American researchers found females are the more talkative sex because of a special “language protein” in the brain.
The study, conducted by neuroscientists (神经学家) and psychologist from the University of Maryland, concluded that women talked more because they had more of the Foxp2 protein. The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that higher levels were found among humans that were women but in rats that were males. Their findings came after it was previously claimed that ladies speak about 20,000 words a day — over 13,000 more than men. “This study is one of the first to report a sex difference in the expression of a language-associated protein in humans or animals,” said Prof Margaret McCarthy, who led the study. In their study, the researchers attempted to determine what might make male rats more vocal than their female friends.
They separated four-day-old rats from their mothers and then counted the number of times they cried out in the “ultrasonic (超声波的) range”, the frequencies higher than humans can hear, over five minutes. While both sexes called out hundreds of cries, the males called out twice as often, they found. But when the pups were returned to their mother’s cage, she fussed over her sons first. Tests conducted on the parts of the brain known to be associated with vocal calls showed the male pups have up to twice as much Foxp2 protein as the females. The researchers then increased the production in the brains of female pups and reduced it in males. This led to the female rats crying out more often and their mothers showing more interest in them. In contrast, males became less “talkative”.
The researchers then tested samples from ten children, aged between three and five, which showed that females had up to 30 per cent more of the Foxp2 protein than males, in a brain area key to language in humans.
“Based on our observations, we assume higher levels of Foxp2 in girls and higher levels of Foxp2 in male rats is an indication that Foxp2 protein levels are associated with the more communicative sex,” said Prof McCarthy.
“Our results imply Foxp2 as a component (成分) of the neurobiological basis of sex differences in vocal communication in mammals.”
1.From the second paragraph, we can learn that ________.
A. women always speak more words than men
B. men and male rats have low levels of language protein
C. women and male rats have similar levels of Foxp2
D. McCarthy isn’t the first to find females more talkative
2.The underlined phrase “fussed over” in the third paragraph probably means ________.
A. paid attention toB. related to
C. put pressure onD. counted on
3.The researchers carried out the experiments on rats in order to ________.
A. test which part of the brain is key to language in rats and humans
B. prove the levels of Foxp2 protein in humans and rats are different
C. determine the reason why female rats are more talkative than male rats
D. discover the link between Foxp2 protein and vocal communication
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. Tests on humans and rats
B. Why women are the talkative sex
C. Sex differences in Foxp2 protein
D. Foxp2 protein determines oral ability
If Confucius (孔子) were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He’d need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.
While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It’s nothing personal. Most Americans don’t even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.
But this doesn’t mean that Americans don’t care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.
In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually included Chinese art, history and philosophy (哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Westerners philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.
So the old thinker’s ideas are still alive and well.
Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.
As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.
1.We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students ________.
A. play an important role in Chinese competitions
B. have a great interest in studying Chinese
C. try to get high scores in Chinese exams
D. fight for a chance to learn Chinese
2.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Forgotten Wisdom in America
B. Huge Fans of the Chinese Language
C. Chinese Culture for Westerners
D. Old Thinker with a Big Future
3.The passage is likely to appear in ________.
A. a biography
B. a history paper
C. a newspaper
D. a philosophy textbook
Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1987, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children the parents of whom were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sévigné in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities (设备) to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognised in the form of a Military’s Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity (辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
1.Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?
A. Because she received a degree in mathematics.
B. Because she helped to save the wounded.
C. Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic.
D. Because she worked as a helper to her mother.
2.Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederio Joliot?
A. At the Curie Institute.B. At the University of Paris.
C. At a military hospital.D. At the College of Sévigné.
3.In which of the following aspects was Irene Cuire different from her mother?
A. Irene worked with radioactivity.
B. Irene combined family and career.
C. Irene won the Nobel Prize once.
D. Irene died from leukemia.
阅读下面短文，从短文后面各题的四个选项(A、B、C 和D)中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And ________ otherwise assigned (指定) a seat by the teacher, I always ________ to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this ________ after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy ________ because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the ________ to keep pace (跟上) with the others on the team and they would make fun of me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “________ for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the ________ of it! When I first started ________ the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much ________ what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get ________ and take a shot at the wrong direction — which made me feel really stupid. ________, I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to ________ on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t ________ “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the ________ and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive ________ in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the ________ — friends who respect my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my ________ self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from ________ in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, ________ raising my hand — even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent ________ I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
1.A. asB. untilC. unlessD. though
2.A. hopedB. agreedC. meantD. chose
3.A. continuedB. changedC. settledD. started
4.A. ideaB. planC. beliefD. saying
5.A. rightB. chanceC. abilityD. patience
6.A. goingB. lookingC. cheeringD. applying
7.A. pointB. halfC. restD. basis
8.A. enjoyingB. preparingC. attendingD. watching
9.A. lessB. laterC. worseD. further
10.A. committedB. motivatedC. embarrassedD. confused
11.A. InterestinglyB. Fortunately
C. ObviouslyD. Hopefully
12.A. focusB. actC. relyD. try
13.A. wantB. doC. supportD. know
14.A. stepsB. ordersC. rulesD. games
15.A. rolesB. partC. mindD. value
16.A. processB. operationC. movementD. situation
17.A. expressedB. improvedC. preservedD. recognized
18.A. dreamingB. playingC. relaxingD. hiding
19.A. byB. forC. withD. to
20.A. luckyB. happyC. sureD. satisfied
In China, people usually ________ firecrackers to celebrate the Spring Festival.
A. set outB. set upC. set aboutD. set off
The conflict had developed into a stage ________ the two countries were gathering big troops on the border.
A. whereB. whichC. thatD. when
