英语六级2021年真题

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C)and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.  

We often think of drawing as something that takes inborn talent, but this kind of thinking stemsfrom our misclassification of drawing as, primarily, an art form rather than a tool for learning.

Researchers,teachers, and artists are starting to see how drawing can positively impact a widevariety of skills and disciplines.

Most of us have spent some time drawing before, but at some point, most of us stop drawing.There are people who don't, obviously, and thank god for that: a world without designers and artistswould be a very shabby one indeed.

Some argue that so many adults have abandoned drawing because we've miscategorized it andgiven it a very narrow definition. In his book,Stick Figures: Drawing as a Human Practice,ProfessorD.B. Dowd argues that "We have misfiled the significance of drawing because we see it as aprofessional skill instead of a personal capacity. We mistakenly think of "good" drawings as thosewhich work as recreations of the real world, as realistic illusions.Rather,drawing should berecategorized as a symbolic tool.

Human beings have been drawing for 73,000 years. It's part of what it means to be human. Wedon't have the strength of chimpanzees(大猩猩) because we've given up animal strength tomanipulatc subtle instruments, like hammers, spears, and — later —pens and pencils. The humanhand is an extremely densc network of nerve endings. In many ways, human beings are built to draw.

Some researchers argue that doodling(涂画) activates the brain's so-called default circuit —essentially, the areas of the brain responsible for maintaining a baseline level of activity in theabsence of other stimuli. Because of this, some believe that doodling during a boring lecture canhelp students pay attention. In one study, participants were asked to listen to a list of names whileeither doodling or sitting still. Those who remembered 29 percent more of the names than those whodid not.

There'

l'm always baffled when I walk into a pharmacy and see shelves bursting withvarious vitamins，extracts and other supplements,all promising to accelerate orpromote weight loss.Aisles of marketing genius belie(掩饰) the fact that,26weight loss is dictated by the laws of arithmetic.Economist Jessica Irvine wrote abook about how she used math to help her lose more than 18 kilograms. If caloriestaken in are less than calories _27_，weight shall be lost，and so it is withmoney.

Despite the _ 28_of financial products，services and solutions gearedtowards accumulating wealth, it all begins with the same_29_: getting aheadfinancial requires a reduction of spending, so that income is greater than expenses.Iwas reminded of this again recently listening to an with Nicole Haddow, the author ofSmashed -Avocad,explaining how she cracked the property market at 31. lIt wasquite a _ 30,given where she had been two years earlier.

She was sobbing at the

Nicole didn't celebrate her 30th birthday as she had _ 31 _. She was sobbing atthe dinner table with her parents, with whom she had just moved back in. She had nostable income,$12,000 in credit-card debt and no plan, but to her_ 32 _, her father,an accountant, told her that her financial  33_wasn 't as bad as the thought. Hesaid, on her income, with some changes, she would be able to buy an investment unitwithin two years, which she did.

Nicole admitted she was fortunatc, as she was able to live with her parents and34_ her spending - and life - to get herself on track financially. Creating a gapbetween her income and spending required a paradigm shift and  35  sacrificeand commitment，but by going into financial lockdown，Nicole gained financialindependence.

in this setion， there is apassage wtih ten banks. You are required to select one words for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choices in the bank is identified by a letter.Plaease mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once. 

I'm always baffled when I walk into a pharmacy and see shelves bursting with various vitamins ,extracts and other supplements ,all promising to accelerate or promote weight loss .Aisles of marketing genius belie(掩饰)the fact that， ____26____， weight loss is dictated by the laws of artithmetic. Economistes Jessica Trcine wrote a book about how she used math to help her lose more than 18 kilograms.If calrics taken in are less than calories ____27____， weight shall be lost， and so it is with money .

Despite the ___28___of financial products， service and solutions geared towards accumulateing wealth， it all begins with the same __29___:getting ahead financially requires a reduction of spengding，so that income is greater than expenses，i was reminded of this again recently listenning to an interview with nicole haddow the author of samshed avocado，explaining how she cracked the property market at 31， it was quite a ____30____,given where she had been two years carlier.

Nicole didn't celebrate her 30th birthday as she had_31.She was sobbing at the diner table with her parens， wth whom she had just moved back in.She had no stable income S12000 in credi-card debt and no pan， but to her_32， her father， an accountant told her that her financial 33_wasn't as badasshe thought. He said， on her income， with some changes， she would be able to buy an investment unit within two years， which she did.

Nicole admitted she was fortunate， as she was able to live with her parents and 34 her

How Marconi Gave Us the Wireless World

Humans are fascinated by the source of their failings and virtues. This preoccupationinevitably leads to an old debate: whether nature or nurture noulds us more. A revolution ingenetics has poised this as a moderm politicalquestion about the character of our society: ifpersonalities are hard-wired into our genes, what can governments do to help us? It feels morallyquestionable,yet claims of genetic selection by irntelligence are making headlines.

This is down to“ hereditciart”(遗传论的) science and a recent paper claimed“differencesin exam performance between pupils attending selectve and non-selective schools mirror thegenetic differences between thern". With such an assertion, the work was predictably greeted by alot of absurd claims about "genetics determiring acadernic succesd". What the research revealedwas the rather less surprising resul: the educational beneits of selective schools largely dkisappearonce pupils’ inborn ability and socio-economic background were taken into account. It is aglhrrpse of the blindingly obvious-and there's nothing to back strongly either a hereditary orenvironmental argunent.

Yet the paper does say children are“uninatertionally genetically selecte by the schoo1system. Central to hereditarian science is a tall clairm. that identifiable variations in geneticsequences can predict an irndividal's aptness to lean， reason and solve problems. This isproblematic on many levels. A teacher could not seriously tel a parent their child has a lowgenetic tendency to study when external factors clearly exist.Untike-minded academics say theinheritability of human traits is scientifically unsound At best there is a weak statisticalassociation and not a causal link between DNA and intelligence. Yet sophisticated statistics areused to create an intimidatory atmosphere of scientific certainty.

While there's an undoubted genetic basis to individual difference, it is wrong to think thatsocially defined groups

Nicola Sturgeon's speech last Tuesday setting out the Scottish government's legislativeprogramme for the year ahead confirmed what was already pretty clear. Scottish councils are settobe the first in the UK with the power to levy charges on visitors，with Edinburgh likely to lead theway.

Tourist tazes are not new. The Himayalan kingdorm of Bhutan has a longstanding polcy ofcharging visitors a daily fee. France's taxe de sejour on overnight stays was introduced to assistthermai spa（温泉)towns to develop, and around half of French local authorities use it today.

But such levies are on the rise.Moves by Barcelona and verice to deal with the phenomenonof"over-tourisrm”through the use of charges have recently gained prorminence.Japan and Greeceare among the countries to have recently introduced tourist taxes.

That the UK lags behind is due to our weak, by international standards, local government,aswell as the opposition to tazes and regulation of our aggressively pro-market ruling party. SomeUKcities have lobbied without success for the power to levy a charge on visitors. Such levies areno universal remedy as the amounts raised would be tiny compared with what has been takenaway by central government since 2010.Still it is to be hoped that the Scottish government's boldmove will prompt others to act.There is no reason why visitors to the UK, or domestic tourists onholiday in hotspots such as Cornwall, should be exempt from taxation-particularly when vital localservices includirng waste collection,park maintenance and arts and culture spending are underunprecedented strain.

On the contrary,compelling tourists to make a financial contribution to the places they visit:beyond their personal consurmption should be part of a wider cultural shift. westerners withdisposable incomes have often behaved as if they have a right to go wherever they choose withlittle regard for the consequences.Just as the environmental harrm caused by avi

[A] Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of Paris was within “15 to 30 minutes’ of complete destruction as firefighters battled to stop flames reaching its bell towers on Monday evening, French authorities have revealed. A GREater disaster was averted by members of the Paris fire brigade, who risked their lives to remain inside the burning monument to create a wall of water between the raging fire and the two towers on the west of the building.

[B] The revelation of how close France came to losing its most famous cathedral emerged as police investigators questioned workers involved in the restoration of the monument to try to establish the cause of the devastating blaze. Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said that an initial fire alert was sounded at 6:20pm on Monday evening but no fire was found. The second alert was sounded at 6:43pm, and the blaze was discovered on the roof.

[C] More than €650 million was raised in a few hours on Tuesday as French business leaders and global corporations announced they would donate to a restoration campaign launched by the president, Emmanuel Macron. But as the emergency services picked through the burnt debris, a row was resurfacing over accusations that the beloved cathedral, immortalised in Victor Hugo's novel, was already crumbling before the fire.

[D] The cathedral is owned by the French state and has been at the centre of a years-long dispute over who should finance restoration work of the collapsing staircases, crumbling statues and cracked walls. Jean-Michel Leniaud, the president of the scientific council at the National Heritage Institute, said: “What happened was bound to happen. The lack of adequate maintenance and daily attention to such a majestic building is the cause of this catastrophe.” After the blaze was declared completely extinguished, 15 hours after it started, the junior interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said the structure had been saved but remained vulnerable. He praised the actions

The car has reshaped our cities. It seems to offer autonomy for everyone. There is something almost delightful in the detachment from reality of advertisements showing mass-produced cars, marketed as symbols of individuality and of freedom when most of their lives will be spent making short journeys on choked roads.

For all the fuss made about top speeds, cornering ability and acceleration, the most useful gadgets on a modern car are those which work when you’re going very slowly: parking sensors, sound systems, and navigation apps which will show a way around upcoming traffic jams. This seems to be one of the few areas where the benefit of sharing personal information comes straight back to the sharer: because these apps know where almost all the users are, and how fast they are moving almost all the time, they can spot traffic congestion (堵塞) very quickly and suggest ways round it.

The problems comes when everyone is using a navigation app which tells them to avoid everyone else using the same gadget. Traffic jams often appear where no one has enough greatly. But when everyone has perfect information, traffic jams simply spread onto the side roads that seem to offer a way round them

This new congestion teaches us two things The first is that the promises of technology will never be realised as fully as we hope; they will be limited by their unforeseen and unintended consequences. Siting in a more comfortable car in a different traffic jam is pleasant but hardly the liberation that once seemed to be promised. The second is that self-organisation will not get us where we want to go. The efforts of millions of drivers to get ahead do not miraculously produce a situation in which everyone does better than before, but one in which almost everyone does rather worse. Central control and collective organisation can produce smoother and fairer outcomes, though even that much is never guaranteed.

Similar limits can be foreseen for t

For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on the importance of having a sense of community respousibility. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.

The number of devices you can talk to is multiplying -- first it was your phone, then your cat, and now you can tell your kitchen appliances what to do. But even without gadgets that understand our spoken commands, research suggests that, as bizarre is it sounds, under certain __26__ people regularly ascribe human traits to everyday objects.

Sometimes we see things as human because we are __27__ In one experiment, people who reported feeling isolated were more likely than others to attribute __28__ to various gadgets. In turn, feeling close to objects can __29__ loneliness. When college students were reminded of a time they had been __30__ in a social setting, they compensated by exaggerating their number of friends- unless they were first given tasks that caused them to interact with their phone as if it had human qualities. According to the researchers, the participants' phones __31__ substituted for real friends.

At other times, we personify products in an effort to understand them. One study found that three in four respondents yelled at their computer. Further, the more their computer gave them problems, the more likely the respondents were to report that it had its own "beliefs and __32__."

So how do people assign trails to an object? In par, we rely on looks. On humans wide faces are __33__ with dominance. Similarly, people rated curs, clocks, and watches with wide faces as more dominant-looking than narrow-faced ones, and preferred them- especially in __34__ situations. An analysis of car sales in Germany found that cars with grilles(护栅) that were upturned like smiles sold best. The purchasers saw this __35__ as increasing a car's friendliness.

A) alleviate

B) apparently

C) arrogant

D) associated

E) circumstances

F) competitive

G) conceded

H) consciousness

I) desires

J) excluded

K) feature

L) lonely

M) separate

N) spectacularly

O)

A) Though he didn't come from a farming family, from a young age Tim Joseph was fascinated by the idea of living off the land. Reading magazines like The Stockman Grass Farmer and Graze, he got hooked on the idea of grass-fed agriculture. The idea that all energy and wealth comes from the sun really intrigued him. He thought the shorter the distance between the sun and the end product, the higher the profit to the farmer.

B) Joseph wanted to put this theory to the test. In 2009, he and his wife Laura launched Maple Hill Creamery, an organic, all grass-fed yogurt company in northern New York. He quickly learned what the market has demonstrated: Demand for grass-fed products currently exceeds

Schools are not just a microcosm (缩影) of society; they mediate it too. The best seek to alleviate the external pressures on their pupils while equipping them better to understand and handle the world outside -- at once sheltering them and broadening their horizons. This is ambitious in any circumstances, and in a divided and unequal society the two ideals can clash outright(直接地).

Trips that many adults would consider the adventure of a lifetime -- treks in Bomeo, a sports tour to Barbados -- appear to have become almost routine at some state schools. Parents are being asked for thousands of pounds. Though schools cannot profit from these trips, the companies that arrange them do. Meanwhile, pupils arrive at school hungry because their families can't afford breakfast. The Child Poverty Action Group says nine out of 30 in every classroom fall below the poverty line. The discrepancy is startlingly apparent. Introducing a fundraising requirement for students does not help, as better-off children can tap up richer aunts and neighbours.

Probing the rock pools of a local beach or practising French on a language exchange can fire children's passions, boost their skills and open their eyes to life 's possibilities. Educational outings help bright but disadvantaged students to get better scores in A-level tests. In this globalised age, there is a good case for international travel, and some parents say they can manage the cost of a school trip abroad more easily than a family holiday. Even in the face of immense and mounting financial pressures, some schools have shown remarkable determination and ingenuity in ensuring that all their pupils are able to take up opportunities that may be truly life-changing. They should be applauded. Methods such as whole-school fundraising, with the proceeds(收益) pooled, can help to extend opportunities and fuel community spirit.

But 3,000 pounds trips cannot be justified when the average income for families wit

Rising temperatures and overfishing in the pristine(未受污染的) waters around the Antarctic could see king penguin populations pushed to the brink of extinction by the end of the century, according to a new study. The study's report states that as global warming transforms the environment in the world's last great wilderness, 70 percent of king penguins could either disappear or be forced to find new breeding grounds.

Co-author Celine Le Bohec, from the University of Strasbourg in France, warned: "If there're no actions aimed at halting or controlling global warming, and the pace of the current human-induced changes such as climate change and overfishing stays the same, the species may soon disappear." The findings come amid growing concern over the future of the Antarctic. Earlier this month a separate study found that a combination of climate change and industrial fishing is threatening the krill(磷虾) population in Antarctic waters, with a potentially disastrous impact on whales, seals and penguins. But today's report is the starkest warming yet of the potentially devastating impact of climate change and human exploitation on the Antarctic's delicate ecosystems.

Le Bohec said: "Unless current greenhouse gas emissions drop, 70 percent of king penguins -- 1.1 million breeding pairs -- will be forced to relocate their breeding grounds, or face extinction by 2100." King penguins are the second-largest type of penguin and only breed on specific isolated islands in the Southern Ocean where there is no ice cover and easy access to the sea. As the ocean warms, a body of water called the Antarctic Polar Front -- an upward movement of nutrient-rich sea that supports a huge abundance of marine life -- is being pushed further south. This means that king penguins, which feed on fish and kill in this body of water, have to travel further to their feeding grounds, leaving their hungry chicks for longer. And as the distance between

荷花(lotus flower)是中国的名花之一，深受人们喜爱。中国许多地方的湖泊和池塘都适宜荷花生长。荷花色彩鲜艳，夏日清晨绽放，夜晚闭合，花期长达两三个月，吸引来自各地的游客前往观赏。荷花具有多种功能，既能绿化水面，又能美化庭园，还可净化水质、减少污染、改善环境。荷花迎骄阳而不惧，出污泥而不染，象征纯洁、高雅，常来比喻人的高尚品德，历来是诗人画家创作的重要题材。荷花盛开的地方也是许多摄影爱好者经常光顾之地。

For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on the importance of having a sense of family responsibility. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.

The persistent haze over many of our cities is a reminder of the polluted air that we breathe. Over 80% of the world's urban population is breathing air that fails to meet World Health Organisation guidelines, and an estimated 4.5 million people died __26__ from outdoor air pollution in 2015.

Globally, urban populations are expected to double in the next 40 years, and an extra 2 billion people will need new places to live, as well as services and ways to move around their cities. What is more important, the decisions that we make now about the design of our cities will __27__ the everyday lives and health of the coming generations. So what would a smug-free, or at least low-pollution, city be like?

Traffic has become __28__ with air pollution, and many countries intend to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the next two decades. But simply __29__ to electric can will not mean pollution-free cities. The level of emissions they cause will depend on how the electricity to run them is __30__, while brakes, tyres and toads all create tiny airborne __31__ as they wear out.

Across the developed world, ear use is in decline as more people move to city centers, while young people especially are __32__ for other means of travel. Researchers are already asking if motor vehicle use has reached its __33__ and will decline, but transport planners have yet to catch up with this __34__, instead of laying new roads to tackle traffic jams. As users of London's orbital M25 motorway will know, new roads rapidly fill with more traffic. In the US, studies have shown that doubling the size of a road can __35__ double the traffic, taking us back to the starting point.

A) altemate B) crown C) determine D) generated E) locating F) merged G) miniatures H) opting I) particles J) peak K) prematurely L) simply M) swiching N) synonymous O) trend

A) The marketing is tempting: Get stronger muscles and healthier bodies with minimal effort by adding protein powder to your morning shake or juice drink. Or grab a protein bar at lunch or for a quick snack. Today, you can find protein supplements everywhere -- online or at the pharmacy, grocery store or health food store. They come in powders, pills and bars. With more than $12 billion in sales this year, the industry is booming and, according to the market research company, Grand View Research, is on track to sell billions more by 2025. But do we really need all this supplemental protein? It depends. There are pros, cons and some other things to consider.

B) For starters, protein is critical for every cell in our body. It helps build nails, hair, bones and muscles. It can also help you feel fuller longer than eating foods without protein. And, unlike nutrients that are found only in few foods, protein is present in all foods. "The typical American diet is a lot higher in protein than a lot of us think," says registered dietitian Angela Pipitone. "'It's in foods many of us expect, such as beef, chicken and other types of meat and dairy. But it's also in foods that may not come immediately to mind like vegetables, fruit, beans and grains."

C) The U.S. government 's recommended daily allowance (RDA) for the average adult is 50 to 60 gram of protein a day. This may sound like a lot, but Pipitone says: "We get bits of protein here and there and that really adds up throughout the day." Take, for example. breakfast. If you eat two eggs topped with a little bit of cheese and an orange on the side, you already have 22 grams of protein. Each egg gives you 7 grams, the cheese gives you about 6 grams and the orange -- about 2 grams. Add a lunch of chicken, rice and broccoli(西兰花), and you are already over the recommended 50 grams. "You can get enough protein and meet the RDA before you even get to dinner,"

Last year, a child was born at a hospital in the UK with her heart outside her body. Few babies survive this rare condition, and those who do must endure numerous operations and are likely to have complex needs. When her mother was interviewed, three weeks after her daughter's birth, she was asked if she was prepared for what might be a daunting (令人生畏的) task caring for her. She answered without hesitation that, as far as she was concerned, this would be a "privilege".

Rarely has there been a better example of the power of attitude, one of our most powerful psychological tools. Our attitudes allow us to turn mistakes into opportunities, and loss into the chance for new beginnings. An attitude is a settled way of thinking, feeling and/or behaving towards particular objects, people, events or ideologies. We use our attitudes to filter, interpret and react to the world around us. You weren't born with attitudes, rather they are all learned, and this happens in a number of ways.

The most powerful influences occur during early childhood and include both what happened to you directly, and what those around you did and said in your presence. As you acquire a distinctive identity, your attitudes are further refined by the behavior of those with whom you identify -- your family, those of your gender and culture, and the people you admire, even though you may not know them personally. Friendships and other important relationships become increasingly important, particularly during adolescence. About that same time and throughout adulthood, the information you receive, especially when ideas are repeated in association with goals and achievements you find attractive, also refines your attitudes.

Many people assume that our attitudes are internally consistent, that is, the way you think and feel about someone or something predicts your behavior towards them. However, may studies have found that feelings and thoughts don't necessarily pred

Industrial fishing for krill(磷虾) in the unspoilt waters around Antarctica is threatening the future of one of the world's last great wildernesses, according to a new report.

The study by Greenpeace analysed the movements of krill fishing vessels in the region and found they were increasingly operating "in the immediate vicinity of penguin colonies and whale feeding grounds". It also highlights incidents of fishing boats being involved in groundings, oil spills and accidents, which posed a serious threat to the Antarctic ecosystem.

The report, published on Tuesday, comes amid growing concern about the impact of fishing. and climate change on the Antarctic. A global campaign has been launched to create a network of ocean sanctuaries to protect the seas in the region and Greenpeace is calling for an immediate halt to fishing in areas being considered for sanctuary status.

Frida Bengtsson from Greenpeace's Protect the Antarctic campaign said: "If the krill industry wants to show it's a responsible player, then it should be voluntarily getting out of any area which is being proposed as an ocean sanctuary, and should instead be backing the protection of these huge tracts of the Antarctic."

A global campaign has been launched to turn a huge tract of Antarctic seas into ocean sanctuaries, protecting wildlife and banning not just krill fishing, but all fishing. One was created in the Ross Sea in 2016, another reserve is being proposed in a vast area of the Weddell Sea, and a third sanctuary is under consideration in the area west of the Antarctic Peninsula -- a key krill fishing area.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages the seas around Antarctica. It will decide on the Weddell Sea sanctuary proposal at a conference in Australia in October, although a decision on the peninsula sanctuary is not expected until later.

Keith Reid, a science manager at CCAML

梅花(plum blossom)位居中国十大名花之首，源于中国南方，已有三千多年的栽培和种植历史。隆冬时节，五颜六色的梅花不畏严寒，迎着风雪傲然绽放。在中国传统文化中，梅花象征着坚强、纯洁、高雅、激励人们不畏艰难、砥砺前行。自古以来，许多诗人和画家从梅花中获取灵感，创作了无数不朽的作品。普通大众也都喜爱梅花，春节期间常用于家庭装饰。南京市已将梅花定为市花，每年举办梅花节，成千上万的人冒着严寒到梅花山踏雪赏梅。

For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on the importance of having a sense of social responsibility. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.

When considering risk factors associated with serious chronic diseases, we often think about health indicators such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and body weight. But poor diet and physical inactivity also each increase the risk of heart disease and have a role to play in the development of some cancers. Perhaps worse, the __26__ effects of an unhealthy diet and insufficient exercise are not limited to your body. Recent research has also shown that __27__ in a high-fat and high-sugar diet may have negative effects on your brain, causing learning and memory __28__.

Studies have found obesity is associated with impairments in cognitive functioning, as __29__ by a range of learning and memory tests, such as the ability to remember a list of words presented some minutes or hours earlier. There is also a growing body of evidence that diet induced cognitive impairments can emerge __30__ within weeks or even days. For example, one study found healthy adults __31__ to a high-fat diet for five days showed impaired attention, memory, and mood compared with a low-fat diet control group. Another study also found eating a high-fat and high-sugar breakfast each day for as little as four days resulted in problems with learning and memory __32__ to those observed in overweight and obese individuals.

Body weight was not hugely different between the groups eating a healthy diet and those on high and sugar diets. So this shows negative __33__ of poor dietary intake can occur even when body weight has not changed __34__. Thus, body weight is not always the best indicator of health and a thin person still needs to eat well and exercise __35__.

A)assessed B)assigned C)consequences D)conspicuously E)deficits F)designated G)detrimental H)digestion I)excelling J)indulging K)loopholes L)rapidly M)redundant N)regularly O)similar

A) Have young people never had it so good? Or do they face more challenges than any previous generation? Our current era in the West is one of high wealth. This means minors enjoy material benefits and legal protections that would have been the envy of those living in the past. But There is an increasing suspicion that all is not well for our youth. And one of the most popular explanations, among some experts and the popular media, is that excessive "screen time" is to blame. (This refers to all the attention young people devote to their phones, tablets and laptops.) However, this is a contentious theory and such claims have been treated skeptically by some scholars based on their reading of the relevant data.

B) Now a new study has provided another contribution to the debate, uncovering strong evidence that adolescent wellbeing in the United States really is experiencing a decline and arguing that the most likely cause is the electronic riches we have given them. The background to this is that from the 1960s into the early 2000s, measures of average wellbeing went up in the US. This was especially true for younger people. It reflected the fact that these decades saw a climb in general standards of living and avoidance of mass societal traumas like full-scale war or economic deprivation. However, the "screen time" hypothesis, advanced by researchers such as Jean Twenge, is that electronic devices and excessive time spent online may have reversed these trends in recent years, causing problems for young people's psychological health.

C) To investigate, Twenge and her colleagues dived into the "Monitoring the Future" dataset based on annual surveys of American school students from grades 8, 10, and 12 that started in 1991. In total, 1.1 million young people answered various questions related to their wellbeing. Twenge's team's analysis of the answers confirmed the earlier, well-established wellbeing climb, with s

"The dangerous thing about lying is people don't understand how the act changes us," says Dan Ariely, behavioral psychologist at Duke University. Psychologists have documented children lying as early as the age of two. Some experts even consider lying a developmental milestone, like crawling and walking, because it requires sophisticated planning, attention and the ability to see a situation from someone else's perspective to manipulate them. But, for most people, lying gets limited as we develop a sense of morality and the ability to self-regulate.

Harvard cognitive neuroscientist Joshua Greene says. for most of us, lying takes work. In studies, he gave subjects a chance to deceive for monetary gain while examining their brains in a functional MRI machine，which maps blood flow to active parts of the brain. Some people told the truth instantly and instinctively. But others opted to lie, and they showed increased activity in their frontal parietal (颅腔壁的) control network, which is involved in difficult or complex thinking. This suggests that they were deciding between truth and dishonesty and ultimately opting for the latter. For a follow-up analysis, he found that people whose neural(神经的)reward centres were more active when they won money were also more likely to be among the group of liars- suggesting that lying may have to do with the inability to resist temptation.

Extremal conditions also matter in terms of when and how often we lie. We are more likely to lie, research shows, when we are able to rationalise it, when we are stressed and fatigued or sec others being dishonest. And we are less likely to lie when we have moral reminders or when we think others are watching. "We as a society need to understand that, when we don't punish lying, we increase the probability it will happen again," Ariely says.

In a 2016 study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Ariely and colleagues showed how dishonesty alter

Here's how the Pacific Northwest is preparing for "The Big One". It's the mother of all disaster drills for what could be the worst disaster in American history. California has spent years preparing for "The Big One" -- the inevitable earthquake that will undoubtedly unleash all kinds of havoc along the famous San Andreas fault (断层). But what if the fault that runs along the Pacific Northwest delivers a gigantic earthquake of its own? If the people of the Cascadia region have anything to do with it, they won't be caught unawares.

The region is engaged in a multi-day earthquake-and-tsunami(海啸) drill involving around 20,000 people. The Cascadia Rising drill gives area residents and emergency responders a chance to practice what to do in case of a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami along one of the nation's dangerous -- and underestimated -- faults.

The Cascadia Earthquake Zone is big enough to compete with San Andreas (it's been called the most dangerous fault in America), but it's much lesser known than its California cousin. Nearly 700 miles long, the earthquake zone is located by the North American Plate off the coast of Pacific British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Northern California.

Cascadia is what's known as a "megathrust" fault. Megathrusts are created in earthquake zones-land plate boundaries where two plates converge. In the areas where one plate is beneath another, stress builds up over time. During a megathrust event, all of that stress releases and some of the world's most powerful earthquakes occur. Remember the 9.1 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra in 2004? It was caused by a megathrust event as the India plate moved beneath the Burma micro-plate.

The last time a major earthquake occurred along the Cascadia fault was in 1700, so officials worry that another event could occur any time. To prevent that event from becoming a catastrophe, fir