While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt—why ears, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn’t it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch (强度) does change after a heavy meal.
We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva (唾液) dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something.
Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly pinpoint the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50, 000 different scents (气味), which are strongly tied to the memories.
Pupils (瞳孔) do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can dilate (扩大) their pupils, change the focus and blur (使模糊) their vision. If you do not wear glasses or contact lens due to having a 6/6 vision, you are just among the one third of the human population. It is now statistically proved that only one third of the population has perfect vision, rest all are either wearing glasses or are trying to read with a compromised vision.
Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except for the identical twins. This smell is very subtle (微妙的) yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this scent that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. Many of us can pinpoint the smell of our significant friends and colleagues. A significant part of this phenomenon is guided by genetics but it is also changed by the environment, diet and personal hygiene. This all together creates the unique chemistry that is individualistic for each person.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that ________.A.sensory organs’ functions can never be changed for their particular character |
B.our hearing is as good as before we have a full meal |
C.we feel and learn about the world around us through our eyes, ears, nose and tongue |
D.all sensory organs are connected and can be exchanged |
A.Your hearing pitch may decrease. |
B.Your eyes become dim. |
C.Your tongue may lose the function of taste. |
D.You may feel energetic and fresh. |
A.If your tongue is dried with a tissue paper, it may work as well as before. |
B.Our tongues can’t be dried while eating something. |
C.A tissue paper is the only thing that can be used to dry our tongues. |
D.If your tongue is dried without any saliva on it, it will not work. |
A.The number of sensory organs. |
B.The particular smell of a person. |
C.The style of one’s behavior. |
D.The functions of sensory organs. |
A.A newborn’s senses of the sensory organs. |
B.The functions of sensory organs. |
C.The connectivity of our tongue and ears. |
D.The differences of senses between women and men. |
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【推荐1】When they look at the sky, people usually find the sky looks blue—not orange, red, green or yellow. Do you know why?
Unlike the moon, the earth is surrounded by an atmosphere. That atmosphere is a mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen. The way the sunlight travels through the atmosphere makes the sky colored.
Why blue? It doesn’t look like it, but light is made up of several different colors, like you see in the rainbow. Each of these colors travels in a wave, but the wavelength(distance between the tops of each wave) varies. Red light has a long wavelength, while blue light has a much shorter wavelength. When light from the sun enters our atmosphere, the wave collide(碰撞) with gas molecules(分子)。 The longer wavelengths, like red and yellow, pass straight through and appear to us as “regular” sunlight. Shorter wavelengths, like blue, bump into the gas molecules and scatter(分散) in different directions. Some of it still makes it through directly, but the rest is reflected back to our eyes from all directions, so the whole sky looks blue.
The sky usually looks light blue. But it would be dark blue if you stood on top of the highest mountain, where there is less air to scatter the sunlight.
Sometimes the sky doesn’t look blue. At sunrise and sunset, the light from the sun sometimes scattered in some way that you see red, orange, and other colors in the sky.
1. Why does the sky look blue?A.the blue light is scattered most among all the lights. |
B.the sunlight is made up of all the colors the same as a rainbow. |
C.the sunlight is blue itself. |
D.the sunlight contains only blue light. |
A.dark blue | B.deep green |
C.light blue | D.red or orange |
A.when you stand on the top of the mountain | B.in the sunshine |
C.in the morning | D.when you are in space |
A.The sky looks orange at dusk. |
B.We usually just see the blue light when the sunlight passes through the air. |
C.When you stand on the peak of the highest mountain the sky looks light blue. |
D.The red light is scattered less than the blue light. |
【推荐2】Despite the fact that burgers, chips and fries are known as some of the most unhealthy food we can eat, they are still the most popular food.
There are a few reasons behind that. First, junk food is generally easy to get and take with you. This convenience is a major draw for many, especially people who are always on the go. Restaurants like McDonald’s and KFC can be found outside many schools and workplaces, providing meals in under a minute.
Secondly, junk food contains a lot of added sugar and fat. This kind of food causes our brain to send out certain chemicals, which produce the feeling of relaxation, pleasure and enjoyment. That’s why such food is called “comfort food”.
Thirdly, our ancestors didn’t have such easy access to the huge variety of food we come across every day. They didn’t have the convenience of having food as easily as we do. So they made it a habit to eat as much as they could to survive and protect themselves from the hard natural conditions. The cave mentality (心理) is passed down to us, which makes us believe that we can never have enough food that is high in sugar and fat, no matter how crazily we eat.
Besides, when we are too worried and tired to relax, our body produces cortisol (皮质醇), which increases the sugar content in the blood, so it can be used as energy to aid in fat and carbohydrate metabolism (碳水化合物代谢). Additionally, it is also found to increase hunger. That’s the reason why when we’re thinking about unpleasant things, we prefer foods that are high in sugar, fat and carbohydrate, that is to say unhealthy food.
1. Why are McDonald’s and KFC mentioned?A.To show they take up the best site. | B.To show they provide good service. |
C.To show they are famous for their taste. | D.To show they make junk food easy to get. |
A.We need all kinds of food. | B.Our ancestors lived a hard life. |
C.We are born to eat more than we need. | D.It is difficult for us to change our habits. |
A.Too much stress. | B.A wish for food. |
C.A fast metabolic rate. | D.Not having enough energy. |
A.How harmful junk food is. | B.Why fast food is so delicious. |
C.How we can develop a healthy lifestyle. | D.Why we love unhealthy food so much. |
【推荐3】Some educators are trying to engage(吸引) students’ attention with technology, such as educational videos, computer gaming and AI just to name a few. But using these methods in the classroom can be very challenging. Teachers using these tools often struggle to keep students focusing on the materials, competing with the latest social media, and can feel limited by using them to get some knowledge across. Graphic novels(图画小说) offering visual information married with text provide a means to engage students in the classroom.
Educators have used this method in their teaching. For example, instead of filling out problem sheets, students in a math class were asked to read a mystery called Who Killed Professor X? In this story, all of the suspects(嫌疑人)are famous mathematicians. As they tried to figure out the connections between the suspects, students often forgot that they were doing math focusing instead of finding secret details to solve the problem. Although this is just one experience for these students, it improves their confidence and shows them how math can be fun.
Jason Ho, an assistant professor at Dordt University, uses Max the Demon Vs Entropy of Doom to teach his physics students about a topic. This topic can be particularly difficult for some students because they can’t physically touch something. Ho said graphic novels can create an engaging learning environment, and most of his students now understand the subject by getting clear explanations for some ideas.
Although the Internet offers a lot of math and physics resources, it can be tiring to search through many hours of videos to find the perfect one to get the “aha!” moment in learning. Graphic novels provide a staring point with a wide range of topics. Want to learn about programming? Try the Secret Coders series. Need more female role models in science? Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier could be just what you're looking for.
With all that graphic novels offered, we believe that the right set of graphic novels can inspire future scientists as much as any single person can.
1. What problem are some teachers faced with?A.Teaching students to learn self-control. |
B.Helping students gain high-tech knowledge. |
C.Holding students’ attention with technology. |
D.Controlling the bad influence of social media. |
A.They are mainly designed for students. |
B.They can make learning more enjoyable. |
C.They require students to learn through performance. |
D.They lead students to work hard on problem sheets. |
A.Positive. | B.Doubtful. | C.Negative. | D.Curious. |
A.They allow reading anytime and anywhere. |
B.They introduce many role models to students. |
C.They are more attractive with wonderful pictures. |
D.They enable students to quickly find suitable materials. |
【推荐1】The last African elephant at the Johannesburg Zoo, Lammie, lost her male partner to a sickness in September.
Lammie was born in the zoo 39 years ago. She had lived for 17 years with Kinkel, who died at age 35. Kinkel had been rescued in the wild after his trunk was caught in a trap in 2000.
Around the time of her partner's death on Sept. 4, Lammie had stopped eating. The day before Kinkel died, she was seen trying to help him get up.
Elephants are known for their intelligence, strong social ties and even the ability to mourn. Some people argue Lammie should be sent to another place where she can be with other elephants.
Audrey Delsink, wildlife director of Humane Society International/Africa, said Lammie "is in desperate need of a happier environment to live out her years." Delsink added that a wildlife rescue place is ready to take Lammie if the Johannesburg Zoo agrees to let her go.
But the zoo says Lammie is staying. It serves an educational purpose, especially for the poor who cannot pay to visit wildlife parks.
Michele Pickover disagrees. She is director of the EMS Foundation, a South Africa-based African wildlife rights group. She said "nobody learns anything" by seeing an elephant in captivity. She said that watching a film about elephants would be more educational.
But, a spokeswoman for the Johannesburg Zoo, Jenny Moodley, says it is looking for a new partner for Lammie. She said the zoo is following guidelines in its search set by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
She added that experts are closely observing Lammie and that the elephant might not adapt well to a new environment.
Moodley said of Lammie: "She is coping incredibly well, considering that she has lost her partner."
1. What can we know about Lammie?A.She was not as old as Kinkel. | B.She was attached to Kinkel |
C.She had tried to rescue Kinkel. | D.She would starve herself to death. |
A.The zoo should change its location. |
B.The zoo should find Lammie a partner. |
C.Lammie should be moved to another place. |
D.Lammie should live out her years in the z00, |
A.Caged. | B.Depressed. |
C.At large. | D.In danger. |
A.For closer observation. | B.For an economical reason. |
C.For her later adaptation. | D.For an educational purpose. |
【推荐2】Over the last half century, obesity (肥胖症) rates have skyrocketed. In 1962, 46 percent of adults in the US were considered overweight. By 2010, that figure had jumped to 75 percent.
Obesity is a complex problem with many causes. But among the likely suspects, sugar is high on the list. A variety of research has drawn a link (联系) between sugar consumption (消耗) and overweight. As sugar consumption has increased, so has our waistline.
“I don’t think we have enough evidence yet to suggest that sugar is the reason for obesity,” says Johns Hopkins, a cardiologist. “But there is enough evidence to say that too much sugar consumption is an important contributor to weight gain.”
All those sweet snacks seem to be affecting the heart as well. In a study published in JAMA: Internal Medicine in 2014, researchers compared people who consumed a lot of added sugar accounting for 17 to 21 percent of their total daily calories with people who ate less sugar — just 8 percent of their total calories. Those in the high-sugar group had a 38 percent greater risk of dying from heart disease.
Excess weight increases the risk of many diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. Research by the team of Ndumele has shown that those factors usually explain the link between obesity and heart disease. “All of those factors make it more likely that someone will develop heart disease,” says Ndumele.
In other words, there are many reasons to aim for a healthy weight. And cutting back on sugar is a good place to start.
1. What does the underlined word “skyrocketed” in paragraph 1 mean?A.Risen quickly. | B.Dropped rapidly. |
C.Led to many diseases. | D.Caught much attention. |
A.Unsure. | B.Negative. | C.Unconcerned. | D.Supportive. |
A.Obesity can cause heart disease. | B.Sugar contributes to weight gain. |
C.Heart disease is linked to sugar intake. | D.Overweight increases high blood pressure. |
A.Obesity—The Heart Killer | B.Less Sugar—A Good Start for Health |
C.What to Do with Disease | D.How to Take Care of Your Sweet Teeth |
【推荐3】A sense that life has meaning doesn’t just offer philosophical benefit; it’s also tied to improved physical and mental health. What factors, apart from close relationships and personal accomplishments, foster (培养) a belief in a meaningful life? Three recent studies highlight some potential mechanisms of meaning.
What really matters? Researchers who study meaning in life have broken the concept into three aspects: coherence (the feeling that life makes sense), purpose (having and working toward goals), and mattering (the sense that one’s life has value and makes a difference). University of Sussex psychologist Vlad Costin argues the last factor, mattering, may be the most crucial.
In three experiments, participants’ sense of mattering most reliably predicted whether they saw life as meaningful one month later. Though it wasn’t known why participants felt their lives mattered, Costin thinks that it could have resulted from their contributing to others.
What’s the golden age of life? Confidence in life’s meaningfulness may be greatest around age 60, on average, a recent study suggests. Using data from 1,042 U.S. adults, University of California, San Diego, researchers found that the presence of meaning in life followed a curve (曲线) over the lifespan (寿命), reaching its peak at approximately 60 before declining again. The search for meaning, on the other hand, followed the opposite track, reaching a low point at 60 before climbing. Regardless of age, physical and mental well-being were both strongly correlated with a belief in life’s meaning.
Many seek meaning through extraordinary experiences-but they may also find it in ordinary, daily acts. New research found that a preference for routines was correlated with a greater sense of meaning. Students tracked for a week reported somewhat greater meaning, on average, when engaging in everyday acts such as studying or working-perhaps, the authors note, because routines build a coherent sense of self. Study co-author and Rutgers University psychologist Samantha Heintzelman observes: “Moments that make sense and feel right can make life meaningful, too.”
1. What is the most important for life’s meaningfulness according to Costin?A.Physical and mental well-being. |
B.The feeling that life makes sense. |
C.Having and working toward goals. |
D.The sense that one’s life has value. |
A.Having the strongest body. |
B.Helping those in great need. |
C.Gaining their favorite books. |
D.Going on a holiday with their family. |
A.Life’s meaningfuIness is not affected by age. |
B.People aged over 60 have a high level of wisdom. |
C.People aged about 60 believe most in the meaning of life. |
D.The healthier you are, the more meaningful life is. |
A.What Makes Life Meaningful |
B.Why People’s Life is Meaningful |
C.When to Reach the Golden Age of Life |
D.How to Find Meaning in Life |