As you dash outdoors in the middle of winter, you might make it halfway down the block before realizing that your ears are freezing because you forgot your hat.
Now, scientists have shown that even though you’ve had an apparent memory lapse（丧失）, your brain never forgot what you should have done.
Memory works mainly by association. For example, as you try to remember where you left your keys, you might recall you last had them in the living room, which reminds you that there was an ad for soap on television, which reminds you that you need soap, and so on. And then, as you’re heading out of the door to buy soap, you remember that your keys are on the kitchen counter. Your brain knew where the keys were all along. It just took a round-about way to get there.
Now, scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are studying associative memory in monkeys to figure out just how this complicated process works.
First, the researchers trained a group of monkeys to remember arbitrary（任意的） pairs of symbols. The researchers showed the monkeys one symbol（cold weather） and then gave them the choice of two other symbols, one of which （a hat） would be associated with the first. A correct choice would earn them a sip of their favorite juice.
Most of the monkeys performed the test perfectly, but one kept making mistakes.
“We wondered what happened in the brain when the monkey made the wrong choice, although it apparently learned the right pairing of symbols,” said study leader Thomas Albright.
Albright and his team observed signals from the nerve cells in the monkey’s inferior temporal cortex （ITC）, an area of its brain used for visual pattern recognition and for storing this type of memory.
As the monkey was deciding which symbol to choose, about a quarter of the activity in the ITC was due to the choice behavior.
Meanwhile, more than half the activity was in a different group of nerve cells, which scientists believe represent the monkey’s memory of the correct symbol pairing, and surprisingly, these cells continued to work well even when the monkey chose the wrong symbol.
“In this sense, the cells ‘knew’ more than the monkeys let on in their behavior,” Albright said. “Thus, behavior may vary, but knowledge endures.”
【小题1】What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Your brain remembers what you forget.

B．Activity is a round-about way to memory.

C．Monkeys have better memory than us.

D．Your brain may forget something, but not always.

【小题2】The example of the keys and soap is given to explain the relationship between _______.

A．memory and our daily life	B．memory and television ads
C．memory and association	D．memory lapse and human brain

【小题3】The researchers believe the monkey that made the wrong choice ________.

A．had some trouble with its nerve system	B．failed to see the objects well
C．had the worst memory	D．also knew the correct answer

【小题4】The underlined word “endures” may be best replaced by __________.

A．increases

B．remains

C．disappears

D．improves

I bent down in the shade under a sixty-foot-tall cactus（仙人掌）, waiting for them to appear. The time was eight thirty in the morning. For seven mornings I had come to the same distant spot in the Sonoran Desert, in southern Arizona. I was here to watch the roadrunner, a small fast-running bird.

I spotted two birds under a bush with red flowers. The roadrunners rushed out from under it. The birds moved rapidly on long skinny legs. Their feathers were brown and black. Their tails were seven inches long. Roadrunners use the tail for balance when running.

That day, the roadrunners performed a courtship（求婚）dance. They ran in wild circles. Suddenly, one stopped and stood still, its round eyes full of light. The second bird took hold of a small stick off the ground and presented it to the first, a gift serving as a symbol of their partnership.

    I returned to the spot each day, leaving bits of boiled chicken hoping they would return. Roadrunners eat snakes, lizards, mice, beetles, and spiders. Food is in short supply in the desert, so my offerings were welcome. The pair grew used to me.

    Soon after the pair finished building their nest six white eggs appeared in the nest bowl. In about three weeks, six roadrunner chicks, skin as black as coal, cried for food. Their parents brought food such as fence lizards and stink bugs. They fed their young until they were a month and a half old.

    Early one morning, a coyote（丛林狼）came around, nose to the ground, for fresh bird meat. The roadrunners fearlessly drove the coyote away, but it was soon back. After three attacks the coyote went away for good, tail between its legs.

    I stopped watching the nest when the little roadrunners, at two months of age, were ready to live on their own. It was hard to break away from “my roadrunner family.” Whenever I see a roadrunner now, rushing over the ground, I say hello to it as an old friend.

1.The author went to the Sonoran Desert to       .

   A. go on a tour of the desert

   B. carry out research into some animals in the desert

C. make an observation about a kind of bird

   D. enjoy an adventure in southern Arizona

2.What can we learn about roadrunners from the text?

A. They have short tails and legs.        

B. They move at a fast pace.

C. Their feathers are red and brown.      

D. They don’t like boiled chicken.

3.We can learn from the last but one paragraph that the roadrunners were        .

   A. brave         B. clever         C. easily-frightened         D. lazy

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

   A. How do roadrunners seek a partner?

B. My close friendship with roadrunners.

   C. Roadrunner family in the Sonoran Desert.        

D. How did I find roadrunners in Arizona?

 

As you dash outdoors in the middle of winter, you might make it halfway down the block before realizing that your ears are freezing because you forgot your hat.

Now, scientists have shown that even though you’ve had an apparent memory lapse（丧失）, your brain never forgot what you should have done.

Memory works mainly by association. For example, as you try to remember where you left your keys, you might recall you last had them in the living room, which reminds you that there was an ad for soap on television, which reminds you that you need soap, and so on. And then, as you’re heading out of the door to buy soap, you remember that your keys are on the kitchen counter. Your brain knew where the keys were all along. It just took a round-about way to get there.

Now, scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are studying associative memory in monkeys to figure out just how this complicated process works.

First, the researchers trained a group of monkeys to remember arbitrary（任意的） pairs of symbols. The researchers showed the monkeys one symbol（cold weather） and then gave them the choice of two other symbols, one of which （a hat） would be associated with the first. A correct choice would earn them a sip of their favorite juice.

Most of the monkeys performed the test perfectly, but one kept making mistakes.

“We wondered what happened in the brain when the monkey made the wrong choice, although it apparently learned the right pairing of symbols,” said study leader Thomas Albright.

Albright and his team observed signals from the nerve cells in the monkey’s inferior temporal cortex （ITC）, an area of its brain used for visual pattern recognition and for storing this type of memory.

As the monkey was deciding which symbol to choose, about a quarter of the activity in the ITC was due to the choice behavior.

Meanwhile, more than half the activity was in a different group of nerve cells, which scientists believe represent the monkey’s memory of the correct symbol pairing, and surprisingly, these cells continued to work well even when the monkey chose the wrong symbol.

“In this sense, the cells ‘knew’ more than the monkeys let on in their behavior,” Albright said. “Thus, behavior may vary, but knowledge endures.”

What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Your brain remembers what you forget.

B. Activity is a round-about way to memory.  

C. Monkeys have better memory than us.

D. Your brain may forget something, but not always.

The example of the keys and soap is given to explain the relationship between _______.

A. memory and our daily life   B. memory and television ads

C. memory and association       D. memory lapse and human brain

The researchers believe the monkey that made the wrong choice ________.

A. had some trouble with its nerve system  B. failed to see the objects well

C. had the worst memory     D. also knew the correct answer

The underlined word “endures” may be best replaced by __________.

A. increases        B. remains      C. disappears       D. improves

I bent down in the shade under a sixty-foot-tall cactus（仙人掌）, waiting for them to appear. The time was eight thirty in the morning. For seven mornings I had come to the same distant spot in the Sonoran Desert, in southern Arizona. I was here to watch the roadrunner, a small fast-running bird.
I spotted two birds under a bush with red flowers. The roadrunners rushed out from under it. The birds moved rapidly on long skinny legs. Their feathers were brown and black. Their tails were seven inches long. Roadrunners use the tail for balance when running.
That day, the roadrunners performed a courtship（求婚）dance. They ran in wild circles. Suddenly, one stopped and stood still, its round eyes full of light. The second bird took hold of a small stick off the ground and presented it to the first, a gift serving as a symbol of their partnership.
I returned to the spot each day, leaving bits of boiled chicken hoping they would return. Roadrunners eat snakes, lizards, mice, beetles, and spiders. Food is in short supply in the desert, so my offerings were welcome. The pair grew used to me.
Soon after the pair finished building their nest six white eggs appeared in the nest bowl. In about three weeks, six roadrunner chicks, skin as black as coal, cried for food. Their parents brought food such as fence lizards and stink bugs. They fed their young until they were a month and a half old.
Early one morning, a coyote（丛林狼）came around, nose to the ground, for fresh bird meat. The roadrunners fearlessly drove the coyote away, but it was soon back. After three attacks the coyote went away for good, tail between its legs.
I stopped watching the nest when the little roadrunners, at two months of age, were ready to live on their own. It was hard to break away from “my roadrunner family.” Whenever I see a roadrunner now, rushing over the ground, I say hello to it as an old friend.
【小题1】The author went to the Sonoran Desert to       .

A．go on a tour of the desert

B．carry out research into some animals in the desert

C．make an observation about a kind of bird

D．enjoy an adventure in southern Arizona

【小题2】What can we learn about roadrunners from the text?

A．They have short tails and legs.

B．They move at a fast pace.

C．Their feathers are red and brown.

D．They don’t like boiled chicken.

【小题3】We can learn from the last but one paragraph that the roadrunners were        .

A．brave

B．clever

C．easily-frightened

D．lazy

【小题4】Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．How do roadrunners seek a partner?

B．My close friendship with roadrunners.

C．Roadrunner family in the Sonoran Desert.

D．How did I find roadrunners in Arizona?

 

说明：阅读下面短文，根据短文内容从A-F选项中选出一个最恰当的选项作为每段的标题，选项中有一项为多余选项。

A.      Current situation and future of reality shows

B.      Audience’s reaction to reality TV

C.      Critics’ relevant comments

D.      Attractions for producers and participants

E.       Definition of “watch and dial ”show

F.       Introduction to new reality shows

 

74.

 European television had the idea of taking ordinary people and turning them into “stars” by putting them in unusual situation. “Big Brother” (created in Holland) was one of the first. A group of people were locked in a small house with cameras running 24 hours a day. It was called a “watch and dial” show because viewers vote by telephone to decide who should leave or stay.

75.

“Big Brother” was probably the first of the new reality shows, but such a programme has developed. Many have found appeal(有吸引力) by having a theme to them, but most are based on the principle of “survival of the fittest” by eliminating(排除) participants(参与者) as the series progresses .So we have the dating shows where winners either pair off or stay true to their partners outside the TV studio. Then there are those that test people’s abilities for specific jobs like running a kitchen, becoming an interior designer or a top model.

76.

Critics say these programmes are basically bad television, but people watch them. So why are there so many of them? For the viewer it’s an opportunity to “people watch”. It’s natural to like watching other people. They’re interesting. We can imagine what we would do in that situation. We get to know the characters and see them grow and develop week after week. And of course, television is the perfect place to watch people. Like the theatre or cinema we can look at other people and they can’t look back. But with television, we can watch in our own homes. We watch, but we don’t have to admit it to anyone.

77.

The TV companies like reality shows because they are cheap to produce and attract younger viewers, which advertisers like. The last “Big Brother” in Britain attracted enormous(巨大的) advertising revenue. They aren’t dependent on “star” actors with enormous salaries. And your actors won’t go on strike. And why do people participate in them? Well, for fame and money of course. In the past, appearing on television wasn’t for ordinary people. You had to be good at something, like sport, or reading the news, or acting .But not any more

78.

It seems that most shows do well at the beginning but then the viewing figures begin to fall .And it varies from country to country too. For example ,one show had an adopted child try to guess the identity of her real father, and another had a family arguing over an inheritance（遗产）.Both were cancelled after one episode(一集). Perhaps the novelty(新鲜感) has worn off. Certainly, reality TV seems to appeal much more to the younger audience. And now there are so many shows around even the young have become more critical. Reality show will probably survive—it’s just no longer so easy to make a successful one .