题目
The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful species.But curiosity can also be dangerous，leading to setbacks or even downfalls.Given curiosity's complexity，scientists have found it hard to define. While pinning down a definition has proven tricky，the general consensus is it's some means of information gathering.Psychologists also agree curiosity is intrinsically（内在地）motivated.Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn't any single "curiosity gene" that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment.That said，curiosity does have a genetic component.Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior，including their curiosity. Regardless of their genetic makeup，infants have to learn an incredible amount of information in a short time，and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to accomplish that gigantic task.Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty.It's what motivates non-human animals，human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure. But curiosity often comes with a cost. In some situations，the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth.For instance，many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers，but they decide to try walking because there's more to see and do when they stand upright.But this milestone comes at a small cost.A study of 12- to 19-month-olds learning how to walk documented that these children fell down a lot.Seventeen times per hour，to be exact.But walking is faster than crawling，so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking. Sometimes，however，testing out a new idea can lead to disaster.For instance，the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates，but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.（1）What does the author say about curiosity？ ____ A.It is too complex for non-scientists to understand.B.It is the force that pushes human society forward.C.It is a unique trait specific to the human race.D.It is often the major cause for human failures.（2）What do we learn about how genes shape people's behavior？ ____ A.They determine people's way of thinking.B.They account for age differences in learning.C.They enable people to undertake massive tasks.D.They work in conjunction with the environment.（3）What do numerous studies show about infants？ ____ A.They are far more curious than adults.B.They prefer to go after all that is novel.C.They have different interests than adults.D.They show non-human animal behaviors.（4）What does the example of the Inuit people of the Arctic regions illustrate？ ____ A.The cost of human's curiosity to explore.B.The incredible harshness of cold weather.C.The innovative ideas stemming from curiosity.D.The importance of learning from past failures.
The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful species.But curiosity can also be dangerous，leading to setbacks or even downfalls.Given curiosity's complexity，scientists have found it hard to define.
While pinning down a definition has proven tricky，the general consensus is it's some means of information gathering.Psychologists also agree curiosity is intrinsically（内在地）motivated.
Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn't any single "curiosity gene" that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment.That said，curiosity does have a genetic component.Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior，including their curiosity.
Regardless of their genetic makeup，infants have to learn an incredible amount of information in a short time，and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to accomplish that gigantic task.
Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty.It's what motivates non-human animals，human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure.
But curiosity often comes with a cost.
In some situations，the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth.For instance，many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers，but they decide to try walking because there's more to see and do when they stand upright.But this milestone comes at a small cost.A study of 12- to 19-month-olds learning how to walk documented that these children fell down a lot.Seventeen times per hour，to be exact.But walking is faster than crawling，so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking.
Sometimes，however，testing out a new idea can lead to disaster.For instance，the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates，but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.
（1）What does the author say about curiosity？ ____
A.It is too complex for non-scientists to understand.
B.It is the force that pushes human society forward.
C.It is a unique trait specific to the human race.
D.It is often the major cause for human failures.
（2）What do we learn about how genes shape people's behavior？ ____
A.They determine people's way of thinking.
B.They account for age differences in learning.
C.They enable people to undertake massive tasks.
D.They work in conjunction with the environment.
（3）What do numerous studies show about infants？ ____
A.They are far more curious than adults.
B.They prefer to go after all that is novel.
C.They have different interests than adults.
D.They show non-human animal behaviors.
（4）What does the example of the Inuit people of the Arctic regions illustrate？ ____
A.The cost of human's curiosity to explore.
B.The incredible harshness of cold weather.
C.The innovative ideas stemming from curiosity.
D.The importance of learning from past failures.
While pinning down a definition has proven tricky，the general consensus is it's some means of information gathering.Psychologists also agree curiosity is intrinsically（内在地）motivated.
Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn't any single "curiosity gene" that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment.That said，curiosity does have a genetic component.Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior，including their curiosity.
Regardless of their genetic makeup，infants have to learn an incredible amount of information in a short time，and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to accomplish that gigantic task.
Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty.It's what motivates non-human animals，human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure.
But curiosity often comes with a cost.
In some situations，the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth.For instance，many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers，but they decide to try walking because there's more to see and do when they stand upright.But this milestone comes at a small cost.A study of 12- to 19-month-olds learning how to walk documented that these children fell down a lot.Seventeen times per hour，to be exact.But walking is faster than crawling，so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking.
Sometimes，however，testing out a new idea can lead to disaster.For instance，the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates，but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.
（1）What does the author say about curiosity？ ____
A.It is too complex for non-scientists to understand.
B.It is the force that pushes human society forward.
C.It is a unique trait specific to the human race.
D.It is often the major cause for human failures.
（2）What do we learn about how genes shape people's behavior？ ____
A.They determine people's way of thinking.
B.They account for age differences in learning.
C.They enable people to undertake massive tasks.
D.They work in conjunction with the environment.
（3）What do numerous studies show about infants？ ____
A.They are far more curious than adults.
B.They prefer to go after all that is novel.
C.They have different interests than adults.
D.They show non-human animal behaviors.
（4）What does the example of the Inuit people of the Arctic regions illustrate？ ____
A.The cost of human's curiosity to explore.
B.The incredible harshness of cold weather.
C.The innovative ideas stemming from curiosity.
D.The importance of learning from past failures.
题目解答
答案
（1）推理判断题。根据第一段The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful species.But curiosity can also be dangerous，leading to setbacks or even downfalls.（人类对知识的渴求是我们这个成功物种背后的驱动力。但好奇心也可能是危险的，它会导致挫折甚至跌倒。）可知，好奇心是人类成功背后的驱动力，由此推知，作者认为是好奇心推动了人类社会的进步，故选B。
（2）细节理解题。根据第三段Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior，including their curiosity.（基因和环境以许多复杂的方式相互作用，塑造个体并指导他们的行为，包括他们的好奇心。）可知，基因和环境是相互作用的，D项"它们与环境协同工作"表述正确，故选D。
（3）细节理解题。根据第五段Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty.It's what motivates non-human animals，human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure.（数百项研究表明，婴儿更喜欢新奇的事物。它激励着非人类动物、人类婴儿，甚至可能是人类成年人去探索和寻求新事物，直到在持续接触后对它们失去兴趣。）可知，许多关于婴儿的研究表明婴儿的好奇心很强，他们更喜欢追求那些新奇的东西。故选B。
（4）推理判断题。根据最后一段Sometimes，however，testing out a new idea can lead to disaster.For instance，the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates，but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.（然而，有时，测试一个新想法可能会导致灾难。例如，北极地区的因纽特人创造了令人难以置信的模式来应对生活在北方气候中的挑战，但我们忘记了成千上万的人，他们试图在这些充满挑战的环境中生存，但却未能成功。）可知，本段通过北极地区因纽特人的例子说明了人类探索的好奇心也会付出很大的代价，故选A。
（2）细节理解题。根据第三段Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior，including their curiosity.（基因和环境以许多复杂的方式相互作用，塑造个体并指导他们的行为，包括他们的好奇心。）可知，基因和环境是相互作用的，D项"它们与环境协同工作"表述正确，故选D。
（3）细节理解题。根据第五段Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty.It's what motivates non-human animals，human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure.（数百项研究表明，婴儿更喜欢新奇的事物。它激励着非人类动物、人类婴儿，甚至可能是人类成年人去探索和寻求新事物，直到在持续接触后对它们失去兴趣。）可知，许多关于婴儿的研究表明婴儿的好奇心很强，他们更喜欢追求那些新奇的东西。故选B。
（4）推理判断题。根据最后一段Sometimes，however，testing out a new idea can lead to disaster.For instance，the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates，but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.（然而，有时，测试一个新想法可能会导致灾难。例如，北极地区的因纽特人创造了令人难以置信的模式来应对生活在北方气候中的挑战，但我们忘记了成千上万的人，他们试图在这些充满挑战的环境中生存，但却未能成功。）可知，本段通过北极地区因纽特人的例子说明了人类探索的好奇心也会付出很大的代价，故选A。