A
（2022·南京市、盐城市高三第一次模拟考试）Virtual reality can improve the brain activity that may be crucial for learning，memory and even treating Alzheimer's disease，a study on rats has found.
After monitoring the rats' brain activity，researchers from the University of California Los Angeles discovered the electrical activity in a region known as the hippocampus neurons differed depending on whether the rats were placed in realworld or VR environments.The new findings are significant as the hippocampus is a primary driver of learning and memory in the brain.
When rats walk around in real life，the electrical activity in the hippocampus appears to synchronize（使同步）at a rate of eight heartbeats per second.Heartbeats at this frequency are generally known as“theta（Θ）waves”，with stronger Θ waves seeming to improve the brain's ability to learn and keep sensory information.When placed in a VR environment，the rats' Θ waves become stronger.
“It turns out that amazing things happen when the rats are in virtual reality，”said Prof Mayank Mehta from UCLA.The scientists also found that VR environments could change different electrical rhythms（节律）in different parts of the neurons，which indicates that scientists may be able to control human brain rhythms.
“This is a new technology that has great potential，”Mehta said.The study also indicates why VR may stimulate these unique brain waves.A big part of it，Mehta puts，may be down to the very different set of stimuli presented in VR.
Imagine that you're approaching a doorway in real life.Your eyes see the door getting larger.But how do you know that you're moving forward and the door isn't coming to you？The answer is that your brain uses information such as the acceleration of your head through space or the shift of weight from one foot to the other—information that may not be present during a VR experience.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇说明文。研究员将老鼠置于真实世界和虚拟现实环境中，监测老鼠的海马体神经元的脑电活动。研究员发现，虚拟现实环境能够增强对学习、记忆力甚至治愈老年痴呆症至关重要的脑部活动。
1.According to the passage，why are the new findings important？
A.VR's contributions to learning have finally been identified.
B.VR can affect the electrical activity in the hippocampus neurons.
C.VR produces the same effects on brains as real environments.
D.VR is likely to become another driver of learning and memory.
解析：推理判断题。根据第三段内容可知，当老鼠在真实世界走动时，其海马体的电活动以每秒8个脉冲的速度同步活动，这个频率的心跳被称为Θ波。更强的Θ波似乎能提高大脑学习和保留感觉信息的能力，而在虚拟现实环境中，老鼠的Θ波变得更强。由此可见，新发现的重要性在于VR可以影响海马神经元的电活动。
答案：B
2.What can we learn about theta waves？
A.They don't respond to different brain rhythms.
B.They remain stable in different environments.
C.They affect how human perceive knowledge.
D.They have little to do with the rate of heartbeats.
解析：推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Heartbeats at this...keep sensory information”可知，此频率的心跳被称为“Θ波”，它可提高大脑的学习能力和保留感觉信息的能力。由此可推知，“Θ波”影响人类认知知识的程度。
答案：C
3.What does the underlined word“ it”in Paragraph 5 refer to？
A.The potential of the new technology.
B.The control of human brain rhythms.
C.The change in different parts of neurons.
D.The stimulation of the unique brain waves.
解析：代词指代题。根据第五段中的“The study also...unique brain waves”可知，这项研究还表明了为什么虚拟现实可能刺激这些独特的脑波。由此可推知，Mehta发现，一大部分“对脑波的刺激”可能依赖于虚拟现实中的刺激物。故it指代“对脑波的刺激”。
答案：D
4.How does the author introduce VR's different set of stimuli？
A.By conducting further tests on rats.
B.By comparing different environments.
C.By providing a detailed analysis.
D.By explaining the theory of VR.
解析：推理判断题。根据最后一段内容可知，在真实世界中，人的肉眼看到大门越来越大，知道自己是在向前走去，而非大门向自己走来。这种情况是靠人脑使用了头在空中的加速度信息，或者通过一只脚到另一只脚重量的转换信息。由此可推知，作者是通过比较不同的环境来介绍虚拟现实的不同刺激物。
答案：B
