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Washoe Learned American Sign Language

　　1 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 community1 and around the world for her ability to use American Sign Language2 . She was said to be the first non-human to learn a human language. Her skills also led to debate3 about primates and their ability to understand language.

　　2 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 understand4 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?" Once5 the news about Washoe spread，many language scientists began studies of their own6 into this new and exciting area of research. The whole direction of primate research changed.

　　3 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 Gardners7 . He took Washoe to a research center in Ellensburg，Washington. There，Washoe taught sign language to three younger chimpanzees，which are still alive.

　　4 Scientists like private researcher Jane Goodall believe8 Washoe 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.

　　5 Debate continues about chimps' understanding of human communication. Yet，one thing is sure - Washoe changed popular ideas about the possibilities of animal intelligence.

　　詞匯：

　　chimpanzee  n. 黑猩猩

　　critic n. 評(píng)論家，批評(píng)家

　　community  n. 社區(qū)，圈子

　　workings n. 活動(dòng)，運(yùn)行

　　primate  n. 靈長(zhǎng)類動(dòng)物

　　chimp n. = chimpanzee 黑猩猩

　　注釋：

　　1. in the scientific community:在科學(xué)界，在科學(xué)家的圈子里

　　2. American Sign Language（ ASL） ：美國(guó)手語。利用手、臉部表情、身體姿勢(shì)表達(dá)思想的美聾啞人語言。在加拿大、墨西哥等地也使用 ASL。ASL與British Sign Language （BSL，英國(guó)手語）不同，兩者不能相互理解。

　　3. led to debate:引起辯論。lead to意為"導(dǎo)致" ，to為介詞，debate為名詞。

　　4，…she grew to understand about 250 words:…她逐漸掌握了約 250 個(gè)單詞。grow to 是"漸漸"的意思。

　　5. once:一旦。once是連接詞。例如:Children like to cycle once they have learned how. 小孩一旦學(xué)會(huì)了如何騎自行車，就會(huì)喜歡上它。

　　6. of their own:屬于自己的。of their own 的含義與 on their own 不同，on their own 是"獨(dú)自"的意思。

　　7. the Gardners：Gardner夫婦

　　8. Scientists like private researcher Jane Goodall believe ... :像個(gè)體研究者Jane Goodall這樣的科學(xué)家相信......，like，(像，跟……一樣)是介詞，本句的謂語是 believe。句子中的 private

　　researcher意為"不受雇于任何單位，自己獨(dú)立工作的科研人員"。

　　練習(xí)：

　　1. Paragraph 1_____

　　2. Paragraph 2_____

　　3. Paragraph 3_____

　　4. Paragraph 4_____

　　A Reason Why Not Many Scientists Carry out This Research Nowdays

　　B Report about Washoe'.s Progress in Learning Sign Language

　　C Genera1 Information about Washoe

　　D The Gardeners' Contributions Recognized

　　E Debate on Chimps' Intelligence

　　F Washoe's Love for Three Young Chimps

　　5. Washoe could make signs to communicate_____.

　　6. Some scientists doubted_____.

　　7. Washoe taught three younger chimps sign language_____.

　　8. The experimenters thought Washoe was intelligent_____.

　　A if the Gardeners'argument was sound

　　B because she was cleverer than other chimps

　　C when she wanted to eat

　　D while she was at a research center in Ellensburg

　　E because she could use sign language to ask for fruits

　　F while Washoe was learning sign language

　　答案與題解：

　　1. C 第一段主要介紹黑猩猩 Washoe 的出生地、死亡年齡、被帶到美國(guó)學(xué)習(xí)美式手語等一般情況。用 General Information about Washoe 來概括是很準(zhǔn)確的。

　　2. B 第二段的關(guān)鍵句是：In 1969 ，the Gardners described Washoe's progress in a scientific report。隨后的句子簡(jiǎn)略介紹了 Washoe 的學(xué)習(xí)情況和結(jié)果，如已學(xué)會(huì) 250 個(gè)單詞，并能用手語表達(dá)"該吃飯了"等概念。所以，Report about Washoe's progress in learning sign language (選項(xiàng) B) 是答案。

　　3. E 第三段介紹了對(duì) Gardener 夫婦發(fā)表的報(bào)告有兩種不同的解讀。一派認(rèn)為 Washoe 的手語能力只是機(jī)械重復(fù)、死記硬背、物質(zhì)激勵(lì)的結(jié)果，不是智能的表現(xiàn)。另一派認(rèn)為這是智能的表現(xiàn)，其證據(jù)是 Washoe 還能教三個(gè)小猩猩學(xué)習(xí)手語。爭(zhēng)論的焦點(diǎn)是黑猩猩有沒有智能。選項(xiàng) E 用 debate 來概括上述爭(zhēng)論，所以是答案。

　　4. A 第四段解釋了為什么現(xiàn)在從事這項(xiàng)研究的科學(xué)家人數(shù)不多。部分原因是研究周期太長(zhǎng)。

　　5. C 選 C 的依據(jù)是第二段第四句：Washoe made signs to communicate when it was time to eat。

　　6. A 第三段的上半段說了一些科學(xué)家對(duì) Gardener 夫婦的實(shí)驗(yàn)的解讀所持懷疑態(tài)度。題干中出現(xiàn)的 doubted 引導(dǎo)我們選 A。

　　7. D 選 D 的依據(jù)是第三段的最后一句，即 "He took Washoe to a research center in Ellensburg，Washington. There，Washoe taught sign language to three younger chimpanzees，which are still alive.

　　8. E 本文第二段談到實(shí)驗(yàn)的成果時(shí)有這一個(gè)句子："She could request foods like apples and bananas.根據(jù)全段意思和上述句子，選擇 E 是正確的。

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