B

American researchers found females are the more talkative sex because of a special “language protein” 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(超声波的) 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 vocal calls 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 (成分)of the neurobiological basis of sex differences in vocal communication in mammals.”

25. 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

26 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

27. 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 Foxp2 protein and vocal communication

28. 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

C

Justin Bieber may have millions of fans worldwide, but Russia’s bears don’t appear to admire the pop singer’s music --- which proved fortunate for one lucky fisherman.

Igor Vorozhbitsyn had his life saved by a Justin Bieber ringtone, when his mobile phone went off during a dangerous attack by a brown bear.

The 42-year-old was attacked as he was walking to a favourite fishing spot in northern Russia’s Yakutia Republic and firmly believed that he was going to be killed.

Wildlife experts believe the ringtone must have frightened the bear into stopping its attack.

‘Sometimes a sharp shock can stop an angry bear in its attack and that ringtone would be a very unexpected sound for a bear,’ explained one.

Mr Vorozhbitsyn suffered from cuts and severe wounds and was rescued when he was found by other fishermen after using the phone to call for help.

Mr Vorozhbitsyn ---now recovering from his wounds---explained: ‘I had parked my car and was walking towards the spot I’d marked out when there was a tremendous impact on my back and the bear was on top of me.’

‘I couldn’t believe my luck when the phone went off and it run away.’

‘I know that sort of ringtone isn’t to everyone’s taste but my granddaughter loaded it onto my phone for a joke,’ he added.

Adult brown bears can weigh as much as 600kg and have been known to kill wolves and even Siberian tigers.

Finally, this is a proof that Justin Bieber is unbearable

29. Igor Vorozhbitsyn was attacked when____.

A. he was fishing at his favourite fishing spot.

B. he was walking towards his favourite fishing spot.

C. he was phoning his granddaughter.

D. he was driving to his favourite fishing spot.

30. The bear stopped attacking because___.

A. Justin Bieber came to rescue Igor Vorozhbitsyn.

B. Justin Bieber sang to it.

C. Justin Bieber’s ringtone was a sudden fright to it.

D. Igor Vorozhbitsyn’s mobile phone was a sudden fright to it.

31. What is the writer’s attitude towards Justin Bieber?

A. positive  B. negative  C. neutral (中立的)  D. not mentioned

32. What does the last paragraph imply?

A. Justin Bieber’s music is popular all over the world.

B. Justin Bieber’s music is life-saving.

C. Justin Bieber’s music is threatening.

D. Even bears cannot stand Justin Bieber’s music.