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Hacking our senses to boost learning power
Some schools are pumping music, noises and pleasant smells into the classroom to see if it improves exam results. Could it work? Why do songs stick in our heads? What does your school smell like? Is it noisy or peaceful?
It might not seem important, but a growing body of research suggests that smells and sounds can have an impact on learning, performance and creativity. Indeed, some head teachers have recently taken to broadcasting noises and pumping smells into their schools to see whether it can boost grades. Is there anything in it? And if so, what are the implications for the way we work and study?
There is certainly some well-established research to suggest that some noises can have a harmful effect on learning. Numerous studies over the past 15 years have found that children attending schools under the flight paths of large airports fall behind in their exam results. Bridget Shield, a professor of acoustics (声学) at London South Bank University, and Julie Dockrell, from the Institute of Education, have been conducting studies on the effects of all sorts of noises, such as traffic and sirens (汽笛), as well as noise generated by the children themselves. When they recreated those particular sounds in an experimental setting while children completed various learning tasks, they found a significant negative effect on exam scores. “Everything points to a bad impact of the noise on children’s performance, in numeracy, in literacy, and in spelling,” says Shield. The noise seemed to have an especially harmful effect on children with special needs.
Whether background sounds are beneficial or not seems to depend on what kind of noise it is — and the volume. In a series of studies published last year, Ravi Mehta from the College of Business at Illinois and his colleagues tested people’s creativity while exposed to a soundtrack made up of background noises — such as coffee-shop chatter and construction-site drilling — at different volumes. They found that people were more creative when the background noises were played at a medium level than when volume was low. Loud background noise, however, damaged their creativity.
Many teachers all over the world already play music to students in class. Many are inspired by the belief that hearing music can boost IQ in later tasks, the so-called Mozart effect. While the evidence actually suggests it’s hard to say classical music boosts brainpower, researchers do think pleasant sounds before a task can sometimes lift your mood and help you perform well, says Perham, who has done his own studies on the phenomenon. The key appears to be that you enjoy what you’re hearing. “If you like the music or you like the sound — even listening to a Stephen King novel — then you do better. It doesn’t matter about the music,” he says.
So, it seems that schools that choose to prevent disturbing noises and create positive soundscapes could enhance the learning of their students, so long as they make careful choices. Yet this isn’t the only sense being used to affect learning. Special educational needs students at Sydenham high school in London are being encouraged to revise different subjects in the presence of different smells — grapefruit scents for maths, lavender for French and spearmint for history.
小题1:The four questions in the first paragraph are meant to ________.
A.create some sense of humour to please the readers
B.provide the most frequently asked questions in schools nowadays
C.hold the readers’ attention and arouse their curiosity to go on reading
D.declare the purpose of the article: to try to offer key to those questions
小题2:What does the conclusion of the studies of noise conducted by Bridget Shield and Julie Dockrell suggest?
A.Peaceful music plays an active role in students’ learning.
B.Not all noises have a negative impact on children’s performance.
C.We should create for school children a more peaceful environment.
D.Children with special needs might be exposed to some particular sounds.
小题3:Ravi Mehta’s experiment indicates that ________.
A.students’ creativity improves in a quiet environment
B.we may play some Mozart music while students are learning
C.a proper volume of background noises does improve creativity
D.noise of coffee-shop chatter is better than that of construction-site drilling
小题4:Towards the positive impact of appropriate background sound and smell on students’ learning and creativity, the author’s attitude is ________.
A.ambiguousB.doubtfulC.negativeD.supportive
小题5:Which of the following is most likely to follow up the research findings?
A.Experts’ research into other senses that can improve students’ grades.
B.More successful examples of boosting learning power by using music.
C.Suggestions for pumping lots of pleasant smells into school campuses.
D.Debates on whether noises can really have positive effect on students’ performance.

答案

小题1:C
小题2:C
小题3:C
小题4:D
小题5:A
解析

试题分析:一些学校在教室里给学生播放音乐,并且使教室充满令人宜人的味道、他们这样做的目的是看看这样是否能提高学生的考试成绩。在本文中作者通过对几个实验的介绍表明适当的音乐和使人愉悦的味道的确会起到积极的作用。
小题1:C推理判断题。本文介绍了音乐和噪音对人思维和智力的影响,作者在开头提出问题是为了引出话题,同时引起读者的兴趣,故答案选C。
小题2:C细节理解题。根据第三段对Bridget Shield and Julie Dockrell实验结果的介绍Everything points to a bad impact of the noise on children’s performance,….. The noise seemed to have an especially harmful effect on children with special needs. 可以知噪音影响着孩子们的考试成绩 ,所以我们要为孩子们营造一个好的学习环境,答案选C。
小题3:C细节理解题。从文章第四段Ravi Mehta的实验结果They found that people were more creative when the background noises were played at a medium level than when volume was low. Loud background noise, however, damaged their creativity. 可知合适音量的背景音乐会提升人们的创造力,故答案选C。
小题4:D细节理解题。由文章末段内容So, it seems that schools that choose to prevent disturbing noises and create positive soundscapes could enhance the learning of their students, so long as they make careful choices.可以判断作者对于对学生有积极影响的声音和气味是持支持态度的,故答案选D。
小题5:A推理判断题。文章末段提出Special educational needs students…… are being encouraged to revise different subjects in the presence of different smells ……,由此可以推测科学家会继续对影响人们智力和创造力的其他味道进行研究,答案选A。.
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试题【Hacking our senses to boost learning powerSome schools are pumping music, noises】;主要考察你对题材分类等知识点的理解。[详细]
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Flight cancellations(取消) and loss of luggage can ruin even the best-planned holiday. The key to a stress-free trip is having a backup plan.
Fly non-stop. The worst problems involve connections, so it is important to take non-stop flights whenever possible. If you do have to make a connection, try to route through a southern city, where snowstorms and de-icing delays will be less likely. Always allow at least two to three hours for flight connections.
Check the weather. Check the weather in your connecting city, not just the arrival and departure city. If your departure flight is cancelled because of weather, you can go home or back to your hotel. Airlines promise to get you on the next available flight, not the next flight. That could be several days later on a sold-out holiday weekend.
Go early. The earlier in the day you fly, the better your chance of getting rebooked the same day after a missed connection. It will also put you ahead of stranded(滞留的) passengers who arrive later.
Rebook immediately. As soon as your flight is delayed or cancelled, get on the phone and rebook your flight instead of waiting at the ticket counter. If your rebooking is delayed, call or ask your travel agent to find a seat on another carrier, and then ask your original carrier to endorse your ticket to the new airline. Airlines are not required to do this but often do. Learn more at www. dot. gov/ airconsumer/ fly-rights.
Ship bags. A few days before your flight, ship suitcases or holiday gifts to your destination by a documented express service. It’s preferable to losing bags because of re-routed flights and sometimes cheaper than paying airline overweight bag fees.
Know your rights. Airlines are not required to compensate passengers for delayed or cancelled flights, but it never hurts to ask for goodwill vouchers(折扣) for meals, taxis or a room.
小题1:When making a flight connection, it’s common that you’ll___________.
A.stop in the south
B.choose a good city without snowstorm
C.be trapped in the storm
D.wait for two or three hours
小题2:The suggested way for you to rebook your flight is___________.
A.through the phone
B.by waiting at the ticket counter
C.by changing another airline
D.by surfing the Internet
小题3:According to the passage, we can infer____________.
A.it will take long to rebook the tickets
B.your luggage is easy to be lost
C.you will pay more for your overweight luggage
D.with the same ticket you can take the next flight
小题4:The underlined word “compensate” in the last paragraph can be replaced by “___________”.
A.payB.askC.hostD.treat
小题5:What’s the best title of the passage?
A.The Worst Problem in the Trip.
B.The Preparation Before the Flight Trip.
C.How to Book the Plane Ticket.
D.How to Plan the Holiday.

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When I settled in Chicago, my new city seemed so big and unfriendly. Then I had a        problem and had to go to hospital for a       examination.
It seemed a small       compared to the one I was about to face ,but things started to go       right from the beginning.Not having a car or      the city, I was depending on a couple of buses to get me from A  to B.        I’d left myself plenty of time, soon it was        I was going to be late, as I had mistakenly boarded a bus that was taking me in the       direction.
I       the bus and stood on the pavement not knowing what to do. I looked into the eyes of a         , who was trying to get past me     , instead of moving on,she stopped to ask if I was       . After I explained my        to her, she pointed to a bus stop across the street, where a bus would take me back into the city to my         . Sitting there waiting, I felt       that someone had been willing to help.       , hearing a horn (喇叭) nearby, I looked up to see a car with my new friend        at me to get in. She had returned to offer me a        to the hospital.
Such unexpected         from a passer-by was a lovely gift to receive. As I climbed out of the car at the hospital and turned to thank her, she smiled and told me not to lose        , for all things are possible.
小题1:
A.physicalB.travelingC.socialD.housing
小题2:
A.scientificB.finalC.previousD.thorough
小题3:
A.chanceB.challengeC.successD.error
小题4:
A.wrongB.easyC.fastD.ahead
小题5:
A.leavingB.visitingC.knowingD.appreciating
小题6:
A.AlthoughB.SinceC.UnlessD.Once
小题7:
A.strangeB.necessaryC.obviousD.important
小题8:
A.sameB.rightC.generalD.opposite
小题9:
A.looked atB.waited forC.got offD.ran into
小题10:
A.driverB.friendC.strangerD.gentleman
小题11:
A.EspeciallyB.SurprisinglyC.ProbablyD.Normally
小题12:
A.nervousB.excitedC.OKD.dangerous
小题13:
A.ideaB.motivationC.excuseD.situation
小题14:
A.appointmentB.apartmentC.directionD.station
小题15:
A.afraidB.gratefulC.certainD.disappointed
小题16:
A.ThusB.ThenC.PerhapsD.Surely
小题17:
A.staringB.laughingC.wavingD.shouting
小题18:
A.liftB.suggestionC.bikeD.guidebook
小题19:
A.resultsB.newsC.kindnessD.appearance
小题20:
A.powerB.faithC.touchD.support

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
People on a college campus were more likely to give money to the March of Dimes if they were asked for a donation by a disabled woman in a wheelchair than if asked by a nondisabled woman. In another        , subway riders in New York saw a man carrying a stick stumble(绊脚) and fall to the floor. Sometimes the victim had a large red birthmark on his      ; sometimes he did not. In this situation, the victim was more likely to         aid if his face was spotless than if he had an unattractive birthmark. In         these and other research findings, two themes are         : we are more willing to help people we like for some reason and people we think     assistance.
In some situations, those who are physically attractive are more likely to receive aid.       , in a field study researchers placed a completed application to graduate school in a telephone box at the airport. The application was ready to be        , but had apparently been "lost". The photo attached to the application was sometimes that of a very          person and sometimes that of a less attractive person. The measure of helping was whether the individual who found the envelope actually mailed it or not. Results showed that people were more likely to        the application if the person in the photo was physically attractive.
The degree of      between the potential helper and the person in need is also important. For example, people are more likely to help a stranger who is from the same country rather than a foreigner. In one study, shoppers on a busy street in Scotland were more likely to help a person wearing a(n)           T-shirt than a person wearing a T-shirt printed with offensive words.
Whether a person receives help depends in part on the "worth" of the case. For example, shoppers in a supermarket were more likely to give someone.        to buy milk rather than to buy cookies, probably because milk is thought more essential for        than cookies. Passengers on a New York subway were more likely to help a man who fell to the ground if he appeared to be         rather than drunk.
小题1:
A.studyB.wayC.wordD.college
小题2:
A.handB.armC.faceD.back
小题3:
A.refuseB.begC.loseD.receive
小题4:
A.challengingB.recordingC.understandingD.publishing
小题5:
A.importantB.possibleC.amusingD.missing
小题6:
A.seekB.deserveC.obtainD.accept
小题7:
A.At firstB.Above allC.In additionD.For example
小题8:
A.printedB.mailedC.rewrittenD.signed
小题9:
A.talentedB.good-lookingC.helpfulD.hard-working
小题10:
A.send inB.throw awayC.fill outD.turn down
小题11:
A.similarityB.friendshipC.cooperationD.contact
小题12:
A.expensiveB.plainC.cheapD.strange
小题13:
A.timeB.instructionsC.moneyD.chances
小题14:
A.shoppersB.researchC.childrenD.health
小题15:
A.talkativeB.handsomeC.calmD.sick

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案


The value-packed, all-inclusive sight-seeing package that combines the best of Sydney"s harbour, city, bay and beach highlights.
A SydneyPass gives you unlimited and flexible travel on the Explorer Buses: the "red" Sydney Explorer shows you around our exciting city sights while the "blue" Bondi Explorer visits Sydney Harbour bays and famous beaches. Take to the water on one of three magnificent daily harbour cruises(游船). You can also travel free on regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries or CityRail services (limited area), so you can go to every corner of this beautiful city.
Imagine browsing at Darling Harbour, sampling the famous seafood at Watsons Bay or enjoying the city lights on an evening ferry cruise. The possibilities and plans are endless with a SydneyPass. Wherever you decide to go, remember that bookings are not required on any of our services so tickets are treated on a first in, first seated basis.
SydneyPasses are available for 3, 5 0r 7 days for use over a 7 calendar day period. With a 3 or 5 day pass you choose on which days out of the 7 you want to use it. All SydneyPasses include a free Airport Express inward trip before starting your 3, 5 or 7 days, and the return trip is valid (有效的) for 2 months from the first day your ticket was used.
SydneyPass Fares
 
Adult 
Child*
Family**
3day ticket
$90
$45
$22.5
5day ticket
$120
$60
$300
7day ticket
$140
$70
$350
*A child is defined as anyone from the ages of 4 years to under 16 years. Children under 4 years travel free.
**A family is defined as 2 adults and any number of children from 4 to under 16 years of age from the same family.
小题1:A SydneyPass doesn’t offer unlimited rides on ______.
A.the Explorer BusesB.the harbour cruises
C.regular Sydney BusesD.CityRail services
小题2:With a SydneyPass, a traveller can________.
A.save fares from and to the airport
B.take the Sydney Explorer to beaches
C.enjoy the famous seafood for free
D.reserve seats easily in a restaurant
小题3:If 5-day tickets were to be recommended to a mother who travelled with her colleague and her children, aged 3, 6 and 10, what would the lowest cost be?
A.$225.B.$300.C.$360.D.$420.

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
When buying from a dealer, the law says that a car must be:
As described:
This includes the history of the car as well as its specification. For example, if the dealer described the car as previously having “one careful lady owner”, it shouldn’t turn out to have had several previous “boy racer” owners.
Of satisfactory quality:
It must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable and be free from any quality problem. Also, bear in mind that a second-hand car will have a slightly different definition of what is considered “satisfactory, because there’s certainly an element of wear and tear.
Fit for the purpose:
It must be reasonable fit for any normal purpose and this includes any purpose that you specify to the seller.
●If any of the above is violated, then in theory, you may have the right to reject the vehicle and get your money back if you’re reasonably quick. Alternatively, the dealer might offer to replace or repair the car; reduce the price of offering a partial refund(退款). Once you’ve informed the dealer that you wish to reject the car, you must stop using the vehicle.
●If the rejection is not accepted, then it’s up to you to prove your case. You’ll need to pay for an independent assessment of the car and sue for damages. If you do choose a repair, insist the dealer provide you with a hire car or pay any reasonable traveling expenses thus produced while your new car is in the garage.
●If the car is new, it’s likely that the claim will be too high to be fought. Using the small claims procedure to you may have to pay for legal representation. All this can be pretty daunting and expensive. You need to weigh up the pros and cons before rejecting a car. Would a repair do just as well? Selecting a dealer who offers a clear exchange policy may help.
小题1:After the above writing, you will be better at           .
A.choosing a carB.dealing with car sellers
C.making a claimD.suing for damages
小题2:According to the text, what is essential after you inform the dealer of your wish to reject the car________?
A.Suing for damages. B.Demanding traveling expenses.
C.Stopping using it. D.Proving your case.
小题3:If the dealer offers to repair the car you have bought, which of the following is acceptable_______?
A.Asking the dealer to provide you with a hire car.
B.Asking the dealer to provide you with repair tool sets.
C.Asking the dealer to pay all of your traveling expenses.
D.Asking the dealer to return all your money.
小题4:Which of the following words has the closest meaning to the underlined word “daunting” in the last paragraph________?
A.Different. B.Effective. C.Discouraging. D.Convenient.
小题5:What does the writer want to say in the last paragraph_________?
A.Buyers should select a dealer that offers to repair the car.
B.Rejecting a new car is not necessarily the best choice.
C.It’s necessary that a new car should be repaired.
D.Buyers should never reject a new car.

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
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