Dr. Li found that the odours helped shape people's judgments about the faces when their responses indicated that they had not smelled anything. When someone had been exposed to valeric acid, for example, he tended to react negatively to a face. Exposure to citral, by contrast, made that face seem, on average, more friendly. (Obviously, the same face was not shown to any given participant more than once.) Even more intriguing, however, was that when participants did consciously perceive a smell, its effect on face-perception disappeared.

What is going on is unclear. If smells can carry useful information about personality (which is possible), then the effect would be expected to be the same whether or not the chemical in question is detected subliminally. If they do not carry such information, then it is hard to see what use the subliminal reaction is. Nevertheless, it is there.

The findings do, however, demonstrate what might be a powerful method of manipulation. Indeed, Dr. Li considers the potential uses to be vast. Business meetings might be made more pleasant by releasing appropriate fragrances into the air in unsmellable amounts. Conversely, fights might be started by putting people in the presence of a faint foul odour. Advertising hoardings might benefit from a little olfactory tweaking and cinema audiences could be reduced to floods of tears at the appropriate moment. The sweet smell of success might, in other words, actually be undetectable.

1. Dr. Li is carrying out such an investigation in order to _____.

[A] find out how smells regulate moods in a subtle and nuanced way

[B] prove that smell plays an equally important role in daily life as that of sight and sound

[C] find out if people are sensitive to faint smells

[D] find out if faint smells could influence people's judgement of others

2. The mineral oil is used in Dr. Li's experiment to _____.

[A] control the concentration of odours in a slightly detectable degree

[B] act as a group of comparison with that of the other smells

[C] regulate the participants' moods by decreasing the smell's concentration

[D] protect the participants from losing sense of smell

3. The word “likeability” (Line 4, Paragraph 4) most probably means _____.

[A] similarity

[B] likeness

[C] loveliness

[D] likelihood

4. When the participants consciously smelt the valeric acid, they tended to _____.

[A] make negative judgement to a face

[B] make positive judgement to a face

[C] make biased judgement to a face

[D] make fair judgement to a face

5. From Dr. Li's experiment, it can be inferred that _____.

[A] one's reaction to subliminal smells reflect useful information about his or her personality

[B] subliminal smells can influence people's interaction with each other

[C] subliminal smells have no effect on people's conscious face-perception

[D] subliminal smells turn out to be a means of powerful manipulation in terms of business success





文章剖析


这篇文章介绍了气味对人们的影响。文章第一段讲述的是虽然气味在人们的生活中占有重要地位，但是淡淡的气味中潜藏的力量却为人所忽视；第二段讲述李博士正在进行研究细微气味的试验；第三、第四和第五段讲述了李博士试验的具体情况；第六段讲述还有待研究的问题；第七段讲述这个发现的意义和作用。





词汇注释


cursory adj. 粗略的，草率的

subliminal adj. 潜在意识的，微小的

citral n. ［化］柠檬醛

ethereal adj. ［化］（乙）醚的，含（乙）醚的

valeric acid 缬草酸；戊酸

bloodhound n. 警犬

hoarding n. 招贴板，广告牌

olfactory adj. 嗅觉的

tweak vt. 调节，拧





难句突破


① Odours are known to regulate moods, thoughts and even dating decisions, which is why any serious romantic will throw on the eau de toilette before going out for a night on the town.

主体句式：Odours are known to...

结构分析：which引导的非限定性定语从句是用来修饰前面的整个句子的。

句子译文：众所周知，气味可以左右人的情绪、想法，甚至是约会决定，这也就是为什么人们晚上在城里赴正式的约会前总要喷上点儿香水。

② If smells can carry useful information about personality (which is possible), then the effect would be expected to be the same whether or not the chemical in question is detected subliminally.

主体句式：If... then...

结构分析：这是一个带有条件状语从句的复杂句，在后面的分句中有一个条件状语从句。

句子译文：如果气味带有有用的个性信息（这是有可能的），那么不管这种化学物质是否可以被潜意识感觉到，其影响应当是一样的。





题目分析


1. Dr. Li is carrying out such an investigation in order to _____.

[A] find out how smells regulate moods in a subtle and nuanced way

[B] prove that smell plays an equally important role in daily life as that of sight and sound

[C] find out if people are sensitive to faint smells

[D] find out if faint smells could influence people's judgement of others

1. 李博士进行这项试验是为了 _____。

[A] 探索气味是如何以一种细小微妙的方式左右人的情绪的

[B] 证明气味在人们的生活中与视觉和听觉一样起着重要的作用

[C] 探索人们是否对微弱的气味敏感

[D] 探索微弱的气味是否可以影响人们对他人的判断

答案：D　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。文章介绍了李博士的试验，可以看出，该试验的对象是微弱的、人们闻不到的气味，主要是研究这种气味能否影响人们对于他人的行为。从对试验的详细描述来看，主要是人们对于他人的印象和判断。其中文章的第一段和第二段分别谈到“与视觉和声音媒介不同的是，它们其中微小的讯息已经被仔细研究过了，而淡淡的气味中隐藏的力量却被人们忽略了”，“特别需要指出的是，他们现在研究的气味都极其微弱，以至于人们都说他们闻不到这些气味。他们想看看这些气味是不是也可以影响人们对他人的行为”等都说明了选项D最为符合文章的意思。

2. The mineral oil is used in Dr. Li's experiment to _____.

[A] control the concentration of odours in a slightly detectable degree

[B] act as a group of comparison with that of the other smells

[C] regulate the participants' moods by decreasing the smell's concentration

[D] protect the participants from losing sense of smell

2. 在李博士的试验中，矿物油是用来 _____。

[A] 将气味的浓度控制在可以略微察觉到的程度

[B] 作为和其他气味进行比较的一个对照组

[C] 通过降低气味的浓度来调节试验参与者的情绪

[D] 保证试验参与者不会丧失嗅觉

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆

分析：推理题。文章第三段指出，李博士在试验中用一种完全没有气味的矿物油作为control，这里control的意思是“在对照试验中被用作对照标准的一个或一组物体”。不过这个意思比较生僻，考生可能不知道。那么可以根据试验中它的作用推断出来，它是绝对无味的，可以和其他气味的试验结果做对照。如果考生拥有足够的常识，也会知道在一般的科学试验中，为了保证试验结果的有效性，通常需要设置一个对照物或对照组。那么，选项B最为符合题意。

3. The word “likeability” (Line 4, Paragraph 4) most probably means _____.

[A] similarity

[B] likeness

[C] loveliness

[D] likelihood

3. likeability（第四段第四行）这个词最有可能的意思是 _____。

[A] 类似性

[B] 相似性

[C] 可爱

[D] 相似性，可能性

答案：C　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：猜词题。要根据上下文来判断该词的意思，试验要求参与者给看到的脸做一个判定，判定的内容可以根据试验结果看出来，是让参与者判断所看到的脸是否“可亲”，因此，可以断定这个词的意思是C。

4. When the participants consciously smelt the valeric acid, they tended to _____.

[A] make negative judgement to a face

[B] make positive judgement to a face

[C] make biased judgement to a face

[D] make fair judgement to a face

4. 当参与者意识到自己闻到了缬草酸的气味时，他们趋向于 _____。

[A] 对看到的脸给予否定的判断

[B] 对看到的脸给予肯定的判断

[C] 对看到的脸给予偏颇的判断

[D] 对看到的脸给予公平的判断

答案：D　难度系数：☆☆☆

分析：推理题。第五段提到，很让人费解的是，当参与者意识到自己闻到了一种气味时，那么气味对脸的判断的影响就消失了。试验参与者在没有意识地闻到这种草酸味时，他会对脸有一种否定的判断，但是当他意识到自己闻到时，这种影响就没有了。那么可以推断，他对脸的判断就比较公正了，因此选项D最为符合。

5. From Dr. Li's experiment, it can be inferred that _____.

[A] one's reaction to subliminal smells reflect useful information about his or her personality

[B] subliminal smells can influence people's interaction with each other

[C] subliminal smells have no effect on people's cons-cious face-perception

[D] subliminal smells turn out to be a means of powerful manipulation in terms of business success

5. 由李博士的试验可以推断出 _____。

[A] 一个人对细微的气味的反应显示了有关其个性的有用的信息

[B] 细微的气味可以影响人们与他人的交往

[C] 细微的气味不会影响人们对脸的有意识的判断

[D] 细微的气味在商业成功的意义上来说，是一种有力的控制手段

答案：B　难度系数：☆☆☆☆

分析：推理题。李博士的试验主要是为了看细微的气味能否影响人们对他人的看法和印象，根据试验结果，参与者在闻了细微气味后会对看到的脸产生一定的反应，因此，可以得出结论，细微的气味能够影响人们对他人的行为。选项A，文章中提到有这种可能，但是还没有证实。C不是该实验的一个主要结论，且该论点也没有得到证实。选项D的相关内容在文章的最后一段有所涉及，但是这只是对前景的推测，还没有得到证实。因此，答案应该是B。





参考译文


在一个视觉和声音似乎占绝对上风的世界里，我们只需随便看一下香水行业的规模就能明白，气味也占有很重要的地位。众所周知，气味可以左右人的情绪、想法，甚至是约会决定，这也就是为什么人们晚上在城里赴正式的约会前总要喷上点儿香水。但是在所有的这些事例中，那些受影响的人都意识到自己闻到的是什么。隐含在视觉和声音媒介中的那些微小的讯息已经被仔细研究过了，而淡淡的气味中潜藏的力量却被人们忽略了。

李文（音）和她在芝加哥西北大学的同事们现在就在改变这种状况。特别需要指出的是，他们现在研究的气味都极其微弱，以至于人们都说他们闻不到这些气味。他们想看看这些气味是不是也可以影响人们对他人的行为。

李博士的试验结果刚刚发表在《心理科学》上，该试验邀请了31名志愿者。这些志愿者身处三种低浓度的气味中，一种是新鲜柠檬中的柠檬醛气味，第二种是茴香醚中的乙醚气味，第三种是缬草酸的汗臭味。这三种气味的浓度都很低。比如，缬草酸的汗臭味浓度为万亿分之七，这种浓度只有警犬才能闻出来。为了便于控制，李博士使用了一种矿物油作为对照，这种矿物油无论浓度多高，它的气味是察觉不到的。

这些志愿者都被要求嗅装有某一种气味或无味矿物油的罐子，然后再按下按钮表示自己是否闻到了什么。闻完后，他们面前的屏幕上马上会出现一张脸的图像，只显示一秒钟，然后要求每个人都来判断这张脸的“可爱程度”。

李博士发现，当人们认为自己没有闻到任何气味时，气味其实会影响人们对脸的评价。比如，某人闻到缬草酸的气味时，他对看到的脸就会有不好的反应。相反，闻到柠檬酸的气味时，一般会觉得脸看起来更友好些。（当然，每张脸只给同一个人看一次。）但更奇怪的是，当参与者意识到自己闻到了某种味道时，上述影响就消失了。

这到底是怎么回事还不清楚。如果气味带有有用的个性信息（这是有可能的），那么不管这种化学物质是否可以被潜意识感觉到，其影响应当是一样的。如果不带有这种信息，就很难看出这种潜意识下的反应有什么用了。但不管怎样，事实摆在我们面前。

但是这些发现的确展示出一些可能的强有力的控制方法。实际上，李博士认为这种潜在的用处是巨大的。如果适当地喷洒些人们闻不到的香味，商务会议可能会让人感觉更加愉快。相反，让人们处在淡淡的臭味中，就可能发生争斗。稍微调节一下气味，广告牌的展示效果可能会更好，而在适当时候在电影院内喷洒些气味可能会使观众们泪如泉涌。换句话说，胜利的甜蜜气味是无法觉察的。





TEXT FOUR


The animal dissection requirement of biology classes has been getting under the skin of students for generations, and there have always been some who asked to be excused from the requirement. Now, a growing number of technological alternatives are making it possible for students to swap that scalpel for a computer mouse. There are laws in nearly a dozen states—including California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York—protecting a student's choice to learn about animal anatomy sans scalpel. Some students choosing to opt out feel we should be kinder to our web-footed friends. Others are just queasy at the thought of rubbery frog bodies and the smell of formaldehyde.

“Dissection is icky. There's a yuck factor,” admits Brian Shmaefsky, a board member with the National Association of Biology Teachers. “And a teacher has to weigh the benefits with the cost of students being offended to the point that it interferes with learning.”

Virtual blades. So for cases in which a real dissection would be too slimy, it's time to try some toad tech. While the first computer-based alternatives to dissection emerged in the 1980s, modern frog dissection software can be found at different websites. These software programs use creative clicking, high-powered zoom functions, and video clips to teach anatomy. Froguts software, for example, lets students trace incision lines with a computer mouse and snip through skin with a virtual blade. There are even sound effects like a “slish” for slicing frog flesh, or a “shwoosh” for pinning down skin flaps. (Schools currently pay about $300 for a one-year software license, though some organizations will lend programs out free of charge.)

Earlier this year, a graduate student from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver designed the first-ever haptic (the Greek word for “touch”) frog dissection program, which uses a penlike tool to create a sensation similar to cutting into real flesh. The hand-held device connects to a computer, and students move the device through the air while watching the results of their actions on a computer screen.

With Digital Frog—a popular program that's had approximately 1,500 frog demo downloads since January and is currently in use in 2,000 schools—students can add or subtract those amphibious organs with a mere mouse click. They can then assess their learning with sporadic frog anatomy quizzes.

“Repetition is helpful. The fact that a student can review sections of a program over and over again is important,” says Martin Stephens, vice president for animal research issues at the Humane Society of the United States. “In dissections, the animal's organs are all shriveled and discolored. You look for things and can't find them because body parts have changed drastically since the animal was killed. But on a computer screen, layers can be digitally peeled away.” Other experts think the dissection technology has its limits. Gerry Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, says that artificial simulations don't give as enriching an experience as the real thing. Still others worry the programs are depriving kids of experiential learning.

1. The word “swap” (Line 3, Paragraph 1) most probably means _____.

[A] exchange

[B] throw away

[C] reject

[D] refuse

2. Some students ask to be excused from the requirement of biology classes because of the following reasons except that _____.

[A] dissection consists of disgusting procedures and unpleasant smells

[B] they are entitled to reject dissection requirement given the legal regulation

[C] they are offended when fulfilling the requirement of animal dissection

[D] they insist people should treat animals more as friends instead of simply objects

3. Brian Shmaefsky's statement implies that _____.

[A] he indeed supports the students' animal protection movement

[B] he thinks the animal dissection should be banned

[C] he thinks the animal dissection may not be good for students to learn biology effectively

[D] he always evaluate the teaching effect by weighing relevant factors of cost and effect

4. Compared with the real dissection, the dissection on computer has the following advantages except that _____.

[A] it has authentic sound effect like a “slish” or “shwoosh”

[B] there is a sensation of always dealing with fresh and recognizable organs

[C] the process can be repeated so that students can gather better insight of the animal structure

[D] students can take quizzes with the software to evaluate the learning effect

5. The author's attitude towards the toad tech can be said to be _____.

[A] supportive

[B] doubtful

[C] objective

[D] biased





文章剖析


这篇文章介绍了一种可以替代生物解剖课的电脑程序。第一段讲述传统解剖的弊端，引出解剖科技替代品；第二段介绍了一位委员对传统解剖的看法；第三段讲述电脑解剖的效果；第四段和第五段介绍了两个电脑解剖程序；第六段讲述电脑解剖的优点和局限性。





词汇注释


dissection n. 解剖

scalpel n. 解剖刀

queasy adj. 不安的，易恶心的

formaldehyde n. 甲醛

icky adj. 黏得讨厌的

yuck n. 讨厌

slimy adj. 黏糊糊的

toad n. 蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆

incision n. 切割，切口

haptic adj. 触觉的

demo n. 示范样品

amphibious adj. 两栖的

sporadic adj. 零星的，时有时无的

shrivel v.（使）起皱纹，（使）枯萎，（使）束手无策





难句突破


① Earlier this year, a graduate student from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver designed the first-ever haptic (the Greek word for “touch”) frog dissection program, which uses a penlike tool to create a sensation similar to cutting into real flesh.

主体句式：...a graduate student... designed the... program...

结构分析：earlier this year作整个句子的状语，后面which引导的非限定性定语从句是用来修饰program的。

句子译文：今年年初，温哥华西蒙·弗雷泽大学的一位研究生设计出了第一个haptic（希腊语单词，意为“触觉”）青蛙解剖程序，这个程序用一种类似笔的工具创造出一种与切割真正的皮肉时相似的感觉。

② With Digital Frog—a popular program that's had approximately 1,500 frog demo downloads since January and is currently in use in 2,000 schools—students can add or subtract those amphibious organs with a mere mouse click.

主体句式：...students can add or subtract...

结构分析：with Digital Frog是方式状语；破折号之间的部分是用来解释Digital Frog的，可以看作是同位语；破折号之间的这个成分中，that引导的定语从句修饰program，这个从句是由两个并列的句子构成的，用and连接。