阅读理解。
Personality types are linked with structural differences in the brain, which could explain why one
child grows up to be impulsive (冲动的) and outgoing while another becomes diligent and introspective.
Structural differences between the brains of 85 people have been measured and linked with the
four main categories of personality types, which were classified as“novelty seeking”， characterized
by impulsive actions; “harm avoidance”， marked by pessimism and shyness; “reward dependence”，
with an addictive personality; and “persistence”， who are people tending to be diligent, hardworking
and perfectionists.
The researchers said the brain differences are structural and can be measured in the size of specific
regions of the brain that appear to be linked with each of the four personality types. For instance, people
defined as noveltyseeking personalities had a structurally bigger area in the brain while people with
harmavoidance personalities had significantly smaller volumes of tissue in brain regions.
The fact that characteristics are reflected in specific structural differences is useful to know, for
instance, when it comes to understanding a child's behavior and choosing the right approach so that
somebody who is, for example, particularly timid, might be helped through education and development.
There is no point shouting at a child who is very shy and telling them off, because it does not come
naturally to them to put themselves forward. But actually knowing there is a biological basis for this
helps educators or parents to use the right approach to help a child to compensate.
People who have a rewarddependence personality could, for example, be helped at an early age
because they are at risk of turning to drink, drugs or food if they do not get the family support and
encouragement they need.
“This study shows that personality characteristics are something you are born with, but their full
expression can be adjusted during development with the right approach.” said Professor Venneri, who
carried out the study with colleagues from the University of Parma in Italy and Washington University
in St Louis.
If you know it's not something you do but something you are, you can change the environment
to reduce the risk. Knowing that someone has such a predisposition (体质)could help them adopt
preventive strategies and avoid situations where they might seek rewards which could be potentially
harmful.
1．Which type of person may turn out to be drugabusers?
A. “Novelty seeking”.
B. “Reward dependence”．
C. “Harm avoidance”.
D. “Persistence”．
2．Which of the following is true about shy people?
A. They are often shouted at and scolded.
B. They can naturally put themselves forward.
C. They structurally have a smaller brain region.
D. They are too timid to be educated and helped.
3．What's the main idea of the passage?
A. People have chances to change their personality types.
B. Scientists have identified four different personality types.
C. Structural differences in the brain have effects on education.
D. Personality types are related to structural differences in the brain.
4．The author writes the passage to________.
A. present a fact
B. argue a claim
C. support a research
D. introduce an approach
