Question

【題目】They tell us when to get up or when we’re running late for work and whether we are in danger of missing our favourite TV programme. But while our daily activities depend on clocks that tell us the time science is discovering that our well-being is influenced by a very different kind of timepiece. Circadian rhythms---the human body’s own internal(體內(nèi)的) clock—have a powerful influence on our health and behaviour. They are programmed from birth and control functions ranging from temperature and blood pressure to sleep patterns.

In recent years researchers have also discovered that this built-in mechanism (內(nèi)在機制) can influence everything from the way we react to medicines to how well we learn music.

The latest example, from experts at Harvard University in the US, shows that the human body clock can even influence whether or not we are likely to tell the truth. Researchers found it was easier for people to tell lies in the afternoon because as they were tired, the self control that would normally prevent them from lying started to break down. Tiredness made it easier for them to tell lies ---especially if it meant they got a financial reward at the end.

“The body clock has a great effect on us all,” says Professor Jim Horne from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University. “Most people tend to feel good around late morning and then decline in the early afternoon. But the time most of us will feel our sharpest is between 6pm and 8pm. That’s because sleepiness tends to build up throughout the day. By early evening our body clock kicks in to wake us up. One reason may be to ensure we get home safely. When our ancestors (祖先) were coming home after hunting all day, their internal clocks kicked in to get them home in one piece.”

So what effects do circadian rhythms have and what’s the best time of day to take advantage of them?

【1】The underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refers to_____ .

A. our health and behaviour B. scientists and experts

C. our daily routines D. circadian rhythms

【2】The research referred to in Paragraph 3 found that people would rather ______ .

A. tell lies when they are tired B. tell lies if they are rewarded

C. get angry as they become tired D. break down because they are tired

【3】According to the passage, when are people most quick-thinking?

A. In the morning. B. Around midday.

C. In the late afternoon. D. In the early evening.

【4】What information will the writer probably give following the last paragraph?

A. An explanation of how the human body clock controls the body.

B. Examples of how the human body clocks control the body.

C. Examples of the most suitable time to do different activities.

D. Some practical suggestions to prevent people from lying.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】A

【3】D

【4】C

【解析】試題這是一篇科普文，介紹了人體自身的內(nèi)部時鐘——晝夜節(jié)律——對我們的健康和行為的強大影響。

【1】題意：第一段中的下劃線“They”指的是“ ”。考查詞義理解題。根據(jù)Circadian rhythms---the human body’s own internal clock—have a powerful influence on our health and behaviour.，可知是晝夜節(jié)律——人體自身的生物鐘，故選D。

【2】題意：在第3段提到的調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，人們在疲勞時寧愿說謊。考查細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)Tiredness made it easier for them to tell lies ---especially if it meant they got a financial reward at the end.，可知疲勞使他們更容易說謊，故選A。

【3】題意：根據(jù)文章，人們什么時候思維最敏捷？考查細(xì)節(jié)理解題。A. In the morning.在早上；B. Around midday. 正午前后；C. In the late afternoon. 下午晚些時候；D. In the early evening.在傍晚。根據(jù)By early evening our body clock kicks in to wake us up.，可知選D。

【4】題意：作者在最后一段之后可能會給出什么信息？考查細(xì)節(jié)推測題。A. An explanation of how the human body clock controls the body.解釋人體生物鐘是如何控制身體的。B. Examples of how the human body clocks control the body.人體時鐘如何控制身體的例子。C. Examples of the most suitable time to do different activities.最適合做不同活動時間的例子。D. Some practical suggestions to prevent people from lying.防止人們說謊的一些切實可行的建議。根據(jù)最后一段So what effects do circadian rhythms have and what’s the best time of day to take advantage of them?提出了一天中利用晝夜節(jié)律的最好時間是什么時候的問題，可知下文會給出最適合做不同活動的時間的例子。故選C。