Test 04-Passage 1:Research using twins 纠错
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To biomedical researchers all over the world, twins offer a precious opportunity to untangle the influence of genes and the environment - of nature and nurture. Because identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits into two, they share virtually the same genetic code. Any differences between them - one twin having younger looking skin, for example - must be due to environmental factors such as less time spent in the sun.

对于全世界的生物医药学研究者来说,双胞胎提供了一个宝贵的机会以供他们探究基因和环境——也就是先天和后天一所产生的影响。因为同卵双胞胎来自于分裂为二的同一个受精卵,所以他们实际上享有着完全相同的基因代码。二人之间的任何差异一例如双胞胎中的某个有着看起来更为年轻的肌肤——都必定是环境因素造成的,比如日晒时间更少。

Alternatively, by comparing the experiences of identical twins with those of fraternal twins, who come from separate eggs and share on average half their DNA, researchers can quantify the extent to which our genes affect our lives. If identical twins are more similar to each other with respect to an ailment than fraternal twins are, then vulnerability to the disease must be rooted at least in part in heredity.

另一方面,通过比较同卵双胞胎与异卵双胞胎(后者来自两个不同的受精卵而拥有平均来说约为一半的相同基因)的经历,研究人员就可以量化地得出我们的基因到底在何种程度上影响着我们的生活。如果对于某种疾病同卵双胞胎二人之间的反应比起异卵双胞胎来更为相似,那么容易得上这种疾病的特征就至少有一部分原因是来自遗传因素。

These two lines of research - studying the differences between identical twins to pinpoint the influence of environment, and comparing identical twins with fraternal ones to measure the role of inheritance - have been crucial to understanding the interplay of nature and nurture in determining our personalities, behavior, and vulnerability to disease.

这样两条研究线索——研究同卵双胞胎之间的不同以确认环境的影响,以及比较同卵双胞胎与异卵双胞胎之间的异同以衡量遗传因素所扮演的角色——一直以来都是至关重要的,我们需要借此来理解先天因素与后天因素是如何综合作用起来決定我们的个性、行为和易感染某些疾病的程度。

The idea of using twins to measure the influence of heredity dates back to 1875, when the English scientist Francis Galton first suggested the approach (and coined the phrase ‘nature and nurture'). But twin studies took a surprising twist in the 1980s, with the arrival of studies into identical twins who had been separated at birth and reunited as adults. Over two decades 137 sets of twins eventually visited Thomas Bouchard's lab in what became known as the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart. Numerous tests were carried out on the twins, and they were each asked more than 15,000 questions.

研究双胞胎以衡量遗传因素的影响这个理念可以追溯到1875年,当时英国科学家Francis Gallon第一次提出了这样一种方法(并且创造了“先天和后天”这样一种说法)。但是双胞胎研究在20世纪80年代迎来了一个令人意想不到的转折,当时出现了这样一种思路,其研究对象为那些出生时即被分开而各自长大成人后才重新聚首的同卵双胞胎们。在二十年的时间里,前后共有137对双胞胎走进了Thomas Bouchard的实验室,这次研究后来成为了广为人知的“被异地养大双胞胎的明尼苏达研究”。在这些双胞胎身上开展了不计其数的测试,他们中的每个人都回答了15,000多个问题。

Bouchard and his colleagues used this mountain of data to identify how far twins were affected by their genetic makeup. The key to their approach was a statistical concept called heritability. In broad terms, the heritability of a trait measures the extent to which differences among members of a population can be explained by differences in their genetics. And wherever Bouchard and other scientists looked, it seemed, they found the invisible hand of genetic influence helping to shape our lives.

Bouchard和他的同事们利用了这批数目惊人的海量数据来辨识双胞胎到底在何种程度上受到其基因组成的影响。他们所采用的研究方法的关键在于一种称之为“可遗传性”的统计学数理概念。从广义概念上来说,任何某种特质的可遗传性所衡量的是人口群体中各个成员之间的个体差异可以在何种程度上由他们彼此之间基因方面的差异来解释。而似乎无论Bouchard和其他科学家们如何看待这个问题,他们都能发现基因影响力的这只无形之手在参与塑造我们的人生。

Lately, however, twin studies have helped lead scientists to a radical new conclusion: that nature and nurture are not the only elemental forces at work. According to a recent field called epigenetics, there is a third factor also in play, one that in some cases serves as a bridge between the environment and our genes, and in others operates on its own to shape who we are.

然而,近年来,对于双胞胎的研究已帮助引导科学家们得出了一个不同于以往的新结论:并非只有先天和后天这两个基础原因在发生作用。根据一个近期出现的被称为“表观遗传性”(epigenetics)的研究新领域的看法,还有第三个因素在起作用,它有时候作为一道连接桥梁,贯通于环境与我们自身基因的二者之间;而另一些时候则直接着手塑造我们每一个人。

Epigenetic processes are chemical reactions tied to neither nature nor nurture but representing what researchers have called a 'third component'. These reactions influence how our genetic code is expressed: how each gene is strengthened or weakened, even turned on or off, to build our bones, brains and all the other parts of our bodies.

表观遗传的过程是这样一些化学反应,它们既不与先天也不与后天相关,而是代表着研究人员所称之为的“第三组成因素”。这些反应影响着我们基因代码的表现方式:每一项基因是如何得到加强或削弱,甚至是被激活或关闭,从而构建起我们的骨骼、大脑和身体的所有其他组成部分。

If you think of our DNA as an immense piano keyboard and our genes as the keys - each key symbolizing a segment of DNA responsible for a particular note, or trait, and all the keys combining to make us who we are - then epigenetic processes determine when and how each key can be struck, changing the tune being played.

如果你把我们的DNA设想成一组巨大的钢琴键盘而我们的基因就是其中的琴键——每个琴键象征着DNA的一个片段,负责某个音调或者说特质,而所有的琴键组合起来就构成了每一个独特的我们,那么表观遗传的过程就决定着每一个琴键可以什么时候、以何种方式被弹响,从而改变着演奏曲目的旋律。

One way the study of epigenetics is revolutionizing our understanding of biology is by revealing a mechanism by which the environment directly impacts on genes. Studies of animals, for example, have shown that when a rat experiences stress during pregnancy, it can cause epigenetic changes in a fetus that lead to behavioral problems as the rodent grows up. Other epigenetic processes appear to occur randomly, while others are normal, such as those that guide embryonic cells as they become heart, brain, or liver cells for example.

表观遗传学研究之所以彻底改变了我们对于生物学的理解,方式之一就在于它揭示出这样一种机制,外在环境正是通过这样一种机制直接作用于内在基因。举例来说,动物研究已经证实了:当一只老鼠在怀孕期间有过紧张压力的体验,就可能在其胎儿中引发表观遗传性的改变,进而随着这只啮齿动物的成长导致其行为方面的各种问题。有一些表观遗传过程似乎是随机发生的,而另一些则为常规现象,例如那些指导胚胎细胞如何分化成为心脏、大脑或肝脏细胞的过程。

Geneticist Danielle Reed has worked with many twins over the years and thought deeply about what twin studies have taught us. 'It’s very clear when you look at twins that much of what they share is hardwired 'she says. 'Many things about them are absolutely the same and unalterable. But it’s also clear, when you get to know them, that other things about them are different. Epigenetics is the origin of a lot of those differences, in my view.'

基因学家Danielle Reed多年来研究过许多对双胞胎,深入思考过双胞胎研究到底可以教会我们哪些知识。“当观察一对双胞胎时,你能够清楚地看出他们之间所共有的许多东西都是基因硬件所決定的,”她这样说道。“关于他们的许多东西都是绝对一模一样和不可改变的。但是当你深入了解了他们以后,同样清楚显现的则是他们身上还有很多其他东西都是不一样的。在我看来,表观遗传学正是大部分这些差异之所以产生的根源所在。”

Reed credits Thomas Bouchard's work for today's surge in twin studies. 'He was the trailblazer,' she says. 'We forget that 50 years ago things like heart disease were thought to be caused entirely by lifestyle. Schizophrenia was thought to be due to poor mothering. Twin studies have allowed us to be more reflective about what people are actually born with and what's caused by experience.'

Reed认为今天关于双胞胎研究的蓬勃发展都要归功于Thomas Bouchard的工作。“他是这个领域的先驱,”她说到。“我们忘记了,就在50年前,例如心脏疾病这样的事情还被认为完全是由个人生活方式引起的。精神分裂症过去曾被视为原因在于母亲养育得不好。双胞胎研究使得我们去进一步深思人们到底生而具有哪些特征,又有哪些情況是由个人经历所造成的。”

Having said that, Reed adds, the latest work in epigenetics promises to take our understanding even further. 'What I like to say is that nature writes some things in pencil and some things in pen 'she says. 'Things written in pen you can't change. That's DNA. But things written in pencil you can. That's epigenetics. Now that we're actually able to look at the DNA and see where the pencil writings are, it’s sort of a whole new world.'

说完这些,Reed还补充说,最近在表观遗传学领域中的研究工作还很有可能带领我们的理解更进一步。“我想要说的是,我们的先天用铅笔写好了一些内容,又用墨笔写好了另一些内容,”她这样说。“用墨笔写下的内容是无法改变的,那是我们的DNA。但是用铅笔写下的内容却可以修改,那就是表观遗传学。现在既然我们己经有能力探査DNA并看出哪些是铅笔写出来的内容了,这便进入了一个全新的世界。”

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-F, below.
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.

  • A.nurture
  • B.organs
  • C.code
  • D.chemicals
  • E.environment
  • F.behaviour|behavior
Epigenetic processes
In epigenetic processes 10 influence the activity of our genes, for example in creating our internal 11. The study of epigenetic processes is uncovering a way in which our genes can be affected by our 12. One example is that if a pregnant rat suffers stress, the new-born rat may later show problems in its 13.
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正确答案:10.D  11.B  12.E  13.F  

考生贡献解析

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定位词:genetic causes, skin 

文中对应点:题目:There may be genetic causes for the differences in how young the skin of identical  twins looks .

译文:同卵双胞胎的皮肤看起来有多年轻,其背后有可能存在着基因方面的原因。

第一段第二,三句:Because identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits into two , they share virtually the same genetic code. Any differences between them-one twin having younger looking skin. for example -must be due to environment factors such as less time spent in the sun.

本题出题位置符合顺序原则,作为文后第一个题型中的第一道题,可以轻松在正文第一段中定位到一模一样的skin一词。从理解上来看本题也并不困难,原文明确说到同卵双胞胎来自同一颗受精卵,基因完全相同,一切不同都是后天环境因素造成的。这与题干信息相悖,因此答案为FALSE。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:greater risk,developing certain illnesses than non-twins.

文中对应点:题目:Twins are at greater risk of developing certain illnesses than non-twins.

译文:双胞胎比非双胞胎更有风险得上某些疾病。

第二段第二句:If identical twins are more similar to each other with respect to an ailment than fraternal twins are, then vulnerability to the disease must be rooted at least in part in heredity.

题干中的illness 一词回到原文中有两个对应的同义替换词,分别为ailment 和disease。 可能会对前者不甚熟悉但必定认识后者,所以定位并不困难。仔细阅读文章内容可知,本句只是提及同卵双胞胎与异卵双胞胎在对某种疾病产生反应的方面有何异同,换言之,比较的对象只涉及“双胞胎”这个范围,并未将至与“非双胞胎”比较。没有明确提及题干的信息,且即使继续耐心读下去,在之后的文章中也没有任何地方提到题干相关内容,因此答案为NOT GIVEN。


当前解析由FHC提供

定个词:Bouchard , advertised, newspaper 

文中对应点:题目:Bouchard advertised in newspapers for twins who had been separated at birth.

译文:Bouchard 在报纸上刊登广告招募那些出生以后就分开各自长大的双胞胎们。

第四段第三句:Over two decades 137 sets of twins eventually visited Thomas Bouchard\'s lab in what became known as the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart.

题可以凭借Bouchard 这个专有名词而轻松在文中定位,但自此阅读文章内容就会发现,确实有许多双胞胎参与了此人所进行的研究,但并没有明确提及那些双胞胎们是通过什么途径来到Bouchard 实验室的,没有“报纸”和“广告”这些信息,因此答案是 NOT GIVEN。

需要格外注意的是:近年来判断题型的难度有所上升,原因之一就是NOT GIVEN 这个选项更加频繁地作为正确答案出现在相邻的两道问题中。这种现象造成的困扰是定位时更加不确定,不自信,从而可能导致大家反复阅读阅读某个文章部位或由于犹豫不决而拖延阅读速度。针对这一现象,建议在连续两道判断题都不能确定出题位置的时候,适当多向下再看一道题目以连续三道题干的关键词来更加准确定位,或判定某道题目可能就是NOT GIVEN而不再浪费太多时间恋战。


当前解析由FHC提供

定位词:epigenetic processes

文中对应点:题目:Epigenetic processes are different from both genetic and environmental processes.

译文:表观遗传影响与基因影响和环境都不相同。

第六段最后一句:According to a recent field called epigenetics, there is a third factor also in play. one that in some cases serves as a bridge between the environment and our genes, and in others operates on its own to shape who we are.

Epigenetic 这个词作为学科名称,一模一样的出现在文中第六段,可以被轻松定位。阅读定位句则可以知道,这一作用改程确实既不同于环境因素,也不同于基因因素,与题干表述一致,因此答案为TRUE。


当前解析由FHC提供

定位词:invented a term, two factors

文中对应点:第四段第一句:The idea of using twins to measure the influence of heredity dates back to 1875, when the English scientist Francis Galton first suggested the approach (and coined the phrase\'nature and nurture\').

题目解析:题目:inverted a term used to distinguish two factors affecting human characteristics

译文:发明了一个术语用来区分影响个人特质的两种因素

本题基本上就是考查对coin 这个单词作为动词表示“创造”和term 这个单词作为名词还可表示“术语”的词汇知识,而 coin a term 这样的用法在此前的的真题里已经算是频繁出现的熟面孔了,不会构成太大的解题障碍,此题答案为A。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:study of epigenetics , increase, knowledge 

文中对应点:第十二段第一句:Having said that, Reed adds, the latest work in epignrtics promises to take our understanding further.

题目解析:题目:expressed the view that the study of epigenetics will increase our knowledge 

译文:表达了这样 一个观点:对于表观遗传学的研究将会增加我们的知识

本题的定位略显麻烦,意为Reed 这个人名在文章的后三段中都有所提及,需要具备快速阅读每句大意而不细抠字眼的能力,带着对5-9 所剩未选答案的题干的记忆,对你这几段文章中的相关内容,待读到最后一段时理解原文倒应不难, increase our knowledge 与take our understanding further 是简单的同义表述关系,本题答案为C。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:mathematical  method

文中对应点:第五段第一,二句:Bouchard and his colleagues used this colleagues used this mountain of data to identify how far twins were affected by their genetic makeup. The key to their approach was a statistical concept called heritability.

题目解析:题目:developed a mathematical method of measuring genetic influences

译文:开创了一种数学方法来衡量基因的影响

本题出题点距离人名定位处并不远,statistical concept 与 mathematical method 的同义替换关系也不难理解,此题答案为B。


当前解析由FHC提供

定位词:pioneered

文中对应点:第四段第一句:The idea of using twins to measure the influence of heredity dates back to 1875, when the English scientist Francis Galton first suggested the approach (and coined the phrase \'nature and nurture\').

题目解析:题目:pioneered research into genetics using twins 

译文:开创了通过双胞胎来研究基因学的做法

本题与第五题的定位完全相同,都是原文中大的同一句,且从考查单词的难度上来看,比第五题更容易理解。无论 date back(追溯到)这个词组还是first 这个单词来说都不会造成理解困难,正是 Francis Galton 开创了研究双胞胎的先河,本题答案为A。


当前解析由FHC提供

定位词:lived apart 

文中对应点:第四段第二,三句:

But twin studies took a surprising twist in the 1980 s, with the arrival of studies into identical twins who had been separated at birth and reunited as adults. Over two decades 137 sets of twins eventually visited Thomas Bouchard\'s lab in what became known as the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart.

题目解析:题目:carried out research into twins who had lived apart 

译文:对那些各自生活在不同地方的双胞胎进行了研究

无论是原文中第二句里的separated at birth and reunited as adults 还是第三句里的Reared Apart , 都明确对应题干中的lived apart 这个信息,不难理解。 只需明确这个研究对象到底是Francis Galton 还是 Thomas Bouchard 所研究的即可,经过仔细阅读可知为后者,因此本题答案为B。


当前解析由FHC提供


定位词:epigenetic processes

文中对应点:第七段第一,二句:Epigenrtic processes are chemical reactions tied to neither nature nor nurture but representing what researchers have called a \'third component \'. These reactions influence how our genetic code is expressed:…

题目解析:题干说“在表观遗传中,____会影响我们的基因活动行为”。用epigenetic  processes 可以轻松在原文中定位到出题位置,但需要耐心读完相邻的两句,才可根据后句里的 these reactions 这个指代更加确定答案应为前一句中的 chemical reactions 。然而所给选项中并没有一模一样的内容,需根据意思选择最接近的选线,由此可得出答案为D:chemicals。


当前解析由AllMightyCzy提供

定位词:create, internal

文中对应点:第七段第二句:These reactions influence how our genetic code is expressed: how each gene is strengthened or weakened, even turned on or off, to build our bones, brains and all the other parts of our bodies.

题目解析:题干说“在表观遗传过程中,化学反应会影响我们的基因活动行为,例如在创造我们内部_____的时候 ”。本题的出题位置与上一题来自同一句话,在原文中的出处也极为接近。从阅读理解的角度来看,需要具备internal(内部的),organs(器官)这样的词汇基础,从而看出原文中的parts of our bodies 正是对应 internal organs 这一表述,因此答案为B选项:organs。


当前解析由FHC提供

定位词:uncover , genes, affected by

文中对应点:第九段第一句: One way the study of epigenetics is revolutionizing our understanding of biology is by revealing a mechanism by which the environment directly impacts on genes .

题目解析:题干说“表现遗传学的研究正在探索我们的基因会以怎样的方式受到我们的____的影响”。应该不难找到原文中impact 与题干中be affected by 的同义替换,对比可知答案为E选项:environment。


当前解析由FHC提供

定位词:pregnant rat, stress, problems

文中对应点:第九段第二句:Studies of animals, for example, have shown that when a rat experiences stress during pregnancy, it can cause epigenetic  changes in a fetus that lead to behavioral problems as the rodent grows up.

题目解析:题干说"有一个例证:如果一只怀孕的老鼠经历过紧张压力体验,新生的幼鼠日后就有可能展现出_____方面的问题“。“怀孕老鼠”这个信息在文中十分容易定位,只需认真阅读定位句即可得出答案为F选项:behaviour /behavior.。 


当前解析由FHC提供

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Research using twins

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