In the classic episode (剧集) of the Simpsons, Homer’s class reunion ends in shame when one of Homer’s guilty secrets is exposed: he never graduated from high school. To get his diploma, he must pass a science test. As he sits down to retake the exam, he holds one of his trademark dialogues with his brain. “All right, brain. You don’t like me and I don’t like you. But let’s just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.”

Many a true word is spoken as a joke. Homer Simpson’s Everyman character really is an Everyman. For most people, engaging in the kind of effortful thinking that is required to pass a science test feels too much like hard work. It is so much easier to quit and let the brain’s autopilot take over.

And no wonder. Evolution has blessed the brain with all kinds of mental shortcuts that make life manageable. If we had to think about every action or weigh up every decision, we would break down. As a result, certain ideas and modes of thinking come naturally to us, such effortless thinking.

But at huge lost. Our mental shortcuts work fine at the level of individuals and small-scale societies, but in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, they are a danger to society. Effortless thinking is at the root of many of the modern world’s most serious problems: terrorism, hatred, inequality and religious extremism. All are caused by people disengaging their critical thinking and going with their gut (非理性的) feeling.

Everybody is capable of gut feeling, but also of the critical thinking. Both thinking styles are needed to make the world go round. Unfortunately, the latter requires training that is unavailable or unappealing to many people.

One of the bright spots in 2017 was the start of a movement called the March For Science. Those who believe in the power of science need to keep on marching, or give more power to people who don’t much like their own brains - or other people’s.

【小题1】What does the author want to convey through Homer’s story?

A．Homer’s thinking is nothing but a joke.

B．Most people hate effortful thinking like Homer.

C．High school seniors should work hard.

D．Science is essential for all high school seniors.

【小题2】How do you read between the lines of the underlined sentence according the passage?

A．Most people prefer to kill their brain cells by drinking beer as Homer.

B．Most people don’t want to bother themselves about scientific tests.

C．Most people would find it much easier to engage in effortful thinking.

D．Most people like Simpson’s ordinary character are willing to think simple.

【小题3】What dose the author think of critical thinking?

A．It makes the world go round.

B．It needs necessary training.

C．It works fine at the level of personal affairs.

D．It leads to the March For Science in 2017.

【小题4】What is the best title for the text?

A．Critical Thinking Is Urgently Needed.

B．Effortless Thinking Is Out of Date.

C．We Need to March Towards Science.

D．Thinking Contributes to Social Problems.