As we know birds do not have teeth. However, according to a new study, this was not always the case. About 116 million years ago, the ancient birds had teeth and used them for eating, just like what they do today. The new study was conducted by a team of researchers that analyzed the remains of the tooth gene in modern birds and tried to find out why the teeth suddenly disappeared in birds during the process of evolution.
Because the fossils of ancient birds, buried deeply in the earth, are either broken or not preserve(保护)well, their use in determining this evolutionary(进化)change has not been helpful. Researchers have instead focused on analyzing the DNA of modern birds. The aim of the study is to search for clues in the genes of birds that explain the loss of teeth during evolution.
In the absence of teeth, birds heavily rely on their beaks(鸟嘴)to process food. They also have an excellent ability to digest the food properly. However, at some point in history, birds used to rely on their teeth for chewing(咀嚼)food just like us.
The earliest known clue in this regard was found in Germany in 1862. The fossil of an ancient bird found there, suggested that birds had teeth in the past. Today, scientists have confirmed(确认)that birds evolved form dinosaurs that were known for their sharp and pointed teeth.
Until now, there has been no definite explanation of the significant evolutionary change in birds. In the ongoing study, researchers analyzed the genes of modern birds that are responsible for tooth production. They searched for any kind of genetic mutation(基因突变)that may have made the gene to become inactive. The gene mutation first occurred about 116 million years ago.
1. What does the underlined word "fossils" mean in Paragraph 2?| A．A kind of bodies which are still full of life now. |
| B．A kind of stones which were from ancient animals. |
| C．A kind of animals which were relatives to modern birds. |
| D．A kind of ancient dinosaurs which hid deeply in the earth. |
| A．By studying the DNA of modern birds. |
| B．By studying the functions of birds' mouth. |
| C．By comparing the dinosaurs and the birds together. |
| D．By visiting Germany to get the newest information. |
| A．Uninterested. | B．Disappointed. |
| C．Convinced. | D．Unsure. |
| A．The Ancient Birds | B．The Ancient Birds Have Teeth |
| C．The Ancient Birds Are like Human | D．The Birds Abandoned the Teeth Now |
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【推荐1】If you have a dog, you probably spend a lot of time trying to figure out dog behavior. Like us, dogs are complex creatures, and it can be hard to know what’s behind your dog’s actions.
When you’re asking them to sit or giving them a treat, eye contact means that their attention is on you and that they’re ready to listen. But sometimes your pup will look at you aimlessly. There area few reasons why your dog might stare at you — even when you don’t call its name or do something to get its attention.
In general, dogs use eye contact to gain information and understand what humans want them to do, says Philip Tedeschi, professor and researcher on the human-animal bond. “Dogs use eye contact as reassurance and understanding in very similar ways that humans do, to ascertain interpersonal connection and reaction. This helps us connect with them as well,” he says.
Science confirms that dogs use eye contact to express love. How do you tell if a dog loves you? Well, if he stares at you, it’s a good sign! “Just like humans look into each other’s eyes to show love, so does your dog,” says Tedeschi. “In fact, one study showed that the ‘cuddle’ hormone oxytocin (拥抱荷尔蒙催产素) increases in both humans and dogs when they exchange a loving look.”
If the eye contact between a dog and a human is too long or too intense it might lead to discomfort in the dog — similar to the way two humans staring at each other for a longer period of time would make them uncomfortable, according to Tedeschi. So what do you do if your dog stares at you? Look back, but not for too long. Dogs get awkward, too!
1. What does it usually mean when your dog stares at you?| A．It’s on guard against you. |
| B．It’s longing to be hugged. |
| C．It’s ready for your instruction. |
| D．It’s confused about your order. |
| A．Take part in. | B．Make sure of. | C．Come up with. | D．Look forward to. |
| A．To tell people when a dog expects for human love. |
| B．To confirm dogs employ eye contact to convey love like humans. |
| C．To show that a lot of people are working on this subject. |
| D．To illustrate that dogs are just like human in exchanging emotions. |
| A．Beloved. | B．Honored. | C．Threatened. | D．Embarrassed. |
【推荐2】In Canada you can find dogs, cats, horses, etc. in almost every family. These are their pets. People love these pets and have them as their good friends.
Before they keep them in their houses, they take them to animal hospitals to give them injections(注射) so that they won’t carry disease. They have special animal food stores, though they can get animal food in almost every kind of stores. Some people spend around two hundred Canadian dollars a month on animal food. When you visit people’s houses, they would be very glad to show their pets and they are very proud of them. You will also find that almost every family has a bird feeder in their garden. All kinds of birds are welcomed to come and have a good meal. They are free to come and go and nobody is allowed to kill any animal in Canada. They have a law against killing wild animals. If you killed an animal, you would be punished. If an animal happened to get run over by a cay, people would be very sad about it.
People in Canada have many reasons to like animals. One of them might be: their family ties are not as close as ours. When children grow up, they leave their parents and start their own life. Then the old will feel lonely. But pets can solve this problem. They can be good friends and never leave them alone.
1. The passage mainly talks about_______.| A．how to keep pets away from disease | B．pets in Canada |
| C．how to take good care of pets | D．life of the old in Canada |
| A．the pets are sick | B．the pets are wild |
| C．they want to stop them from carrying disease | D．they want them to sleep on the way home |
| A．love animals | B．hate animals |
| C．often kill animals | D．don’t keep pets inside their houses. |
【推荐3】Saturn, an alligator（短吻鳄）, aged 84, died at the Moscow Zoo. That in itself made Saturn unusual. In the wild, the normal life span for an alligator is 30 to 50 years. But longevity was the least unusual aspect of Saturn’s life story.
Saturn was born somewhere in Mississippi in 1936 and was shipped to the Berlin Zoo from which he disappeared on November 23rd, 1943, when the zoo was stricken in an air bombing campaign. Of the 16,000 animals once kept in the Berlin Zoo, fewer than 100 survived the war. Saturn was one of them.
When he got freedom in 1943, Saturn was 7 years old. In June 1946, an almost adult Saturn was discovered and captured by British army. The alligator was then turned over to the allied Soviet troops（苏联盟军）in Berlin who sent him on to Moscow where he would live in the next 74 years.
It was in Moscow that word got around that Saturn was a pet which belonged to Adolf Hitler. This undocumented episode with Hitler made Saturn a public figure.
"Even if he belonged to someone," the zoo's announcement of Saturn's death says, "animals are not involved in war and politics." Officials at the Moscow Zoo treated him as an honored guest. "We tried to take care of him with great care and attention. He was picky about food." Even among his keepers, he knew who he liked. He perfectly remembered the trusted keeper.
If a zoo animal can be a historical figure, officials say this one qualifies. "Saturn is a whole era for us. There is not the slightest exaggeration," the announcement of his death said. "He came after the victory in WWII—and witnessed（见证）its 75th anniversary. It is a great happiness that each of us could look into his eyes, just quietly being near. He saw many of us as children. We hope that we did not disappoint him.”
Death may not end Saturn's public career. It has been reported that his body will be maintained and placed on show at Moscow's Charles Darwin Museum of Biology.
1. What does the underlined "That" in Paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Saturn's death. | B．Saturn's longevity. |
| C．Saturn's life story. | D．Saturn's living conditions. |
| A．Saturn was born and raised in the Berlin Zoo in 1936 |
| B．Saturn survived an air attack and got freedom in 1943. |
| C．Saturn got caught by the allied Soviet troops in 1946. |
| D．Saturn celebrated its 75th birthday and died in 2020. |
| A．He was kept a pet there. | B．He could remember all the keepers. |
| C．He lived a go-as-you-please life. | D．He got well-known as a picky eater. |
| A．His story with Adolf Hitler. | B．His uncommon 84-year lifespan. |
| C．He will be on show after death. | D．He was identified as a history witness |
【推荐1】Researchers in the United States say eating less can slow the aging process of cells in the body. The researchers studied mice, not people.
The mice with the diet restrictions (限制) were more energetic and suffered fewer diseases. They were not just living longer, they seemed to stay younger for a longer period of time. When you restrict calories (in mice), there is a direct increase in lifespan—the average age of the animal.
But how? The researchers found that fewer calories slow down a natural mechanism in cells called ribosomes (核糖体). Ribosomes are responsible for making important proteins in the cells. But with fewer calories, they slow down.
Earlier studies have suggested a link between calorie restrictions and slowed aging.
Calorie restriction as a way to slow aging has not been tested in humans. But the main finding for people is the importance of taking care of our bodies.
| A．The less we eat, the healthier we are. |
| B．Researchers studied two groups of mice. |
| C．This finding is good news if you are a mouse. |
| D．This gives the cells more time to repair themselves. |
| E．The findings help to explain how exactly our bodies age. |
| F．However, this is first to show how the ribosomes can influence aging. |
| G．Calorie restriction caused real biochemical changes that slowed down the rate of aging. |
【推荐2】Compared to dogs, cats are often considered to be aloof with respect to their human owners. It is usual for them to be indifferent when humans call their names. Are we sure that they don't understand human voices at all?
A recent study published in the journal of Scientific Reports suggests that we've been fooled. Japanese scientists found that cats can recognize their names if their owners regularly use them. In the study, scientists recruited 78 domestic cats. They played recordings of voices of their owners saying five words: the first four words were random nouns that sounded similar to their names while the final word was the cat's name. Then they observed the cats' responses, if there were any.
Most of cats moved their ears or heads when they heard their names, while they made no response to other words. That suggested, "cats were paying attention to you, what you say and what you do," John Bradshaw, an expert on human-animal interactions at the University of Bristol, UK, told The Times. "And cats were just as good as dogs at learning," she added.
In the study, when people called their names, cats often associated the words with rewards, such as food or play, on with "punishments" such as having a bath or going to the vet. This made cats sensitive to words. After the cats had been called several times, they could respond to the words. But the scientists added that while dogs have evolved to follow their owners' orders, cats have not. Although cats appear to be aloof, they do have special relationships with their owners.
According to study co-author Atsuko Saito, cats have evolved not to show their emotions as a survival method. One example is illness, which they tend to hide because "in the wild, no one can rescue them" and predators are more likely to pay attention to them, Saito explained.
However, technology may help bridge the communication gap between cats and us. There are now mobile apps available to explain what their meows mean. So, the next time you hear "meow, meow", your cat may be telling you: "Hi, you haven't cleaned my litter box recently.”
1. What did the recent study find about cats?| A．Cats can recognize their names. | B．Cats are cleverer than dogs. |
| C．Cats learn more slowly than dogs. | D．Cats are willing to follow orders. |
| A．They don't pay much attention to their surroundings. | B．They associate words with punishments |
| C．They are not sensitive to the human voice. | D．They want to protect themselves from harm. |
| A．It is difficult to understand cats' meows. |
| B．Interaction with your cats is very important. |
| C．Cats do have good relationships with their owners. |
| D．We may know cats bettor with the help of technology. |
【推荐3】Yesterday, I was standing in line at a store and the song Please Come to Boston which was quite popular when I was in high school, came on in the background. I hadn’t heard it for years. Suddenly, I was overcome by flashbacks of people and places linked to that song from earlier stages of my life.
It seems people tend to be extremely nostalgic (怀旧的) about the music they listened to when they were young. Psychological research has shown that autobiographical memories (life experiences) from certain time periods are remembered better than others. One obvious phenomenon is the “reminiscence bump” (记忆隆起): the fact that people tend to recall memories from when they were 10 to 30 years old much better. That’s because this period contains many novel and self-defining life experiences such as graduation and marriage. Biological changes may also boost the effectiveness of our memories from this period.
In our experiment, we investigated the presence of the “musical reminiscence bump” in a group of 470 adults aged 18 to 82. Our aim was to examine how a person’s age when a song was popular affected three related but distinct concepts: the degree to which the song was associated with autobiographical memories, how familiar the song was and how much they liked the song. Participants were shown the titles and artists of 111 pop songs that had featured in the charts across a 65-year period (1950~2015). After a given time, they were asked to complete the measurement.
We discovered music during one’s adolescence was rated as more familiar. In addition, we found some songs were preferred regardless of a participant’s age. For instance, we saw a general increase in how much people liked songs from the late 1970s to early 1980s, even in participants who weren’t yet born during that time period. Examples of songs we used from this time period include Hotel California by the Eagles.
Music can undeniably cause nostalgia. For example, advertisers want to elicit (引出) a nostalgic reaction from a certain group of consumers. And they should notice doctors who aim to reconnect patients suffering from memory loss with self-defining memories from their pasts can also take advantage of nostalgia.
1. What does the author want to imply through his own experience at a store?| A．His taste for music in high school. |
| B．His way of killing the boring queuing time. |
| C．The link between sales and background music. |
| D．Music’s ability to waken memories from the past. |
| A．It helps improve our childhood memories) |
| B．It still remains a mystery to modern science. |
| C．Events occurring during it are more memorable. |
| D．It explains why some have a better memory than others. |
| A．Make a list of their favorite songs and artists. |
| B．Provide ratings of three music-related questions. |
| C．Learn to sing some songs released in the past 65 years. |
| D．Compare the features of pop songs from different periods. |
| A．The Eagles were a representative band in the late 20th century. |
| B．Pop music stars’ adolescence had a great impact on their works. |
| C．The late 1970s and early 1980s were the peak of music creation. |
| D．Pop music from certain time periods was favored by different generations. |
| A．Musical nostalgia has practical applications in life. |
| B．All doctors are responsible for treating nostalgia. |
| C．Too much nostalgia may lead to memory loss to a degree. |
| D．Advertisers are good at analyzing consumers’ musical tastes. |
【推荐1】How likely you’re to trust a self-driving car of advice from artificial intelligence (AI)?
An interdisciplinary(多学科的) team from the University of Kansas led by relationship psychologist Omri Gillath has published a new paper in the journal Computers in Human Behavior showing people’s trust in AI is tied to their relationship or attachment style. The new research indicates that people who are anxious and unsure about their relationships with humans tend to have less trust in AI as well. Importantly, the research also suggests trust in AI can be increased by reminding people of their secure relationships with other humans.
Grand View Research estimated the global AI market at $39.9 billion in 2019, projected to expand at an annual growth rate of 42.2% from 2020 to 2027. However, lack of trust remains a key obstacle to adopting new AI technologies.
The research by Gillath and colleagues suggests new ways to increase trust in AI. In three studies, attachment style, thought to play a central role in romantic and parent-child relationships, was shown also to affect people’s trust in AI.
“Most research on trust in AI focuses on cognitive(认知的) ways to increase trust. Here we took a different approach by focusing on a ‘relational affective’ route to increase trust, seeing AI as a partner or a team member rather than a device,” said Gillath, professor of psychology at KU. “Finding associations between humans’ attachment style—an individual difference representing the way people feel, think and behave in close relationships—and their trust in AI paves the way to new understandings and potentially new interventions(干预) to cause trust.”
The research team includes investigators from a wide variety of subjects, including psychology, engineering, business and medicine. This interdisciplinary approach provides a new view on AI, trust and associations with relational and affective factors. Gillath said, “The findings show you can predict and increase people’s trust levels in non-humans based on their early relationships with humans. This has the potential to improve adoption of new technologies and the integration of AI in the workplace.”
1. What do people more confident about human relationships tend to have?| A．More anxiety about their relations. | B．More trust in AI. |
| C．Less trust in humans. | D．Fewer friends. |
| A．Psychology. | B．Relationship. | C．Cognitive ways. | D．Fewer friends. |
| A．The subjects the findings cover. | B．The current state of the workplace. |
| C．The prospective use of the findings. | D．The affective factors of the research. |
| A．Trust in Advice from AI |
| B．A New Approach to Increasing Trust in AI |
| C．Relationships Existing Between Different Disciplines |
| D．Trust Levels in AI Predicted by Humans’ Attachment Style |
【推荐2】Four “amateur (业余的) astronauts” are about to launch into orbit in another landmark mission for space tourism. It’s the latest flight to help open up access to space for paying customers. The trip has been paid for by US billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman, who will travel with three crewmates (机组同事). A healthcare worker, a science educator and a data analyst will circle the Earth with Mr. Isaacman for three days. They hope to inspire others with their adventure and to raise money for children’s cancer medicine. Accordingly, the mission has been named Inspiration 4.
The crew’s Dragon vehicle, made by Elon Musk’s company Space X, will ride a Falcon-9 rocket. It is due to launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at 20:02 EDT on Wednesday, or very shortly after. The spacecraft will reach an altitude of 575km, which is about 150km higher than the International Space Station (ISS). The four will then spend their time doing experiments and looking at Earth through a large domed (圆顶状的) window which offers panoramic views of the whole planet.
The mission follows hot on the heels of Sir Richard Branson’s flight aboard his Virgin Galactic rocket plane on 11 July, and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos’s trip to space nine days later in the New Shepard vehicle. The glass dome has been fitted in place of the mechanism that Dragon normally uses to dock (对接) with the ISS, which isn’t needed on this flight.
In the 60 years since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin first went into space, fewer than 600 people have followed in his footsteps, and most of those have been military-trained personnel flying on government-sponsored missions. Inspiration 4 is different. It’ll be a fully commercially purchased and operated orbital flight. NASA helped fund the development of a lot of the technology used by Elon Musk’s company, and did so to try to diversify the economy in low-Earth orbit.
1. Why is the mission called Inspiration 4 according to paragraph 1?| A．To promote the space tourism industry. |
| B．To highlight the huge expenses of the space trip. |
| C．To claim the commercial benefits of space adventures. |
| D．To inspire people and collect money for medical treatment. |
| A．Its crew members are mostly military trainees. |
| B．The launch schedule is to be further confirmed. |
| C．It is to be made nine days after Jeff Bezos’ space trip. |
| D．A glass dome will be fitted to replace the mechanism to join the ISS. |
| A．It ensures the success of the mission. |
| B．It enables the crew to observe surrounding planets. |
| C．The crew can get a full view of the earth through it. |
| D．The crew can take advantage of it to do experiments. |
| A．A commercially paid orbital flight. |
| B．The diversity of space exploration. |
| C．The development of space technology. |
| D．A space tour on government-sponsored missions. |
【推荐3】Benefits of Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing can be enjoyed by a wide range of students, from the youngest kindergartners to those secondary students. It is really a fun activity, providing students a gentle workout outside in winter. While having fun, students can gain physical and mental benefits .
The physical benefits of cross-country skiing are well known. If we look at Olympic cross- country skiers, we can see the positive effects on the body that result from training for cross-country skiing. The average best female cross-country skier carries 11 percent body fat, and best male skiers carry 5 percent. These percentages are well below the average for people who are considered to be athletic-17 percent for females and 10 percent for males. The high number of calories burned while skiing helps to keep skiers slim in a healthy and attractive way.
Cross-country skiing is also an efficient way to exercise a large number of muscles at once. Because skiers use ski poles as a means of propulsion, the force that drives skiers forward, the upper body gets much more of workout. Of course, the leg muscles also do their fair share. People who use cross-country skiing as a workout over several weeks will discover that the muscles of their entire body increase in strength.
Cross-country skiing on a regular basis has a tremendous effect on a person’s cardiovascular system. In addition to gaining strength in the muscles of the upper and lower body, people who use cross-country skiing as a workout method over several weeks will also discover that their heart is stronger. A strong heart pumps more efficiently, sending out more blood to the muscles with each contraction. Through weeks of skiing, people often discover that their resting heart rate has decreased. Highly trained Olympic cross-country skiers have resting heart rates between 28 and 40 beats per minute. Compare that to the resting heart rate of the average person, which is 60 to 80 beats per minute!
The benefits of cross-country skiing extend beyond overall general health. A lot of evidence exists indicating that regular physical activity increases the release of mood-lifting endorphins in the body. After one of the energetic and fun skiing lessons, students will be smiling and laughing; they will be relaxed and in a better mood than when they started class. Students will leave class with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that they have developed new skills in a fun activity.
Cross-country skiing is a great way to work the total body. Now more and more students are taking part in this exercise outside during the winter months. They are enjoying it and benefiting from it!
1. The underlined word “workout” means ______.| A．manner | B．exercise | C．application | D．opportunity |
| A．requires the use of most muscle groups | B．offers students a unique way to keep fit |
| C．can increase the athletes’ resting heart rates | D．can balance out the skiers’ increased calories |
| A．By making comments. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By giving explanations. |
CP: Central point P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
Herschel’s first major discoveries were to show that Mars and Jupiter exhibit axial rotation(绕轴自转). Herschel struck fame in 1781,when on March 13th he discovered the planet Uranus(天王星) while engaged in work aimed at determining stellar parallax(恒星视差).This being the first new planet discovered since ancient times, Herschel, until then a mere amateur astronomer relatively unknown even in England, became world-famous. Adopting a historically proven strategy, Herschel named the new planet Georgium Sidum,in honor of the then ruling English king GeorgeⅢ. The trick worked once again, as King GeorgeⅢ gave William and Caroline the titles of“The King’s Astronomer”and“Assistant to the King’s Astronomer”, an honor which came with a life’s pension for both. In 1782 they moved to Bath, and shortly thereafter to Slough, and from this point on William and Caroline could devote themselves entirely to astronomy. The Herschels went on to discover two moons of Uranus in 1787.
While Caroline became increasingly occupied with the search for comets at which she was quite successful, William became for a time interested in the Sun. Inspired by Wilson’s 1774 work, he put forth the theory of sunspots(太阳黑子),an opinion that continued to exist well into the nineteenth century. In 1800,he became interested in the solar spectrum(太阳光谱),and uncovered the first evidence for solar energy output outside of the visible spectrum, in what is now known as the infrared(红外线).In 1801, he published two papers that effectively started the field of solar influences on Earth’s weather.
1. Herschel made himself known to the world mainly by .
| A．discovering the planet Uranus |
| B．determining stellar parallax |
| C．discovering two moons of Uranus |
| D．uncovering the evidence for the infrared |
| A．liked science and technology |
| B．liked Herschel’s naming of the new planet |
| C．was interested in astronomy |
| D．gave Herschel a lot of useful suggestions |
| A．She was successful in music. |
| B．She was given the title of“The King’s Astronomer”. |
| C．She died later than her brother. |
| D．She published two papers. |
| A．some information about Herschel and his sister |
| B．how Herschel and his sister discovered the planet Uranus |
| C．Herschel and Caroline got along well with each other |
| D．Herschel and Caroline’s major scientific publications |
【推荐2】After years of research and testing, the hybrid car was developed and put on the market. It’s an interesting and exciting new improvement in today’s world as we look for better ways to protect the quality of the air we breathe and conserve our natural resources.
The quality of our air is affected by many different things. But one of the largest sources of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline which is used to power a car’s engine. The EPA has set national standards to help control the level of harmful pollutants sent off into the air, and the automobile industry has acted by producing a hybrid car that uses less gas and therefore causes less pollution.
A hybrid car is a combination of a regular car that runs on gasoline and an electric car that is battery powered. Some people tend to think that since the hybrid car is partially electric, you have to plug it in to charge it. But that’s not how it works. The 144-volt battery pack is actually recharged through the energy that is produced when the car’s brakes are used. This is referred to as “regenerative braking”, because it generates electricity.
Although the hybrid car still runs on gasoline most of the time, this helps it use less gas than a regular car. When the driver stops at a traffic light, the engine automatically shuts off to save fuel. Then, as soon as the driver puts the car in gear and touches the gas pedal, the engine starts back up.
Have you ever ridden in a car with someone who ran out of gas? That probably wouldn’t happen if you were riding in a hybrid car. It flashes a warning on its computer screen that says, “I am low on gas”. When it completely runs out, the warning reads, “YOU ARE NOW OUT OF GAS!” Then the electric power supply kicks in to let the driver travel a few more miles to a gas station.
1. Which of the following is true according to the passage?| A．The hybrid car will be put on the market. |
| B．Hybrid cars run faster than regular cars. |
| C．When the hybrid car stops at a traffic light, the driver will get a warning. |
| D．The burning of fossil fuels is one of the largest sources of air pollution. |
| A．a high-tech discovery | B．energy saving |
| C．a new invention | D．a combination of two things |
| A．it allows the car to come to a quick stop | B．it gives the driver a smoother ride |
| C．it produces energy to charge the battery | D．it can control the speed of the car |
| A．They designed hybrid cars. |
| B．They outlawed(宣布……为不合法) the burning of fossil fuels. |
| C．They set important guidelines that help control pollution. |
| D．Their main purpose is to protect endangered plants and animals. |
| A．They use less gas than regular cars. | B．They’re safer to drive than most cars. |
| C．They’re more modern than other cars. | D．They cost less than regular cars. |
【推荐3】If you asked me to describe the rising philosophy of the day, I'd say it is data-ism. We now have the ability to gather huge amounts of data. This ability seems to carry with it certain cultural assumptions—that everything that can be measured should be measured; that data is a transparent and reliable lens that allows us to filter out emotionalism and ideology; that data will help us do remarkable things — like foretell the future.
Over the next years, I'm hoping to get a better grip on some of the questions raised by the data revolution: In what situations should we rely on intuitive pattern recognition and in which situations should we ignore intuition and follow the data? What kinds of events are predictable using statistical analysis and what sorts of events are not confess I enter this in a skeptical frame of mind, believing that we tend to get carried away in our desire to reduce everything to the quantifiable. But at the outset let me celebrate two things data does really well.
First, it's really good at exposing when our intuitive view of reality is wrong. For example, nearly every person who runs for political office has an intuitive sense that they can powerfully influence their odds of winning the election if they can just raise and spend more money. But this is largely wrong.
After the 2006 election, Sean Trende constructed a graph comparing the incumbent (在任者的) campaign spending advantages with their eventual margins of victory. There was barely any relationship between more spending and a bigger victory.
Likewise, many teachers have an intuitive sense that different students have different learning styles: some are verbal and some are visual; some are linear, some are "holistic" (整体的). Teachers imagine they will improve outcomes if they tailor their presentations to each student. But there's no evidence to support this either.
Second, data can illuminate patterns of behavior we haven't yet noticed. For example, I've always assumed people who frequently use words like "I," "me," and "mine" are probably more self-centered than people who don't. But as James Pennebaker of the University of Texas notes in his book, The Secret Life of Pronouns, when people are feeling confident, they are focused on the task at hand, not on themselves. High-status, confident people use fewer "I" words, not more.
Our brains often don't notice subtle verbal patterns, but Pennebaker's computers can. Younger writers use more negative and past-tense words than older writers who use more positive and future tense words.
In sum, the data revolution is giving us wonderful ways to understand the present and the past. Will it transform our ability to predict and make decisions about the future? We'll see.
1. What do data-ists assume they can do?| A．Transform people's cultural identity. |
| B．Change the way future events unfold. |
| C．Get a firm grip on the most important issues. |
| D．Eliminate emotional and ideological bias. |
| A．Use data analysis to predict the election result. |
| B．Win the election if they can raise enough funds. |
| C．Manipulate public opinion with favorable data. |
| D．Increase the chances of winning by foul means. |
| A．They think students prefer flexible teaching methods. |
| B．They will be able to try different approaches. |
| C．They believe students' learning styles vary. |
| D．They can accommodate students with special needs. |
| A．The importance of using pronouns properly. |
| B．Repeated use of first-person pronouns by self-centered people. |
| C．Frequent use of pronouns and future tense by young people. |
| D．A pattern in confident people's use of pronouns. |
| A．Data may not be easily accessible. |
| B．Errors may occur with large data samples. |
| C．Data cannot always do what we imagine it can. |
| D．Some data may turn out to be outdated. |
