Question

If a woman has an extra piece of cake, don’t blame it on greed, blame it on her brain.

Scientists have found that women’s brains react to food very differently — and much more strongly — than men’s. Academics found that decades of dieting pressure on women and advertising have programmed certain parts of the female brain to react strongly when faced with any kind of food. Men, on the other hand, are not usually as obsessive (着迷的) about what they eat.

Dr. Rudolf Uher and his colleagues at the Institute of Psychiatry in King’s College London used brain scanning technology, known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI：功能性磁共振成像), to look at the brains of eighteen men and women.

The volunteers were given images of food to look at, as well as food to taste. Their brain reactions were observed by the scientists.

They found that the female  brains reacted much more strongly than those of males.

The same reaction did not happen when they were shown non­food images. The team believe this means women think more about food than men tend to do.

Dr. Uher said, “This could be related to biological differences between men and women. But the more likely explanation is that women have a more complicated reaction to food because of social pressure.”

Professor Carey Cooper, psychology and health professor at Lancaster University, said, “For centuries women have had a providing role — preparing and cooking food for their families. And it’s part of that role to make sure the food is safe. They will therefore be much more sensitive to food than men are, and I would not be surprised if that was now built into their DNA. If the female brain reacts to food because it historically has developed neural (神经的) pathways to do this, then food will be the way they express their stress. Food actually, is a comfort for women.”

But other experts have said that more research must be done before the results can be proved. American scientist Angelo del Parigi of the John B. Pierce Laboratory in New Haven, Connecticut, said, “Looking at an fMRI alone cannot make sure whether the stronger reaction in women is due to innate (天生的) differences or a learned process.”

1.Dr. Uher and his colleagues carried out the research by comparing ________.

A. fMRI’s effectiveness on women and men

B. women’s and men’s reaction to different images

C. volunteers’ reaction to food before and after meals

D. volunteers’ reaction to different kinds of food

2.According to Professor Carey Cooper, women ______.

A. turn to food when they feel sad

B. are stressed because of food safety

C. accept their social role from the heart

D. are satisfied with preparing food for their families

3.What was Angelo del Parigi’s attitude towards the research results?

A. Surprised.    B. Doubtful.

C. Uninterested.    D. Curious.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.B

【解析】

本文是一篇科普说明文，女性和男性对食物的反应是不一样的，文章中介绍了对此进行研究的实验，实验发现女性把食物当成舒缓压力的方法。

1.细节理解题。根据文章4、5段The volunteers were given images of food to look at, as well as food to taste. Their brain reactions were observed by the scientists. They found that the female brains reacted much more strongly than those of males.可知科学家让志愿者看食物，也让他们闻食物。以此来观察男性和女性对待不同食物的反应。故B项正确。

2.推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段第四句If the female brain reacts to food because it historically has developed neural (神经的) pathways to do this, then food will be the way they express their stress.可知女性把食物当成舒缓压力的方法，也就是说当女性感觉压力的时候，她们就会吃东西来缓解压力。故A项正确。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句But other experts have said that more research must be done before the results can be proved.可知专家认为在结果被证明之前，要做更多的研究工作。也就是说他们对结果持怀疑态度。故B项正确。