题型：任务型阅读 题类：模拟题 难易度：困难
江苏省镇江市2019届高三英语一模考试试卷（含小段音频）
Decoding the young brain
There was a funny experiment to see how a young child would answer a specific question compared to an adult. After the adult had spent some time speaking with the child, he asked the child, “What do you think about me？” The child answered, “You talk too much.” When the adult performed the same experiment with another adult, the reply to the same question was, “I think you're a very interesting person.” Even if the adult felt the same way as the child, his brain allowed him to take a moment，consider the question, and come up with an answer. He could have been annoyed, but his answer didn't reflect it because he was being polite.
The secret lies in the science of the developing brain. The child's honest answer was reflected in the fact that his brain wasn't equipped to filter(过滤) information before answering the question. As a result, he was honest, but he said something that may have been hurtful. However, the child did not intentionally hurt the adult; it's just the way his brain works. As a child grows into adolescence and then into adulthood, that changes.
The human brain is made up of billions of neurons(神经元). In order for our body to execute a command, like getting up from a chair and walking to the other room, the neurons in the brain have to communicate with each other. They also help us employ our senses like taste and touch and help us remember things.
When the neurons send messages, perhaps one sensation(感觉) the person feels is excitement about eating a cookie because it is so delicious. Later, if that person smells a cookie or hears someone talking about a cookie, it can spark the electrical signals that call up the memory of eating the delicious cookie. In an adult, he or she may remember that eating too many cookies can have consequences, like weight gain. But because the younger brain is more impulsive(冲动的), the desire to feel the pleasure of the sweet treat outweighs the consequences.
That is because when a child is young, his brain is “wired” in such a way that he seeks pleasure and is more willing to take risks than an adult. This affects his decision-making process and it is why younger people tend to be more impulsive. Sometimes parents have to tell their children over and over again before the child remembers that something is dangerous or risky. How many times have we heard a parent say, “I tell her this all the time, but she never listens！”
To conclude, what we know about the young brain is that children are more likely than adults to be impulsive. It isn't always necessarily because they are being naughty; it may very well be because of their brains. So the next time you ask a child what he really thinks of you, be prepared for any kind of answer.
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Decoding the young brain |
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An experiment on a young child |
A young child answered the question the top of his head while an adult paused, and twice before he found an answer. |
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Causes of the reflected in the experiment |
The developing brain of the young child contributed to his honest answer. ◆He was more likely to hurt or offend others he didn't intend to do so. ◆It's just the way his brain works and with him growing up, that changes. |
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Billions of neurons up the human brain have their own mechanism for functioning. ◆The neurons have to communicate with each other, helping us employ our senses and remember things. ◆A person may the smell of a cookie with the memory of eating it. ◆A younger brain is more impulsive compared with an adult's. |
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A young child's having a natural to seek pleasure and take risks results from his young brain. ◆This affects his decision-making process and it is why younger people act in an impulsive way. ◆Warned many times before, a young child will still try something or risky. |
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A conclusion drawn from the experiment |
An adult's ability to control his impulses is much and a young child is not being naughty when they make hurtful or offensive answers. |
Maybe you are an average student. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} This is not necessarily so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here's how.
Plan your time carefully. When planning your work, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time.
Make good use of your time in class. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Listening carefully in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says.
Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes; look at the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you'll remember it longer.
Develop a good attitude towards tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't be over worried.
{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You will probably discover them after you have tried these.
A. There are other methods that might help you with your studying. B. Don't forget to set aside enough time for relaxation. C. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teacher says. D. No one can become a top student unless he or she works hard. E. You probably think you will never be a top student. F. Make full use of class time to take notes of what the teacher says in class. G. This will help you understand the next class. |
The steady increase in women having babies later in life is undeniable. First-time mothers are more likely to be 35 or older than their counterparts (对应者) from two decades ago, according to the Pew Research Center. While the number of first-time moms between ages 20 and 24 falls, the number of births to women in their 30s and 40s keeps growing. In addition, recent wide-ranging studies have found significant long-term benefits in waiting to have babies. These benefits counterbalance (抵消) some worries about being an older mother and the effects it may have on children.
Longevity for women who wait
A study in the journal Menopause examined older mothers' life expectancy (寿命) and found that women who had their last child after the age of 33 are more likely to live to 95. In fact, researchers reported that these women had twice the chance of living to 95 or older than those who had their last child before their 30th birthday. The news for women having babies after 40 is equally promising.
Boosted brainpower for older mothers
It's also possible that later pregnancies (怀孕) protect against cognitive decline. Researchers at the University of Southern California found that women have better brainpower if they have their last baby after age 35. The researchers looked at the pregnancy history of a group of 830 women ages 41 to 92. Their research provides strong evidence of a positive association between later age at last pregnancy and late-life cognition.
Increased income over time
There's a measurable link between the age you have your first child and income gains and losses. Women who start their families when they are older are likely to increase their earning potential.
Educational and emotional support for children
Older parents who are less stressed about income or job security tend to be more patient and can spend more time with their children. Parents who have more secondary education can also offer more specific stimulation to their children, which can be helpful for development. An investigation of 8- to 12-year-olds explored how specific parenting beliefs and behaviors—such as reading, constructive play and emotional support—affected child development. The research published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that parent education and income positively affect child achievement.
Having babies later in life
Common phenomenon | It can't be{#blank#}1{#/blank#}that the number of women having babies later in life is steadily {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. | |
Long-term {#blank#}3{#/blank#} in waiting to have babies | Longevity for women who wait | • {#blank#}4{#/blank#}with those who had their last child before 30, women giving{#blank#}5{#/blank#}to last child after 33 or even 40 are more likely to live to 95 or older. |
Boosted brainpower for older mothers | • Later pregnancies prevent late-life cognition from {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. • Research on 830 women proves that there is a {#blank#}7{#/blank#} association between later age at last pregnancy and late-life cognition. | |
Increased income over time | Older mothers have the potential of increasing their income in the future. | |
Educational and {#blank#}8{#/blank#}support for children | • {#blank#}9{#/blank#} more patience and more time, older parents with higher income and education can also offer specific stimulation to children. • Specific parenting beliefs and behaviors have influence on child {#blank#}10{#/blank#} | |
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A. Use words, not complete sentences. B. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it. C. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes. D. You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes. |
Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.
You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}
The following methods may work best for you.
●Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.
●Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.
●Write your notes in your own words.
●{#blank#}4{#/blank#}
●Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.
As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand (速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols (符号) and that you use them all the time. Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later.
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