英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）34a_PETS 考试

英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）34a

文章来源：文章作者：发布时间：2007-09-17 07:27 字体： [大中小]　进入论坛

(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Passage Thirty-four
(The Relationship between Brain Process with Mental Experience)
By 1950, the results of attempts to relate brain processes to mental experience appeared rather discouraging. Such variations in size, shape, chemistry, conduction speed, excitation threshold, and the like as had been demonstrated in nerve cells remained negligible in significance for any possible correlation¹ with the manifold dimensions of mental experience.
Near the turn of the century, it had been suggested by Hering that different modes of sensation, such as pain, taste and color, might be correlated with the discharge of specific kinds of nervous energy, However, subsequently developed methods of recording² and analyzing³ nerve potentials failed to reveal any such qualitative⁴ diversity. It was possible to demonstrate by other methods refined structural⁵ differences among neuron types; however, proof was lacking that the quality of the impulse or its conduction was influenced by these differences, which seemed instead to influence the developmental patterning of the neural⁶ circuits. Although qualitative variance⁷ among nerve rigidly⁸ disproved, the doctrine⁹ was generally abandoned in favor of the opposing view, namely, that nerve impulses are essentially¹⁰ homogeneous in quality and are transmitted as “common currency” throughout the nervous system. According to this theory, it is not the quality of the sensory¹¹ nerve impulses that determines the diverse conscious sensations they produce, but, rather, the different areas of the brain into which they discharge, and there is some evidence for this view. In one experiment, when an electric stimulus¹² was applied¹³ to a given sensory field of the cerebral¹⁴ cortex of a conscious human subject, it produced a sensation of the appropriate modality for that particular locus¹⁵, that is, a visual sensation from the visual cortex, an auditory sensation from the auditory cortex, and so on. Other experiments revealed slight variations in the size, number, arrangement, and interconnection of the nerve cells, but as for as psychoneural correlations¹⁶ were concerned, the obvious similarities of these sensory fields to each other seemed much more remarkable¹⁷ than any of the minute differences.
However, cortical as diverse as those of red, black, green and white, or touch, cold, warmth, movement, pain, posture¹⁸ and pressure apparently¹⁹ may arise through activation²⁰ of the same cortical areas. What seemed to remain was some kind of differential patterning effects in the brain excitation: it is the difference in the central distribution of impulses that counts. In short, Brain theory suggested a correlation between mental experience and the activity of relatively²¹ homogenous²² nerve-cell units conducting essentially homogeneous impulses through homogeneous cerebral tissue. To match the multiple dimensions of mental experience psychologists could only point to a limitless variation in the spatiotemporal patterning of nerve impulses.

Vocabulary
1.    Up until 1950, efforts to establish that brain processes and mental experience are related would most likely have been met with
[A]. vexation. [B]. irritability²³. [C]. discouragement [D]. neutrality
2.    The author mentions “common currency” primarily in order to emphasize the
[A]. lack of differentiation²⁴ among nerve impulses in human beings.
[B]. similarities in the views of the scientists.
[C]. similarity of sensations of human beings.
[D]. continuous passage of nerve impulses through the nervous system.
3.    Which of the following theories is reinforced by the depiction²⁵ of the experiment in lines 16-19?
[A]. Cognitive²⁶ experience manifested by sensory nerve impulses are influenced by the area of the brain stimulated²⁷.
[B]. Qualitative diversity in nerve potentials can now be studied more accurately²⁸.
[C]. Sensory stimuli²⁹ are heterogeneous³⁰ and are greatly influenced by the nerve sensors³¹ they produce.
[D]. Differentiation in neural modalities influences the length of nerve transmissions.
4.    It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following exhibit the LEAST qualitative variation?
[A]. Nerve cells. [B]. Nerve impulses.
[C]. Cortical areas. [C]. Spatial³² patterns of nerve impulses.

Vocabulary
1.    mental experiences 精神感受
2.    discharge 释放
3.    negligible 微小的，4.    可以忽略不5.    计的
6.    manifold 多种多样的，7.    多方面
8.    neuron 神经元/细胞
9.    neural （中枢）神经的（系统）
10.    qualitative diversity 质的多样性，11.    量变的
12.    disprove 反驳，13.    反证

点击

收听单词发音

1 correlation
n.相互关系，相关，关连
参考例句：
The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。 A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

2 recording
n.录音，记录
参考例句：
How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？ I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 analyzing
v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析
参考例句：
Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。来自辞典例句 He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。来自辞典例句

4 qualitative
adj.性质上的，质的，定性的
参考例句：
There are qualitative differences in the way children and adults think.孩子和成年人的思维方式有质的不同。 Arms races have a quantitative and a qualitative aspects.军备竞赛具有数量和质量两个方面。

5 structural
adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的
参考例句：
The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。 The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

6 neural
adj.神经的，神经系统的
参考例句：
The neural network can preferably solve the non- linear problem.利用神经网络建模可以较好地解决非线性问题。 The information transmission in neural system depends on neurotransmitters.信息传递的神经途径有赖于神经递质。

7 variance
n.矛盾，不同
参考例句：
The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance. 妇女参政的问题使他们发生争执。 It is unnatural for brothers to be at variance. 兄弟之间不睦是不近人情的。

8 rigidly
adv.刻板地，僵化地
参考例句：
Life today is rigidly compartmentalized into work and leisure. 当今的生活被严格划分为工作和休闲两部分。 The curriculum is rigidly prescribed from an early age. 自儿童时起即已开始有严格的课程设置。

9 doctrine
n.教义；主义；学说
参考例句：
He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。 The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

10 essentially
adv.本质上，实质上，基本上
参考例句：
Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。 She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

11 sensory
adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的
参考例句：
Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。 The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。

12 stimulus
n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物
参考例句：
Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。 Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

13 applied
adj.应用的；v.应用，适用
参考例句：
She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。 This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

14 cerebral
adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的
参考例句：
Your left cerebral hemisphere controls the right-hand side of your body.你的左半脑控制身体的右半身。 He is a precise,methodical,cerebral man who carefully chooses his words.他是一个一丝不苟、有条理和理智的人，措辞谨慎。

15 locus
n.中心
参考例句：
Barcelona is the locus of Spanish industry.巴塞罗那是西班牙工业中心。 Thereafter,the military remained the locus of real power.自此之后，军方一直掌握着实权。

16 correlations
相互的关系( correlation的名词复数 )
参考例句：
One would expect strong and positive correlations between both complexes. 人们往往以为这两个综合体之间有紧密的正相关。 The correlations are of unequal value. 这些对应联系的价值并不相同。

17 remarkable
adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的
参考例句：
She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。 These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

18 posture
n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势
参考例句：
The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。 He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

19 apparently
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。 He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

20 activation
n. 激活，催化作用
参考例句：
A computer controls the activation of an air bag.电脑控制着气囊的启动。

21 relatively
adv.比较...地，相对地
参考例句：
The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。 The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

22 homogenous
adj.同类的，同质的，纯系的
参考例句：
Japan is a wealthy,homogenous,developed nation with a stable political system.日本是一个富裕的同质型发达国家，政治体制稳定。 My family is very homogenous and happy.我们这个家庭很和睦很幸福。

23 irritability
n.易怒
参考例句：
It was the almost furtive restlessness and irritability that had possessed him. 那是一种一直纠缠着他的隐秘的不安和烦恼。 All organisms have irritability while alive. 所有生物体活着时都有应激性。

24 differentiation
n.区别，区分
参考例句：
There can be no differentiation without contrast. 有比较才有差别。 The operation that is the inverse of differentiation is called integration. 与微分相反的运算叫做积分。

25 depiction
n.描述
参考例句：
Double rhythms, resounding through the lyric depiction and connecting with each other, indicate the thespian place of mankind and the cognition of the writer to this thespian place. 这双重旋律互为表里，表明了人类的某种悲剧性处境以及作家对这种悲剧性处境的感受和认识。 A realistic depiction of scenes from everyday domestic life. 日常家居生活的写实画。

26 cognitive
adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的
参考例句：
As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。 The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

27 stimulated
a.刺激的
参考例句：
The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work. 展览增进了人们对她作品的兴趣。 The award has stimulated her into working still harder. 奖金促使她更加努力地工作。

28 accurately
adv.准确地，精确地
参考例句：
It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。 Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

29 stimuli
n.刺激（物）
参考例句：
It is necessary to curtail or alter normally coexisting stimuli.必需消除或改变正常时并存的刺激。 My sweat glands also respond to emotional stimuli.我的汗腺对情绪刺激也能产生反应。

30 heterogeneous
adj.庞杂的；异类的
参考例句：
There is a heterogeneous mass of papers in the teacher's office.老师的办公室里堆满了大批不同的论文。 America has a very heterogeneous population.美国人口是由不同种族组成的。

31 sensors
n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。来自《简明英汉词典》 Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。来自辞典例句

32 spatial
adj.空间的，占据空间的
参考例句：
This part of brain judges the spatial relationship between objects.大脑的这部分判断物体间的空间关系。 They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。

上一篇：英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）33c 下一篇：英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）34b