A research shows two-thirds of human conversation is taken up not with discussion of a cultural or political issue, not heated debates about a film or a book, but plain and simple ___ . Language is our greatest treasure and what do we ___ do with it? We gossip(闲聊). About others' behavior and private lives; how to deal with difficult ___ situations involving children, lovers, and colleagues.
So why are we keen on gossiping? Are we just natural ____, of both time and words? Or do we talk a lot about ___ in particular simply to avoid facing up to the really important issues of life? It’s not the case according to Professor Robin Dunbar, who says gossip is one of these really ___ issues.
Dunbar ___ the traditional view that language was developed by the men at the early stage of social development in order to organize their manly bunting activities more effectively. ____. he suggests that language evolved among women. We don't spend two-thirds of our time griping just ___ we can talk, argues Dunbar--- ___ he goes on to say, language evolved specifically to allow us to gossip.
Dunbar arrived at his cheery theory by studying the___ of the higher primates(灵长类动物)like monkeys. By means of grooming leaning the fur by brushing it monkeys form groups with other individuals on whom they can rely for support ___some kind of conflict within the group or ___from outside it.
As we human beings evolve from in a particular branch of the primate family. Dunbar __ that at one time in our history we did much the same. ___together made sense because the bigger the group the greater the ___it provided, on the other hand, the bigger the group, the greater the ___of living close to others. Grooming helped to ease the pressure and calm everybody down.
But as the groups got bigger and bigger, the amount of time spent in grooming activities also had to be ____ to maintain its effectiveness. Clearly, a more ____ kind of grooming was needed, and thus language evolved as a kind of vocal grooming which allowed humans to develop relationship with ever-larger groups by exchanging information over a wider network of individuals than would be possible by one-to-one _____contact.
1.A.claim B.description C.gossip D.language
2.A.occasionally B.habitually C.independently D.originally
3.A.social B.political C.historical D.cultural
4.A.admirers B.masters C.consumers D.wasters
5.A.every tiling B.something C.anything D.nothing
6.A.vital B.sensitive C.ideal D.difficult
7.A.confirms B.rejects C.outlines D.broadens
8.A.Still B.Besides C.Therefore D.Instead
9.A.because B.until C.unless D.as
10.A.for instance B.in addition C.on the contrary D.as a result,
11.A.motivation B.appearance C.emotion D.behavior
12.A.in terms of B.in favor of C.in the wake of D.in the event of
13.A.attack B.contact C.inspection D.assistance
14.A.recalls B.denies C.concludes D.acknowledges
15.A.Communicating B.Grouping C.Migrating D.Swinging
16.A.prospect B.responsibility C.leadership D.protection
17.A.stresses B.benefits C.barriers D.conveniences
18.A.reduced B.extended C.consumed D.wasted
19.A.common B.efficient C.scientific D.thoughtful
20.A.indirect B.daily C.physical D.confidential
-- Do you come off duty so late every day?
-- Almost no one leaves on schedule.
A.You have my word. B.It's anyone's guess.
C.Never you mind. D.You can say that again.
Xi'an is the home of Chinese civilization, where the renowned Silk Road starts through west China to the Mediterranean.
A.switching B.stretching. C.sweeping D.squeezing
This isn't the first time the shareholders Zuckerberg to step down from his dual roles, which would help him focus on running the company
A.have wanted B.wanted C.will want. D.want
The government stared pushing for closure of orphanages, to place children in private homes, hopefully with relatives.
A.having preferred B.to prefer C.preferring D.Preferred
What a wet blanket he was! We a good journey.
A.would have had B.will have C.had D.had had
