A
While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt—why ears, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn’t it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch(强度) does change after a heavy meal.
We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva(唾液) dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something.
Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly pinpoint the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50, 000 different scents(气味), which are strongly tied to the memories.
Pupils(瞳孔) do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can dilate(扩大) their pupils, change the focus and blur(使模糊) their vision. If you do not wear glasses or contact lens due to having a 6/6 vision, you are just among the one third of the human population. It is now statistically proved that only one third of the population has perfect vision, the rest all are either wearing glasses or are trying to read with a compromised vision.
Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except for the identical twins. This smell is very subtle(微妙的) yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this scent that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. Many of us can pinpoint the smell of our significant friends and colleagues. A significant part of this phenomenon is guided by genetics but it is also modified by the environment, diet and personal hygiene. This all together creates the unique chemistry that is individualistic for each person.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文, 介绍了各种感觉器官——听觉, 味觉, 嗅觉, 视觉等器官的相互联系和各自的功能。
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that ______.
A. our hearing is as good as before we have a full meal
B. all sensory organs are connected and can be exchanged
C. sensory organs’ functions can never be changed for their particular character
D. we feel and learn about the world around us through our sensory organs
【解析】选D。推理判断题。根据第一段中The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. “最基本的原因是, 这些是我们与周围环境保持联系的渠道。虽然很明显这些似乎都是单独的器官, 但它们确实也展现出了一些联系。”可知, 我们通过感觉器官感受和了解我们周围的世界。故选D。
2. What may happen after you have had a rich lunch?
A. Your eyes become dim.
B. You may feel energetic and fresh.
C. Your hearing pitch may decrease.
D. Your tongue may lose the function of taste.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据第一段Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn’t it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch does change after a heavy meal. 可知, 吃饱后人的听觉会降低, 故选C。
3. What does the author mean by the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?
A. Our tongues can’t be dried while eating something.
B. If your tongue is dried without any saliva on it, it will not work.
C. A tissue paper is the only thing that can be used to dry our tongues.
D. If your tongue is dried with a tissue paper, it may work as well as before.
【解析】选B。细节理解题。根据第二段内容可知, 舌头必须在唾液的配合下才能分辨味道, 如果用纸把舌头擦干, 舌头的味觉感知功能就会丧失, 故选B。
4. What makes each person different from anyone else except twins?
A. The number of sensory organs.
B. The sensitivity of sensory organs.
C. The particular smell of a person.
D. The style of one’s behavior.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。根据最后一段Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except for the identical twins. , 作者认为除了一模一样的双胞胎之外, 我们每个人身上都有独特的味道, 通过这个味道我们就可以辨别我们所熟悉的人, 故选C。
【知识拓展】 长难句分析
1. The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings.
分析: 句中的that引导表语从句, 从句中的表语channels后跟有一个介词(through)+关系代词(which)引导的定语从句。
翻译: 最基本的原因是, 这些是我们与周围环境保持联系的渠道。
2. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue.
分析: dissolved in the saliva短语作定语, 修饰food chemicals; 短语being sensed by. . . 修饰saliva。
翻译: 味觉不过是溶解在唾液中的食物化学物质, 可以被舌头上的味蕾感觉到。
