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Washoe Learned American Sign Language
An animal that influenced scientific thought has died. A chimpanzee named Washoe and born in Africa died of natural causes late last month at the age of 42 at a research center in the American state of Washington. Washoe had become known in the scientific community and around the world for her ability to use American Sign Language. She was said to be the first non-human to learn a human language. Her skills also led to debate about primates and their ability to understand language.
Research scientists Allen and Beatrix Gardner began teaching Washoe sign language in 1966.
In 1969, the Gardners described Washoe's progress in a scientific report. The people who experimented with Washoe said she grew to understand about 250 words. For example, Washoe made signs to communicate when it was time to eat. She could request foods like apples and bananas. She also asked questions like, "Who is coming to play?" Once the news about Washoe spread, many language scientists began studies of their own into this new and exciting area of research. The whole direction of primate research changed.
However, critics argued Washoe only learned to repeat sign language movements from
watching her teachers. They said she had never developed true language skills. Even now, there are some researchers who suggest that primates learn sign language only by memory, and perform the signs only for prizes. Yet Washoe's keepers disagree. Roger Fouts is a former student of the Gardners. He took Washoe to a research center in Ellensburg, Washington. There, Washoe taught sign language to three younger chimpanzees, which are still alive.
Scientists like private researcher Jane Goodall believe Washoer provided new information about the mental workings of chimpanzees. Today, there are not as many scientists studying language skills with chimps. Part of the reason is that this kind of research takes a very long time.
Debate continues about chimps understanding of human communication. Yet, one thing is sure-- Washoe changed popular ideas about the possibilities of animal intelligence.
36. The Gardners' experiment with Washoe__________.
A. began in 1969.
B. won a big prize.
C. lasted three years.
D. influenced primate research.
37. The second paragraph mainly discusses__________.
A.a report about Washoe's progress in learning sign language.
B. the whole direction of primate research.
C. new primate researches conducted by many language scientists.
D. an experiment with Washoe at a research center in Africa.
38. The Gardners' experiment with Washoe was criticized because it can__________.
A. just ask some simple questions.
B. only copy teachers' sign language.
C. only memorize about 250 words.
D. just repeat short sentences.
39. According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. Roger Fours taught sign language to three younger chimpanzees.
B. Washoe was the first chimp to use American Sign Language.
C. A chimpanzee died of natural causes in Africa at a research center.
D. Nowadays there are still lots of scientists experimenting with chimpanzees.
40. We can draw a conclusion from the last paragraph that__________.
A. whether chimps can learn a human language remains unanswered.
B. primates have the ability to speak a language.
C. animals can's learn a human sign.
D. Washoe is as intelligent as humans.
答案與解析
36.D。題幹：Gardners對Washoe的實驗__________。細節題。利用題幹關鍵詞Gardners’experiment with Washoe進行定位，無法定位到第二段的前兩句，從中可知實驗開始於1966年，在1969年Gardners在其科學報告中描述了Washoe學習手語的緊張情況，由此可知選項A與C與文章資訊不一致;分別定位選項8和D的關鍵詞，發現文章沒有提及獲獎的事情，但是利用選項D的關鍵詞可以定位到第二段的結尾兩句，從中可知隨著Washoe學習手語的訊息的傳播，許多語言科學家開始了這個新領域的研究，由此改變了靈長目類動物研究的方向，所以選項D(影響了有關靈長目動物的研究)為正確答案。
37.A。題幹：第二段主要討論了__________。主旨題。仔細閱讀該段的首尾句，針對Washoe的實驗開始於l966年，這個實驗改變了靈長目動物研究的方向，談論都是細節，不是主題，而中間的其它句子談論的`都是Gardners的有關Washoe學習手語的報告的內容，故A(有關Washoe學習手語的進步的報告)是正確答案。
38.B。題幹：Gardners對Washoe的實驗受到批評是因為__________。細節題。利用題幹關鍵詞criticize可以定位到第三段的首句，即批評家認為Washoe只會觀察和重複老師的手語動作，由此可以推知B(僅僅複製老師的手語。)是正確答案。
39.B。題幹：根據短文，下列哪項是正確的?判斷題。利用選項A的關鍵詞Roger Fours和three可以定位到第三段的最後一句，可知是Washoe教三隻年幼的猩猩學習手語，而不是Roger Fouts，所以選項A與原文資訊不一致;利用選項B的關鍵詞Washoe和first可以定位到第一段的倒數第二旬，可知Washoe被認為是第一個學習手語的非人類動物，由此可知選項B與原文資訊一致;利用選項C的關鍵詞可以定位到第一段的第二句，可知一隻在美國華盛頓州研究中心的猩猩因為自然原因在上個月末死亡，所以選項c與原文資訊不一致;利用選項D的關鍵詞進行定位，沒有發現相關資訊。因而該題答案為B(Washoe是第一隻使用美國手語的猩猩)。
40.A。題幹：從最後一段我們可以得出結論__________。推斷題。從最後一段來看，有關猩猩是否理解人類交流的爭論仍將繼續，但是有一點可以確定的是，Washoe改變了有關動物智力的可能性的一般看法，故該題答案為A(是否猩猩能學會人類語言仍舊沒有答案)。
