单选题
In Second Nature, Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Gerald Edelman argues that the brain and mind are unified, but he has little patience with the claim that the brain is a computer. Fortunately for the general reader, his explanations of brain function are accessible, reinforced by concrete examples and metaphors. Edelman suggests that thanks to the recent development of instruments capable of measuring brain structure within millimeters and brain activity within milliseconds, perceptions, thoughts, memories, willed acts, and other mind matters traditionally considered private and impenetrable to scientific scrutiny now can be correlated with brain activity. The author describes three unifying insights that correlate mind matters with brain activity. First, even distant neurons will establish meaningful connections (circuits) if their patterns are synchronized. Second, experience can either strengthen or weaken synapses (neuronal connections). Finally, there is reentry, the continued signaling from one brain region to another and back again along massively parallel nerve fibers. Edelman concedes that neurological explanations for consciousness and other aspects of mind are not currently available, but he is confident that they will be soon. Meanwhile, he is comfortably hazarding a guess: "All of our mental life.., is based on the structure and dynamics of our brain," Despite this optimism about the explanatory powers of neuroscience, Edelman acknowledges the pitfalls in attempting to explain all aspects of the mind in neurological terms. Indeed, culture--not biology--is the primary determinant of the brain's evolution, and has been since the emergence of language, he notes. However, I was surprised to learn that he considers Sigmund Freud "the key expositor of the effects of unconscious processes on behavior". Such a comment ignores how slightly Freud's conception of the unconscious, with its emphasis on sexuality and aggression, resembles the cognitive unconscious studied by neuroscientists. Still, Second Nature is well worth reading. It serves as a bridge between the traditionally separate camps of "hard" science and the humanities. Readers without at least some familiarity with brain science will likely find the going difficult at certain points. Nonetheless, Edelman has achieved his goal of producing a provocative exploration of"how we come to know the world and ourselves".
单选题
Gerald Edelman would probably support the idea that______ A. the brain co-functions with the mind B. the brain works like a computer C. the brain has an accessible function D. the brain sends signals to the mind
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 考查杰拉尔德-埃德尔曼可能会赞同哪种观点。根据文中第一段的“In Second Nature…．that the brain is a computer”可知，杰拉尔德·埃德尔曼认为，大脑与思维是一致的， 但他并不赞同那种将人脑比作电脑的观点。据此可以推知，大脑与思维相互协调，共同发挥 作用，但人脑并不是像电脑那样工作。因此A项为正确答案。
单选题
It was previously considered that perceptions and other mind matters could hardly be______ A. treated as a significant issue B. studied with scientific methods C. separated from brain activity D. handled with surgical instruments
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 考查人们过去认为知觉和其他各种思维活动不能怎样。根据文中第二段的“thanks to the recent development of…and impenetrable to scientific scrutiny nOW can be correlated with brain activity．”可知，由于有了这些仪器，传统上被认为互不关联的、无法进行科学研究的知 觉、思想、记忆、意志行为和其他各种思维活动如今能与脑部活动联系起来。据此可以推知， 人们过去认为知觉和其他各种思维活动不能用科学方法进行研究，因此B项为正确答案。
单选题
Edelman firmly believes that______ A. mind matters will eventually be explained from a neurological perspective B. experience will have an ill effect on neuronal connections C. distant neurons will help synchronize their firing pattern D. brain signals will repeatedly go from one brain region to another
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 考查埃德尔曼有怎样的观点。根据文中第四段的“Edelman concedes that neurological explanations…，but he is confident that they will be soon．”可知，埃德尔曼承认，从 神经学的角度对意识和思维的其他方面所作的说明目前还没有得到应用，但是他确信将来会 用到这些学说。据此可以推知，A项为正确答案。
单选题
According to Edelman, to provide a thorough explanation of the human mind, neuroscience will be______ A. reliable B. responsible C. impractical D. insufficient
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 考查根据埃德尔曼所说，利用神经科学对人类思维作出全面的解释会如何。根 据文中第四段的“Despite this optimism about the explanatory powers ofneuroscience．Edelman acknowledges the pitfalls in attempting to explain all aspects of the mind in neurological terms．”可 知，尽管对神经科学的解释力很乐观，但埃德尔曼也承认，试图用神经学术语来解释思维的 所有方面是很难的。据此可以推知，D项“不够的，不充分的”为正确答案。
单选题
The author disagrees with the idea that the neuroscience-based cognitive unconscious can be______ A. studied irrelevantly to sexual behavior B. affected by the language acquisition C. clearly explained by Freud's theory D. examined under cultural backgrounds
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 考查作者不赞同有关基于神经科学的认知潜意识的哪种观点。根据文中第五段 的“Such a comment ignores how slightly Freud's conception of the unconscious,…resembles the cognitive unconscious studied by neuroscientists．”可知，就像神经学家对认知潜意识的研究那 样，这种评论只强调了性倾向和侵略性，忽略了弗洛伊德对潜意识的见解多么微不足道。据 此可以推知，作者认为弗洛伊德的理论不能明确地解释基于神经科学的认知潜意识，因此c 项为正确答案。
单选题
According to the author, Second Nature is a good book because______ A. it appeals to the reader to study bioscience B. it sets reader probing into human cognition C. it interests the reader in spiritual activities D. it presents the advancement of natural science