16.A scientist working at her lab bench and a six-old baby playing with his food might seem to have little in common.After all,the scientist is engaged in serious research to uncover the very nature of the physical world,and the baby is,well,just playing…right?Perhaps,but some developmental psychologists (心理学家)have argued that this"play"is more like a scientific investigation than one might think.
Take a closer look at the baby playing at the table.Each time the bowl of rice is pushed over the table edge,it falls in the ground---and,in the process,it brings out important evidence about how physical objects interact(相互作用); bowls of rice do not float in mid-are,but require support to remain stable.It is likely that babies are not born knowing this basic fact of the universe;nor are they ever clearly taught it.Instead,babies may form an understanding of object support through repeated experiments and then build on this knowledge to learn even more about how objects interact.Though their ranges and tools differ,the baby's investigation and the scientist's experiment appear to share the same aim(to learn about the natural world ),overall approach (gathering direct evidence from the world),and logic (are my observations what I expected?).
Some psychologists suggest that young children learn about more than just the physical world in this way---that they investigate human psychology and the rules of language using similar means.For example,it may only be through repeated experiments,evidence gathering,and finally overturning a theory,that a baby will come to accept the idea that other people can have different views and desires from what he or she has,for example,unlike the child,Mommy actually doesn't like Dove chocolate.
Viewing childhood development as a scientific investigation throws light on how children learn,but it also offers an inspiring look at science and scientists.Why do young children and scientists seem to be so much alike?Psychologists have suggested that science as an effort---the desire to explore,explain,and understand our world---is simply something that comes from our babyhood.Perhaps evolution provided human babies with curiosity and a natural drive to explain their worlds,and adult scientists simply make use of the same drive that served them as children.The same cognitive systems that make young children feel good about feel good about figuring something out may have been adopted by adult scientists.As some psychologists put it,"It is not that children are little scientists but that scientists are big children."
50.According to some developmental psychologists,D
A.a baby's play is nothing more than a game.
B.scientific research into babies; games is possible
C.the nature of babies'play has been thoroughly investigated
D.a baby's play is somehow similar to a scientist's experiment
51.We learn from Paragraph 2 thatD
A.scientists and babies seem to observe the world differently
B.scientists and babies often interact with each other
C.babies are born with the knowledge of object support
D.babies seem to collect evidence just as scientists do
52.Children may learn the rules of language byC
A.exploring the physical world
B.investigating human psychology
C.repeating their own experiments
D.observing their parents'behaviors
53.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?B
A.The world may be more clearly explained through children's play.
B.Studying babies'play may lead to a better understanding of science.
C.Children may have greater ability to figure out things than scientists.
D.One's drive for scientific research may become stronger as he grows.
54.What is the author's tone when he discusses the connection between scientists'research and babies'play?D
A.Convincing. B.Confused.
C.Confident. D.Cautious.
分析 本文主要讲述了一些发展科学家认为孩子的玩耍和科学家的科学研究有共同之处.他们似乎有着共同的目标(认知自然世界);总的方法(收集来自世界的直接证据)以及相同的逻辑(是我意料之中的观察结果吗?);科学家还举例论证了孩子们不仅通过重复实验,收集证据,以及最终推翻一个结论的方法来研究物质世界,他们还以同样的方法来研究人的心理以及学习语言的规律;最后提出研究孩子的发展过程可以让人们更好的了解科学.
解答 答案:
50.D 细节理解题 根据第一段的最后一句"but some developmental psychologists (心理学家)have argued that this"play"is more like a scientific investigation than one might think."可知,一些发展心理学家认为这种"玩"更像是科学研究而不是像人们想像的那样(只是单纯地玩);此处表达的意思与D."孩子的玩耍在某种程度上类似于科学家的实验"相同;故选D
51.D 细节理解题 根据第二段"Though their ranges and tools differ,…overall approach (gathering direct evidence from the world)…"可知,尽管他们的研究范围和使用的工具不同,但是孩子的研究与科学家的实验似乎有着共同的目标(认知自然界);整体的方法(收集来自世界的直接证据)…;所以D."婴儿们似乎像科学家一样收集证据"符合文中表达的意思;故选D
52.C 细节理解题 题干是"孩子们通过什么方式可以学会语言规律?"根据第三段"For example,it may only be through repeated experiments,evidence gathering…"可知,该句表达了孩子学习语言规律的方式即:通过重复实验,收集证据;因此C."重复他们自己的实验"的表达与文中内容相符,故选C
53.B 主旨大意题 结合上文所讲的内容,通读最后一段可知:"Viewing childhood development as a scientific investigation throws light on how children learn,but it also offers an inspiring look at science and scientists将观察儿童的发展作为一项科学研究揭示了孩子的学习的方式,但这也会更加令人鼓舞地对待科学以及科学家"为最后一段的中心句,表达了研究孩子的发展过程可以让人们更好的了解科学,故选B.
54.D 细节理解题 题干的意思是:当作者在讨论科学研究与儿童玩耍的关系时,他的语气是怎么样的?根据作者在文中的用词perhaps,appear to和may表达了并不肯定的语气,以及通过引用其他人的观点some psychologist suggest/argue that 可知,作者的语气是谨慎的,严谨的.故选D.
点评 本文阅读起来有一定的难度,所以需要运用一定的阅读技巧,例如,首先快速浏览文章,把握文章的中心思想;其次,进行细节阅读,到文中相应的位置去寻找后面问题的答案;最后,标出难理解的句子(一般为长句),简单划分一下它的结构,并结合上下文去揣摩它所表达的意义.