Here are two methods that people use to make choices. One method is to compare the options(可选择的物品) with each other and choose the best one. The other is to evaluate each option individually and then pick the best one. Experts are more likely to evaluate the options individually, while ordinary people tend to compare the options.
Researches show that it is easier for people to make choices when they are being compared. Imagine buying a new dictionary. You find out that a particular dictionary has 50,000 words in it. Suppose, though, that you find out that another dictionary only has 25,000 words in it. Now, you know that 50,000 words is a good number for a dictionary to have.
New research shows that when people compare options, they also get more confident in their judgments. To get participants in their studies in a mindset to make comparisons, researchers had people look at a complex picture and write down the similarities and differences between two halves of the picture. Other participants evaluated(评价) the picture without making comparisons. Previous work shows that this technique gets people to make comparisons in later tasks.
After that, participants were shown descriptions of three brands(品牌) of cell phones (labeled Brands A, B and C). They had a chance to study the descriptions. Later, they were shown fourteen of the characteristics they had seen and were asked whether those characteristics belonged to Brand B. With each response, participants were allowed to place a bet between 0 and 10 dollars based on how confident they were in their response. The higher the bet, the more confident the people were that they knew whether the characteristic belonged to Brand B. People who were put in a mindset to make comparisons were more confident in their judgments about the characteristics of the cell phones than people who did not make comparisons. Despite the difference in confidence, the people who made comparisons were not more accurate in their judgments than those who did not make comparisons.
This research suggests that we need to be careful when making decisions. On the one hand, we are quite likely to rely on comparing the options in order to make a choice. On the other hand, those comparisons will increase our feeling of confidence in the decision. So, we need to recognize that at least part of that confidence comes from the way the choice was made.
1. Why does the writer mention a dictionary in Paragraph 2?| A．To explain a truth. | B．To draw a conclusion. |
| C．To prove the writer’s opinion. | D．To raise a question. |
| A．change | B．relationship | C．thought | D．decision |
| A．preferred Brand B | B．placed a higher bet |
| C．gave a quicker answer | D．made more choices |
| A．Evaluation Decides Option | B．Compare the Options |
| C．Decision Roots in Judgment | D．Comparison Creates Confidence |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】In 1901, Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian scientist, discovered that there are four types of blood. These four blood types were named A, B, AB and O. People have one of these four types. Blood type O is the most common around the world. Blood type A is the second most common, and type AB is the least common. If people with type A blood are given type B blood, or people with type B are given type A blood, they will probably die.
In 1927, a Japanese doctor, Furukawa Takeji, carried out research and came up with the idea that people with different blood types also had different personalities.He said that people with type A blood are usually calm and serious; people with type B blood are curious, cheerful and outgoing; and people with type O blood are generous and honest; while those with type AB blood are often caring original and careful.
More recently, a doctor in the United States wrote a book that link blood types and what people eat, For example, his book suggests people with type O blood should eat more meat and less bread. A diet for people with type A blood includes more vegetables. His book, Eat Right for our Type. has been a hit with people who want to lose weight. However, Dr. Peter D' Adamo believes that eating food that matches a person's blood type can do more than help them lose weight. He thinks it will make the person healthier in other ways, too.
1. What did Karl Landsteiner discover?| A．Blood is divided into four types. | B．There are four types of personality. |
| C．Blood type O is the second most common. | D．Blood from one person can be given to another. |
| A．Austrian people. | B．People with type O blood. |
| C．People who are too heavy. | D．People who are worried about their blood. |
| A．It is the least common. | B．People with this type lose weight easily. |
| C．It was discovered by Karl Landsteiner. | D．People with this type are said to be original. |
| A．What blood is in our bodies. | B．Important parts of our blood. |
| C．Why blood types cannot be mixed. | D．Three men who studied blood. |
【推荐2】When US student Olivia woke up one morning, she thought she had had a dream about making plans with a friend.
But it wasn’t a dream. Her phone showed that during the night, Olivia had read a text message from her friend. She did it while she was fast asleep.
Reading and sending text messages while asleep-called “sleep texting”-is an unusual sleep behavior, similar to sleepwalking. It’s also growing anxiety among doctors: young people can’t live without their cell phones.
One in three teenagers sends more than 100 text messages a day, according to the Pew Internet& American Life Project. And at least four out of five teenagers said they sleep with their phones on or near their bed.
Elizabeth Dowdell, a professor at Villanova University, has studied sleeping texting. She said that having a phone nearby all night is a big part of the problem.
Andrew, a sleep medicine expert, agrees. It’s possible for the part of the brain that controls motor skills (运动技能) to wake up, while the part of the brain that controls memory and judgment may be still asleep. That’s why some people can perform basic movements-such as walking, talking, texting or even driving-while they’re sleeping. Some of Dowdell’s students said that they’re disturbed by their nighttime texting behavior. But because sleep texting is unconscious, it’s a difficult habit to break. Dowdell said she knew some students who wore socks on their hands to keep themselves from texting.
Marjorie Hogan, a doctor at Hennepin County Medical Center suggests keeping all electronic devices (电子设备) outside the bedroom at certain times.
1. What happened to Olivia?| A．She sleepwalked to a friend’s house. |
| B．She dreamed of making plans with a friend. |
| C．She phoned one of her friends during the night. |
| D．She read a text message from her friend while asleep. |
| A．无意识的 | B．无规律的 | C．无反应的 | D．无方法的 |
| A．Stop texting to other people during the daytime. |
| B．Take some medicine to control the strange behavior. |
| C．Keep their phones out of their bedrooms while they sleep. |
| D．Wear socks on their hands to stop themselves from texting. |
| A．it’s easy for us to give up a sleep texting habit |
| B．one in three teenagers has a sleep texting habit |
| C．sleep texting does more harm to one’s health than sleepwalking |
| D．sleep texting can reduce the quality of one’s sleep |
【推荐3】Are you an “I” person or an “E” person? We hear this question a lot these days. In fact, “I” and “E” are two personality types (人格类型) according to the MBTI test. Generally speaking, an “I” person may be shy and quiet, while an “E” person may be active.
So what is the MBTI test? It’s a personality test that helps us better understand our personality preferences (性格偏好) and tells us how we do with the world around us. It was developed in the 1940s by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers.
When you take the MBTI test, you are presented with several sets of sentences describing everything of actions, feelings and thoughts. For each description, you need to decide how much you agree with it. After finishing the test, you’ll know what your personality type is. You can click https://www.personalities.com/ free-personality-test to learn your MBTI type.
The MBTI test is popular for many reasons. Let’s take a closer look at just a few. First, people want to understand themselves. Human personality is very hard to understand, and this test provides a simple way for people to learn more about themselves. Next, taking the MBTI test is relaxing and enjoyable, because the test is made to be interesting. Then, people try to find connections with others according to their personality type. The MBTI test offers a way for people to connect with others on a deeper level. Last but not least, while there are many kinds of personality tests on the market, the MBTI test is the most widely recognized.
The MBTI test may show something we don’t know about ourselves and can be a fun way to help us make new friends. But remember this, knowing someone’s MBTI results doesn’t mean we really know that person, nor do the MBTI results define who we are.
1. How does the writer start the passage?| A．By listing numbers. | B．By giving an example. |
| C．By asking a question. | D．By showing the result of studies. |
| A．characters | B．hobbies | C．scores | D．life skills |
①You walk or ride to work every day instead of driving a car to stay healthy.
②You spend one or two hours playing badminton every day even if you are tired.
③You usually stay calm, even if you are under a lot of pressure.
④You prefer eating some delicious food to help fall asleep fast.
⑤You usually prefer to be around others rather than on your own.
⑥Your friends would describe you as lively and active.
| A．①④⑥ | B．②③⑤ | C．①②③ | D．③⑤⑥ |
| A．Explain. | B．Mention. | C．Remain. | D．Notice. |
| A．An “I” Person or an “E” Person? | B．Don’t Believe in the MBTI Test |
| C．A Helpful Test | D．The History of the MBTI Test |
【推荐1】It takes a lot of time and effort to clean a whole school during the pandemic(流行病). A robotics team came up with a creative solution—a sanitizing drone(消毒无人机). It’s designed by the Gael Force Robotics Team. The team’s 10 members, all junior and senior students, are working to design, make and finally fly it.
“I feel this project will be especially important for the school when it reopens because of its large population,” said Nirupama Suravarjjala, who takes part in the research and design management. “We wanted to help out.” According to their plans, the students will develop a mobile application that can be used to fly the drone by hand. Then they will use artificial intelligence(人工智能) to allow the drone to fly by itself. The drone will be able to fly away on its own from the objects(障碍物) in its way. The team researched similar industrial drone models and found that they can cost up to 15,000 dollars (around 98,000 yuan). They wanted to make theirs cheaper. They set up a GoFoundMe page and raised 4,000 dollars for parts and equipment to build the drone. Once built, their drone will have twice the amount of flight time of other industrial models(22 minutes) without needing to be recharged. The team also hopes the model can be used in places beyond the school’s 6,200-square-foot (about 576 square meters) football field—such as city playgrounds or even indoors.
1. The members of the Gael Force Robotics Team are ________.| A．most junior and senior students | B．most primary and senior teachers |
| C．all junior and senior students | D．all primary and senior teachers |
| A．重新改变 | B．重新充电 | C．重新出发 | D．重新设计 |
| A．The Gael Force Robotics Team has built a sanitizing drone successfully. |
| B．The students will use artificial intelligence to allow the drone to fly on its own. |
| C．The sanitizing drone designed by the team can only fly 22 minutes. |
| D．The drone might hit the objects for having poor eyesight. |
| A．have shorter flight time than other industrial models |
| B．cost up to 15,000 dollars |
| C．more expensive than other industrial models |
| D．be used in city playgrounds or indoors as well |
| A．The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching |
| B．A Robotics Team in School |
| C．A GoFoundMe Page |
| D．A Sanitizing Drone Will Help Us Clean |
【推荐2】From early childhood, we are looking for our most prized friends. Friends have a great influence on us. You can’t change the people around you, but you can choose your friends wisely.
Are your friends helping you develop in any way, say they help you with a healthy lifestyle or have rich professional experience that you can learn from? Good friends can help you become a better person. In short, do you see meaningful growth by getting along with them?
Good friends whom you can trust will create a safe environment for you to share your deepest truths. They will likely let your secret remain a secret. They will respect you in public. They will keep their words. Their actions will match their words. And if you goofed up, they would even help you out of tricky situations with their well-meaning advice.
Good friends who value you will create space in their life for you. In today’s fast-paced age, we are often noticing how we spend our time, and if you find your friends making time and space for you, it is a signal they value your company.
Yes, your friends play a part when you’re going through a crisis, say a heartbreak or the loss of job. They will provide you with good advice that can help you piece your life together. They have your best interest at heart and support you with their objective guidance.
In a nutshell, a good friend is also a guide to you. With these tips, you can create a pool of good friendships for life. Remember what you choose for yourself today has an important bearing on your tomorrow.
1. The underlined phrase “goofed up” probably means “________”.| A．made a silly mistake | B．had a good time |
| C．had some very strange ideas | D．had a healthy lifestyle |
| A．Do you see a value in their company? |
| B．Can you see yourself being able to trust them? |
| C．Do you see yourself being valued? |
| D．Can you depend on your friend for well-meaning advice? |
| A．They will likely let your secret out. |
| B．They need you to create space for them. |
| C．They will help you through difficulties. |
| D．They share common interest with you. |
| A．The importance of good friends. | B．The tips for choosing friends wisely. |
| C．The advice on getting along with others. | D．The ways of making friends. |
【推荐3】How many of you do chores at home? It’s said that few teenagers would like to spend time on them. In their opinion, it’s a waste of time. Some even think they should be taken good care of by their parents all the time. However, such life skills are really necessary.
On June 3, 2020, the Ministry of Education (MOE) produced a document(文件) for high schools. According to the document, labor(劳动) education is listed as a compulsory course for high school students. It would be as important as the foreign language or math. And each of them takes six credits(学分). Voluntary service, as part of labor education, would take two credits. The MOE also asks schools to make sure students do 40 hours of voluntary service during the full three school years.
A recent study shows that teenagers in China are doing very little housework. Primary and middle school students spend only 12 minutes a day on chores, compared to 72 minutes in the US, 42 minutes in South Korea and 30 minutes in France.
Parents think doing chores would make students spend less time on their schoolwork. In fact, it is very helpful for teenagers. According to Northwest Educational Service, chores can not only teach teamwork and problem-solving skills, but also give people a sense of pride. “Through such education, students are expected to develop working abilities as well as a better understanding of the world.” said Zheng Fuzhi, vice-minister of the MOE.
1. How many credits does the labor course take in high school?| A．Eight. | B．Six. | C．Four. | D．Two. |
| A．a course that students must learn | B．a course that students choose to learn |
| C．a course that students don’t have to learn | D．a course that students can give up learning |
| A．France. | B．South Korea. | C．America. | D．China. |
| A．Developing students’ life skills is becoming important. |
| B．Doing chores makes a bad difference to students’ studies. |
| C．Labor education is more popular for parents and teachers. |
| D．Labor education will be more important than other subjects. |
【推荐1】Cloth face coverings are an important step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in public settings. Children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing shouldn’t use cloth face coverings.
 | #1_________ ·Wash your hands before putting on your face covering. ·Put it over your nose and mouth and cover your chin. ·Try to fit it against the sides of your face. ·Make sure you can breathe easily. |
 | #2_________ ·Wear a face covering to help protect yourself and others. ·Keep the covering on your face the time you’re in public. ·Don’t put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead. ·Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands. |
 | #3__________ ·Stay at least 6 feet away from others. ·Avoid contact with people who are sick. ·Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time. |
 | #4__________ ·Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops. ·Handle only by the ear loops or ties. ·Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after removing. |
Word Bank chin下巴 contact接触 loop环状物 |
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。
1. Who are required not to wear cloth face coverings according to the text?
| A．The teachers. |
| B．The newborn babies. |
| C．The workers. |
| D．The bus drivers. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Breathing is the first to think while wearing cloth face covering. |
| B．Keep the covering on your face when you feel comfortable in public. |
| C．Touch your eyes before washing hands. |
| D．Visit your sick family member often in hospital. |
a. Use the Face Covering to Protect Others
b. Follow Everyday Health Habits
c. Take Off Your Cloth Face Covering Carefully, When You’re Home
d. Wear Your Face Covering Correctly
| A．d-a-b-c | B．a-d-b-c | C．d-b-a-c | D．c-a-b-d |
| A．Culture. | B．Health. | C．Events. | D．News. |
【推荐2】Guinness Book of World Records（吉尼斯世界纪录大全）is always full of amazing people and things. These amazing people show us their fantastic abilities.
 | My name is Paddy Doyle. I am a British. I can do 1,940 push-ups（俯卧撑）in one hour. I only use one hand and put the other hand on my back. I have done a lot of exercise to do this. But I feel it is worth while to get the record. |
 | My name is Bernd Schmidt. I am a German. I am 47 years old. I have the biggest mouth in the world! I can put a Big Mac hamburger in my mouth. It is 8.78 cm between my upper teeth and lower teeth! |
 | I am John Farnworth. I am 30 years old. I come from the United Kingdom. I am a soccer freestyler（自由式射手）. I can kick the football into the wall 28 times in 30 seconds！No one in the world is faster than me. |
 | I am Maxwell Day. I'm from London. I am 17 years old. I can turn my feet 157 degrees（度）. This is the largest degree that people can do so. In fact, I need to wear special shoes because my feet change direction on their own! |
1. ___________ can kick the football into the wall 28 times in 30 seconds.
| A．Paddy Doyle | B．Bernd Schmidt | C．Maxwell Day | D．John Farnworth |
| A．Paddy is quite good at doing push-ups | B．Bernd Schmidt never eats hamburgers |
| C．John Farnworth is also a basketball player | D．Maxwell can turn his hands 157 degrees |
| A．sports stars | B．football skills | C．amazing people | D．body secrets |
Understanding Graphics(图表)
When we are reading, we often see one or two graphics in a text. Have you ever thought about these questions: why are they there? What information do they give? Do they help with our reading and understanding?
Graphics are things like pictures, maps, charts and tables. They give information to readers. Very often, we can see different kinds of graphics in books, magazines and newspapers. Writers use graphics to get the readers' attention and give them some particular(特别的)information. Graphics help to understand the given information in a text. And graphics put the information in a particular order(顺序) so that it's easy to understand when we take a quick look.
It is not always true that a picture is worth a thousand words. But many things are easier to show than to tell and they may also be easier to understand. Graphics are just the right things that give a great deal of information but it doesn't take much time to read and understand.
The right way to read and understand a graphic is to look at the picture and the words together. In a graphic, only a few words are used to explain what the picture shows you. Sometimes, numbers and percentages(百分比) are also given to go with the words to explain things.
Now look at the graphic on the right. It is how a researcher used a graphic to show the number of hours spent sleeping by British teenagers each day. Can you understand it?
1. Which of the following is mentioned as a graphic?| A．A letter | B．A poem | C．A map | D．A name card |
| A．less space is taken on a stage |
| B．a picture is worth a thousand words |
| C．a lot of time can be saved for writers |
| D．many things are easier to show than to tell |
| A．find out if there are any tables in it |
| B．put the information in the right order |
| C．count how many words there are in it |
| D．look at the picture and the words together |
| A．5 British teenagers sleep for 8-9 hours every day |
| B．Chinese 8-year-olds spend 5-6 hours sleeping every day |
| C．17% of the British teenagers sleep for 3-4 hours each day |
| D．42% of the Chinese teenagers spend 6-7 hours sleeping each day |
【推荐1】Word Banker English-Chinese is a kind of software（软件）which allows users to practice their Chinese vocabulary in several different ways. Although the program isn’t the most convenient one you’ve ever used, it can help improve your Chinese vocabulary.
The program’s interface（界面）isn’t very attractive so many people don’t like it when they first see it. Also, it can sometimes be hard to operate（操作）. Each function（功能）holds a window, but if you close the window, it will take you back to the main menu or close the program. But if you continue using the program, you will find there are several useful exercises in it. Users can read a word or phrase（词组）in English and then click（点击）on the matching word in Chinese, hear the Chinese word spoken and choose the matching English word, or see the English word written and then type（打字）the Chinese word. The program allows users to practice not only their vocabulary, but also their reading, listening and spelling skills. Once users know a word, they can save it so that it stops appearing in the exercises. The program also allows users to practice vocabulary by seeing the English and Chinese words and hearing the Chinese spoken. The “Help” provides good instructions for users to use. Nothing is perfect. Word Banker English-Chinese has many advantages and certain disadvantages as well. We can use it according to our needs.
1. Who will be interested in Word Banker English-Chinese?| A．Native English speakers who want to learn Chinese. |
| B．Native English speakers who want to improve their English. |
| C．Native Chinese speakers who want to improve their Chinese. |
| D．Native Chinese speakers who want to learn English. |
| A．It’s hard to use sometimes. |
| B．Users can only practice vocabulary and reading. |
| C．There are few useful exercises for users to practice. |
| D．There are no instructions in the program. |
| A．吸引人的 | B．流行的 | C．干净的 | D．便宜的 |
| A．How to learn English. | B．What Word Banker English-Chinese is |
| C．How to learn Chinese. | D．What we can get from the program |
| A．introduce a software | B．stop people from using a software |
| C．ask users for help | D．announce the close of a program |
【推荐2】Once upon a time, a boy was walking through a wood and he heard a sad cry. Following the sound he came to a big, round, mysterious, grey fountain. The sad sound seemed to be coming from the fountain pool. The boy swept aside the pool’s dirty surface water and saw a group of grey fish swimming in the pond.
Amused (逗乐) by this, the boy tried to catch one of these incredible talking fish. But when he stuck (放置) his arm into the water it turned grey right up to the elbow. As this happened, a huge sadness entered him, and he suddenly understood how sad the fish were feeling.
He quickly pulled his arm out of the water, and ran away from that place. But the arm stayed grey, and the boy continued feeling sad. He tried so many times to cheer himself up, but nothing worked. Then he realized that if he can make the Earth happy, then that happiness would be, in turn, transmitted back to him.
From then on, he set about looking after the environment. He cared for the plants, and he did what he could to keep the water from being polluted. He encouraged others to do the same. He was so successful that his arm started to recover its normal colour. When the grey disappeared completely, he started feeling happy again, and he decided to go and visit the fountain. When he was still far away from the fountain, he could hear the fish singing happily.
1. Which of the following didn’t happen after the boy left the fountain?| A．He started to look after the environment. |
| B．He stopped the water from being polluted. |
| C．He encouraged people to protect the Earth. |
| D．His arm kept grey and he never felt happy. |
| A．change | B．develop | C．get well | D．turn back |
| A．We should protect the Earth. | B．We shouldn’t catch fish. |
| C．Even the fountain may cry. | D．We should visit the fountain. |
【推荐3】Some people wonder why countries spend millions of dollars on space projects. They want to know how space research helps people on Earth. Actually, space technology helps people on Earth every day. This is called “spinoff technology”. Spinoff technology is space technology that is now used on Earth.
In early space programs, such as the Apollo missions(任务) of the 1960s and 1970s, and in the space shuttle missions today, scientists developed objects for the astronauts to use on the moon and in space. We now use some of these objects every day. For example, we have Quartz clocks and watches with an accuracy of one minute a year. We purify the water we drink with a water filter(过滤器) designed for the astronauts' use in space. The cordless, hand-held tools we use in our homes, such as cleaners, flashlights, drills, and irons came from the technology of these early space programs.
On cold winter days, we can stay warm with battery - operated shoes and socks, and insulated(绝缘的) coats and jackets. All of these clothes are similar to the spacesuit designs that keep astronauts comfortable in the temperatures of the moon, and are spinoffs from space technology.
These products are only a few examples of the many ways space technology helps us in our everyday life. No one knows how new spinoff technology from the International Space Station will help us in the future.
1. Which of the following is NOT a spinoff?| A．Water filters | B．Quartz watches | C．Battery- operated socks | D．Spacesuits worn by astronauts |
| A．light | B．clean | C．bright | D．warm |
| A．Future of Space Technology | B．History of Spinoffs | C．Spinoff Technology | D．Space Projects |
| A．believes that space technology will be widely used on Earth |
| B．doubts if spinoffs have any good effect on human beings |
| C．agrees to do more research on spinoff technology |
| D．suggests using more spinoffs in our daily life |
