The research carried out by the University of Bari in Italy could help prove hospitals who are accused of wasting money on art and decoration as it suggests a pleasant environment helps patients ease discomfort and pain.
A team headed by Professor Marina de Tommaso at the Neurophysiopathology Pain Unit asked a group of men and women to pick the 20 paintings they considered most ugly and most beautiful from a selection of 300 works by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli. They were then asked to look at either the beautiful paintings, or the ugly painting, or a blank panel while the team zapped(照射) a short laser pulse at their hand, creating a sensation as if they had been stuck by a pin. The subjects rated the pain as being a third less intense while they were viewing the beautiful paintings, compared with when looking at the ugly paintings or the blank panel. Electrodes measuring the brain's electrical activity also confirmed a reduced response to the pain when the subject looked at beautiful paintings.
While distractions, such as music, are known to reduce pain in hospital patients, Prof de Tommaso says this is the first result to show that beauty plays a part.
The findings, reported in New Scientist, also go a long way to show that beautiful surroundings could aid the healing process.
"Hospitals have been designed to be functional, but we think that their artistic aspects should be taken into account too," said the neurologist. "Beauty obviously offers a distraction that ugly paintings do not. But at least there is no suggestion that ugly surroundings make the pain worse. " "I think these results show that more research is needed into the field how a beautiful environment can alleviate suffering."
Pictures they liked included Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Pictures they found ugly included works by Pablo Picasso, the Italian 20th century artist Anonio Bueno and Columbian Fernando Botero. "These people were not art experts so some of the pictures they found ugly would be considered masterpieces by the art world," said Prof de Tommaso.
1.The underlined word “alleviate” in the fifth paragraph probably means “_________”.
A. cure            B. ease             C. improve           D. kill
2.How many artists have been mentioned in the passage?
A. 4.                      B. 5.                      C. 6.                             D. 7.
3.Which of the following is TURE about the view of Prof de Tommaso’s?
A. Beautiful surroundings could help to heal sufferings completely .
B. Hospitals must take their artistic aspects into consideration first.
C. Ugly surroundings will surely make the pain worse.
D. Both music and beauty can reduce pain in hospital patients.
4.Which of the following is the suitable title for the passage?
A. Beautiful surroundings can ease pain.          
B. Ugly paintings could be masterpieces.
C. More research should be done in the field.      
D. Latest environmental research.  

小題1:B
小題2:C
小題3:D
小題4:A
略
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


第II卷 （共45分）
第四部分 書面表達
第一節(jié) 閱讀表達（共5小題；每小題3分，滿分15分）
閱讀下面短文并回答問題，然后將答案寫到答題卡相應(yīng)的位置上（請注意問題后的字數(shù)要求）。
[1]One out of many important things for the whole family to do is to have dinner together. Researchers began reporting the benefits of family dinner about a decade ago, focusing mainly on how it affects children. Studies show that those families who eat dinner at least 3 or 4 times a week together, benefit in many ways.
[2]Eating together helps families achieve open communication and build stronger and healthier relationships. Children have better grades at school and are better adjusted as teens and adults, and the entire family enjoys healthier nutrition. For many families, eating dinner together proves to be a good and effective way to reduce the risk of youth rates of addiction, and helps to raise healthier children. It is also a great time to share the events of the day, discuss news and ideas and just be together and enjoy each other's company.
[3]During dinner time parents have better opportunity to show that they are the prior to their children. Sitting at the same table and sharing meals is where and when parents can find out more about their children's school performance, daily activities and attitudes toward life. When parents have all this information they can better direct their kids toward positive things in life. They also have better chance to reduce the possibility that children will get involved with alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.
[4]However, family researchers say that the benefits of family dinner by no means can be considered as automatic. Parents can sit down to dinner with their kids every day and achieve nothing. ____________________ if there is too much arguing going on, if there is no meaningful conversation or, what is even worse, if there is just plain silence during gathering.
76. What is the main idea of the text? (no more than 8 words)
________________________________________________________________
77. Which sentence in the text is closest in meaning to the following one?
By having dinner together family members can have free exchange of information and develop closer ties among them.
_________________________________________________________________
78. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 4 with proper words. (no more than 8 words)
_________________________________________________________________
79. What information can parents probably get about their children at family dinner? (no more than 12 words)
_________________________________________________________________
80. Translate the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 into Chinese.
_________________________________________________________________

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


第二節(jié)完形填空（20小題；每小題2分，滿分40分）
閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
My father enjoys bike riding．Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved going biking with my dad．36 , as I became a teenager, other things began to draw my    37 ．It was important to do things with friends  38   ．I saw my dad every evening at home．Why did I have to  39  my Sundays to all-day bike trips with him , too? If my indifference（冷漠） hurt him, my father kept  40  , but he would always let me know when he was planning a bike trip  41  I wanted to come．
It was a Sunday morning, and I was in low  42 ．Two of my friends had gone to the movies without inviting me．Just then my father  43 my room．“It’s a beautiful day．Want to go for a  44  today, Beck?”  “Leave me alone! ” I impatiently  45 ．Those were the last words I said to him before he left the house that  46   ．
Several hours later, the police called us,  47  us that Dad had a traffic accident．My father’s injuries were serious．It took several days before he could 48  speak．Beside his bed I held his hand gently,   49  of hurting him．
“Daddy … I’m sorry …”
“It’s OK, sweetheart．I’ll be OK．”
“No,” I said, “I  50  what I said to you that day．You know, that morning?”
“Sweetheart, I don’t  51  anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident．I remember kissing you goodnight the night before, though．” He 52  a weak smile．
I felt regretful for my thoughtless remark, for I   53  wanted him to leave me alone．My teacher once told me that  54  have immeasurable power．They can hurt or they can heal．And we all have the  55  to choose our words．I intend to do that very carefully from now on．
36．A．There fore       B．Instead            C．Besides       D．However
37．A．a(chǎn)ttention      B．sight            C．effort             D．energy
38．A．once again    B．a(chǎn)ll of a sudden      C．in time      D．on one hand
39．A．start         B．save               C．devote       D．waste
40．A．silent          B．busy            C．a(chǎn)sleep          D．a(chǎn)wake
41．A．unless       B．in case            C．so that         D．a(chǎn)s if
42．A．spirits      B．conditions          C．emotions      D．hopes   
43．A．left            B．checked          C．entered       D．knocked
44．A．ride         B．walk            C．picnic       D．game
45．A．whispered       B．warned            C．a(chǎn)nnounced    D．shouted
46．A．moment      B, morning           C．a(chǎn)fternoon      D．evening
47．A．convincing   B．reminding        C．informing     D．phoning
48．A．eventually     B．generally        C．strictly            D．broadly
49．A．tired           B．a(chǎn)fraid           C．a(chǎn)ware         D．sorry
50．A．discuss        B．think             C．care         D．mean
51．A．hate        B． forget           C．remember      D．like
52．A．got          B．expressed         C．exchanged    D．managed
53．A．often        B．never           C．even         D．once
54．A．a(chǎn)pologies      B．promises          C．smiles       D．words       
55．A．experience     B．honor             C．power          D．desire

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


Most of us use the telephone several times a day to talk with friends or make social arrangements. These calls are usually quite easy and require little planning.
Using the telephone for business purpose is different. In any organization the person on the telephone represents the company and gives an impression of the firm to the outside world.
If you want to ensure good public relations, you need to master effective telephone techniques.
You should try to give an impression of an efficient, friendly, progressive company eager to give good service.
Before calling
Choose the right time. Consider the cost, urgency and convenience. When calling overseas you need to consider the time difference.
Check the number. A great deal of money is wasted each year on dialing wrong numbers.
Plan your call. Make a list of points and questions to be raised.
Be prepared. Gather any files, papers or information that may be needed during the call. It is unprofessional to have to say “Hold on while I look for that.”
If you have to ask a caller to hold on, keep going back and assuring him/ her that you will be as quick as possible.
Avoid interruptions. Call at a time when you are unlikely to be distracted.
During the call
Be courteous, polite. Make time for suitable greetings like “How are you today, Jim?” and “Did you enjoy your holiday?”
Put a smile in your voice. Remember, your caller can’t see you, so use intonation to good effect and try to sound confident, decisive, helpful and interested.
Check your notes. Look back at your notes to ensure that you have covered everything and quote figures and other data correctly.
Obtain feedback. Make sure that caller understands the message correctly, especially where deadlines and actions that are involved.
Be courteous. Finish by thanking the caller for his or her time and trouble.
After the call
Make notes. Let it become a habit to make notes of the call and place them in an appropriate file.
Take actions. If you need to send a letter of confirmation or inform someone in your organization about any details of the call, do some immediately so that you do not forget important points.
1. What’s the main idea of this passage?
A. Using a telephone for business has strict rules.
B. While making a business phone call, you should be efficient first.
C. It’s necessary to learn how to use your phone for work.
D. The phone is playing a very important role in our daily life, especially in business.
2. Before calling, you have to ____.
A. stay at your company only.        B. learn important data and figures by heart
C. get things ready for the communication   D. choose the right time and place
3. What’s the meaning of the word “feedback”?
A. information         B. present          C. greeting            D. reply

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


Alex knew colors and shapes．He learned about 150 English words．With his language ability he made himself known as perhaps the world’s most famous talking bird．
But Alex，a parrot，died two weeks ago when he was 31．Irene，a psychologist(心理學(xué)家) at Harvard University，studied and worked with the parrot for nearly 30 years．
In 1977，Irene，then an excellent student in chemistry at Harvard，bought Alex from a pet store．At that time，scientists were not quite sure whether birds could learn to communicate with humans．
But using the methods of teaching．Irene helped Alex to learn about 150 words，and to count small numbers，as well as colors and shapes．
In experiments，Irene would give Alex a small reward，like a grape．Alex learned to ask for the grape by watching what the trainer was doing to get it．The researchers then worked with the bird to help him with pronunciation．
Alex showed a surprising ability to learn．For example，when he was shown a blue paper circle．he could tell what color the paper was．what shape it was，and after touching it，what it was made of．
Like other parrots，he also picked up some words when staying in the lab，like“calm down”and“good morning”．He could also show his happiness and sadness．
Even before the week he died，Alex was working with Irene on difficult words．As she put him into his cage for the night that Thursday，Irene said that Alex looked at her and said，“You be good．See you tomorrow．I love you．”
He was found dead in his cage the next morning．
1．Alex is the name of ________．
A．a(chǎn)n excellent student        B．a(chǎn) clever bird
C．a(chǎn) trainer                 D．a(chǎn) psychologist
2．How did Irene get the parrot?
A．A friend gave it to her．       B．She caught it in a forest．
C．She bought it from the market． D．The passage doesn’t mention it．
3．The underlined words“picked up”in the seventh paragraph mean ________．
A．撿到    B．挑選    C．舉起    D．學(xué)到
4．The passage is probably taken from a ________．
A．history textbook    B. novel    C．newspaper      D. dictionary

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


Apply to an American College
Earlier, we explained how to begin a search for schools by going to one of the American educational advising centers around the world. We also discussed the rules for entering the United States. And we talked about programs that can be completed online.
But if your goal is to come to the United States to study, then it is time to make a list of colleges or universities that interest you. Be sure to choose more than one. Directors of foreign student admissions say students should apply to at least three schools.
Some students want to attend a small college. Others want to go to a big university. If a really big university appeals to you, then there are ones like Ohio State. That university in Columbus, Ohio, in the Midwest, has almost fifty-two thousand students. There are students this year from around one hundred fifty countries.
Ohio State provides international students with an application on its Website. You can pay the application charge online with a credit card. Or you can print the forms and mail them with the payment.
Many colleges and universities have their applications and also their catalogs online. You should start on your applications at least two years before you want to begin studies.
Completing a college application can take some time. But answering all the questions is not enough. Another important step is taking admissions tests. The SAT is the college entry test that American high school students most commonly take.
Colleges and universities also require international students to take the TOEFL — the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
If you have a general question for our Foreign Student Series, write to special @ voanews. com.
1.What purpose does Paragraph One serve in the passage ?
A. To provide background information of the topic.
B. To attract readers’ attention to the topic.
C. To remind the readers of some related aspects of the topic.
D. To offer basic knowledge of the topic.
2.According to this passage, “Ohio State” is ________.
A. one of the states in America          
B. the name of a Website
C. another name for “Columbus, Ohio”     
D. a university in America
3.Besides a college application, you are required to take ________test(s) if you’ re not an American.
A. one                   B. two                   C. three                 D. four
4.The passage mainly deals with _________.
A. how to pay the application charge
B. the rules for entering for American colleges and universities
C. some information on applications for American colleges and universities
D. when to start one’s applications for American colleges and universities

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


第二節(jié)完形填空（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C、D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項。
One summer morning, I was walking in the street when I ran into a stranger passing by , “I’m  36  !” was my reply, Then he said,“Excuse me, too, I even didn’t notice you.” We were very  37  , this stranger and I. Then we went on our   38   after saying good-bye.
But at home,  39  story is told. How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later in the kitchen,  40  I cooked our meal, my daughter walked up to me, very still. When I turned round, I nearly  41  her down. “Get out of the   42  !” I shouted with a frown. She stepped away  43  , with her little heart broken. I didn’t realize how rudely I had spoken.
That night, when I lay awake in bed, God’s quiet voice spoke to me and said, “While 
44   with a stranger, you are    45   and polite, but with those you love, you are quick to get   46  ---- Go and look around the   47  floor, you will find some flowers she brought for you. She   48  them herself --- pink, yellow, and your favourite blue. She stood there quietly , and you   49   saw the tears in her eyes.”
By this time my   50   had begun to fall. I quietly went and knelt by her bed, “  51 ， my dear, ” I said, “Are these the flowers you picked for me ?” She smiled , “  
52   them in a napkin（紙巾）just for you. I knew you’d like them, especially the   53
.” I said , “ I’m so sorry that I  54  them today ---- And I  55   have shouted at you that way.”
36. A.angry         B.sorry        C.excited         D.surprised
37. A.calm          B.happy        C.polite          D.careful
38. A.road          B.talk         C.argument        D.way
39. A.a different     B.the same    C.a surprising    D.a moving
40. A.after          B.as           C.before          D.if
41. A.put           B.turned       C.knocked         D.threw
42. A.way           B.line         C.place           D.road
43. A.hurriedly     B.silently       C.angrily         D.excitedly
44. A.going         B.fighting      C.talking         D.meeting
45. A.excited       B.calm         C.quiet           D.pleased
46. A.moved         B.angry        C.puzzled         D.surprised
47. A.bedroom       B.dining room  C.sitting room    D.kitchen
48. A.bought        B.picked       C.stole           D.made
49. A.almost        B.hardly       C.never           D.even
50. A.hair          B.flowers      C.tears           D.daughter
51. A.Get up        B.Stand up     C.Wake up         D.Sit up
52. A.put           B.wrapped      C.tied            D.found
53. A.red           B.pink         C.blue            D.yellow
54. A.destroyed     B.forgot       C.noticed         D.missed
55. A.shouldn’t    B.couldn’t      C.mustn’t        D.needn’t

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


The world’s population continues to grow. There are about five billion of us on earth now. It could reach six billion in 10 years’ time, and eleven billion in another 75 years. Experts have long been concerned about such growth. Where will we find the food, water, jobs, houses, schools and health care for all these people?
A major new study shows that situation may be changing. A large and rapid drop in the world’s birth rate has taken place during the past 10 years. Families generally are smaller now than they were a few years ago. This is happening in both developing and industrial nations. Scientists said they found a number of reasons for this. More men and women are waiting longer to get married. More women are going to school or working at jobs away from their home instead of having children. And more governments, especially in developing nations, now support family planning programs to reduce population growth.
China is one of the nations that have made great progress in reducing its population growth by about one half since 1970. China now urges each family to have no more than one child. And it hopes to reach zero population growth before long, that is, the number of birth equaling the number of death.
Several nations in Europe already have fewer births than deaths. Experts said that these nations could face a serious shortage of workers in the future.
1. In the sentence “Experts have long been concerned about such growth”, the phrase “concerned about” is similar in meaning to_____.
A. worried about      B. related to       C. busy working on     D. made a study of
2. “Family planning programs” means______.
A. economic policy in a country         B. economic policy in a family
C. TV programs for a family            D. birth control in a country
3. The world’s birth rate has dropped because_____.
A. people marry at a much later time
B. women would rather go to study or work than have children
C. some countries are carrying out the family planning programs
D. all the above
4. We hope that soon the number of birth and the number of death in China will_____.
A. be greatly different          B. be equal to each other
C. drop in great deal            D. become much larger

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


Section B
Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A．a(chǎn)dditionalB．producingC．regularD．predicted E. identified
E atmosphere  G. matched     H. reducing   I. carried      J. increase
Forests in the northern half of the globe could be growing faster now than they were 200 years ago as a result of climate change, according to a study of trees in eastern America. The trees appear to have faster growth rates due to longer growing seasons and higher concentrations (濃度) of carbon dioxide in the ___41___.
Geoffrey Parker, a scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre in Edgewater. Maryland, said that the increase ha the rate of growth was unexpected and might be ___42___ to the higher temperatures and longer growing seasons documented in the region. The growth may also be influenced by the significant ___43___ in atmospheric CO2, he said.
"We made a list of reasons these forests could be growing faster and then excluded half of them," Dr. Parker said. Their study suggests that northern forests may become increasingly important in ___44___ the influence of man-made CO2 on the climate.
Dr. Parker and his colleagues have ___45___ out a detailed record of the trees on a(n) ___46___ basis since 1987. They calculated that due to the global warming the forest is producing   ___47___ tons of wood each year.
The scientists ___48___ the land with trees at different stages of growth and found that both young and old trees were showing increased growth rate. More than 90 per cent of the tree groups had grown by between two and four times faster than the scientists had ___49___ from estimates of the long-term rates of growth.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案