大学英语六级改革适用（阅读）模拟试卷688

大学英语六级改革适用（阅读）模拟试

卷688

一、词汇理解(本题共70题，每题7.0分，共70分。)

Waffles?Frenchtoast?Bacon?Bigbreakfastsmaybeathingofthepast.Accordingto

theAssociatedPress,moreAmericansareconsumingbreakfastinstagesthankstoon-

(he-golifestylesandthebeliefthatmultiple,smallermealsare[Cl]than

threelargeones.Serialeatingisonlyexpectedtoincreasein(hecomingyears.TheNPD

Group,amarketresearchcompany,[C2]thatthenumberoftimespeoplewill

snackinthemorningswillincrease23%inadecade,[C3]with20%and

15%increasesinafternoonandeveningsnacking,[C4].Unliketheirevening

altcr-cgos,morningsnackcrstendtohemorehealth[C5],lookingforlow-

caloriefoodswithmorefiber,antioxidants(抗氧化物)andwholegrains.Forinstance.

GeneralMillsintroducedits140-calorieFiberOnebarsin2007,butrecentlyaddedthree

moreflavorsaswellas90-calorieversions.ThismaybenewintheUS,butasecond

breakfastis[C6]incountriessuchasGermany.InBavaria,atraditional

secondbreakfast[C7]ofwhitesausages,pretzels(椒盐卷饼)，sweetmustard

and,ofcourse,beer.Butsnackers,beware:Thoughspreadingcaloriesacrossseveral

mealsisgenerallyacceptedtobehealthier,itcanactuallycausepeopletoover-consume

andgainweight,DavidLevitsky,aprofessorofnutritionandpsychologyatCornell

University,told(heAP.Maybethe(rendtowardportable,quiik-hitbreakfastswill

[C8]morepeopletocatinthemorning.AccordingtotheHuffingtonPost,a

[C9]bytheNPDGroupfoundthat31millionAmericans[CIO]

themostimportantmealoftheday.A)comparedI)madeB)connectedJ)

necessaryC)consciousK)paiticularlyD)consistsL)respectivelyE)easierM)skipF)

estimatesN)supervisionG)healthierO)surveyH)inspire

1、(Cl)

标准答案：G

知识点解析：形容词辨析题。该空格位于比较级指示词Ihan之前，且空格前面是

aye,据此推断空格处应填形容词比较级。根据句意，美国人早餐形式的改变一是

由于生活方式的变化，二是人们认为少食多餐比三顿大餐o所给形容词

中，是比较级形式的有easier和healthier。easier意为“更容易的”,与文章意思不

符，故排除。选项中只有healthier”更健康的”符合句意，故为答案。

2、[C2]

标准答案：F

知识点解析：动词辨析题。该空格位于名词短语之后，【hai引导的从句之前，从句

子结构上判断空格所在句为“主谓+宾语从句”结构，因此空格处应填入动词作谓

语。根据ihal引导的从句的内容可知，此处表达的是NPD组织对少食多餐这种生

活方式的未来情况进行的预测，因此应选择estimates“估计

3、[C3]

标准答案：A

知识点解析：动词辨析题。根据句意，人们在早上吃点心的次数在未来十年将会增

加23%,而在卜.午和晚上吃点心的次数则会增加20%和15%。此处是对在不同时

段吃点心的次数增加状况进行的比较，并且该空格位于介词with之前，因此空格

处应填入compared,构成短语comparedwilhs〔h.“与某物相比“。connected作动词

时意为“联系；连接“，与句意不符，故排除。

4、[C4]

标准答案：L

知识点解析：副词辨析题。句中20%和15%两个数字分别对应下午和晚上两个时

间段人们吃点心的次数增加的百分比，因此空格处应填入respectively”各自地，依

次地”。particularly意为“尤其，特别”，与句意不符，故排除。

5、[C5]

标准答案：C

知识点解析：形容词辨析题。该空格位于系动词be和比较级指示词more之后，且

空格之前的health是名词，故空格处应填一个形容词和more搭配构成比较级。根

据句意，早上吃点心的人会选择热量低、纤维和抗氧化物含量高的食物和全麦食

物，由此推断这•类人更具有健康意识，因此选择conscious“有意识的”。

6、[C6]

标准答案：J

知识点解析：形容词辨析题。该空格位于系动词is之后，由此推断空格处应填入

形容词作表语。由句意可知，早上加餐在美国很新鲜，但在其他很多国家，如德

国，却是o结合所给形容词，只有necessary"必要的”符合题意，故为答

案。

7、[C7]

标准答案：D

知识点解析：动词辨析题。空格位于breakFast和ofwhilesausages之间，且句子缺

少谓语动词，由此推断空格处应填入动词构成主谓宾结构，且所填动词能够与介词

of搭配。根据句意，巴伐利亚传统的早上加餐_______白香肠、椒盐卷饼等，由

此推断空格处应填入consists,和of构成短语consistsof...,意为“由...组成”。

bemadeof可表示“由...构成”，但此空格前并无系动词，故排除made。

8、[C8]

标准答案：H

知识点解析：动词辨析题。该空格位于Will之后，再结合句子结构，推断此处应

填入动词原形。由文章可知，便携、快捷的早餐会________更多人吃早饭。所给动

词中只有inspire“激励”符合题意,故为答案。inspiresb.todosth.意为“激励某人

做某事

9、[C9]

标准答案：0

知识点解析：名词辨析题。该空格位于冠词a之后，由此判断空格处应填入名词。

由空格后的by可,知，实施者为NPD组织，结合本句的谓语found,可,推断空格处

应填入survey"调查supervision意为"监督”，与句意不符，故排除。

10、[C10]

标准答案：M

知识点解析：动词辨析题。空格位于宾语从句中，空格前后均为名词词组，由此推

断，此处应填入动词作宾语从句的谓语。由本段笫一句可知，便携快捷的早餐会激

励更多人吃早饭。由此推断，以前应该有很多美国人不吃早饭，因此空格处应填入

skip”不做(本来应做的事广。

二、长篇阅读(本题共10题，每题分，共10分。)

HowCanGirlsWininMathandScience?A)Mathisacumulativesubject,unlikesay

history,whichcanbelearnedindiscreteunits.Collegealgebra(代数)isbasicallya

courseinthelanguageofmathematics.Somemightsaythatalgebraisthemechanicsof

mathematics.Theexamplesincludedatthislevelaresimple,designedtoreinforcethat

(hestudenthaslearnedthe"how".Thenextlayerofcoursesleacheshowtousethis

language,orthissetoftools,todescribeandmodeltherealworld.Beingabletodothis

shouldleavenodoubtinthestudent'smindthattheyaremathematicallycompetent.B)

Foryears,feministshavelamented(悲I叹)thesorrystateofgirlsinmathandscience,as

(heylagbehindtheirmalepeersintestscoresandshyawayfromcareersinengineering

andtechnology.Yetperhapsthemostfrustratingrecentdevelopmenton(hetopicisthat

someof(heveryprogramsdesignedtohelpgirlsgetaheadmaybeholding(hemback一

oraresimplymisguided,lakesingle-sexmathandscienceclasses.Whiletheyseemhke

alogicalwaytogivegirlsajump-startinthesesubjects,newresearchsuggeststhis

initiative—championedover:hepasttwodecadesasapossiblesolution一maybackfire.

C)Inastudypublishedlastyear,psychologistHowardGlasseratBrynMawrCollege

examinedteacher-studentinteractioninsex-segregatedscienceclasses.Asitturnedout,

teachersbehaveddifferentlytowardboysandgirlsinawaythatgaveboysanadvantage

inscientificthinking.Whileboyswereencouragedtoengageinback-and-fbrth

questioningwiththeteacherandfellowstudents,girlshadmanyfewersuchexperiences.

Glassersuggeststheydidn'tlearntoargueinthesamewayasboys,andargumentisthe

keytoscientificthinking.Glasserpointsoutthatsex-segregatedclassroomscanconstruct

differencesbetweenthesexesbygivingthemunequalexperiences.Unfortunately,such

diffeiencescanimpactkids'choicesaboutfuturecoursesandcareers.Ifswoitlinoting

(hatthegirlsandboysinthesescienceclasseshadsimilargrades,whichmaskedthe

unevendynamic.Itwasonlywhenresearchersreviewedvideotapesof(helessonsthat

theygotadeeperanalysisofwhatwasactuallygoingon,andwhatthekidswerereally

learning.D)Glasser'sresearchgotaboostlastSeptemberwhenthejournalScience

publishedascathing(严厉的)reportonthelargerissueofsingle-sexeducation,titled

"ThePseudoscienceofSingle-SexSchooling".Inthearticle,eightleadingpsychologists

andneuroscientistsdebunked(揭穿...的真相)researchsupportingsingle-sex

education,andargued(hatsexsegregation"increasesgenderstereotypingandlegitimizes

institutionalsexism".E)Anothermisguided-or,mistimed—efforttoimprovegirls'

performanceisthe"youcandoit"messagingdirectedtowardgirlsinmiddleschool,(he

periodwhentheirscoresstartlagging.Newresearchshowsthatevenwhenpreteengirls

saytheybelievethismessage,"stereotypethreat"—whennegativeculturalstereotypes

affectagroup'sbehavior—hasadampeningeffectontheiractualperformance.F)Ina

2009study,psychologistPascalHuguetofFrance'sAix-MarseilleUniversityfoundthat

middle-schoolgirlsscoredhighestontestsmeasuringvisual-spatialabilities—whichare

keytosuccessinengineering,chemistry,-medicine,andarchitecture,fieldsthatpromise

high-paying,prestigiousjobsdowntheroad—whentheywereledtobelievethatthere

werenogenderdifferencesonthetasks.Notsurprisingly,whentheyweretoldthatboys

dobetteronthesetasks,theydidpoorly.Butcuriously,whentheyweregivenno

information,allowingculturalstereotypestooperate,theyalsodidpoorly.The

stereotypeswerealreadyfirmlyestablished.Theauthorsdiscovered:Bymiddleschool

it'stoolittle,toolate.G)Todisarmstereotypes,wemustactivelyarmgirlsagainst

(hem-startingataveryyoungage.Byfirstorsecondgrade,bothgirlsandboyshave(he

notionthatmathisa"boything".Buta2011studybypsychologistAnthonyGreenwald

oftheUniversityofWashingtonfoundthatthere'sawindowofopportunityduringthese

earlyyearsinwhich,whilegirlsdoseemathlargelyasamalepreserve,theyhaven'tyet

madetheconnectionthat"becauseIamagirl,mathisnotforme".Duringthisshort

period,girlsarerelativelyopentotheideathattheycanenjoyanddowellatmath.H)

Onestrategy?Researcherssuggestwetakegenderoutoftheequationinteachingabout

occupations.Ratherthansaying"girlscanbescientists",weshouldtalkaboutwhat

scientistsdo.Forexample,kidsmaybeespeciallyinterestedtoknowthatscientistsstudy

howtheworldaroundthemreallyworks.PsychologistsRcbcccaBigleroftheUniversity

ofTexasatAustinandLynnLibcnatPennStatesaythatwhengirlsarcencouragedto

thinkthisway,they'remuchinorclikelytoretainwhatthey'retaughtthantheywouldbe

iftheywerejustgiventhegeneric"girlscandoscience"message.I)Finally,while

womenteacherscanleadthewayforgirlsinmathandscience,actingasrolemodels,

parentsshouldbeonthelookoutforteachers'mathanxiety.A2010studyoffirst-and

second-gradersledbypsychologistSianL.BeilockattheUniversityofChicagofound

(hatgirlsmaylearntofearmathfromtheirearliestinstructors—andthatfemale

elementary-schoolteacherswholackconfidenceintheirownmathskillscouldbe

passingtheiranxietyalongtotheirstudents.Themoreanxiousteacherswereabouttheir

ownskills,themorelikelytheirfemalestudentsweretoagreethat"boysaregoodat

mathandgirlsaregoodatreading".AndaccordingtoBeilock,elemental-education

majorsatthecollegelevelhavethehighestmathanxietyleve^ofanymajor,andmaybe

unwittinglypassingalongavirusofunderachievementtogirls.J)Parentscan"vaccinate"

girlsagainsttheirteachers'mathanxiety,accordingtonewresearch.Buttheremayhea

silverliningtothisstoryforparents.Evenifyourdaughterhasateacherwithhighmath

anxiety,it'snotinevitable(hatshe'sgoingtoexperienceproblemswithmath-itturnsout

(hatparents(orothers)can"vaccinate"girlsagainst(heirteachers'qualms(疑虑).

Beilockfoundthatteachers'anxietyalonedidn'tdothedamage.Ifgirlsalreadyhada

beliefthat"girlsaren'tgoodatmath",theirachievementsuffered.Butthegirlswhodidn't

buyintothatstereotype,whothought,ofcourseIcanbegoodatmath,didn'ttumbleinto

anachievementgulf.K)Nowthatwehavereasontobelievethatgenderstereotyping

startsmuchearlierthanpreviouslythought,wealsoneedtoacceptthatcounteringit

requiresmoresophisticatedapproachesthanthosewenowuse.Ifgirlscontinuetolag

behindinmathareas,ourfutureeconomyandcompetitivenesscouldsuffer.It'scritical

thatwcstartoureffortsintheprimarygradesandlookbeyondtheobvioustosucceed.If

wclook"underthehood*'atwhat'sreallygoingonwithgirls,insteadofjustskimming

thesurface,wccanprovidemorethanmerecosmeticsolutions.

11、Insteadofusingthecurrentapproaches,fightingagainstgenderstereotypingneeds

tousemoresophisticatedappioaches.

标准答案：K

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的moresophisticatedapproaches定位到K段第

一句。定位句后半句指出，反对性别成见需要用比现行方法更加复杂的方法。题干

中的Insteadofusingthecurrentapproaches...moresophisticatedapproaches是对定位

句中moresophisticatedapproachesthanthosewenowuse的同义转述，题干中的

needs是对定位句中requires的同义转述，故答案为K。

12、It'sbettertohelpgirlsgetridofgenderstereotypesbeforetheythinktheycannotbe

goodatmathasgirls.

标准答案：G

知识点解析：细节推断题。由题干中的getridofgenderstereotypes及begoodat

mathasgirls定位到G段第一句和第三句。定位段第一句有出，要帮助女生摆脱性

别成见，必须从她们年幼时就开始；第三句也提到，在早期的这几年，女生并没有

建立“因为我是女生，数学不适合我”这样的关联。题干由这两句推断得来，故答案

为G。

13、Newresearchsuggeststhatsingle-sexmathandscienceclassesmayhavenegative

effectswhichareoppositetotheintendedpurposeongirls.

标准答案:B

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的single-sexmathandscienceclasses定位到B

段最后两句。定位句指出，新研究发现，男女生分开上数学课和科学课这种在过去

20年中一直被认为可行的办法有可能造成事与愿违的结果。题干中的areopposite

totheintendedpurpose是对定位句中的backfire的同义转述，故答案为B。

14、Ratherthantalkingaboutgenderdifferencesinteachingaboutoccupations,

researcherssuggestthatwcencouragekidstothinkwhatscientistsdo.

标准答案：H-

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的genderdifferences、teachingabout

occupations和whatscientistsdo定位到H段第一.、二句。定位句指出>在进行职业

教育时，我们应该讨论科学家做什么样的事情，而不说“女生可以当科学家”。题干

U」的Ratherthantalkingaboutgenderdifferences是对定位句中takegenderoutofthe

equation的同义转述，故答案为H。

15、Inscx-scgrcgatcdscienceclasses,girlsarcofferedfewopportunitiestoengagein

argumentwhichiscrucialtoscientificthinking.

标准答案：C

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的fewopporiunities、argumenl和scientific

thinking定位到C段第三、四句。由第四句可知，格拉瑟认为辩论是科学思维的关

键，而女生没有学会像男生那样辩论。再由第三句可知，这是因为在课堂上老师鼓

励男生反复质疑老师，而女生较少有这样的经历。题干中的girlsareofferedfew

opportunities是对定位句中girlshadmanyfewersuchexperiences的同.义转述，

crucialtoscientificthinking是对定位句中thekeytoscientificthinking的同义转述，

故答案为C。

16、Thoughwomenteachersarelikelytoguidethewayforgirlsinmathandscience

classesasrolemodels,parentsshouldpayattentiontoteachers5mathanxiety.

标准答案：I

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的rolemodels和teachers'mathanxiety定位到

I段第一句。定位句指出，女教师能作为榜样在数学和科学课堂上引导女生，家长

也应该注意教师是否有数学焦虑问题。题十中的payattentionto是对定位句中be

on(helookoutfor的同义转述，故答案为L

17^Sex-segregatededucationincreasessexstereotypingandmakessexismseem

acceptable.

标准答案：D

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的sexstereotyping和sexism定位到D段第二

句。由定位句可知，由八位著名心理学家和神经学家进行的研究表明，男女分开教

育加深了性别成见，而且使已形成风气的性别歧视显得正当。题干中的sex

stereotyping是对定位句中genderstereotyping的同义转述.题干中的makessexism

seemacceptable是对定位句中legitimizesinstilutionalsexism的同义转述，故答案为

Do

18、Dissimilartohistory,mathshouldbelearnedthroughsequentiallessons.

标准答案：A、

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的history和malh定位到A段第一句。定位句

指出，数学是一门需要不断积累的学科，不像历史，可以以单元的形式分开学习。

题干中的Dissimilar和sequential分别是对定位句中unlike和cumulative的同义转

述，故答案为A。

19、Stereotypethreatrestrainsgirlsfromperformingwellinrealsituations.

标准答案：E

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的Stereotypethreat定位到E段第二句。定位

句后半句指出，性别成见威胁会影响女生在实际情形下的表现。题干中的

restrains...from对应定位句中的hasadampeningeffecton,题干中的performingwell

inrealsituations对应定位句中的theiractualperformance,故答案为E。

20、AccordingtoBcilock,atthecollegelevel,clcmcntary-ccucationmajorshavethe

highestmathanxietylevelamongallmajors.

标准答案：］

知识点解析：同义转述题。由题干中的Beilock和highestmathanxietylevel定位到

I段最后一句。由定位句可知，贝洛克认为，大学层次的所有专业学生中，基础教

育专业学生的数学焦虑水平最高。题干与定位句意思一致，故答案为I。

三、仔细阅读（本题共10题，每题分，共7〃分。）

TheAlzheimer'sAssociationandtheNationalAllianceforCaregivingestimatethatmen

makeupnearly40percentoffamilycareprovidersnow,upfrom19percentinastudy

conductedbytheAlzheimer'sAssociationadecadeago.About17millionmenarecaring

fbranadult.Womenstillprovidethebulkoffamilycare,especiallyintimatetaskslike

bathinganddressing.Manycomplainthat（heirbrothersaretreatedlikeheroesjustfor

showingup.Butwithsmallerfamiliesandmorewomenworkingfull-time,manymen

havenochoicebuttotakeonrolesthatwouldhavebeenalientotheirfathers.Oftenthey

areovershadowedbytheirfemalecounterpartsandfacedwithemployers,friends,

supportorganizationsandevenparentswhoviewcaregivingasanessentiallyfemale

role.Malecaregiversaremorelikelytosaytheyfeelunpreparedfortheroleandbecome

sociallyisolated,andlesslikelytoaskforhelp."Isolationaffectswomenaswell,but

mentendtohavefewerlifeline.Theyarelesslikelytohavefriendsgoingthroughsimilar

experiences,anddependmoreontheirjobsfordailyhumancontact."Dr.DonnaWagner,

（hedirectorofgerontology（老年学）atTowsonUniversityandoneofthefew

researcherswhohasstudiedsonsascaregivers,said.Inpastgenerations,menmighthave

pointedtotheiraccomplishmentsasbreadwinnersorfathers.Now,somemensaythey

worryabouttheconflictbetweencaringfortheirparentsandtheseotherroles.Inastudy

atthreeFortune500companies,Dr.DonnaWagnerfoundthatmenwerelesslikelyto

useemployee-assistanceprogramsforcaregiversbecausetheyfeareditwouldbeheld

againstthem."Eventhoughthecompanyhasendorsedtheprogram,yoursupervisors

mayhaveadifferentopinion."Dr.Wagnersaid.MattKassin.51,workedforalarge

companywithverygenerousbenefits,andhisemployerhadbeenunderstanding.Buthe

wasreluctanttotalkabouthiscaregivingbecausehethought'whentheyhireamale,

（heyexpecthimtobe100percentfocused."Andhedidn'twanttoappearlobesomeone

whohaddistractionsthatdetracted（破坏）fromperformance.Formanymen,thenew

rolemeansgivinguptheirself-imageasexperts,saidLouisColbert,directoroftheoffice

ofservicesfbrtheaginginDelawareCounty,Pa.,whohassharedcareofhis84-ycar-old

motherwithhissiblingssinceherAlzheimer'smadeitnecessary.Onceayear,Mr.

Colbertorganizesaget-togetherforinalecaregivers.Theconcernstheyraise,hesaid,are

differentfromthoseofwomeninsupportgroups."Veryclearly,（heysaidtheywanted

（heirrolesascaregiversvalidated,becauseinoursociety,asawhole,menascaregivers

havebeeninvisible,"hesaid.

21、WhatcanweknowaboutmenaccordingtotheAlzheimersAssociationandthe

NationalAllianceforCaregiving?

A、Moremenarcplayingtheleadingroleincaringforelderlyparents.

B、Mencountontheirwivestotakecareoftheirparents.

C、Menundertakeallfamilycare,includingwashingandcooking.

D^Mentendtobeviewedasheroesfbrcaringfortheirparents.

标准答案：A

知识点解析:根据题干中的theAlzheimer'sAssociationandtheNationalAlliancefor

Caregiving定位到首段首句,推理判断题。根据定位句可知，男性家庭护理者从十

年前的19%增加到了现在的近40%。由此可以推断，更多的男性正在参与到家庭

护理行列之中，囚此答案为A。

22、WhydomentendtofeelmorestressedandsociallyisolatedaccordingtoDonna

Wagner?

A、Becausetheyfeeloverwhelmedbythepressurefromtheirparents.

B、Becausetheyfacethecompetitionfrom(heirfemalecounterparts.

C、Becausetheyfindfewpeopletotalkandsharetheirexperienceswith.

D、Becausetheyarepsychologicallyunpreparedfortherole.

标准答案：C

知识点解析：根据题干中的sociallyisolated和DonnaWagner定位到第二段第二至

四句。推理判断题。定位句指出，男性很少有与自己经历类似的朋友，人际交往也

只限于工作场所。由此可以推断，他们有被隔离的感觉主要是因为他们几乎找不到

可以与他们交流、分享经历的人，因此答案为C。

23、DonnaWagner'ssolutiontotheconflictbetweencaringfbrparentsandothersocial

rolesisto.

A、takeadvantageofemployee-assistanceprograms

B、makeadjustmentsbothphysicallyandemotionally

C、spendmoretimewiththeirparentsandchildren

D、involvethemselvesinsocialactivities

标准答案：A

知识点解析：根据题干中的DonnaWagner和conflict定位到第三段第二、三句。

推理判断题。定位句指出，唐娜.瓦格纳博士通过研究发现，男性很少利用员工援

助项目，由此推断她的建议应该是鼓励男性利用员工援助项目来解决护理父母和扮

演其他社会角色之间的矛盾，因此答案为A。

24、WhywasMattKassinunwillingtotalkabouthiscaregivingwithhisemployer?

A^Becausethecompanydidnotprovidesupportprograms.

B、Becausehewasthreatenedwithlosinghisjob.

C、Becausehefeltembarrassedtosendhisparentstonursinghomes.

D^Becausehefearedhisbossmaythinkitwoulddistracthimfromhiswork.

标准答案：D

知识点解析：根据题干中的ManKassin和unwilling定位到第三段鼓后三句。推理

判断题。根据定位句可知，马特・卡辛认为公司雇用他是希望他能专心工作，他不

希望让别人觉得自己有分心的事情影响他在工作上的表现。因此，答案为D。

25、WhatmightbetheconcernsofmalecaregiversaccordingtoLouisColbert?

A^Theylackprofessionalknowledgeandskills.

B、Theyfinditinappropriateforthemtodothejob.

C、Theirrolesascaregiversisnotacknowledged.

D、Theyfeelwhattheydoisnotenough.

标准答案：C

知识点解析；根据题干中fitconcerns和LouisColbert定位到末段最后两句。细节辨

认题。定位句指出，路易斯.考伯特发现，男性护理者有不同于女性的担忧，他们

希望自己作为护理者的角色能得到认同。因此，答案为C。

Whatifwecouldreadthemindofaterrorist?ResearchersatNorthwesternUniversityin

Chicagosaytheyhavetakenastepclosertothatrealitywithatestthatcoulduncover

evilplansbymeasuringbrainwaves.Inastudypublishedinthejournal

Psychophysiology,psychologistsJohnMeixnerandPeterRosenfeldusedelectrodes(电

极)lomeasurethebrainwavesof29undergraduateswhohadbeentoldtomock-plan

eitheraterroristbombinginHoustoninJuly,oravacationinadifferentcityina

differentmonth.Theresearchersthenpresentedthestudentswiththenamesofvarious

cities,methodsofterroristattackanddates.Astheydidso,thsyscannedthesubjects'

brains.Theywatchedforaparticularbrainwave-dubbedtheP300,becauseitfiresevery

300milliseconds—whichsignalsrecognitionofsomethingfamiliar."TheP300's

amplitude(振幅)isverylargewhenyouseeanobjectthatisrareandpersonally

meaningfultoyou,"Meixnersays."SotheamplitudeofP300waslargewhenwe

presentedtheword'Houston',thecitywheretheattackwasplanned.Intotalwewereable

toidentify10outof12'terrorists'".Theinvestigatorsalsoconectlymatched20outof30

crime-relateddetails,suchastypesofexplosivesandspecificsitesanddates.TheP300's

potentialasamethodforconfirmingconcealedinformationwasfirstrecognizedinthe

1980s.Butwhileithaslongbeentoutedasapossiblesubstituteforthepolygraphtest,it

hasyetnotbeenusedbylawenforcementanywhereintheworld.Oneofthereasonsis

ihaiitbecomesdifficultiouseifinvesiigaiorsdonotknowtheinformationiheyare

tryingtoconfirm.Forinstance,inMeixnerandRosenfeld'sstudy,theresearcherswould

havestruggledhadtheynotknown(hatthecityinwhichtheattackwasplannedwas

Houston,sincei(wouldbeonlybyluckorguessworktheywouldhaveincludedilinthe

samplelistofnames.Whal'smore,(heP300isvulnerabletowha(scientistscall

"confoundingfactors".Forinstance,ifthemock-terroristsinthestudywereraisedin

Houston,whichwasalsothelocationoftheattack,(heresearcherswouldnotknowfor

surewhatwascausingtheP300spike.ButMeixnerandRosenfeldsaythatdespitethese

shortfalls,thetechnologyholdsmorepotentialthanthepolygra