces for moral or conscience reasons (基于道德或良心等原因)—to be presented with the Medal of Honor, the US's highest honor awarded for personal acts of bravery.
Garfield's first stage of research was to study as many documentaries of Doss he could get his hands on. But Garfield soon realized that he needed to learn not only the Doss' outer characteristics, but also “the deepest part of himself", he said. He traveled to Doss' hometown. The actor wanted to walk where Doss walked and handle the tools Doss handled, while all the time keeping in mind how the research would affect his performance.
"I don't think I could have gone too far in terms of getting to know who Doss was," Garfield said. "But it can't be an impression of him. That doesn't interest me. Garfield explains that it's like the difference between slipping into someone's clothes and stepping into their skin. Until he goes deep inside a role based on a real person, he doesn't feel he's done the work perfectly. And it's not until he fully understands the character that Garfield feels confident he can do the things asked of the role in the script (脚木)without hesitation or thought.
1. What makes it difficult for actors to play roles based on real people?A.Copying the roles in appearance. | B.Masses of close touches with the roles. |
C.Acting without their own feelings. | D.Lifelike performances with personal styles. |
A.victory | B.failure |
C.difficulty | D.celebration |
A.To recognize his brave actions. | B.To attract people to join the army. |
C.To admit the value of conscience. | D.To encourage doctors to follow his suit. |
A.To meet Doss in person. | B.To do research on Doss early life. |
C.To find out the insides of Doss. | D.To know about Doss' living conditions. |