2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（37）
发布时间：2012/10/31 13:01:20 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
Many philosophers have argued that people make decisions about what's right and wrong based on moral principles and rational thought.But other philosophers--and more recently，some psychologists and neuroscientists--have argued that there's more to the story.When faced with a moral dilemma， these scholars say，we rely on emotional reactions as well as our powers of reasonin9.In a study of brain damage，published today，neuroscientists report evidence that emotions indeed exert a powerful influence on moral judgments.
In the new study，Antonio Damasio of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and colleagues examined moral reasoning in six people who had damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex（VMPC），a brain region that regulates emotions.The researchers presented the patients with moral dilemmas that forced them to decide whether it was acceptable to sacrifice one person's life to save several others.。For example，participants had to decide whether to flip a switch that diverts a runaway trolley from a track leading to five workers to a track leading to j ust one worker.③The researchers also gauged the decisions of l 2 people without brain damage and l 2 patients with damage to brain regions unconnected to emotion.
In the trolley scenari0，most people in all three groups said it was okay to flip the switch.However， the VMPC patients'decisions diverged when the scenario required inflicting direct personal harm on one person to save several others--such as shoving a large person off a bridge to slow a trolley headed for five people.④From a strictly rational point of view.it's better to save five people instead of one.but the thought of pushing an innocent person to his death is emotionally wrenchin9.That may explain why only about 20％of people in the control groups said they'd push.The VMPC patients。on the other hand， made the utilitarian choice about twice as often，the researchers report online today in Nature.
The findings fit nicely with other evidence that moral j udgments often involve a conflict between emotion and reason and that those two #peting influences rely on different networks of brain regions， says Joshua Greene，a philosopher and cognitive neuroscientist at Harvard University.⑤But Jordan Grafman，a cognitive neuroscientist at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda，Maryland，isn't convinced that extreme moral dilemmas like the trolley problem evoke the same cognitive processes--and involve the same brain regions--as moral judgments in the real world involve.@Even s0，he says，the study“emphasizes that disciplines other than philosophy can contribute to issues related to moral behavior.” [431 words]
1.Many philosophers believe that ______
A.most decisions are made morally
B.few decisions are made irrationally
C.decisions are much influenced by emotions
D.moral judgments are usually made rationally
2.The trolley problem is presented to illustrate that______
A.VMPC is a brain region that regulates emotions
B.moral judgments may be influenced by emotions
C.even patients with brain damage can deal with moral dilemmas
D.it's a tragedy to sacrifice an innocent person to save several others
3.In the trolley scenari0，most participants believe that______.
A.it's right to flip the switch to save more people
B.it's wrong to push an innocent person to his death
C.it's better to save five people without hurting anyone else
D.it's ridiculous for them to decide whether to flip the switch
4.Jordan Grafman thinks that______
A.philosophy helps little to account for moral behavior
B.the same brain regions are involved in moral judgments
C.moral issues have nothing to do with philosophical study
D.moral issues usually lcad to the same cognitive processes
5.The best title for the text should be______.
A.The VMPC Patients with a Moral Dilemma
B.The Conflict between Emotion and Reason
C.How the Heart Can Rule the Head
D.How to Face a Moral Dilemma [NextPage] 难句透析
①In the new study，Antonio Damasio of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and colleagues exam— ined moral reasoning in six people[who had damage tO the ventromedial prefrontal cortex（VMPC），a brain regior（that regulates emotions）].
【结构】主句的主语是“Antonio Damasio”，谓语动词是“examined”。方括号所标示的“who had damage…em0· tions”是“people”的后置定语从句。后置的名词短语“a brain region”补充说明“the ventromedial prefrontal corte）（VMPC）”。圆括号所标示的“that regulates emotions”是“region”的后置定语从句。
【释义】额前正中皮层是大脑调节情感的区域。在一项新的研究项目中，洛杉矶南加州大学的安东尼·达玛斯奥和他的同事们检查了六个额前正中皮层受损的人的道德推理过程。
②The researchers presented the patients with moral dilemmasFthat forced them tO decide（whether it was accepta— ble tO sacrifice one person'S life tO save several others）].
【结构】方括号所标示的“that forced them…others”是“dilemmas”的后置定语从句。圆括号所标示的“whethel it was acceptable…several others”是“to decide”的宾语从句。
【释义】研究人员给这些病人出了一个道德难题，让他们决定，是否牺牲某一个人的生命以拯救另外几个人。
③For example，participants had tO decide[whether tO flip a switch（that diverts a runaway trolley from a track<leading to five workers）to a track（leading to just one worker））].
【结构】方括号所标示的“whether to flip…one worker”是“tO decide”的宾语。圆括号所标示的“that diverts…
worker”是“switch”的后置定语从句。尖括号所标示的两个现在分词短语“leading to five workers”和“leading tc Just one worker”分别是其前面的“track”的后置定语。
【释义】例如，要求这些参与者决定，当一条轨道上的一辆疾驰失控车正冲向五个人时，是否应该搬动道岔，把这辆车转到另一条轨道，在那条轨道上只冲向一个人。
④However，the VMPC patients'decisions diverged-when the scenario required（inflicting direct personal harm OE one person to save several others--such as shoving a large person off a bridge tO slow a trolley（headed for five people）].
【结构】方括号所标示的“when the scenario required…five people”是时间状语从句。圆括号所标示的动名词短语“inflicting direct personal harm on…five people”是动词“required”的宾语。破折号后面的部分补充说明这个动名词短语。尖括号所标示的过去分词短语“headed for five people”是“trolley”的后置定语。
【释义】然而，当场景涉及为了拯救另外几个人而必须对某一个人造成直接伤害，比如，为了使一辆正在冲向五个人的车辆减速，而必须把一个人推下桥时，额前正中皮层受损病人的决定出现分歧。
⑤The findings fit nicely with other evidence“[that moral judgments often involve a conflict between emotion and reason]and [that those two #peting influences rely on different networks of brain regions]，says Joshua Greene，a philosopher and cognitive neuroscientist at Harvard University.
【结构】方括号所标示的”that moral judgments…reason“和”that those two #peting influences…regions“是”findings“的两个并列的同位语从句。
【释义】哈佛大学的哲学家和研究认知的神经科学家约书亚·格林说，道德评判往往涉及情感和推理的冲突，这两种互相抵触的力量靠脑部不同区域起作用，另有证据与这些发现完全吻合。
⑥But Jordan Grafman，a cognitive neuroscientist at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda.Maryland.isn't convinced[that extreme moral dilemmas like the trolley problem”evoke the same cogni— tive processes--and involve the same brain regions--as moral judgments in the real world involve].
【结构】方括号所标示的“that extreme moral dilemmas…involve”是“isn't convinced”的宾语从句。这个宾语从句中的主语是“extreme moral dilemmas”，后面跟有两个并列的谓语动词“evoke”和“involve”。破折号后面的“in— volve…”补充说明其前面的“evoke…”。
【释义】约旦·格拉夫曼是马里兰比瑟达的国家神经失调和神经麻痹研究院的认知方向神经科学家。他并不相信，像失控车这么极端的道德问题会引发相同的认知过程，所涉及的脑部区域与真实世界的道德评判所涉及的脑部区域完全相同。[NextPage] 全文翻译
许多哲学家认为，人们基于道德原则和理智思维来判断是非。但有些哲学家，最近，还有些心理学家和神经学家，认为人们还根据其他因素来判断是非。这些学者表示，在面临道德困境时，我们依赖于情感反应以及推理能力。在今天发表的一项大脑损伤研究中，神经学家提出证据表明，情感的确会对道德判断产生重大影响。
额前正中皮层是大脑调节情感的区域。在一项新的研究项目中，洛杉矾南加州大学的安东尼。达玛斯奥和他的同事们检查了六个额前正中皮层受损的人的道德推理过程。o研究人员给这些病人出了一个道德难题，让他们决定，是否牺牲某一个人的生命以拯救另外几个人。例如，要求这些参与者决定，当一条轨道上的一辆疾驰失控车正冲向五个人时，是否应该搬动道岔，把这辆车转到另一条轨道，在那条轨道上只冲向一个人。研究人员同样对12名脑部无损伤以及12名脑部有损伤测试者的决定进行了评估。后者的受伤脑部区域与情感无关。
在这个机车场景中，这三个小组中的大多数人都表示可以搬动道岔。然而，当场景涉及为了拯救另外几个人而必须对某一个人造成直接伤害，比如，为了使一辆正在冲向五个人的车辆减速，而必须把一个人推下桥时，额前正中皮层受损病人的决定出现分歧。从严格的理智意义上讲，拯救五条性命要优于一条性命，但牺牲一条无辜的性命在情感上难以令人难以接受。这可能是受测人群中只有20％的人选择推倒的原因。另一方面，现在研究人员在Nature上的报告表示，额前正中皮层受损的人选择推倒的比例达40％。
哈佛大学的哲学家和研究认知的神经科学家约书亚。格林说，道德评判往往涉及情感和推理的冲突，这两种互相抵触的力量靠脑部不同区域起作用，另有证据与这些发现完全吻合。约旦。格拉夫曼是马里兰比瑟达的国家神经失调和神经麻痹研究院的认知方向神经科学家。他并不相信，像失控车这么极端的道德问题会引发相同的认知过程，所涉及的脑部区域与真实世界的道德评判所涉及的脑部区域完全相同。他表示，尽管如此，这项研究强调，不是哲学而是其他学科才能解释与道德行为相关的问题。
答案注释
1.根据第一段第一句“Many philosophers have argued that people make decisions about what'S right and wrong based on moral principles and rational thought”可知，选项D应为答案。
2.本文第二、三段所引用的“trolley problem”用来说明第一段最后一句“In a study of brain damage，published t0 day，neuroscientists report evidence that emotions indeed exert a powerful influence on moral judgments”所提出 的观点。所以，选项B应为答案。
3.根据第三段第一句“In the trolley scenari0，most people in all three groups said it was okay to flip the switch”可 知，选项A应为答案。
4.根据全文最后一句“Even S0，he says，the study'emphasizes that disciplines other than philosophy can contribute to issues related to moral behavior”‘可知，选项A应为答案。
5.第一段最后一句“In a study of brain damage，published today，neuroscientists report evidence that emotions in deed exert a powerful influence on moral judgments”点明了本文的主题，全文主要讨论了“emotions”对“moral judgments”的影响问题，所以，选项C应为答案。
超纲词汇
Neuroscientist n.神经系统科学家
dilemma n.进退两难的局面，困难的选择
ventromedial adj.腹侧正中的
Prefrontal adj.额叶前部的，前额的
cortex n.皮层，皮质
Flip vt.轻按，倒转
Trolley n.小缆车，小台车，载重滑车
scenario n.情景，场面
Infllct vt.予以，使…遭受，使…承受
shove vi.／vt.挤，推，撞
Wrench vi／vt.折磨
utilitarianadj.功利的，实利的，功利主义的
cognitive adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的
neurological adj.神经学上的
evoke vt.唤起，引起，博得
参考答案：1.D 2.B 3.A 4.A 5.C
