2021年河北省張家口市公共英語五級(筆試)測試卷(含答案)學校:________班級:________姓名:________考號:________

一、1.ListeningComprehension(15題)1.Goodbookscandecreaseourcontentmentwhenwearehappyandlessenourtroubleswhenwearesad.

A.TrueB.Fasle

2.WhatwaspotatousedforinEuropeatfirst?

3.Youcanfindyournoseinthedarknessbecauseofyour"feltimage".

A.TrueB.Fasle

4.Accordingtothespeaker,whatgivesmodernloghomestheirwarmatmosphere?

A.Theirsmallsize.

B.Theirrusticdirtfloors.

C.Theirwallsmadeupofroundedlogs.

D.Theirslidingboardwindows.

5.What'sthepercentageofstudentsinbusinessandmanagement?

6.Whatdoeshelikeabouthisjob?

A.Money.

B.Freedom.

C.Knowingdifferentpeople.

D.Travelingalot.

7.HowmanypoemsdidDickinsonwrite?

A.Almost2,000.B.Nearly1,000.C.800D.1,200.00

8.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

聽力原文：Inyouruniversitywork．youwillbeexpectedtogiveoralpresentationsintheform.ofreportsorsimplyintheformsofanswerstoquestions．Thereareseveralthingsyouoraldotomakeyouroralpresentationsclearandeasytounderstand．

Thefundamentalpointtorealizeisthatspeechandwritingaredifferent．Ifyouwanttobebestunderstood．youcan'tsimplyreadyourwrittenreportaloud．Thebiggestdifferencebetweenspokenandwrittenlanguageisthatreaderscanlookbackovertheprintedwordswhentheydon'tunderstand．Inspokenlanguage，however，listenerscan'tgobackandcheckthewords．Theycanrelyonlyonmemory．Sothefirstprincipletokeepinmindwhenyou'replanningtospeakinpublicisthatyouhavetohelpthelistener'smemory．Thismeansthatanoralreportcan'tdeliverinformationasrapidlyasawrittenreport．Thatis，youcan'thaveasmanypiecesofnewinformationpackedintothesamenumberofwords，becausetheywillcomeattoofastarateforthelistenertounderstand．

Inanoralreport，therateofdeliveryhastobeslower．Oneofthebestwaystohelpyouraudienceissimplytospeakslowly．Manypeoplespeaktoofastwhentheyspeaktoagroup．Thisisamistake，especiallyifyouhaveaforeignaccent，becauseitmakeslisteningmoredifficult．Beyondthesimpletechniqueofspeakingmoreslowlywhenyouspeakbeforeagroup，therearewaysoforganizingyourpresentationthatcanhelpthelistenerbeclearandunderstandyourmainpoints．

Theorganizationofyourtalkshouldallowenoughtimeforthelistenertothinkbothbeforeandaftereachnewidea．Thepurposeofthetimebeforethenewinformationistogivetheaudienceachancetounderstandthebackgroundclearly．Knowledgeofthebackground，orsettingoftheinformation，makesitmucheasiertoanticipatewhatkindofinformationiscomingnext．Ifthenewinformationoccurstooearly，withoutenoughbackground，thelistenersshouldnotbepreparedwithenoughbackgroundtobeabletopredictwhat'scoming．

I'vebeendescribingthetimeforthinkingbeforethenewinformation．It'salsoimportanttoprovidetimeforthinkingafterthenewinformation．Thisthinkingtimeallowslistenerstofittheideaintotheirgeneralknowledgeofthesubject．Thinkingtimegivesthelistenerachancetomakesurethattheideawasunderstoodbeforegoingontothenextnewidea．

Therearethreegeneralwaystogivethelistenertimeforthinkingandtimeafterapointofnewinformation．Onewayissimplytopause．Amomentofsilencegivesthelistenertimetotakeinthenewinformation，butthereareotherways．Asecondmethodistouseaparaphrase．Thatis，yousaythesamething，butindifferentwords．Thisparaphrase，orrepetitionoftheidea，helpsthelistenerstofixthethoughtintheirmemory．Athirdwaytogivethelistenertimetothinkistousewordsthatdon'tmeanmuch．Thesearewordsthatconveynoinformation，butjustfillintime．Forinstance，youmightsaysomethinglike“asI'vebeensaying”or“andsoforth”and“andsoon”．Thatkindofexpressiondoesn'treallysayanything．It'sjustmadeofwhatwecall“fillerwords”．Thewordshavenorealmeaning．buttheydoperform.ausefulfunction．sincetheyallowthelistenertimetothink．

Insummary，then，weknowthatorallanguageshoulddeliverinformationataslowerratethanyoucanuseinwrittenlanguage．Newinformationshouldbepresentedmoregradually．Thinkingtimeshouldbeprovidedbothbeforeandaftereachimportantnewitem．Thetimebeforeistoprovideabackgroundsothatthelistenerscanhaveachancetoanticipat

9.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

聽力原文：Asyouknow,manybigchangeshappenedafterChristopherColumbusandotherEuropeanscametotheAmericas500yearsago.TodayI'mgoingtotalkaboutachangeintheworlddietthewaypeoplecookedandate.Fivehundredyearsago,therewasabigchangeinthedietofpeopleallovertheworld.

Let'stalkaboutthedietinEurope500yearsago.Oneimportantfoodwasmeat.Europeansatemanykindsofmeat,includingbeef,lamb,goat,andpork.Ekandcheesemadefromthemilkofcowsandgoats.TheEuropeansateseveraldifferentgrains：Mostpeopleatewheat,andsomepeopleaterice,whichcamefirstfromAsia.

Now,let'slookatthedietintheAmericasabout500yearsago.ThedietofthenativeAmericanwasquitedifferentfromthedietoftheEuropeans.ThisisbecausetheEuropeanmeats,dairyproducts,andgrainsdidn'texistintheAmericas.However,thenativeAmericansatesomefoodthatdidn'texistinEurope.ThenativeAmericansatedifferentvegetables,suchaspotatoesandtomatoes.Theyatedifferentgrains,suchascorn.Theyatedifferentmeat,suchasturkeyandotherwildbirds.Theyalsousedspicessuchaschocolateandhotchilipeppers.NoneofthesefoodsexistedinEurope500yearsago.

Nowlet'stalkaboutthebigchangeintheworlddiet500yearsago,afterColumbusandtheEuropeanswenttotheAmericas.

AfterEuropeanswenttotheAmericas,thedietofthenativeAmericanschangedalot.WhentheEuropeanswenttotheAmericas,theytookmanynewkindsoffoodwiththem.TheEuropeansgavesomeofthefood,themeat,dairyproducts,andgrainstothenativeAmericansandthenthenativeAmericansstartedtousetheEuropeanfoodintheircooking.Asaresult,thedietintheAmerica'stodayisverydifferentfromtheirdiet500yearsago.Forexample,ifyougotoacountrylikeMexico,youcanseethatthetraditionalMexicanfoodusesalotofbeef,pork,cheese,wheat,andrice,allfoodsthatcamefromEuropewithColumbus.

AftertheEuropeansreturnedtoEuropefromtheAmericas,therewasalsoabigchangeinthedietofpeopleinEuropeandtherestoftheworld.WhentheEuropeansreturnedtoEurope,theytookmanynewkindsoffoodbackfromtheAmericas.Theytookbackthevegetables,grains,andspicesthattheyfoundintheAmericas.Littlebylittle,peoplealloverEuropestartedusingthenewfoodsintheircooking,andthenthefoodsspreadaroundtheworldtoAfrica,theMiddleEastandAsia.

Someofthenewfoodspreadveryquicklyaroundtheworld.Oneexampleisthechilipepper.Youmaybesurprisedtoknowthat500yearsago,thechilipepperdidn'texistinmanycountriesthat.arefamoustodayfortheirhotandspicyfoodmadewithchilies.Actually．weminkthatthefirstchilipepperwastakentoSpainbyColumbusin1493,whenhereturnedfromtheAmericas.Afteronly100years,chilipeppershadspreadallaroundtheworld.Theygroweasilyinwarmweather.TheonlyplacethatthechilipepperdidnotbecomepopularwasNorthernEurope,probablybecauseitistoocoldtogrowchilipepperseasily.

Althoughchilipeppersspreadquickly,otherfoodsfromtheAmericasspreadveryslowly.Potatoesareagoodexample.Ittookabout250yearsforthepotatoestospreadaroundtheworld.ThereasonittooksolongisthatEuropeansthoughtthatpotatoeswerepoisonous.ThepotatolookedalotlikeaverypoisonousplantthatgrewinEurope.Peoplewereafraidtoeatpotatoes!Foralongtime,peopleonlyusedpotatoestofeedtheirpigs.Butslowly,peoplestartedusingpotatoesasfoodforthemselves.Today,ofcourse

10.聽力原文：Yesterdaywediscussedtheproblemofrisingprices,or,intheeconomist'sterms,inflation.Wenotedthat,duringperiodsofinflation,allpricesandincomesdonotriseatthesamerate.Someincomesrisemoreslowlythanthecostofliving,andafewdonotriseatall.Otherincomesrisemorerapidlythanthecostofliving.

Weconcludedthatpersonswithfixedincomes,forexample,theelderlywhodependuponpensions,andpersonswithslow-risingincomesas,forexample,anemployeewithasalaryagreedtoinalong-termcontract,willbemostseriouslyaffectedbyinflation.Pleaserememberthatwhiletheirdollarincomes,staythesame,thecostofgoodsandservicesrises,andineffect,realincomedecreases,thatis,theyareabletopurchaselesswiththesameamountofmoney.

Wealsotalkedaboutthefactthatstockholdersandpersonswithbusinessinterestsandinvestmentswouldprobablybenefitmostfrominflation,sincehighpriceswouldincreasesalesreceipts,andprofitswouldlikelyrisefasterthanthecostofliving.

Andnow,beforewebegintoday'slecture,arethereanyquestionsabouttheterm,inflationoranyoftheexamplesgiveninourdiscussionsofar?

What'sthemainpurposeofthetalk?

A.Tointroducetheconceptofinflation.

B.Todiscussthecausesofinflation.

C.Toreviewyesterday'slectureoninflation.

D.Toargueinfavorofinflation.

11.WhatisDickinson'sparticularform.ofself-publication?

A.Sheranherownpublishinghouse.

B.Shewroteherpoemsinherletters.

C.Shewrotetonewspapersregularly.

D.Sherecordedherpoemsinherdiary.

12.WhereisLowTillFarmingbecomingpopular?

A.Inareaswithfewweedsandunwantedplants.

B.Inareaswithasevereshortageofwater.

C.Inareaslackinginchemicalfertilizer.

D.Inareasdependentonimportedfood.

13.Ifamanlosestheabilitytorecognizehisleftsidehewilllosefeelingonhisbothsides.

A.RightB.Wrong

14.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

聽力原文：Todaywetakeitforgrantedthatthemailwillbedelivereddailyatourdoor.Butmanyyearsagoitmighthavebeenplacedinatreetrunkorunderneatharock.Intheearlydaysofthemailnoonecouldbesureaboutwhereorwhenitwouldarrive.

AtthesoutherntipofAfricatherewasonceapostofficeunderarock.IntheolddaystheroutefromEnglandtoIndiawasaroundtheCapeofGoodHope.Thejourneywasstormyanddangerous.Ittooksixlongmonths.Sailorsoftenwishedtosendmailhome,buttheyseldommetshipsboundbacktoEngland.Soatthecapethesailorswouldgoashore.Theyheadedforacertainlargestone.Onthestonewerescratchedthewords"Lookhereunderforletters."Theywouldleavetheirlettersthere,knowingthatthenexthomeward-boundshipwouldstopandpickthemup.

TherewasanotherpostofficelikethisatthesoutherntipofSouthAmerica.Duringthegoldrushdays,boatssailedaroundCapeHorntoCalifornia.AtCapeHornwasakegnailedtoapost.Boatscomingfromtheeastcoastwouldsendasmallboatashoretothispostoffice.Theypickedupanylettersinthekeg.Atthesametimetheymailedlettershomethatboatssailingeastcouldpickup.

InthestateofWashingtonstandsthestumpofahugecedar.It,too,wasonceapostoffice.Settlersneededaplaceforthemailcarrierstoleavetheirletters.Theirhousesweresowidelyscatteredthatthemailcarriercouldnotreachallofthem,andthepostofficewasfarawayoverroughroads.Sothesettlersfoundatreethatstoodwhereseveraltrailscrossed.Theycutthetreedowntenfeetfromtheground,holloweditout,andcovereditwitharoof.Inside,theynailedarowofwoodenboxes.Eachboxwasmarkedwithafamily'sname.Themailcarriercouldleavelettersthereforeveryoneformilesaround.

ForthefirstfewyearsaftertheEnglishcolonistscametoAmerica,therewasnoregularpostalservice.Peoplegavetheirletterstoanytravelerwhohappenedtobegoingintherightdirection.Oftentheygavethemtoapeddleroratravelingshoemaker.Whenthetravelerreachedthetownwheretheletterwasgoing,hemightstopataninn.Hewouldleavethelettersthere.Buttheretheystayeduntilthepersontheywereaddressedtohappenedtocomebyandstoppedattheinn.

WhataboutplaceslikeVirginiawheretherewereveryfewinns?Peoplewhowishedtosendletterswouldleavethematoneofthelargeplantations.Theownersoftheplantationwouldthensendthelettersontoaneighbor.Theneighborwoulddothesame.Itwasaslowmailsystem.

Aftermanyyears,regularmailcarriersonhorsebackwerehired.Theywentfromonebigtowntoanother.BetweenNewYorkandBoston,forexample,therewasone"postrider"amonth.Hetraveledonlybydayandtooktwoweeksforthetrip.Oftenthepostriderleftallthemailforawholetownatacrossroadsstore.Itstilltookmanyweeksforalettertoreachthepersonitwasaddressedto.

Finally,abouttwohundredyearsago,BenjaminFranklinwasmadepostmasterforallthecolonies.Hisfirstactwastomakealongjourneytofindoutthebestroutesforcarryingthemail.Thenhesetupalineofpoststationbetweenthenorthernandsoutherncolonies.Heorderedhispostriderstotravelbynightaswellasbyday.

Franklin'spostriderscouldcarrymorelettersinashortertimefromonecolonytoanother.TheletterservicehelpedtheyoungAmericancolonieslearnmoreabouteachother.Theylearnedthattheywereallinterestedin

15.Whichpowerdoesthemansuggest?

A.Waterpower.

B.Windpower.

C.Solarpower.

D.Electronicalpower.

二、2.UseofEnglish(10題)16.(45)

17.

【C2】

18.(33)

19.(48)

20.

【C6】

21.(42)

22.

【C15】

23.(47)

24.Childrenwhogriptheirpenstooclosetothewritingpointarelikelytobeatadisadvantageinexaminations,【31】______tothefirstseriousinvestigationintothewayinwhichwritingtechniquecandramaticallyaffecteducationalachievement.

Thesurveyof643childrenandadults,rankingfrompre-schoolto40-plus,alsosuggests【32】______pen-holdingtechniqueshavedeterioratedsharplyoveronegeneration,withteachersnowpayingfar【33】______attentiontocorrectpengripandhandwritingstyle.

StephanieThomas,alearningsupportteacher【34】______findingshavebeenpublished,wasinspiredtoinvestigatethisarea【35】______henoticedthatthosestudentswhohadthemosttroublewithspelling【36】______hadapoorpengrip.WhileMr.Thomascouldnotestablishasignificantstatisticallink【37】______pen-holdingstyle.andaccuracyinspelling,he【38】______findhugedifferencesintechniquebetweentheyoungchildrenandthematureadults,andadefinite【39】______betweennear-pointgrippingandslow,illegiblewriting.

Peoplewho【40】______theirpensatthewritingpointalsoshowothercharacteristics【41】______inhibitlearning,【42】______aspoorposture,leaningtoo【43】______tothedesk,usingfourfingerstogripthepen【44】______thanthree,andclumsypositioningofthethumb(whichcanobscure【45】______isbeingwritten).

Mr.Thomasbelievesthatthe【46】______betweenelderandyoungerwritersis【47】______toodramatictobeaccountedforsimplybythepossibilitythatpeoplegetbetteratwritingastheygrow【48】______.Heattributesittoafailuretoteachthemosteffectivemethods,pointingoutthatthedifferencesbetween【49】______groupscoincideswiththeabandonmentofformalhandwritinginstructioninclassroomsinthesixties."The30-year-oldshowedahugediversityofgrips,【50】______theover40sgroupallhadauniform.'tripod'grip."

(31)

25.

【C16】

三、3.ReadingComprehension(15題)26.(67)

27.(77)

28.

Inthethirdparagraph,Dr.Laraghimpliesthat______.

A.peopleshouldnotbeafraidoftakingexcessivesalt

B.doctorsshouldnotadvisepeopletoavoidsalt

C.anadequatetoexcessivesaltintakeisrecommendedforpeopleindisease

D.excessivesaltintakehasclaimedsomevictimsinthegeneralpopulation

29.

Whatisthemainpurposeofthepassage?

A.Tooutlinetheresearchfindingsonthebrainstructure.

B.Toexplainthelinkbetweensexandbrainstructure.

C.Todiscussthevariousfactorsthatcausebraindifferences.

D.Tosuggestnewareasinbrainresearch.

30.(68)

31.Themanbehindthisnotion,JackMaple,isadandywhoaffectsdarkglasses,homburgs(翹邊帽)andtwo-toeshoes;yethehasbecomesomethingofalegendinAmerica'spolicedepartments.Forsomeyears,startinginNewYorkandmovingontohigh-crimespotssuchasNewOrleansandPhiladelphia,heandhisbusinesspartner,JohnLiederhavemarketedatwo-tiersystemforcuttingcrime.

First,policedepartmentshavetosortthemselvesout:rootoutcorruption,streamlinetheirbureaucracy,andmakemorecontactwiththepublic.Second,theyhavetoadoptacomputersystemcalledComstatwhichhelpsthemtoanalyzestatisticsofallmajorcrimes.Theseareconstantlykeyedintothecomputer,whichthendisplayswhereandwhentheyhaveoccurredonacolor-codedmap,enablingthepolicetomonitorcrimetrendsastheyhappenandtospothigh-crimeareas.InNewYork,Comstat'sstatisticalmapsareanalyzedeachweekatameetingofthecity'spolicechiefandprecinctcaptains.

MessrsMapleandLinder("specialistsincrime-reductionservices")havenodoubtthattheirsystemisamaincontributortothedropincrime.WhentheyintroduceditinNewOrleansinJanuary1997,violentcrimedroppedby22%inayear;whentheymerelystartedworkinginformallywiththepolicedepartmentinNewark,NewJersey,violentcrimefellby13%.Policedepartmentsarenowlininguptopayasmuchas$50,000amonthforthesetwomentoputthemstraight.

Probablyallthesenewpoliciesandbitsoftechnicalwizardry,addedtogether,havemadeabigdifferencetocrime.Butthereremainanomaliesthatcannotbeexplained,suchasthefactthatcrimeinWashingtonD.C.,hasfallenasfastasanywhere,althoughthepolicedepartmenthasbeencorruptandhopelessand,inlargestretchesofthecity,neitherpolicenorresidentsseemdisposedtofightthecriminalsintheirmidst.

Themoreimportantreasonforthefallincrimerates,manysay,isamuchlesssophisticatedone.Itisafactthatcrimerateshavedroppedastheimprisonmentratesoared.In1997thenationalincarcerationrate,at645per100000peoplewasmorethandoubletheratein1985,andthenumberofinmatesincityandcountyjailsroseby9.4%,almostdoubleitsannualaverageincreasesince1990.Surelysomecriminologistsargue,onesetoffiguresisthecauseoftheother.Itisprecisebecausemorepeoplearebeingsenttoprison,theyclaimthatcrimeratesarefalling.A1993studybytheNationalAcademyofSciencesactuallyconcludedthatthetriplingoftheprisonpopulationbetween1975and1989hadloweredviolentcrimeby10-15%.

Yetcauseandeffectmaynotbesoobviouslylinked.Tobeginwith,thesaleandpossessionofdrugsarenotcountedbytheFBIinitscrimeindex,whichislimitedtoviolentcrimesandcrimesagainstproperty.Yetdrugoffencesaccountformorethanathirdoftherecentincreaseinthenumberofthosejailed;since1980,theincarcerationratefordrugarrestshasincreasedby1000%.Andalthoughaboutthree-quartersofthosegoingtoprisonfordrugoffenceshavecommittedothercrimesaswell,thereisnotyetacrystal-clearconnectionbetweenfillingthejailswithdrug-pushersandadeclineintherateofviolentcrime.Again,thoughnationalfiguresaresuggestive,localonesdiverge:theplaceswherecrimehasdroppedmostsharply(suchasNewYorkCity)arenotalwaystheplaceswhereincarcerationhasrisenfastest.

JackMaplestartedhiscareerin______.

A.PhiladelphiaB.OregonC.NewOrleansD.NewYork

32.(75)

33.(73)

34.

Fromthetextwecanseethattheauthorseems______.

A.optimisticB.pessimisticC.troubledD.uncertain

35.Women'smindsworkdifferentlyfrommen's.Atleast,thatiswhatmostmenareconvincedof.Psychologistsviewthesubjecteitherasamatterorfrustrationorajoke.Nowthebiologistshavemovedintothisminefield,andsomeofthemhavefoundthattherearerealdifferencesbetweenthebrainsofmenandwomen.Butbeingdifferent,theypointouthurriedly,isnotthesameasbeingbetterorworse.

Thereis,however,adefinitestructuralvariationbetweenthemaleandfemalebrain.Thedifferenceisinapartofthebrainthatisusedinthemostcomplexintellectualprocesses—thelinkbetweenthetwohalvesofthebrain.

Thetwohalvesarelinkedbyatrunklineofbetween200and300millionnerves,thecorpuscallosum.Scientistshavefoundquiterecentlythatthecorpuscallosuminwomenisalwayslargerandprobablyricherinnervefibersthanitisinmen.Thisisthefirsttimethatastructuraldifferencehasbeenfoundbetweenthebrainsofwomenandmenanditmusthavesomesignificance.Thequestionis"What?",and,ifthisdifferenceexists,arethereothers?Researchshowsthatpresent-daywomenthinkdifferentlyandbehavedifferentlyfrommen.Aresomeofthesedifferencesbiologicalandinborn,aresultofevolution?Wetendtothinkthatistheinfluenceofsocietythatproducesthesedifferences.Butcouldwebewrong?

Researchshowedthatthesetwohalvesofthebrainhaddifferentfunctions,andthatthecorpuscallosumenabledthemtoworktogether.Formostpeople,thelefthalfisusedforwordhanding,analyticalandlogicalactivities;therighthalfworksonpictures,patternsandforms.Weneedbothhalvesworkingtogether.Andthebettertheconnections,themoreharmoniouslythetwohalveswork.And,accordingtoresearchfindings,womenhavethebetterconnections.

Butitisn'tallthateasytoexplaintheactualdifferencesbetweenskillsofmenandwomenonthisbasis.Inschoolsthroughouttheworldgirlstendtobebetterthanboysat"languagesubjects"andboysbetteratmathsandphysics.Ifthesedifferencescorrespondwiththedifferencesinthehemispherictrunkline,thereisanunalterabledistinctionbetweenthesexes.

Weshan'tknowforawhile,partlybecausewedon'tknowofanypreciserelationshipbetweenabilitiesinschoolsubjectandthefunctioningofthetwohalvesofthebrain,andwecannotunderstandhowthetwohalvesinteractviathecorpuscallosum.Butthisstrikingdifferencemusthavesomeeffectand,becausethedifferenceisinthepartsofthebraininvolvedinintellect,weshouldbelookingfordifferencesinintellectualprocessing.

WhichofthefollowingstatementsisCORRECT?

A.Biologistsareconductingresearchwherepsychologistshavegivenup.

B.Braindifferencespointtosuperiorityofonesexovertheother.

C.Resultsofscientificresearchfailtosupportpopularbelief.

D.Thestructuraldifferenceinthebrainbetweenthesexeshaslongbeenknown.

36.(74)

37.Women'smindsworkdifferentlyfrommen's.Atleast,thatiswhatmostmenareconvincedof.Psychologistsviewthesubjecteitherasamatterorfrustrationorajoke.Nowthebiologistshavemovedintothisminefield,andsomeofthemhavefoundthattherearerealdifferencesbetweenthebrainsofmenandwomen.Butbeingdifferent,theypointouthurriedly,isnotthesameasbeingbetterorworse.

Thereis,however,adefinitestructuralvariationbetweenthemaleandfemalebrain.Thedifferenceisinapartofthebrainthatisusedinthemostcomplexintellectualprocesses—thelinkbetweenthetwohalvesofthebrain.

Thetwohalvesarelinkedbyatrunklineofbetween200and300millionnerves,thecorpuscallosum.Scientistshavefoundquiterecentlythatthecorpuscallosuminwomenisalwayslargerandprobablyricherinnervefibersthanitisinmen.Thisisthefirsttimethatastructuraldifferencehasbeenfoundbetweenthebrainsofwomenandmenanditmusthavesomesignificance.Thequestionis"What?",and,ifthisdifferenceexists,arethereothers?Re-searchshowsthatpresent-daywomenthinkdifferentlyandbehavedifferentlyfrommen.Aresomeofthesedifferencesbiologicalandinborn,aresultofevolution?Wetendtothinkthatistheinfluenceofsocietythatproducesthesedifferences.Butcouldwebewrong?

Researchshowedthatthesetwohalvesofthebrainhaddifferentfunctions,andthatthecorpuscallosumenabledthemtoworktogether.Formostpeople,thelefthalfisusedforwordhanding,analyticalandlogicalactivities;therighthalfworksonpictures,patternsandforms.Weneedbothhalvesworkingtogether.Andthebettertheconnections,themoreharmoniouslythetwohalveswork.And,accordingtoresearchfindings,womenhavethebetterconnections.

Butitisn'tallthateasytoexplaintheactualdifferencesbetweenskillsofmenandwomenonthisbasis.Inschoolsthroughouttheworldgirlstendtobebetterthanboysat"languagesubjects"andboysbetteratmathsandphysics.Ifthesedifferencescorrespondwiththedifferencesinthehemispherictrunkline,thereisanunalterabledistinctionbetweenthesexes.

Weshan'tknowforawhile,partlybecausewedon'tknowofanypreciserelationshipbetweenabilitiesinschoolsubjectandthefunctioningofthetwohalvesofthebrain,andwecannotunderstandhowthetwohalvesinter-actviathecorpuscallosum.Butthisstrikingdifferencemusthavesomeeffectand,becausethedifferenceisinthepartsofthebraininvolvedinintellect,weshouldbelookingfordifferencesinintellectualprocessing.

WhichofthefollowingstatementsisCORRECT?

A.Biologistsareconductingresearchwherepsychologistshavegivenup.

B.Braindifferencespointtosuperiorityofonesexovertheother.

C.Resultsofscientificresearchfailtosupportpopularbelief.

D.Thestructura