Professor Kuniyoshi L. Sakai from the University of Tokyo is an enthusiastic musician, as are many of his colleagues. Inspired by a mode of musical training known as the Suzuki method, which is based on ideas of natural language acquisition (获得), Sakai and his team decided to explore common neurological (神经系统的) aspects of learning music and language.
“In the field of neuroscience, it is well established that there are areas of the brain that deal specifically with language, and even specialized regions that correspond to different aspects of language processing, such as grammar,” said Sakai. “We wondered if training using the Suzuki method might lead to activity in such areas, not when using language, but when engaging with music.”
For their study, the team classified 98 Japanese secondary school students into three groups: Groups S and E were both musically trained from a young age, with Group S using the Suzuki method while Group E not, and Group L was either musically trained at a later age or not trained at all. All the students had their brains scanned and were requested to identify errors in some pieces of music played to them, which had errors in one of four musical conditions: pitch (音高)，tempo (节奏), stress, and articulation (发音)。
During the exercises, Groups S and E showed more overall brain activity than Group L, especially under the pitch and articulation conditions. Furthermore, Groups S and E showed activity in very specific regions depending on the kind of error being tested for.
Interestingly, Group S showed some unique patterns of activation (激活) in areas of the right brain, associated with emotion and melody, under the tempo condition, supporting the ideas behind the Suzuki method.
“The striking observation was that regardless of musical experiences, the highly specific grammar center in the left brain was activated under the articulation condition. This might explain why everyone can enjoy music even if they aren’t musical themselves,” said Sakai. “Other researchers, perhaps those studying neurological characteristics of artistic experts, may be able to build on what we’ve found here. As for ourselves, we wish to dig deeper into the connection between music and language by designing novel experiments to find out more subtle details,” he added.
1. What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?| A．The research background. | B．The significance of the research. |
| C．Sakai’s comments on the Suzuki method. | D．Sakai’s previous scientific achievements. |
| A．Whether the Suzuki method can bring out the best in students. |
| B．Whether advanced language training can enhance musical skills |
| C．Whether music training promotes activity in certain brain areas. |
| D．Whether brain regions specialize in handling different aspects of language. |
| A．Their performances under the tempo condition were alike. |
| B．Their active brain regions changed with the errors in music. |
| C．They received the same musical training before the research. |
| D．They were better at handling stress and articulation than Group L. |
| A．They were uncertain about their findings. |
| B．They were unsatisfied with their experiments. |
| C．They’ll begin to study the neurological features of artistic experts. |
| D．They’ll further explore the link between music and language. |
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【推荐1】In a new study, scientists analyzed blood samples from 22 healthy donators and found microplastics (微塑料) in 17. Half the samples contained PET plastic, which is commonly used in drinks bottles, while a third contained polystyrene (聚苯乙烯), which is used for packaging food and other products. A quarter of the blood samples contained polyethylene, from which plastic carrier bags are made.
“Previous work had shown that microplastics were 10 times higher in the waste of babies compared with adults and that babies fed with plastic bottles are swallowing millions of microplastic particles (微粒) a day. We also know in general that babies are more sensitive to chemical and particle exposure,” said Prof Dick Vethaak, a scientist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “That worries me a lot.”
The new research adapted existing techniques to detect and analyze particles as small as 0.0007mm. Some of the blood samples contained two or three types of plastic. The team used steel needles and glass tubes to avoid pollution and tested for background levels of microplastics using blank samples.
Vethaak acknowledged that the amount and type of plastic varied between the blood samples. “But this is a pioneering study,” he said, “with more work now needed.” He said the differences might reflect short-term exposure before the blood samples were taken, such as drinking from a plastic coffee cup or wearing a plastic face mask.
“Are the particles preserved in the body? Are they transported to certain organs? And are these levels high enough to cause disease?” Vethaak said. “More detailed research on how microplastics affect the structures and processes of the human body, and whether and how they can transform cells and how they may cause cancer, is urgently needed. The problem is becoming more urgent each day,” Vethaak added.
1. What does the new study in paragraph 1 show?| A．Microplastic pollution is harmful to human health. |
| B．Drinks bottles contain more microplastics than plastic carrier bags. |
| C．Microplastics have been found in human blood by scientists. |
| D．Food packaging is the main source of microplastics in the human body. |
| A．The food fed to babies. | B．The mass production of plastic bottles. |
| C．The effect of microplastics on babies. | D．The increasing amount of chemicals in fool. |
| A．Various sampling time. | B．Short-term exposure to plastics before sampling. |
| C．Different ways of sampling. | D．Pollution of blood samples. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Cautious. |
| C．Joyful. | D．Anxious. |
【推荐2】More than nine out of ten young people expose themselves to the blue light from smartphones before bed, causing problems with sleep. A new survey also shows more than 28 million people in the UK regularly get no more than seven hours sleep a night. Prof Richard Wiseman, who commissioned the YouGov poll described the findings as “extremely worrying”. Of the 2,149 adults questioned, 78% said they used electronic devices before going to bed. This rose to 91% among the 18 to 24-year-olds questioned in the survey.
Getting less than seven hours sleep a night is below the recommended guidelines, and is associated with a range of problems, including an increased risk of weight gain, heart attacks, diabetes and cancer. “The blue light from these devices suppresses(压制) the production of the sleep—inducing hormone melatonin, so it’s important to avoid them before bedtime,” said Prof Richard Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire.
Everyone needs different amounts of sleep, but adults are generally thought to require a minimum of seven to eight hours a night. Teenagers are recommended to get more, about nine hours. The proportion(比例) of people thought to be getting too little sleep has risen by a fifth since a “bedroom poll” conducted last year by the National Sleep Foundation.
Last week revealed opticians were warning that the overuse of smartphones may be increasing people’s risk of eye damage. Optician Andy Hepworth said, “Blue violet light is potentially harmful to the back of your eyes.” So over a long period of time it can damage your eyes. When you’re looking at a smartphone, the light peaking out of that is blue violet. The news came as a survey of 2,000 people suggests under-25s check their smartphones 32 times a day.
1. The purpose of the passage is to ________.| A．stress that people shouldn’t use smartphones |
| B．remind people of enough sleep |
| C．ask people not to sleep too much |
| D．tell people not to use smartphones before bed |
| A．According to a new survey, more than 28 million people in the UK get more than seven hours sleep a night |
| B．More than 90% of young people expose themselves to the blue light from smartphones before bed. |
| C．Of the 2,149 adults questioned , 91% said they used electronic devices before going to bed. |
| D．The news came as a survey of 2,000 people suggests under-25s check their smartphones 30 times a day. |
| A．weight gain |
| B．cancer |
| C．eye damage |
| D．heart attacks |
| A．about 9 hours |
| B．7—8 hours |
| C．less than 7 hours |
| D．more than 10 hours |
【推荐3】To stay safe during the COVID-19, we have had to sacrifice many things we enjoy, including physical contact with others. Gone are handshakes, kisses and hugs. Research has shown that humans need physical touch to stay mentally and physically healthy. Without it, many become lonely, sad and even sick. So, if you feel you need a hug, we know something you can safely put your arms around and hold close ： A tree!
Tree hugging may sound a little strange. But humans have practiced forms of nature therapy for years. The Japanese practice of shinrin-Yoko is an example. Shinrin means forest in Japanese, and yoku is the Japanese word for bath. But no soap or water is needed for shinrin-yoku. All that nature bathing requires is spending time in nature ： listening to its sounds, breathing in its scent, connecting to its life force.
Recently, Israel has been promoting tree hugging on social media. The country's nature and parks agency is behind the public health campaign. Orit Steinfeld is marketing director for Israel's Apollonia National Park. "In this unpleasant period, she said, we recommend to people around the world to go out to nature, take a deep breath, hug a tree, express your love and get love. ”
Israel's tree - hugging campaign is not the first one. Iceland's Forest Service launched a similar effort in April. They advised everyone in the country to hug a tree for at least five minutes every day. The story on Iceland's tree-hugging campaign was also reported on TreeHugger. com.
1. What's the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To show the findings of a research. |
| B．To state the cause of social distance. |
| C．To introduce the reason for tree hugging. |
| D．To explain the effect of physical contact. |
| A．Treatment. | B．Medicine. | C．Study. | D．Experience. |
| A．They were all started by the medical departments. |
| B．Nature plays a role in helping people keep healthy. |
| C．Tree hugging is the best way to deal with the disease. |
| D．Shinrin-Yoku is the first practice during the COVID-19. |
| A．A diary. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A novel. | D．A magazine. |
【推荐1】Knowing how to communicate well needs very personal attention between you and another human being. Is there a better way to learn how to communicate effectively? Yes, there is. Please follow the 3 basic steps below.
* Relax and breathe
Whether it's a business meeting or a first date, the first thing you must do in order to communicate is to relax.
When you relax, you are in control. You control your reactions and your reactions do not control you. Breathing is central to relaxation. Take a few deep breaths and your body will begin to be more at ease. This will help you apply what you already know about how to communicate well.
* Think and you will be prepared
Have you ever heard the old saying "think before you speak"? Well, it is true. By thinking ahead about how the conversation might flow, you will be better prepared, more at ease and more confident.
* Follow the flow of the conversation
If you are uncomfortable, being silent will only make it worse and make the other person uncomfortable as well. So when all else fails, follow through with small talk until a common topic appears.
A good way to keep a conversation going is to ask the other person questions. People love to talk about themselves and if you do this, they will leave the conversation, thinking very highly of you. Learning good communication skills is not something out of reach. If you make an effort, you will succeed.
1. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?| A．How to Begin Your Conversation Effectively. |
| B．Preparation and Conversation. |
| C．Personal Attention and Communication. |
| D．How to Communicate with People You Meet. |
| A．to make a good preparation for the conversation. |
| B．to take as many deep breaths as possible. |
| C．to keep calm and relax yourself fully. |
| D．to follow the flow of the conversation. |
| A．Because it can help you keep excited and react quickly in the communication. |
| B．Because it will help you organize good sentences for your communication. |
| C．Because it can help you put your communication skills that you know into use. |
| D．Because no one likes to communicate with a nervous person. |
| A．talk small things until you find a topic you both like. |
| B．speak freely so as to run across the topic you like. |
| C．keep silent in order to give the chance of speaking to others. |
| D．ask questions which you are interested in. |
| A．You will be good at communication if you try. |
| B．Good communication skills can be learned if you try. |
| C．Not all people can learn good communication skills. |
| D．Communication skills can be improved easily. |
【推荐2】As the year 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit in China, many brand have rolled out an array of rabbit-themed goods. Wang Chuchun, an 18-year-old freshman from Xiamen University in Fujian, bought a pair of shoes from the rabbit collection made by Holli, a domestic brand, during the Spring Festival holiday.
“I would like to see Chinese culture be more incorporated into consumer goods that carry a variety of beautiful connotations(内涵).” Wang told journalist.
Guochao, the combination of Chinese traditions with modern designs, has become a keyword for this year’s Spring Festival product consumption, according to statistics from Vipshop(also known as weipinhui in Chinese), an online retailer(零售商). The sales volume of 361 Degrees, a sports equipment company, saw a rise of 188 percent on a year-on-year basis during the Spring Festival with their rabbit collection.
Who is behind the surge of sales for guochao products? According to a report released by data service provider Aurora, the proportion of young people interested in the guochao products accounted for more than 70 percent of consumers.
Thus the target market of the guochao products is China’s 400 million-strong army of young consumers, Tom Harper, a lecturer in international relations at the University of East London, said to The Conversation.
Like their peers in Western countries, China’s Gen Z consumers are enthusiastic users of social media; but that is where the similarities end.
This generation has grown up during China’s rapid economic development in the 2000s and 2010s, which is a marked contrast to their peers in the West, who came of age, in the shadow of the2008 financial crisis. As a result, they have been characterized as being more confident and better educated than previous generations.
“Complex and profound social and cultural factor have contributed to the rise of guochao. But it all comes down to decades of stable development in China. As our country enters an era of prosperity(繁荣), our cultural confidence gets boosted as well,” said Wang.
1. Why is Wang Chuchun’s experience mentioned at the beginning of the text?| A．To illustrate what young people like to buy. |
| B．To lead up to the topic of the guochao trend. |
| C．To show the popularity of rabbit-themed goods. |
| D．To stress the rising influence of domestic brands. |
| A．Their targets. | B．Their features. |
| C．Their popularity. | D．Their market potential |
| A．Their shopping habits are mainly driven by social media. |
| B．They have benefited from rapid growth in economy |
| C．They’re more confident than their Western peers. |
| D．They’ve been deeply affected by the financial crisis. |
| A．China’s stable development. |
| B．China’s social and cultural factors. |
| C．The popularity of social media. |
| D．Young people’s rising cultural confidence. |
To be grateful means you are thankful for what you have right now. Gratitude (感激) fills your heart with the joyful feeling and allows you to fully appreciate everything that arises on your path. As you try hard to keep your focus on the present moment, you can experience the full wonder of “here”.
There are many ways to develop gratitude. Here are just a few suggestions you may wish to try:
◆ Imagine what your life would be like if you lost all that you had. This will most surely remind you of how much you do appreciate it.
◆ Make a list each day of all that you are grateful for, so that you can stay conscious (有意识的) daily of your blessings. Do this especially when you are feeling as though you have nothing to feel grateful for. Or spend a few minutes before you go to sleep giving thanks for all that you have.
◆ Spend time offering assistance (帮助) to those who are less fortunate than you, so that you may gain a new perspective (观点).
What really matters is that you create a space in your consciousness for appreciation for all that you have right now, so that you may live more happily in your present moment.
1. According to the first paragraph we know ___________.
| A．many people feel satisfied with what they have right now |
| B．aspirations can pull a person farther from his present life |
| C．none can be sober-minded about his dreams and aspirations |
| D．we should be busy with chasing one after another “there” |
| A．fill your heart with happy feelings |
| B．allow you to fully appreciate your “here” |
| C．make people experience the wonder of “here” |
| D．drive people to give up their future |
| A．check out what we lose everyday |
| B．give thanks for all that we have before sleeping |
| C．help others who are less fortunate than us |
| D．make a list each day of all that we should thank for |
