四、阅读理解
Artwork is lovely to look at, and it has the power to make people feel and think differently. But do you know that when people see a real work of art, rather than just looking at a photo of it, they are likely to experience stronger emotions (情绪)?
Scientists recently carried out a study at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, a city in the Netherlands. The museum is home to Girl with a Pearl Earring.
① The researchers used eye-tracking equipment and a brain scanner (扫描仪) to watch how people reacted (反应) to several paintings. First, the volunteers were asked to look at the real paintings on display, and then at photos of the artworks in the museum shop.
It was shown that their emotional reactions were 10 times stronger when they looked at the real paintings. ② The most active part of the brain while looking at the artworks was the area that controls people's personal identity (认同) and consciousness (意识).
How did that happen? ③ According to the study, people may experience something called a “sustained attentional loop” when they watch a certain painting. The volunteers' attention was first drawn to the girl's left eye, then her mouth, then to her pearl earring. This certain order of eye movements repeated in a continuous loop. Each time they completed the cycle, their focus became stronger and their connection with Girl with a Pearl Earring was deeper, which meant that people stared at the painting for longer. Martin de Munnik, one of the researchers in this study, said, “That means you have to pay attention whether you want to or not.” It was as if the painting itself had a power to hold the viewers' attention and guide their eye movements in a very involuntary (无意识的) way.
④ The director of the Mauritshuis, Martine Gosselink, said that the study shows how important it is to go and see art in real life, whether it's paintings, photography or dancing. She added, “It really helps develop your brain.” The researchers decide to broaden their study, planning to visit other museums and do similar experiments on works like the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
(
B
) 1. Where can we put the following sentence?
The team also found that the group reacted even more strongly to Girl with a Pearl Earring.
A. ① B. ② C. ③ D. ④
(
C
) 2. How does the writer introduce the “sustained attentional loop”?
A. By listing numbers. B. By telling a story.
C. By giving an example. D. By offering advice.
(
D
) 3. What is the purpose of the study?
A. To explain different ways to study a painting.
B. To check people's interest in museum paintings.
C. To find differences between a painting and its photo.
D. To watch people's reactions to real art and its photos.
