硕士研究生英语学位-23-真题-无答案

硕士研究生英语学位-23(总分100,考试时间90分钟)PARTⅠLISTENINGCOMPREHENSIONSectionADirections:Inthissection,youwillhearnineshortconversationsbetweentwospeakers.Attheendofeachconversationaquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Theconversationsandthequestionswillbereadonlyonce.Choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesgivenbymarkingthecorrespondingletterwithasinglebaracrossthesquarebracketsonyourmachine-scoringAnswerSheet.

【点此下载音频文件】1.A.Eatalittlebitpotatochips.

B.Staywithhisdecision.

C.Changehisgoal.

D.Throwawaythetrash.2.A.Amymisseslecturesfromtimetotime.

B.Amydoesn'tpaymuchattentioninclass.

C.Amyprobablyknowshowtoanswerthisquestion.

D.Amyisstuckwiththesamequestion.3.A.Apetpsychologist.

B.Aschoolteacher.

C.Afitnesstrainer.

D.Afurnituredesigner.4.A.Shecan'tgivehimanygoodadvice.

B.Sheisveryfamiliarwiththecity.

C.SheisnewtoNewYork.

D.Shewon'tlendahandtohim.5.A.Someonefamousisridinginthecar.

B.Shehasanicecollectionofcarphotos.

C.Thecarisinfrontofsomethinginteresting.

D.Thedesignofthecarisreallyimpressive.

【点此下载音频文件】6.A.ThetraintotheMarketSquareiscancelled.

B.ThemanhasmissedthetraintotheMarketSquare.

C.Thenexttrainwillleaveintenminutes.

D.Theman**etoawrongstation.7.A.Hedoesn'tbelieveherstory.

B.Heisnotsurprisedtohearthat.

C.Healsowantstoloseweight.

D.Hecareslittleabouthissize.8.A.

Marywillshowupontime.

B.Maryisalwayslate.

C.Maryhasagoodexcuseforherabsence.

D.Marywaskeptbusywithwork.9.A.Heisaclumsyperson.

B.Heisagoodwaiter.

C.Heisacarefulguy.

D.Heisatoughman.SectionBDirections:Inthissectionyouwillheartwomini-talks.Attheendofeachtalk,therewillbesomequestions.Boththetalksandthequestionswillbereadtoyouonlyonce.Aftereachquestion,therewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesgivenbymarkingthecorrespondingletterwithasinglebaracrossthesquarebracketsonyourmachine-scoringAnswerSheet.

【点此下载音频文件】1.A.One.

B.Two.

C.Three.

D.Four.2.A.Becausetheylearnedadifferentwritingstructure.

B.Becausetheydon'tappreciatethistypeofformulawriting.

C.Becausetheyusedtowritelongacademicpapers.

D.Becausetheyhavedifferentproblem-solvingstrategies.3.A.Placingthethesisatthebeginning.

B.Writingshortersentences.

C.Statingthemainideaattheendofthepaper.

D.Usingfewerdescriptivewords.

【点此下载音频文件】4.A.Organicfarmingcanreducesoilerosion.

B.Organiccropsproduceloweryields.

C.Organicallygrownfoodtastesstrange.

D.Organicfarmingisbetterfortheenvironment,5.A.

Itwillgrow70%.

B.Ittendstoberelativelystable.

C.Itisexpectedtodecline.

D.Itcoulddouble.6.A.Organicfarmingonalargescale.

B.Acombinationoforganicandconventionalmethods.

C.Conventionalfarmingwithoutanyuseoffertilizers.

D.Geneticfarmingusedwithcaution.SectionCDirections:Inthissectionyouwillhearashortlecture.Listentotherecording**pletethenotesaboutthelecture,Youwillbeartherecordingtwice.Aftertherecordingyouareaskedtowritedownyouranswerson,theAnswerSheet,Younowhave25secondstoreadthenotesbelow.

【点此下载音频文件】1.Whetherit'syourfriend'stermpaperorwordsofawell-knownauthor,plagiarismis______(3words).2.First,whenCassiequotesanauthordirectly,sheuses______(2words)aroundthewords.3.Second,she'scarefultouse______(4words)whenshe'snotquotingdirectly.4.Third,shecanuseideaslikedrawings,speeches,music,structuralmodelsandstatisticsaslongas______(3words).5.Andlastly,sheisawarethatsomeideasare______(2words)anddon'tneedasource.PARTⅡVOCABULARYSectionADirections:Therearetenquestionsinthissection.Eachquestionisasentencewithonewordorphraseunderlined,BelowthesentencearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosethewordorphrasethatisclosestinmeaningtotheunderlinedone.Markthecorrespondingletterwithasinglebaracrossthesquarebracketsonyourmachine-scoringAnswerSheet.1.Theamountofhomeassignmentsnormallydiminishestowardstheendofthesemester.A.decreases

B.improves

C.mounts

D.fluctuates2.Withoutthesepreventivemeasures,televisionpicturewouldbecomeunclearandfragmented.A.fragile

B.invisible

C.discontinued

D.vulgar3.Weenjoyedtheholidayexceptfortheexpensethatseemedalittlebitbeyondourexpectation.A.apartfrom

B.thanksto

C.priorto

D.asfor4.Theheavyearthquakeoccurredintheafternoon,causinganinconceivabledamage.A.unnecessary

B.unreasonable

C.unavoidable

D.unbelievable5.I'11trytofulfillmypromisetomyparentsthatIcantakecareofmyselfatcollege.A.fallbackon

B.liveupto

C.goinfor

D.breakdowninto6.Wildlifeconservationinvolvescaringfortheirhabitatandcreatingmorenaturereserves.A.reservation

B.utilization

C.dedication

D.protection7.Thereisstillsomereluctanceonthepartofemployerstobecomeinvolvedinthisproject.A.comingfrom

B.resultingin

C.focusedon

D.concernedwith8.Itisgenerallyrecognizedthatdifferentformsofmusiccanconveydifferentkindsofsentiment.A.audience

B.instrument

C.requirement

D.emotion9.Thespokesmantalkedaboutthecauseoftheaccident,butthemediadidn'tseemtobuyit.A.purchase

B.exaggerate

C.accept

D.confirm10.Aspoliticalstabilityisoneofourprimeconcerns,wehavemuchfaithinthegovernment.A.minor

B.principal

C.ordinary

D.previousSectionBDirections:Therearetenquestionsinthissection.Eachquestionisasentencewithsomethingmissing.BeloweachsentencearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD,Chooseonewordorphrasethat**pletesthesentence,Markthecorrespondingletterwithasinglebaracrossthesquarebracketsonyourmachine-scoringAnswerSheet.1.Ifonehopestoeatabrain-healthdiet,______whattobelievecanbeoverwhelming.A.wearingout

B.figuringout

C.turningout

D.runningout2.Rescuetroopsweresenttohelpthevehicles______thedeepsnowatshortnotice.A.stuckin

B.soakedwith

C.affiliatedto

D.intendedfor3.Eatingbettercouldhelpreducethebrain______,saveourmemoryandkeeponealert.A.package

B.leakage

C.drainage

D.shrinkage4.Humanlanguagecanimpartdetailedinformationaboutmattersnotdirectly______tooursenses.A.disposable

B.accessible

C.feasible

D.edible5.Thisstudyinvolvesmonitoringthesleep______of100mentallyhealthypeopleaged45to80.A.rules

B.orders

C.characters

D.patterns6.Smokersmayresumesmokingtocontrolweightsincepoundstypically______whensmokingisdiscontinued.A.growup

B.coverup

C.creepup

D.lookup7.Thegovernmentwill______alongtimetodissipatethemistrustamongstakeholdersinthemarket.A.take

B.spend

C.cost

D.involve8.Harvardreceived30,489applicationsthisyear,______29,114applicationslastyear.A.forexample

B.comparedto

C.suchas

D.butfor9.ThedesiretospeakgoodEnglishhasdriventhesechildrentomakearemarkabletwo-hour______toschooleveryday.A.visit

B.tour

C.journey

D.outing10.OurbusinesspartnerinBeijingisfriendlyenoughtooffermeacar______.A.tonoavail

B.onmyown

C.beyondmyreach

D.atmydisposalPARTⅢCLOZEDirections:Thereare10questionsinthispartofthetest.Readthepassagethrough.Then,gobackandchooseonesuitablewordorphrasemarkedA,B,C,orDforeachblankinthepassage.Markthecorrespondingletterofthewordorphraseyouhavechosenwithasinglebaracrossthesquarebracketsonyourmachine-scoringAnswerSheet.

Recentprogressinpublichealthhashelpedpeoplelivelongerandhealthierlives.Thereisabundantevidenceof

1

theuseofexistingknowledgehasledtomajorimprovementsinthelife

2

andqualityoflifeofmiddle-agedandolderpeople.Yetapproximatelyfourinfivechronicdiseasedeathsnowoccurinlowandmiddleincomecountries,whosepeoplearealsomore

3

todyingprematurely.

Theresultsofstudiessuggestthataglobalgoalforpreventingchronicdiseaseisneededtogeneratethe

4

actionsrequiredtoreducethediseaseburden.Thetargetforthisproposedgoalisanadditional2%reductioninthedeath

5

fromchronicdiseaseannuallyoverthenext10yearsto2015.Theindicatorsforthemeasurementofsuccess

6

thisgoalarethenumberofchronicdiseasedeaths

7

andthenumberofhealthylifeyearsgained.Thistargetwasdeveloped

8

theachievementsofseveralcountries,suchasPoland,whichachieveda6-10%annualreductionincardiovasculardeathsduringthe1990s.Similarresultshavebeenrealizedinanumberofcountries

9

in**prehensiveprogramshavebeen

10

.1.A.which

B.how

C.what

D.that2.A.form

B.origin

C.expectancy

D.story3.A.easy

B.prone

C.immune

D.possible4.A.sustained

B.retained

C.entertained

D.constrained5.A.quantity

B.extent

C.toll

D.intensity6.A.near

B.at

C.towards

D.by7.A.increased

B.prevented

C.saved

D.destroyed8.A.aheadof

B.basedon

C.knownto

D.lackingin9.A.byfar

B.justnow

C.sofar

D.sothat10.A.introduced

B.performed

C.rehearsed

D.watchedPARTⅣREADINGCOMPREHENSIONDirections:Inthispartofthetest,therearefiveshortpassages,Readeachpassagecarefully,andthendothequestionsthatfollow.Choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesgivenandmarkthecorrespondingletterwithasinglebaracrossthesquarebracketsonyourmachine-scoringAnswerSheet.PassageOne

Overthepast30years,thechildhoodobesityrateintheUnitedStateshasdoubledforchildrenandtripledforadolescents.Since95percentofyoungpeopleareenrolledinschools,manyexpertsbelieveinnovativeschoolprogramscangoalongwaytohelpingfightchildhoodobesity.

CalvaryPreschoolinPittsford,Vermont,iseventeachingthechildrenhowtoenjoyplayingoutside.TheideaofhavingtoteachkidshowtoplayoutsideleavesAnitaCaldwell,ateacherthere,dumbfounded."Youjustkindoftakeforgrantedthatkidswanttogooutsideandplaybutthenyourecognize,whenyoutalktothem,thattheydon't,"saysCaldwell."TheyspendtheirdaywithalargescreenTVandsomesnacks."

Fellowteacher,LauraPeterson,agrees."WhenIwasgrowingup--'shoo!'--outthedoorinthemorningandyou'dplayoutsideuntilthestreetlightscameonatnight."Butit'sdifferenttoday,shesays.Withmanyparentsworking,it'softeneasierforthemtohavetheirkidsplayinsidewithavideogameorwatchTV

Petersonsaysanearlychildhoodeducationclassgotherthinkingaboutwaystoincorporatemoreactivityintotheirschoolday.Shebegantoresearchplaygroundequipmentandfoundmanyexpertsrecommendingthebenefitsof"backtonature"unstructuredplay.Kidstodayaremoreusedtostructuredplay,wheretheyhavetofollowrules,listentoacoach,orplayonspecificequipment.So,shesays,theirfirstbigchallengewasgettingthekidstofreelyexplorethethingsalongthetrail.

"Whenwestartedtogooffthetrailintothewoods,thekidshadnoideawhattodo.Isaid,'Wow,lookatallthesetrees,let'splay!'Andtheykindoflookedatme,'Whatareyoutalkingabout?'Sowehadtoshowthemhowtowalkontreesandhowtoswingoffthemontootherbranchesandseethelittleholesunderneaththatyoucanplayin."

Atatimewhenmanyschoolshavecutbackontheirphysicaleducationprograms,Calvary'sweeklyhikedayisunique.Onedayaweekoutsideprobablyisn'tenough,Petersonsays.Butasshewatchesherstudentsrunthroughthewoods,shesmiles,andsaysit'sagoodstart.1.Whatistheopinionofmanyexpertsonchildhoodobesity?A.Schoolsarelargelytoblamefortheproblem.

B.Schoolscanactuallydolittleabouttheproblem.

C.Schoolscanplayabigroleinaddressingtheproblem.

D.Schoolsaresupposedtooffersolutionstotheproblem.2.Theword"dumbfounded"(Para.2)mostprobablymeans______.A.relieved

B.surprised

C.uninterested

D.excited3.Comparedwiththekidsinthepast,kidstoday______.A.wouldratherplayalone

B.enjoyindooractivitiesmore

C.preferorganizedoutdoorplays

D.spendmoretimeplayingwithparents4.Intheunstructuredplay,kidsmostly______.A.needtofollowordersstrictly

B.learntousebasicequipment

C.havetoworkwithateam

D.playwithoutmuchrestriction5.Paragraph5mainlydescribes______.A.thekids'unfamiliaritywiththewoods

B.thekids'understandingofwoods

C.thepurposeoftrainingkidsinthewoods

D.thebenefitsofplayinginthewoods6.Whichofthefollowingbestsummarizestheauthor'sattitudetowardoutdoorplay?A.Critical.

B.Neutral.

C.Supportive.

D.Unclear.PassageTwo

In1977IrenePepperbergdidsomethingverybold.Atatimewhenanimalsstillwereconsideredautomaticinbehavior,shesetouttofindoutwhatwasonanothercreature'smindbytalkingtoit.

Atthattime,manyscientistsbelievedanimalswereincapableofanythought.Theyweresimplymachines,robotsprogrammedtoreacttostimulibutlackingtheabilitytothinkorfeel."That'swhyIstartedmystudieswithAlex,"Pepperbergsaid.Alexwasaone-year-oldAfricangrayparrotPepperbergboughtinaChicagopetstore.Sheletthestore'sassistantpickhimoutbecauseshedidn'twantotherscientistssayinglaterthatshe'dintentionallychosenanespeciallysmartbirdforherwork.GiventhatAlex'sbrainwasthesizeofashelledwalnut,mostresearchersthoughtPepperberg's**municationstudywouldfail.

UnderPepperberg'spatientinstruction,AlexlearnedhowtousehisvocaltracttoimitatealmostonehundredEnglishwords.Theywereclearlyateam--andbecauseoftheirwork,thenotionthatanimalscanthinkisnolongersofanciful.SinceAlexwasabletoproduceacloseapproximationofthesoundsofsomeEnglishwords,Pepperbergcouldaskhimquestionsaboutabird'sbasicunderstandingoftheworld.Ofcourseshecouldn'taskhimwhathewasthinkingabout,butshecouldaskhimabouthisknowledgeofnumbers,shapes,andcolors.Todemonstrate,Pepperbergtookagreenkeyandasmallgreencupfromabasketonashelf.SheheldupthetwoitemstoAlex'seye.

"What'ssame?"sheasked.

Withouthesitation,Alex'ssaid."Co-lor."

"What'sdifferent?"Pepperbergasked.

"Shape,"Alexsaid.Hisvoicehadthedigitizedsoundofacartooncharacter.Butthewords--andwhatcanonlybecalledthethoughts--wereentirelyhis.

And,then,asiftoofferfinalproofofthemindinsidehisbird'sbrain,Alexspokeup."Talkclearly!"hecommanded,whenoneoftheyoungerbirdsPepperbergwasalsoteachingmispronouncedthewordgreen."Talkclearly!""Theyneedtobeabletodistinguishcolorstoknowwhenafruitisripeorunripe,"Pepperbergnoted."Theyneedtoknowtheshapesoftheirenemies.Andithelpstohaveaconceptofnumbersifyouneedtokeeptrackofyourflock.Foralonglivedbird,youcan'tdoallofthiswithinstinct;cognitionmustbeinvolved."1.IrenePepperbergisprobablysomeonewho______.A.likestofollowthebooks

B.isalwayspreparedforchances

C.knowswhentogiveup

D.hasapioneeringspirit2.ItcanbelearnedfromParagraph2thatAlex______.A.wasanextremelycleverbird

B.waswell-trainedbythepetstore

C.wasrandomlychosenforthestudy

D.wastooyoungforthestudy3.HowdidotherscientistsviewPepperberg'sstudyatfirst?A.Itwouldbealong-termproject.

B.Itwouldprobablybeafruitlesseffort.

C.Itwouldbehardtojudgeitsvalue.

D.Itwouldbeaninterestingattempt.4.Pepperberg'sstudywithAlexwasintendedtoprovethatanimals______.A.dohavethoughts

B.dolivelonglives

C.canbecomeman'sfriends

D.canlearntospeak5.Theword"cognition"inthelastparagraphreferstoA.thereproductionofhumansound

B.theunderstandingofthehumanworld

C.theabilitytoacquireknowledge

D.theskilltolookafterone'sflock6.Thepassagefocuseson______.A.thenewwayofcommunicationPepperbergproposed

B.theproblemsthatPepperbergfacedintheexperiment

C.whatcausedPepperbergtocarryouttheexperiment

D.howPepperbergprovedhertheoryaboutanimalthoughtPassageThere

Evenduringthehorseandcarriagedays,trafficinbigcitieswasoftenheavy.Policeofficershadtobestationedfulltimedirectingtrafficatbusyintersections.

Theworld'sfirsttrafficlightcameintobeingbeforetheautomobilewasinuse,andtrafficconsistedonlyofpedestrians,carriagesandwagons.OnDecember10,1868,thefirsttrafficlightswereinstalledoutsidetheBritishHousesofParliamentinLondon,bytherailwayengineerJ.P.Knight.Theyresembledrailwaysignalsofthetime,withsignalingarmsandredandgreengaslampsfornightuse.Thegaslanternwasturnedwithaleveratitsbasesothattheappropriatelightfacedtraffic.Unfortunately,itexplodedon2January1869,injuringthepolicemanwhowasoperatingit.

ThemodernelectrictrafficlightisanAmericaninvention.Asearlyas1912inSaltLakeCity,Utah,policemanLesterWireinventedthefirstred-greenelectrictrafficlights.On5August1914,theAmericanTrafficSignalCompanyinstalledatrafficsignalsystem.Ithadtwocolors,redandgreen,andabuzzer,basedonthedesignofJamesHoge,toprovideawarningforcolorchanges.ThedesignbyJamesHogeallowedpoliceandfirestationstocontrolthesignalsincaseofemergency.Thefirstfour-way,three-colortrafficlightwascreatedbypoliceofficerWilliamPottsinDetroit,Michiganin1920.

TimersontrafficlightswerefirstseeninTaipei,China,andthenbroughttotheU.S.afteranengineerdiscovereditsuse.ThoughuncommoninmostAmericanurbanareas,timersarestillusedinsomeotherWesternHemispherecountries.Timersareusefulfordriverstoplanifthereisenoughtimetoattempttocrossthecrossroadbeforethelightturnsredandtheamountoftimebeforethelightturnsgreen.

Thecolorsofthetrafficlightsarepsychologicallyassociatedwiththemessagetheyaremeanttotransmit.Redisclassicallyseenasacolorrepresentingdangerorcaution.(Therearecountlessphrasesandidiomsthatuse"red"asamessageofthebadorunknown--"inthered"and"seeingred.")Green,ontheotherhand,isareassuringcolorinmostcultures--thecolorofnatureandgrowth;ofharmony,freshness,andfertility.Greenhasastrongemotionalcorrespondencewiththeideaofsafety,andwasintuitivelychosentoguidepedestriansresponsiblythroughanintersection.1.Beforetrafficlightswereputintoplace,______.A.traffichadbeguntoshowsignsofproblems

B.carshadalreadycausedsometrafficproblems

C.trafficcongestionwasconsideredoutofcontrol

D.therewasnotmuchtrafficonurbanroads2.itcanbelearnedthatthefirsttrafficlight______.A.couldbecontrolledfromadistance

B.waspoweredbyelectricity

C.hadtobeoperatedbyhand

D.causedmoreharmthangood3.Thefirstelectronictrafficlightwasinventedby______.A.JamesHoge

B.J.P.Knight

C.LesterWire

D.WilliamPotts4.Whichofthefollowingstatementsabouttimersistrue?A.TheywereinventedbyanAmericanengineer.

B.TheyarewidelyusedinmostAmericancities.

C.Theyarequitenecessaryfordirectingtraffic.

D.Theyhelpdriversmakedecisionsatthecrossroads.5.Inthelastparagraph,theauthormeansto______.A.analyzetheculturalmeaningsofdifferentcolors

B.explainwhyredandgreenarechosenfortrafficlights

C.pointoutthebenefitsofdesigningcoloredtrafficlights

D.praisetheinventorsoftrafficlightsfortheircreativity6.Thepassagemainlydiscusses______.A.thefunctionoftrafficlights

B.theevolutionoftrafficlights

C.theimportanceoftrafficlights

D.theoperationoftrafficlightsPassageFouro

Muchinkhasbeenspilledonthequestionofhumanhairlessness:why,asDesmondMorrisputitinthetitleofabookpublishedini967,humankindis"TheNakedApe."Lessattentionhasbeenpaid,though,tothefactthathumansarenotreallyhairlessatall.Persquarecentimeterhumanskinhasasmanyhairfollicles(毛囊)asthatofothergreatapes.Thedifferenceisinthefinenessofthehair.Thesefinehumanhairsdonotseemtoperformanyofthefunctionsoftheircounterpartsinmorehairyspecies(insulationandsignaling).Sowhataretheyfor?

ThatisaquestionaddressedbyIsabelleDeanandMichaelSiva-JothyofSheffieldUniversity,inBritain,whotooktremendouspersuasionandefforttorecruit29volunteers--19menand10women.Eachhadapatchofskinononearmshaved,markedwithapenandsurroundedbypetroleumjelly,andapatchofthesamesizeontheothermarkedandsurrounded,butnotshaved.Thebugshadbeenfedaweekandthenstarved,sotheywereeagertoeat.Volunteerswereaskedtolookawaywhilearesearcherputabugononeoftheskinpatches.Thevolunteerwasthensupposedtorecord,usingapress-buttoncounter,thenumberoftimesheperceivedtheinsectmovingonhisskin.

Thedifferencewassignificant.Whenthebugwasonahairypatchitwasdetected,onaverage,everyfourseconds.Whenitwasonashavedpatch,morethantensecondselapsedbetweendetections.Moreover,thebugsseemedtofindithardertolocateagoodspottobitewhentheyweresurroundedbyhair.Thoughnovolunteerwasactuallybitten,becausethevigilanceofthewatchingresearchermeanttheinsectswereremovedwhentheywerereadyforbiting,bugsonhairyskintookaboutafifthlongerthanthoseonshavedskintoattempttobitetheirhosts.

Inbothcasesmenwerebetteroffthanwomenwhenthebugswerereleasedonunshavenpatchesofskin,thoughtherewasnosignificantdifferencebetweenthesexeswhentheywereshaved.Theconclusionisthatonereasonhumanbodyhairhasnot**pletelyistowarnandprotectusfromtheattentionofhostileinsects.1.TheauthorthinksthatDesmondMorrisandthoseholdingsimilarviews______.A.haveoverlookedthefact

B.haveneverstudiedhumanhairlessness

C.have**monsense

D.haveraisedagoodargument2.DeanandSiva-Jothyhypothesizedbeforetheexperimentthatthebodyhairofhumans______.A.isbasicallyuseless

B.mayeventuallydisappear

C.performsrealfunctions

D.playsasimilarroleasthatofotherspecies3.1tisimpliedinthepassagethat______.A.volunteersfortheexperimentweredifficulttofind

B.manystudentsweredeniedthechancetobeinthetest

C.morevolunteerswereneededtomakethetestreliable

D.studentsingeneralwereinterestedintheexperiment4.Paragraph2focusesontheexperiment's______.A.requirements

B.procedure

C.feasibility

D.rationale5.Significantdifferencewasfound______.A.betweenmaleandfemalevolunteersunderallconditions

B.whenonepartoftheskinwasshavedwhiletheotherremainedhairy

C.whensomebugswerestarvedwhiletheotherswerewell-fed

D.whensomevolunteerswereallowedtoseewhiletheothersweren't6.ThefindingsoftheexperimentA.giveareasonableexplanationforwhyhumanbodyhairhasshrunk

B.failtoestablishalinkbetweenhumanbodyhairandskinproblems

C.offeroneevidenceforwhyhumanbodyhairisstillheretothisday

D.confirmwhatwehavealreadyknownabouthumanbodyhairPassageFive

CARDINALMEZZOFANTIofBolognawasasaintwhowassaidtospeak72languages.NoonewascertainofthetrueFigure,butitwasalot.VisitorsflockedfromallcornersofEuropetotesthimandcameawaystunned.Twocondemnedprisonerswereduetobeexecuted,butnooneknewtheirlanguagetoheartheirconfession.Mezzofantilearneditinanight,heardtheirsinsthenextmorningandsavedthemfromhell.

Orsothelegendgoes.InBabelNoMore,MichaelErardhaswrittenthefirstseriousbookaboutthepeoplewhomastervastnumbersoflanguages.Ajournalistwithsomelinguisticstraining,Mr.Erardisnotahyperpolyglothimself,butheapproacheshistopicwithbothwonderandahealthydashofskepticism.

Tofindoutwhetheranyonecouldreallylearnsomanylanguages,Mr.ErardsetouttofindmodernMezzofantis.Thepeoplehemeetsarecertainlyinteresting.Onemanwithamentalageofninehasavastmemoryforforeignwordsandtheuseofgrammaticalendings,buthecannotseemtobreakfreeofEnglishword-order.KenHale,whowasalinguistatMITanddiedin2001,wassaidtohavelearned50languages.Professionallinguistsstillswearbyhistalent.Butheinsistedhespokeonlythreeandcouldmerely"talk"inothers.Mr.Erardsaysthattruehyperpolyglotterybeginsatabout11languages,andthatwhilelegendsabound,triedandtestedexemplarsarefew.

Hyperpolyglotsarelikelytobeintroverted,which**easasurprisetosome.Hale'ssonalwayssaidthat,inhisfather'scase,languageswereacloakforashyman.EmilKrebs,aGermandiplomatwhowasalso.creditedwithknowing