Question

Scientists have been interested for years in the observation that ratios(比率）of finger lengths differ in men and women. In men, the ring (fourth) finger is usually longer than the index (second); their so-called 2D :4D ratio is lower than 1. In females, the two fingers are more likely to be the same length. Because of this sex differences, some scientists believe that a low ratio could be a marker for higher prenatal hormone(产前激素）levels, although it’s not clear how the hormone might influence finger development. The 2D : 4D ratio has also been fingered in connection with brain-related characteristics—most often in males--such as depression, left-handedness, musical ability, and homosexuality.

In the latest such study, psychologist Mark Brosnan and colleagues at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom photocopied the hands of 74 boys and girls aged 6 and 7.They compared the measurements of the second and fourth fingers with the children's scores on a standard UK test of math and literacy. In boys, the lower the ratio, the better their math score, the team reports in the May issue of the British Journal of Psychology, The boys with the lowest ratios also were the ones whose abilities were most skewed in the direction of math rather than literacy. These differences are small but significant, says Brosnan. With the girls, there was no correlation between finger ration and numeracy, but those with higher ratios—probably indicating low hormone levels—had better scores on verbal abilities.

These sex-specific correlations show how tricky it is to define the roles of sex hormones, says psychologist S .Marc Breedlove of Michigan State University in East Lansing. The range of normal levels of the hormone is different in males and females, so comparable levels would have very different meanings depending on the sex of the individual. And the timing of hormone surges is as important as levels.

Nevertheless, Brosnan believes finger measurements might be useful for predicting cognitive abilities—although he acknowledges that “we are not suggesting that finger length measurements could replace SAT tests”. Others are more cautious, pointing out that scientists still have not confirmed that finger ratio is a reliable marker for prenatal hormone levels.

1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A. Scientists never show interest in people's fingers.

B. Many women have different kinds of fingers.

C. In males, the ring finger may equal the index in length.

D. In females, the ring finger may equal the index in length.

2.What is the author's attitude to Brosnan's research?

A. Supportive.    B. Positive.

C. Neutral.    D. Indifferent.

3.We can infer from the passage that        .

A. in girls, the higher the ratio, the better their maths scores

B. finger length contributes to people's academic abilities

C. it is easy to give a definition of the roles of sex hormones

D. Brosnan is serious about his research

4.What's the main idea of this passage?

A. Finger ratio is critical to people's future.

B. Finger length measurements may be useful

C. Finger length is related to children’s scores.

D. Finger ratio is a reliable maker for hormone levels.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】研究表明男性和女性无名指和食指的比率不同，对学习内容有一定的影响。

1.D

推理判断题。根据第一段In men, the ring (fourth) finger is usually longer than the index (second); their so-called 2D :4D ratio is lower than 1. 和In females, the two fingers are more likely to be the same length.可知男性无名指通常比食指长，女性无名指和食指差不多一样长，D项正确，故选D.

2.C

推理判断题。第二段作者只是陈述Mark Brosnan研究的过程和结果，最后一段Brosnan believes finger measurements might be useful for predicting cognitive abilities和Others are more cautious, pointing out that scientists still have not confirmed that finger ratio is a reliable marker for prenatal hormone levels.可知作者在陈述Brosnan的观点。文中作者并没有表达自己的观点，所以说作者对Brosnan的研究持中立观点，故选C.

3.D

推理判断题。根据第二段With the girls, there was no correlation between finger ration and numeracy, but those with higher ratios—probably indicating low hormone levels—had better scores on verbal abilities.可知女孩无名指和食指比率越高，语言能力越强，A错误。根据最后一段“we are not suggesting that finger length measurements could replace SAT tests”.可知手指长度不能代替学业测试，B项错误。根据第三段These sex-specific correlations show how tricky it is to define the roles of sex hormones,可知C错误。根据第二段psychologist Mark Brosnan and colleagues at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom photocopied the hands of 74 boys and girls aged 6 and 7.They compared the measurements of the second and fourth fingers with the children's scores on a standard UK test of math and literacy.可知Brosnan对这项研究很严肃认真，D项正确。故选D.

4.B

主旨大意题。文章分析了男性和女性无名指和食指的比率不同，对学习内容有一定的影响，由此表明对手指长度研究的作用。故选B.

【名师点睛】

推理判断题的常见考查形式及解题方法：

推理判断题属于主观题，是层次较高的题目。此类题要求在理解表面文字的基础上，做出判断和推论，从而得到文章的隐含的意思和深层的意思，也就是通过文章中的文字信息，上下逻辑关系及事物的发展变化等已知的信息，推断出作者没有直接表达的态度和观点。

本文推理判断题的考法：

推测文章的观点或结论。文章小题2考查作者对Brosnan研究的的态度，第二段作者只是陈述Mark Brosnan研究的过程和结果，最后一段Brosnan believes finger measurements might be useful for predicting cognitive abilities和Others are more cautious, pointing out that scientists still have not confirmed that finger ratio is a reliable marker for prenatal hormone levels.可知作者在陈述Brosnan的观点。文中作者并没有表达自己的观点，所以说作者对Brosnan的研究持中立观点。小题3推断文章观点，根据第二段With the girls, there was no correlation between finger ration and numeracy, but those with higher ratios—probably indicating low hormone levels—had better scores on verbal abilities.可知女孩无名指和食指比率越高，语言能力越强，A错误。根据最后一段“we are not suggesting that finger length measurements could replace SAT tests”.可知手指长度不能代替学业测试，B项错误。根据第三段These sex-specific correlations show how tricky it is to define the roles of sex hormones,可知C错误。根据第二段psychologist Mark Brosnan and colleagues at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom photocopied the hands of 74 boys and girls aged 6 and 7.They compared the measurements of the second and fourth fingers with the children's scores on a standard UK test of math and literacy.可知Brosnan对这项研究很严肃认真，D项正确。