A
Theory of mind is what allows us to assess the mental states (thoughts，feelings，beliefs) of others based on a whole host of input，and to use that assessment to predict and explain what people are thinking.Theory of mind allows us to defeat competitors in business and avoid being cheated in turn，as well as know the unspoken things of romantic(爱情的) relationships.
Unfortunately，men have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to theory of mind.Girls tend to develop theirs faster than boys，and women generally do better on theory of mind tasks than men.
Fortunately，it's a skill that can be cultivated，and reading fiction is one way to do so.Studies show that when we read fiction，the parts of our brain responsible for theory of mind light up and keep working.Narratives require us to guess at the hidden purposes of characters，figure out what their enemies or lovers may or may not be thinking，as well as keep track of all the social interactions(社交) between them.
When it comes to building the muscle of our theory of mind，Jane Austen's novels are like barbells(杠铃)．They're all about relationships and what everyone thinks about those relationships. Austen's novels are filled with many characters who constantly guess at the thoughts and intentions of the other characters; each communicates with the others in complex ways that influence the relationships of nearly everyone in the book.For example，in Pride and Prejudice，there are almost 50 different characters，and all of them connect with each other in some subtle way.Keeping track of this web of relationships and figuring out what all those subtle 19thcentury British social gestures really mean，become a useful exercise in theory of mind.Whenever I finish a Jane Austen novel，I thus feel a bit more socially smart.
【语篇解读】 作者认为男人多读简·奥斯汀的小说有助于他们发展心智理论，更好地读懂他人的想法。
1．What does Paragraph 1 tell us about theory of mind?
A．It's mainly used by businessmen.
B．It is hardly used in our daily life.
C．It doesn't really benefit relationships.
D．It helps us know about others' thoughts.
解析：细节理解题。根据第一段的“Theory of mind is what allows us to assess the mental states...that assessment to predict and explain what people are thinking.”可知，这种理论有助于我们知道他人的想法。
答案：D
2．What is the meaning of the underlined word “cultivated” in Paragraph 3?
A．Developed. B．Found.
C．Changed. D．Replaced.
解析：词义猜测题。根据第二段中的“develop”和第三段后面讲述对于这种能力的培养方式可知，画线词意为“培养”。
答案：A
3．What does the author mainly want to show by comparing Jane Austen's novels to barbells?
A．Her novels are difficult to read.
B．Her novels have characters with special thoughts.
C．Her novels are all about relationships.
D．Her novels are good for theory of mind training.
解析：推理判断题。根据第四段的“They're all about relationships and...guess at the thoughts and intentions of the other characters”以及“Keeping track of this web of relationships...I thus feel a bit more socially smart.”可知，这里的比喻是为了表明简·奥斯汀的小说有助于训练我们的心智理论。
答案：D
