1 . One of the curious things about social networks is the way that some messages, pictures, or ideas can spread like wildfire while others that seem just as catchy or interesting barely register at all.
Before you go deep into the puzzle, consider this: If you measure the height of your male friends, for example, the average is about 170 centimeters. You are 172 and your friends are all about the same height as you are. Indeed, the mathematical concept of “average” is a good way to capture the nature of this data set.
But imagine that one of your friends was much taller than you. This person would dramatically skew the average, which would make your friends taller than you, on average. In this case, the “average” is a poor way to capture this data set.
Exactly this situation occurs on social networks. On average, your coauthors will be cited more often than you, and the people you follow will post more frequently than you, and so on.
Now Lerman from University of Southern California has discovered a related paradox, which they call the majority illusion. They illustrate this illusion with an example. They take 14 nodes linked up to form a small network. They then color three of these nodes and count how many of the remaining nodes link to them in a single step.
In one situation, the uncolored nodes see more than half of their neighbors as colored. This is the majority illusion — the local impression that a specific feature is common when the global truth is entirely different.
So how popular is it in the real world? It’s found out that the majority illusion occurs in almost all network scenarios. “The effect is largest in the political blogs network, where 60% of nodes will have majority active neighbours, even when only 20% of the nodes are truly active,” says Lerman.
It immediately explains many interesting phenomena. For a start, it shows how some content can spread globally while other similar content does not — the key is to start with a small number of well-connected early adopters fooling the rest of the network into thinking it is common. The affected nodes then find it natural to follow the trend. A real spread finally comes into being.
But it is not yet a marketer’s charter. For that, marketers must first identify the popular nodes that can create the majority illusion for the target audience. These influencers must then be persuaded to adopt the desired behavior or product, which is essential to the prospect of the marketing plan.
1. The phrase skew the average in the passage most probably refers to the action of ________.| A．hiding the real average to be unrecognizable to others |
| B．producing an average against the general feature of data |
| C．working out the common feature suggested by the average |
| D．ignoring the average because of the frequency by which it is reviewed |
| A．Majority illusion rarely has impacts except in political blogs field. |
| B．The majority illusion on social networks relies on that people you follow post more than you. |
| C．The essence of successful opinion spread is to initiate the trend with well-connected sharers. |
| D．The spread scale of ideas on networks mainly depends on the quality of content. |
| A．thoroughly understand the concept of majority illusion |
| B．accurately figure out who is the powerful person to affect others |
| C．definitely decide who are the target audience for the promotion |
| D．successfully convince the influencers to practice certain action |
| A．The social network vision that tricks your mind. |
| B．Who is stealing your network identity? |
| C．Minority network opinion spread, curse or blessing? |
| D．Have you been misled during the last political voting? |
2 . Every decision we make is arrived at through hugely complex neurological processing. Although it feels as though you have a choice, the action that you ‘decide’ to take is entirely directed by automatic neural activity. Brain imaging studies show that a person’s action can be predicted by their brain activity up to 10 seconds before they themselves become aware they are going to act. Multiple neuroscientific studies show that even those important decisions that feel worked out are just as automatic as knee-jerk reactions (膝跳反应) (although more complex).
Decision-making starts with the amygdala: a set of two almond-shaped nuclei (杏仁状核) buried deep within the brain, which generate emotion. The amygdala registers the information streaming in through our senses and responds to it in less than a second, sending signals throughout the brain. These produce an urge to run, fight, freeze or grab, according to how the amygdala values various stimuli.
Before we act on the amygdala’s signals, however, the information is usually processed by other brain areas, including some that produce conscious thoughts and emotions. Areas concerned with recognition work out what’s going on, those concerned with memory compare it with previous experiences, and those concerned with reasoning, judging and planning get to work on constructing various action plans. The best plan—if we are lucky—is then selected and carried out. If any of this process goes wrong, we are likely to hesitate, or do something silly.
The various stages of decision-making are marked by different types of brain activity. Fast (gamma)waves, with frequencies of 25 to 100 Hz, produce a keen awareness of the multiple factors that need to be taken into account to arrive at a decision. If you are trying to choose a sandwich, for instance, gamma waves generated in various cells within the ‘taste’ area of the brain bring to mind and compare the taste of ham, hummus, wholemeal, sourdough, and so on. Although it may seem useful to be aware of the full range of choice, too much information makes decision-making more difficult, so irrelevant factors get dismissed quickly and unconsciously.
After this comparison stage, the brain switches to slow-wave activity (12 to 30 Hz). This extinguishes most of the gamma activity, leaving just a single ‘hotspot’ of gamma waves which marks the chosen option.
Although there is no ‘you’ outside your brain to direct what it’s doing, you can help it to make good decisions by placing yourself in a situation which is likely to make the process run more smoothly. Doing something that is physically or mentally stimulating before making a decision will help your brain produce the initial gamma waves that generate awareness of the competing options. Getting over-excited, on the other hand, will prevent the switch to the slow brainwaves, making it much harder to single out a choice.
1. Why does the writer mention “knee-jerk reactions” in the first paragraph?| A．To introduce the finding of the latest brain imaging studies. |
| B．To illustrate that decisions are not consciously thought out. |
| C．To call attention to a kind of neural reaction that is not very complex. |
| D．To show the difference between decision-making and other brain activity. |
| A．It works out conscious thoughts and emotions. |
| B．It selects the best action plan for a given situation. |
| C．It dismisses factors that are irrelevant to the decision to be made. |
| D．It processes sensory information and generates emotional responses. |
| A．Slow-wave activity usually lasts longer than fast-wave activity. |
| B．The brain prioritizes information before settling on a final choice. |
| C．Decision-making is difficult when slow-wave activity occurs first. |
| D．The brain needs as much information as possible to make a decision. |
| A．By preparing the brain to single out the most reasonable choice. |
| B．By helping the brain switch to slow-wave activity more quickly. |
| C．By getting the brain to focus on those most relevant alternatives. |
| D．By making the brain more aware of the factors and choices involved. |
Jean’s dream was to be a great chef, so when she was 20, she travelled to France, which has the most famous cuisine in the world, to learn to cook. After twelve years, she was among the best.
Her father, Bob, was getting old, and she wanted to be near him. Jean accepted an offer from one of Washington’s top restaurants. The manager offered her a handsome salary, and 30% ownership of the restaurant. The next day, Jean went to sign the contract. As she got out of the car, she caught sight of a green sunshade. Instead of going to meet the manager, she crossed the street towards the old restaurant, Fargonetti’s. She pushed open the door and the memories came flooding back.
Jean’s mum died when she was just 11, and her father lost his job and was forced to freelance (从事自由职业). Money was very short. When Jean turned thirteen, Bob had made a reservation at Fargonetti’s, the capital’s best restaurant.
“I’m not hungry, baby girl. I had a huge breakfast,” Bob said. “This is all for you!” “Oh,” Jean cried. “Daddy was so silly! He’s been saving to come here for lunch for MONTHS and now he ruined his appetite with breakfast!” The waiter, Carl Bader, immediately realised what was going on and went to Mr Fargonetti, the restaurant owner, and told him about Jean and Bob.
An hour later, surprisingly, the waiter brought wonderful dishes and set them before the father and daughter. “Lunch is on the house with Mr Fargoneti’s compliments (致意),” Carl said. For Bob and Jean, it was a free but magical meal. They were on cloud nine when they walked out. “Jean,“ said Bob happily. “I feel our luck has changed!” And it did! The next day, one of Bob’s old friends called and offered him a job at a new magazine, and Jean believed Fargonetti’s had made it all happen. That was when she decided to become a chef!
Twenty years later, the old restaurant looked run-down and sad, but Jean recognised the waiter immediately. “Carl?” she asked delightedly.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The man looked surprised.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jean was staring at Carl and a brilliant idea was taking shape in her mind.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . On a long trip to Brisbane we stopped into a service station in Kilcoy for a bathroom break and some fuel. We went into the shop to the bathroom first and then the
He told my son that he loved his moves and it was a
Not many people
| A．company | B．counter | C．apartment | D．hall |
| A．tending | B．pointing | C．singing | D．adapting |
| A．used | B．addicted | C．devoted | D．opposed |
| A．clear | B．change | C．read | D．cross |
| A．expanded on | B．concentrated on | C．commented on | D．insisted on |
| A．mistake | B．delight | C．pity | D．comfort |
| A．frustrated | B．pleased | C．annoyed | D．tired |
| A．thanked | B．accepted | C．invited | D．assisted |
| A．prize | B．treasure | C．treat | D．pleasure |
| A．tough | B．significant | C．typical | D．small |
| A．take | B．draw | C．waste | D．use |
| A．outgoing | B．willing | C．optimistic | D．energetic |
| A．hopefully | B．slightly | C．curiously | D．obviously |
| A．gesture | B．attitude | C．thought | D．determination |
| A．help | B．build | C．make | D．ruin |
5 . If you have no difficulty in understanding what native English speakers say in daily life, there is a whole new world of brilliant podcast (播客) series to explore. If you aren’t sure where to start, have a look at these:
| The Joc Rogan Experience ★★★★★ The Joc Rogan Experience is a great learning device because of its interesting English conversations between Rogan and his guests. At the time of writing there have been over 1,660 episodes with subjects ranging from comedy and science to politics and sports. Rogan is also a famous stand-up comedian, so the show is full of cultural references and idioms. |
| This American Life ★★★★★ This American Life is a great choice for English learners who want an insight into the culture of the USA. It is a mixture of journalism and storytelling, focusing on real-life tales from citizens of all regions of the country. The stories are new and varied. One episode was taped for 24 hours in an all-night restaurant; another interviewed workers on strike. |
| The Writer's Voice ★★★★☆ The New Yorker is a famous American magazine, and every week it prints a new short story. In this podcast, the week's story is read aloud by its writer. The published work covers a wide range of life experiences across the United States and beyond. It's a great way to enjoy some of the best new fiction in the country. |
| Overheard at National Geographic ★★★★★ National Geographic is a much-loved American magazine (and TV channel) famous for incredible stories and photography related to science and the environment. Overheard is about the discussions Nat Geo employees have had while taking breaks. Expect crazy stories from explorers, photographers, and scientists from around the world. |
| A．have interaction with hosts |
| B．have good English competence |
| C．be interested in being a podcaster |
| D．be familiar with American social life |
| A．The Writer's Voice. |
| B．This American Life. |
| C．The Joe Rogan Experience. |
| D．Overheard at National Geographic. |
| A．They enjoy great popularity. |
| B．Their stories are set in America. |
| C．They are attached to magazines. |
| D．Their works are updated weekly. |
6 . Successful individuals do things just a little differently than the average people.
· They get real.
Don’t let the professional athletes fool you. Achieving racing success is not easy, even though there are some people out there who always seem to make it look so.
· They have grit (勇气).
Anyone who wants to take charge of their own future must have grit. It takes courage and thick skin to become a successful athlete. Fear of failure can be very unpleasant. There will always be naysayers (爱唱反调的人).
· They believe in being their best, rather than being the best.
Successful athletes know that there is always room for improvement. It’s like squeezing (挤) the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. Just when you think it’s empty, you squeeze out just a little more.
·
Successful athletes surround themselves with positive energy and other successful people. There is a quote that says, “Surround yourself with people who support your dreams.” In order to create success, you should find those people and groups that support your goals.
| A．They hang out with good apples. |
| B．The same goes for athletes as well. |
| C．They put themselves in others’ shoes. |
| D．Successful athletes know this and plan accordingly. |
| E．Success, therefore, is built on small sustainable changes. |
| F．In order to do this, you must first believe in your ability to do so. |
| G．However, you must commit to your goals and hold firm in the face of difficulties. |
| A．On account of; take | B．Despite; should take |
| C．Account for; should take | D．Due to; took |
8 . Drones(无人机) already fly and spy. Now, they can build too. A pair of drones working together made a tower taller than a person. Engineers demonstrated this new method of 3D printing in the lab. Mirko Kovac, who co-led the research, says that animal builders, bees, inspired him. They shared their success in Nature on September 22.
To print that person-sized tower, a Build-Drone carried expanding foam(泡沫). This material rapidly expands and hardens when sprayed(喷洒). The drone flew in a slow circle, spraying the foam downwards to form layers. When it ran out of material, it flew away so a person could reload it with more foam or replace the drone’s batteries. This type of foam tends to thicken unevenly. So, while a Build-Drone was being reloaded, a second, smaller drone surveyed the work. It was called Scan-Drone. It looked for places where the last layer was too thin or thick. Then it created a plan for the next layer to help even things out. This kept the tower straight and strong.
“This was an impressive demonstration,” says Andrea Tagliabue, who wasn’t involved in the research. As a graduate student in robotics at MIT, Tagliabue works on control systems for drones. However, he notes that the researchers still have challenges left to solve before 3D printing drones are useful in the real world. “Since these drones built structures inside a lab, they didn’t have to contend with wind or other outdoor disturbances. Also, cameras placed around the room could help track the drones’ positions and send them along the correct paths. Outdoors, the drones would have to navigate without this extra help,” says Tagliabue.
Kovac is already planning to do tests outdoors. He also plans to build more complex structures. He believes that drones can work together like bees in the future, and they will construct buildings or make repairs in places that are tough for human crews and heavy machinery to reach. “That may include disaster areas, the tops of tall buildings or even other planets,” Kovac says. “There’s a lot of interest in building on Mars with robots.”
1. How did drones make the tower stay straight?| A．They used hard and strong material. |
| B．They sprayed the foam downwards. |
| C．They kept a balance in layer thickness. |
| D．They thickened layers by adding more foam. |
| A．Rule out. | B．Compete with. | C．Give out. | D．Deal with. |
| A．They are full of promise. |
| B．They are widely in use now. |
| C．They can’t replace humans. |
| D．They can’t do complex tasks. |
| A．Drones Can Think and Learn like People |
| B．Drones Work Together to Print Structures |
| C．Drones Will Change the Future of Building |
| D．3D Printing Gets Bigger, Faster and Smarter |
9 . The human brain is the most complex and poorly understood biological structure known to man. Our human brain is relatively large for our body size and wrinkled in comparison to other animals’ brains. Across species, brain size and wrinkle number is related to intelligence.
University of Copenhagen researchers have made an incredible discovery seeking to learn more about the mammalian (哺乳动物的) brain. A vital enzyme, a special material, allows brain signals to be transmitted or transported. The enzyme is randomly turning on and off, even taking hours-long “breaks from work.” These discoveries could have a significant impact on our understanding of the brain and the development of medicines. The discovery is featured on the cover of Nature.
Millions of neurons (神经元) are constantly communicating with one another, shaping thoughts and memories and allowing us to move our bodies at will. Neurotransmitters are transported from one neuron to another by a unique enzyme when two neurons meet to exchange a message.
This process is necessary for neuronal communication as well as the survival of all complex organisms (extremely small living things). Until now, researchers all over the world assumed that these enzymes were constantly active, transmitting vital signals. However, this is not the case.
It is almost impossible to understand that the extremely critical process of loading neurotransmitters in containers is carried out by only one cell per container. Especially when we find that 40% of the time these cells are switched off.
Using a new method, researchers from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen closely examined the enzyme and discovered that its activity switches on and off at random periods of time, contradicting our previous understanding.
“Contrary to popular belief, and unlike many other proteins, these enzymes could stop working for minutes to hours. Still, the brains of humans and other mammals are miraculously able to function,” says Professor Dimitrios Stamou, who led the study from the research center at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Chemistry.
1. What is implied in the second paragraph?| A．The enzyme is continuously turning on and off. |
| B．Enzyme does not affect the transmission of brain signals. |
| C．No enzyme has been found in the mammalian brain so far. |
| D．Scientists used to think the special enzyme does not take a break. |
| A．The communication between neurons happens without stop. |
| B．We shape our thoughts though we may not have good memories. |
| C．The newly found unique enzyme is at the most time switched off. |
| D．Neurotransmitters transport a unique enzyme from one neuron to another. |
| A．There is enzyme in mammalian brains. |
| B．Mammalian brains function as human’s. |
| C．One cell can have such an important function. |
| D．40% of the critical cells are actually switched off. |
| A．A Surprising Significant Finding about Mammalian Brains |
| B．A Very Important Research Led by Professor Dimittrios Stamou |
| C．Researches on Brains of Animals Being Carried out By Scientists |
| D．A Completely New Method Employed by the Department of Chemistry |
| A．has been living | B．had lived | C．was living | D．lived |
