Researchers used to think brain-to-body-size ratio revealed intelligence because it showed how a species devoted energy to its brain. They were utterly wrong. Other ratios better predict smarts, but there’s still no perfect metric. This ranking, by brain-to-body ratio, shows just how little we know about, well, knowing stuff.
1. Ants: 1: 7
There’s a reason why ants think as a group. With just 250, 000 brain cells per soldier, it takes a colony to rival the total neurons found in one human. Like all tiny creatures, their brains are enormous only when compared with their tiny bodies. Brains can be only so small and still function.
2. Tree Shrews: 1: 10
Lest you think this metric falls apart only in the insect world, the noble tree shrew has the highest brain-to-body ratio of any mammal despite its small size. Ten percent of its body weight is brain matter. But if these animals are smarter than people, they sure keep quiet about it.
3. Humans: 1: 40
As part of the ongoing effort to put human intellect on top, some scientists argue we should abandon brain-to-body in favor of “encephalization quotient,” or EQ, which quantifies brain mass relative to the average for animals of that type and size. Ours are 7. 4 times larger than expected.
4. Dolphins: 1: 78
Bottlenose dolphins’ ratio isn’t much to boast. They do better with EQ, clocking in around four or five times larger than average for their kind. Their smarts might be due in part to spindle cells—large neurons thought to enable complex behaviors in great apes and a select few other species.
5. Dogs: 1: 125
If man’s best friend seems less smart than his wild cousins, it might be because a wolf-size dog has a significantly smaller brain. We’ve bred them to a state of everlasting puppydom, so while one can hunt for itself, the other gets treats by being a very good boy. Who can say which species came out ahead?
6. Great whites: 1: 2, 500
Often dismissed as having a walnut-size brain, the great white actually has a larger, decentralized organ, Y-shaped and 2 feet long. Humans have around 62. 5 times more brain mass per pound of flesh, but a shark’s gray matter seems focused on specific skills—like smelling out seal blood.
1. The brain-to-body-size ratios are ranked in order to ________| A．hold readers’ interest by being scientific |
| B．capture the proportional relationship between the brain and intelligence |
| C．explain that intelligence is not necessarily linked to brain size |
| D．reveal that the larger the brain, the more energy a species devote |
| A．Tree shrews can make high-pitched sounds. |
| B．Tree shrews are no smarter than humans. |
| C．Smart as tree shrews are, they tend to keep quiet about it. |
| D．Humans should keep low-profile as tree shrews do. |
| A．Our human intellect comes out on top if measured by brain-to-body ratio |
| B．Thanks to spindle cells, dolphins can perform the same behaviors as great apes are capable of. |
| C．Despite their smaller brains, dogs are smarter than wolves because they are bred by humans. |
| D．The great whites’ decentralized organ contributes to its certain skills. |
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【推荐1】It is not unusual for people to speak two or three languages; they're known as bilinguals or trilinguals. Speakers of more than three languages are known as polyglots. And when we refer to people who speak many languages, perhaps a dozen or more, we use the term hyper-polyglot.
The most famous hyper-polyglot was Giuseppe Mezzofanti, a 19th century Italian cardinal, who was said to speak 72 languages. This claim sounds absurd(荒谬的). If you assume each language had 20,000 words. Mezzofanti would have to learn a word a minute, six hours a day, for eleven years—an impossible task. But Mezzofanti was tested by critics, and they were all impressed.
Did Mezzofanti have an extraordinary brain? Or are hyper-polyglots just ordinary people with ordinary brains who manage to do something extraordinary through hard work?
U. S. linguist Stephen Drashen believes that outstanding language learners just work harder at it and then they acquire unusually strong language ability. As an example, he mentions a Hungarian woman who worked as an interpreter during the 20th century. When she was 86, she could speak 10 languages and was still working on learning new languages. She said she learned them mostly on her own, reading fiction or working through dictionaries or textbooks.
Some researchers argue to the contrary. They believe that there is such a thing as a talent for learning languages. In the 1930s, a German scientist examined parts of the preserved brain of a hyper-polyglot named Emil Krobs, who could speak 60 languages fluently. The scientist found that the area of Krebs's brain called Broca's area, which is associated with language, looked different from the Broca's area in the brains of men who speak only one language. However, we still don't know if Krebs was born with a brain ready to learn dozens of languages or if his brain adapted to the demands he put on it.
Although it is still not clear whether the ability to learn many languages is in born, there's no doubt that just about all of us can acquire skills in a second, third, or even fourth language by putting our mind to it.
1. The author seems to agree that__________| A．it is unusual for people to be bilinguals or trilinguals. |
| B．it is clear whether the ability to learn many languages is born |
| C．there is such thing as a talent for languages |
| D．hyper-polyglots have an inborn talent for language |
| A．Mezzofanti could remember 360 words a day | B．Mezzofanti had a special way to learn languages. |
| C．Mezzofanti's achievement was ridiculous(荒唐的) | D．Mezzofanti's language ability was astonishing |
| A．good memory | B．hard work | C．unique brain | D．learning methods |
| A．had an unusual brain | B．was born with great talent |
| C．had worked hard at languages | D．expected too much of himself |
| A．To present new findings on hyper-polyglots. | B．To introduce some famous hyper-polyglots. |
| C．To explain what hyper-polyglots do. | D．To explore if hyper-polyglots are born talented. |
【推荐2】Nash equilibrium (纳什均衡) is named after John Nash, an American mathematician. It is a kind of concept, which attempts to determine mathematically and logically the actions that participants of a game should take to secure the best outcomes for themselves.
To find it in a game, one would have to model out each of the possible scenarios to determine the results and then choose what the most satisfactory strategy would be. In a two-person game, this would take into consideration the possible strategies that both players could choose. If neither player changes their strategy knowing all of the information, a Nash equilibrium has occurred.
Imagine a game between Tom and Sam. In this simple game, both players can choose strategy A to receive $1, or strategy B to lose $1. Logically, both players choose strategy A and receive a payoff of $l. If you revealed Sam’s strategy to Tom and vice versa (反之亦然), you see that no player’s choice is different from the original one. Knowing the other player’s move means little and doesn’t change either player’s behavior. Outcome A represents the Nash equilibrium.
Nash equilibrium helps a player determine the best payoff in a situation based on not only their decisions but also the decisions of other parties involved. It can also be used in many aspects of life, from economics to social behavioral sciences, from business strategies to a house sale and so on.
Unlike dominant strategy, Nash equilibrium doesn’t always lead to the most satisfactory outcome. In most cases, such as in war, whether that is a military war or a bidding war, an individual rarely knows the opponent’s strategy or what they want the outcome to be. It just means that an individual chooses the best strategy based on the information they have. Nash equilibrium can only occur if a player chooses to remain with their current strategy if they know their opponent’s strategy. Furthermore, in multiple games played with the same opponents, it does not take into consideration past behavior, which often predicts future behavior.
1. Which kind of concept does Nash equilibrium belong to?| A．Game theory. |
| B．Secrecy strategies. |
| C．Player information. |
| D．Participation qualifications. |
| A．By quoting sayings. | B．By drawing a parallel. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By giving an illustration. |
| A．Its elements. | B．Its drawbacks. |
| C．Its applications. | D．Its backgrounds |
| A．Resistant. | B．Objective. |
| C．Confused. | D．Curious. |
【推荐3】Scientists know that the internal forces that generate Earth’s magnetic field (磁场) can change and that the strength of the field swings over time. This can lead to gradual shifts in the intensity and location of Earth’s magnetic north and south poles and even reversals where Earth’s magnetic poles trade places.
But are these geomagnetic events responsible for extreme weather, extinction, and even disasters? Claims that Earth’s magnetic field is responsible for climate change are widespread online, but scientists say the theory has no basis. “At this time there aren’t any credible mechanisms that could make it a possibility,” says Gavin Schmidt, a climatologist in New York.” It’s not that we’re ruling out magnetic effects on climate without thinking about it, we collectively have thought about it, and it’s been found devoid.
There are three north poles on Earth: true north, geomagnetic north, and magnetic north. True north is a fixed position on the globe that points directly towards the geographic North Pole. But geomagnetic north, currently located over Canada’s Ellesmere Island, is not a fixed point — it represents the northern axis (轴) of Earth’s magnetosphere and shifts from time to time. Magnetic north corresponds to magnetic field lines and is what your compass locates.
During a pole reversal, Earth’s magnetic north and south poles exchange locations. This happens on average every 300,000 years or so, but the last reversal occurred around 780.000 years ago. Some scientists have assumed that reversals and the corresponding decrease in strength of the magnetic field could cause a big problem that increased solar radiation was able to enter Earth’s atmosphere, altering ozone levels and driving global climate shifts and extinctions.
Kirk Johnson, a director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, has spent much of his career studying the extinction of dinosaurs. While analyzing fossil records and timelines surrounding his research, Johnson zeroed in on the magnetic reversal that occurred around 66.3million years ago.
Deep ocean samples revealed significant climate change around 66.3 million years ago. But this also coincides with a large volcanic eruption in India called the Deccan volcanism, which produced some of the longest lava (熔岩) flows on Earth. “We’ve always owed that transition to the carbon dioxide released by the Deccan volcanism and the increase of greenhouse gases,” says Johnson. “There are two things happening: The magnetic field is changing, the Deccan volcanism is happening, and there’s climate warming. So that would be an example of coincidental climate change.”
1. The underlined word “devoid” in paragraph 2 probably means .| A．fruitless | B．obvious | C．reasonable | D．misleading |
| A．True north. | B．Geomagnetic north. | C．Magnetic north. | D．Geographic north |
| A．The geomagnetic events are to blame for the climate change. |
| B．The decrease in strength of the magnetic field resulted in extinction. |
| C．The magnetic field is changing all the time with the climate warming. |
| D．Internal forces which produce Earth’s magnetic field can alter over time |
| A．A magnetic reversal doesn’t necessarily cause climate change. |
| B．A magnetic reversal is accompanied with significant climate change |
| C．The extinction of the dinosaurs is due to the magnetic reversal. |
| D．Climate change is not relevant to the carbon dioxide emission. |
Everybody hates rats. But in the earthquake capitals of the world—Japan, Los Angeles, Turkey—rats will soon be man's new best friends.
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can't get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.
How does it work? First, the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat's brain gives a signal (信号). This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat's brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. Christian Linster at Cornell University, New York, says, "Robots' noses don't work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that." Rats can also see in the dark. They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don't need electricity!
The "rat project" is not finished, but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland says, "It would be fantastic. A rat could get into spaces we couldn't get to, and a rat would get out if it wasn't safe." Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building (but only after an earthquake, of course).
1. In the world earthquake capitals, rats will become man's best friends because they can ________.| A．take the place of man's rescue jobs |
| B．find the position of people alive who are trapped in buildings |
| C．serve as food for people alive who are trapped in buildings |
| D．get into small spaces |
| A．the noise made by the rat |
| B．the rat's unusual behaviour |
| C．the signal sent by the radio on the rat's back |
| D．the smell given off by the person |
| A．at present rats have taken the place of dogs in searching for people |
| B．the "rat project" has been completed |
| C．people are now happy to see a rat in a building |
| D．now people still use dogs and robots in performing rescues |
【推荐2】Children love it when someone reads a book to them. They love funny sounds, rhyming words and silly pictures. They love the sound of their mom or dad’s voice. Sometimes, however, their mom or dad can’t read to them, because that parent is in prison.
Aunt Mary’s Storybook Project, started in 1993, is now a national program that promotes incarcerated（被监禁的）parents reading to their children. Church or service groups donate books and postage. Incarcerated parents pick out books, read them and either volunteers or prison workers mail the books and tapes out to the children. Last May, we distributed 191 books, meaning that 191 children received a book and a tape.
The incarcerated readers record their books, followed by a personal message to the child. Sometimes it is amusing listening to strong, tattooed（纹身）muscle men making animal sounds or funny voices of different characters. Sometimes all I hear is silence, and then sounds that confirm my guess that they are calming themselves after an unexpected wave of feelings.
Seventy percent of children of incarcerated parents eventually end up facing the justice system themselves at some point in their lives. Many of these children end up doing hard time in state institutions.
In reality, though, they are doing hard time now as 12-year-olds, 7-year-olds, and even as babies. They grow up thinking that their parent is “bad” and doesn’t care. They are often teased and feel they have to defend themselves or their parent, sometimes in a violent way.
When they receive in the mail a book and a tape of their parent reading to them, they hear another message, “Daddy/Mommy loves me; he/she has a happy voice; he/she thinks reading is cool.”
Aunt Mary’s Storybook Project is just a small pill for one huge social illness. But when we think we are merely scratching the surface, at least 191 kids are feeling a little bit better!
1. What do incarcerated parents do in Aunt Mary’s Storybook Project?| A．They read to their children on a tape. |
| B．They record books with their children. |
| C．They meet their children and read to them. |
| D．They read books that their children choose. |
| A．They want to speak with feelings. | B．They have to control their feelings. |
| C．They need to consider what to say. | D．They feel guilty about what they did. |
| A．They will study law in the future. | B．They have to learn to face reality. |
| C．They gain a lot from their parents. | D．They may become lawbreakers in the future. |
| A．It is worth doing. | B．It makes little difference. |
| C．It has great effect on society. | D．It can change incarcerated parents. |
【推荐3】Though most people know Benjamin Franklin for his political contributions, he was well-known in his time as a scientist and an inventor. As for his kite-and-key experiment, most people are aware of the version in which the metal key acted as a lightning rod (避雷针), and Franklin “discovered” electricity when lightning struck his kite.
“Franklin published a statement about the experiment in The Pennsylvania Gazette, the newspaper he published, on October 19, 1752,” Page Talbott, author and editor of Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, said. “Franklin referred to the experiment in his autobiography, and others in Europe wrote about it as well.” Obviously, the experiment appeared in the 1767 book The History and Present Status of Electricity by Joseph Priestley, an English chemist. Priestley heard about the kite-and-key experiment from Franklin himself around 15 years after the experiment, and in his book, he wrote that it occurred during June 1752. However, exactly when Franklin carried out the experiment is a matter of debate.
Some historians doubt whether Franklin actually did the experiment himself, or only outlined its possibility. In his book Bolt of Fate: Benjamin Franklin and His Electric Kite Hoax, author Tom Tucker stated that Franklin wanted to thwart (阻碍) William Watson, an outstanding electrical experimenter. Watson had spoiled (破坏) the publication of some of Franklin’s previous reports and had laughed at his experiments in the Royal Society, Tucker wrote. Could Franklin have felt pressured to invent the kite story to get back at (报复) Watson?
Tucker also noted that Franklin’s description of his experiment in The Pennsylvania Gazette used the future and conditional tense: “As soon as any of the Thunder Clouds come over the Kite, the pointed Wire will draw the Electric Fire from them...” Franklin could have simply been saying that the experiment could, in theory, be performed. Considering that his statement has a few missing details like the date, time, or location, he probably did not perform the experiment himself.
However, some historians believed that the experiment was carried out, pointing to Franklin’s great respect for scientific pursuits (追求). Some experts also point to the fact that Priestley specified the month when Franklin performed his experiment, suggesting Franklin must have given him exact details directly.
1. What can we learn about the book by Joseph Priestley?| A．It mentioned the exact date of Franklin’s experiment. |
| B．It caused heated debate over Franklin’s experiment. |
| C．It gave a first-hand account of Franklin’s experiment. |
| D．It included Talbott’s comments on Franklin’s experiment. |
| A．William Watson might think poorly of Franklin’s work. |
| B．William Watson might be impressed by Franklin’s kite story. |
| C．William Watson contributed to Franklin’s previous reports. |
| D．William Watson pressured Franklin to make his experiment public. |
| A．To show the popularity of Franklin’s experiment. |
| B．To expose the truth that Franklin tried to cover up. |
| C．To give evidence that Franklin didn’t do the experiment. |
| D．To explain the theoretical foundation of Franklin’s experiment. |
| A．His autobiography. | B．His scientific spirit. |
| C．His detailed description. | D．His relationship with Priestley. |
