浙江省2013年高考复习英语自选模块测试[一]及答案.pdfVIP

2013 年高考第二轮复习英语浙江版 专题升级训练二十一 自选模块测试（一） A （05 ）The city had always been an engine of intellectual life ，from the 18th- century cafes of London ，where citizens gathered to discuss chemistry and politics ，to the Left Bank bars of modern Paris，where Picasso talked about modern art.Without the metropolis （大都市），we might not have had the great art of Shakespeare. And yet ， city life isnt easy.Now scientists have begun to examine how the city affects the brain ，and the results of their research are depressing.__1__ After spending a few minutes on a crowded city street ，the brain is less able to hold things in memory ，and suffers from reduced self-control.While its long been recognized that city life is exhausting ，this new research suggests that cities actually dull our thinking ，sometimes dramatically so. One of the main forces at work is a complete lack of nature ，which is surprisingly beneficial for the brain.Studies have demonstrated ，for instance ，that hospital patients recover more quickly when they can see trees from their windows ，and that women living in public housing are better able to focus when their apartments overlook a lawn （草坪）．__2__ This research arrives just as humans cross an important milestone （里程碑）．For the first time in history ，the majority of people live in cities.__3__ In recent years ， its become clear that such unnatural surroundings have important implications for our mental and physical health ，and can powerfully change how we think. __4__ The good news is that even slight changes such as planting more trees in the inner city or creating urban parks with a greater variety of plants ， can significantly reduce the negative side effects of city life.The mind needs nature ，an