3．How quickly can you count from one to ten？Do you use ten different words to do it？Can you do it in English，or do you have to use your first languages？Do you count on your fingers？Many people think that numbers and math are the same all over the world．But scientists have discovered that it is not true．
People in different parts of the world use different ways to count on their fingers．In the United States，people think begin counting with their first fingers，which they extend or stick out．They then extend the rest of their fingers and finally the thumb（拇指）to count to five．Then they repeat this with the other hand to get to ten．In China，people count by using different finger positions．In this way，a Chinese person can easily count to ten on only one hand．
Besides ways of finger counting，scientists have found that cultures and languages are also different when it comes to numbers．Some languages have only a few words for numbers，and others have no words for numbers．A group of scientists studied aboriginal（土著的）people in Australia．These people don’t have hand movements to stand for numbers．They don’t even have word for numbers．However，they are still able to understand different ideas about numbers．
In a similar study，researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discovered that people of the Piraha tribe（部落） in northwestern Brazil don’t have words for numbers such as“one”or“three．”．They are not able to say“five trees”or“ten trees”but can say“some trees，”“more trees，”or“many trees．”Professor Edward Gibson said that mist people believe that everyone knows how to count，“but here is a group that does not count．They could learn，but is’t not useful in their culture，so they’ve never picked it up．”
Although all humans are able to understand quantities（数量），not all languages have numbers and not all people use counting．Number words in a certain language are a result of people needing numbers in their daily lives．Now we know that people have different ideas about numbers and math，too．
51．The writer begins with the four questions in order toB．
A．make a survey
B．interest readers
C．tell a story
D．solve math problems
52．What do we learn from the difference in finger counting between the U．S．and ChinaC？
A．People from China count much faster than people from the U．S．
B．People from China need two hands to count from one to ten．
C．People of different cultures may use different ways of finger counting
D．People of different cultures use the same way of finger counting．
53．Which of following is true about aboriginal AustraliansD？
A．They have only a few words for numbers
B．They have hand movements to stand for numbers
C．They can only count to five on their fingers
D．They can understand different ideas about numbers
54．The study of the Piraha tribe shows thatD
A．people all over the world know how to count
B．People of the tribe have words for number
C．Some groups of people are not smart enough to count
D．Counting is not useful in the culture of the tribe
55．What is the main idea of the passageA？
A．people from different cultures have different ideas about numbers and math
B．Chinese people can count more easily on their fingers than Americans
C．In some aboriginal culture，people don’t even know how to count
D．Some languages don’t have number words because people don’t need numbers．
分析 这篇短文中作者给我们介绍的是关于数字和数学，不同的文化有不同的观点．不同文化的国家里，人们数数的方式是不同的，有些国家里根本没有表示数字的单词，他们不用数字来数数，但是他们同样理解关于数字的想法，故数字和数学并不是一回事．
解答 51．B．推理判断题．根据How quickly can you count from one to ten？Do you use ten different words to do it？Can you do it in English，or do you have to use your first languages？Do you count on your fingers？可知这里用这些问题开头的目的是一下子吸引读者的注意力，让读者对接下来作者要说的事情产生兴趣．故选B．
52．C．细节理解题．根据People in different parts of the world use different ways to count on their fingers．可知这里分别举了美国和中国人用手指数数的例子，美国人是先伸出第一个手指，然后再伸出其他的手指，最后是拇指，这样数到五，再用同样的方法伸出另一只手，数到十；而中国人用不同的手指的位置数数．通过这样的对比，作者想告诉我们不同文化的国家，使用不同的手指数数的方式，故选C．
53．D．推理判断题．根据短文第三段中However，they are still able to understand different ideas about numbers可知澳大利亚的土著居民没有表示数字的单词，也没有动作来代表数字，但是他们仍然能理解关于数字的不同的想法．所以选项D是正确的；故选D．
54．D．细节理解题．根据They could learn，but it’s not useful in their culture，so they’ve never picked it up可知他们可以学数数，但是在他们的文化里，那是没用的，所以他们也不学．故选D．
55．A．主旨大意题．根据Now we know that people have different ideas about numbers and math，too．可知这篇短文中作者主要给我们介绍的是关于数字和数学，不同的文化有不同的观点．不同文化的国家里，人们数数的方式是不同的，有些国家里根本没有表示数字的单词，他们不用数字来数数，但是他们同样理解关于数字的想法，故数字和数学并不是一回事．故这篇文章的大意就是来自不同文化的人们对数学和数字有着不同的观点．故选A．
点评 本篇是一篇社会文化类阅读短文．这篇短文中作者给我们介绍的是关于数字和数学，不同的文化有不同的观点．在进行阅读理解的过程中可采用两种方法：先通读全文，再答题；先看文章后的问题，再从文章中找答案．第二种方法对解决事实细节题比较有效，考生可带着问题在文中寻找答案．
