10.It's the place where smart people make smart machines work even smarter.It's also in the heart of sunny California,a great place to start a family and raise kids.What could be better?
But something is happening to their children.Up until the age of two they develop normally.But then everything seems to go backwards.The children become lock A.It helps the homeless teenagers.into their own small world,unable to communicate at all.
They call it the"curse(诅咒)of Silicon Valley,"but the medical name for the condition is autism(自闭症).It used to be thought that autism was a kind of mental illness.Now doctors are sure that it is a neurological disease transmitted genetically.It seems that the people leading the communications revolution are having children who cannot communicate at all.
But even the parents have trouble communicating.Asperger's Syndrome is a mild version of autism.People who have it are highly intelligent and often brilliant with numbers or system but have no social skill.This very combination of symptoms makes Asperger's sufferers into ideal computer professionals.
The Asperger's sufferer has always been a well-known figure in popular culture.He or she was the eccentric but dedicated scholar or the strange uncle or auntie who never married.But the high numbers of such people in Silicon Valley mean that they can meet others who understand them and share their interests.And while they might not be personally attractive,they can earn truly attractive amounts of money.They can get married and have kids.Unfortunately,many of the children of two Asperger's parents seem to be developing serious autism.
There is little anyone can do.It takes hours of work just to make autistic child realize that anyone else exists.And there is no cure in sight.Some argue that no cure should be found."It may be that autistics are essentially different from normal people,but that these differences make them invaluable for the evolution of the human race,"says Dr.Kirk Whilhelmsen of the University of California."To eliminate the genes for autism could be disastrous.
It seems that the children of Silicon Valley are paying the price of genius.
9.What does Dr Kirk Whilhelmsen think of autism?B
A.It is disastrous to society.
B.It is not completely a bad thing.
C.It is a punishment to those working in Silicon Valley.
D.People with autism should never marry.
10.Why do people call autism"curse of Silicon Valley"?B
A.Because autistic people live in Silicon Valley.
B.Because many people working in Silicon Valley have autism children.
C.Because people with autism will be driven out of Silicon Valley.
D.Because people with autism are not personally attractive and not liked by others.
11.What can we know about Asperger's Syndrome according to the passage?A
A.Asperger's sufferers are ideal computer professionals.
B.Asperger's sufferers never get married and have children.
C.Asperger's sufferers are ashamed of themselves and locked into their own world.
D.Asperger's sufferers can be beneficial to society if they are cured.
分析 本文是一篇科教类阅读.文章主要介绍了很多在硅谷工作的人都有自闭症的孩子,他们缺乏与人交流的能力,不关注周围的人.而Asperger的患者也有同样严重的问题,但他们同时也是电脑方面的天才.
解答 9-11 BBA
9.B.细节理解题.根据"but that these differences make them invaluable for the evolution of the human race"可知Dr Kirk Whilhelmsen认为自闭症不完全是一件坏事.故选B.
10.B.推理判断题.根据"It seems that the people leading the communications revolution are having children who cannot communicate at all."可知人们把自闭症称为"curse of Silicon Valley"是因为很多在硅谷工作的人都有自闭症的孩子.故选B.
11.A.细节理解题.根据"People who have it are highly intelligent and often brilliant with numbers or system but have no social skill.This very combination of symptoms makes Asperger's sufferers into ideal computer professionals."可知Asperger的患者是理想的电脑专业人员.故选A.
点评 本文是一篇科教类阅读.此类题型主要考查学生的细节理解和推理判断能力.细节理解题是针对文中某个细节、某句话或某部分具体内容设置问题,所以在做细节理解题时要结合原文和提干有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析,再结合选项选出正确答案.在做推理判断题时不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实,要联系上下文根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断.