Do you know how it is when you see someone yawn and you start yawning too? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons (神经元) in our brains.
(put) simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate it, whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes (far): mirror neurons not only appear (explain) physical actions, they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people.
Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Recently, researchers (find) that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers previously discovered that they gave people sentences to listen to (for example: "The hand took hold of the ball"), the same mirror neurons were triggered as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball).
Any problems with mirror neurons well result in problems with behavior. Much research suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning.
Research does mirror that neurons seems to provide us with even more information (concern) how humans behave and interact. Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent neuroscience of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does—well, perhaps you'll understand why.
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A. adventure B. carelessly C. existence D. exploit E. inaccessible F. minimized G. reflects H. responsible I. accounts J. visible K. wilderness |
Antarctica is the highest, driest and coldest place on Earth. It is also the remotest, a fact which for its unspoiled environment. It is widely described as the last on our planet. The cold climate is for maintaining the continent's year-round ice fields. Even though Antarctica receives more sunlight than the equator (赤道), the temperatures are lower because the ice sheet the heat back into space.
For centuries, Europeans wondered about the of a South-Polar continent, but no one actually knew for certain Antarctica was there until 1820 when European explorers "discovered" it. Since then, men have gone to Antarctica in search of . Testing their abilities, several teams of explorers set out in 1911 to be the first men to stand at the South Pole.
Once completely , Antarctica has more recently been playing host to adventurers seeking for excitement, scientists interested in experimenting, and companies looking to this wild area for profit.
Yet, Antarctica's fragile and complicated eco-system is threatened by its human visitors. Damage to the environment occurs as people come looking for resources beneath the ice, or leave their garbage behind. Currently, countries are working to ensure that the damage to Antarctica's environment is , and that Antarctica will remain an unspoiled place.
The part of the environmental movement that draws my firm's attention is the design of buildings. Today, thousands of people come to1building conferences, and the idea that buildings can be good for people and the environment will be increasingly2in years to come. Back in 1984 we discovered that most manufactured products for decoration weren't designed for 3use. The "energy-efficient" sealed commercial buildings constructed after the 1970s energy crisis 4indoor air quality problems caused by materials such as paint, wall covering and carpet. So for 20 years, we've been looking for ways to make these materials 5for people and the planet.
Home builders can now use materials, such as green paints, that release significantly 6amounts of chemical compounds, which people believe don't 7the quality of the air.8, our basic design strategy is focused not simply on being "less bad" but on creating 9 healthful materials that can be either safely returned to the soil or 10by industry again and again. For example, the world's largest carpet manufacturer has already 11 a carpet that is fully and safely recyclable.
Look at it this way: no one12to create a building that destroy the planet. But our current industrial systems are basically causing these conditions, whether we like it or not. So13of simply trying to reduce the damage, we are14 a positive approach. We're giving people high-quality, healthful products and an opportunity to make choices that have a15effect on the world. It is not just the building industry, either. Entire cities are taking these environmentally positive approaches to design, planning and building.
Two enterprising graduates are selling advertising space on their faces to pay off a combined student debt of almost ￡50,000. Faced with a challenging job market, former Cambridge students Ed Moyse and Ross Harper are painting different company logos on to their faces.
Anyone can buy the advertising space, from businesses to individuals or groups, on a day-to-day basis. The logos -- which can be viewed at www.buymyface.co.uk -- are then seen by everyone they pass as they go about their daily business.
The graduates, who met on their first day at Selwyn College, Cambridge, started the business on October 1 and said they made ￡3,500 in the first 10 days. The boys said they are "armed only with massive student debt and a firm grasp of the principles of viral advertising" as they attempt to survive for a year merely on income earned by transforming themselves into walking advertisements.
Mr. Harper, 21, from Greenwich, south London, who studied neuroscience, said, "It's our untraditional way of paying off our student debt. The graduate job market is incredibly unfriendly, and so we thought we'd try and go through it altogether. We've seen so many students unsuccessfully applying for jobs, only to eventually settle in a career that they never really wanted. It's just something a bit different and has taken off quite nicely."
Mr. Moyse, 22, from Poole, Dorset, said, "It is well beyond our expectations, but we always knew it had value and is novel and crazy."
"So far, one of the main contributors has been online betting agency, Paddy Power, "Mr. Harper said.
Mr. Moyse, who studied economics, and Mr. Harper came up with the idea after graduating in the summer as a scheme that would not require much investment.
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①What does it say about the future of meat when the country's largest processor of chicken, pork, and beef buys a stake(股份) in a start-up that aims to "perfectly replace animal protein with plant protein"?
②Tyson Foods announced this week that it purchased a 5 percent stake in Beyond Meat, the Southern California-based food-tech start-up that made headlines earlier this year with its veggie burger that reportedly cooks and tastes like real beef.
③To be sure, Beyond Meat's meatless creations have yet to take the country by storm. Although the 100 percent plant-based burgers have achieved plenty of positive press since they appeared for the first time in May, so far they're only available at Whole Foods stores in seven states. Even though the company's "chicken" strips, "beef" pies, and meatless frozen dinners are available nationwide, Beyond Meat is hardly a household name.
④That may be what makes the news of Tyson's investment all the more noteworthy. While the two companies declined to give details about the deal, it's doubtful that Tyson's 5 percent stake made much of dent(凹陷) in the meat giant's coffers(金库). The company posted $41.4 billion in sales last year; prior to the deal with Tyson, Beyond Meat had reportedly raised $64 million in project capital funding—about what Tyson earns before lunch on any given day.
⑤Tyson is doing pretty great. The company reported record third-quarter earnings per share in August and says that it expects overall meat production to increase 2 to 3 percent during the next financial year. But like a big oil company shelling out cash to invest in wind power, Tyson's toe-in-the-water move to team up with a start-up devoted to bringing more plant-based protein to American dinner tables seems to suggest the meat industry is starting to see which way the winds are blowing.
⑥Sales of plant-based protein, which totaled an estimated $5 billion last year, continue to pale compared with the market for meat in America—but vegetarian alternatives to meat are booming, with sales growing at more than double the rate for food products overall. The steady drumbeat of news about the negative health impacts, environmental problems, and animal welfare concerns associated with meat consumption appears to be sinking in. According to a survey released in April, more than half of Americans surveyed said they plan to eat more plant-based foods in the coming year.
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A. They can be endlessly improved as we better understand how to treat animals. B. Experts have broken fresh ground in breeding captive animals. C. Yet critics(评论家，批评家) suggest that animals should not be kept in cage. D. Studies have clearly shown that captive animals will live longer and be more active kept in an environment close to their native surroundings. E. This, therefore, puts severe pressure on the legs and feet of these giants and causes long-lasting injury in some captive animals. F. Evidences indicate that some animals depend greatly on surroundings. |
Are zoos bad for animals?
Zoos have existed since ancient times and were features of the great courts of Egypt and China. The display of unusual animals from foreign countries was, for a long time, a show of wealth and power. Today, zoos focus on the preservation of animal species and the education of the public.
Some animals are distinctly unsuited for life in a zoo, however noble the aims of the organization. Keeping elephants in captivity (囚禁) has long caused argument among animal rights activists. Elephants in the wild wander constantly, covering a wide territory on a daily basis. In captivity, they have no choice but to stand still for long periods of time. Yet elephants are a threatened species in their native environments and are heavily caught for ivory (象牙), leather and meat illegally. To protect the species from extinction, some experts feel that captive breeding programmes may be the best strategy for future survival. Many elephants in captivity were rescued from circuses (马戏团), saved from natural disasters or removed from the wild due to injury or abandonment.
The chances are, if a zoo has nothing but cement floors and metal enclosures, the animals will not do as well. Many famous zoos now construct enclosures allowing animals freedom of movement and native vegetation. Some zoos have even begun housing species of animals together that normally interact in the wild, such as certain types of monkeys.
Zoos are not a perfect solution for preservation. They are undeniably helpful in repopulating declining animal species and encouraging a preservationist outlook, but they are unquestionably primary in their treatment of some animals. Hopefully, animal activists and zoo advocates will continue to work together, finding ways to create the best environment for captive animals in breeding and repopulation efforts.
Most of us — even those at the top — struggle with public-speaking anxiety. When I ask my clients what makes them nervous, invariably they respond with the same answers: "I don't like being watched", "I don't like the eyes on me" or "I don't like being in the spotlight".
To understand why, we need to go way back to prehistoric times, when humans regarded eyes watching us as an existential threat. Those eyes were likely predators (肉食动物) and people were terrified of being eaten alive. The bad news is that our brains have transferred the ancient fear of being watched into public speaking. In other words, public-speaking anxiety is in our DNA.
Fortunately, there is a solution: human generosity. The key to disarming our panic button is to turn the focus away from ourselves and toward helping the audience. Studies have shown that an increase in generosity indeed leads to a decrease in amygdala (扁桃腺) activity, which is responsible for our panic feeling in the brain. When we are kind to others, we overcome the sense of being under attack and start to feel less nervous.
Admittedly, this is hard to do. But it's absolutely possible to become a generous speaker. To begin with, when you start preparing for a presentation, the mistake you often make is starting with the topic. Instead, you should start with the audience. Identify the audience's needs, and craft a message that speaks directly to those needs. Also, you are the most nervous right before you speak. This is the moment when your brain is telling you, "Everyone is judging me." But it is exactly the moment when you should refocus your brain. Over time, your brain will begin to get it, and you will become less nervous.
你校学生会主席Simon在征集庆祝元旦的活动方案，作为高三的学生，请你给他写封信，信的内容必须包括以下两个方面：
1）阐述你活动方案的主题和内容。
2）谈谈你设计该方案的理由。（信中不能提到真实姓名和学校）
