Test 02-Passage 3:Neuroaesthetics 纠错
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An emerging discipline called neuroaesthetics is seeking to bring scientific objectivity to the study of art, and has already given us a better understanding of many masterpieces. The blurred imagery of Impressionist paintings seems to stimulate the brain's amygdala, for instance. Since the amygdala plays a crucial role in our feelings, that finding might explain why many people find these pieces so moving.

一种称为神经美学的新兴学科正试图将科学的客观性引入艺术研究,并且已经带给我们对很多名作更好的理解。例如,印象派绘画模糊的图像似乎可以刺激大脑杏仁核。由于杏仁核对我们的感觉有至关重要的作用,这一发现或许可以解释为什么很多人认为这些画如此生动。

Could the same approach also shed light on abstract twentieth-century pieces, from Mondrian's geometrical blocks of colour, to Pollock's seemingly haphazard arrangements of splashed paint on canvas? Sceptics believe that people claim to like such works simply because they are famous. We certainly do have an inclination to follow the crowd. When asked to make simple perceptual decisions such as matching a shape to its rotated image, for example, people often choose a definitively wrong answer if they see others doing the same. It is easy to imagine that this mentality would have even more impact on a fuzzy concept like art appreciation, where there is no right or wrong answer.

同样的方法也可以用于阐释抽象的20世纪作品么?从蒙德里安的几何色块,到波洛克看上去似乎随意泼在画布上的色彩?怀疑论者相信人们声称喜欢这些作品仅仅是因为它们非常有名。我们确实有从众的倾向。例如,当被要求做出简单的知觉判断比如给旋转的图像匹配形状,如果人们看到他人做出同样的行为,他们经常会选择错误的答案。很容易想象这种心态对模糊概念会有更多影响,例如艺术鉴赏,在这方面没有正确或错误答案之分。

Angelina Hawley-Dolan, of Boston College, Massachusetts, responded to this debate by asking volunteers to view pairs of paintings - either the creations of famous abstract artists or the doodles of infants, chimps and elephants. They then had to judge which they preferred. A third of the paintings were given no captions, while many were labelled incorrectly - volunteers might think they were viewing a chimp's messy brushstrokes when they were actually seeing an acclaimed masterpiece. In each set of trials, volunteers generally preferred the work of renowned artists, even when they believed it was by an animal or a child. It seems that the viewer can sense the artist's vision in paintings, even if they can't explain why.

马萨诸塞州波士顿学院的Angelina Hawley-Dolan回应这一争论的方式是让志愿者们观察一些作品——著名抽象派画家的作品或是婴儿、猩猩或大象的涂鸦。他们需要判断更喜欢哪一种。有三分之一的作品没有给出图片说明,而很多是被错误标注的——当志愿者看到一幅受人赞扬的名画时,他们可能认为自己正在观看黑猩猩杂乱无章的绘画。在每一组试验中,志愿者往往更喜欢著名艺术家的作品,即使他们认为这是由动物或儿童完成的。似乎观察者能够感觉到艺术家在作品中的意义,即使他们无法解释为什么。

Robert Pepperell, an artist based at Cardiff University, creates ambiguous works that are neither entirely abstract nor dearly representational. In one study, Pepperell and his collaborators asked volunteers to decide how 'powerful' they considered an artwork to be, and whether they saw anything familiar in the piece. The longer they took to answer these questions, the more highly they rated the piece under scrutiny, and the greater their neural activity. It would seem that the brain sees these images as puzzles, and the harder it is to decipher the meaning, the more rewarding is the moment of recognition.

卡迪夫大学的艺术家Robert Pepperell创作了模棱两可的作品,它们既不是完全抽象的,也不是清晰具象的。在一项研究中,Pepperell和他的同事要求志愿者判断他们认为一幅作品是多么“有力”,以及他们是否在作品中看到了任何熟悉的事物。他们用来回答问题的时间越久,经过观察后给出的分数越高,并且他们的神经活动越活跃。这或许意味着大脑将这些图像看做谜题,破解其含义的过程越困难,识别的时候就会有更多收获感。

And what about artists such as Mondrian, whose paintings consist exclusively of horizontal and vertical lines encasing blocks of colour? Mondrian's works are deceptively simple, but eye-tracking studies confirm that they are meticulously composed, and that simply rotating a piece radically changes the way we view it. With the originals, volunteers' eyes tended to stay longer on certain places in the image, but with the altered versions they would fit across a piece more rapidly. As a result, the volunteers considered the altered versions less pleasurable when they later rated the work.

那么像蒙德里安这样的艺术家呢?他的作品完全由水平的和垂直的线条将彩色的色块包含其中。蒙德里安的作品使人误以为非常简单,但是眼球追踪研究证明这些作品被细致地创作,并且仅仅旋转图画就会彻底改变我们欣赏它的方式。对于原作,志愿者的眼睛往往在图画的特定地点停留较长时间,但是对于改动过的版本他们会更快地掠过。因此,当志愿者们随后对作品进行评分吋,他们认为改动过的版本不那么令人愉快。

In a similar study, Oshin Vartanian of Toronto University asked volunteers to compare original paintings with ones which he had altered by moving objects around within the frame. He found that almost everyone preferred the original, whether it was a Van Gogh still life or an abstract by Miró. Vartanian also found that changing the composition of the paintings reduced activation in those brain areas linked with meaning and interpretation.

在一项类似的研究中,多伦多大学的Oshin Vartanian要求志愿者比较原作和在作品框架内移动物体后的作品。他发现几乎每个人都更喜欢原作,无论它是梵高的静物作品还是米罗的抽象派作品。Vartanian同样发现改变绘画的构成方式会降低那些与意义和理解有关的大脑区域的激活。

In another experiment, Alex Forsythe of the University of Liverpool analysed the visual intricacy of different pieces of art, and her results suggest that many artists use a key level of detail to please the brain. Too little and the work is boring, but too much results in a kind of 'perceptual overload’, according to Forsythe. What's more, appealing pieces both abstract and representational, show signs of 'fractals'- repeated motifs recurring in different scales. Fractals are common throughout nature, for example in the shapes of mountain peaks or the branches of trees. It is possible that our visual system, which evolved in the great outdoors, finds it easier to process such patterns.

在另一项实验中,利物浦大学的Alex Forsythe研究了不同艺术作品的视觉复杂性,她的研究结果表明很多艺术家使用关键的细节来令大脑愉悦。根据Forsythe的观点,细节太少,作品会过于乏味,而细节太多会导致一种“知觉超载”。此外,吸引人的作品,无论抽象或具象,都表现出“分形”的迹象——重复的图形以不同的比例重现。分形在自然中非常普遍,例如在山峰或是树枝的形状中。可能我们在户外进化的视觉系统发现处理这类模式更为简单。

It is also intriguing that the brain appears to process movement when we see a handwritten letter, as if we are replaying the writer's moment of creation. This has led some to wonder whether Pollock's works feel so dynamic because the brain reconstructs the energetic actions the artist used as he painted. This may be down to our brain's 'mirror neurons’, which are known to mimic others' actions. The hypothesis will need to be thoroughly tested, however. It might even be the case that we could use neuroaesthetic studies to understand the longevity of some pieces of artwork. While the fashions of the time might shape what is currently popular, works that are best adapted to our visual system may be the most likely to linger once the trends of previous generations have been forgotten.

同样有趣的是当我们看一封手写的信件时,大脑会对动作进行加工,就像我们在重放作者的创作过程。这使得一些人猜想是否波洛克的作品令人感觉如此生动是因为大脑重建了作者绘画时使用的生动动作。这可能是由于我们大脑的“镜像神经元”,它们会模仿他人的动作。然而,这一假设需要被彻底地验证。或许我们甚至可以使用神经美学研究来理解一些艺术作品的经久不衰。一时的时尚可能会造就当今流行什么,一旦之前的流行趋势被忘记,最适应我们视觉系统的作品或许最有可能被留下。

It's still early days for the field of neuroaesthetics - and these studies are probably only a taste of what is to come. It would, however, be foolish to reduce art appreciation to a set of scientific laws. We shouldn't underestimate the importance of the style of a particular artist, their place in history and the artistic environment of their time. Abstract art offers both a challenge and the freedom to play with different interpretations. In some ways, it's not so different to science, where we are constantly looking for systems and decoding meaning so that we can view and appreciate the world in a new way.

神经美学领域依然处于初期阶段——这些研究或许仅仅是一种尝试。然而,将美学鉴赏简化为一系列科学法则是不明智的。我们不应该低估某类特定艺术家的风格、历史地位及其所处时代的艺术环境的重要性。抽象派艺术对不同的诠释方式提供了挑战与自由。通过某些方式,艺术与科学不会如此之不同,在科学领域中,我们一直在寻找系统并解码其含义,这样我们可以以一种新的方式观察和欣赏这个世界。

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 34-39 on your answer sheet, write

34 Forsythe's findings contradicted previous beliefs on the function of fractals' in art.

  •  YES
  •  NO
  •  NOT GIVEN
显示答案
正确答案:NOT GIVEN

35 Certain ideas regarding the link between ‘mirror neurons' and art appreciation require further verification.

  •  YES
  •  NO
  •  NOT GIVEN
显示答案
正确答案:YES

36 People's taste in paintings depends entirely on the current artistic trends of the period.

  •  YES
  •  NO
  •  NOT GIVEN
显示答案
正确答案:NO

37 Scientists should seek to define the precise rules which govern people's reactions to works of art.

  •  YES
  •  NO
  •  NOT GIVEN
显示答案
正确答案:NO

38 Art appreciation should always involve taking into consideration the cultural context in which an artist worked.

  •  YES
  •  NO
  •  NOT GIVEN
显示答案
正确答案:YES

39 It is easier to find meaning in the field of science than in that of art.

  •  YES
  •  NO
  •  NOT GIVEN
显示答案
正确答案:NOT GIVEN

考生贡献解析

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定位词:second paragraph, a shape-matching test 

题目解析:题目:在第二段,作者提到 图形匹配试验是为了证明_____。

A.艺术鉴赏的主观性质

B.现代艺术对抽象形式的依赖

C.我们倾向于被他人的意见影响。

D.加工视觉数据时遇到的普遍问题。

本题问的是提及a shape-matching test的作用,首先需要在原文中找到这个信息,然后在周围寻找论点型句子,这类句子往往在具体的例子之前。题目中的 a shape-matching test 出现在文章第二段第四句,而这句的内容是为了说明第三句 an inclination to follow the crowd,然后在选项中寻找这个内容的同意替换,可以看到C选项表达的含义与此一致,因此本题答案为C。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:Angelina Hawley-Dolan 

题目解析:题目:Angelina Hawley-dolan 的发现说明人们_____。

A.最喜欢那些他们了解很多作品

B.对于什么使艺术作品优秀持不变的观点

C.经常被他们最初对作品的期待误导

D.有能力感知作品背后的意义

本题可以通过人名Angelina Hawley-Dolan 定位到文章第三段。本题描述了其实验过程和观点,最后一句提到the viewer can sense the artist\'s vision in paintings ,这一表达与D选项的含义一致,因此本题答案为D。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:Robert Pepperell

题目解析:题目:对于Robert Pepperel 作品的研究结果表明人们_____。

A.可以在没有完全理解一副作品的情况下欣赏它

B.明白一副作品的含义会令人有满足感

C.欣赏作品所花费的时间会相差许多

D.相比抽象艺术,人们通常更喜欢具象的艺术

本题问到Robert Pepperel 的研究结果,首先根据人名定位到文章第四段,本段对Robert Pepperel 的研究及结果进行了描述。本段最后一句给出了结论,即破解其含义的过程越困难,人们越会感到rewarding, 这与B选项的表达一致,因此本题答案为B。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:fifth paragraph 

题目解析:题目:关于蒙德里安的作品,第五段描述的实验表明什么?

A.它们比看上去被更认真地组织在一起

B.它们可以通过多种不同方式被解读

C.它们挑战我们关于形状与色彩的看法

D.它们比很多其他抽象作品更容易被欣赏

本题问的是关于蒙德里安作品的实验,可以根据题干信息定位到原文第五段,其中第二句说到其作品deceptively simple, but…meticulously composed ,说明其作品会让人误以为非常简单,但其创作非常精细,这与A选项的表达一致,因此本题答案为A。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:Impressionist paintings

文中对应点:第一段第二,三句:The blurred imagery of Impressionist paintings seems to stimulate the brain\'s amygdala, for instance. Since the amygdala plays a crucial role in our feelings, that finding might explain why many people find these pieces so moving.

题目解析:本题问到印象派绘画的影响。原文第一段第二,三句说到印象派绘画可以刺激大脑杏仁核,而杏仁核的作用是影响我们得feelings , 选项中feelings的同义替换emotions 符合含义,因此本题答案为C。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:Alex Forsythe 

文中对应点:第七段第一句:In another experiment , Alex Forsythe of the University of Liverpool analysed the visual intricacy of different pieces of art, and her results suggest many artist use a key level of detail to please the brain.

题目解析:本题可以根据人名定位至第七段,该段第一句提到她研究作品的visual intricacy ,而很多作品使用了a key level of detail ,这与B选项complexity 的含义一致,因此本题答案为B


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:repeated ,natural world

文中对应点:第七段第三句:

What\'s more, appealing pieces both abstract and representational, show signs of \'fractals\' --repeated motifs recurring in different scales.

题目解析:题干中的pleasing works 与原文第七段第三句中的appealing pieces  诶同义转换,而原文之后提到的repeated motifs 与题目中的repeated___对应,选项中images 与 motifs 含义一致,因此本题答案为H。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

参考译文:Forsythe 的发现与之前关于艺术中的分形作用的观点相矛盾。

定位词:fractals 

解题关键词:contradicted 

文中对应点:第七段第三,四句:what\'s more, appealing pieces both abstract and representational, show signs of ‘fractals’ --repeated motifs recurring in different scales.Fractals are common throughout nature, for example in the shapes of mountain peaks or the branches of tree.

关于fractal 的表述在原文第七段第三,四句出现,但这里只是描述了这种情况在很多作品中出现。并且在自然界中也比较普遍,对于Forsythe 的发现与之前的观点是否存在矛盾并没有提及,因此本题答案为 NOT GIVEN。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

参考译文:一些关于“镜像神经元”与艺术鉴赏之间的联系观点需要进一步被证实。

定位词:mirror neurons 

解题关键词:further verification 

文中对应点:第八段第三,四,五句:This may be down to our brain\'s \'mirror neurons\' ,which are known to mimic others; actions. The hypothesis will need to be thoroughly tested, however. It might even be the case that we could use neuroaesthetic  studies to understand the longevity of some pieces of artwork.

题目中提到的“镜像神经元” 与艺术鉴赏有关的观点出现在原文第八段,其中说到了This may be down to … 以及The hypothesis will need to be thoroughly tasted ,说明目前这一观点还没有形成定论,需要进一步验证,这与题目表述一致,因此本题答案为YES。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

参考译文:人们对于绘画的品味完全依赖于当前艺术阶段的艺术趋势。

定位词:artistic trends of the period 

解题关键词:depends entirely on

文中对应点:第八段最后一句:While the fashion of the time might shape what is currently popular, works that are best adapted to our visual system may be the most likely no linger once the trends of previous generations have been forgotten.

本题说到人们艺术品味的问题,原文第八段最后一句提到一些作品在流行趋势结束之后依然受人喜欢,这些作品往往是 best adapted to our visual system ,所以完全依赖于当前艺术阶段的艺术趋势的说法是错误的,因此本题答案为NO。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

参考译文:科学家需要定义影响人们对艺术作品的反应的精确准则。

定位词:people \'s reactions to works of art 

解题关键词:define the precise rules 

文中对应点:第九段第二句:It would, however, be foolish to reduce art appreciation to a set of scientific laws.

文中科学家是否需要定义精确的准则,原文第九段第二句中有提及,作者认为 reduce art appreciation to a set of scientific laws 是foolish 的,这与题目的表述相反,因此本题答案为NO。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

参考译文:艺术鉴赏需要始终将艺术家所处的文化背景作为考虑因素。

定位词:cultural context 

解题关键词:should always involve taking into consideration

文中对应点:第九段第三句:

We shouldn\'t underestimate the importance of the style of a particular artist, their place in history and the artistic environment of their time.

文章第九段第三句已经说到,应当关注the importance of the style of a particular artist, their place in history and the artistic environment of their time, 这与题目中所说的 culture context in which an artist worked 一致,因此本题答案为YES 。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

参考译文:相比艺术领域,人们更容易在科学领域中找到意义。

定位词:the filed of science 

解题关键词:easier to find meaning 

文中对应点:第九段最后一句:In some ways, it\'s not so different to science, where we are constantly looking for systems  and decoding meaning so that we can view and appreciate the world in a new way.

在文章第九段最后一句中,说到艺术和科学not so different ,而科学一直寻求decode meaning ,此处关于find meaning 的描述并没有将艺术和科学进行对比,也就不存在easier 的问题,因此本题答案为NOT GIVEN。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:subtitle

题目解析:题目:本文最合适的副标题是什么?

A.关于大脑如何对抽象艺术做出反应的一些科学见解

B.最近一些关注抽象派艺术家神经活动的研究

C.关于抽象和具象艺术的神经基础的对比

D.关于大脑的研究如何改变人们对抽象艺术的看法

本题属于针对全文主题的考察,通过对文章的阅读和前面题目的作答,应当对文章整体所关注的话题比较清楚,至少是对主题词非常敏感。四个选项分别提到了大脑对 抽象艺术的反应,抽象派艺术家的神经活动,抽象和具象艺术的神经基础对比以及人们对抽象艺术看法的改变,通过对四个选项主题词的对比,可以看到只有A选项符合文章内容并且是全文一直在讨论的话题。当然,为了验证答案,也可以假设某一选项正确,构思如果以此为副题目,写出的文章与本文是否一致。因此本题答案为A。


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