阅读理解
Why do some men settle down
to form families with the mothers of their children, and others don't? Biology
plays a role. Work published by Lee Gettler of the University of Notre Dame, in
Indiana, clarifies how testosterone, the principal male hormone (荷尔蒙), operates.
Previous studies suggest
that high levels of testosterone are bad for family life. Fathers with lower
testosterone levels provide more child care while high-testosterone males are
less likely to stick around. Dr. Gettler has shown something further. This is
that a man's adult testosterone level seems correlated with whether his father
was present during his teenage years.
His data come from a survey
begun in the Philippines in 1983. This monitored the health and nutrition of
966 men enrolled as babies. It also collected extensive information on whether
the fathers of these men were around and providing parental care in the households.
It further documented whether participants got married, had children and
whether they participated in child care. Crucially, it also measured their
testosterone levels at the ages of 21, 26 and 30.
Overall, Dr. Gettler and
his colleagues found that on becoming fathers, men had lower testosterone
levels if their own fathers had been involved in their care during their
teenage years. It has two possible explanations. One is that it is directly
genetic (基因的). The other is that
teenage experience actually modulates (调节) testosterone levels. This
explanation, which Dr. Gettler favors, could lead to high-testosterone men
abandoning their sons, who thus become high-testosterone in their turn.
He also found some of those
in the survey whose fathers were absent during their adolescence, and who ended
up with high levels of the hormone, did become caring fathers. Why this pattern
should exist is an unanswered question. But a zoologist looking at these data
might take it as an example of developmental plasticity (可塑性), in which the same genes produce different, but appropriate,
outcomes in different circumstances.
Dr. Gettler's discovery
throws a useful light on the problem of fatherless families, and how to try to
end it.
(1)
What is Gettler's study mainly about?
A . Family life.
B . Fathers' roles.
C . Adult testosterone.
D . Child care.
(2)
What can be learnt about Dr. Gettler's study?
A . It was conducted among babies.
B . The finding is far from satisfactory.
C . The data used were relatively reliable.
D . It monitored the nutrition of participants.
(3)
Why is the zoologist mentioned in the passage?
A . To suggest a follow-up study.
B . To contradict Gettler's ideas.
C . To point out the study limitations.
D . To give a possible explanation.
(4)
Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?
A . Like Father, Like Son?
B . Caring Father, Happy Son?
C . Good Father, Good Son
D . Love Me, Love My Son
答案: C
C
D
A