单选题 Ant Intelligence A. When we think of intelligent members of the animal kingdom, the creatures that spring immediately to mind are apes and monkeys. But in fact the social lives of some members of the insect kingdom are sufficiently complex to suggest more than a hint of intelligence. Among these, the world of the ant has come in for considerable scrutiny lately, and the idea that ants demonstrate sparks of cognition has certainly not been rejected by those involved in these investigations. B. Ants store food, repel attackers and use chemical signals to contact one another in case of attack. Such chemical communication can be compared to the human use of visual and auditory channels (as in religious chants, advertising image sand jingles, political slogans and martial music) to arouse and propagate moods and attitudes. The biologist Lewis Thomas wrote, Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies to war, use chemical sprays to alarm and confuse enemies, capture slaves, engage in child labour, exchange information ceaselessly. They do everything but watch television. C. However, in ants there is no cultural transmission—everything must be encoded in the genes—whereas in humans the opposite is true. Only basic instincts are carried in the genes of a newborn baby, other skills being learned from others in the community as the child grows up. D. It may seem that this cultural continuity gives us a huge advantage over ants. They have never mastered fire nor progressed. Their fungus farming and aphid herding crafts are sophisticated when compared to the agricultural skills of humans five thousand years ago but have been totally overtaken by modern human agribusiness. E. Or have they? The fanning methods of ants are at least sustainable. They do not ruin environments or use enormous amounts of energy. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that the crop farming of ants may be more sophisticated and adaptable than was thought. F. Ants were farmers fifty million years before humans were. Ants can't digest the cellulose in leaves—but some fungi can. The ants therefore cultivate these fungi in their nests, bringing them leaves to feed on, and then aphids (small insects of a different species from ants) use them as a source of food. Farmer ants secrete antibiotics to control other fungi that might act as 'weeds', and spread waste to fertilise the crop. G. It was once thought that the fungus that ants cultivate was a single type that they had propagated, essentially unchanged from the distant past. Not so. Ulrich Mueller of Maryland and his colleagues genetically screened 862 different types of fungi taken from ants' nests. These turned out to be highly diverse: it seems that ants are continually domesticating new species. Even more impressively, DNA analysis of the fungi suggests that the ants improve or modify the fungi by regularly swapping and sharing strains with neighbouring ant colonies. H. Whereas prehistoric man had no exposure to urban lifestyles—the forcing house of intelligence—the evidence suggests that ants have lived in urban settings for close on a hundred million years, developing and maintaining underground cities of specialised chambers and tunnels. I. When we survey Mexico City, Tokyo, Los Angeles, we are amazed at what has been accomplished by humans. Yet Hoelldoblerand Wilson's magnificent work for ant lovers, The Ants, describes a super colony of the ant Formica yessensis on the Ishikari Coast of Hokkaido. This 'megalopolis' was reported to be composed of 360 million workers and a million queens living in 4,500 interconnected nests across a territory of 2.7 square kilometres. J. Such enduring and intricately meshed levels of technical achievement outstrip by far anything achieved by our distant ancestors. We hail as masterpieces the cave paintings in southern France and elsewhere, dating back some 20,000 years. Ant societies existed in something like their present form more than seventy million years ago. Beside this, prehistoric man looks technologically primitive. Is this then some kind of intelligence, albeit of a different kind? K. Research conducted at Oxford, Sussex and Zurich Universities has shown that when desert ants return from a foraging trip, they navigate by integrating bearings and distances, which they continuously update in their heads. They combine the evidence of visual landmarks with a mental library of local directions, all within a framework which is consulted and updated. So ants can learn, too. L. And in a twelve-year programme of work, Ryabko and Reznikova have found evidence that ants can transmit very complex messages. Scouts who had located food in amaze returned to mobilise their foraging teams. They engaged in contact sessions, at the end of which the scout was removed in order to observe what her team might do. Often the foragers proceeded to the exact spot in the maze where the food had been. Elaborate precautions were taken to prevent the foraging team using odour clues. M. Discussion now centres on whether the route through the maze is communicated as a 'left-right' sequence of turns or as a 'compass bearing and distance' message. N. During the course of this exhaustive study, Reznikova has grown so attached to her laboratory ants that she feels she knows them as individuals—even without the paint spots used to mark them. It's no surprise that Edward Wilson, in his essay, 'In the company of ants', advises readers who ask what to do with the ants in their kitchen to: 'Watch where you step. Be careful of little lives.'

单选题 There is writes Daniele Fanelli in a recent issue of Nature, something rotten in the state of scientific research—an epidemic of false, biased, and falsified findings where 'only the most egregious cases of misconduct are discovered and punished.' Fanelli is a leading thinker in an increasingly alarming field of scientific research: one that seeks to find out why it is that so many scientific researches turn out to be wrong. For a long time the focus has either been on industry funding as a source of bias, particularly in drug research, or on those who deliberately commit fraud, such as the spectacular ease of Diederik Stapel, a Dutch social psychologist who was found to have fabricated at least 55 research papers over 20 years. But an increasing number of studies have shown that flawed research is a much wider phenomenon, especially in the biomedical sciences. Indeed, the investigation into Stapel also blamed a 'sloppy' research culture that often ignored inconvenient data and misunderstood important statistical methods. 'There's little question that the scientific literature is awash(充斥着) in false findings—findings that if you try to replicate you'll probably never succeed or at least find them to be different from what was initially said,' says Fanelli. 'But people don't appreciate that this is not because scientists are manipulating these results, consciously or unconsciously; it's largely because we have a system that favors statistical flukes (侥幸) instead of replicable findings.' This is why, he says, we need to extend the idea of academic misconduct (currently limited to fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism) to 'distorted reporting'—the failure to communicate all the information someone would need to validate your findings. Right now, he says, we're missing all the 'unconscious biases, the systemic biases, the practices, mistakes, and problems that hardly ever count as cheating', even though they have a very important—and probably the largest—effect on creating technically false results in the literature. One particularly challenging bias is that academic journals tend to publish only positive results. As Isabelle Boutron, a professor of epidemiology at René Descartes University in Paris, points out, studies have shown that peer reviewers are influenced by trial results; one study showed that they not only favored a paper showing a positive effect over a near-identical paper showing no effect, they also gave the positive paper higher scores for its scientific methods. And Boutron has herself found extensive evidence of scientists spinning their findings to claim benefits that their actual results didn't quite support. 'We need a major cultural change,' says Fanelli. 'But when you think that, even 20 years ago, these issues were practically never discussed, I think we're making considerable progress.'

单选题 To say that the child learns by imitation and that the way to teach is to set a good example oversimplifies. No child imitates every action he sees. Sometimes, the example the parent wants him to follow is ignored while he takes over contrary patterns from some other example. Therefore we must turn to a more subtle theory than 'Monkey see, monkey do'. Look at it from the child's point of view. Here he is in a new situation, lacking a ready response. He is seeking a response which will gain certain ends. If he laces a ready response for the situation, and cannot reason out what to do, he observes a model who seems able to get the right result. The child looks for an authority or expert who can show what to do. There is a second element at work in this situation. The child may be able to attain his immediate goal only to find that his method brings criticism from people who observe him. When shouting across the house achieves his immediate end of delivering a message, he is told emphatically that such a racket (叫嚷) is unpleasant, that he should walk into the next room and say his say quietly. Thus, the desire to solve any objective situation is overlaid with the desire to solve it properly. One of the early things the child learns is that he gets more affection and approval when his parents like his response. Then other adults award some actions and criticize others. If one is to maintain the support of others and his own self-respect, he must adopt responses his social group approves. In finding trial responses, the learner does not choose models at random. He imitates the person who seems a good person to be like, rather than a person whose social status he wished to avoid. If the pupil wants to be good violinist, he will observe and try to copy the techniques of capable players; while some other person may most influence his approach to books. Admiration of one quality often leads us to admire a person as a whole, and he becomes an identifying figure. We use some people as models over a wide range of situations, imitating much that they do. We learn that they are dependable and rewarding models because imitating them leads to success.

单选题 The Kitchen of 2013: Experts Dish A. The reign of the trophy kitchen is officially over. The dream kitchens of today aren't about the sexiest six-burner range or the most exotic countertop material. As cooking has returned to centre stage and remodeling budgets have sobered, the kitchen island is nurturing family togetherness and reviving casual entertaining. B. In kitchens with a small footprint, glass tiles, quartz counters and dish drawers are adding sparkle and practicality. The kitchen of 2013 has soul. 'That industrial, commercial style was looking a little cold,' says Samantha Emmerling, kitchen editor at Hearst Design Group. 'People are spending all their time in there, and they want it warm and inviting, as well as low-maintenance.' C. A kitchen renovation is still costly. The average 2013 kitchen remodeling job is $47308, down $3742 from last year, according to the National KitchenBath Association. Designers say the look today is less tradition, more transition. Clients are choosing more modern touches such as white or gray cabinets, gray walls and neutral quartz counters, individualized with different textures and touches of color. D. 'Ten years ago, everyone showed up with the same photos of what they wanted,' says Paul Lobkovich, an architect and kitchen designer at Lobkovich Kitchen Designs in Tysons Corner. 'Now people are much more creative. They've seen plenty of HGTV shows and scoured Houzz and other Web sites. They have a Pinterest (品趣志，图片社交分享网站) board full of stuff they like. This gives people a wide range of unique looks. And it makes it more exciting for us designers.' E. Yes, the kitchen is still the most obsessed room in the house, but it's clear that homeowners want more than just trends. Homeowners are seeking a calming space that makes them happy. 'Lately it's been less the kind of stars in the eyes approach and a bit more practical with a simplified aesthetic,' says designer Eric Lieberknecht, who owns a kitchen design firm in Alexandria. 'People have a wide portfolio of things they want, and not just what their neighbor has.' F. Nadia Subaran, senior designer at Bethesda's Aidan Design, calls the design direction 'modern cottage.' 'It's not stark modern design,' Subaran says. 'It has natural materials, textures and layering, with lots of whites and grays. There is nothing fussy or decorative about it.' Although stainless still reigns, there is growing interest in white ranges and refrigerators in a new glossy finish, as well as soapstone countertops and floating shelves. G. 'People are really looking to make the most of their space, they want practical and functional,' says Liza Hausman, a vice president at Houzz, a home design Web site and mobile app. The 2013 member survey by the National Kitchen Bath Association identified a menu of some of today's top style choices in kitchens. Here is insider information on seven of them. 1. White Cabinets H. The choice of cabinets is arguably the most important decision when redoing a kitchen. The selection sets the look. In the National KitchenBath Association survey, 67 percent of respondents said that white was their first choice for cabinetry, a jump of 20 percentage points in the past two years. 'Over the years, white is always a popular color and there are times it is the No. 1 color,' says John Morgan, President of the association and owner of kitchen products supplier Morgan Pinnacle in Glyndon, Md. 'I would say that white and dark cherry are both timeless.' 2. Quartz Counters I. According to Lorenzo Marquez, vice president of marketing for Cosentino North America, Silestone's parent company, the most popular colors right now are white and gray. 'Quartz counter is a pretty honest material, and it functions so nicely,' says Washington designer Paul Sherrill of Solis BetancourtSherrill. 'If you don't have a tolerance for natural stone and what it's going to do over time, go for it.' 3. Many Shades of Gray J. Gray seems to be the color of the moment. Although white and off-white are still the top colors, grays are showing up on cabinets, counters and walls. Alexandria color consultant Jean Molesworth Kee of the Painted Room says, 'I'm seeing a lot of quick redos where they are painting old wood cabinets a light gray and totally getting rid of anything Tuscan red or yellow.' But she cautions against gray overload. 'If there is too much gray, it can look really chilly and depressing. You'll think you are stirring your pot in an operating room. You need a lot of white to balance it out.' 4. Led Lighting K. More and more remodeled kitchens now have LED lighting, especially below cabinets. LED bulbs are more efficient and generate little heat. 'We are doing a lot of LED under cabinet lighting,' says Larry Rosen, owner of Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens in Rockville. 'Halogen (卤素) and Xenon (氙) lighting actually burn very hot. If you accidentally touch a bulb, you can burn yourself. LED is more expensive, but they save on electricity, are cool and last a really long time.' 5. Electronic Faucets (水龙头) L. 'When people renovate their kitchen, it's not just functionality and beauty,' says Houzz's Liza Hausman. 'They are thinking about how to include the latest technology.' One of these new toys is the tricked-out faucet. Both touch-activated faucets and hands-free faucets are beginning to appear in kitchen remodeling contracts. According to Tom Tylicki, the Moen MotionSense hands-free faucet responds to consumers' kitchen work styles and helps prevent the spread of germs. It's also a good choice for gardeners whose hands are frequently covered in dirt. 6. Satin Nickel (雾镍) Finishes M. 'Satin nickel is the new oiled bronze,' Sherrill says. For him, the matte nickel finish reflects the increasingly, modernist kitchen look. The survey found that polished nickel and polished chrome (铬) were less requested than last year, and the duller finish was growing in popularity. Some designers feel that this finish best complements stainless steel appliances; others say the gray metal color sets off gray cabinets, counters and walls. 7. Glass Backsplashes (后挡板) N. Glass tiles are the jewelry of a kitchen for Tynesia Hand Smith, a Bloomingdale interior designer. 'They add great shimmer,' she says. With neutral colors ruling in cabinets and counters, glass tile is one way to add color and personality. 'Reds, greens and blues, vibrant colors are trending right now, as is iridescent glass,' says DeeDee Gundberg, an Ann Sacks Tile product development manager. Instead of using the ubiquitous white subway tile backsplash, she suggests substituting large format glass tile in a similar shape. 'Light blue glass tiles are still very traditional with white cabinets but look very fresh,' Gundberg adds.

单选题 发展中国(上海)自由贸易实验区是国家战略，是深化改革、扩大开放的重大措施，意义深远。这项重大改革是以制度创新为着力点，重在提升软实力，各项工作影响大、难度高。建设中国(上海)自由贸易实验区是顺应全球经贸发展新趋势、实行更加积极主动(proactive)的开放战略的一项重大举措。其主要任务是探索中国对外开放的新路径和新模式，推动加快转变政府职能和行政体制改革，促进转变经济增长方式和优化(optimize)经济结构。

单选题 Amid all the job losses, there's one category of worker that the economic disruption has been good for: nonhumans. From self-service checkout lines at the supermarket to industrial robots armed with saws and taught to carve up animal bodies in slaughter-houses, these ever-more-intelligent machines are now not just assisting workers but actually kicking them out of their jobs. Automation isn't just affecting factory workers, either. Some law firms now use artificial intelligence software to scan and read mountains of legal documents, work that previously was performed by highly-paid human lawyers. 'Robots continue to have an impact on blue-collar jobs, and white-collar jobs are under attack by microprocessors, ' says economics professor Edward Learner. The recession permanently wiped out 2.5million jobs. US gross domestic product has climbed back to pre-recession levels, meaning we're producing as much as before, only with 6% fewer workers. To be sure, robotics are not the only job killers out there, with outsourcing (外包) stealing far more jobs than automation. Jeff Burnstein, president of the Robotics Industry Association, argues that robots actually save US jobs. His logic: companies that embrace automation might use fewer workers, but that's still better than firing everyone and moving the work overseas. It's not that robots are cheaper than humans, though often they are. It's that they're better. 'In some cases the quality requirements are so exacting that even if you wanted to have a human do the job, you couldn't, ' Burnstein says. Same goes for surgeons, who're using robotic systems to perform an ever-growing list of operations—not because the machines save money but because, thanks to the greater precision of robots, the patients recover in less time and have fewer complications, says Dr. Myriam Curet. Surgeons may survive the robot invasion, but others at the hospital might not be so lucky, as iRobot, maker of the Roomba, a robot vacuum cleaner, has been showing off Ava, which could be used as a messenger in a hospital. And once you're home, recovering, Ava could let you talk to your doctor, so there's no need to send someone to your house. That 'mobile telepresence' could be useful at the office. If you're away on a trip, you can still attend a meeting. Just connect via videoconferencing software, so your face appears on Ava's screen. Is any job safe? I was hoping to say 'journalist, ' but researchers are already developing software that can gather facts and write a news story. Which means that a few years from now, a robot could be writing this column. And who will read it? Well, there might be a lot of us hanging around with lots of free time on our hands.

单选题 DNA fingerprinting is used to determine where particular genetic material came from, that is what person or group of people's material is mostly likely to come from. Only 1% of our DNA differs from other individuals since 99% of human DNA is identical. That 1% though can allow scientists to differentiate its origin. DNA fingerprinting is most commonly used to determine our heredity. When used alongside more traditional sociological methodologies, DNA fingerprinting can be used to find out exactly where we came from, in some cases, which tribe. However, DNA fingerprinting cannot discriminate between identical twins. Most people are aware of the use of DNA fingerprinting in forensic medicine. Samples gathered at a crime scene can be compared with the DNA of a suspect to prove his or her presence at or involvement with the crime. The problem is that DNA bases only hold the DNA of people who have already been convicted of a crime. They do not contain the DNA of whole populations so it impossible to use this technique to track down suspects that are nor present in the database. However this might change. If governments replace photograph ID cards to that of DNA fingerprint ID cards, then it will be far easier to track down anyone within a nation's population. DNA fingerprinting can also help us to predict our future health. It is often used to track down the genetic basis of inherited diseases. If there is a particular, recurring pattern in different patients, scientists can narrow down which gene or genes might be involved. It can also be used to screen parents and fetuses for the presence of inherited abnormalities, such as Huntington's disease or muscular dystrophy, so appropriate advice can be given and precautions taken as needed. The use of DNA fingerprinting and genetic screening is fast in changing society and the way we treat illnesses, track down criminals and soon, identify the public. It is a science that has dramatically changed society and continues to make great contributions to health and science in all fields.