American researchers found females are the more talkative sex because of a special “language protein(蛋白质)” 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 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 vocalcalls 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 to 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 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 to B．related to C．put pressure on D．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 association between Foxp2protein 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
When I was 8, a gentleman came to my orphanage（孤儿院）and taught us how to do woodworking projects.
I remember my first project—a small table. I was so of it that I looked upon it as if I had created a(an) . It was absolutely beautiful and it had taken me six weeks to it. I could hardly wait to give it to Mother Winters as a . She was the head mistress of our orphanage, who was always with us.
As the tables were not dry from the clear coating, the man told us to wait a few days before taking them to our dormitories. But I was just so and happy that I couldn’t wait. I dashed out like a , carrying my table, smiling from ear to ear.
When I reached the dormitory I placed the little table beside my bed. I was it when Mother Winters entered. She walked over to the table. Running her hand it, she noticed that it was still wet.
“Were you to bring this home?” she asked.
“No, ma’am,” I with my head down.
She ordered me to throw the table out and so I did. After she left, I immediately opened the door to get it back. There was stuck all over. I brushed and cried, but it would not come off.
I hid the table in my closet and never it. A year later while cleaning up, I gave the table to Mother Henderson, my houseparent（宿管员）, thinking that she would it away.
Thirty years later at a reunion, I that Mother Henderson was living nearby, so I drove up to see her. We talked cheerfully for long. As I was about to leave, she asked me to come down to her to get something important. I followed her into a dark corner. She picked something up. she turned around, I could see that she was holding a little table.
Mother Henderson kept the little table that I had given up for lost so long ago.
Today, I look at that table with bittersweet memories but full of to Mother Henderson, who kept it for a young orphan who tried very hard to .
1.A. tired B. ashamed C. proud D. aware
2.A. award B. wonder C. record D. product
3.A. design B. invent C. paint D. complete
4.A. gift B. reward C. prize D. souvenir
5.A. satisfied B. strict C. patient D. angry
6.A. upset B. amazed C. confident D. excited
7.A. thief B. hero C. sword D. flash
8.A. drying B. observing C. admiring D. hiding
9.A. into B. across C. above D. after
10.A. supposed B. embarrassed C. encouraged D. determined
11.A. agreed B. sighed C. whispered D. argued
12.A. dirt B. glue C. paint D. wood
13.A. removed B. touched C. shook D. split
14.A. put B. give C. take D. throw
15.A. learned B. expected C. remembered D. recommended
16.A. bathroom B. balcony C. basement D. bedroom
17.A. curiously B. unwillingly C. doubtfully D. worriedly
18.A. Before B. Since C. As D. Until
19.A. admiration B. gratitude C. sympathy D. regret
20.A. adapt B. study C. perform D. please
. —Dad, dad! My head hurts so much. I think I’m dying.
—________, darling! The doctor says you will feel better soon.
A. That will do B. There, there C. That’s right D. So long
Though_______ money, his parents managed to send him to university.
A. lacked B. lacking of C. lacking D. lacked in
Nature reserves are very important for preserving many animals and plants, which would _______ run the risk of becoming extinct.
A. otherwise B. therefore C. though D. instead
Today we spent the morning going through our personal belongings .We were looking for items to __ for free at a local park. Not just any items but things people really . Our aim was not to find things we no longer but things we use every day that would be to others.
We packed these things boxes and added some small toys. We added a list of local addresses and phone numbers of local agencies. Inside the boxes a simple letter was placed. It : “Please take these items and know that your life is important. are difficult but these days will pass. We share what we have believing that it will matter. Use the food to nurture your ; use the blankets to stay warm. Be safe and know that the human can overcome anything. Do not hold your head for having a need to stay warm. Someday please do the same when you can.”
This kind was not because the phone rang or for any reason. It was because it was the right to do. We have often seen people at the park where we left the belongings. I that my wife had put her favorite green coat into one of the boxes. I asked if she was about it and she just replied that it had a hood (兜帽) . Her answer told me why it is I who love her. She liked the coat but knew the hood could someone from the rain.
Who knows where these gifts of sympathy will ? How many uses can a blanket serve what it was designed to do? We never go back and see what happens. It is unimportant. The right things will find the right people and that is all that .
1.A. put off B. put up C. give away D. give up
2.A. needed B. collected C. produced D. searched
3.A. accepted B. wanted C. carried D. bought
4.A. wonderful B. beautiful C. hopeful D. useful
5.A. around B. upon C. into D. above
6.A. working B. parking C. delivering D. helping
7.A. spoke B. read C. marked D. indicated
8.A. Ways B. Problems C. Times D. Situations
9.A. body B. mind C. brain D. figure
10.A. imagination B. spirit C. health D. wisdom
11.A. forward B. aside C. around D. down
12.A. attempt B. manner C. act D. habit
13.A. suddenly B. simply C. strangely D. usually
14.A. aimless B. homeless C. childless D. friendless
15.A. believed B. dreamed C. approved D. noticed
16.A. sure B. sad C. worried D. anxious
17.A. separate B. prevent C. shelter D. hold
18.A. affect B. go C. use D. help
19.A. other than B. rather than C. more than D. better than
20.A. attains B. counts C. moves D. contains
