Unit 6 At one with nature
Part 1 Starting out & Understanding ideas
完成以下名言警句并做好积累。
1.He is richest who is content ________ the least, for content is the wealth of nature.
知足者最富有，因为知足是大自然的财富。 —苏格拉底
2.The only true _________(wise) is in knowing you know nothing.
唯一真正的智慧是知道自己一无所知。 —苏格拉底
3.The smallest deed is better than the greatest __________(intend).
最小的行动胜过最大的意图。 —约翰.巴勒斯
4.Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on _______ to place it, and I shall move the world.
给我一个足够长的杠杆和一个支点，让我把它放在上面，我就能撬动整个世界。—阿基米德
5.The journey of a thousand miles __________(begin) with one step.
千里之行，始于足下。 —老子
6.Never interrupt your enemy when he __________(make) a mistake.
永远不要在敌人犯错时打断他。 —拿破仑·波拿巴
7.It's not what happens to you, but how you react_______ it that matters.
重要的不是发生在你身上的事，而是你如何应对。 —埃皮克提图
8.By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a ___________(philosophy).
无论如何，结婚吧。如果你娶到一个好妻子，你会变得幸福;如果你娶到一个坏妻子，你将成为一个哲学家。 —苏格拉底
1.with 2.wisdom 3.intention 4.which 5.begins 6.is making 7.to 8.philosopher
培优第一阶——基础过关练
I. 单词拼写
1. The vase was quite fragile so we had to ________(包裹) it in soft material before we send it by post.
【答案】wrap
2.________(农业) was based on the family as a unit in the past.
【答案】Agriculture
3.Villagers were persuaded to build ________(梯田) to stop topsoil running off.
【答案】terraces
4.The only way for us to survive is to live in ________(和谐) with nature.
【答案】harmony
5.This ________(地区) is the home of many species of wild flower.
【答案】region
6.Marco Polo of Italy left his footprints along these ancient routes in the Song ________(朝代).
【答案】Dynasty
7.We congratulated them on the successful ________(完成) of the project.
【答案】completion
8.These fish are found in ________(浅的) waters around the coast.
【答案】shallow
9.They climbed upward along the ________(陡峭的) cliffs surrounding the village.
【答案】steep
10.The task demands skills which cannot be attained easily and ________(因此) require proper training.
【答案】therefore
11.A cloud is a condensation of water ________(蒸汽) in the atmosphere.
【答案】steam
12.They asked me to ________(设计) a poster for the campaign.
【答案】design
13.Cow peas are an important ________(作物) in many African countries.
【答案】crop
14.They took active steps to ________(阻止) the spread of the disease.
【答案】prevent
15.Keep the ________(土壤) moist. That way, the seedling will flourish.
【答案】soil
II. 短语填空
1.With better education, people will be able to build a better society __________ nature.
【答案】in harmony with
2.The local people think that water can __________ bad things and bring good luck.
【答案】wash away
3.Snoring itself can interrupt sleep enough to _______ you _______ getting enough rest.
【答案】prevent from
4.The caterpillars __________ a wide range of trees, shrubs and plants.
【答案】feed on
5.This large woodland is __________ many birds and other wildlife.
【答案】home to
6.Each pyramid has a wide stairway which goes __________.
【答案】from the bottom to the top
7.The witch cast a spell on her to _______ her______ a beast.
【答案】turn into
8.We just __________ a project with a difficult client last week.
【答案】wrap up
9.It's easy to buy our food from the local supermarket, so why do we __________ growing our own
【答案】go to the trouble of
III. 单句语法填空
1. ________ (absorb) in painting, John didn't notice evening approaching.
【答案及详解】absorbed考查非谓语动词。句意：约翰沉迷于画画，没有注意到傍晚来临。某人沉迷于某事be absorbed in doing sth, 设空为非谓语动词作状语，与主语之前为被动关系，故填absorbed。
2._________(learn) more about Chinese culture, Jack has decided to take Chinese folk music as an elective course.
【答案及详解】To learn考查非谓语动词。句意：为了学习更多中国文化，杰克决定选修中国民乐。动词不定式表目的，故填To learn
3. When _________(offer) help, one often says “Thank you” or “it's very kind of you”.
【答案及详解】offered考查非谓语动词。句意：当被提供帮助时，人们常说 “Thank you” 或者 “it's very kind of you”。设空为非谓语动词作状语，与主语之前为被动关系，故填offered。
4. Under pressure from the public, many __________(region) governments cleaned up their beaches.
【答案及详解】考查词性转换。句意：迫于公众的压力，许多地区政府治理了海滩污染。形容词修饰名词，设空为一个形容词，故填regional。
5.The threat of global warming will eventually force the U.S. to slow down its energy _________ (consume).
【答案及详解】consumption考查词性转换。句意：全球变暖的威胁将最终迫使美国减慢其能源消耗。能源消耗：energy consumption，故填consumption。
6.If a mom faces _________(dead) threats on her child, she will fight angrily like a bear.
【答案及详解】deadly考查词性转换。句意：如果一个妈妈面对使她孩子致命的威胁，她会像一只熊一样愤怒搏斗。形容词修饰名词，表示“致命的”之意，故填deadly。
7.Bird’s Nest, _____________(accomplish) at the end of 2006, has been visited by millions of guests from home and abroad.
【答案及详解】accomplished考查词性转换。句意：在2006年底竣工的鸟巢，已经有来自国内外的数百万名游客参观。非谓语动词作后置定语，与前面的名词之间为被动关系，非谓语动词要用过去分词的形式，故填accomplished。
8.Jim passed the driving test, ___________ surprised everybody in the office.
【答案及详解】which考查定语从句关系词。句意：Jim通过了驾照考试，这令办公室里的所有人都感到吃惊。非限定性定语从句，关系词指代前面整句的内容，故填which。
9.Gun control is a subject ___________ Americans have argued for a long time.
【答案及详解】on which考查定语从句介词+关系词。句意：枪支管控是美国人争论了很久的一个话题。argue on sth 争论某事，故填on which。
10.She broght with her three friends, none __________ I had ever met before.
【答案及详解】of whom考查定语从句介词+关系词。句意：她带来了三位朋友，哪一位我以前都没有见过。I have ever met one of them. 故填of whom。
IV. 翻译句子
1. 尽管现代科技有助于提高农作物的产量，但对珍视传统的当地人来说，这些梯田依然具有重要的意义。
【答案】Although modern technology could help produce more crops, these terraces still mean a lot to the local people for whom traditions hold much value.
2.但也许最令人惊叹的还是人与自然和谐相处建造梯田并种植水稻的方式。
【答案】But perhaps what is most significant is the way in which people have worked in harmony with nature to make these terraces and grow rice.
3.梯田从元朝开始修建，历经数百年，至清朝初期完工。
【答案】Starting in the Yuan Dynasty, work on the terraces took hundreds of years, until its completion in the early Qing Dynasty.
4.为什么当地人要如此大费周章，将整片山地变成梯田呢
【答案】So why did these people go to so much trouble to turn the entire mountains into terraces
5.其次，尽管该地区多雨，但山地坡度大、土层浅薄，水平的梯田能够储存雨水，防止土壤流失。
【答案】Secondly, although the region has plenty of rain, the mountains are steep and the soil is shallow. The flat terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from being washed away.
V. 课文语法填空
Imagine mountains 1.________ (wrap) in silver water, shining in the spring sun. Summer sees the mountains turn bright green with growing rice. During autumn, these same mountains are gold, and in winter they are covered in sheets of white frost. These are the colours of the
Longji Rice Terraces which 2. _________(build) by the local Zhuang and Yao people. Work on the terraces started in the Yuan Dynasty and completed in the early Qing Dynasty.
So why did these people go to so much trouble 3._______(turn) the entire mountains into terraces Firstly, there are few large, flat areas of land in the region. Building the terraces therefore meant that they could increase the areas 4._______ they could grow rice. The flat terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from 5. _________(wash) away.
But the most significance lies in the way that people have worked in harmony 6._______ nature to make these terraces and grow rice. The terraces are 7. ________ (clever) designed, with hundreds of waterways that connect with each other. During the 8. ________(rain) season, it is along these waterways that rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. The sun heats the water and turns it into vapour. Then cloud forms rain and rain falls down onto the mountain terraces once again.
9._________ modern technology could help produce more crops, these terraces still mean a lot to the local people for whom traditions hold much value. This knowledge 10.________(pass) down through families, which means that new generations continue to use ancient methods of agriculture to maintain the terraces. Today, the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder created by people and nature working together.
1.____________ 2. ____________ 3. ____________ 4. ____________ 5. _____________
6. ____________ 7. ____________ 8. ____________ 9. ____________ 10. ____________
【答案】wrapped 非谓语动词作后置定语，与前面的名词之间形成被动关系，故填过去分词wrapped.
【答案】were built, 一般过去时态的被动语态，故填were built。
【答案】to turn, go to trouble to do sth费尽周章作某事，故填to turn。
【答案】where, 此处考察定语从句的关系词，关系词在定语从句中作状语，表示地点，故填where。
【答案】being washed, 介词from后面应为一个名词性成分，此处需要把动词变成动名词，根据句义：防止土壤被冲走，故填being washed。
【答案】with，in harmony with, 与....和谐相处。
【答案】cleverly，副词修饰动词designed，故填cleverly。
【答案】rainy，雨季：the rainy reason，故填rainy。
【答案】Though/Although，两个句子之间为让步关系，此处需要一个表示让步关系的连词，故填Though/Although。
【答案】passes，整段为一般现在时态，故此句为一般现在时态，主语为第三人称单数形式，故填passes。
培优第二阶——拓展培优练
阅读理解
In December 2004, I had just become a professional photographer and was working on a project about communities who live on the sea, known as sea nomads (海上游牧民族). I was living with members of the Chao-Ley tribe on a small island in southern Thailand. We didn’t share a language and relied on body language to communicate.
I went out to sea with them regularly. One morning, I was due to set out with a group of six Chao-Ley fishermen in a small boat.
About 20 minutes after our departure and a few miles out in the open sea, one of the fishermen pointed to a small white spot far in the distance. It was getting bigger and bigger very quickly. This was a tsunami wave speeding through the ocean like a tornado.
Usually, the deeper the water, the weaker the wave. But we weren’t out far enough to be safe, nor close enough to shore to make it back in time. We were stuck. I began to feel really scared.
At some point the captain took control. He told the six of us where to sit, so we would balance out the boat. My camera was in my backpack. I wanted to capture the scene, but I couldn’t. Any movement would imbalance the boat. I sat still and got ready for impact.
Suddenly there was a huge noise. The wave hit the boat, but in the split second of impact, the incredibly skilled captain managed to swerve us up and onto the wave. We surfed it for a few seconds. Then the boat glided from the tip of the wave down into safe waters. Our eyes and mouths were wide open, and everyone let out heavy sighs. The captain had saved us all.
Surviving gave me a deep understanding of how short life can be. I’ve been going back to Southeast Asia almost every year since. The photography project has become a thank-you to the people who saved my life. The picture I wanted to take on the boat remains “the one that got away” – I think every photographer has one. But mine changed my life.
Choose the best answer:
1. What happened before the author set out with the fishermen
A. The captain wanted to cancel the trip.
B. He noticed something unusual.
C. They saw a white spot in the distance.
D. It looked like it was about to rain.
2. When did the author start to panic
A. When he felt the tension on the boat.
B. When he realized they were stuck.
C. When the boat was about to be hit.
D. When the boat shook violently.
3. What was the author doing when the tsunami wave hit the boat
A. Helping the captain steer.
B. Taking a photo of the wave.
C. Trying not to move.
D. Reaching for his backpack.
4. What did the author learn from his experience
A. We should have the courage to take risks.
B. Opportunity never knocks twice.
C. Always value the friends around us.
D. Life is too short to be wasted.
【答案】BBCD
【文章大意】本文为记叙文，描述了作者与渔夫一起出海捕鱼时遭遇海啸，凭借船长丰富的经验，一行人获救，作者感恩，感叹生命的短暂。
1.B细节理解题。根据第二段：It was about 8 am, and the sea looked different. The water was totally still.那时大约是早上8点，大海看起来不一样。水是完全静止的。故B项正确。
2.B细节理解题。根据第四段：We were stuck. I began to feel really scared.故B项正确。
3.C 细节理解题。根据第四段：Any movement would imbalance the boat. I sat still and got ready for impact.任何移动都会使船不平衡。我一动不动地坐着，准备迎接冲击。故C项正确。
4.D判断推理题。根据最后一段：这次经历让我深刻理解了生命的短暂。从那以后，我几乎每年都回东南亚，对救我一命的人的感谢。我想在船上拍的照片仍然是“逃走的那张。但是这张改变了我的生活。故D项正确。
培优第三阶——高考沙场点兵
主题语境：人与社会 难易度：☆☆☆☆ 语篇类型：说明文 建议用时：6 min
（2021全国乙卷，D篇）
During an interview for one of my books, my interviewer said something I still think about often. Annoyed by the level of distraction in his open office, he said, “That’s why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street — so I can focus.” His comment struck me as strange. After all, coworking spaces also typically use an open office layout. But I recently came across a study that shows why his approach works.
The researchers examined various levels of noise on participants as they completed tests of creative thinking. They were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to various noise levels in the background, from total silence to 50 decibels, 70 decibels, and 85 decibels. The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group — those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop — significantly outperformed the other groups. Since the effects were small, this may suggest that our creative thinking does not differ that much in response to total silence and 85 decibels of background noise.
But since the results at 70 decibels were significant, the study also suggests that the right level of background noise — not too loud and not total silence — may actually improve one’s creative thinking ability. The right level of background noise may interrupt our normal patterns of thinking just enough to allow our imaginations to wander, without making it impossible to focus. This kind of “distracted focus” appears to be the best state for working on creative tasks.
So why do so many of us hate our open offices The problem may be that, in our offices, we can’t stop ourselves from getting drawn into others’ conversations while we’re trying to focus. Indeed, the researchers found that face-to-face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing freedom from interruptions.
1. Why does the interviewer prefer a coworking space
A. It helps him concentrate. B. It blocks out background noise.
C. It has a pleasant atmosphere. D. It encourages face-to-face interactions.
2. Which level of background noise may promote creative thinking ability
A. Total silence. B. 50 decibels. C. 70 decibels. D. 85 decibels.
3. What makes an open office unwelcome to many people
A. Personal privacy unprotected.
B. Limited working space.
C. Restrictions on group discussion.
D. Constant interruptions.
4. What can we infer about the author from the text
A. He’s a news reporter. B. He’s an office manager.
C. He’s a professional designer. D. He’s a published writer.
【答案】ACDD
【文章大意】这是一篇说明文。作者通过自身经历讲述人们为什么不喜欢开放性办公室以及有关多少分贝的噪音最有利于人们的创造性思维的研究。
1. A细节理解题。根据第一段“That’s why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street — so I can focus.可知，采访者喜欢共享办公空间的原因是那里可以帮助他集中精力。故选A项。
2. C细节理解题。根据第二段“The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group — those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop — significantly outperformed the other groups.和第三段“But since the results at 70 decibels were significant, the study also suggests that the right level of background noise — not too loud and not total silence — may actually improve one’s creative thinking ability.可知，70分贝的那组参与者表现好于其他组，所以70分贝的噪音背景环境更有可能促进创造性思维能力。故选C项。
3. D细节理解题。根据最后一段“Indeed, the researchers found that face-to-face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing freedom from interruptions.研究人员发现，面对面的互动和对话会影响创作过程，然而，共同工作空间或咖啡馆在提供一定程度的噪音的同时，也提供不受干扰的自由。）”可知，开放式办公室不受人们欢迎的原因是让我们不断地卷入别人的谈话中，受到很多干扰。故选D 项。
4. D推理判断题。根据第一段“During an interview for one of my books, my interviewer said something I still think about often.可知，作者提到有人采访自己的书，所以可以推断，作者是一位作家。故选D项。Unit 6 At one with nature
Part 1 Starting out & Understanding ideas
完成以下名言警句并做好积累。
1.He is richest who is content ________ the least, for content is the wealth of nature.
知足者最富有，因为知足是大自然的财富。 —苏格拉底
2.The only true _________(wise) is in knowing you know nothing.
唯一真正的智慧是知道自己一无所知。 —苏格拉底
3.The smallest deed is better than the greatest __________(intend).
最小的行动胜过最大的意图。 —约翰.巴勒斯
4.Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on _______ to place it, and I shall move the world.
给我一个足够长的杠杆和一个支点，让我把它放在上面，我就能撬动整个世界。—阿基米德
5.The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
千里之行，始于足下。 —老子
6.Never interrupt your enemy when he __________(make) a mistake.
永远不要在敌人犯错时打断他。 —拿破仑·波拿巴
7.It's not what happens to you, but how you react_______ it that matters.
重要的不是发生在你身上的事，而是你如何应对。 —埃皮克提图
8.By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a ___________(philosophy).
无论如何，结婚吧。如果你娶到一个好妻子，你会变得幸福;如果你娶到一个坏妻子，你将成为一个哲学家。 —苏格拉底
培优第一阶——基础过关练
I. 单词拼写
1. The vase was quite fragile so we had to ________(包裹) it in soft material before we send it by post.
2. ________(农业) was based on the family as a unit in the past.
3. Villagers were persuaded to build ________(梯田) to stop topsoil running off.
4. The only way for us to survive is to live in ________(和谐) with nature.
5. This ________(地区) is the home of many species of wild flower.
6. Marco Polo of Italy left his footprints along these ancient routes in the Song ________(朝代).
7. We congratulated them on the successful ________(完成) of the project.
8. These fish are found in ________(浅的) waters around the coast.
9. They climbed upward along the ________(陡峭的) cliffs surrounding the village.
10. The task demands skills which cannot be attained easily and ________(因此) require proper training.
11. A cloud is a condensation of water ________(蒸汽) in the atmosphere.
12. They asked me to ________(设计) a poster for the campaign.
13. Cowpeas are an important ________(作物) in many African countries.
14. They took active steps to ________(阻止) the spread of the disease.
15. Keep the ________(土壤) moist. That way, the seedling will flourish.
II. 短语填空
1.With better education, people will be able to build a better society __________ nature.
2.The local people think that water can __________ bad things and bring good luck.
3.Snoring itself can interrupt sleep enough to _______ you _______ getting enough rest.
4.The caterpillars __________ a wide range of trees, shrubs and plants.
5.This large woodland is __________ many birds and other wildlife.
6.Each pyramid has a wide stairway which goes __________.
7.The witch cast a spell on her to _______ her______ a beast
8.We just __________ a project with a difficult client last week.
9.It's easy to buy our food from the local supermarket, so why do we __________ growing our own
III. 单句语法填空
1. ________ (absorb) in painting, John didn't notice evening approaching.
2._________(learn) more about Chinese culture, Jack has decided to take Chinese folk music as an elective course.
3. When _________(offer) help, one often says “Thank you” or “it's very kind of you”.
4. Under pressure from the public, many _________(region) governments cleaned up their beaches.
5.The threat of global warming will eventually force the U.S. to slow down its energy _________ (consume).
6.If a mom faces _________(dead) threats on her child, she will fight angrily like a bear.
7.Bird’s Nest, _____________(accomplish) at the end of 2006, has been visited by millions of guests from home and abroad.
8.Jim passed the driving test, ___________ surprised everybody in the office.
9.Gun control is a subject ___________ Americans have argued for a long time.
10.She broght with her three friends, none __________ I had ever met before.
IV. 翻译句子
1. 尽管现代科技有助于提高农作物的产量，但对珍视传统的当地人来说，这些梯田依然具有重要的意义。
_______________________________________________________________________________
2.但也许最令人惊叹的还是人与自然和谐相处建造梯田并种植水稻的方式。
_______________________________________________________________________________
3.梯田从元朝开始修建，历经数百年，至清朝初期完工。
_______________________________________________________________________________
4.为什么当地人要如此大费周章，将整片山地变成梯田呢
_______________________________________________________________________________
5.其次，尽管该地区多雨，但山地坡度大、土层浅薄，水平的梯田能够储存雨水，防止土壤流失。
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V. 课文语法填空
Imagine mountains 1.________ (wrap) in silver water, shining in the spring sun. Summer sees the mountains turn bright green with growing rice. During autumn, these same mountains are gold, and in winter they are covered in sheets of white frost. These are the colours of the
Longji Rice Terraces which 2. _________(build) by the local Zhuang and Yao people. Work on the terraces started in the Yuan Dynasty and completed in the early Qing Dynasty.
So why did these people go to so much trouble 3._______(turn) the entire mountains into terraces Firstly, there are few large, flat areas of land in the region. Building the terraces therefore meant that they could increase the areas 4._______ they could grow rice. The flat terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from 5. _________(wash) away.
But the most significance lies in the way that people have worked in harmony 6._______ nature to make these terraces and grow rice. The terraces are 7. ________ (clever) designed, with hundreds of waterways that connect with each other. During the 8. ________(rain) season, it is along these waterways that rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. The sun heats the water and turns it into vapour. Then cloud forms rain and rain falls down onto the mountain terraces once again.
10._________ modern technology could help produce more crops, these terraces still mean a lot to the local people for whom traditions hold much value. This knowledge 10.________(pass) down through families, which means that new generations continue to use ancient methods of agriculture to maintain the terraces. Today, the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder created by people and nature working together.
1.____________ 2. ____________ 3. ____________ 4. ____________ 5. _____________
6. ____________ 7. ____________ 8. ____________ 9. ____________ 10. ____________
培优第二阶——拓展培优练
阅读理解
In December 2004, I had just become a professional photographer and was working on a project about communities who live on the sea, known as sea nomads (海上游牧民族). I was living with members of the Chao-Ley tribe on a small island in southern Thailand. We didn’t share a language and relied on body language to communicate.
I went out to sea with them regularly. One morning, I was due to set out with a group of six Chao-Ley fishermen in a small boat. It was about 8 am, and the sea looked different. The water was totally still.
About 20 minutes after our departure and a few miles out in the open sea, one of the fishermen pointed to a small white spot far in the distance. It was getting bigger and bigger very quickly. This was a tsunami wave speeding through the ocean like a tornado.
Usually, the deeper the water, the weaker the wave. But we weren’t out far enough to be safe, nor close enough to shore to make it back in time. We were stuck. I began to feel really scared.
At some point the captain took control. He told the six of us where to sit, so we would balance out the boat. My camera was in my backpack. I wanted to capture the scene, but I couldn’t. Any movement would imbalance the boat. I sat still and got ready for impact.
Suddenly there was a huge noise. The wave hit the boat, but in the split second of impact, the incredibly skilled captain managed to swerve us up and onto the wave. We surfed it for a few seconds. Then the boat glided from the tip of the wave down into safe waters. Our eyes and mouths were wide open, and everyone let out heavy sighs. The captain had saved us all.
Surviving gave me a deep understanding of how short life can be. I’ve been going back to Southeast Asia almost every year since. The photography project has become a thank-you to the people who saved my life. The picture I wanted to take on the boat remains “the one that got away” – I think every photographer has one. But mine changed my life.
Choose the best answer:
1. What happened before the author set out with the fishermen
A. The captain wanted to cancel the trip.
B. He noticed something unusual.
C. They saw a white spot in the distance.
D. It looked like it was about to rain.
2. When did the author start to panic
A. When he felt the tension on the boat.
B. When he realized they were stuck.
C. When the boat was about to be hit.
D. When the boat shook violently.
3. What was the author doing when the tsunami wave hit the boat
A. Helping the captain steer.
B. Taking a photo of the wave.
C. Trying not to move.
D. Reaching for his backpack.
4. What did the author learn from his experience
A. We should have the courage to take risks.
B. Opportunity never knocks twice.
C. Always value the friends around us.
D. Life is too short to be wasted.
培优第三阶——高考沙场点兵
主题语境：人与社会 难易度：☆☆☆☆ 语篇类型：说明文 建议用时：6 min
（2021全国乙卷，D篇）
During an interview for one of my books, my interviewer said something I still think about often. Annoyed by the level of distraction in his open office, he said, “That’s why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street — so I can focus.” His comment struck me as strange. After all, coworking spaces also typically use an open office layout. But I recently came across a study that shows why his approach works.
The researchers examined various levels of noise on participants as they completed tests of creative thinking. They were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to various noise levels in the background, from total silence to 50 decibels, 70 decibels, and 85 decibels. The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group — those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop — significantly outperformed the other groups. Since the effects were small, this may suggest that our creative thinking does not differ that much in response to total silence and 85 decibels of background noise.
But since the results at 70 decibels were significant, the study also suggests that the right level of background noise — not too loud and not total silence — may actually improve one’s creative thinking ability. The right level of background noise may interrupt our normal patterns of thinking just enough to allow our imaginations to wander, without making it impossible to focus. This kind of “distracted focus” appears to be the best state for working on creative tasks.
So why do so many of us hate our open offices The problem may be that, in our offices, we can’t stop ourselves from getting drawn into others’ conversations while we’re trying to focus. Indeed, the researchers found that face-to-face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing freedom from interruptions.
1. Why does the interviewer prefer a coworking space
A. It helps him concentrate. B. It blocks out background noise.
C. It has a pleasant atmosphere. D. It encourages face-to-face interactions.
2. Which level of background noise may promote creative thinking ability
A. Total silence. B. 50 decibels. C. 70 decibels. D. 85 decibels.
3. What makes an open office unwelcome to many people
A. Personal privacy unprotected.
B. Limited working space.
C. Restrictions on group discussion.
D. Constant interruptions.
4. What can we infer about the author from the text
A. He’s a news reporter. B. He’s an office manager.
C. He’s a professional designer. D. He’s a published writer.
