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(注視) 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(潛意識的) level, it seems people respond to eyes, and that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved(進化) 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】本文講述了心理學家進行誠實實驗，發(fā)現有假眼睛盯著的情況下，人們比沒有眼睛盯著更誠實。

1.主旨題。本文主要講述了一個誠實實驗。

2.推理題。實驗人員秘密地進行試驗當然是為了測試的結果更精確。如別人知道是實驗，一定會表現的很誠實。

3.細節(jié)題。根據that might be because eyes send a strong biological signal we have evolved(進化) to respond to."可知答案為C。

4.猜詞題。shed light on 闡明，使清楚地顯出，根據后一句話，這個發(fā)現可以被使用，可知會使得我們進化的過去更清楚的表現出來。所以B正確。