This season, the bushfires in Australia have burned more than 12.35 million acres of land. At least 25 people have been killed and 2000 homes destroyed. According to the BBC, this is the most casualties(伤亡) from wildfires in the country since 2009. The University of Sydney estimates that 480 million animals have died in South Wales alone.
Zeke Hausfather, an energy systems analyst and climate researcher at Berkeley Earth, said warmer temperatures and extreme weather have made Australia more susceptible to fires and increased the length of the fire season. “The drier conditions combined with record high temperatures in 2019 created main conditions for the disastrous fires. Australia’s fires were worsened by the combination of those two. 2019 was the perfect storm for being the warmest year on record for Australia and the driest year on record for Australia,” Hausfather added on Friday.
Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, said warmer ocean temperatures are also contributed to more variable weather around the world. Trenberth believes that global warming contributed to energy imbalances and hot spots in the oceans, which can create a wave in the atmosphere that locks weather patterns in places, causing longer rain events in Indonesia, for example, and at the same time contributing to drought in Australia. He said that once an area experiences drought conditions for two months or more, it increases the risk of fires catching and spreading. Those changing weather patterns due to global warming make drought events longer.
Climate experts stress that climate change is not the only factor in the severity of wildfires. How land is managed can also impact the amount of fuel available for fires. Practices like controlled burns and other factors can impact the risk to people and property, such as warning systems and the type of development in a given area. Changing those policies has great potential to limit future damage from wildfires along with changes to how fire management resources are dispatched(派遣).
1. What do the numbers in paragraph 1 show?A.The causes of Australian fires. |
B.The results of Australian fires. |
C.The damaged areas of Australian fires. |
D.The property destruction of Australian fires. |
A.Quick to adapt to. | B.Sure to cause. |
C.Sensitive to. | D.Easy to be protected from. |
A.Global warming is the root cause of the bushfires. |
B.Longer dry weather contributes to global warming. |
C.Warmer ocean temperatures promote fires spreading. |
D.The imbalanced energy leads to the temperature rising. |
A.To stress the effects of Australia fires. |
B.To show the methods for controlling burns. |
C.To predict the seriousness of Australia fires. |
D.To provide some advice about reducing damage. |
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【推荐1】When it rains, it pours, and when it snows, the lights turn off. Or so it goes in Texas, California. After a winter storm hit the Lone Star State with record snowfall and the lowest temperatures in more than 30 years, millions were left without electricity and heat. At the worst moment on February 16th, 4. 5m Texan households were cut off from power.
Whole skylines, including Dallas's, went dark to save power. Some Texans braved the snowy roads to check into the few hotels with remaining rooms, but the hotels' power went off as they arrived. Others put on skiwear and remained inside, hoping the lights and heat would come back on. Across the state, what were supposed to be “rolling” blackouts (断电) lasted for days. More than 20 people have died in motor accidents, from fires lit for warmth and from carbon - monoxide poisoning after using cars to get warm. The storm has also stopped deliveries of covid - 19 vaccines (疫苗) and may prevent around 1 million vaccinations from happening this week.
Other states, including Tennessee, were also covered in snow, but Texas got the lion's share and broke down completely. Texans are extremely angry that people in America's energy capital cannot count on reliable power. Everyone is asking why.
The short answer is that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the grid, did not properly forecast the demand for energy as a result of the storm. Some say that this was nearly impossible to predict, but there were warnings of the seriousness of the coming weather in the previous week, and ERCOT didn't make adequate preparations.
Many Republican politicians were quick to blame renewable energy sources, such as wind power, for the blackouts, but that is not fair. Some wind turbines (涡轮机) did indeed freeze. Natural gas plants broke down, as did the gas supply chain and pipelines. The cold also caused a reactor at one of the state's two nuclear plants to go offline. In short, Texas experienced a perfect storm of equipment failure.
In California, as in Texas, it would help to have additional power generation and energy storage to meet peak (峰值) demand. Weather events that once might have been dismissed as unusual are becoming more common. Without more money put in electricity grids, blackouts will be, too.
1. What happened in Texas during the winter storm?A.People put on skiwear to save power |
B.More than 20 people were frozen to death |
C.Many people delayed receiving covid - 19 vaccinations |
D.The whole state suffered power cuts except hotels |
A.Texas was hit hardest by the storm | B.Texas was provided with generous aid |
C.Texas fought against the storm bravely | D.Texas had the power to return to normal |
A.the use of renewable energy sources |
B.no warnings of the seriousness of the storm |
C.the breakdown of a nuclear plant |
D.improper forecast and equipment failure |
A.It is not worthwhile to put too much money into electricity grids |
B.We should turn to renewable energy sources rather than natural gas |
C.Texas should get well prepared for the highest demand for power |
D.Blackouts are unavoidable with the growing frequency of extreme weather |
【推荐2】Alaska—The American city Anchorage is recovering from a powerful earthquake Friday that damaged public buildings, homes and roads.
The 7.0 earthquake caused buildings to slake. But there have been no reports of deaths, serious injuries or damage. Officials say the quake has not affected transportation of food and her supplies. “The ships are coming in on schedule, the supply lines are at this point working well,” the government told reporters Sunday.
The Glenn Highway was probably the road hit hardest by the earthquake. It connects the state's largest city to other parts in the north. Traffic has been heavy and slow—moving since the quake. Drivers are being guided. Groups of workers are trying to rebuild areas where the quake left large holes in the road.
People who are still nervous after the major quake have been more upset by more than 1, 700 aftershocks. “Anything that moves, you feel terrified”said David, whose home suffered structural(结构)damage, including a sunken foundation(地基). Actually, Alaska came up with strict building rules after a 9. 2 earthquake in 1964. That was the second most powerful earthquake on record.
Government officials said a public health center promises that money for medical treatment will continue to come. Mental healthy service(心理健康服务)is also available for people hurt by the disaster.
Earthquake experts say there is a 4 percent chance of another 7. 0 earthquake or greater in the following week. "The chance is very small, but its not impossible, ” said the expert, Paul Caruso.
1. What was the result of the earthquake?A.Buildings were damaged. | B.Food supply was cut off. |
C.Many people were killed | D.The ships could not come in. |
A.Because small quakes hit the city. | B.Because falling rocks are a danger. |
C.Because the highway is badly damaged. | D.Because drivers are misled. |
A.Another greater earthquake is on the way. |
B.Chances still exists of another earthquake. |
C.It will be safe in the 1th week after the quake. |
D.There is no possibility for more quakes. |
A.Ina story book. | B.In a travel journal. |
C.In a poster. | D.In a newspaper. |
【推荐3】An earthquake happens when two plates rub together. The earth plates travel in different directions and at a different speed. If one plate is slowly forced underneath the other,pressure(压力)builds up until the plates break apart. This process(过程)causes the ground to move. It is an earth-quake. In other words,earthquakes are the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by the earth’s rocky outer layer as a result of the energy stored within the earth. The strain within the rocks is suddenly released(释放).
The damage an earthquake causes depends on where it is and when it is happening. If an unpopulated region is struck, there will be low loss of life or property(财产). If it hits a large city,there may be many injuries and much destruction. Many of the areas at risk are largely populated now. Major earthquakes hitting those areas today could produce terrible damage.
Actually, there are several million small earthquakes every year. Large earthquakes, such as the 1964 Alaska earthquake that measured 9.2 on the Richter scale, caused millions of dollars in damage. In the last 500 years, millions of people have been killed by earthquakes around the world-including over 240,000 in the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China.
A60-second or less earthquake can cause devastation that continues for years after the first tremor. In 1972, a series of severe earthquakes struck Managua, Nicaragua. Fifteen years later, the city still looked the way it had a week after the earthquake hit, because the country did not have the necessary money to rebuild it.
The shaking of the earth is sometimes not the greatest disaster. It is in the ensuing fires and floods that often the greatest damage occurs. In the 1906 earthquake, it was the fires caused after it that did the majority of the damage. An earthquake can also destroy dams high above a city or valleys, causing floods to sweep down and sweep away everything in their path.
1. Which of the following is the main idea of the first paragraph?A.An earthquake comes from the inside of the earth. |
B.The earth has great energy in storage. |
C.How the earth plates move. |
D.How an earthquake happens. |
A.Causing too much heat and great damage. |
B.Causing many injuries and much destruction. |
C.Happening as a result of another event. |
D.Happening suddenly and unexpectedly. |
A.an earthquake doesn’t last long | B.the damage can last long |
C.people in Managua suffered too much | D.Nicaragua is still a poor country |
【推荐1】Dr. David Hetherington has spent over a decade looking at the feasibility (可行性) of reintroducing the Eurasian lynx (欧洲猞猁) to Scotland. In his new book, The Lynx and Us, Hetherington takes an in-depth look at the many issues surrounding this topic.
Hetherington begins there introduction discussion by establishing the history and ecology of the lynx, in relation to both human-lynx coexistence and geographical variations in distribution. Habitat and range requirements, prey (猎物) preferences and hunting methods are also detailed.
Armed with this background information, the reader is then taken through the nitty-gritty of lynx reintroduction by addressing the potential issues, many of which are based on human-wildlife conflict, such as safety and the impact of wild lynx, with much of the information backed up by conservation and research findings associated with the reintroductions of lynx in Europe. Hetherington addresses the significant problem of man-made barriers such as roads and rails. There are also considerations regarding prey species that are unused to having natural predators (捕食者) in their midst and the impact on prey populations.
The book looks at the feasibility of lynx reintroduction in the UK. While the reintroduction of lynx to Scotland is shown to be ecologically feasible, how desirable is it? Hetherington addresses each of the issues in-turn, using the significant knowledgebase that now exists regarding lynx ecology and the findings of research into lynx and their reintroductions elsewhere.
For anyone with an interest in lynx re wilding, The Lynx and Us is the “go-to” book.
Peter Cairns, director of there wilding charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, the book’s publisher, says, “With a growing national discussion about the advantages of restoring missing native species, it’s important that we all have access to balanced, factual information on which to base our opinions. That’s what this book sets out to provide.”
1. Which background information is absent from The Lynx and Us?A.What lynx eat. | B.How lynx live. |
C.How lynx and people coexist. | D.What lynx reintroduction will lead to. |
A.The most basic causes. | B.The most useful functions. |
C.The most important details. | D.The most common methods. |
A.The popularity of The Lynx and Us. |
B.The importance of The Lynx and Us. |
C.The different ways of voicing our opinions. |
D.The advantages of restoring missing native species. |
A.A book review. | B.A research report. |
C.A description of lynx. | D.An introduction to a scientist. |
【推荐2】Few sights fill you with nostalgia (怀旧) like the fireflies dancing at night.
Create a firefly habitat
Flashing lights are an important part in fireflies life. As the sun sets, male fireflies move around while flashing their lights to signal their interest. If a nearby female is interested, she flashes back from her position to the ground, and the males fly down to find her. “All of that has to happen for the next generation to survive,” says Lewis. “However, light pollution makes those scenes much harder to see. It’s like cutting a phone line. It really stops the romance.
Stop using pesticides (杀虫剂)
Using pesticides in your yard also poses an existential threat to fireflies, which are insects after all.
A.Reduce light pollution |
B.Make a fire in the open air |
C.Luckily, there are some solutions |
D.But these beloved insects are in trouble |
E.The living conditions of fireflies are getting better |
F.The biggest threat facing fireflies today is the loss of their habitats |
G.Most of the pesticides will kill less-beloved insects as well as fireflies |
【推荐3】Molly Wogan loves dogs so much that she decided to give up a big party of her life to help them. When she learned many dogs lived in bad conditions or had their lives cut short, she decided to give them back to the dog shelters that had helped her family find their family dogs.
So, instead of having a big party for her initiation ceremony (成人礼), she decided to help the dogs. As Molly said, “To be an adult means doing good things, but I didn’t want to focus on a party. I didn’t really need a party, but the dogs need the help.”
Molly was already a shelter volunteer helping out once each week. But she decided to take things to the next level. Molly started the Precious Animals Wonderful Shelters Project to help the dogs in bad situations travel across the country to find people who were willing to adopt them. Molly set a target to raise $2,500 in one year to give to 14 local shelters along with items like toys. Over the year, her project grew.
Molly ended up volunteering over 400 hours and sold homemade dog toys and treats, and key chains at 45 different events. In just a year, she raised $38,000. Meanwhile she also took two “transport” trips from Georgia to her home state of Massachusetts to move 110 at-risk dogs to the Northeast, where she helped each find a home. With the money she raised, she could get every dog vet visits, food and transport.
Molly hopes to save another 100 dogs this year. She is a wonderful example of a young person following her heart and taking action to make the world a better place. Molly is not only saving 100 dogs’ lives, but she is changing the lives of those who adopt them as well.
1. Why did Molly start the project?A.To help the dogs find new homes. | B.To get more money to raise dogs. |
C.To make the dogs visit some cities. | D.To help dogs adapt to the environment. |
A.Brave and careful. | B.Clever and humorous. |
C.Kind and selfless. | D.Cooperative and pretty. |
A.The praise for Molly. | B.The example of adults. |
C.The situation of the dogs. | D.The future of the project. |
A.She is ready to help more people. |
B.She became rich for saving many dogs. |
C.She travelled across the country to raise dogs. |
D.She has been devoting herself to helping dogs. |
【推荐1】Every year, millions of Americans see their personal information leak into the wrong hands. Maybe there’s spyware on their computer, or a service they use suffered a security reach, leaving customers at risk of exposure. Or perhaps their password is easy to guess: Security company Splash-Data reports that the most popular passwords in 2015 were 123456 and password.
Fear not: It is a lot easier than you might think to set up proper defenses. In fact, you can easily do it all a weekend. Here’s how.
Clean Your Computer And Smart-phone
Before you put new security measures into place, make sure your devices are as spotless as possible. This means installing a good antivirus program and taking the time to clear out any spy-or malware that may have already infected your system. Go with AVG Free Antivirus (free. AVg.com) or Avast! (avast.com) - each is free. Run a full system scan. This can take over an hour, so start it before settling into other plans. When you return to your computer, clear out anything that shouldn’t be there with a few simple steps (the program will guide you). These days, it’s also worth it to make sure your phone is safe from viruses. iPhones are less likely to be targeted by spy-ware, but Android users should download the Lookout app (lookout.com) to scan their devices and ensure everything is as it should be.
Security Your Wi-Fi
Now that your computer is clean, you should plug any holes in your home network. It’s fairly easy for potential criminals to gain access to your information if they’re able to share your connection - that’s why you want to be careful when using public Wi-Fi. For your home, the Federal Communications Commission recommends a few steps. Even though you put security measures into place a couple of years ago, it’s a good idea to refresh your setting. You may have to refer to the instructions for your wireless router or call tech support for help. Different routers will have different setup pages, so the actual step-by-step will vary, but the end result will be the same.
Dig Deep with Your Passwords
Everything you just accomplished could be for nothing if a thief has your existing passwords, so you need to change them for every service you use. Try it when you find yourself on those sites anyway.
What you’ve heard is true: Passwords should use a variety of special characters, numerals, letters, and case when possible. They should be close to random, and there should be a different one for each website you use. Doing this, and keeping track of it all, is a pain - which is why people don’t do it and wind up with stolen identities. Try Dashlane (dashlane.com), a password manager with powerful encryption(加密)that can securely keep track of the most ridiculous codes you can come up with. Best of all, it logs you into sites automatically, so there’s no need to worry about all those obscure keystrokes. Whew!
Never Answer Unwanted Email
Always check the security symbols when using an online site for shopping. If the lock icon encryption is not there, do not give out credit details. Also, check that the site is legal - never go to a site from a random email and start shopping online. Go to the site through a known URL or by searching for it on a search engine first.
Keep a separate credit card just for online shopping. This will make it easier to cancel if something bad does happen and your other credit card for “in real life” can still be used uninfluenced.
Don’t store information on any store’s website. It may be conventional but it’s also a possible loss to you if the site is hacked.
1. The passage is mainly about ______.A.ways of avoiding online identity theft |
B.tips of freeing computers from viruses |
C.measures to ensure network security |
D.steps to keep track of passwords |
A.the applications of antivirus programs |
B.the practice of using public Wi-Fi |
C.the difficult access to the passwords |
D.the separate credit card for online shopping |
A.clear out of everything in the system |
B.make a random selection of network |
C.get rid of potential spy-ware |
D.refresh the infected system |
【推荐2】Summerhill School
If you travel 140 kilometers north of London to England’s east coast, you’ll find an unusual boarding school called Summerhill in a large 19th century building with about a hundred students aged between 5 and 18. The school has its own library, theater, sports and playing fields. What makes the school different, however, is the way it treats its students. It is a free school. Students have the right to choose when to attend class, to vote on school rules and to decide whether to take classes and exams. If they prefer going for a walk in the countryside instead of having maths, that’s OK: they will not receive any punishments.
This may sound like a new and revolutionary idea for a school, but, actually, Summerhill first opened in the 1920s. Back in the 1920s, society believed that children were immature and irresponsible and that the only way to educate them was to be strict. Children had to wear school uniforms, be silent and never ask questions. Schools regularly used physical punishment when students broke the school rules. There were too many rules, so it was difficult not to get into trouble. This way of teaching was contrary to the idea of the founder of the school, A.S. Neil. He wanted a school where children were free to make decisions and give opinions. His philosophy was that if you are able to be responsible for yourself, you’ll make decisions that are good for others. He believed all crimes and wars only happened because people were unhappy, so he created a school where children were free to be happy.
Nowadays, the rules in state secondary schools are less strict than they were a hundred years ago, but the pressure on students to work hard and to do well is greater than ever before. But this is not the case at Summerhill, where students are free to develop their imagination and personalities.
Interestingly, however, some things are soon going to change at Summerhill, Neil’s daughter, Ms. Readhead, took over his place after he died in 1973. She said she would introduce more discipline because the children were spoiled and overprotected by parents. In her opinion, children need to learn how to organize their lives themselves instead of depending on their parents.
1. Which of the following statements about Summerhill is not true?A.It’s by the sea or not far from the seaside. |
B.It’s possible to have meals at the school. |
C.The school building is modern and unusual. |
D.Both teachers and students stay at the school. |
A.They can choose their teachers. | B.They can choose not to do any exams. |
C.They can have classes outside if they want. | D.They can vote for their favorite classes. |
A.Their students spend more time discussing ideas than at Summerhill. |
B.They don’t expect their students to do as well in exams as the ones in Summerhill. |
C.Their students certainly won’t work as hard as those at Summerhill. |
D.Their students are under a lot more pressure to do well in exams. |
A.Young people need loving, kind, helpful parents. |
B.Young people need adults to give them a good example. |
C.Young people need the freedom to learn by themselves. |
D.Young people need to have lots of interesting things to do. |
【推荐3】“The majority of decisions we make do not come from the conscious (有意识的) mind, but the subconscious mind,” Beni Gradwohl, the co-founder of Cognovi Labs, said. “Our decisions are based on emotions. People think they are very rational (理智的). But they are not. In fact, decisions in the subconscious mind are made in a second before the rational mind recognizes that.”
Gradwohl used to think that cold and hard data defined the world. But when he was exposed to behavioral economics, his world view changed. He said, “Emotional intelligence is more important than intelligence quotient (IQ). Most successful leaders in the world don’t have above-average IQ but above average emotional quotient (EQ).”
Gradwohl co-founded AI company, Cognovi Labs, to better understand how people make decisions, using data and science and technology to measure underlying emotions.
When asked how event organizers could benefit from using emotional AI, Gradwohl said, “The first thing is whether you really understand what’s driving your target audience to an event.” He added, “You can ask them, but what potential registrants tell you may be incorrect.”
According to Gradwohl, registering for an event is not an entirely rational decision, and it goes deeper. Understanding how your target audience makes decisions is important because you don’t want to sell them something they don’t care about. Cognovi Labs’ AI can uncover the underlying emotional drivers or blockers of your target audience’s decision-making.
Beyond using Cognovi Labs’ AI in the marketing leading up to an event, once the event is underway, Gradwohl thinks organizers can know how their participants are feeling via the AI. That involves using feedback (反馈) surveys. He said, “Have attendees talk to the event app and then transcribe that. We call that diagnostic (诊断的) interview because they may generate a strong emotional response. With those conversations about what they are experiencing throughout the program at different times of the day, we will see what the emotional blockers and drivers are. We can get a full picture of the emotional aspects of the attendees.”
1. What may Cognovi Labs mainly focus on?A.Researching people’s potential emotions. | B.Helping people make rational decisions. |
C.Training people to develop conscious minds. | D.Leading people to study science and technology. |
A.Registering for an event is important. | B.Believing target audience is necessary. |
C.Cognovi Labs’ AI helps event organizers. | D.Cognovi Labs’ AI benefits lots of drivers. |
A.Cognovi Labs’ AI’s feedback surveys. | B.Cognovi Labs’ AI’s additional function. |
C.The ways to organize a marketing event. | D.The attendees’ strong emotional response. |
A.The Founder of an Emotional AI | B.The Future of Behavioral Economics |
C.An AI Company Improves Intelligence | D.An Emotional AI Helps Make Decisions |
【推荐1】A decade ago, colored lights danced around the living room on New Year's Eve and happy music was played. Upstairs, the children were asleep. But I wasn't feeling happy. In mid-December, my husband and I had been informed that he had cancer and that he was going to die. He had less than a year left, the doctors said.
In the years since that painful season, I have come to look back upon New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve brings a halt to the endless commitments that fill our daily lives and a chance to reflect New Year's Eve is full of possibility and anticipation. What will be the surprising experiences and delightful successes in the coming year? But also, what disappointments are waiting for us in the next twelve months?
In many ways, New Year's Eve and the days that surround it are a line between past and future. That line is made up of a series of moments of transition (过渡)that take us out of the old and into the new. Transition can be challenging for many of us. It's about letting go of the familiar and diving into the unfamiliar.
Just as, back then, I had to face letting go of the life I had led with my beloved husband and stepping into a new world as a widowed mom, I find that each year I have to step out of the version of me that suited the year that is ending and ease into the version of me who will rise to the goals I am holding for myself for the year ahead.
Last year at this time, I sat in a chair in southern France and drank in the beauty of the countryside around me. The three children 1 had brought into this world talked and laughed around the table beside me as we enjoyed a lunch of bread and cheese.
I was filled with a sense of joy and I had a glowing (热情洋溢的)heart that was full of hope. It was another ending and another beginning. May we all transition into the best of what lies ahead. May we all find happiness in this holiday season.
1. What causes author's unhappiness on New Year's Eve a decade ago?A.The pressure she faced in her work. |
B.The health problem her husband suffered. |
C.The information received from her family. |
D.The relationship between her and her husband. |
A.Set challenging goals for the next year. |
B.Manage daily routines and form a new habit. |
C.Spend more time with family members. |
D.Think about the past and get ready for the future. |
A.To honor her beloved late husband. |
B.To show how she got through a hard time. |
C.To share her new view of New Year's Eve. |
D.To remind us that misfortune is part of life. |
【推荐2】Each May since 1956 people from across Europe and around the world have gathered around their televisions with friends and family for an evening of international entertainment(娱乐):The Eurovision Song Contest. It may well be a fun event but perhaps it’s not the shared celebration of European language that it could be. In the first ten years of Eurovision, the UK and Ireland were the only two countries to sing in English. Now English is what we expect. Is it that English is becoming, or has become the official language of music?
From high streets in Hungary to supermarkets in Sweden, from bus stops in Bulgaria to parks in Poland, people listen to English-language music everywhere. And people don't just listen, they sing it too! From sporting events in Spain to nightclubs in Norway, from concerts in Croatia to fitness classes in France, people sing along to popular songs in their everyday lives, in English. But why?
For one evening each year Eurovision is the dinner party of Europe. A dinner party to which each guest brings something special. Their clothing, tradition and food show their culture and their language shows the character of a nation. Although there are 50 nations with 83 languages, for Eurovision, English is the only language. Does Eurovision really represent Europe?
English is an international language spoken by over 1 billion people worldwide. It is no surprise that so many musicians make music in English. Of course, music makes money and more listeners make more money. According to Ragnar Thorhallsson, singer and guitarist with the Icelandic indie band (乐队)“Of Monsters and Men”, English is simpler and is easier to make rhythms(节奏). Could this be true?
Let’s remember that although English-language music is everywhere, music is not everything. As long as we continue to learn, to speak,to love, diversity(多样性)shall be valued. After all, what fun is a dinner party if the guests can’t communicate(交流) or express themselves in the way they choose?
1. What do we know about Eurovision?A.Singers sing English songs. | B.It helps protect European cultures. |
C.It is the most popular contest in the world. | D.Singers mainly come from the UK and Ireland. |
A.By asking questions. | B.By giving examples. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By following the order of space. |
A.It is easy and beautiful. | B.It should be used in all music. |
C.It is the best language in the world. | D.It helps musicians make money easily. |
A.Why we should protect language diversity. |
B.How language and music affect each other. |
C.Whether English is the official language of music. |
D.Why Eurovision is becoming more and more popular. |
【推荐3】Can' t you stand the sound of heavy breathing or sipping soup? Does the sound of someone chewing gum next to you make your blood boil? You are not alone, but you are not going crazy-there’s a really scientific reason why.
If you shrink back when someone twists their knuckles(指关节), you might want to get checked out for misophonia, a brain abnormality that creates “a hatred of sounds such as eating, chewing, loud breathing, or even pen-clicking,” TIME reports. Actually, it’s just one of the strange habits that prove you’re smarter than everyone else. Although researchers first coined the term misophonia in 2001, doubt has been thrown on it by the medical community. But thanks to recent research, it can be safely drawn that everyday noises can ruin people’s lives. A team at Newcastle University in the U. K. examined MRI brain scans(核磁共振脑扫描) of those with and without misophonia while playing a range of sounds. The sounds were either neutral (like rain or water boiling), unpleasant (a baby crying or a person screaming), or trigger sounds (the sounds of breathing or eating).
The researchers noted significant changes in misophonia sufferers’ brain activity when they heard a “trig- ger sound.” Turns out those with misophonia have a developmental difference in their brains frontal lobe(额叶) that causes their brains to react harshly to those triggers. It also causes them to sweat and their heart rates to increase.
“For many people with misophonia, this will come as welcome news as for the first time we have shown a difference in brain structure and function in sufferers.” said Dr Sukhbinder Kumar. “This study shows the critical brain changes as further evidence to convince a skeptical medical community that this is a real disorder.”
1. What is the best title for the text?A.Keep off such sounds around you | B.Troubled by the sound of chewing |
C.Can we make use of these sounds | D.Never be afraid of such noise again |
A.Misophonia can be a sign of intelligence. |
B.Misophonia is actually a physical disability. |
C.The term misophonia has been widely accepted. |
D.Noise pollution has ruined many lives until now. |
A.Cold. | B.Favorable. |
C.Doubtful. | D.Neutral. |
A.A guidebook. | B.A review. |
C.A magazine. | D.An interview. |