2023年研究生入學(xué)考試英語(yǔ)二2010-2022歷年真題選編帶答案難題含解析

2023年研究生入學(xué)考試英語(yǔ)二2010-2022歷年真題選編帶答案難題含解析（圖片大小可自由調(diào)整）第1卷一.歷年考點(diǎn)試題黑鉆版(共75題)1.Directions:

SupposeyouruniversityisholdingaknowledgecontestonLow-CarbonLifeonCampus.Writeanoticeto

1)brieflyintroducethecontest,and

2)callforvolunteers.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownnameorthenameofyouruniversity.

Donotwritetheaddress.2.Directions:

SupposeyouruniversityisholdingaknowledgecontestonLow-CarbonLifeonCampus.Writeanoticeto

1)brieflyintroducethecontest,and

2)callforvolunteers.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownnameorthenameofyouruniversity.

Donotwritetheaddress.3.Inmostpublicschoolstoday,teachersaresimplyrated"satisfactory"or"unsatisfactory,"andevaluationsconsistofhavingtheprincipalobserveaclassforafewminutesacoupleoftimeseachyear.

Manydistrictsandstatesaretryingtomovetowardbetterpersonnelsystemsforevaluationandimprovement.Unfortunately,someeducationadvocatesinNewYork,LosAngelesandothercitiesareclaimingthatagoodpersonnelsystemcanbebasedonrankingteachersaccordingtotheir"value-addedrating"—ameasurementoftheirimpactonstudents'testscores—andpublicizingthenamesandrankingsonlineandinthemedia.

Iamastrongsupporterofmeasuringteachers'effectiveness,andmyfoundationworkswithmanyschoolstohelpmakesurethatsuchevaluationsimprovetheoverallqualityofteaching.Butpubliclyrankingteachersbynamewillnothelpthemgetbetterattheirjobsorimprovestudentlearning.Onthecontrary,itwillmakeitalothardertoimplementteacherevaluationsystemsthatwork.4.Globalizationplacesusinincreasinglymoresituationswherewemayneedtohostinternationalbusinessassociatesformeals.Withsomanyculturaldifferencesindiningpreferences,evenamongthoseofthesamenationalityandculture,thesafestandmostconsideratethingwecandowhentreatingaguestistosimplyask.Avoidmakingtoomanyassumptionsaboutwhatyourguestswouldlikeandinquireabouttheirpreferences.

China'sdishnamesareinfusedwithitsculinaryculture,andexpressingtheminEnglishisnotalwayssoeasy.ZhaoHuimin,directorofBeijingForeignAffairsOffice,said,"AsBeijingisstrivingtobecomea'WorldCity',weneedabetterlanguageenvironment.AndChinesefoodhasbecomemorepopulararoundtheworldinrecentyears,soit'sessentialtostandardizethetranslation.Thenewlypublishedbookcontainseasy-to-understandEnglishnamesofalmostallmainstreamdishesofChina'seightmajorcuisines.Itisforreferenceonly,andisnotcompulsory."5.Directions:

SupposeyouwanttoinviteMr.Williamstogivealectureon"AmericanLiterature"inyourcollege.SupposeyouaretheassistantoftheEnglishDepartment,writealetterincluding:

1)thepurposeoftheinvitation,

2)thetimeofthelecture.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"ZhangWei"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.6.Directions:Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingtable.Inyourwritingyoushould

1)describethetable,and

2)giveyourcomments

Youshouldwriteabout150words.

WriteyouressayontheANSWERSHEET.

7.Directions:

SupposeyouhavereadapieceofinformationontheInternetaboutrecruitingEnglisheditors.Writealettertothecompany'sPersonnelDepartmentto

1)showyourinterest,

2)describeyourself,and

3)explainwhyyouwouldbesuitableforthejob.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.8.Publichealthexpertsaredebatingwhethere-cigarettes(電子香煙)canhelpstoptobaccosmoking.Researcharoundthistopicissparse,butonenew,relativelysmallstudyraisesquestionsaboutwhethere-cigarettescanridtobaccosmokeroftheirdeadlyhabit.Thestudylookedat949tobaccosmokers—88ofwhomalsousede-cigarettes—andfoundthatsmokinge-cigarettesdidnothelpthemquitorreducetheiruseofcigarettesoverthecourseofayear.

E-cigarettes,whichdonotcontaintobaccoandgiveoffnotar(焦油)orcarbonmonoxide(一氧化碳),arebelievedtobesaferthanregulartobaccocigarettes,andsomearguethatpushingpeopletowardlessdangerousnicotine-intakesystemsisbetterforthem.Butcuttingdownorquittingsmokingaltogetheristheultimategoal,andthenewstudysuggeststhat'snothappening.9.SignsofdeclinearesuretobefoundinaplaceascomplexasAmerica:debt,crime,thehomeless,drugs,dropouts.ButthemaincharacteristicofAmerica,thefirstandmostenduringimpression,isdynamism,energy,aggressiveness,forwardmovement.

Itissohardtothinkofthisnationindeclinewhenyouknowthattherearevastregionsoftheplanetwhichareabsolutelyparalyzed,incapableofanyimprovementatall.ItisdifficultformetoagreewithPaulKennedy'sthesisthatAmericamustinevitablyfollowhistoricalprecedent.That'sthewayhistoryusedtobe—allpowerfulnationsdeclinedandgavewaytootherempires.ButIhaveasensethatwhatisgoingonhereconcernsmuchmorethanthefateofanation.ItmaybethattheEuro-centeredAmericannationisdecliningasitgiveswaytoanewPacificcivilizationthatwillinclude,butnotlimitedto,America.(153words)10.Directions:

YouhavejustcomebackfromCanadaandfoundamusicCDinyourluggagethatyouforgottoreturntoBob,yourlandlordthere.Writehimaletterto

1)makeanapology,and

2)suggestasolution.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.11.Directions:

YouwanttocontributetoProjectHopebyofferingfinancialaidtoachildina

remotearea.Writealettertothedepartmentconcerned,askingthemtohelpfindacandidate.Youshouldspecifywhatkindofchildyouwanttohelpandhowyouwillcarryoutyourplan.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.12.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET2.

13.Studiesshowthatsocialengagementisoneofthebestpredictorsofhappiness.Yetweassociatewitheachotherlessthanever.RobertPutnamofHarvardUniversitycalledthisphenomenon"bowlingalone";hesaidthatthedeclineofprivateassociations,particularlychurches,hadledtoanisolationthatwasmakingpeoplepooreremotionally.Thatpatternhasacceleratedasweswiveltowardamoredigitalsociety.

Weliveintherichest,mostprosperous,freesttimeinhumanhistory.That'sawonderfulgiftwe'veallbeengiven.Butwe'vealsoshedgiftsthatareancientandvital:thegiftofsolidfamilystructure;thegiftofcommonreligiouscommitment;thegiftofacultureandheritageofmeritocracy(精英教育).Nogovernmentprogramcanfillthosegaps—andeveryefforttodosoendswiththeexacerbationofpreciselythefailuresgovernmentprogramsaredesignedtoalleviate.14.Businessisguardingagainsthardertimes.Thebiggestproblemistheeurocrisis,whichiscausingdamagetoGermany'stradingpartners.Industrialordersfromtheeurozonesharplydeclinedby12.1%inSeptember.DemandwillalsobereducedfromAsiaandeasternEurope,whichhavebeenGermany'sfastest-growingmarkets.OnNovember9ththegovernment'sadvisorycouncilofeconomic"wisemen"predictedthatgrowthwouldshrinkfrom3%thisyearto0.9%in2012.

RisingunemploymentwouldjeopardiseMrsMerkel'schancesforre-electioninSeptember2013.Perhapsforthatreason,mosteconomistsarebettingthatGermanywilleventuallydowhateverisnecessarytoendthecrisis.ThesurestwayisfortheEuropeanCentralBanktobuythedebtoffragilecountrieslikeItaly,anotionthatterrifiesGermans,stillimpressedbytheirgrandparents'memoriesofhyperinflation.Ifthatiswhatthebank'snewpresidentdecidestodo,MrsMerkelmaynotstandintheway.15.Directions:

TwomonthsagoyougotajobasaneditorforthemagazineDesigns&Fashions.Butnowyoufindthattheworkisnotwhatyouexpected.Youdecidetoquit.Writealettertoyourboss,Mr.Wang,tellinghimyourdecision,statingyourreason(s),andmakinganapology.

Writeyourletterwithabout100words.WriteitneatlyonANSWERSHEET2.Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter;use"LiMing"instead.Youdonotneedtowritetheaddress.16.Toconfirmthefinding,humanitywouldneedtomakeyetanothertriptoMars."Gettingthereandacquiringthefinalevidencethatthisisindeedalakewillnotbeaneasytask,"scientistssaid."Itwillrequireflyingarobottherewhichiscapableofdrillingthrough1.5kilometers[orabout1mile]ofice,andthiswillcertainlyrequiresometechnologicaldevelopmentsthatatthemomentarenotavailable."

Still,theresearchmarksanotherchapterinthestoryofwateronMars,whichstretchesbackbillionsofyearsago,whentheplanetwasstillyoung.Backthen,Marswasawateryworld.Theplanetwassurroundedbyawarm,thickatmosphere.Fluffycloudshunginthesky,andliquidwaterpooledonthesurface,sloshingaroundindeepcratersthatsitemptytoday.ResearchsuggeststhatMarsmayhavehadenoughwatertocoatafifthoftheplanet.17.Mostpeoplewoulddefineoptimismasendlesslyhappy,withaglassthat'sperpetuallyhalffull.Butthat'sexactlythekindoffalsecheerfulnessthatpositivepsychologistswouldn'trecommend."Healthyoptimismmeansbeingintouchwithreality,"saysTalBen-Shahar,aHarvardprofessor.AccordingtoBen-Shahar,realisticoptimistsarethosewhomakethebestofthingsthathappen,butnotthosewhobelieveeverythinghappensforthebest.

Ben-Shalarusesthreeoptimisticexercises.Whenhefeelsdown—say,aftergivingabadlecture—hegrantshimselfpermissiontobehuman.HeremindshimselfthatnoteverylecturecanbeaNobelwinner;somewillbelesseffectivethanothers.Nextisreconstruction.Heanalyzestheweaklecture,learninglessonsforthefutureaboutwhatworksandwhatdoesn't.Finally,thereisperspective,whichinvolvesacknowledgingthatinthegrandschemeoflife,onelecturereallydoesn'tmatter.18.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

19.ItiseasytounderestimateEnglishwriterJamesHerriot.Hehadsuchapleasant,readablestylethatonemightthinkthatanyonecouldimitateit.HowmanytimeshaveIheardpeoplesay,"Icouldwriteabook.Ijusthaven'tthetime,"Easilysaid.Notsoeasilydone.JamesHerriot,contrarytopopularopinion,didnotfinditeasyinhisearlydaysof,asheputit,"havingagoatthewritinggame".Whileheobviouslyhadanabundanceofnaturaltalent,thefinal,polishedworkthathegavetotheworldwastheresultofyearsofpractising,re-writingandreading.Likethemajorityofauthors,hehadtosuffermanydisappointmentsandrejectionsalongtheway,butthesemadehimallthemoredeterminedtosucceed.Everythingheachievedinlifewasearnedthehardwayandhissuccessintheliteraryfieldwasnoexception.20.Peoplegenerallyassumethatwhentheyconsideranotherpersona"friend,"thatpersonalsothinksofthemasafriend,whichmeansfriendshipismutual.Butwhenweanalyzedself-reportedrelationshipsurveysfromseveralexperimentsaroundtheworld,wefoundthatwhilemostpeopleassumefriendshipsaretwo-way,onlyabouthalfoffriendshipsareindeedmutual.Thesefindingsindicateaprofoundinabilityofpeopletoknowwhotheirfriendsare.

Initselfthismayseemlikeaninterestingbutminorfinding,butthislargeproportionofunbalancedfriendshipstranslatestoamajoreffectontheabilityofanindividualtopersuadeotherstocooperateorchangetheirbehavior.

That'sbecausesuccessdependsontheabilitytorecruitfriendstohelpatcriticaltimes.Studieshaveshownthatsocialinfluenceisacriticalfactorinorganizationalchange,andespeciallyinthepropagationofnewbehaviors,newideas,andnewmethodsinbothorganizationsandsociety.21.Directions:Youarethepresidentofastudentunion.WriteamemotoJuliaAlexander,thevice-presidentonavolunteeractivityto

1)tellherdetailedinformation,and

2)askhertowriteatrainingplan.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.22.Directions:

Supposeyouarethesalesmanagerinabigjointventure.You'rewritingalettertothechiefdirectorto

1)recommendoneofyourcollegeclassmatesforavacancyinthecompany,and

2)providesomerelevantinformationabouthim.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"LiMing"instead.

Donotwritetheaddress.23.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)describethechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteatleast150words.

WriteyouressayontheANSWERSHEET.

24.TheChinesenewyearisatimeoffamilyreunions.ButMr.Xiaoispreparingtospendhissixthnewyearwithouthisson,whowasabducted(誘拐)in2007bysuspectedchildtraffickers.China'sone-childpolicyhasfuelleddemandforchildren,thousandsofwhomaresnatchedandsoldeveryyeartodesperate,usuallyboyless,couples.Spurred(刺激)bythecampaigningofparentslikeMr.Xiao,thegovernmentisstartingtopaymoreattentiontothecrime.Butcurbingitisprovingtough.

Mr.Xiaohasbeentryingthehardwaytoraiseawarenessofthecrime;drivingaroundthecountryinaminivancoveredwithpostersofmissingchildren.Mr.Xiao,wholivesinavillagenearTongzhou,oneofBeijing'ssatellitetowns,sayshehasspentasmuchas400,000yuan($64,300)ofhisownmoneyontheproject.HesaysthereareotherparentselsewhereinChinawhotourthecountryinsimilarlybedecked(裝飾的)vehicles.25.EconomicsisanimportantcomponentofthecoreMBAcurriculumbecauseeconomicprinciplesarebehindalmostallmanagerialactivities.Economistsatbusinessschoolsresearchandteachabouthowmarketswork;howscarceresourcesgetproduced,consumedandallocated;andhowvariousparticipantsintheeconomymakeoptimaldecisions.

Theseissueswillberelevanttomanagersinvirtuallyallaspectsoftheirworkfortherestoftheircareers.Thisistruebothatthebroadestlevels—suchasstrategicmanagement,finance,organizationaldesign,humanresources,andmanagingglobalorganizations—andalsowhentheydrilldownintomorespecificareas,suchasoptimizingprices,settingemployeecompensation,andanalyzinghowmodernmanagerialpracticesaffectafirm'sperformance.

Onerapidlygrowingareaofeconomicsthathasreceivedalotofattentionfrombusiness-schooleconomistsismarketdesign.Traditionally,economistsstudiedthepropertiesofexistingmarketinstitutions.Morerecently,however,theyhavetakenanactiverole,andhaveappliedeconomicanalysistodesignnewmarketsortoimproveexistingones.26.Directions:

Insomecountriestheaverageworkerisobligedtoretireattheageof60to65.Somepeopleagreewiththispractice,whileothersdonot.Whatdoyouthink?

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsinyouressay.27.Whatnewsdopeoplesee?Whatdotheybelievetobetrueabouttheworldaroundthem?Whatdotheydowiththatinformationascitizens?Facebook,Google,andothergianttechnologycompanieshavesignificantcontrolovertheanswerstothosequestions.It'snoexaggerationtosaythattheirdecisionsshapehowbillionsseetheworldand,inthelongrun,willaffectthehealthofgoverninginstitutionsaroundtheworld.

That'saheftyresponsibility,butonethatmanytechcompaniessaytheywanttouphold.Forexample,inanopenletter,Facebook'sfounderandCEOMarkZuckerbergwrotethatthecompany'snextfocuswouldbe"developingthesocialinfrastructureforcommunity—forsupportingus,forkeepingussafe,forinformingus,forcivicengagement,andforinclusionofall."28.ItiseasytounderestimateEnglishwriterJamesHerriot.Hehadsuchapleasant,readablestylethatonemightthinkthatanyonecouldimitateit.HowmanytimeshaveIheardpeoplesay,"Icouldwriteabook.Ijusthaven'tthetime,"Easilysaid.Notsoeasilydone.JamesHerriot,contrarytopopularopinion,didnotfinditeasyinhisearlydaysof,asheputit,"havingagoatthewritinggame".Whileheobviouslyhadanabundanceofnaturaltalent,thefinal,polishedworkthathegavetotheworldwastheresultofyearsofpractising,re-writingandreading.Likethemajorityofauthors,hehadtosuffermanydisappointmentsandrejectionsalongtheway,butthesemadehimallthemoredeterminedtosucceed.Everythingheachievedinlifewasearnedthehardwayandhissuccessintheliteraryfieldwasnoexception.29.TheA-listwascreatedbyJamesUlmer,anentertainmentjournalist.Ulmercreatedthe"UlmerScale"todeterminebankablestars,actorswhoguaranteethesuccessofamoviesimplybyappearinginit.In2002,forexample,theUlmerScaleassessedactorTomCruiseat100pointsandthebudgetforhismovieMinorityReportwas$102million.Accordingtothescale,themovieshouldhavemade100%(Cruise=100points)or$102millionsimplybecauseTomCruisewasinthemovie.Inactualfact,themoviemadeover$300mworldwide.OtherbankablestarsthatyearwereTomHanksandJuliaRoberts.In2005,TomCruiseandTomHanksstilltoppedthelistwhileJuliaRobertsandNicoleKidmanweretheonlywomenintheTopTen.

Celebrityandfamearedirectlyrelatedtothemassmediathatreportonparticularindividuals.Thus,somecelebritiesarefamousworldwide(forexample,BradPittandMadonna)whileothersareonlyfamouswithintheircountryorregion.SomeexamplesofsuchfamouspeopleintheirowncountriesincludeJapanesemusicianAyumiHamasaki,KoreanactressHyunKyungOh,ThaientertainerBirdThongchaiMcintyre,andChineseastronautsYangLiwei,FeiJunlongandNieHaisheng.Celebritiescanincludenotonlymoviestarsandtelevisionactors,butalsopoliticians,televisionreportersandgameshowhosts,models,astronauts,athletes,andmusicians.30.Directions:

SupposeProfessorSmithaskedyoutoplanadebateonthethemeofcitytraffic.Writehimanemailto

1)suggestaspecifictopicwithyourreasons,and

2)tellhimaboutyourarrangements.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownname.Use"LiMing"instead.31.Directions:Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

32.Directions:

WritealettertoinviteyourfriendTinaandJosephtoattendyourfirstanniversaryofwedding.Thefollowingsarespecificinformation:

1)Time:12a.m.,August22;

2)Address:Shangri-LaHotel;

3)OneofyourfriendsteachingyouItalian,youwanttointroducehimtothem.33.Mydreamhasalwaysbeentoworksomewhereinanareabetweenfashionandpublishing.Twoyearsbeforegraduatingfromsecondaryschool,ItookasewinganddesigncoursethinkingthatIwouldmoveontoafashiondesigncourse.However,duringthatcourseIrealizedIwasnotgoodenoughinthisareatocompetewithothercreativepersonalitiesinthefuture,soIdecidedthatitwasnottherightpathforme.BeforeapplyingforuniversityItoldeveryonethatIwouldstudyjournalism,becausewritingwas,andstillis,oneofmyfavouriteactivities.But,tobehonest,Isaidit,becauseIthoughtthatfashionandmetogetherwasjustadream—Iknewthatnoone,apartfrommyself,couldimaginemeinthefashionindustryatall!SoIdecidedtolookforsomefashion-relatedcoursesthatincludedwriting.ThisiswhenInoticedthecourse"FashionMedia&Promotion."34.Directions:

YouaresupposedtowriteforthePostgraduates'Associationanoticetorecruitvolunteersforaninternationalconferenceon"theBeltandRoad."Thenoticeshouldincludethebasicqualificationsforapplicantsandotherinformationwhichyouthinkisrelevant.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotuseyourownnameattheendofthenotice.Use"Postgraduates'Association"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.35.Directions:

Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould

1)describethechart,and

2)giveyourcomments.

Youshouldwriteabout150wordsonANSWERSHEET2.

某高校學(xué)生利用互聯(lián)網(wǎng)和圖書(shū)館進(jìn)行學(xué)習(xí)的變化情況36.WillnewspapersbecomeathingofthepastinthisInternetage?Itiscurrentlyestimatedthatmorethan1billionpeopleusetheInternetworldwide.Thenumber-oneonlineactivityise-mail,followedbyreadingnewsontheInternet.TheInternetisanincreasinglyeffectiveandefficientwaytoreachthelargestpossibleaudienceworldwide.HarrisInteractive,aU.S.-basedcompany,reportedthatthemajorityofpeoplewentonlinebecausetheycouldobtaininformationattimessuitabletothem;orothersdidsobecausemoredetailednewscouldbefoundonline;ormoreup-to-dateinformationwasavailableonline;orbecausetheycouldaccessnewswhileatwork.

Thoughmostmediareportersandnetworkstrytoreportobjectively,biasexists.Biasmeanstofavor.Biascanoccurinthemedia'schoiceofstoriesandcoverageofastory.Throughthechoiceofwordsandselectionofinterviews,interviewersandinterviewees,themediamightreportfavorablyorunfavorablyonanewsissue.Asviewersofnewsstories,audiencesneedtoobjectivelyjudgethenewscoveragethattheyhearandread,andseekoutmoreinformationfromothersources,ifnecessary.37.Directions:Achemicalplantshouldberesponsibleforthewaterpollutioninanearbyriver.WritealettertotheCityEnvironmentProtectionAgencyto

1)giveyouropinionsbriefly;

2)maketwoorthreesuggestions.

Youshouldwriteabout100wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter.Use"ZhangWei"instead.

Donotwriteyouraddress.38.Directions:

Inyourwriting,youshould

1)interpretthechartand

2)giveyourowncomments

Youshouldwriteatleast150words.

WriteyouressayonANSWERSHEET.

2018年某市市民消費(fèi)付款方式的情況

39.Mydreamhasalwaysbeentoworksomewhereinanareabetweenfashionandpublishing.Twoyearsbeforegraduatingfromsecondaryschool,ItookasewinganddesigncoursethinkingthatIwouldmoveontoafashiondesigncourse.However,duringthatcourseIrealizedIwasnotgoodenoughinthisareatocompetewithothercreativepersonalitiesinthefuture,soIdecidedthatitwasnottherightpathforme.BeforeapplyingforuniversityItoldeveryonethatIwouldstudyjournalism,becausewritingwas,andstillis,oneofmyfavouriteactivities.But,tobehonest,Isaidit,becauseIthoughtthatfashionandmetogetherwasjustadream—Iknewthatnoone,apartfrommyself,couldimaginemeinthefashionindustryatall!SoIdecidedtolookforsomefashion-relatedcoursesthatincludedwriting.ThisiswhenInoticedthecourse"FashionMedia&Promotion."40.Overtheyears,Ihavewrittenextensivelyaboutanimalintelligenceexperimentsandthecontroversysurroundingthem.Doanimalsreallyhavethoughts,whatwecallconsciousness?Wonderingwhethertheremightbebetterwaystoexploreanimalintelligencethanexperimentsdesignedtoteachhumansigns,Irealizedwhatnowseemsobvious:ifanimalscanthink,theywillprobablydotheirbestthinkingwhenitservestheirownpurposes,notwhenscientistsaskthemto.

SoIstartedtalkingtovetsandzookeepers.Mostdonotstudyanimalintelligence,buttheyencounterit,andthelackofit,everyday.The-storiestheytellusrevealwhatI'mconvincedisanewwindowonanimalintelligence:thementalfeatsanimalsperformwhendealingwithcaptivityandthedominantspeciesontheplanet—humans.

Anyway,itiscomfortingtorealizethatotherspeciesbesidesourowncanstandbackandassesstheworldaroundthem,eveniftheirhorizonsaremorelimited.41.IoftenhearfromteenagersthatoneoftheirgreatestgoalsistoobtainmoreInstagramfollowersthananyonetheyknow.Evensomeadultsappearobsessedwithsocialmedia,trackingthenumberofretweetsontheirTwitterprofilesorlikesonFacebook.Thistypeofstatus-seekingmightbeeasilydismissedasjuvenileorsuperficial,butthere'smoretoit.

Recentevidencesuggeststhatbeingunpopularcanbehazardoustoourhealth.Infact,itmightevenkillus.Yetmostdon'trealizethatthere'smorethanonetypeofpopularity,andsocialmediamaynotsupplytheonethatmakesusfeelgood.

Mostofusmaybeinvestinginthewrongkind.Likabilityreflectskindnessandselflessbehavior.Researcherssuggeststhatthisformofpopularityofferslifelongadvantages,andleadstorelationshipsthatconferthegreatesthealthbenefits.Whichmeansthatitwouldn'tkillyoutostepawayfromTwitteronceinawhile.42.Foroveracentury,psychologistshavestudiedintelligencebyaskingpeoplequestions.Theirexamshaveevolvedintobatteriesoftests,eachprobingadifferentmentalability,suchasverbalreasoningormemorization.

Inasignificantadvanceinthestudyofmentalability,ateamofEuropeanandAmericanscientistsannouncedMondaythatithadidentified52geneslinkedtointelligenceinnearly80,000people.Thesegenesdonotdetermineintelligence,however.Theircombinedinfluenceisminuscule,theresearcherssaid,suggestingthatthousandsmorearelikelytobeinvolvedandstillawaitdiscovery.Justasimportant,intelligenceisprofoundlyshapedbytheenvironment.Still,thefindingscouldmakeitpossibletobeginnewexperimentsintothebiologicalbasisofreasoninga