Question

Below is a selection from a popular science book.

If blood is red, why are veins(静脉) blue?

Actually, veins are not blue at all. They are more of a clear, yellowish colour. Although blood looks red when it's outside the body, when it's sitting in a vein near the surface of the skin, it's more of a dark reddish purple colour. At the right depth, these blood-filled veins reflect less red light than the surrounding skin, making them look blue by comparison.

Which works harder, your heart or your brain?

This question depends on whether you're busy thinking or busy exercising. Your heart works up to three times harder during exercise, and shifts enough blood over a lifetime to fill a supertanker. But, in the long run, your brain probably tips it, because even when you're sitting still your brain is using twice as much energy as your heart, and it takes four to five times as much blood to feed it.

Do old people shrink as they age?

Yes and no. Many people do get shorter as they age. But, when they do, it isn't because they're shrinking all over. They simply lose height as their spine(脊柱) becomes shorter and more curved due to disuse and the effects of gravity(重力). Many (but not all) men and women do lose height as they get older. Men lose an average of 3－4 cm in height as they age, while women may lose 5 cm or more. If you live to be 200 years old, would you keep shrinking till you were, like 60 cm tall, like a little boy again？No, because old people don't really shrink！It is not that they are growing backwards—their legs, arms and backbones getting shorter. When they do get shorter, it's because the spine has shortened a little. Or, more often, become more bent and curved.

Why does spinning make you dizzy(眩晕的)?

Because your brain gets confused between what you're seeing and what you're feeling. The brain senses that you're spinning using special gravity and motion sensing organs in your inner ear, which work together with your eyes to keep your vision and balance stable. But when you suddenly stop spinning , the system goes out of control, and your brain thinks you're moving while you're not!

Where do feelings and emotions come from?

Mostly from an ancient part of the brain called the limbic system. All mammals have this brain area—from mice to dogs, cats, and humans. So all mammals feel basic emotions like fear, pain and pleasure. But since human feelings also involve other newer bits of the brain, we feel more complex emotions than any other animal on the planet.

1.What is the colour of blood in a vein near the surface of the skin?

A. Blue. B. Light yellow.

C. Red. D. Dark reddish purple.

2.Why do some old people look a little shrunken as they age?

A. Their spine is in active use.

B. They are more easily affected by gravity.

C. They keep growing backwards.

D. Their spine becomes more bent.

3.Which of the following statements about our brain is TRUE?

A. In the long run, our brain probably works harder than our heart.

B. When our brain senses the spinning, we will feel dizzy.

C. The brains of the other mammals are as complex as those of humans.

D. Our feelings and emotions come from the most developed area in our brain.

4.What is the main purpose of the selection?

A. To give advice on how to stay healthy.

B. To provide information about our body.

C. To challenge new findings in medical research.

D. To report the latest discoveries in medical science.

 

Answer 1

1.D

2.D

3.A

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：文章摘自一本科学书籍，主要向人们介绍了一些关于人类身体的知识。比如，为什么静脉血管看起来是蓝色的？大脑和心脏，那个更辛苦？老年人随着年老会变矮吗？为什么转圈会感到头晕？情感和情绪来自哪里？等。

1.when it's sitting in a vein near the surface of the skin, it's more of a dark reddish purple colour”可知，血液在皮肤表层的静脉血管中时，是一种暗紫红色，故选D。

2.They simply lose height as their spine(脊柱) becomes shorter and more curved”可知，随着年龄增长，脊柱会在重压下变得弯曲，这让整个人看起来似乎矮了一些，故选D。

3.But, in the long run, your brain probably tips it, ...because even when you're sitting still your brain is using twice as much energy as your heart, ”可知，长远来看，大脑要比心脏更劳累，因为即使一个人坐着不动，他的大脑也需要比心脏多两倍的能量，故选A。

4.If blood is red, why are veins(静脉) blue? ...Which works harder, your heart or your brain? ...Do old people shrink as they age? ...Why does spinning make you dizzy(眩晕的)? ...Where do feelings and emotions come from?”可知，文章主要介绍了一些有关我们人体的知识，故选B。

考点：科学类短文阅读