Motherhood may make women smarter and may help prevent dementia(痴呆) in old age by bathing the brain in protective hormones(荷尔蒙) , U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

Tests on rats show that those who raise two or more litters of pups do considerably better in tests of memory and skills than rats who have no babies, and their brains show changes that suggest they may be protected against diseases such as Alzheimer’s(早老痴呆症). University of Richmond psychology professor Craig Kinsley believes his findings will translate into humans.

“Our research shows that the hormones of pregnancy(怀孕) are protecting the brain, including estrogen(雌激素), which we know has many neuroprotective (保护神经的) effects,” Kinsley said.　

“It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals,” he added in a telephone interview. “They go through pregnancy and hormonal changes.”

Kinsley said he hoped public health officials and researchers will look to see if having had children protects a woman from Alzheimer’s and other forms of age-related brain decline.

“When people think about pregnancy, they think about what happens to babies and the mother from the neck down,” said Kinsley, who presented his findings to the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in Orlando, Florida.

“They do not realize that hormones are washing on the brain. If you look at female animals who have never gone through pregnancy, they act differently toward young. But if she goes through pregnancy, she will sacrifice her life for her infant—that is a great change in her behavior that showed in genetic alterations(改变) to the brain.”

1. How do scientists know “Motherhood may make women smarter”?

A. Some researchers have told them.

B. Many women say so.

C. They know it by experimenting on rats.

D. They know it through their own experience.

2. What does the phrase “litters of pups” mean in the second paragraph?

A. Baby rats.　 B. Animals.　 C. Old rats.　　 D. Grown-up rats.

3. What can protect the brain of a woman according to the passage?

A. Estrogen.　　　　 　　 B. The hormones of pregnancy.　　

C. More exercise.　 　　　 D. Taking care of children.

4. “It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals.” What does the sentence suggest?

A. The experiments on the rats have nothing to do with humans.

B. The experiments on the rats are very important for animals.

C. The experiments on the rats are much the same on humans.

D. The experiments on the rats are much the same on other animals.

5. Which title is the best for this passage?

A. Do You Want to Be Smarter?

B. Motherhood Makes Women Smarter

C. Mysterious Hormones　

D. An Important Study

— Alice came back home the day before yesterday.
   — Really ? Where ＿＿ ?
A. has she been          B. had she been           C. has she gone            D. had she gone

The policeman’s attention was suddenly caught by a small box which ___ placed under the Minister’s car.

A.has been B.was being C. had been D. would be

The leader spoke _____ the man who had given his life for the cause.

A. in praise for 　 B. in praise of　 C. to praise of 　 D. to praise for

3.    ---Look out, where are you driving?

---Sorry ,I stayed up too late last night .Will you ______ the driving?

A. take over　　　 B. go on　　　 C. take up　　　 D. go with

There was never any time for Kate to feel lonely ,_______she was an only child.

A. ever since　　 B. now that　 C. even though　 D. even as

－Can you give me some advice on how to improve my English?

－sure In my opinion, the only way to improve your English is to practice speaking_______.

Which of the following is wrong?

A over and over again　　 B repeatedly　 C over and over　　 D over again

It is the first time that you have come to China, _____?

A. haven’t you　　　　　 B. isn’t it

C. hasn’t it　　　　　　 D. aren’t you

_______a Party member, so he was always a hardworking teacher.

A. As　　　　 B. Having been　　　　 C. Being　　　 D. He was

Remember to ________ a good state of mind even if you should fail plenty of times．

　 A．take up　　　 　　　　　　　 B．brush up　　 　　　　　 C．get up　　　 D．keep up