Question

Honesty may well be the policy, but it often deserts us when no one is watching, psychologists report today. Experiments with an honesty box to collect payments for hot drinks show that people are better at paying up when under the gaze(注视) of a pair of eyes. The surprise was that the eyes were not real, but photographed.

Researchers at Newcastle University set up the experiment in secret. They attached a poster to a cupboard of mugs above an-honesty box alongside a kettle ,with tea, coffee and milk. Over 10 weeks, they alternated each week between images of eyes and pictures of flowers.

Dr. Bateson, a behavioral biologist and leader of the study, said that even though the eyes were not real they still seemed to make people behave more honestly. They effect may arise from behavioral characteristics that developed as early humans formed social groups that increased their chances of survival. Individuals had to co-operate for the good of the group, rather than act selfishly.

"If nobody is watching us, it is in our interests to behave selfishly. But when we think we're being watched,we should behave better, so people see us as co-operative and behave the same way towards us, "Dr. Bateson said.

"We thought we'd get a slight effect with eyes, but it was quite striking how much difference they made. Even at a subconscious(潜意识的) level, it seems people respond to eyes, and that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved(进化) to respond to."

The finding, which researchers believe sheds light on our evolutionary past, could be turned to practical use. The psychologists say images of eyes could promote ticket sales on public transport and improve monitor systems to prevent antisocial behavior.

1.This passage is mainly about _______________.

A. the policy of honesty               

B. an honesty box to collect money

C. evolution on honesty            

D. an experiment on honesty

2.The reason for doing the experiment secretly is that the researchers _____________.

A. wanted to get a comparatively more exact result

B. had known they wanted to do something illegally

C. meant to get the co-operation of their colleagues

D. intended to sell the hot drinks at a higher price

3.People behave honestly under watchful gaze of eyes because _____________.

A. they want to leave a good impression    

B. they fear to be laughed at by others

C. they've got the nature through evolution    

D. they take the photo for a real pair of eyes

4.The underlined phrase" sheds light on" in the last paragraph means _____.

A. causes somebody to become cheerful      

B. makes something easier to understand

C. comes upon something by accident        

D. brings something into the broad daylight

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】本文讲述了心理学家进行诚实实验，发现有假眼睛盯着的情况下，人们比没有眼睛盯着更诚实。

1.主旨题。本文主要讲述了一个诚实实验。

2.推理题。实验人员秘密地进行试验当然是为了测试的结果更精确。如别人知道是实验，一定会表现的很诚实。

3.细节题。根据that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved(进化) to respond to."可知答案为C。

4.猜词题。shed light on 阐明，使清楚地显出，根据后一句话，这个发现可以被使用，可知会使得我们进化的过去更清楚的表现出来。所以B正确。