阅读理解
If we want to know
where our capability for complex language came from, we need to look at how our
brains are different from other animals. This relates to more than just brain
size. It is important to know what other things our brains can do and when and
why they evolved that way. One thing we can see in the remains of early humans,
is the development of the mouth, throat and tongue, which allowed language to
evolve.
At some point, our
brains became able to make our mouths produce vowel and consonant sounds, and
we developed the capacity to invent words to name things around us. These were
the basic ingredients for complex language. The next change would have been to
put those words into sentences. However, no one knows if the next step - adding
grammar to signal past, present and future, for example, or plurals and
relative clauses - required a further development in the human brain or was
simply a response to our increasingly civilized way of living together.
Between 100, 000 and
50, 000 years ago, we start to see the evidence of early human civilization
through cave paintings, though no one knows the connection between this and
language. However, human brains did get bigger at this period. Moreover, humans
did become more complex and more intelligent. Was it using language that caused
their brains to develop, so that human could produce cave paintings? Or did
their more complex brains start producing language? It was not clear yet.
More questions lie in
looking at the influence of genetics on brain and language development. Are
there genes that mutated(突变)and gave
us language ability? Researchers have found a gene mutation that occurred
between 200, 000 and 100, 000 years ago, which seems to have a connection with
speaking and how our brains control our mouths and faces. Monkeys have a
similar gene, but it did not undergo this mutation. It's too early to say how
much influence genes have on language, but one day the answers might be found
in our DNA.
(1)
Which factor contributes to the development of language?
A . The development of the human brain.
B . The complexity of the language structure.
C . The connection between diet and mutation.
D . The similarity between humans and monkeys.
(2)
What led to producing basic sounds in language?
A . The invention of grammar.
B . The response to living together.
C . The requirement of civilization.
D . The development of the mouth.
(3)
Why did the author mention "cave paintings" in paragraph 3?
A . To introduce a new topic about genetics.
B . To make a summary about the connection.
C . To present question about language and civilization.
D . To clear a misunderstanding about language development.
(4)
What is the writer's attitude to the findings of genes?
A . Unclear.
B . Positive.
C . Doubtful.
D . Indifferent.
答案: A
D
C
B