Question

They tell us when to get up or when we’re running late for work and whether we are in danger of missing our favourite TV programme. But while our daily routines rely on clocks that tell us the time, science is discovering that our well-being is influenced by a very different kind of timepiece. Circadian rhythms---the human body’s own internal clock---have a powerful influence on our health and behaviour. They are programmed from birth and control functions ranging from temperature and blood pressure to sleep patterns.
In recent years researchers have also discovered that this built-in mechanism can influence everything from the way we react to medicines to how well we learn music.
The latest example, from experts at Harvard University in the US, shows that the human body clock can even dictate whether or not we are likely to tell the truth. Researchers found it was easier for people to fib（撒小谎） in the afternoon because, as they were tired, the self control that would normally prevent them from lying started to break down. Tiredness made it harder to resist the temptation to tell lies---especially if it meant they got a financial reward at the end.
“The body clock has a great effect on us all,” says Professor Jim Horne from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University. “Most people tend to feel good around late morning and then decline in the early afternoon. But the time most of us will feel our sharpest is between 6pm and 8pm. That’s because sleepiness tends to build up throughout the day. By early evening our body clock kicks in to wake us up. One reason may be to ensure we get home safely. When our ancestors were coming home after hunting all day their internal clocks kicked in to get them home in one piece.”
So what effects do circadian rhythms have and what’s the best time of day to take advantage of them?
【小题1】The underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refers to          .

A．our clocks	B．scientists and experts
C．our daily routines	D．circadian rhythms

【小题2】The research referred to in Paragraph 3 found that people tend to          .

A．tell lies when they are tired

B．tell lies if they are rewarded

C．lose temper as they become tired

D．break down because they are tired

【小题3】 According to the passage, when are people most quick-thinking?

A．In the morning.	B．Around midday.
C．In the late afternoon.	D．In the early evening.

【小题4】What information will the writer probably present following the last paragraph?

A．Some practical suggestions to prevent people from lying.

B．Examples of how the human body clocks control the body.

C．Examples of the most suitable time to do different activities.

D．An explanation of how the human body clock controls the body.

【小题5】 What is the best title for the passage?

A．Rebuild your body clock	B．Timing is everything
C．Sleep more, lie less	D．Your time is limited

Answer 1

【小题1】D
【小题2】A
【小题3】D
【小题4】C
【小题5】B

解析试题分析：文章介绍了人体中的昼夜节律对我们时间安排的影响，研究表明我们的一些日常活动都是受它的影响。
【小题1】猜词题：根据划线单词前面的句子：Circadian rhythms---the human body’s own internal clock---have a powerful influence on our health and behaviour.可知下文的they指的是Circadian rhythms--昼夜节律，所以选D。
【小题2】细节题：根据第三段的句子：researchers found it was easier for people to fib（撒小谎） in the afternoon because, as they were tired, the self control that would normally prevent them from lying started to break down.可知人们在疲劳的时候更容易撒谎，所以选A。
【小题3】细节题：根据第四段的句子：But the time most of us will feel our sharpest is between 6pm and 8pm. That’s because sleepiness tends to build up throughout the day. By early evening our body clock kicks in to wake us up. 可知人们在傍晚的时候是思维最敏捷的时候，所以选D。
【小题4】推理题：根据文章的最后一句话：So what effects do circadian rhythms have and what’s the best time of day to take advantage of them?可知下面的内容应该是举例说明最适合做什么事情的时间，所以选C。
【小题5】主旨题：根据全篇文章和第一段的句子：But while our daily routines rely on clocks that tell us the time, science is discovering that our well-being is influenced by a very different kind of timepiece.可知文章介绍了人体中的昼夜节律对我们时间安排的影响，也就是时间安排就是一切，所以选B。
考点: 考查科普类短文