How much money is time worth? The question really matters, especially for the government. Before pursuing projects, governments weigh costs and benefits. And for many projects, especially those having to do with roads or bridges, one of the biggest benefits is time saved.
A new study sponsored by the rideshare company Lyft conducted experiments on 3.7 million customers in nine American cities. They adjusted prices and wait times to test when users requested and didn’t request rides. Then, they were able to figure out how much people are willing to pay to wait less for their rides.
For a long time, researchers have relied on surveys in which they asked questions like “How much would you pay to save five minutes?” People in these surveys may not accurately give the value of their time because it’s hypothetical (假设的). But Lyft’s data has information on the actual decisions that people make about how they value their time. If Lyft makes you wait five minutes more for your ride, will you take it? What if it charges you more for a shorter wait?
After analyzing the numbers, the researchers found a precise estimate for the average value of time: $19 an hour. They’ve also found that people’s value of time shifts throughout the day. The value of time is 50% larger in peak commute (通勤路程) time than in non-peak commute time. During commute time, minutes matter. People don’t want to be late for work. The value of saving minutes on rides increase when it’s raining or snowing.
Regarding their overall estimate, we should note that their experiments were conducted in nine of the richest urban areas in America. These are busy areas where being five minutes late for business meetings or dinner reservations can matter. Plus, the residents there are the type of people who pay for taxis. The researchers said they took pains to address these by adjusting their samples to match nationally representative surveys done by the government, and that they were confident in their findings. Maybe more research is needed to prove their findings.
1. What did the researchers do in the study?| A．They asked some Lyft customers questions. |
| B．They monitored some Lyft customers’ behavior. |
| C．They analyzed previous data on Lyft customers. |
| D．They tested their assumptions on Lyft employees. |
| A．They included too many questions. |
| B．They made the participants wait too long. |
| C．They collected assumptions instead of facts. |
| D．They failed to win the participants’ full support. |
| A．After enjoying the snowy scene. | B．After attending a business meeting. |
| C．When on holiday in the countryside. | D．When riding to work in the rush hour. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Critical. | C．Approving. | D．Unconcerned. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Can trees talk？Yes，but not in words.Scientists have reason to believe that trees do communicate（交际）with each other.Not long ago，researchers learned some surprising things.First a willow tree attacked in the woods by caterpillars（毛虫）changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them taste so terrible that they got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them.Then even more astonishing，the tree sent out a special smell-a signal（信号）causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make them less tasty.
Communication，of course，doesn't need to be in words.We can talk to each other by smiling，raising our shoulders and moving our hands.We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs，sounds，and movements.Bees dance their signals，flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar（花蜜）for honey.So why shouldn't trees have ways of sending message？
1. It can be concluded from the passage that caterpillars do not feed on leaves that______.| A．are lying on the ground | B．have an unpleasant taste |
| C．bees don't like | D．have an unfamiliar shape |
| A．growing more branches | B．communicating with birds and bees |
| C．changing its leaf chemistry | D．shaking caterpillars off |
| A．waving its branches | B．giving off a special smell |
| C．dropping its leaves | D．changing the color of its trunk |
| A．making special movement | B．touching one another |
| C．smelling one another | D．making unusual sound |
| A．cannot be taken seriously | B．should no longer be permitted |
| C．must be checked more thoroughly | D．seems completely reasonable |
【推荐2】Join people around the world in a global celebration of Burns Night, honoring the poet Robert Burns. Burns was born in Alloway in 1759. More than 200 years after his death, the work of Scotland’s national poet lives on through his poetry and songs, including: Auld Lang Syne and To A Mouse. Each year, communities around the world with a Scottish connection mark Burns Night with songs, dancing, poetry and a Burns Supper.
What is Burns Night?
Burns Night is a yearly celebration held on or around 25th January, the day when Burns was born. A Burns Night celebration can have many different elements and each community has its own traditions. The most important item is a Burns Supper.
What food is eaten at a Burns Supper?
A Burns Supper can be formal or informal and guests are traditionally invited to take turns in reciting Burns’ poems or songs. Burns Supper special foods include Cock a Leekie Soup, Clootie dumpling and Scotch whisky.
Sites connected with the life of Robert Burns
If you’d like to find out more about the life of Robert Burns and the places he lived in, there are several museums devoted to his life and work, and you can also explore towns and villages with Burns connections. Click here to explore Robert Burns sites for more information.
1. What do people celebrate Burns Night?| A．To honor a Scottish poet. | B．To share an animal tale. |
| C．To enjoy traditional food. | D．To improve Scotland’s fame. |
| A．Watch a video about Burns. | B．Invite guests to cook together. |
| C．Recite Burns’ poems or songs. | D．See a short film about museums. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A website. |
| C．A textbook. | D．A newspaper. |
【推荐3】New research in monkeys may provide a clue about how the brain manages vast amounts of information and remembers what it needs.
The researchers found that when monkeys were taught to remember computer clip art pictures, their brains reduced the level of detail by sorting the pictures into categories for recall, such as images that contained "people," "buildings," "flowers," and "animals." The categorizing cells were found in the hippocampus, an area of the brain that processes sensory information into memory. In the experiment each monkey was shown one clip art picture, and after a delay of one to 30 seconds, picked the original out of two to six different images to get a juice reward.
By recording cell activity during hundreds of these trials in which the pictures were all different, the researchers noticed that certain cells were more active when the pictures contained similar features, such as images of people – but not other objects. They found that different cells coded images that fit different categories. The category cells grouped images based on common features – a strategy to improve memory. For example, the same cell responded to both tulips and daisies because they are both flowers."
“While such categorization is a highly efficient memory process, it may also have a downside,” said Deadwyler Ph.D., “ when the trials included more than one picture with people in it, instead of different images, the monkeys often confused the image with a picture of other people." So learning more about how the brain remembers could have far-reaching benefits. "If we can understand in advance how the brain works when decisions are made, we can predict when the brain will make a mistake, and correct it," said Tim Pons, Ph.D., "This finding about how large amounts of information are processed by the brain will help us to ultimately achieve that goal."
1. The purpose of the experiments on monkeys is to find out _________.| A．how the brain processes amounts of information into memory |
| B．the area of the brain that processes sensory information into memory |
| C．how the monkeys respond to different things |
| D．what is the monkeys most likely to remember |
| A．remembering the details |
| B．separating it into categories |
| C．showing a lot of pictures |
| D．remembering all features |
| A．Books, toys and cars |
| B．Plants, animals and people |
| C．Tulips, daisies and roses |
| D．People, buildings and flowers |
| A．Further study on how the brain remembers has more benefits |
| B．Categorization is the best way to improve memory |
| C．We can predict when the brain will make a mistake |
| D．How the brain remembers has been found out |
【推荐1】Some school leaders are left without a clear answer in the debate about whether fitness classes should be required to meet a school’s curriculum (课程) requirements.
To explain the issue, MSNBC analyzes a major study of physical education programs conducted by Cornell University. The study, based on information from 37,000 high school students’ responses to surveys from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), reveals that most students do not believe gym class is effective. This has led nearly all states to create and pass new bills (议案) to improve public schools’ fitness education programs.
Unfortunately, while many states have increased the time students spend in gym class, Cornell’s study found that adding 200 more minutes of time to gym class each week did not produce big changes. Even by adding 200 more weekly minutes, the studies showed that boys generally took part in only 7.5 minutes of more activity per day, while girls only joined in activity 8 additional minutes each week.
Attempting to explain these disappointing results, Cornell’s lead professor of policy analysis and management claims, “The rest of the extra gym time is likely spent sitting — most likely standing around passively while playing sports like softball or volleyball that don’t require constant movement.” Similarly, a study of fitness classes in Texas elementary schools also found that the majority of students spent the class time inactive; specifically, the data suggested that students were only taking part in exercise or movement for about 3 minutes during the entire class period.
Despite the results, the lead professor of the Cornell’s study does not necessarily believe that gym classes should be stopped in public schools, arguing, “We’re not saying schools should get rid of physical education,” but “there has to be a meaningful change in the curriculum.”
1. What does the underlined word “This” refer to in paragraph 2?| A．The survey from CDCP. |
| B．The debate on fitness classes. |
| C．The finding of Cornell’s study. |
| D．The change in fitness education. |
| A．By asking a question. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By making a comparison. | D．By giving examples. |
| A．To show students had no rest in gym classes. |
| B．To show the finding differed from Cornell’s study. |
| C．To prove students did not have many sport choices. |
| D．To prove the added gym time made little difference. |
| A．Time for more effective fitness classes. |
| B．Time for longer periods of gym classes. |
| C．Time to collect more students’ responses. |
| D．Time to stop fitness classes in public schools. |
【推荐2】Australian experts have expressed concerns that too many millennials(千禧一代) are hoping to use their social media accounts to build their careers. Their concerns follow the sudden rise in “insta-celebrities” who make money by posting sponsored(赞助的) photos online. For the lucky few who are not only talented photographers but also good-looking and business-savvy(有商业头脑的), making money off social media isn’t impossible.
Instagram is flooded with social media professionals paid to promote products and services. However, social scientist Lauren Rosewarne, from the University of Melbourne, says that in reality, there are far fewer people making money off the platforms than one may think. She said many young Australians were getting sucked in by the appeal of making money on platforms like Instagram, describing it as “totally unrealistic” and extremely difficult to do.
“Young people are hoping to be famous in numbers that were simply not there 20 years ago,” Rosewarne told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Saturday. “There are some people who can make fortunes out of monetizing(使具有货币性质) their Instagram posts, but that is not the norm.” She said it was up to parents and schools to discourage students from seeking Insta-fame, as many believe it is a possible career choice. “There’s the warning for parents; this is not a normal or even common occurrence that you can monetize your Instagram account.”
Meanwhile Toni Eager from Australian National University said social problems could arise from spending too much time with social media. “Where do the insta-celebrities go to separate the life people see on Instagram from their actual normal life?” Eager said. “All of a sudden, people own your private life.”
1. Why is there a rise in “insta-celebrities”?| A．Many young people are good at taking photos. |
| B．Many people see it as a shortcut to making money. |
| C．People want to socialize by sharing photos online. |
| D．Instagram offers a reliable career choice for millennials. |
| A．Becoming involved in something. | B．Benefiting from something. |
| C．Taking advantage of something. | D．Being satisfied with something. |
| A．Young people today are more business-savvy than ever. |
| B．Young people are becoming less interested in internet fame. |
| C．Instagram is not a good platform to promote new products. |
| D．It may not be a good idea for the young to try earning money on Instagram. |
| A．An over-reliance on Instagram. | B．Inability to appreciate life. |
| C．A loss of personal privacy. | D．An addiction to the virtual life online. |
【推荐3】Children should spend at least one hour playing and spending time in nature each day, according to the Wildlife Trusts.
The children showed a great increase in personal health.
| A．This UK organization speaks for 46 groups and 2,300 nature protection areas. |
| B．However, parents aren’t giving their kids enough nature time. |
| C．The call comes from a study by University College London. |
| D．81 percent said they had better relationships with their teachers. |
| E．The students are asked to study in University College London for one day. |
| F．Parents care much about their kids’ nature time. |
| G．And they also showed a sense of connection with the natural world and high levels of amusement. |
【推荐1】When I tell people I attended an all-girls school since age 4,I'm met with expressions of either confusion, shock, curiosity or some combination of the three. I get the same responses： Why? Was it horrible? But how did you meet boys?
Contrary to what many people immediately assume, I really enjoyed going to an all-girls school. Going to a single-sex school shaped me in many valuable ways and allowed me to develop amazing friendships.
Many myths still need to be unveiled when it comes to talking about single-sex education. First, I reject the idea that being in a single-sex environment means one is unable to interact with members of the opposite sex later in life. Despite this popular belief, everyone I knew at my school and other single-sex schools not only knew how to interact smoothly with members of the opposite sex, but they were also able to form actual friendships with those people outside of school time.
Another common belief about all-girls schools in particular is the overwhelming presence of drama and hostility （敌意）between students. There is inevitably going to be drama in all schools and close-knit communities at some points, but I would say that drama doesn't depend on whether you're at a single-sex or coed school, but rather on the personalities of the people you surround yourself with.
Out of the blue, I started to think about the fact that I've never been in a learning environment with boys before. It is sort of strange to consider that I basically learned everything I know purely surrounded by girls for 16 years of my life, despite the fact that in working environments and most other situations this will mostly not be the case. I will be forever appreciative of the experiences I had and the relationships 1 formed in my all-girls school environment.
1. Why did the author appreciate attending an all-girls school?| A．She could adapt herself to the environment there. |
| B．She could encounter diverse expressions from others. |
| C．She could develop herself in many aspects. |
| D．She could settle down to studying. |
| A．They communicate with males poorly after graduating. |
| B．They are all hostile to each other. |
| C．They usually face school bullying. |
| D．They have no chance to contact males. |
| A．People's performances. | B．School's management. |
| C．Schools' environment. | D．People's natures. |
| A．Traditional and stubborn. | B．Open-minded and grateful. |
| C．Changeable and active. | D．Aggressive and critical. |
【推荐2】Kids everywhere love to play. And they know a ball is a perfect thing to play with. Now scientists at London’s Queen Mary University report that bumblebees seem to know the same thing, making bumblebees the first insects known to play.
When people talk about “play”, they’re describing an animal doing something that doesn’t really seem to help it. They’re not doing the action to get food or shelter or another similar “reward”. Play usually happens when a creature is relaxed and is often repeated.
However, scientists think many animals and birds’ playing is a kind of training for things they’ll have to deal with in later life. But before this, there were no reports of insects playing.
Scientists at Dr. Chittka’s lab, carried out an experiment. First, they tagged (贴标签) 45 young bumblebees, both male and female, between 1 and 23 days old. The tags made the bees easier to identify and follow.
The scientists set up a clear pathway from the bumblebees’ nest to a feeding area. On either side of the open pathway, the researchers placed small colored wooden balls. On one side of the path, the balls were attached and couldn’t move. On the other side, the balls could roll around. It turned out that the bumblebees weren’t interested in the unmovable balls, but they made lots of visits to the rolling balls.
Grabbing the balls with their legs, the bees would flap (拍打) their wings to pull on the balls, causing them to roll. The 45 tagged bumblebees rolled balls 910 times during the experiment. Though some only did it once, others did it a lot. The younger bumblebees spent more time rolling balls. Males seemed more likely to play than females.
“It’s not clear why the bees roll the balls or whether they enjoy it But the experiment raises important questions about how the insects’ minds work and whether they have feelings. With further research, the future will hold surprises and answers in store for us,” said Dr. Chittka.
1. What is the purpose of animals’ play according to scientists?| A．To find ideal shelter. |
| B．To receive extra rewards. |
| C．To develop survival skills. |
| D．To get their fellows’ attention. |
| A．Bumblebees’ categories. | B．Bumblebees’ habitats. |
| C．Bumblebees’ intelligence. | D．Bumblebees’ behavior. |
| A．Younger male bumblebees preferred to roll the balls. |
| B．Bumblebees possessed different wing beat frequency. |
| C．Bumblebees could distinguish balls of different colors. |
| D．A specially-built pathway helped bumblebees find food. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Doubtful. | C．Optimistic. | D．Critical. |
【推荐3】Practice doesn’t always make perfect when it comes to becoming the next Mozart, a new study suggests. Researchers compared pairs of identical twins, and found that no matter how hard one twin had practised, the other twin who had practiced much less still had an equal level of ability in certain musical skills. This may be because some aspects of musical talent are built into the genes (基因), the researchers said.
Miriam Mosey, a scientist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and her team looked at the DNA of 1, 211 pairs of adult identical twins, who share almost 100 percent of their genes. Identical twins are born from the same single egg and often look very similar in appearance. They also examined the DNA of 1,358 pairs of fraternal twins (异卵双胞胎), who share an average of 50 percent of their genes. Those who played a musical instrument or sang reported how many years they practiced, and for how many hours a week.
Mosey then tested their musical abilities to see if practice had an effect on ability. She looked at how well people could tell differences in pitch (音调).
Like most people, Mosey used to think that those who put in more practice time would earn higher scores on their ability than those who practiced less. But when she compared lifetime practice scores with musical abilities between identical twins, Mosey found no relationship between the amount of practice time and her level of musical ability. Two twins could have an equal level of musical ability, no matter how much more one twin practiced compared with the other.
The researchers concluded that genetics play a larger role than practice in certain aspects of musical talent.
Mosey and her colleagues made another interesting finding: Genes may determine a person’s motivation (动机) to practice. The majority of participants who reported practicing a lot also shared a high percentage of the same genes.
1. What do you know about identical twins?| A．They often look different. | B．They are usually very alike. |
| C．They share same interests. | D．They share 100 percent of their genes. |
| A．Those who practice more will have higher musical ability. |
| B．Fraternal twins have more musical talent than identical twins. |
| C．Those who practice more are likely to have similar genes. |
| D．Twins may obtain similar musical ability if they practice enough. |
| A．education magazine | B．scientific magazine | C．social report | D．medical report |
