People’s first memories are all autobiographical (自传式的), or memories of significant experiences in their lives, and these events typically didn’t happen before the age of 2 or 3. In fact, most people can’t remember things from the first few years of their lives—a phenomenon researchers have called infantile amnesia.
However, research suggests that infants (婴儿) can form other kinds of memories. Within the first few days of life, infants can recall their own mother’s face and distinguish it from the face of a stranger. A few months later, infants can demonstrate that they remember lots of familiar faces by smiling most at the ones they see most often.
But if so, why do people experience infantile amnesia? Though it still isn’t clear whether it’s because we can’t form autobiographical memories, or whether we just have no way to retrieve (找回) them, scientists have a few guesses.
One is that autobiographical memories require you to have some sense of self. Researchers have tested this ability using a mirror recognition task called the rouge test. It involves marking a baby’s nose with a spot of red lipstick.
Researchers then place the infant in front of a mirror. Infants younger than 18 months just smile at the baby in the reflection, not showing any evidence of recognizing themselves or the red mark on their face. Between 18 and 24 months, infants touch their own nose, even looking embarrassed, suggesting that they connect the red dot in the mirror with their own face—they start to form some sense of self.
Another possible explanation is that because infants don’t have language until later in the second year of life, they can’t form narratives about their own lives that they can later recall. Finally, the hippocampus (海马体), which is the region of the brain that’s largely responsible for memory, isn’t fully developed in the infancy period.
Scientists will continue to investigate how these factors may contribute to infantile amnesia.
1. What can infants do in their first few months?| A．Memorize most of their family members. |
| B．Distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar faces. |
| C．Remember a string of events from the recent past. |
| D．Identify their own reflections in the mirror. |
| A．See their reflections as themselves. |
| B．Ignore the marks on their faces. |
| C．Enjoy playing with their reflections. |
| D．Show a strong interest in the mirror. |
| A．Infants’ inability to recall memories. |
| B．Infants’ immature hippocampus. |
| C．Infants’ undeveloped communication skills. |
| D．Infants’ unsteady autobiographical memories. |
| A．When do babies start remembering things? |
| B．Why is it hard to retrieve lost memories? |
| C．How do kids form their first memories? |
| D．Why can’t we remember being a baby? |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】For many of us，summertime means road trips to the beach or mountains，or at the very least some additional dust and bird poop on the exterior of our vehicles.The extra dirt leads us to do one of two things：wash our car in the driveway or head to the car wash.But which choice is better for the environment?
The main concerns with either choice are the amount of fresh water being used and the types of chemicals used to remove the dirt.Both of these concerns can be closely monitored when washing the car at home，says Katy Gresh，spokeswoman for the Southwest Region of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.She advises car owners to put aside a set amount of water for the entire wash.“It’s just like brushing your teeth，”she says.“You don’t want to leave the water running or use more than you need for the job.” But even following this advice comes with an environmental risk：Washing your car in the driveway or street flushes the dirty water into storm drains.
John Schombert is executive director of 3 Rivers Wet Weather.His organization works to educate the public about storm sewers(下水道) and water runoff，keeping this untreated water from entering the Allegheny region’s waterways.“We ask people to consider washing their cars on lawns or other permeable(透水的) surfaces where the water gets absorbed，”Schombert says.“Soil can break down and help filter(过滤) those things，”Schombert says.“Storm sewers are not made for waste disposal.”Even when car owners use natural soaps to wash their cars，which Schombert says are probably ineffective at breaking down grease anyway.
The commercial car wash down the street knows full well the rules regarding wastewater in storm sewers.According to the International Carwash Association(ICA)，professional car washes must use water reclamation systems.These mandated processes not only keep the dirty water out of storm sewers and regular water treatment systems，but they also work to reduce water usage at commercial facilities.
1. What worries people when they have their cars washed?| A．The dirt cannot be removed easily. |
| B．Large quantities of water are wasted. |
| C．The washing ways do no good to their cars. |
| D．The used chemicals are harmless to the environment. |
| A．It is not easy to deal with. |
| B．It cannot clean the dirt completely. |
| C．It consumes a larger amount of water. |
| D．It does much damage to the environment. |
| A．Do You Put Carwashing at Risk? |
| B．Which Is Better：Car Wash or DIY? |
| C．Why Dishwashers Are Better than Hand Washing? |
| D．Do Americans Use Less Water than They Did Years Ago? |
【推荐2】When I was a child, my parents often took me to an old house in a thick forest. No other children ever stayed there. I didn’t even have the choice of playing with a brother or sister.
I could never understand what the attraction of the house was, even for my parents, who enjoyed nothing better than to sit in silence with a good book. The woman in the house, my father’s distant cousin, was a terrible cook and her food was inedible.
One day, when I was wandering around the garden behind the house, I noticed a wooden house which had clearly been abandoned (被遗弃的). As I walked towards it, I heard a noise, like an animal moving hurriedly away. Then I saw a man with a long beard (胡须) standing at the door. I was greatly surprised.
“Please don’t tell them you saw me,” he said. “They never use this place, and I have nowhere else to live.” “Don’t worry,” I said. “I won’t tell anyone. But are you all right out here? I mean — do you have enough to eat?” The old man shook his head.
The same evening, I took a small plastic bag into the dining room and, while no one was looking, emptied some of the food into it. Later, I got out of the back door secretly and gave the food to the old man, whose name I had discovered was Tom.
I have never seen anything else as lovely as the smile of satisfaction on Tom’s face when he ate the food. From then on, my visits to the old house had a purpose, and I enjoyed every minute of the rest of my stay.
1. How did the writer feel about staying in the old house at first?| A．He felt very lonely. | B．He was happy to be with his parents. |
| C．He was pleased with the woods. | D．He enjoyed reading good books there. |
| A．nice to look at | B．too bad to eat |
| C．not enough to eat | D．as delicious as usual |
| A．He liked to play computer games. | B．He helped to repair the old house. |
| C．He was poor and hungry. | D．He raised many animals. |
| A．It’s valuable to help others. | B．It’s good to live in the forest. |
| C．It’s comfortable to live in the old house. | D．It’s nice to raise wild animals. |
Introduction
A lot of crime is against bicycles. Many bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.
Basic Security
Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts（灯柱）or trees. Take off small parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles（车座）．
Locks
Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for advice from a bike shop.
Registration
There are a number of companies who will mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details in their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to get in touch with you.
Finally
Keep a record of the bicycle yourself. Its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it. This will prove the bicycle belongs to you.
1. The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle ________.
| A．in the bike shop and your computer |
| B．at a police station or in a security company |
| C．in a security company and your university |
| D．by yourself and in a security company |
| A．Locks. | B．Basic Security. | C．Finally. | D．Registration. |
| A．to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen |
| B．to give you advice on where to buy a good lock |
| C．to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe |
| D．to say why you shouldn't keep your bicycle in a lonely place |
【推荐1】Tens of thousands of lives would be saved every year in the United States if common air pollution from burning fossil fuels (矿物燃料) is got rid of, according to a new study. The research stresses the huge health benefits of moving away from coal, oil and gasoline.
Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison estimate (估计) that about 50,000 premature (过早的) deaths would be avoided every year if microscopic air pollutants called particulates were got rid of in the U.S..
Premature death and hospitalization are also extremely expensive for the U.S. economy. The study estimates that getting rid of such air pollution would save about $600 billion each year.
Burning fossil fuels are a main source of fine particulate pollution in the U.S.. The new study is the latest reminder that climate change and public health are closely related, and that cutting greenhouse gas emissions doesn’t just reduce long-term risk from global warming; it can save lives immediately by cutting pollution.
Fine particulates, also known as PM 2.5 by scientists and regulators, are pollutants generated by the burning of fossil fuels, wildfires, and some industrial processes. They are about 1/30th the width of human hair, which means they can go deep inside the lungs.
Worldwide, millions of people are estimated to die prematurely every year because of outdoor air pollution, the World Health Organization estimates. More than 1 million global deaths from fine particulate air pollution could be avoided in just one year if fossil fuel burning were got rid of, according to a separate study published last year.
Air quality in much of the U.S. is better than the global average. But the remaining pollution is still deadly, especially to those living in hotspots next to factories, power plants and highways.
“Even with the Clean Air Act in the United States, we still have more than 100,000 Americans who die prematurely from air pollution each year,” says Patz, who has studied the connections between climate change and human health for many years. “It’s a striking health threat.”
1. What makes people die young according to the new study?| A．Growing economy. | B．Huge benefits. | C．Air pollution. | D．Climate change. |
| A．Stop burning fossil fuels. | B．Cut down the cost of economy. |
| C．Avoid living in the busy place. | D．Reduce risk from global warming. |
| A．People mainly die from air pollution. |
| B．Air pollution endangers people’s lives. |
| C．The Act works well in the United States. |
| D．People’s health relies on climate change. |
| A．Air Quality Depends on People’s Efforts |
| B．Burning Fossil Fuels Does Harm to People |
| C．Public Health Is Connected to Climate Change |
| D．Getting Rid of Air Pollution Would Save Lives |
【推荐2】Is there a connection between music and language? According to recent studies, the answer is yes: Music improves certain language abilities in the brain. Here are two examples:
Music and hearing
A study from Northwestern University shows that playing a musical instrument can improve a person's hearing ability. As a part of the study, two groups of people listened to a person talking in a noisy room. The people in the first group were musicians, while those in the second group had no musical training. The musicians were able to hear the talking person more clearly.
Musicians hear better, says study leader Nina Kraus, because they learn to pay attention to certain sounds. Think about violinists in an orchestra. When the violinists play with the group, they hear their own instrument and many others, too. But the violinists must listen closely to what they are playing, and ignore the other sounds. In this way, musicians are able to concentrate on certain sounds, even in a room with lots of noise.
Music and Speech
Gottfried Schlaug, a doctor at Harvard Medical School, works with stroke patients. Because of their illness, these people cannot say their names, addresses, or other information normally. However, they can still sing. Dr. Schlaug was surprised to find that singing words helped his patients to eventually speak. Why does this work? Schlaug isn't sure. Music seems to activate different parts of the brain, including the damaged parts. This somehow helps patients use those parts of the brain again.
Understanding the results
Music improves concentration, memory, listening skills, and our overall language abilities.
It can even help sick people get better. Playing an instrument or singing, says Nina Kraus, can help us do better in school and keep our brains sharp as we get older. Music, therefore, is not only enjoyable; it's also good for us in many other ways.
1. What two groups did Nina Kraus study?| A．Musicians and non-musicians. |
| B．Violinists and other musicians. |
| C．Noisy people and quiet people. |
| D．Hearing people and deaf people. |
| A．They both work at Harvard Medical School. |
| B．They both play an instrument in an orchestra. |
| C．They both study how music and the brain are connected. |
| D．They both help sick people get better. |
| A．By playing music for them. |
| B．By getting them to sing words. |
| C．By teaching them to play instruments. |
| D．By helping them know their names. |
【推荐3】First impressions are important, but are first impressions correct? Personally, I’m not so sure, and according to new research, neither is science.
You really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I certainly have, and I’m willing to bet you’ve done it, too. Consider this, though: If I’d let my opinion on, say, the boring cover of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath stop me from reading this great novel, I would have missed out on one of my favorite books to date. First impressions are important because they can influence you one way or another, but they shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of your opinion on someone.
According to Jonathan Freeman, a professor at New York University, first impressions are collected within only a few hundred milliseconds and are often based on the person’s facial appearance.
“First impressions of faces can influence how we make decisions about people,” Freeman explained in a statement. Therefore, in order to put an end to such first impressions, you have to understand where your first assumptions come from. In order to do this, a team of researchers in Switzerland performed two experiments: The first required participants (参与者) to judge the personalities of dozens of people only based on photos they were shown online. For example, in this part of the study, researchers took note of how participants related personality features like friendliness with various appearances. The second experiment explored what kind of facial features were connected with exact personality features. For example, someone who has a round face with “babyish features” might be considered as friendlier or more harmless than someone who isn’t smiley in their photo.
The results showed that first impressions often aren’t all right. Look, it’s really unfortunate that first impressions aren’t always right. Still, these first impressions happen regardless of whether or not they’re right, so the best thing you can do is try to put your best foot forward without, of course, giving up your authenticity (真实性); you are exactly who you were meant to be, and all you can do is be the best person you can.
1. What were the participants asked to do in the first experiment?| A．Choose photos they like. | B．Relate personalities with photos. |
| C．Show their opinions of smiley faces. | D．Talk about their impressions of other participants. |
| A．People find it hard to make a good impression. |
| B．Faces show personality features correctly. |
| C．First impressions are not always reliable. |
| D．One’s facial appearance is really important. |
| A．Don’t be too realistic. | B．Try to be your best self. |
| C．Don’t be judgmental. | D．Disregard others’ suggestions. |
【推荐1】There are always unforeseen consequences when new technology is introduced. The truth is that the humans’ depending on machines is even increasing. I’ve spent much of my life analyzing through written and spoken words. Now I’m a technologist making use of natural language processing for human good. Given that I work in Artificial Intelligence, I’m realizing something dangerous happening. Machines are destroying the way we communicate.
AI voices allow you to communicate verbally with your phone, they are normalized and yet cold, no matter which accent you tune your Siri or Amazon Alexa into. It’s difficult to normalize language to be harmless and neutral because we all interpret meaning differently based on living experiences. Yet this is exactly what we’re asking artificial intelligence to do for us on a billion-person scale. Once these rules are regulated by machine, they’re inevitably create much bigger problems.
We noticed that there is an active desire to only neutral language in AI-powered tool. AI-powered recommendations let us autocomplete our thoughts in real-time. These functions are now key features in our emails, word processors and browsers. The machines are pushing us into a common tongue, and we accept it as a matter of convenience. You can press and hold the Power button for a second to wake up AI voice. But what’s the cost? We are trading uniqueness and precision for convenience. We’re also handing the power of acceptable speech to machine-controlled tools, not individuals.
In the physical world, we use words, phrases, tone, rhythm, humor and facial expressions to make us close and affective. We can tell where people were born based on their accents and phrasing. Humans are truly unique, and our communication is dynamic. So we should demand AI systems that promote individuality and uniqueness. The impact of AI voice will depend not just on what they can do, but also on how they make people feel.
1. What is the major problem of AI voice?| A．AI voice is not precise enough. | B．AI voice is unique and dynamic. |
| C．AI voice is not accepted by the public. | D．AI voice is normalized but not flexible. |
| A．Incomparably. | B．Impossibly. | C．Unavoidably. | D．Dishonestly. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Concerned. | C．Supportive. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．AI: Destroy Our Communication | B．AI: Applied to Communication |
| C．AI: Modern Communication Tools | D．AI: Deep Combination with Language |
【推荐2】Sports performance can be influenced by many different things.
There are many physical factors（因素）that play a part in sports performance.
of course，the more a team or a player practices，the more likely they are to perform well. The same person with the same physical abilities might just become better as he practices.
Researching your competitor can matter a lot in sports performance. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses can help you adjust how you play to give yourself a better performance against them.
| A．It is important to be aware of these factors. |
| B．It is necessary to get to know your competitor and yourself. |
| C．Also, there are ways to play something smartly and do better. |
| D．If you are tired, you may not perform as you normally would. ools1 |
| E．If you have practiced enough to keep fit, you should have a rest. |
| F．If someone is in good shape, then of course he will perform better. |
| G．There are many psychological factors that can play a part in how well you perform. |
But after a careful check you may find that most energy drinks have lots of caffeine (咖啡碱) in them. These drinks are especially aimed at young people, students, busy people and sports players. Makers sometimes say their drinks make you better at sports and can keep you awake. But be careful not to drink too much. Caffeine makes your heart beat fast. Because of this, the International Olympic Committee(IOC) has limited (限制) its use. Caffeine in most energy drinks is at least as strong as that in a cup of coffee or tea. Possible health dangers have something to do with energy drinks. Just one box of energy drink can make you nervous, have difficulty sleeping and can even cause heart problems. Scientists say that teenagers should be discouraged from taking drinks with a lot of caffeine in them.
1. Many people like drinking energy drinks because of the following EXCEPT that ______.
| A．they have beautiful colors and cool names |
| B．they can keep them awake and better at sports |
| C．they have lots of caffeine |
| D．they are said to be helpful to health |
| A．encouraged | B．disliked |
| C．helped | D．stopped |
| A．What’s the Use of Energy Drinks? |
| B．What’s That in Energy Drinks? |
| C．Who Can Drink Energy Drinks? |
| D．Why Can’t We Buy Energy Drinks? |
