Page 15 - 高中英语小题狂做·选择性必修第四册·YL

Unit 1 Honesty and responsibility 9

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A

Most people don t lie very much. It makes sense. By being honest with people, you not only build up

goodwill, but also save a lot of brainpower since your brain doesn t have to do anything out of the ordinary
when you tell the truth. You just think of what you want to say, and you say it.

However, lying takes much more work. Imagine you re late to class and the teacher asks why. If you
decide to lie, you have to make up a story on the spot, think about the various directions the conversation

might take and figure out what you need to say to keep this whole lie from falling apart. You might not be

aware of it, but you just give your brain a lot of extra work.
“A lot of that brain work is done in a region called the prefrontal cortex. It s the part in charge of

working memory,” explains Jennifer Vendemia, a scientist from the University of South Carolina.
Working memory keeps something in mind just for a little while, such as remembering instructions for

how to play a game or some other specific task. It stores things for only a short while as you re using them,
and it doesn t put them in long-term storage. Besides working memory, the prefrontal cortex also takes care

of tasks such as planning, problem-solving and self-control. Scientists describe these as executive function

tasks. Executive function lets you think a step or two ahead to make sure the lie you re telling will likely
hold up to questioning.

“Spending so much brainpower trying to keep a story straight means there s less available for other
things,” says Vendemia. “Lying is especially harmful for young people as the prefrontal cortex is not fully

developed until around age 25. When the prefrontal cortex is busy with tasks related to lying, younger
people have a harder time doing other tasks. ”

Lying has social costs, too. People generally value honesty and don t like liars. So if people view you

as untrustworthy, it can be bad for your relationships. [2023 江西南昌等 5 地期末]
( ) 1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A. The costs of lying to people. B. The benefits of being truthful.
C. The true meaning of honesty. D. The difficulty of being a good liar.

( ) 2. Why is a lying student mentioned in the second paragraph?
A. To prove a theory. B. To introduce a topic.

C. To give an example. D. To provide the background.
( ) 3. Which of the following is the function of working memory?

A. Remembering a life-long lesson. B. Pushing oneself to face difficulties.
C. Storing information for a short time. D. Processing information in the brain.

( ) 4. What is the best title for the text?

A. How Can We Keep Lies from Falling Apart? B. Which Part of Brain Is in Charge of Lying?
C. When Is It Especially Bad for People to Lie? D. What Are the Harmful Effects of Lying?