B
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. “What can be inferred from the second paragraph？
| A．women always speak more words than men. |
| B．men and male rats have low levels of language protein. |
| C．McCarthy isn’t the first to find females more talkative |
| D．women and male rats have similar levels of Foxp2. |
What does the underlined phrase “fussed over” in the third paragraph mean?
| A．relyed on | B．related to |
| C．put pressure on | D．paid attention to |
What’s the purpose of the experiments on rats carried out by the researchers?
| A．To test which part of the brain is key to language in rats and humans. |
| B．To discover the association between Foxp2 protein and vocal communication. |
| C．To determine the reason why female rats are more talkative than male rats. |
| D．To prove the levels of Foxp2 protein in humans and rats are different. |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage ?
| A．Why women are the talkative sex |
| B．Tests on humans and rats |
| C．Sex differences in Foxp2 protein |
| D．Foxp2 protein determines oral ability |
Arrive Early
Plan your trip so that you’re at the venue(place) well before the scheduled start of the event. Gates open one to two hours before the start of competition at city and Whistler venues. Gates open four hours prior to the start of the Opening Ceremony, three hours prior to the start of the Closing Ceremony and two hours prior to the start of the Victory Ceremonies.
Travelling To Venues
In Metro Vancouver, public transit is the best way to go. If you’re heading to Whistler, options include commercial motorcoach and rideshare/carpool. Parking for spectators is at the Whistler Paralympic Park spectator(person who watches) parking lots.
Dress Appropriately
Dress for cold and wet weather — warmly, in layers and in waterproof clothing. Remember to wear suitable footwear as you may have to walk on uneven, snowy or icy surfaces.
Have Your Tickets Ready
Be sure to have your tickets with you as you must have a valid ticket to enter a venue. Treat your tickets like cash; lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced or refunded.
Prepare For The Security Screening
Avoid taking large bags to the venues. If you are unsure of what you can and cannot bring with you, check the prohibited and restricted items list.
Your Payment Options
Visa cards and cash are the only methods of payment accepted at Paralympic venues.
Accessibility
All venues have been reviewed for accessibility. If you have a specific need, see the nearest staff member for assistance.
Be Informed
At the venue, look for way-finding signage (招牌), listen to announcements and read the message boards — this will provide you with the information you need to make the most of your experience. Is there still something you need to know? Don’t hesitate to visit our information booths located at each venue.
56. This passage is most probably written ______.
A. to attract more and more spectators B. for spectators to know clearly about dos and don'ts
C. to remind players what to do D. for spectators to get to the venues more conveniently
57. If you go to watch the games, you’d better not ______.
A. take a bus B. wear warm and waterproof clothes
C. take large bags to the venue D. use your visa cards or cash for the payment
58. Spectators must enter a venue ______.
A. with valid tickets B. with visa cards
C. with refunded tickets D. with cash
Force other than damaging winds are also at work inside tornadoes. Sometimes, as the turning, jumping funnel(漏斗) passes over a house, the walls and ceiling burst apart as if a bomb had gone off inside. This explosion(爆炸) is caused by the low air pressure at the center of a tornado.
The pressure at the center of a tornado is usually 13 pounds per square inch. However, inside the house the air pressure is normal, about 15 pounds per square inch. The difference of 2 pounds per square inch between the inside and outside pressure may not seem like much. But suppose a tornado funnel passes over a small building that measures 20 by 10 by 10 feet. On each square inch of the building, there is 2 pounds of pressure from the inside that is not balanced by air pressure outside the building. On the ceiling, that adds up to an unbalanced pressure of 57,600 pounds. The pressure on the four walls adds up to 172,800 pounds.
If windows are open in the building, some of the inside air will rush out through them. This will balance the pressure inside and outside the building. But if the windows are shut tightly, the great inside pressure may cause the building to burst.
Unfortunately, heavy rain happens in thunderstorms that later produce tornadoes. So, people often shut all windows to protect their property. This may cause far worse damage later.
63. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. Where tornadoes are formed. B. When tornadoes usually occur.
C. How tornadoes can be prevented. D. Why tornadoes cause so much damage.
64. According to the passage, tornadoes can destroy building because the _____.
A. force of a tornado increases the air pressure in a building
B. air pressure at the center of a tornado is over 172,000 pounds
C. weight of a tornado can crush a building’s roof when it passes overhead
D. air pressure inside a tornado is less than the air pressure inside a building
65. According to the passage, the pressure on a building during a tornado can be reduced by _____.
A. closing the windows B. opening the windows
C. using an electric fan D. making the roof and walls stronger
Many of the world’s pollution problems have been caused by the crowding of large groups of people into the cities. Supply for the needs of the people leads to further pollution by industry. If the rapid increase of world population in countries continues at the present rate, there may be much greater harm to human beings. Some scientists speak of the increase in numbers of people as “population pollution.”
About 2,000 years ago, the world population was probably about 250 million. It reached a billion in 1850. By 1930 the population was two billion. It is now three and a half billion. It is expected to double by the year 2,000. If the population continues to grow at the same rate, there will be 25 billion in the world a hundred years from now.
Man has been using the earth’s resources more and more rapidly over the past years. Some of them are almost used up. Now many people believe that man’s greatest problem is how to control the growth of the population. The material supplies in the world will be far from enough to support the human population, in time to come, if the present rate of increase continues. Already there is overcrowding in many cities and starvation in some countries. Should man’s population keep on growing so rapidly as before? Many people believe that human survival in the future depends on the answer to this question.
59. The rapid increase in population is considered to be __________.
A. the increase of resources B. population pollution
C. the development of mankind D. the present rate
60. The world population will be _________ by the year 2,000.
A. 7 billion B. 250 million C. 25 billion D. 3.5 billion
61. If the present rate of increase continue, ________________.
A. the world is going to end
B. the earth won’t be able to support the growing population in the future
C. pollution has nothing to do with the rapidly increasing population
D. there would be four billion in the world a hundred years from now
62. Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?
A. In 1850 the world population reached a billion.
B. Man must fight a battle against population pollution.
C. The world’s population is increasing with years.
D. All of the earth’s resources are gone now.
Macao is only forty miles from Hong Kong and it is easy to reach. You can get there by sea. It is an interesting place and it had a long history. Macao is part of China and most people living there are Chinese.
The first Europeans to go to Macao came from Portugal. More than four hundred years ago the Portuguese went there to trade with China. Some settled and made their homes there. They built strong forts to guard the city and the harbor. They also built churches, schools, hospitals and other places. Slowly the city grew. People from many countries came to live and work in Macao.
Today many people visit Macao. Some only go there to watch dog-racing or motor-racing or to gamble with their money. But Macao is a quiet and peaceful place. It is pleasant just to walk around and look at old buildings and forts. You feel you are back in the old days. Of course, some of the buildings are now in ruins. The Church of St. Paul has only the front wall with many steps leading up to it. But it is still interesting to see.
When you are hot and tired, there are small cool gardens to rest in. When you are hungry, there are good restaurants with many kinds of food. Nearby there are some islands, which are also nice and are easy to get to. There is certainly a lot to do in Macao.
56. You feel in Macao you are back in the old days because_________.
A. most of the buildings are now in ruins
B. you can watch dog-racing or motor-racing
C. you can go about to see the old buildings and forts
D. it is a peaceful place
57. Where will you have a break when you feel worn out?
A. In good restaurants. B. In small cool gardens.
C. On some islands. D. In beautiful parks.
58. The main idea of this passage seems to be that_________.
A. people from many countries came to live and work in Macao
B. Portuguese were willing to do business in China
C. people in Macao serve good food
D. Macao is a quiet and peaceful place with a lot to see and to do
Man’s best friend could be one of the environment’s worst enemies, according to a new study that says that your pet dog’s carbon pawprint(碳足迹) is more than double that of a sports car.
Yet this point of view, made by New Zealanders Robert and Brenda Vale, has angered pet owners who feel they are being picked out as troublemakers.
The Vales, researchers in sustainable(可持续的) living, looked at popular brands of pet food and calculated that a medium-sized dog eats about 164 kilos of meat and 95 kilos of grain a year.
Combining that with the energy needed to produce that food, it means a medium-sized dog has an annual footprint of 0.84 hectares(公顷), about twice the 0.41 hectares required by a sports car driving 10,000 kilometers a year, including energy to build the car.
“Owning a dog really is quite an extravagance(奢侈), mainly because of the carbon footprint of mean. Other animals aren’t better for the environment,” the Vales say.
Cats have an eco-footprint of about 0.15 hectares a year, while two hamsters(仓鼠) are the same as a television and even the goldfish burns energy equal to two cellphones.
However, Reha Huttin, president of France’s 30 Million Friends animal rights foundation says pets are too important to human life to be got rid of.
“Everyone should work out their own environmental effect,” Huttin argude. “I should be allowed to say that I walk instead of using my car and that I don’t eat meat, so why souldn’t I be allowed to have a little cat to reduce my loneliness?”
The Vales give some solutions to reduce pets’ environmental effect, including reducing pets’ meat intake. But they said that, as with buying a car ,humans should take the environmental effect of their future compainon into account.
71．The best title of the article is "______"．
A．Work out our carbon emissions B．Reduce our pets’ meat intake
C．Be careful of keeping our pets D．Mind our pets’ carbon footprint
72．Reha Huttin’s remark really means that ______．
A．pets should not be kept as a result of consuming much food
B pets are doing no harm to the environment at all
C．people can keep pets by reducing their environmental effect
D．he prefers walking to driving to reduce his loneliness
73．We know from the article that ______．
A．a medium-sized dog eats around 95 kilos of grain and meat a year
B．a medium-sized dog has an annual footprint 5．6 times that of a cat
C．two hamsters burn the same energy as two televisions
D．a sports car running 10,000 kilometers requires 0.41 hectares of footprint
74．Which of the following is NOT true according to the article?
A．The Vales insist that pets should be got rid of．
B．Some pet owners are against the Vales’ point of view．
C．Keeping pets does have a bad effect on the environment．
D．Pets’ carbon footprint should not be neglected．
75．Which of the following can help reduce pets’ environmental effect based on the text?
A．Feeding pets on less meat．
B．Working out eco-footprints of pets．
C．Keeping the goldfish instead of dogs．
D．Getting rid of pets from human life．