C
A billionaire has recently made one of the biggest charitable (慈善的) donations to a university in China’s history. Chen Tianqiao donated $115 million to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to help advanced brain research. The donation will be spent deepening the understanding of how the brain works. Chen has been interested in brain research, believing it can shape the industries such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. However, this huge donation has caused heated discussions among Chinese scholars and internet users alike.
Many criticized him for choosing to give money to a foreign university rather than home institutes for brain research, which are developing fast and are on track to catch up with the US in just a few years. Rao Yi, a biologist at Peking University, even said the donation was a typical mistake.
Others, however, support his choice. They believe Caltech is a more reasonable choice compared to Chinese research institutions. Caltech has a long history and has taken a leading position in biology, and therefore it produces more efficient (有效的) results. In addition, the results of the research benefit not only the American people, but also the rest of the world.
A similar controversial case started two years ago when Pan Shiyi, chairman of SOHO China, donated $15 million to Harvard University to help disadvantaged Chinese students.
Many believe that China is still behind in the management and use of donated money, and that as a result, Chinese charity donators are looking abroad. In comparison, Western countries like the US, which have a long history of donating money, have well-developed systems that use money efficiently. They can also provide full access for donors who want to track the use of the money. To get more donations, Chinese universities should be braver and more honest. They need self-reflection, rather than envy.
Why did Chen’s donation draw criticism?
A. It was not used efficiently. B. It was one of the largest to Caltech.
C. It should have been given away to a Chinese college.
D. It was used in brain research rather than for unfortunate people.
Some people are in favor of Chen’s choice because ________.
A. the Chinese are just too envious B. the achievements benefit the whole world
C. Caltech is a university with a longer history
D. the fund can help disadvantaged Chinese students
30. Pan Shiyi is mentioned to________.
A. suggest the Chinese are enthusiastic about universities
B. show off generosity of the billionaires in China
C. inform some Chinese students are poor at academy
D. prove the widespread disagreement over donating abroad
31. To get more fund, the author thinks the Chinese universities should________.
A. explore artificial intelligence B. grow fast and catch up with the US
C. develop efficient systems to use the donations
D. educate braver and more honest graduate
D
Ever feel like scratching yourself when you see others doing it? You’re probably not alone. This practice, which seems to be socially contagious (传染的), could be more than just a sudden urge. This is according to the latest finding from Washington University.
The researchers studied mice to see what went on in their brains when they saw other mice scratching. During the experiments, a mouse was placed in front of a computer screen to watch another of its kind scratching. A few moments after watching the video, the live mouse would start scratching. The finding is interesting because earlier studies had shown that mice only show empathy (共鸣) with individuals they know and the mouse on the screen was a stranger for the live mouse. This means that empathy may have nothing to do with the need to scratch.
When the researchers analyzed the brain activity of the mice after viewing the video, they recorded increased level of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). In the previous research, GRP is found to be responsible for transferring the itch (痒) feeling between the brain and the skin. However, when researchers blocked the GRP’s function, the mice simply stopped scratching in response to seeing other mice scratching. This means that mice have no control over their scratching when seeing peers (同伴) scratching. The mouse doesn’t see another mouse scratching and then thinks it might need to scratch. Instead, its brain begins sending out itch signals using GRP as a messenger.
It’s not clear if the exact same pathway exists in humans. But the team believes the study could help throw light on the neural mechanisms (神经机制) behind contagious behaviors in human beings. The next time you scratch in response to someone else doing it, remember it’s really not a choice, nor a psychological response; it’s hardwired into your brain.
32. What have the latest experiments found?
A. Mice only imitate the act of their familiar peers.
B. Mice prefer the mice on a computer screen to the live ones.
C. Mice feel the need to scratch when seeing another scratching.
D. Mice just have to scratch when seeing another scratching.
33. What can we learn about GRP?
A. The mouse decreased its GRP when seeing other mice scratching.
B. GRP is meant to block the itching and scratching feeling.
C. Without GRP’s function, the mice wouldn’t copy the scratch.
D. GRP exists and functions the same in human brains.
34. The underlined word “hardwired” in the last paragraph probably means ________.
A. changed B. mended C. stopped D. fixed
35. Which is the best title?
A. The Contagious Scratch B. The Clever Imitation
C. The Strange Behavior D. The Common Response
