A new study in the journal of Experimental Psychology suggested that it's not just humans that can tell the difference between languages. It turns out that rats can distinguish between Japanese and Dutch. That's what researchers at the Park Scientific Barcelona found. When they trained rats to press a little lever in response to a specific language, some rats were given Japanese while others heard Dutch. When the rats later listened to both languages they ignored the unfamiliar one. Human babies easily pick up on the distinctive rhythm of a language as they are learning to talk. Rats obviously don't use language. So this finding suggests that some of the skills that make human language possible probably evolved for other reasons.
AMERICA
An examination of old bones in America has led scientists to suggest that sperm whales diving deep beneath the surface of the ocean can suffer from decompression sickness or the bends just as human divers do. Researchers found evidence of damage in the bones of whales dating back over a period of more than 100 years. The pitting and erosion of the bones matched the conditions associated with the bends in which too rapid ascent from the ocean depth can cause agonizing pain or death.
JAPAN
Another powerful earthquake has struck Japan's northwestern Niigata Prefecture, site of the quake, Saturday. That was the nation's most deadly earthquake in 9 years. The latest temblor measuring 5.6 on the open-ended Richter Scale occurred early Monday local time. There were no immediate damage reports. On Sunday, Japan's Prime Minister announced he asked parliament for emergency funding to help people recover from Saturday's earthquake which left at least 23 people dead and thousands more injured. The quake forced about 65,000 people to evacuate their homes and cut off power, communications and transportation. It was the worst in Japan since the 1995 earthquake in the city of Kobe.
CHINA
The American Secretary of State is in China for talks expected to focus on the deadlock over North Korea's nuclear program. China has hosted previous six-nation talks aimed at resolving the crisis over what North Korea describes as its nuclear deterrent. Pyongyang has refused to resume negotiation and says US-led international naval exercise due to begin on Monday off the Japanese coast are evidence of Washington's hostile intent. Speaking earlier in Tokyo, Mr. Secretary denied the accusation and said it was urgent to resume the multilateral talks with North Korea.
EUROPE
The US dollar has continued to fall on international currency markets, hitting the lowest level it's reached against the Euro since the European single currency began trading in 1999. It slipped to 1 dollar 34.6 cents against the Euro. That's down more than a third from its highest point in 2002. The head of the European Central Bank described the plunge as brutal and financial analysts say the dollar could soon lose its status as the world's dominant currency. But the United States Treasury Secretary insists that the government is addressing the issue.
Questions:
6. What does this news item mainly suggest?
7.What can sperm whales suffer from when diving deep?
8.Which of the following statements is NOT a feature of the earthquake?
9.What can we infer from the news?
10.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the news?
(26)
A.Only humans can tell the difference between languages.
B.Rats can use language.
C.Rats can distinguish between English and Chinese.
D.The distinction of linguistic rhythm is a skill owned not only by humans.
第1题
During the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, Spanish researchers analyzed the facial expressions of 22 gold medal winners at the medal ceremonies. The researchers were surprised to see that these medal winners didn't smile very much. In fact, throughout the different medal ceremonies, they only smiled about 10% of the time. But during the brief moment when the gold medal was actually put around their neck, the medal winners grinned about 70% of the time.
The researchers interviewed the athletes they had watched to find out how they felt. All the winners inter viewed said that they felt intensely happy throughout the ceremony.
Despite the fact that they were profoundly happy, they didn't smile a great deal. The researchers concluded that smiling is not the automatic expression of happiness. The fact that the gold medal winners smiled much more when they were actually being given their medals can be explained because, according to the Spanish researchers, smiling is a form. of communication between individuals. The happy athletes were smiling at the people who were giving them their gold medals.
What is the nationality of the researchers?
A.French.
B.Spanish.
C.German.
D.Russian.
第2题
During the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, Spanish researchers analyzed the facial expressions of 22 gold medal winners at the medal ceremonies. The researchers were surprised to see that these medal winners didn't smile very much. In fact, throughout the different medal ceremonies, they only smiled about 10% of the time. But during the brief moment when the gold medal was actually put around their neck, the medal winners grinned about 70% of the time.
The researchers interviewed the athletes they had watched to find out how they felt. All the winners interviewed said that they felt intensely happy throughout the ceremony.
Despite the fact that they were profoundly happy, they didn't smile a great deal. The researchers concluded that smiling is not the automatic expression of happiness. The fact that the gold medal winners smiled much more when they were actually being given their medals can be explained because, according to the Spanish researchers, smiling is a form. of communication between individuals. The happy athletes were smiling at the people who were giving them their gold medals.
What is the nationality of the researchers?
A.French.
B.Spanish.
C.German.
D.Russian.
第3题
M: Why? Sorry, Helen. I'm afraid I know little more than you do.
W: Well, it's just that we've been thinking of taking the family to Spain this summer and at this rather late stage we're trying to organize ourselves a suitable hotel. But I thought that you'd been to the Costa Brava.
M: It's absolutely late. But have you looked at the ads?
W: Yeah. As a matter of fact I was reading one ad just this morning in the Daily paper which sounded terrific..
M: For a hotel?
W: Yes. Just outside Barcelona. It said that this hotel was right on the beach, and that's essential as far as we have concerned..
M: I know just how it is.
W: And all the rooms have balconies facing the sea and overlooking the beach.
M: Expensive?
W: No. That was the amazing thing about it. But I'm not sure how much exaggeration there is in the ad.
M: The only way to find out for certain is to go and try it. And that's taking rather a risk.
W: Yes, I agree with you.
(23)
A.Brazil.
B.Spain.
C.Italy.
D.Costa Rica.
第4题
Directions: In this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
听力原文:W: Oh, David. I just can't believe it. There are more than forty million people who have HIV in the world, 70 percent of them in Africa, and the former Soviet Union and parts of Asia are also big risk areas.
M: The UN AIDS organization last week estimated that in just over 20 years, 20 million people have died of AIDS, and this figure will be 3 times in the next 2 decades unless a major rescue effort is launched in poor countries.
W: That sounds really terrible! Something must be done to it.
M: Yes. The 14th International AIDS Conference was held in Barcelona. It's aiming at increased global awareness of the threat of the killing epidemic to the economic development, peace, security and mobilized resources to cheek the spread of HIV. I've heard there's breakthrough in technology. But the fight against AIDS will be long.
W: Many people argue that AIDS victims should be separated. What do you think about it?
M: Separating will help no one. Most AIDS patients are too sick to be transmitting the virus. Largely people who do not have AIDS but axe infected with the HIV virus are spreading the virus, and they may or may not know it. Separation would be totally futile.
W: Would mandatory testing help?
M: I believe it would drive every people you want to test underground. Voluntary, confidential testing is much more appropriate.
How many people are there in Africa infected with HIV?
A.40 million.
B.About 28 million.
C.12 million.
D.Less than 28 million.
第5题
Directions: In this section you will hear several conversations. Listen to the conversations carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
听力原文:W: Oh, David. (1)I just can't believe it. There are more than forty million people who have HIV in the
world, 70 percent of them in Africa, and the former Soviet Union and parts of Asia are also big risk areas. M: (2)The UN AIDS organization last week estimated that in just over 20 years, 20 million people have died of AIDS, and this figure will be 3 times in the next 2 decades unless a major rescue effort is launched in poor countries.
W: That sounds really terrible! Something must be done to it.
M: Yes. The 14th International AIDS Conference was held in Barcelona. (3)It's aiming at increased global awareness of the threat of the killing epidemic to the economic development, peace, security and mobilized resources to check the spread of HIV. I've heard there's breakthrough in technology. But the fight against AIDS will be long.
W: Many people argue that AIDS victims should be separated. What do you think about it?
M: Separating will help no one. Most AIDS patients are too sick to be transmitting the virus. Largely people who do not have AIDS but are infected with the HIV virus are spreading the virus, and they may or may not know it. Separation would be totally futile.
W: Would mandatory testing help?
M: I believe it would drive every people you want to test underground. Voluntary, confidential testing is much more appropriate.
How many people are there, in Africa infected with HIV?
A.40 million.
B.About 28 million.
C.12 million.
D.Less than 28 million.
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