雅思经典阅读级题解What's so funny

剑桥雅思8-第三套试题-阅读部分-PASSAGE 1-阅读真题原文部分:READING PASSAGE 1You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.Striking Back at Lightning With LasersSeldom is the weather more dramatic than when thunderstorms strike. Their electrical fury inflicts death or serious injury on around 500 people each year in the United States alone. As the clouds roll in, a leisurely round of golf can become a terrifying dice with death - out in the open, a lone golfer may be a lightning bolt's most inviting target. And there is damage to property too. Lightning damage costs American power companies more than $100 million a year.But researchers in the United States and Japan are planning to hit back. Already in laboratory trials they have tested strategies for neutralising the power of thunderstorms, and this winter they will brave real storms, equipped with an armoury of lasers that they will be pointing towards the heavens to discharge thunderclouds before lightning can strike.The idea of forcing storm clouds to discharge their lightning on command is not new. In the early 1960s, researchers tried firing rockets trailing wires into thunderclouds to set up an easy discharge path for the huge electric charges that these clouds generate. The technique survives to this day at a test site in Florida run by the University of Florida, with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), based in California. EPRI, which is funded by power companies, is looking at ways to protect the United States' power grid from lightning strikes. 'We can cause the lightning to strike where we want it to using rockets, ' says Ralph Bernstein, manager of lightning projects at EPRI. The rocket site is providing precise measurements of lightning voltages and allowing engineers to check how electrical equipment bears up.Bad behaviourBut while rockets are fine for research, they cannot provide the protection from lightning strikes that everyone is looking for. The rockets cost around $1, 200 each, can only be fired at a limited frequency and their failure rate is about 40 per cent. And even when they do trigger lightning, things still do not always go according to plan. 'Lightning is not perfectly well behaved, 'says Bernstein. 'Occasionally, it will take a branch and go someplace it wasn't supposed to go. ' And anyway, who would want to fire streams of rockets in a populated area? 'What goes up must come down, ' points out Jean-Claude Diels of the University of New Mexico. Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI, to try to use lasers to discharge lightning safely - and safety is a basic requirement since no one wants to put themselves or their expensive equipment at risk. With around $500, 000 invested so far, a promising system is just emerging from the laboratory.The idea began some 20 years ago, when high-powered lasers were revealing their ability to extract electrons out of atoms and create ions. If a laser could generate a line of ionisation in the air all the way up to a storm cloud, this conducting path could be used to guide lightning to Earth, before the electric field becomes strong enough to break down the air in an uncontrollable surge. To stop the laser itself being struck, it would not be pointed straight at the clouds. Instead it would be directed at a mirror, and from there into the sky. The mirror would be protected by placing lightning conductors close by. Ideally, the cloud-zapper (gun)would be cheap enough to be installed around all key power installations, and portable enough to be taken to international sporting events to beam up at brewing storm clouds.A stumbling blockHowever, there is still a big stumbling block. The laser is no nifty portable: it's a monster that takes up a whole room. Diels is trying to cut down the size and says that a laser around the size of a small table is in the offing. He plans to test this more manageable system on live thunderclouds next summer.Bernstein says that Diels's system is attracting lots of interest from the power companies. But they have not yet come up with the $5 million that EPRI says will be needed to develop a commercial system, by making the lasers yet smaller and cheaper. 'I cannot say I have money yet, but I'm working on it, ' says Bernstein. He reckons that the forthcoming field tests will be the turning point - and he's hoping for good news. Bernstein predicts 'an avalanche of interest and support' if all goes well. He expects to see cloud-zappers eventually costing 100, 000 each.Other scientists could also benefit. With a lightning 'switch' at their fingertips, materials scientists could find out what happens when mighty currents meet matter. Diels also hopes to see the birth of 'interactive meteorology' - not just forecasting the weather but controlling it. 'If we could discharge clouds, we might affect the weather, ' he says.And perhaps, says Diels, we'll be able to confront some other meteorological menaces. 'We think we could prevent hail by inducing lightning, ' he says. Thunder, the shock wave that comes from a lightning flash, is thought to be the trigger for the torrential rain that is typical of storms. A laser thunder factory could shake the moisture out of clouds, perhaps preventing the formation of the giant hailstones that threaten crops. With luck, as the storm clouds gather this winter, laser-toting researchers could, for the first time, strike back.Questions 1-3Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write the correct letter in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.1 The main topic discussed in the text isA the damage caused to US golf courses and golf players by lightning strikes.B the effect of lightning on power supplies in the US and in Japan.C a variety of methods used in trying to control lightning strikes.D a laser technique used in trying to control lightning strikes.2 According to the text, every year lightningA does considerable damage to buildings during thunderstorms.B kills or injures mainly golfers in the United States.C kills or injures around 500 people throughout the world.D damages more than 100 American power companies.3 Researchers at the University of Florida and at the University of New MexicoA receive funds from the same source.B are using the same techniques.C are employed by commercial companies.D are in opposition to each other.Questions 4-6Complete the sentences below.Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.Write your answers in boxes 4-6 on your answer sheet.4 EPRI receives financial support from………………………….5 The advantage of the technique being developed by Diels is that it can be used……………….6 The main difficulty associated with using the laser equipment is related to its……………….Questions 7-10Complete the summary using the list of words, A-I, below.Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.In this method, a laser is used to create a line of ionisation by removing electrons from 7 …………………………. This laser is then directed at 8 …………………………in order to control electrical charges, a method which is less dangerous than using 9 …………………………. As a protection for the lasers, the beams are aimed firstly at 10………………………….A cloud-zappersB atomsC storm cloudsD mirrorsE techniqueF ionsG rockets H conductors I thunderQuestions 11-13Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?In boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet writeYES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writerNO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writerNOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this11 Power companies have given Diels enough money to develop his laser.12 Obtaining money to improve the lasers will depend on tests in real storms.13 Weather forecasters are intensely interested in Diels's system.READING PASSAGE 1篇章结构体裁说明文主题用激光回击闪电结构第1段：闪电带来的危害第2段：科研人员正在研究回击闪电的方法第3段：先前的闪电回击术介绍第4段：火箭回击术的缺陷第5段：更安全的激光回击术第6段：激光回击术的技术原理第7段：激光回击术的缺陷第8段：通过实地实验改进激光回击术第9段：激光回击术对其他学科也有益处第10段：激光回击术的其他用途解题地图难度系数：★★★解题顺序：按题目顺序解答即可友情提示：烤鸭们注意：本文中的SUMMARY题目顺序有改变，解题要小心；MULTIPLE CHOICE的第三题是个亮点，爱浮想联翩的烤鸭们可能会糊掉。

出国留学考雅思、新托福、备考大学四六级，就来徐州朗阁 雅思阅读考试中的逻辑运用朗阁海外考试研究中心宋媛婧在GRE、GMAT以及LSAT等一列的研究院入学考试中，有一个非常重要的单项考察，即逻辑。

很多人将逻辑理解成一样非常抽象的东西，因为逻辑这两个字本身听起来就非常地抽象与晦涩。

但其实所谓的逻辑就是一种抽象思维，是人通过概念、判断、推理、论证来理解和区分客观世界的思维过程。

我们每个人都应该具备逻辑思维，也就是说我们在认知过程中应该借助概念、判断、推理等思维形式来理性认识客观事实，这样我们才能认清事物本质。

这也是为什么GRE、GMAT和LSAT都注重逻辑单项的原因，通过检测一个人的逻辑能力来考察候选人是不是可以对事物进行高级认知和研究。

很多人认为逻辑只有高阶段的能力测试才需要，殊不知作为语言能力检测的雅思考试也将逻辑融入在了阅读文章中。

雅思的阅读文章的选取范围非常广。

通过分析发现，雅思阅读考试A类文章大多选自国外人文类、经济类和科学类的知名报纸、杂志或政府各部门的社会发展报告。

如：经济学家杂志（Economist）、金融时报（Financial Times）、卫报（Guardian）、美国国家地理杂志（National Geographic）、New Scientist、Science、Popular Science和Nature等。

New Scientist这本杂志是被用到的频率最高的，如剑四中的Lost for Words, Play is a Serious Business，剑五中的What’s So Funny?、Flawed Beauty: the Problem with Toughened Glass，和剑六中的多篇文章Australia’s Sporting Success、Climate Change and the Inuit、Graying Population Stays in the Pink、Do Literate Women Make Better Mothers?这些知名的报纸或杂志所选取的文章本身质量就非常之高，每篇文章都有非常好的逻辑组织框架。

雅思阅读第052套P3-What_is_Meaning雅思阅读第052套P3-What is MeaningREADING PASSAGE 3You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.What is Meaning—Why do we respond to words and symbols in the waves we do?The end, product of education, yours and mine and everybody's, is the total pattern of reactions and possible reactions we have inside ourselves. If you did not have within you at this moment the pattern of reactions that we call "the ability to read.” you would see here only meaningless black marks on paper. Because of the trained patterns of response, you are (or are not) stirred to patriotism by martial music, your feelings of reverence are aroused by symbols of your religion, you listen more respectfully to the health advice of someone who has “MD" after his name than to that of someone who hasn’t. What I call here a “pattern of reactions”, then, is the sum total of the ways we act in response to events, to words, and to symbols.Our reaction patterns or our semantic habits, are the internal and most important residue of whatever years of education or miseducation we may have received from our parents’ conduct toward us in childhood as well as their teachings, from the formal education we may have had, from all the lectures we have listened to, from the radio programs and the movies and televi-sion shows we have experienced, from all the books and newspapers and comic strips we have read, from the conversations we have had with friends and associates, and from all our experiences. If, as the result of all these influences that make us what we are, our semantic habits are reasonably similar to those of most people around us, we are regarded as "normal,” or perhaps “dull.” If our semantic habits are noticeably different from those of others, we are regarded as “individualistic" or “original.” or, if the differences are disapproved of or viewed with alarm, as “crazy.”Semantics is sometimes de fined in dictionaries as “the science of the meaning of words”— which would not be a bad definition if people didn’t assume that the search for the meanings of words begins and ends with looking them up in a dictionary. If one stops to think for a moment, it is clear that to define a word, as a dictionary does, is simply to explain the word with more words. To be thorough about defining, we should next have to define the words used in the definition, then define the words used in defining the words used in the definition and so on. Defining words with more words, in short, gets us at once into what mathemati cians call an “infinite regress”. Alternatively, it can get us into the kind of run-around we sometimes encounter when we look up “impertinence” and fin d it defined as “impudence," so we look up “impudence” and find it defined as “impertinence." Yet—and here we come to another common reaction pattern—people often act as if words can be explained fully with more words. To a person who asked for a definition of jazz, Louis Armstrong is said to have replied, "Man. when you got to ask what it is, you’ll never get to know,” proving himself to be an intuitive semanticist as wellas a great trumpet player.Semantics, then, does not deal with the “meaning of words” as that expression is commonly understood. P. W. Bridgman, the Nobel Prize winner and physicist, once wrote, “The true meaning of a term is to be found by observing what a man does with it, not by what he says about it.” He made an enormous contribution to science by showing that the meaning of a scientific term lies in the operations, the things done, that establish its validity, rather than in verbal definitions.Here is a simple, everyday kind of example of “operational” definition. If you say, “This table measures six feet in length,” you could prove it by taking a foot rule, performing the operation of laying it end to end while counting, “One...two...three...four...” But if you say—and revolutionists have started uprisings with just this statement “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains!”—what operations could you perform to demonstrate its accuracy or inaccuracy?But let us carry this suggestion of “operationalism" outside the physical sciences where Bridgman applied it, and observe what “operations” people perform as the result of both the language they use and the language other people use in communicating to them. Here is a personnel manager studying an application blank. He comes to the words “Education: Harvard University,” and drops t he application blank in the wastebasket (that’s the “operation”) because, as he would say if you asked him, “I don’t like Harvard men.” This is an instance of "meaning” at work—but it is not a meaning that can be found in dictionaries.If I seem to be taking a long time to explain what semantics is about, it is because I am trying, in the course of explanation, tointroduce the reader to a certain way of looking at human behavior. I say human responses because, so far as we know, human beings are the only creatures that have, over and above that biological equipment which we have in common with other creatures, the additional capacity for manufacturing symbols and systems of symbols. When we react to a flag, we are not reacting simply to a piece of cloth, but to the meaning with which it has been symbolically endowed. When we react to a word, we are not reacting to a set of sounds, but to the meaning with which that set of sounds has been symbolically endowed.A basic idea in general semantics, therefore, is that the meaning of words (or other symbols) is not in the words, but in our own semantic reactions. If I were to tell a shockingly obscene story in Arabic or Hindustani or Swahili before an audience that understood only English, no one would blush or be angry; the story would be neither shocking nor obscene-induced, it would not even be a story. Likewise, the value of a dollar bill is not in the bill, but in our social agreement to accept it as a symbol of value. If that agreement were to break down through the collapse of our government, the dollar bill would become only a scrap of paper. We do not understand a dollar bill by staring at it long and hard. We understand it by observing how people act with respect to it. We understand it by understanding the social mechanisms and the loyalties that keep it meaningful. Semantics is therefore a social study, basic to all other social studies.SECTION 3: QUESTION 27-40Questions 27-31Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write the correct letter in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.27What point is made in the first paragraph?A The aim of education is to teach people to readB Everybody has a different pattern of reactions.C Print only carries meaning to those who have received appropriate ways to respond.D The writers should make sure their works satisfy a variety of readers.28According to the second paragraph, people are judged byA the level of education.B the variety of experience.C how conventional their responses are.D complex situations.29What point is made in the third paragraph?A Standard ways are incapable of defining words precisely.B A dictionary is most scientific in defining words.C A dictionary should define words in as few words as possible.D Mathematicians could define words accurately.30What does the writer suggest by referring to Louis Armstrong?A He is an expert of language.B Music and language are similar.C He provides insights to how words are defined.D Playing trumpet is easier than defining words.31What does the writer intend to show about the example of “personnel manager”?A Harvard men are not necessarily competitive in the job market.B Meaning cannot always be shared by others.C The idea of operationalism does not make much senseoutside the physical science.D Job applicants should take care when filling out application forms.Questions 32-35Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?In boxes 32-35 on you answer sheet, write32 _________________ Some statements are incapable of being proved or disproved.33 _________________ Meaning that is personal to individuals is less worthy to study than shared meanings.34 _________________ Flags and words are eliciting responses of the same reason.35 _________________ A story can be entertaining without being understood.Questions 36-40Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-H, below.Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.36 ___________ A comic strip37 ___________ A dictionary38 ___________ Bridgman39 ___________ A story in a language the audience cannot understand40 ___________ A dollar bill。

剑桥雅思（5-9）阅读词汇同意替换Cambridge IELTS 5-9 Reading Paraphrases1. 本文包括题目中出现的同意替换（划线部分，题目词汇在前），也列出文章里较难词汇的同义词（[]中为反义词）2. 用法：做完题目后查对同意替换；精读文章时学习词汇3. 每篇词汇顺序有些杂乱，有待改进4. 参考资料：灵格斯词典中RogetⅡ: The new thesaurus 同义词词典5. 难免有疏漏错误，欢迎指正5-1-1 Johnson’s dictionarycircumscribe limit, confine, restrictgrowing importance rise, increased demandlead to be associated with, be linked towell known famousaccept the contract sign the contractnot have a withoutin excess of overcontemporary text from Elizabethans to his own time, living languagetime limit deadlinesubtleties of meaning shades of meaningprevious writer predecessor, precedentvicissitude difficulty, hardshippatronage support, sponsorshipascertain determinebring conferEnglish language the language of his countryesteem respectprevail persuadegrant offer5-1-2 Nature or nurture? (难，可精读，实验类文章)distaste dislike, aversionsuccessive subsequent, consecutivedenounce accuse, condemnreluctant unwilling, disinclinedoverwhelming greatconsensus agreement, unanimitystatistic number, data, percentage, proportion, figurediscrepancy difference, distinction, gap, incongruity, inconsistencymake-up character, personality, qualityremnant remainder, residuebenevolent [malevolent]property quality, charactermalevolent evil, maliciousforgo give up, abandonelucidate explain, illustrate, clarifybiological genetic (animal aggression instinct, primal urge) help have a positive effect oninstructed toldcomply obey, conformpositive mechanism advantageous traitpersonal values personal and moral code5-1-3 The truth about the environment （驳论文）pessimistic get worse, dark, dismal; [optimistic]be linked to be associate withslow down restrict; [accelerate]long-lasting extend well into our futurecatastrophic devastatingright appropriatedisjunction separationlopsidedness imbalanceexaggerate overstateclaim argumentselfless altruistic, benevolent, charitable, philanthropic characteristic feature, qualitycriticism scepticismimpartial objective, unbiased, neutralmeet reader s’ expectation provide what the public wants dispose throw awaywaste trash, rubbishgreen house gases carbon dioxide emissionsurgent pressing5-2-1 Bakeliteconstituent element, componentin a similar way to likein that becausebe moulded into new form reshapeorigin be derived fromreason impetus (stimulation, motivation, incentive) great advances immense progressin the field of in the domain ofpragmatic practical, realisticalternative substitutedwindle decrease, diminishamass accumulate, collectoriginal first, initial, primary; (true, authentic)outline (v.) give a general description, brief (n.), summary (n.)know as calle.g. such as, for exampleintense extreme, strongremove extractresin molten Bakelitedisdain despise, contempt, scornenjoy an unparalleled popularity be welcome; [fall of fovour]relish enjoy, savour, flavour, tasterange of colours array of shades5-2-2 What’s so funny? （抽象，可精读）nervous energy psychic tensioncontrolled release safely punctureludicrousness ridiculousness, funninesssettle on choose, agreeresolution solutionincongruity inconsistency, discrepancy, disagreementlinguistic lingualartificial intelligence language understanding and reasoning in machines revolve rotate, orbitinterpretation understandingapt appropriate, smartmutate change, convert, transformtrigger induce, causelinked to be critical foractivate spring to lifeinvolved with is associated withmost difficult task extremely demanding jobrespond instantly a rapid emotional assessmentwhatever is happening the events of the momentreact respondrecognition acknowledgementindividual responses to joke whether a joke gives pleasure or pain relate to depend onsubjective view outlookoperation work5-2-3 The birth of scientific English (难，多句意替换而非词汇替换) given considering, taking (sth) into accountprominence eminence, distinction, prestige, fameintellectual thinker, intellect, brain, scholarrenaissance revival, renewaldevelopment revolutionhow to express ideas language, writing styletreatise dissertationproperties quality, characteristic, featureperversely unreasonably, oddlydomain area, field, territorypreliminary preparatory, unpolishedcipher codeobscure vague, ambiguous; hide, concealcling to stick to, attach toinadequacy incapability, insufficiency, defect, deficiencyobjective impersonalentity existence, object, wholetranscript written copyinaugurate begin, launchfoster encourage, promote, cultivatekind genre, styledescriptions accountsspecific particularformative shaping, influentialbe overtaken this momentum was lostmomentum force, impetuslexis vocabulary; (lexical)institute establish, set up, inaugurate5-3-1 Early childhood educationsocio-economic background status, positionbe predicated on be based onbypass avoid, ignoreconfiguration pattern, shapefoster develop, encourage, nurturephenomenal wonderful, amazing, fantastic, marvelousperpetuate eternalize, immortalizeadminister give, provide, apply, carry out, managea variety of cross-section (typical, representative)not succeed disappointing, failedinsufficient inadequate, deficient, scarcefunding moneysuccess phenomenalscore highly make great stridelistening, speaking auditory comprehension, verbal ability and language ability interact with others social development5-3-2 Disappearing delta (难，多句意替换)erode corrode, wearastounding startling, amazing, astonishing, surprisingerosion scoured awaydeposit sedimentrelatively high still a lot ofdivert turn, shiftcanal channel, watercoursesedimentation the sediment sinks to the bottom of the canals laden loadedmunicipal urban, metropolitancoincide concurfood production food chain, fishing industryprincipally mainly, chiefly, primarilylook at pay close attention todevise design, invent, conceive, think upmarked increase be building up faster and faster5-3-3 The return of artificial intelligence (抽象选择题难)poised readyignite kindlecommon topic of conversation public debateirony inverted commashype pufferyjustification reasonrehabilitation recoveryinformative educational, instructive, enlighteningbring together encompass (include, contain, comprise)separate research areas disparate fields (different, diverse, various) lowest point [peak]rear bring up, raiseensue follow, succeedundue excessive, extravagantretrenchment reduction, curtailmentbe justified materialize (happen)fruition fulfillment, realizationperception optimism, realize, deem, regardpremature early, untimelyalign (with) allymundane ordinary, seculardeem consider, reckon, thinkimplement do, execute, perform, carry outmilitary impact spot camouflaged vehicles on a battlefielddifferentiate discriminate, distinguishexacerbate worsen, aggravatecategorise classifyreflect encapsulate (epitomise, symbolise)contemporary 1960s5-4-1 The impact of wilderness tourismexpansion boomlow financial cost of setting up little or no initial investmentin terms of from the perspective of/ with respect to /in respect of/with (in) relation to/ with reference to/ regarding/ concerningin this/these respect(s) from this angle/perspective/aspectregion areacharacteristic (n./adj.) feature; distinctive/typicalprevail dominateprevailing dominant/popular/widespread/prevalentdraw attractlandscape sceneryunique incomparable/unparalleledindigenous nativeisolated separate/solitary/alone/detachednew breed of kind/typegrateful appreciative/thankfulprofound deep, abstrusetrekker hikerfall declinethe amount of food farm outputtend carefood gathering hunting animals and fish and collecting fruitinhabitant dweller, residentculprit reason, sinnerundermine weakenpattern systemdilemma problem, difficulty, paradoxerosion corrosiondegradation demotion, reductiondisruptive troublesome, disturbing, intrusive, unsettlinglegion numerous, myriadinevitably inescapably, unavoidablyvehicle tool, media, meansreinvigorate restore, revitalise, reviveover the long term in the long runintegrate combine, incorporate, synthesiseconcern business, care, worryrevived renaissancecommunal public, mutualexploit use, developtransient temporaryrepatriate sendhome base headquartersaccrue accumulate, aggregatereservation preserve, reservepurchase buyhandicraft artwork, artifactproduce and sell businessaspiration ambition, dreamnorm rule, standard5-4-2 Flawed beauty: the problem with toughened glass (题目难) exert use, wield, manipulatepropagate breed, reproduce, spawn, advertise, disseminate subsequent after, laterconvert change, revertelapse passunusual rare, few and far between, uncommonpublicity press, promotion, advertising, propagandasuppress repress, sensor, banclosely examine analyse, inspect, investigatefavour love, prefer, approve (v.)fragment shard, scrapunexpectedly without warning, unpredictablyquickly rapidly, swiftly, promptlydispute argue, debate, contestincidence scale, extent, size5-4-3 The effects of light on plant and animal speciescue clue, hint, suggestionuseful reliablebe unpredictable fluctuate (vary)plenty considerablescientific evidence experimental evidencetypes speciesencourage induceout of season midwinterlight levels photoperiodbe referred to be known asreproduction breeding, propagationlonger days increasing day lengthsplants that flower when days are long long-day plants reproduce fertilizationperennial long-lasting, permanent, durableyet notcue triggeruptake intake, understandlimit maximumhorticulture gardening6-1-1 Australia’s sporting success （段配句难）demolish defeat, destroy, pull downunderpin support, back, establishfunded support financeathletes sportsmen and womencollaborate cooperateexpertise skills, ability, craft, techniquenarrow the scope focus onwring squeeze, tweak, twistprototype archetype, original, fatherprofile outlinevisual imaging image, digital camerasemploy use, apply, implementinvestigation analysis, examination, survey, inspection obstacles to optimum achievement 句意替换obstacle barrier, hurdle, impedimentoptimum best, optimal, superlative, unsurpassedevent championshipperformance requirements winning times, targetsproduce developplan preparegear towards adapt torival other country, competitor, opponent, contestant, contender reproduce copy, replicate, simulate, imitate, duplicate improve slice …off, cut offunveil uncover, reveal, unmask, display, show, expose, disclose all-encompassing all around, comprehensive, all-inclusive exclusively only, solely6-1-2 Delivering the goodsfreight goods, cargoworld globalincreasing expanding, risingtempt attract, provoke, enticecommerce trade, business, industryeffective trade condition advantagesnearby nations geographic neighbours weakening relationship is unrelated tovalue worthdelivery transportationsmall computer components disk drives product drives, componentslocal domestic, native, internalelectronic delivery telephone lines, optical fibers streamlined improved, more efficient/effective introduction invention, adoptioncapsize overturn, toppleships vessels, containerby and large generallytariff tax, dutyhaulier shipper, carrier, freighteralbeit althoughmonopoly cornerdeter discourage, prevent6-1-3 Climate change and the Inuit （标题较难）unprecedented event unusual incident precarious insecure, uncertaintough difficult, demanding; strong, unyielding autonomy independence, self-government terrain territory, region, areaindigenous native, aboriginalalternative otheressential supplies provisions, imported meat curtail reduce, condenseincidence rate, possibilityeffect impactwell-being health, welfare, prosperityat stake at risktease out obtain, get by, deal withdraw on useresolve address, solvecapricious variable, changeable, inconsistent appreciate understandimpossible out of the questioncatch exploitsustenance food, nourishmentinhabitant colonist, occupanta few a handful ofgive up abandonlifestyles waysdepend mainly on rely heavily onproduce meatexpensive costly6-2-1 The advantages of public transportpeople power democratic (democracy); [republican]favour prefer, approve, accept, benefittravel time travelling time, commuting time, commute timebe stable remain constantcongestion (massive) traffic jams, gridlockwealth incomeviable feasiblerefute disprove, discreditstarkly severely, evidentlyconvert change, transformproposal suggestion, requestadvocate recommend, supportrelated connectedflourish thrive, prosper, boomminimal limited; [maximal]hard inappropriateinhabitant resident, occupant, dweller, (citizen, civilian, populace, people)live accommodationbicycle friendly high level of bicycle usagereasonable averagely good, moderate, temperate6-2-2 Greying population stays in the pinkgreying population elderly peoplein the pink healthyafflict trouble, tortureshow reveal, uncoverage-related medical problems diseases associated with old age, medical complaints speed ratefalling smalleraffect strike, appearincreasing acceleratedevelopment advanceincrease surgedue to reflect, be attributed topollution poorer air qualitylink correlationlife expectancy live longerconsiderable reduction significant dropcost $200 billion, financial burdenpredicted expectedindependence self-relianceretain keep, hold, reserve, maintainexercise physical activitiesdecline deteriorate, degenerate, languish, worsen loneliness emotionally isolatedfare best manage/develop well6-2-3 Numeration （难）bound up with sth. closely connected with sth. sequence of events/words ordersufficiency enoughquality how manyfarming grow plantsdeveloped sophiscatedparamount supreme, primary, dominant arithmetic numerationbody language gesturesprevent misunderstanding resolve any confusion limited restrictedexpress deal withpeople average personfulfil a civic role qualify as a witness in a court of law grasp understanding, capacityconceive think, imaginedistinct separate, evident, clearhindrance barrier, obstaclebe registered in the mind realized, noticed concept specific wordseparate from independent ofnewer laterrelic trace, vestige, remainsindispensable essential, necessary6-3-1 Filmboulevard avenuestunned shocked, astonishedthrilled excitedroutine regular, habitual, frequentgrasp understand, comprehendimportant be worth tryingfirst initialimpact power and magicpassing of time flow of events, flow of timecultures life and valuesactor star, film personalities(film) personality celebrity, heroenduring long-lasting, permanentlegacy heritage, traditionby no means certainly notnovelty newness, innovation, originalitystoryline storynarrative account, story, reportconvention tradition, agreement; conference6-3-2 Motivating employees under adverse conditionsmotivate stimulate, prompt, inspireadverse unfavourable, disadvantageous, negative [positive]grow expanddecline shrinkoptimism [pessimism]entice encouragebe prone to be liable to, be likely to, tend to, incline to, have a tendency to less skilled employee minor/secondary employeeredundant unemployed, dismissedrumour gossipautonomous independent, self-governingaffiliation alliance, associationspecific precise, detailed, exacttarget goal, aim, object, objectivefeedback comment, remarkexternal [internal]be assigned be allocated, be distributedcollectively [individually]in conjunction with together withperception (perceive) sensebe consistent with [be inconsistent with]feel perceiverealistic achievable, attainable, obtainableappraisal assessment, evaluationvalid true, credible, logical, sound, well-groundedreinforce strengthenscope rangeindividual personalisebe contigent on be dependent on, rely onachievement performance, accomplishmentpromotion advancementearning remuneration, payment, salary, compensationdisclose increase the visibility, eliminate the secrecy, expose, reveal, unveil publicise advertise, promotetransparent clear, lucidfair equitable (equity, inequity), equalweigh think over, consider, ponder, reflect, contemplate6-3-3 The search for the anti-aging pillvigor vitality, strengthinfirmity weaknesslongevity long lifedrugs treatmentdelay slowgrowing old agingfewer restrictionextend increaseequivalent (to) equalpeople mortalsdiet regimen (treatment, therapy)disease disordermimic imitate, mockmimetic imitativeate what they wanted free-feedinggreater quantities [lower levels]reduced chance decreased likelihoodless likely to reduced risktaut promote, publicisetoxic poisonousdose amountretard slow, detainproduction generationemit release, send outfocus on emphasizein short supply scarce6-4-1 Doctoring sales （议论文，标题难）representative delegate, deputy, agent; typicalphysician doctor [surgeon]drug company pharmaceutical companyincentive stimulus, encouragementprofile outline, descriptionmoral ethicalbribe buymarketing technique marketing practices escalate increaseextravagance excess, luxury, wastebrochure pamphlet, bookletinundation floodevidence of drug promotion pen, tabletvisible watch, seerecipient receiverpersuaded influencedresearch studyprescribe dispensebottom line final result; essential pointsky-rocketing sky highlegitimate right, legal, lawfulmoney profitscrutinize inspect, examine, check6-4-2 Do literate women make better mothers? adults men and womenmaternal literacy mothers can read and write attitudes to children value its children more highly eliminate remove, excludewhen asmortality deathlevels rate, figureslearn to read be educatedstay remainNational Literacy Crusade campaignchild infantmalnourished undernourishedopt chooseexert apply, useimplication hint, suggestionmoney budgetmaternal [paternal], femaleeffects pay-offbypass avoid, escape, ignoremature adult, grownreplicate copy, duplicate, reproduce6-4-3 Bullyingpersistent enduring, chronic, endlessresearch surveydifficult to deal with recalcitrant, unruly, disobedientchildren who are bullied victimised pupilshave experiencein later life as adultsoffence crime, misdeedcommon refrain clichéresource helpinquiry question, enquiry, investigation, inquestdecline 50% halveoptimum optimal, bestthe most important step a key stepproduce developdetailed explicit, clear, unambiguous, specificsanction permission, approval, penaltyconsultation discussion, conference, counseldisseminate spread, distribute, disperse, propagate implement carry out, do, perform, executeback (up) supportearly part early phasein the light of considering, in the view ofsubstitute replacement, surrogatepotential be liable toself-confident assertivenesseffective usefulrecognise the difference between A and B distinguish A from B prevention intervention7-1-1L et’s go batsfraction amount, proportionuncanny unnatural, weird, unexpected, exceptional navigate find their way, guide, pilot, maneuverearly mammal mammalian ancestoravoid dying out manage to survivein the absence of withoutobstruct block, impedevision seeingmanoeuvre move, guide, performprohibitive expensiveilluminate light, elucidate, clarify, illustratecomparable like, similar, corresponding, parallel, equivalent phantom unreal, ghostarm or leg limbperceive sensecalculate measureapply exploit, implement, practice, usefinding detectionmilitary martial, warlikeor rather more exactly/specifically/accuratelyresult in lead to, perfect (v.) (polish, refine)detection navigationtechnically strictlyinaccurate incorrectrefer to talk about, speak of, mention; concern, be relevant to underlying basic, essential, fundamentalcoin name, call, know as, term, christen, dubcover include7-1-2 Making every drop countmanipulate exploit, use, handleexpand extend, enlargesource origin/derivationinnovative novel/original/unprecedentedlayout design/plan/blueprint/schemeoccupant resident/dweller/inhabitantexplode soarmonumental giant, heroic, historic, significantdue primarily to mainly because ofgenerate produceinferior subordinate; [superior]adequate sufficientconsequence outcomejeopardise endanger/threaten/imperilcompensation paymentspecies breedecosystem environmentthrive prosper/flourishdispute debate/contend/controversytension pressure/stressscientist resource planner, water expertrevision change, shift/amendmentrezort option/resourceopposition resistance/objectionaddress tackle/solve/deal withsurprising unexpectedlydiminish decreasedownward trend fallremarkable notable/exceptionala range of a spectrum ofdomestic home, nationalconserve preserve/savepeak summitstandard specification /criteria/normregion zone/terrain/territoryecological bionomical (bionomics = ecology)/environmental7-1-3 Educating psyche （抽象，难）ways approachesnot traditional radical newunimportant peripheralrecall remembervalid true, credible, well-groundedreadily easilyinstruction education, learning, teaching, order, directionteachers should train students teaching systemvariant versionsolemnly seriouslyprior to beforehand, preliminarydemanding [easy and pleasant]likewise also, furthermoresimilar not unusualconventional classes language teaching, ordinary classes, traditional classes distinctive special, characteristic, typicalretain learn, keep, maintainadmit acknowledgeritual ceremony, form, riteautocratic categoricdesignate allocate, appoint, call, nameaccredited accepted, believedwell known notoriety (fame, popularity, reputation, notoriousness) emulate imitate, copy, compete, contestprocedure sessionunspectacular mediocre7-2-1 Why pagodas don’t fall down (力学背景，较难理解)flimsy delicate, weaklighting illuminationtopple overturn, capsizeflatten leveldevastate destroy, ruinmagnificent majestic, splendid, remarkableunscathed safe, uninjured, unharmederect constructdampen decrease, restrainbuilders carpentersabsorb some of the power sway and settle itselfsevere weather conditions nature’s forcesoriginal firstreligious purpose Buddhismobservation post watchtowerdispense with get rid of, withoutbatter strike, attackeave roofhalf fifty per centfloor storeyresilience flexibility, buoyancypillar column, pilebear the weight carry the loadbend flexstationary fixed, unmoving, stillslither slideconsecutive successivestop constrainjolt shake, bump, jerk7-2-2 The true cost of foodcollateral parallel, additionalenervation depletion, impoverishmentcolossal immense, enormousdecline vanishfertility richness, productivitychemical fertilizerwater sources lakesaesthetic artisticarable cultivabledomestic water drinking waterillness caused by food food poisoningthree different types threefoldsubsidy grantprop up support, sustainfeasible possible, viablepremium additional paymentcommitment responsibility, obligationcomprise contain, encompass, includeinitiate begin, launch, undertakechange shift7-2-3 Makete integrated rural transport project （文章最长）tackle solve, address, cope with, deal with present offer, giveassumption premise, postulation, supposition identify be understoodregarding on, aboutalmost inaccessible be virtually totally isolated local area within the localityimplement carry out, performconstruction buildrefinement improvementlocal people communitiesbuses and trucks motorized vehicleshinder prevent, obstruct, impede, hold back officials authoritiesmodel reference7-3-1 Ant intelligence （难）scrutiny inspection, examination, observation repel repulsecommunication contactpropagate spread, disseminate, breed, reproduce advanced sophisticated, be overtakenaffect ruinwaste use enormous amounts ofsecretion antibioticsunwanted materials wastedevelop domesticategenetic DNAupgrade improve, modifyexchange swap, sharecity life urban lifestyleforcing house encourageintricate complicated, elaborateoutstrip exceed, outdo, surpassfind their way navigateposition bearingsense of smell odourexhaustive thorough, complete7-3-2 Population movements and genetics footing foundation, basis, statuslong-standing long-lasting, old, enduring prehistoric firstvariant variation, diversity, versionmeasure calibratecloseness of the relationship interbreeding further evidence other researchthree-wave theory conclusionsdental teethteeth specimenprehistoric ancientAmerican and Asia New and Old World credence credit, belief7-3-3 The preservation of European forest combat fight, strugglejoint (action) communal, mutualexclude discardcondemned fated, doomedunrivaled unparalleled, incomparable unwind relax, restbiological functions the other aspects natural primarytranscend exceed, surpass, excelboundary frontier, borderresolution conclusion, determination, decision issue publish, releasesurveillance watchculprit sinner, offenderaccentuate emphasizeconcentrate on focus onpreserve reserveinformation databankshared generally availablepriority preferentialresources support7-4-1 Endless harvestbounty bonus, rewardnourishment food, nutritionmore than exceed, in excess ofsharp decrease crashmandate order, commandeach year annualkeep a check monitorauthority power, rightsufficient abundancebe successful prospercommission authorise, entitle, empowerestablish foundcertify witness, guarantee, warrantsubsistence sustenance, livingprompt impel, propel, trigger, stimulatecumulative accumulativeculminate peak, climaxlabel display7-4-2 Pulling strings to build pyramidsreckon deem, considerlarge number of people tens of thousands of slavesperuse study, examinemonument memorialstrange oddposture position, poseintrigue attract, interestrig up set upscaffold stage, platformapex summit, toptrolley cartclean (adv.) completely, entirelyraise liftlift bearlarge pieces of massive blocks ofuse harnessobject artefactresemble look likesend deliverfoe enemy7-4-3 Effects of noiseplausible believable, credibledisruptive troublesome, disturbing, intrusive, unsettling interfere affectat once at the same time, at a timecapability abilityhigh-pitched/ low-pitched noise loud/ soft noise, intense noise make it stop controlreduce eliminatelong-term chronic, lastingmistake errorunexpected unpredictablemanifest take its toll。

C4T1P1孩子们对热带雨林的误解（无英文标题）P2 WHAT DO WHALES FEELP3 VISUAL SYMBOLS AND THE BLINDT2P1 LOST FOR WORDSP2 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN AUSTRALIAP3 PLAY IS A SERIOUS BUSINESST3P1 MICRO-ENTERPRISE CREDIT FOR STREET YOUTH P2 VOLCANOES-EARTH –SHATTERING NEWSP3 OBTAINING LINGUISTIC DATAT4P1 HOW MUCH HIGHRR ? HOW MUCH FASTER?P2 THE NATURE AND AIMS OF ARCHAEOLOGYP3 THE PROBLEM OF SCARCE RESOURCESC5T1P1 JOHN’S DICTIONARYP2 NATURE OR NURTUREP3 THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTT2P1 BAKELITEP2 WHAT’S SO FUNNYP3 THE BIRTH OF SCIENTIFIC ENGLISHT3P1 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONP2 DIAPPEARING DELTAP3 THE RETURN OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCET4P1 THE IMPACT OF WILDERNESS TOURISMP2 FLAWED BEAUTY: THE PROBLEM WITH TOUGHENED GALSS P3 THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT ON PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES C6T1P1 AUSTRILA’S SPORTING SUCCESSP2 DELIVERING THE GOODSP3 CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE LNUITT2P1 ADVANTAGES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORP2 GREYING POPULATION STAYS IN THE PINKP3 NUMERATIONT3p1 LUMIERE BROTHER（无标题)p2 MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS P3 THE SEARCH FOR THE ANTI-AGING PILLT4P1 DOCTORING SALESP2 DO LITERATE WOMEN MAKE BETTER MOTHERS?P3 BULLYING (无标题)C7T1P1 LET’S GO BATSP2 MAKING EVERY DROP COUNTP3 EDUCATION PSYSHET2P1 WHY PAGES DON’T FALL DOWNP2 THE TRUE COST OF FOODP3 MAKETE INTEGRATED RURAL TRANSPOT PROJECT T3P1 ANT INTELLIGENCEP2 POPULATION MOVEMENTS AND GENETICSP3 FOREST(无标题)T4P1 PULLING STRINGS TO BUILD PYRAMIDSP2 ENDLESS HARVESTP3 EFFECTS OF NOISEC8T1P1 A CHRONICLE OF TIMEKEEPINGP2 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE USAP3 TELEPATHYT2P1 SHEET GLASS MANUFACTURE: THE FLOAT PROCESS P2 THE LITTLE ICE AGEP3 THE MEANING AND POWER OF SMELLT3P1 STRIKING BACK AT LIGHTNING WITH LASERSP2 THE NATURE OF GENIUSP3 HOW DOES THE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TICK?T4P1 LAND OF THE RISING SUMP2 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PESTSP3 COLLECTING ANT SPECIMENTSC9T1P1 WILLIAM HENRY PERKINP2 IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?P3 THE HISTORY OF THE TORTOISET2P1 听力损伤（无标题）p2 VENUS IN TRASITP3 A NEUROSCIENTISTS REVEALS HOW TO THINK DIFFERENTLY T3P1 ATTITUDES TO LANGUAGEP2 TIDAL POWERP3 INFORMATION THEORY-THE BIG IDEAT4P1 THE LIFE AND WORK OF MARIE CURIEP2 YOUNG CHILDREN’S SENSE OF IDENTITYP3 THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUMSC10T1P1 STEPWELLSP2 EUROPEAN TRANSPORT SYSTEM1990-2010P3 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INNOVATIONT2P1 TAE AND THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONP2 GIFETED CHILDREN AND LEARNINGP3 MUSEUMS OF FINE ART AND THEIR PUBLICT3P1 THE CONTEXT,MEANIING AND SCOPE OF TOURISMP2 ANTUMN LEAVESP3 BEYOUND THE BLUE HORIZONT4P1 THE MEGAFIRES OF CALIFORNIAP2 SECOND NATUREP3 WHEN EVOLUTION RUNS BACKWORDS。

LanguageC4T2R1 Lost for WordsC5T1R1 Johnson’s DictionaryC5T2R3 The Birth of Scientific EnglishC4T3R3 Obtaining Linguistic DataC9T3R1 Attitude to LanguageEnvironmentC4T1R1 RainforestC5T1R3 The Truth about the EnvironmentC5T3R2 Disappearing DeltaC7T1R2 Making Every Drop CountC7T2R2 The True Cost of Food (Food)C7T3R3 DeforestationC5T4R1 The Impact of Wildness Tourism (Tourism) EducationC4T2R3 Play is a Serious BusinessC5T2R3 Early Childhood EducationC9T2R1 Children DevelopmentBiologyC4T1R2 What Do Whales Feel?C5T4R3 The Effect of Light on Plant and Animal SpeciesC7T1R1 Let’s Go Bats (Technology)C7T3R1 Ant IntelligenceC7T3R2 Population Movement and Genetics (Geography, Society) C8T2R3 The Meaning and Power of SmellC8T3R3 How Does the Biological Clock Tick?C8T4R2 Biological Control of PestsC8T4R3 Collecting Ant SpecimensC8T3R2 The Nature of GeniusPsychologyC4T1R3 Visual Symbols and the BlindC5T1R2 Nature or NurtureC5T2R2 What’s so Funny?C7T1R3 Educating PsychoC8T1R3 TelepathyC9T2R3 A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think DifferentlyC9T4R2 Young Children’s Sense of IdentityHealth/ MedicineC4T2R2 Alternative Medicine in AustraliaC4T4R3 The Problem of Scarce ResourcesC6T2R2 Greying Population Stays in the PinkC6T3R3 The Search for Anti-aging PillsC6T4R1 Doctoring SalesTechnologyC5T2R1 BakeliteC5T3R3 The Return of Artificial IntelligenceC5T4R2 Flawed Beauty: the Problem with Toughened Glasses C8T1R1 A Chronicle of TimekeepingC8T2R1 Sheet Glass Manufacture: the Float ProcessC9T3R3 Information Theory – the Big Idea GeographyC4T3R2 V olcanoes-earth-shattering NewsC6T1R3 Climate Change and the InuitC8T2R2 The Little Ice AgeC8T4R1 Land of the Rising SumC9T2R2 Venus in TransitC9T3R2 Tidal PowerC9T1R2 Is There Anybody out There?SportsC4T4R1 How much higher? How much faster?C6T1R1 Australia Sporting SuccessArchaeologyC4T4R2 The Nature and Aims of Archeology TransportC6T1R2 Delivering the GoodsC6T2R1 Advantages of Public TransportC8T1R2 Air Traffic Control in the USAScienceC6T2R3 NumerationMediaC6T3R1 CinemaSociety/ Social LifeC4T3R1 Micro-Enterprise Credit for Street YouthC6T3R2 Motivating Employees under Adverse ConditionsC6T4R2 Do Literate Women Make Better Mothers?C6T4R3 BullyingC7T2R3 Makete Integrated Rural Transport ProjectC7T4R2 Endless HarvestC7T4R3 Effects of Noise (Environment, Biology) ArchitectureC7T2R1 Why Pagodas don’t Fall downC7T4R1 Pulling Strings to Build PyramidsCultureC8T3R1 Striking Back at Lightning With Lasers (Physics) C9T1R1 William Henry PerkinC9T1R2 The History of the Tortoise (Biology)C9T4R1 The Life and Work of Marie CurieC9T4R3 The Development of Museums。

Amipnga剑桥雅思1-6阅读真题全接触讲解Time will pierce the surface or youth, will be on the beauty of the ditch dug a shallow groove ; Jane will eat rare!A born beauty, anything to escape his sickle sweep.-- Shakespeare剑桥雅思1-6阅读真题全接触作者：凯哥凯哥花了点时间把到目前为止的剑桥雅思系列A类试题的标题及其内容做了以下总结希望对大家有用处！剑桥雅思1Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4Reading Passage 1 A spark, a flint: How fire leapt to life Right and left-handedness in humans SPOKEN CORPUS COMES TO LIFE GLASS CAPTURING THE DANCE OF LIGHT Reading Passage 2 Zoo conservation programmes MIGRATORY BEEKEEPING Moles happy as homes go underground Why some women cross the finish line ahead of men Reading Passage 3 ARCHITECTURE�Creaching for the sky TOURISM A Workaholic Economy Population viability analysis剑桥雅思2 Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Reading Passage 1 AIRPORTS ON WATER Implementing the cycle of success: a case study Absenteeism in nursing: a longitudinal study Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping Reading Passage 2 Changing our Understanding of Health NO TITLE (Language barriers) Reading Passage 3 CHILDREN’S THINKING What is a Port City? THE MOTOR CAR NO TITLE (The harm that picture books can cause)THE KEYLESS SOCIETY Test 4 IN SEARCH OF THE HOLY GRAIL 剑桥雅思3 Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Reading Passage 1 THE ROCKET�CFROM EAST TO WEST A Remarkable Beetle THE DEPARTMENT OF ETHNOGRAPHY NO TITLE (Air pollution and motor vehicles) Reading Passage 2 The Risk of Cigarette Smoke NO TITLE (Environmental management) Secrets of the Forest Reading Passage 3 THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD THE CONCEPT OF ROLE THEORY Highs and lows MEASURING ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE VOTES FOR WOMEN剑桥雅思4 Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Reading Passage 1 NO TITLE (Children’s ideas�Crainforests) Lost for Words (Endangered languages) Micro-enterprise Credit for Street Youth How much higher? How much faster? Reading Passage 2 What Do Whales Feel? ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN AUSTRALIAVolcanoes�Cearth-shattering news The nature and aims of archaeology剑桥雅思5 Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test Reading Passage 1 Johnson’s Dictionary BAKELITE The birth of modern plastics Early Child Education The Impact of Wilderness Reading Passage 2 Nature or Nurture? What’s so Funny? (On humour) Reading Passage 3 The Truth about the Environment The Birth of Scientific English The Return of Artificial intelligence The effects of light Reading Passage 3 Visual Symbols and the Blind PLAY IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS Obtaining Linguistic Data The Problem of Scarce Resources Disappearing Delta Flawed Beauty: the 4 Tourism problem with toughened glasson plant and animal species 剑桥雅思6 Test 1 Test 2 Reading Passage 1 Australia’s Sporting Success Advantages of Public Transport NO TITLE (Cinematography) Reading Passage 2 Delivering the Goods Greying Population Stays in the Pink Motivating Employees under Adverse Conditions Do literate women make better mothers? Reading Passage 3 Climate Change and the Inuit Numeration The Search for the Anti-aging Pill NO TITLE (School bullying) Test 3 Test 4 Doctoring Sales感谢您的阅读，祝您生活愉快。

W h a t's s o f u n n y? J o h n M c C r o n e r e v i e w s r e c e n t r e s e a r c h o n h u m o u r The joke comes over the headphones: ' Which side of a dog has the most hair? The left.' No, not funny. Try again. ' Which side of a dog has the most hair? The outside.' Hah! The punchline is silly yet fitting, tempting a smile, even a laugh. Laughter has always struck people as deeply mysterious, perhaps pointless. The writer Arthur Koestler dubbed it the luxury reflex: 'unique in that it serves no apparent biological purpose'.Theories about humour have an ancient pedigree. Plato expressed the idea that humour is simply a delighted feeling of superiority over others. Kant and Freud felt that joke-telling relies on building up a psychic tension which is safely punctured by the ludicrousness of the punchline. But most modern humour theorists have settled on some version of Aristotle's belief that jokes are based on a reaction to or resolution of incongruity, when the punchline is either a nonsense or, though appearing silly, has a clever second meaning.Graeme Ritchie, a computational linguist in Edinburgh, studies the linguistic structure of jokes in order to understand not only humour but language understanding and reasoning in machines. He says that while there is no single format for jokes, many revolve around a sudden and surprising conceptual shift. A comedian will present a situation followed by an unexpected interpretation that is also apt.So even if a punchline sounds silly, the listener can see there is a clever semantic fit and that sudden mental 'Aha!' is the buzz that makes us laugh. Viewed from this angle, humour is just a form of creative insight, a sudden leap to a new perspective.However, there is another type of laughter, the laughter of social appeasement and it is important to understand this too. Play is a crucial part of development in most young mammals. Rats produce ultrasonic squeaks to prevent their scuffles turning nasty. Chimpanzees have a 'play-face' - a gaping expression accompanied by a panting 'ah, ah' noise. In humans, these signals have mutated into smiles and laughs. Researchers believe social situations, rather than cognitive events such as jokes, trigger these instinctual markers of play or appeasement. People laugh on fairground rides or when tickled to flag a play situation, whether they feel amused or not.Both social and cognitive types of laughter tap into the same expressive machinery in our brains, the emotion and motor circuits that produce smiles and excited vocalisations. However, if cognitive laughter is the product of more general thought processes, it should result from more expansive brain activity.Psychologist Vinod Goel investigated humour using the new technique of 'single event' functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRl). An MRI scanner uses magnetic fields and radio waves to track the changes in oxygenated blood that accompany mental activity. Until recently, MRI scanners needed several minutes of activity and so could not be used to trackrapid thought processes such as comprehending a joke. New developments now allowhalf-second 'snapshots' of all sorts of reasoning and problem-solving activities.Although Goel felt being inside a brain scanner was hardly the ideal place for appreciating a joke, he found evidence that understanding a joke involves a widespread mental shift. His scans showed that at the beginning of a joke the listener'$ prefrontal cortex lit up, particularly the right prefrontal believed to be critical for problem solving. But there was also activity in the temporal lobes at the side of the head (consistent with attempts to rouse stored knowledge) and in many other brain areas. Then when the punchline arrived, a new area sprang to life -the orbital prefrontal cortex. This patch of brain tucked behind the orbits of the eyes is associated with evaluating information.Making a rapid emotional assessment of the events of the moment is an extremely demanding job for the brain, animal or human. Energy and arousal levels may need, to be retuned in the blink of an eye. These abrupt changes will produce either positive or negative feelings. The orbital cortex, the region that becomes active in Goel's experiment, seems the best candidate for the site that feeds such feelings into higher-level thought processes, with its close connections to the brain's sub-cortical arousal apparatus and centres of metabolic control.All warm-blooded animals make constant tiny adjustments in arousal in response to external events, but humans, who have developed a much more complicated internal life as a result of language, respond emotionally not only to their surroundings, but to their. own thoughts. Whenever a sought-for answer snaps into place, there is a shudder of pleased recognition. Creative discovery being pleasurable, humans have learned to find ways of milking this natural response. The fact that jokes tap into our general evaluative machinery explains why the line between funny and disgusting, or funny and frightening, can be so fine. Whether a joke gives pleasure or pain depends on a person's outlook.Humour may be a luxury, but the mechanism behind it is no evolutionary accident. As Peter Derks, a psychologist at William and Mary College in Virginia, says: 'I like to think of humour as the distorted mirror of the mind. It's creative, perceptual, analytical and lingual. If we can figure out how the mind processes humour, then we'll have a pretty good handle on how it works in general.Cambridge IELTS 5Questions 24—27Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-G below,Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 24-27 on your answer sheet.One of the brain's most difficult tasks is toBecause of the language they have developed, humansIndividual responses to humourPeter Derks helieves that humourA react to their own thoughts.B helped create language in humans.C respond instantly to whatever is happening.D may provide valuable information about the operation of the brain.E cope with difficult situations.F relate to a person's subjective views.G led our ancestors to smile and then laugh.Making a rapid emotional assessment of the events of the moment is an extremely demanding job for the brain, animal or humanThe fact that jokes tap into our general evaluative machinery explains why the line between funny and disgusting, or funny and frightening, can be so fine. Whether a joke gives pleasure or pain depends on a person's outlook.Whether a joke gives pleasure or pain depends on a person's outlook.Humour may be a luxury, but the mechanism behind it is no evolutionary accident. As Peter Derks, a psychologist at William and Mary College in Virginia, says: 'I like to think of humour as the distorted mirror of the mind. It's creative, perceptual, analytical and lingual. If we can figure out how the mind processes humour, then we'll have a pretty good handle on how it works in general.'。